The Watermelon Grading Machine with Automatic Weight Measurement The Watermelon Grading Machine with Automatic Weight Measurement

Abstract

Current fruit grading system mostly consists of sorting quality and size based on their features. Trading takes place in domestic mid markets. In general, such sorting still relies on manpower as the key role on grading of various kinds of fruits. Cost for the employment is required. The considerable limitations of fruit grading by manpower includes operational durations and errors. For watermelon grading nowadays according to the field survey at Sapteweetanyaphon Co., Ltd. and Talaadthai, an indispensable market for product distribution of Thailand, each watermelon is weighed before loading into containers. This causes delay in the process and requires high cost of manpower. Hence, the researcher designed and created a watermelon grading machine with automatic weight measurement. The machine can also be applied to other fruits. This grading machine can grade 4 groups of the samples. Watermelons will be sent along the conveyor. Weight can be set from the touch-screen display, with a load cells to detect weight. Then, the signal is sent to the programmable logic controller (PLC) for processing and commanding to open the way for watermelon grading as set. The findings from testing the watermelon grading machine revealed the errors measured. The weight was set at 3 grades in the test from the samples. 135 watermelons were used. Regarding the results of the errors, it was found that Grade 1, 2, and 3 showed 0.00%     of error.