What Is a Sizer?
A Sizer refers to a machine or apparatus used to sort the shape and size of harvested and shipped crops.
Also known as a vegetable sorting machine, it is spelled as “sizer” in English. By using a sizer, crops with variations in size can be shipped according to standardized sizes, allowing for pricing based on the size. Farmers who ship crops nationwide in cardboard boxes or standardized bags find it more advantageous. Additionally, uniform sizing enhances the appearance and contributes to the improvement of crop quality.
Sizers come in various shapes, sizes, and materials. The basic structure includes a hopper where crops are placed at the end, connected to a sorting area via conveyors.
Containers for receiving crops sorted by size are installed underneath the sorting area. Some sorting machines are equipped with sensors for quality and sugar content selection. As sizers focus solely on size sorting, their structure is simple, resulting in cost-effective implementation.
Uses of Sizer
There are two main purposes for using a sizer.
1. Labor Savings in Sorting Operations
The first purpose of using a sizer is to automate the sorting operation of crops, saving labor. Sorting crops by size manually requires a significant amount of labor, but with a sizer, this task can be efficiently replaced by machinery. This not only improves operational efficiency but also contributes significantly to alleviating labor shortages.
2. Reducing Losses Due to Size Variations
The second purpose of using a sizer is to reduce losses caused by variations in crop sizes during the sorting process. When sorting is done manually, size variations inevitably occur, leading to situations where the specified number of crops does not fit into standardized cardboard boxes or bags.
As sizers maintain a consistent sorting standard, there is no size deviation. Therefore, sizers are employed to reduce losses caused by size discrepancies during shipment.
Features of Sizer
Advantages
- Automates the labor-intensive sorting operation of crops.
- Facilitates smooth packing adjustments for shipment by sorting and aligning sizes.
- The simple structure of the sorting machine allows for maintenance without specialized knowledge.
- Low-cost implementation of sorting machines.
Disadvantages
- Relies on electricity as a power source, limiting the work location to areas with available power sources.
- Requires a certain amount of space, making installation challenging in limited spaces.
- As a machine, there is a risk of deterioration and breakdown.
Types of Sizers
Sizers can be broadly categorized based on their shape.
1. Rotating Drum Type
Rotating drum-type sizers operate by allowing crops to roll over drums with holes corresponding to each standard. The structure of the sorting section consists of drums with different-sized holes arranged side by side, rotating during the sorting process.
Crops progress from smaller-sized holes to larger ones, sorting them by size. This type is suitable for crops like potatoes and onions, which have spherical shapes and are harvested collectively, or for relatively tough-skinned crops like lemons and avocados.
2. Roller Type
Roller-type sizers operate by having crops roll through gradually widening gaps. The sorting section consists of two rollers gradually expanding in width.
Due to the incline of these rollers, crops roll, and smaller-sized crops are sorted first. This type is suitable for smaller crops such as cherry tomatoes and strawberries.