Evaluation of a Citrus Mobile Platform Using a Wireless Impact Recording Device

Abstract

Manual citrus harvesting is an expensive operation that represents between 25-40% of the total production costs. A mobile platform prototype to assist in the harvesting of citrus fruits designed by the IVIA (Spain) has been tested in order to reduce fruit damages. The mobile platform is fitted with conveyor systems. The multilevel platform can accommodate 4 to 8 workers who pick the fruit and place it on a conveyor belt. The picked fruit is transported to a central conveyor belt on which the fruit is transported to the in-line sorting system that classifies the fruit in two categories using a computer vision system and directs the fruit to one of the two different binfillers. During this process the fruits are subjected to mechanical stress causing physical injuries, including skin punctures, pulp and cell rupture. An impact recording device was used to evaluate damage produced to citrus fruits. The critical points at which damage occurs were determined, and the damage levels assessed. The highest damage level was produced from the bin-fillers to the bins. Seven different shocking absorbing materials were tested in order to reduce fruit damage. Five of the seven tested materials were capable to reduce the recorded impact.