Key Technology COMPASS Optical Sorter for Chips

Key Technology has introduced the COMPASS optical sorter for chips, which is designed specifically for potato chips, tortilla chips and similar snack foods. The belt-fed sorting system can identify and remove product defects and foreign material (FM) and is simple to operate, clean and maintain.

Featuring recipe-driven programming and a user interface designed to mimic smartphone app navigation, it has been designed so that a new operator without any technical skills can learn how to operate the system in production in as little as 30 minutes.

Powered by Key’s advanced NEXT sort engine, the machine can detect and reject product defects, such as dark spots, green discoloration and white knot bruises, along with FM like fryer debris. Equipped with customisable camera options and up to eight channels of multispectral sensor data, the sorter is claimed to detect the colour, size, shape and structural properties of every object to identify more, smaller defects than systems with conventional 3-channel cameras.

Designed for maximum sanitation, it features open architecture, sloped surfaces and minimal moving parts. Sensors and light windows are positioned away from product splatter, and stain-resistant belt technology helps sustain good inspection accuracy throughout production runs. Specialised collection systems, including counter-rotating brushes or scrapers, direct oil and chip debris into easily removable bins for disposal. The belt can be quickly removed for thorough cleaning, while the open design allows easy access for workers and reduces cleaning and maintenance requirements. Washdowns can be completed in as little as 15 min.

Every machine is equipped with the Key Discovery data analytics and reporting software.