Double Channel Color Sorter Machine for Seeds, Grains, Pulses, Nuts and Specialty Products
The MMCTECH CSR-002 Double Channel Optical Color Sorter is a compact industrial color sorting machine manufactured for seed processors, grain cleaning facilities, pulse plants, edible seed operations, nut processors, specialty crop companies, food ingredient manufacturers, and commercial agricultural processing lines. Combining two optical sorting channels, a CCD color camera system, and 126 high-speed pneumatic ejectors, the CSR-002 identifies and removes discolored, defective, damaged, foreign, and visually inconsistent particles from properly cleaned, dry, and free-flowing products.
The CSR-002 is designed for companies searching for a seed color sorting machine, grain color sorter, nuts color sorter, optical seed sorter, or industrial color sorter with more processing capability than a single-channel machine. Its double-channel configuration increases product distribution area and sorting capacity while maintaining precise optical inspection and controlled pneumatic rejection.
Based on the published product-capacity reference, the CSR-002 provides nominal capacities from approximately 1,102 to 2,646 lbs/hour (500 to 1,200 kg/hour), depending on the crop or material. It can be evaluated for white sunflower seed, roasted sunflower seed, black sunflower seed, Dakota sunflower seed, pumpkin seed, watermelon seed, sunflower kernels, beans, chickpeas, green lentils, red lentils, yellow lentils, white wheat, red wheat, rye, bulgur, unshelled peanuts, shelled peanuts, pistachios, sesame seed, black seed or nigella, rice paddy, and suitable plastic granules.
What Is a Double Channel Optical Color Sorter?
A double-channel color sorter uses two product channels to present material to the optical inspection system. As products move through the channels, CCD color cameras analyze their visible characteristics. When the system detects a particle that falls outside the selected acceptable color range, one or more pneumatic ejectors produces a precisely timed air pulse that redirects the unwanted particle into the reject stream.
The CSR-002 sorting process generally includes:
- Controlled product feeding
- Distribution across two sorting channels
- CCD color camera inspection
- Comparison with the selected product recipe
- Real-time accepted-or-rejected sorting decision
- Pneumatic rejection through 126 ejectors
- Separate accepted, rejected, and bouncing-product discharge
The two-channel configuration provides increased material distribution compared with a single-channel color sorter. This can support more stable feeding and higher production capacity when the product, defect contrast, compressed-air system, and operating settings are suitable.
CCD Color Camera Sorting Technology
The standard CSR-002 configuration uses CCD color camera technology to inspect visible differences between acceptable product and unwanted material. Depending on the crop and selected sorting parameters, the system may help identify:
- Discolored seeds and grains
- Dark or light defective particles
- Stained kernels
- Visibly damaged material
- Burned or heat-discolored particles
- Mold-discolored products
- Immature material with visible differences
- Shell fragments
- Contrasting foreign seeds
- Foreign material with a different visible color
- Product with inconsistent surface appearance
Optical sorting accuracy depends on the visual difference between good product and the target defect. A color sorter cannot reliably remove a defect that has the same visible appearance as acceptable material unless an additional detection technology can distinguish it.
Optional NIR Camera Configuration
An optional NIR camera configuration may be evaluated for applications in which visible color inspection alone is insufficient. Near-infrared detection may help identify certain differences in material composition or internal response that are not obvious to a standard CCD color camera.
NIR performance is product-specific. Product and defect samples should be tested before an NIR configuration is recommended because not every material produces enough spectral contrast for dependable separation.
Seed Color Sorting Machine for Commercial Processing
The CSR-002 can be integrated as a professional seed color sorter machine after mechanical seed cleaning, grading, aspiration, density separation, and magnetic separation. It provides a final visual quality-control stage for seed lots that require improved appearance and greater uniformity.
Potential seed applications include:
- Sunflower seed
- Pumpkin seed
- Watermelon seed
- Wheat seed
- Bean seed
- Chickpea seed
- Lentil seed
- Sesame seed
- Nigella or black seed
- Specialty agricultural seed
The color sorter does not replace mechanical seed cleaning equipment. Screens, aspirators, destoners, gravity separators, indented cylinders, and magnetic separators remove defects according to other physical properties. Optical sorting is used for defects that differ visually from the accepted product.
