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I don't get a sense how the first machine actually does the physical separation, but the second one seems to be an air jet or something? That second machine se
by wahsd 12y ago
I don't get a sense how the first machine actually does the physical separation, but the second one seems to be an air jet or something?
That second machine seems to have quite a lot of false positives, but I guess better waste some blueberries than have to deal with customers finding beetles in their berries.
- Animats 12y agoThe pea-sorting machine, like all the small-item sorters, uses a row of small air jets controlled by the computers. Here's a more advertising-like video with slow-motion imagery of the action at the air jet station. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbSxlZ6J1h4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbSxlZ6J1h4 It's amazing that individual sorting of rice grains is affordable, but it is. Larger fruit and vegetable items used to be graded by people, but there are machines for that, too. Machinery like this helps to make "Amazon Fresh" possible. With computers inspecting produce, there's less need for people to shop for it themselves. Webvan tried to do this 15 years ago and had quality complaints. That problem has been solved.
- beejiu 12y agoIt's also led to a class of consumers that will not accept a slightly wonky carrot.
- rab_oof 12y agoSigh... They'll still buy it if it looks perfect but tastes like unripened cardboard. :/ (Homegrown, imperfect tomatoes rock.). "Imperfect" but edible food goes on to canning, pies and other manufactured items.
- michael_h 12y agowhich led to the wonky carrots being sold cheaper to me, which I'm fine with.