Depending on the scanning width and the application, the Novus is standardly equipped with 3, 6 or 9 advanced high-resolution cameras that accurately detect discoloration, size and shape deviations. A unique camera configuration was developed especially for the sorting of diced potatoes and other tuberous vegetables, in which the cameras are arranged in such a way that five of the six sides of each cube are always shown perpendicularly. And there is more: the innovative S-TEC-module also inspects the bottom of the product, which is particularly interesting for dry products such as nuts and confectionery.

To further increase its sorting accuracy, the Novus may be equipped with up to 8 lasers (and 16 laser detectors). Thanks to the combination of different lasers with specific wavelengths, it easily detects structure and biological characteristics. Structure sorting is ideally suited for detecting foreign objects, such as wood, plastic, stone, glass and metal. SWIR (Short Wave Infrared) lasers see the difference between aqueous and non-aqueous products, which is also ideal for finding foreign objects between fruit and vegetables. Special fluorescent lasers in turn detect the chlorophyll content of green vegetables or the presence of harmful substances, such as solanine in potatoes and other tuberous vegetables. The right combination of lasers even detects the almost invisible sugar ends on raw French fries.

The Novus has an impressive laser scanning speed of up to 3,333 scans per second, resulting in an optical resolution of 0.3 mm (0.012 in), the highest resolution of any laser sorter on the market. It can therefore easily detect the smallest impurities such as thin wood splinters in frozen vegetables, shell fragments in nuts, and even glass splinters.

The different camera and laser signals are processed simultaneously, so that defects and foreign objects are detected more accurately and the risk of erroneous rejections is reduced. The result: an excellent good-to-bad ratio that leaves other systems behind.

The M-TEC module built into the frame detects and removes tiny stainless steel, ferrous and non-ferrous metals particles that the cameras and lasers might possibly not detect because they are hidden under the product on the sorting belt or in the product itself. The module is made up of several smaller detector coils, which means that its detection sensitivity is much more effective than that of traditional metal detectors.

The Novus is able to differentiate multiple product & defect classes and, if necessary, process them differently. Its advanced sorting software uses AI (artificial intelligence): it learns to identify products & defects on the basis of images of the objects passing through the machine. During the sorting process, the algorithm autonomously decides which products are removed. If your operators still detect errors, they can easily adjust the algorithm by classifying extra object images.

Defective products are removed from the flow of good products using compressed air. Using an optional second ejection mechanism, you may also apply three-way sorting in addition to two-way. In order to get an excellent good-to-bad ratio even for the smallest products, the Novus may be equipped with a high-density valve system: ultra-fast and small ejection valves with a center-to-center distance of 5.25 mm (0.21 in).

The design of the base frame of the Novus meets the strictest hygiene standards and machine guidelines. Moreover, it’s modular, so that the Novus cannot only be easily configured according to your needs, but can also be expanded with the same flexibility after installation. And finally, its operating and sorting software uses the CUMULUS platform, just like all our other machines. Integrability guaranteed.