Sunflower Seed Color Sorter
The CSR-002 can be configured for several sunflower products. Published nominal capacities are:
- White sunflower seed: approximately 1,984 lbs/hour (900 kg/hour)
- Roasted sunflower seed: approximately 1,764 lbs/hour (800 kg/hour)
- Black sunflower seed: approximately 1,764 lbs/hour (800 kg/hour)
- Dakota sunflower seed: approximately 1,764 lbs/hour (800 kg/hour)
- Sunflower kernels: approximately 1,543 lbs/hour (700 kg/hour)
Each sunflower product should have its own sorting recipe because seed color, stripe pattern, surface appearance, size, and expected defects vary between varieties and processed products. Roasted seed and raw seed applications should not automatically use the same settings.
Pumpkin and Watermelon Seed Optical Sorting
The nominal CSR-002 capacity for pumpkin seed is approximately 1,984 lbs/hour (900 kg/hour). The nominal watermelon seed capacity is approximately 1,543 lbs/hour (700 kg/hour).
These products can vary in size, thickness, reflectivity, surface pattern, and natural color. Uniform product feeding is important because overlapping seeds can make individual optical inspection and accurate pneumatic rejection more difficult.
Bean and Chickpea Color Sorter Machine
The CSR-002 provides nominal capacities of:
- Beans: approximately 2,646 lbs/hour (1,200 kg/hour)
- Chickpeas: approximately 2,205 lbs/hour (1,000 kg/hour)
A bean or chickpea color sorter may help remove visibly discolored, stained, darkened, light-colored, mold-discolored, damaged, or foreign particles. However, low-density defects that visually resemble good product may require gravity separation before optical sorting.
Green, Red and Yellow Lentil Color Sorting
The published nominal capacity for green lentils, red lentils, and yellow lentils is approximately 2,205 lbs/hour (1,000 kg/hour) for each product.
Each lentil variety requires an independently adjusted sorting recipe. Green, red, and yellow lentils have different acceptable color ranges, defect contrasts, and background requirements. The machine should be cleaned and settings verified when changing from one lentil type to another.
Wheat, Rye and Bulgur Grain Color Sorter
The CSR-002 can operate as a compact grain color sorter with the following nominal capacities:
- White wheat: approximately 2,646 lbs/hour (1,200 kg/hour)
- Red wheat: approximately 2,205 lbs/hour (1,000 kg/hour)
- Rye: approximately 1,764 lbs/hour (800 kg/hour)
- Bulgur: approximately 2,205 lbs/hour (1,000 kg/hour)
The machine may help remove dark kernels, stained grains, visibly damaged product, contrasting foreign seeds, and other color-related defects. The product should first be cleaned to remove excessive dust, chaff, stones, undersize material, and oversized impurities.
Nuts Color Sorter for Peanuts and Pistachios
The CSR-002 can be evaluated as a compact nuts color sorter for suitable peanut and pistachio products. Published capacities are:
- Unshelled peanuts: approximately 1,543 lbs/hour (700 kg/hour)
- Shelled peanuts: approximately 2,205 lbs/hour (1,000 kg/hour)
- Pistachios: approximately 2,205 lbs/hour (1,000 kg/hour)
Nut products may have irregular shapes, natural color differences, surface texture variations, broken pieces, and different levels of reflectivity. Product testing is recommended to establish the correct lighting, background, sensitivity, feeding rate, and reject strategy.
The optical sorter can support quality control by removing visually defective nuts, but it does not replace food-safety inspection, aflatoxin management, laboratory testing, or other required safety controls.
Sesame and Black Seed Color Sorting
The CSR-002 has a nominal sesame seed capacity of approximately 1,543 lbs/hour (700 kg/hour). The nominal black seed or nigella capacity is approximately 1,102 lbs/hour (500 kg/hour).
Small seeds require controlled feeding, consistent product presentation, clean optical surfaces, and accurate ejector timing. Their lower capacity compared with beans or wheat reflects the need to maintain sufficient particle separation for precise inspection.
