Journal of Taiwan Agricultural Research

Author:Lung-Hu Lu, Jyh-Rong Tsay*, Lien-Sheng Liang, Wu-Huann Shyu, Yee-Ting Wang and Yong-Hsing Teng

Abstract:

    This paper describes the research work to develop a serial of postharvest handling machines, including a snapping machine, a sorting machine, and a packing machine using fresh-keeping films, for fresh litchis. The final goal of the research is to lessen the labor requirement, to reduce the production cost, to preserve the litchi quality in storage and portage, and to strengthen the competition ability of the processed litchis in foreign and domestic markets. The snapping machine using rotary gear-shape rollers and disk-type sorter had been developed and integrated for processing fresh litchi fruits. Two kinds of fruit filling systems, including a counter-type and a weigher-type, were also manufactured and modified. Besides, the once over small-package packing machine using fresh-keeping films was tested and demonstrated. The fresh-keeping performance of litchis processed by the developed system was evaluated experimentally. Results from tests indicated that the snapping machine and the disk-type sorter were integrated successfully with a successful snapping rate of 91.28%, a damage rate of 0.72%, and a with-stalk rate of 8.01%. The automatic handling system could run smoothly with a working capability of 360 packs per hour. The litchis, mechanically wrapped in food fresh-keeping films, could be stored for at least two weeks at 5℃ (RH90～95%). The peel browning rate of the stored litchis was found to be about 30% in two weeks.

Key words:Litchi, Snapping, Sorting, Handling machine

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