Heat and Control has launched a new type of equipment, the Potato Grader-Halver, which promises to provide uniform chips, despite the variation of the size and form of the raw potatoes.
The Grader-Halver is designed to grade potatoes according to size, and halve the product sorted as larger than the predetermined size. The machine also has the ability to adjust the grading size with ease and at any time during the production process. This feature improves the grading success resulting in final (in bag) product consistency.
This process stops chips from getting “stuck” in the former of the bag maker when packaging “snack” size packs.
Featuring a full length grading area to prevent small product from “skipping”, and then passing through a short grading, as well as an adjustable reject for very small potatoes and foreign objects.
The Grader-Halver model has 2 different size options, a 5 lane (throughput of 5000kg per hour) and a 7 lane (throughput of 8000kg per hour).
The Grader-Halver is designed to slot into the processing line after the peelers and before the Inspection and Trim Table (Rollers). The system consists of a rugged stainless steel frame, adjustable multiple auger system featuring adjustable phasing, a roller conveyor, and slicing discs to halve larger potatoes.
How the Potato Grader-Halver Works
Potatoes are delivered to the infeed of the Grader-Halver from upstream equipment. Adjustable grading augers sort product by size, after which over-sized product passes to a circular knife arrangement for halving.
Larger sized product continues along to the grading augers, while undersized product falls through. Adjustment can be done during operation, giving instant assessment of grading size.
Product that falls into the adjustable chute is directed into the FastBack 260E conveyor pan below the Grader-Halver machine and continues along the line.
Product sorted as being larger than the maximum set size passes to the roller conveyor which orients the product and transports it to the circular halving knives which then halves the potatoes across the longest dimension.
Halved product items fall from the circular knives onto a curved chute that carries them to the FastBack 260E conveyor pan to mix with the previously sorted smaller items to be passed to further downstream equipment for further processing.
Animated 3D Models at SNACKEX
Heat and Control will present at SNACKEX 2017, in Vienna, Austria, the newly released FastBack 260E G3 cartridge system, the integrated Spray Dynamics “Slurry On Demand” Continuous mixing system and WeighBack.
To further enhance these actual equipment systems, the visitors of SNACKEX will be able to experience a working HeatWave® fryer by Heat and Control via Augmented Reality, by visualizing animated 3D models.
Augmented reality uses technology to superimpose information on the world we see by overlaying digital content on top of real life images, using the camera in the phone or tablet.
The Heat and Control app uses a drawing of the HeatWave Fryer that acts as a trigger point to view the animation. The visitors can download the Heat and ControlAR app and they can see how the HeatWave Fryer cooks product from 360 degrees moving around the image, allowing seeing all sides and angles of the fryer.
The Heat and ControlAR app allows the user to open and close the fryer by tapping on the screen prompts, and be able to run product through the fryer. This will involve an animation of food product (nuts) moving along the conveyor belt and oil flowing in curtains over the product.
“Given the size and sophisticated nature of a lot of our equipment, like the HeatWave Fryer, it can be a logistical nightmare to have large pieces of equipment of tradeshow booths for our customers to see”, says Heat and Control sales manager, Bobby Kane.