Rice Paddy Color Sorting
The published nominal capacity for rice paddy is approximately 2,205 lbs/hour (1,000 kg/hour). The CSR-002 may help remove visually discolored grains and contrasting foreign material after the paddy has passed through suitable mechanical cleaning equipment.
Dust, straw, stones, broken material, and excessive impurities should be removed before optical sorting. A cleaner incoming product can reduce ejector workload, protect optical surfaces, improve product recovery, and provide more consistent sorting results.
Plastic Granule Sorting
The CSR-002 may also be evaluated for suitable plastic granules at a nominal capacity of approximately 1,102 lbs/hour (500 kg/hour). The machine can separate granules according to visible color differences when the material flows consistently through the sorting channels.
Plastic applications require individual evaluation because static electricity, transparency, surface reflection, irregular shape, and material temperature may affect product feeding and camera detection.
126 Pneumatic Ejectors
The CSR-002 is equipped with 126 high-speed pneumatic ejectors. These ejectors receive signals from the optical control system and produce short air pulses that redirect unwanted particles from the accepted product flow.
Ejector performance depends on:
- Stable compressed-air pressure
- Clean and dry air
- Correct ejector timing
- Product speed
- Particle size
- Defect percentage
- Channel loading
- Sorting sensitivity
- Routine cleaning and maintenance
Excessive sensitivity may increase final purity but can also increase acceptable product loss. The correct operating point should balance defect removal, acceptable product recovery, production capacity, and air consumption.
Compressed-Air Requirements
The CSR-002 requires an operating air pressure of approximately 87–116 psi (0.6–0.8 MPa / 6–8 bar). Its nominal compressed-air consumption is approximately 21.2–53.0 CFM (600–1,500 L/min).
Actual air consumption changes according to defect percentage, product type, ejector activity, sensitivity, processing rate, and operating recipe. The compressor and air-treatment system should be selected for the maximum expected demand with an appropriate reserve capacity.
The compressed-air installation should include:
- Correctly sized air compressor
- Air receiver tank
- Moisture separator
- Air dryer
- Oil filtration
- Particle filtration
- Pressure regulator
- Pressure monitoring
- Properly sized air lines
- Minimal pressure loss between compressor and machine
Why Pre-Cleaning Is Important Before Optical Sorting
The CSR-002 performs best when the incoming material has already been cleaned and classified. Optical color sorting should not be used as the first cleaning stage for products containing excessive dust, chaff, stones, oversize debris, undersize particles, broken material, or lightweight impurities.
A typical processing sequence may include:
- Seed or grain pre-cleaner
- Fine screen cleaner
- Aspiration system
- Destoner
- Gravity separator
- Indented cylinder separator when required
- Magnetic separator
- CSR-002 double-channel color sorter
- Final inspection
- Weighing, bagging, or storage
Correct pre-cleaning can provide cleaner camera windows, more uniform feeding, reduced reject load, lower compressed-air consumption, improved accepted-product recovery, and greater final sorting consistency.
Color Sorter Versus Seed Cleaner
A seed cleaner separates material according to size, airflow, shape, and other mechanical properties. A color sorter analyzes visible appearance. The CSR-002 should generally be installed after screen cleaning and aspiration rather than used as a replacement for those machines.
Color Sorter Versus Gravity Separator
A gravity separator removes material according to density or specific gravity. It can separate hollow, lightweight, immature, insect-damaged, or low-density particles even when they have the same color as good product. A color sorter removes particles with detectable visible differences.
Using gravity separation before optical sorting can provide a stronger final cleaning process because each machine removes a different category of defect.
Color Sorter Versus Magnetic Separator
A magnetic separator removes ferromagnetic and sufficiently responsive magnetic material. The CSR-002 detects visual differences. Metal contamination should be controlled with suitable magnetic separation or metal-detection equipment rather than relying only on optical sorting.
Who Should Choose the CSR-002?
