WECO Multiscan MXV-Bulk X-ray inspection system for nuts

The WECO Multiscan MXV-Bulk X-ray inspection system is designed for in-shell nut applications. It can analyse density differences inside each nut to identify hidden quality defects and insufficient kernel fill, as well as dense foreign material (FM).

Suitable for inspecting pecans, walnuts, pistachios, peanuts and other nuts, the system identifies and rejects a wide variety of product defects that show no obvious external signs including empty shells, insect damage and internal mould. It also removes FM including stones, glass, ceramics and embedded metal.

Nuts enter the system on a belt designed to stabilise and distribute product evenly for consistent scanning. The system captures and analyses images of each object as it passes through the inspection zone. When it identifies out-of-tolerance product or FM, it signals the air valves to eject the unwanted material.

The system is designed to complement optical sorting, aspiration and other separation methods on the line. Optical sorters identify external characteristics such as colour, size, shape and surface condition, while aspiration separates material based primarily on weight and aerodynamic properties. X-ray inspection adds information about internal density, helping processors build a more complete quality-control strategy.

The system is designed to be easy to use. Operators set the density threshold directly on the touchscreen, defining the tolerance that determines how fully a nut must be filled to be accepted. The system can also evaluate fill within specific areas of each nut, allowing inspection to be configured for differences among varieties and quality targets.