Fruit Sorting Automation; Cartesian Robot and Conveyor Design

Abstract

The quality control process, the process of sorting the products in the conveyor belt into intact, bruised, rotten, and raw types, is carried out by people. However, due to the human factor in the sorting process, achieving a certain standard and working consistently at the same efficiency is difficult. Therefore, performing this process autonomously using image processing, cartesian robots, and conveyor belt technologies is essential in terms of both accelerating the process and reducing its cost. In this study, pick and place cartesian robot and conveyor belt are designed to be integrated for fruit sorting automation. The fruits whose image processing is completed are positioned in the conveyor belt. By adding partitions in the conveyor belt, the fruits falling from the image processing mechanism are ensured to reach the cartesian robot without changing their position. The cartesian robot starts moving according to the position of the fruit on the conveyor. When it reaches the location of the fruit, it holds it with the help of a vacuum generator and leaves it in the storage areas separated according to the condition of the fruit (color, damaged, undamaged). Thanks to the designed cartesian robot, it aims to minimize the error rate by sorting faster, less costly, and more reliable way. The study aims to provide physical separation. Using the prepared system in the industry aims to minimize labor costs and errors that may occur in the human factor.