According to the present interest of the government to encourage the fruitconsumption by the scholars, especially the apple consumption, two functional model of technical equipment for sorting apples have been designed, manufactured and tested in INMA Bucharest. These equipments can be used for sorting also others fruits with spherical shape such as oranges, peaches, grapefruits etc. The mechanized sorting process conducts to valorisation of the farmer’s production and to increase their turnover, thus is necessary to analyse and improve this process, by optimizing the working parameters

Bracacescu, C.

Ciuperca, R.

Lazar, G.

Munteanu, M.

Nedelcu, A.

Petcu, A.

Popa, Lucretia

Stefan, V.

Veringa, D.

Zaica, A.

According to the present interest of the government to encourage the fruitconsumption by the scholars, especially the apple consumption, two functional model ofÂ technical equipment for sorting apples have been designed, manufactured and tested inÂ INMA Bucharest. These equipments can be used for sorting also others fruits withÂ spherical shape such as oranges, peaches, grapefruits etc. The mechanized sortingÂ process conducts to valorisation of the farmer`s production and to increase their turnover,Â thus is necessary to analyse and improve this process, by optimizing the workingÂ parameters

Annals of the University of Craiova - Agriculture, Montanology, Cadastre Series

Analele Universităţii din Craiova, seria Agricultură – Montanologie – Cadastru (Annals of the University of Craiova - Agriculture,Montanology, Cadastre Series) Vol. XLV 2015191RESEARCH CONCERNING THE ACHIEVEMENT OF SOME APPLESSORTING EQUIPMENTSPOPA LUCREŢIA1), PETCU A.1), ŞTEFAN V.1), NEDELCU A.1), CIUPERCĂ R.1),LAZĂR G.1), ZAICA A.1), BRĂCĂCESCU C.1), VERINGĂ D.2), MUNTEANU M.3)1)INMA Bucharest / Romania; 2)I.C.D.I.M.P.H. – HORTING Bucharest / Romania;3)POLITEHNICA University-ISB Faculty / Bucharest-RomaniaE-mail: lucretia_popa@yahoo.comKeywords: sorting fruits process, equipment for sortingABSTRACTAccording to the present interest of the government to encourage the fruitconsumption by the scholars, especially the apple consumption, two functional model oftechnical equipment for sorting apples have been designed, manufactured and tested inINMA Bucharest. These equipments can be used for sorting also others fruits withspherical shape such as oranges, peaches, grapefruits etc. The mechanized sortingprocess conducts to valorisation of the farmer’s production and to increase their turnover,thus is necessary to analyse and improve this process, by optimizing the workingparameters.INTRODUCTIONLow fruit and vegetable consumption is one of the top 10 global risk factors formortality according to the World Health Organization (WHO) [11,4]. Increased fruit andvegetable consumption can help protect overall health status and reduce both disease riskand burden [12, 4]. Fruit and vegetable intake is a key factor in preventing major illnessessuch as cardiovascular diseases and certain cancers, yet the majority of Americans,including children, consume far less than the recommended number of servings per day[1,3,5].In the abroad there is a great interest for production and consumption of fruits andvegetables due to their positive effect on the health of the body. As a result, this activitywas very high developed, but it went too far on genetically modified organisms, somethingwhich is currently under discussion, health researchers sounding the alarm on the effect oflong-term consumption of these products. It is noted that in Romanian hypermarkets thereare traded not native fruits, they are imported, their appearance clearly proving thatintervened at the genetic level or have been treated with chemicals.Large countries producing fruits (USA, France, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Poland,Germany), study specific modalities to keeping the short, medium and long term qualitypost-harvest horticultural products so that they can be valued and beyond productionperiod. The growing interest in this area arose from the need to increase the marketingperiod for fresh fruits, to avoid periods of market saturation and get a better value / priceand ensuring export fruits involving transport periods long.There are known companies in the abroad that produce complex installationssorting, such as CALIBREX (France) [8], COMPAC (Auckland, New Zealand) [9],FRUMAC (Poland) [10], and others, but their addressability is the high