Delivering Results – Vacuum Suction
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Delivering Results – Vacuum Suction
The Gamechanger and Gamechanger Pro use suction to efficiently lift the mushrooms off the collector belt and transfer the mushrooms to the punnets, trays and boxes which are sitting on the weighing module. We can do this at low pressure on the Gamechanger because the mushroom has already been picked off the bed. Pressure is measured in kPa (Kilo Pascals) or PSI (Pounds per Square Inch).
Suction is used to lift the mushrooms mainly because it allows the accurate pickup and placement of mushrooms in the containers with the mushroom head up and with the stalk down in 95% of cases. This vacuum/suction method has been tested numerous times with mushrooms placed in the fridge and looked at after 7 days, with no visual signs of browning around where the mushrooms have been picked up by the suckers.
We have technology to ensure that we don’t exceed the desired PSI even when the vacuum pump is on and the suction pressure in the tank is much higher than what is needed.
A specific sucker has been chosen for the Gamechanger which allows us to create a complete seal even with brown or white mushrooms and even when we are picking small mushrooms. Obviously, bigger mushrooms are heavier and we can program the pickup time to be longer to allow more time for a suction seal.
The Gamechangers also use a blow-off feature with small, light mushroom to blow the mushroom off the suckers rather than wait until a light mushroom falls off. This can increase speeds when picking small mushrooms.
The design of the Gamechanger pickup system is such that it will easily pick up big mushrooms, while also lifting a small mushroom in the same lift. This has been developed, improved and tested over time to ensure precise and consistent pickups.
The Gamechangers have a programable cleaning mechanism for the suckers, so we can reduce the effects of any small bits of debris picked up when lifting the mushrooms. Brown mushrooms will require more regular cleaning of suckers than white mushrooms.
Other Vacuum Related Items
We use vacuum to lift and place mushrooms. Dropping mushrooms from a height will damage mushrooms though it may take a few days for that damage to show. The damage will be proportional to the length of the drop, long drop, more damage. If you drop a mushroom 75+% will end up with the stalk up, which doesn’t look good to the average retail customer, and that comes with a corresponding reduction in sales. When you drop mushrooms weighing accuracy is affected as the weighing module will vibrate. You now have to slow it down.
We have found that you cannot weigh mushrooms that are falling so overfilling can be a problem. These dropping solutions may be ok for processing and wholesale but will have a detrimental effect on retail sales generally.
When using vacuum/suction to actually pick mushrooms off the bed you would need to increase suction by a factor of more than 2 to ensure they are lifted. This level of vacuum will create a brown ring around the mushroom cap within a day or so, irrespective of the sucker used.
The suggestion that a specific sucker will somehow eliminate this is nonsense. Doctoring pinning and growing strategies to accommodate this type of technology so you can reduce vacuum levels for picking will damage both yield and profit.
Mushrooms are porous and airflow will go through the mushroom. At higher pressure, using suction required to pick mushrooms off the bed, will force air through the mushroom and as a result will suck moisture out of the mushroom causing possible reductions in weight. As the moisture content of a mushroom is 85-90%, this excessive suction could potentially have a very significant effect on reducing the actual weight of the mushroom.
The time between pickup and mushroom placement in the punnet also needs to be taken into account. The Gamechangers use low suction values as well as a very short time from pickup to drop off (normally 1.5 seconds) to minimise any detrimental effect.
The Gamechanger Pro and Articulated Floor Supported Lift is The Only Viable Solution for your mushroom farm.
To view more information and video please click the following links for the Gamechanger Pro or Floor Supported Lift.
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