New processing line for table potatoes in Bayern, southern Germany
A project has been completed in southern Germany for the processing of table potatoes. The processing line is spread over three halls and is divided into receiving, washing and sorting and packaging.
Reception hall
In the reception hall there are three unloading belts where a total of five trucks can unload, with a capacity of 30 tons per hour. From these belts there are a total of five different directions in which the potatoes can go. Two belts go directly to the packaging department, one goes directly to the washing hall and two go to the receiving bunkers. Of these last two routes, one is equipped with a foreign parts separator, followed by a shaker sorter from which the top and bottom sizes are sorted. The potatoes are further sorted into two sizes and taken to one of the 12 bunkers. These bunkers have a total capacity of 360 tons. From the bunkers the product flow can go directly to the packaging line or to one of the two washing lines.
Washing and sorting hall
The washing lines with bunkers are in the second hall. Each washing line consists of a stone, clod and haulm separator, drum washer, polisher and a roller dryer. The polisher can be moved out of the line when delicate potatoes pass over the line. Waste from the line is collected in the waste bunkers. The washing water is purified in a water purification plant. After the washing line, the potatoes go to four integrated optical sorters. Here they are sorted by quality and the potatoes are again stored in bunkers. The total capacity of the bunkers for sorted product is 300 tons. The B-quality and waste are stored in sliding bunkers of a total of 240 tons.
Packaging hall
From the bunkers the line continues to the packaging hall. There are five packaging lines in the packaging hall, each consisting of two weighers. Each packaging line is followed by a “case packer”, with which the bags of finished product are repacked into a boxes. These boxes are then automatically palletized. The supply of empty boxes and removal of full boxes is fully automatic. The line can be controlled completely automatically using visual screens. Complete product traceability is possible through a track and trace system, which is integrated into the control.