production farms,where significant quantities of fruit are harvested, where there should be storagewarehouses with controlled environments, by specific insulation storage cells, equippedwith monitoring and control of environmental preservation in controlled atmosphere(temperature, humidity, atmospheric concentrations of O2, ethylene content etc.). Theseinstallations performed sorting by size, weight, health, firmness, fruit color, and thereforethe cost price is quite high. For this reason, these installations do not address smallproducers, amortization of acquisition costs being rapidly only if large productions, so incase of large farms.Analele Universităţii din Craiova, seria Agricultură – Montanologie – Cadastru (Annals of the University of Craiova - Agriculture,Montanology, Cadastre Series) Vol. XLV 2015192In terms of farm size, externally it goes on large size plantations, which requiresmechanization suitable large productions, both in terms of maintenance of plantations, fruitcultivation, especially harvesting, sorting, grading and storage, for disposal or processingof fruits market.Sorting apples falls within current preoccupations of the government, to promoteapple consumption among children, according to European Union program to encouragethe consumption of fruit in schools, 22 July 2009.The European Agriculture and Rural Development Commission, concerning thedistribution of fruit in schools, in 2011-2012, showed in 2013 that the EU average fruit orapple was 136 g/student, Romania ranked 13 of 23 countries analyzed, with an average of115 g/apple versus Bulgaria - 328 g, Poland, Belgium, Italy - 210 g, Slovakia - 200 g etc. Interms of average price, it was 0.31 €/apple/136g at EU, Romania spending 0.07 € / appleamong the lowest rates per unit of product.For this reason, has been designed, developed and tested at NATIONALINSTITUTE OF RESEARCH - DEVELOPMENT FOR MACHINES AND INSTALLATIONSDESIGNED TO AGRICULTURE AND FOOD INDUSTRY - INMA Bucharest, a functionalmodel of machinery for sorting apples and other fruits by round shape, so as to canshorten the time required for this process, in order to arrive the fruit in schools, as quicklyas possible, to the students, the main consumers, and also to be able to capitalize fasterproduction of farmers in fruit farms. These researches have been realized in the NationalResearch Program – ADER, within the project ADER 311, held by Agricultural and RuralDevelopment Ministry.Additional, it was also developed research concerning the achievement ofmachinery designed to sort the fruits by their mass.MATERIAL AND METHODTo design these equipments have been studied the solutions applied in the abroadand was used specialised 3D software, SOLIDWORKS.Sorting equipment by dimension (diameter) (fig.1) made at INMA Bucharest is aspecial calibrated roller, designer for semi-subsistence farms.Fig.1 - Technical equipment for sorting apples by size – side viewEquipment for sorting & calibrating fruit, with simultaneous adjustment of the positionof rollers consists of a welded frame (fig.1, pos.1), on which is mounted supports (fig.1,pos.2) provided with rolling bearings, spherical, which supports profiled rollers sortingAnalele Universităţii din Craiova, seria Agricultură – Montanologie – Cadastru (Annals of the University of Craiova - Agriculture,Montanology, Cadastre Series) Vol. XLV 2015193(fig.1, pos.3) fixed at one end and adjustable to the other, by a mechanism (fig.1, pos.M)for simultaneous displacement transverse to the rollers.Technical and functional characteristics:Sorting dimensional groups:< 60 mm;60…65 mm65…70 mm;70…75 mm;75…80 mm;80…85 mm;> 85 mm.Transmission:Moto gear : NMRV 30Power of electric motor: 0,18 kW;Input rotation speed: 1400 rot/min;Gear ratio: 25:1Output rotation speed: 56 rot/minOverall dimensions:Length: about 3500 mm;Width about 2050 mmHigh about 1600 mmOwn weight: about 300 kgCentral equipment (fig.2), constitutes the main part of the equipment, consisting of aframe (fig.2, pos.1), chute control (fig.2, pos.6), special roller (fig.2, pos.11), input,intermediate and final bearings bushings (fig.2, pos.2,3,4), transmission (fig.2, pos.5),brushes amortization (fig.2, pos.8,9,10).Fig.2 - Central equipment1. Frame; 2,3,4 Input, intermediate and final bearings bushings; 5. Transmission; 6. Trough;10. Brush out; 11 Small roller; 13. Holder support; 14. Left roller; 15. Right roller; 16. Swivelling wheelsAnalele Universităţii din Craiova, seria