Sorting & Washing Conveyor
Every fruit processing line starts the same way: wash the fruit, remove damaged or unripe pieces, and feed the good fruit into the next stage at a controlled rate. The sorting and washing conveyor does all three.
How it works
Fruit is loaded onto a stainless-steel belt or roller conveyor. Water spray nozzles wash soil, pesticide residue and field debris from the surface as it moves along. Workers stationed on both sides of the belt visually inspect and remove damaged, unripe or foreign material by hand.
The clean, sorted fruit discharges from the conveyor end directly into the pulper hopper or a holding bin.
Key specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Belt width | 600–1,000 mm |
| Conveyor length | 3–6 metres (site-dependent) |
| Belt speed | Adjustable, typically 0.1–0.3 m/s |
| Water system | Spray nozzles with recirculation option |
| Construction | SS304 frame and belt supports |
| Drive | 0.75–1.5 kW geared motor |
Why it matters
Skipping the wash-and-sort stage is the fastest way to ruin a batch. A single rotten fruit or a stone can:
- Contaminate the pulp — spoilage organisms from damaged fruit multiply rapidly in warm pulp
- Damage the pulper — stones, metal fragments or hard unripe fruit can dent screens or bend paddles
- Fail food safety audits — FSSAI and export buyers require documented washing and sorting as part of HACCP
Design features
- Adjustable belt speed lets operators match the conveyor rate to the pulper capacity, preventing overfeeding or starvation
- Elevated discharge feeds directly into the pulper hopper by gravity, eliminating an extra pump or lift
- Water recirculation reduces consumption on sites with limited water supply
- Open construction makes cleaning and sanitation straightforward between batches or fruit types
Where it fits in the processing line
The conveyor is always the first stage:
- Sorting & washing conveyor — this unit
- Pulper
- Buffer/holding tank
- Heat treatment (steriliser)
- Aseptic filler or packaging
In an Innofarms mobile aseptic unit, the conveyor is mounted inside or alongside the container and connects directly to the pulper.
Customisation
Conveyor length and belt width are selected based on the target throughput and the number of sorting stations required. For smaller 1 TPD lines, a 3-metre conveyor with two sorting positions is typical. For 5 TPD lines, a 5–6 metre conveyor with four sorting positions provides adequate inspection time.
The conveyor is supplied as part of a complete Innofarms processing line or as a standalone unit. Contact us with your throughput target and site layout — we will recommend the right size.