TOMRA Halo sorter upgraded user interface

TOMRA Sorting Solutions has upgraded the user interface design for the company’s Halo optical sorter.

The interface is designed to simplify sorting adjustments. Each user can define and name their own sorting criteria, with defects of different intensity and size typically being set up in different ‘feature boxes’ for critical or minor defects such as green or brown.

Operators can also combine the size of the product and colour defect levels to manipulate the sort of the potatoes recovered. For example, operators are able to combine a small defect (colour) on a small potato (length) as waste, but that same small defect on a bigger potato as still within the grade.

The touchscreen ‘drag and drop’ feature allows users to decide, set and then clearly see which quality of potatoes goes to what sort exit.

Feedback about the potatoes from the sorter is provided with dashboard on-screen displays of product and machine data. Product data includes size and defect profiles of the product sorted. The data sets are available for SCADA or transfer to the plant servers for analysis and traceability.