Sorting and washing machine

Types of sorting and washing machines

A sorting and washing machine is an industrial scale food processing equipment that sorts, cleans, and removes undesirable elements such as impurities, stones, and dirt. It is widely used for precious, delicate, and high-quality products that require careful attention, like gold, diamonds, and certain food items, including fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Several types of sorting and washing machines are available, as outlined below:

• Pressure washer sorters

  These are sorting capsules commonly used to separate different grades, species, or qualities of agri-food products. They feature a pressure washer at the top of the machine that cleans the product before the sorting conveyor belt. The pressure washer uses water and sometimes air to remove unwanted material floating on the surface of the product (usually nuts). After leaving the pressure washer, the newly cleaned product is placed on a sorting conveyor where sorters take the time to examine each item individually. They then remove defective product items sometimes referred to as ''wrongful inclusions'' and replace them with the right product items. Before entering the washer, the product may be color-sorted using an optical sorter washer, which can be used as a sort of pre-sorting option to save time and money.

• Wet drum Magnetic Separators

  These types of washing machines use water to remove magnetic impurities from a product. Such impurities could include pieces of stainless steel, iron, or other magnetic materials that are not wanted, no matter what type of product one may have. As the name suggests, this type of washer and sort uses water to separate magnetic impurities. By re-circulating water in the separator, magnetic impurities are naturally separated from the product, thanks to the magnetic drum separator's magnetic field. The magnetic materials are then flushed into a separate collection bucket or container, and in most cases, the water is recycled back to the washing machine. Wet drum magnetic separators can be used pre- or post-other types of sorting and washing machines.

• Air sorters

  Air sorters use a stream of air to remove light impurities like leaves, bags, undesired low-density substances, and other wrongful inclusions. They are often used as pre-sorters in lines to eliminate minor contaminants. After passing through an air classifier, the primary product can be washed and sorted further down the processing line.

Additional types of sorting and washing machines include:

• Electromechanical Sorting Washers

  Focused on sorting specific items based on predetermined criteria, these washers utilize electrical signals and mechanical actions to separate unwanted materials while simultaneously washing the desired products.

• Optical Sorting Washers

  These advanced machines combine washing and optical sorting technologies. They use high-resolution cameras and imaging systems to detect unwanted materials based on size, color, and shape, removing them while washing the desired products.

• Vibratory Sorting Washers

  These machines utilize vibratory motion to separate unwanted materials while simultaneously washing the desired products. They are commonly used for fragile materials that cannot be handled roughly.

• Drum scrubbers and washers

  A cylindrical rubber lined or steel drum that combines the washing and scrubbing/de-siltation functions. It operates in a manner where the feed material enters a lidded drum at an angle and comes into contact with water spray nozzles before being discharged onto a screen or conveyor belt.

While the above are some commonly used sorting and washing machines across various industries and sectors, buyers have to ensure that the quality of the product is not diminished in the process of washing and sorting. It's equally important for the buyer to check the machine's capacity and efficiency.

Specifications and maintenance of sorting and washing machines

Specifications

• Supply Voltage:

  Usually shown in volts (V), which is a factor that determines the driving force of the sorting and washing machine. A higher voltage usually provides more power and performance. Commonly used household appliances are usually 110V-120V/220V-240V two voltages.

• Food grade Stainless Steel

  Stainless steel has different grades and alloys, and food-grade stainless steel is a material specially used to meet hygienic and safety standards. It usually contains a higher proportion of nickel and chromium, which helps resist rust and bacteria. This makes food-grade stainless steel more durable and easy to clean, thereby reducing the risk of sorting and washing machines breeding bacteria.

• Cylindrical Net Diameter:

  This parameter indicates the size of the sorting and washing machine's sieve, which affects the volume and capacity of the machine. The sieve of different specifications can deal with different quantities and sizes of materials, so it is suitable for sorting and washing various kinds of food.

• Cylindrical Net Length:

  The length of the sieve indicates how long the food will stay in the machine. It shows the processing time of food in the machines. Some industries may need longer processing times to ensure thorough washing and sorting, while others may require shorter processing times to improve productivity.

• Sifting Surface Area:

  This parameter indicates the area of the sieve surface, which affects the volume and processing capacity of the machines. Larger sieve surface areas can process larger volumes of food at the same time, which improves productivity and efficiency.

Maintenance

• Regular cleaning:

  Use water and appropriate cleaning agents to thoroughly clean the surface and internal parts of the sorting and washing machine. Pay attention to remove any residues and dirt to maintain hygiene and equipment performance.

• Inspect parts:

  Regularly inspect the key parts of the sorting and washing machine, such as the power supply, water inlet and outlet, and sieve, to ensure that the connections are firm, without leakage, and that the operation is smooth, to avoid problems arising from the blockage or looseness of the lines.