Agricultură – Montanologie – Cadastru (Annals of the University of Craiova - Agriculture,Montanology, Cadastre Series) Vol. XLV 2015194To avoid mechanical damage, the surface rollers have been covered with soft andelastic as: plastic sponge, spongy rubber etc. The best calibration equipment is that inwhich the percentage of damaged products does not exceed 8% [2,6,7].It is known from US patent, nr.4.426.006/1984 a sorting machine that uses anelectronic weighing system which uses a chain conveyor fitted with cups.It is known also from USA patent, nr.4.586.613 a sorting machine that uses acomputerized sorting system for fruit and vegetable, all fitted with bucket on a chain.These machinery have the disadvantages that they have a high constructivecomplexity, used in the composition of industrial facilities for sorting, not being able to beused individual, require the existence of electrical power phase, require maintenance byspecialized personnel, so they are not accessible to small and medium-sized farms.The equipment developed at INMA Bucharest, for sorting the round fruits by theirmass, was designed for reducing the effort of the workers in the semi-subsistence farms.The team work analysed many solutions and finally has resulted the equipmentrepresented in the fig.3. This equipment has a simple construction with cups attached to abelt drive, electric motor driven by a frequency converter and can thus change the speedof advance of the cups.Fig.3 - Technical equipment for sorting apples by mass – side viewEquipment for sorting apples by mass, according to the invention, consists of awelded frame (fig.3, pos.1) on which is mounted a transmission belt (fig.3, pos.2) driven bya gear motor electrical frequency converter (fig.3, pos.3), a supplying box (fig.3, pos.4), asorting table (fig.3, pos.5) provided with separators (fig.3, pos.12), a support table (fig.3,pos.6) on which are arranged bins for collecting apples separated by fractions, in the endof the table (fig.3, pos.7) for collecting apples with small masses, a fixed guide (fig.3,pos.10) fitted with successive sections horizontal and recesses, a set of cups (fig.3, pos.8)as a cylindrical sector, coated with rubber cloth cover (plastic or semi-hard), which has atthe bottom a roll (fig.3, pos.11) which allows the movement of the cup (fig.3, pos.10) alongAnalele Universităţii din Craiova, seria Agricultură – Montanologie – Cadastru (Annals of the University of Craiova - Agriculture,Montanology, Cadastre Series) Vol. XLV 2015195the fixed guide (fig.3, pos.10), set with successive sections and horizontal recessed and alever (fig.3, pos.9), provided by the counterweight (fig.3, pos.13) on which the roller thatissuing cup fruit, placed in the right sector with the guide recesses (fig.3, pos.10).Apples loaded in the tank (fig.3, pos.4) falls in the cup (fig.3, pos.8) which movestogether with the belt of the transmission (fig.3, pos.2), the cups being directed along aprofiled guide (fig.3, pos.10), and when the combined cup-apple reaches the one of thelever (fig.3, pos.9), the balance of moments of the cup + apple and lever assembly +counterweight causes rotation of the lever (fig.3, pos.9) in joint support of it, causingrotation of the cup and fall apple on the main sorting table (fig.3, pos.5), table that hasmore areas of separation according to group apples sorted in checkweighter area.Depending on the tarring of the assembly lever (fig.3, pos.9) + counterweight (fig.3,pos.13), can get more groups of sorting, placing separators (fig.3, pos.12) on sorting tablemaking the sorting order of weight fractions. Apples are sorted into the four main groupssorting.Fig.4 - Sorting equipment by apple mass - detailApples are loaded in a tray driven by a vibrating electric motor, the tray by triangularsection to avoid access to the cup more than one apple.RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONSThe equipment designed to sort apples by dimension has been calibrated and havebeen performed three repetitions for each apple variety. Experiments were conducted withthree apples varieties: Idared, Golden and Ionathan.Apples were measured with calipers on the two dimensional size, height anddiameter and have been separated by the groups that can be performed by the equipmentand the results were centralized.Analele Universităţii din Craiova, seria Agricultură – Montanologie – Cadastru (Annals of the University of Craiova - Agriculture,Montanology, Cadastre Series) Vol. XLV 2015196Fig.5 - Testing sorting equipment by dimension–working process aspectThe results of functional tests, shows that by corresponding adjustment can be sortfractions, on the desired dimensions, namely the 5 main fractions (60 ... .65 mm, 65 ... 