The CSR-002 may be suitable for processors that require:
- Two optical sorting channels
- More product distribution than a single-channel sorter
- 126 pneumatic ejectors
- Product-dependent capacities up to 2,646 lbs/hour
- CCD color camera inspection
- Optional NIR evaluation
- Multiple crop capability
- Commercial seed and grain sorting
- Nut and pulse quality control
- Integration into an automated processing line
Processors requiring less capacity may compare the CSR-002 with the CSR-001. Facilities requiring higher throughput should evaluate the CSR-003, CSR-004, CSR-005, CSR-006, CSR-007, or larger MMCTECH color sorting systems.
Standalone Installation or Complete Processing Plant
The CSR-002 can be supplied as standalone color sorting equipment or integrated into a complete MMCTECH seed, grain, pulse, nut, oilseed, or specialty product processing plant.
A complete installation may include:
- Raw-product feed hopper
- Bucket elevator
- Controlled feeding system
- Machine support platform
- Air compressor
- Air receiver
- Air dryer and filtration
- Accepted-product collection
- Reject-product collection
- Bouncing-grain collection
- Downstream conveyors
- Weighing and bagging system
- PLC and SCADA automation
PLC and Automation Integration
The CSR-002 can be integrated with upstream and downstream machinery through a centralized MMCTECH control system. Depending on the project scope, automation can include:
- Elevator start and stop interlocks
- Feeder control
- Low-air-pressure alarms
- Product-flow monitoring
- Emergency-stop integration
- Accepted and reject discharge monitoring
- Downstream conveyor interlocks
- Central control panel connection
- PLC-controlled operating sequences
- SCADA production monitoring
North American and International Electrical Standards
The CSR-002 has a nominal machine power requirement of approximately 1.88 HP (1.4 kW). For North American and international installations, it can be configured for 208 / 240 / 480 VAC – 3 Phase – 50/60 Hz, according to final electrical engineering and project requirements.
The compressor, bucket elevator, feeder, conveyors, dust-control equipment, and other auxiliary machines have separate electrical loads and should be included when calculating total plant power requirements.
Machine Weight, Channel Size and Noise Level
The CSR-002 has a nominal machine weight of approximately 1,360 lbs (617 kg). Each published sorting channel has a nominal measurement of approximately 4.72 × 1.18 in (120 × 30 mm).
The nominal noise level is approximately 80 dB. Total workplace noise can be higher when the air compressor, elevators, conveyors, and other processing machinery are operating. Workplace sound exposure should be evaluated according to applicable local requirements.
Color Sorter Maintenance
Routine cleaning and inspection help maintain optical visibility, stable feeding, ejector response, and consistent sorting results. Recommended maintenance includes:
- Cleaning camera inspection windows
- Cleaning lights and background surfaces
- Cleaning both sorting channels
- Inspecting the product feeder
- Checking all 126 ejectors
- Servicing compressed-air filters
- Draining moisture separators
- Checking the air dryer
- Confirming operating pressure
- Checking accepted and reject outlets
- Inspecting the bouncing-grain outlet
- Checking electrical connections
- Reviewing accepted and rejected product samples
- Confirming the correct recipe before production
Color Sorter Machine Price
The CSR-002 color sorter machine price depends on the standard or optional camera configuration, NIR requirements, feeding equipment, bucket elevator, support platform, compressor package, air dryer, filtration, electrical voltage, automation scope, conveyors, installation, operator training, product testing, and spare-parts package.
When comparing color sorter quotations, buyers should verify whether the proposal includes the compressor, receiver tank, dryer, filters, elevator, feeder, platform, discharge transitions, electrical controls, commissioning, training, and spare parts. Comparing only the base machine price may not show the total installed project cost.
CSR-002 Double Channel Color Sorter for Sale
MMCTECH manufactures and supplies the CSR-002 Double Channel Optical Color Sorter for seed processors, grain cleaning companies, pulse facilities, edible seed operations, nut processors, food ingredient manufacturers, specialty crop companies, and commercial agricultural processing plants.
Companies searching for a seed color sorting machine, grain color sorter, seed color sorter, nuts color sorter, optical seed sorter, industrial color sorter, double-channel color sorting machine, or customized seed and nut separator can contact MMCTECH for current pricing, product testing, technical specifications, compressor requirements, automation options, and a project-specific quotation.