• Lubrication maintenance:

  For some moving parts of the sorting and washing machine, such as bearings and gears, lubricating oil or grease should be added periodically to ensure smooth operation and reduce frictional wear.

• Regular maintenance:

  According to the manufacturer's instructions, periodically disassemble and clean the key components of the sorting and washing machine, such as water pumps, filters, etc., to remove internal dirt and blockages to ensure their normal operation.

• Prevent rust and corrosion:

  For metal parts of machines, especially stainless steel, care should be taken to avoid rust and corrosion. Regularly inspect and clean them to ensure their durability and safety.

Scenarios of sorting and washing machines

Typically, sorting and washing machines are used in the textile, agricultural, and food processing industries and other industries. The use of such machines to sort and clean raw materials has increased efficiency and productivity and improved the end products.

• Textile Industry: In the textile industry, the cotton sorting and washing machine plays a vital role. It separates unwanted materials like leaves, twigs, and soil and then washes the cotton to remove dirt and contaminants. This helps manufacturers start with clean cotton for spinning into yarn.
• Food Processing: Similarly, in food processing, sorting and washing machines are used to clean vegetables and fruits before processing. For example, potatoes go through a potato sorting and washing machine that removes rotten potatoes, small stones, and dirt. Then, they are scrubbed clean with water jets or brushes.
• Jewelry and Watch Industries: Even in the jewelry and watch industries, sorting and washing machines have found use. For instance, when cleaning watch parts, a U. S.-based company called Gubelin uses an ultrasonic machine to wash the parts. An ultrasonic washing machine uses high-frequency sound waves to create thousands of tiny bubbles in the water. These bubbles gently & thoroughly clean and remove dirt and oil from watch parts as they burst.
• Packaging: After the fruit or vegetable is sorted and washed with the help of a washing machine conveyor belt, it is packed on another conveyor belt. In the packaging industry, sorting machines like the peanut sorting machine are used. They identify and separate defective peanuts for disposal. Good peanuts are sorted by size and shape. Then, they are washed and dried on conveyor belts.
• Textile Industry Is Not Immune: Even the textile industry is not immune to the sorting and washing machine's impact. Recent studies indicate that the global textile sorting machine market was valued at about $ 0.15 billion in 2021. It is expected to grow at a CAGR of around 7.5% during the forecast years of 2022-2028.

How to choose sorting and washing machines

It's important to choose sorting and cleaning machines that meet operational needs and have sufficient capacities. Consider the following:

• Wash capacity requirement:

  It's crucial to match workflow demands by ascertaining the amount of produce to be cleaned per hour or month. To prevent production bottlenecks, choose machines with the right wash capacity.

• Product types to be washed:

  Select machines with wash modules suitable for specific product characteristics. For instance, some may require sorters based on size and quality; delicate fruits and vegetables may need gentle washing methods to avoid damaging them.

• Water and power consumption:

  Such machines typically use large volumes of water. Hence, it's pertinent to select those that efficiently use water and electricity to reduce operating costs.

• Flexibility and scalability:

  Depending on future expansion plans, consider whether the machine can be adjusted to wash more or different types of products later.

• Quality and reliability:

  Sort and wash machines are usually high-investment equipment, so it's important to choose reputable brands and reliable manufacturers. Also, solicit referrals from companies that have used such machines in the past. Additionally, consider critically evaluating the after-sales support and service network.

• Automatic and manual operations:

  Fully automatic sorting and washing machines provide a rapid and cost-effective solution for sorting and washing large quantities of produce. However, they tend to have a higher upfront cost. Conversely, semi-automatic or manual models can be more affordable, but they typically have slower production speeds.

Sorting and washing machine FAQ

Q1: What is the difference between a potato sorting machine and potatoes washing sorting machine?

A1: The main difference is that a potato sorting machine only sorts potatoes based on many factors such as weight, size, and structure. On the other hand, a washing and sorting machine performs the sorting tasks and cleans the potatoes with the help of brushes and high-pressure water jets.

Q2: What are the benefits of a fruit and vegetable sorting machine?

A2: A fruit and vegetable sorting machine maximizes uniformity, enhances product quality, and minimizes manual interference. Additionally, it increases profitability, boosts efficiency, and reduces wastage.

Q3: What are the two main types of washing machine dry cleaning?

A3: The two main types of washing machines under the sorting and washing machine category are 실세탁기 ( reel washing machine ) and sieve washing machine. The sieve washing machine uses a sieve to clean the clothing. On the other hand, the reel washing machine rotates a reel to clean the clothes. It may involve the use of a drum or foam.

Q4: Do industrial washing machines use a lot of water?

A4: Industrial washing machines are designed to use less water. They are engineered in a way to squeeze more water out of the fabric, thus using less water during the washing cycle. Depending on the type and model, these machines may use 15 to 30 gallons of water.