70mm, 70 ... 75 mm, 75 ... 80 mm, 80... 85 mm) and two secondary fraction (D ≤ 60 mm andD≥85 mm).There are some problems because the dimensions (diameter and high) aredifferent, the ration K between these two dimensions is not 1, so it is necessary to calibratethe angle of the sorting rollers for each apple variety.Relation, K, between the size of the apple in two perpendicular directions is:DHK (1)where:H is the high of the apple;D – diameter of the apple.This ratio K has the values:Ionathan K = 0,86Golden K = 0,88Idared K = 0,90Apple sorting equipment by weight has been tested concerning their functionality,and has been upgraded to be able to separate the apples, with a rubber conveyer,actioned by the same electric motor which drives the belt transmission.In fig.6 we can see an image of the working process.Analele Universităţii din Craiova, seria Agricultură – Montanologie – Cadastru (Annals of the University of Craiova - Agriculture,Montanology, Cadastre Series) Vol. XLV 2015197Fig.6 - Testing sorting equipment by weight–working process aspectSorting by weighing is based on the equilibrium of moments.There were performed tests for the functional model on three main varieties ofapples: Golden, Ionathan, Idared, taking into account their mass.Taking into account the physical proprieties of these varieties, there were identifiedfour intervals in which to make sorting by weight: ≤ 110 g; 100 ... 190 g; 190 ... 230 g; ≥ 230 g.CONCLUSIONSAfter tests, the following conclusions were established: The equipment for sorting apples by size, one line sorting, has an averagecapacity of 450 kg/h, depending on the apple variety; The equipment for sorting apples by mass must continue to be developed, andto be tested in real conditions; Using this equipment for sorting apples in semi-subsistence orchards farms willsolve one of the needs of Romanian horticulture valuing its production, domesticsales of fruit production through the creation of regional markets.BIBLIOGRAPHY1.Adel A. Kader, Sonya Rosa Rolle, 2004 -The role of post-harvest management inassuring the quality and safety of horticultural produce. FAO Agricultural ServicesBulletin no.152;2.Căsăndroiu T., 1998 - Processes and machinery for sorting potatoes, fruit andvegetables. PAIDEIA Publishing House, Bucharest;3.Fox MK, Condon E, Briefel RR, Reidy KC, Deming DM, 2010 - : Food consumptionpatterns of young preschoolers: are they starting off on the right path? J Am Diet Assoc2010, 110 (12, Supplement), pp.52–59;4.Ganann R, Fitzpatrick-Lewis D., Ciliska D., Peirson L, 2012 - Community-basedinterventions for enhancing access to or consumption of fruit and vegetables amongfive to 18-year olds: a scoping review. BMC Public Health, pp.12:711,http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/12/711;Analele Universităţii din Craiova, seria Agricultură – Montanologie – Cadastru (Annals of the University of Craiova - Agriculture,Montanology, Cadastre Series) Vol. XLV 20151985.Siega-Riz AM, Deming DM, Reidy KC, Fox MK, Condon E, Briefel RR, 2010 - Foodconsumption patterns of infants and toddlers: where are we now? J Am Diet Assoc2010, 110(12, Supplement), pp.38–51;6.Gheorghe A. et al., 1979 - Maintaining the quality of fresh fruits and vegetables.Tehnica Publishing House, Bucharest;7.Gheorghe A. et al, 1994 - Capitalization technology of horticultural products. Keepingfresh horticultural products. PAIDEIA Publishing House, Bucharest;8.*** Prospect CALIBREX (France);9.*** Prospect COMPAC (Auckland, New Zealand);10.*** Prospect FRUMAC (Poland);11.*** World Health Organization: Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity. Geneva,Switzerland: World Health Organization; 2004.12.*** U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department ofAgriculture: Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Washington, DC: U.S. GovernmentPrinting Office; 2005.

RESEARCH CONCERNING THE ACHIEVEMENT OF SOME APPLES SORTING EQUIPMENTS

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RESEARCH CONCERNING THE ACHIEVEMENT OF SOME APPLES SORTING EQUIPMENTS

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Annals of the University of Craiova - Agriculture, Montanology, Cadastre Series