WHAT ABOUT ACCURACY?
This ground breaking, patented technology, is available in both bench top and component versions. By focusing on
shade detection instead of a human eye simulation color model, accuracy and repeatability, as they pertain to roast degree in coffee,
is greatly enhanced.
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589 Rappahannock Drive WhiteStone Va 22578
Tel (804) 435-5522 Toll Free (866) 244-1578 Fax (703) 991-7133
www.coffeelabequipment.com
HOW IT WORKS-
ColorTrack RT is a laser based, shade sensing technology, originally developed to automate the roasting process, as it pertains to the color of coffee beans. It was originally designed for use in an automatic cafe roaster, that could roast small batches of coffee, without supervision.
The 110 Volt Powered Laser, emits a series of signals in the 785 nanometer range of the color spectrum, which is the ideal range for measuring monochromatic differences in shade. Applications include anything that is cooked, and changes color relative to the amount of time it has been cooking. Coffee just happens to be an ideal candidate.
Since nothing is likely to survive the inside of a commercial scale coffee roasting drum, sensors can only be put on the outside.
Because the viewing window is kept fairly clean from coffee beans striking it, and the laser signals are relatively distance insensitive, and easily pointed, (Imagine a hand held laser pointing device) the roaster viewing window works, as long as the sensor is aimed at an area that is continuously populated by roasting beans.
The output coming from the laser module, is expressed in a 0-10 Volt DC low voltage signal, which correlates to the color of the roasting coffee beans. The user then needs to measure a very dark sample, and a very light sample, to establish the high and low parameters of the color curve. For example, if the very dark sample reads 1.2 Volts DC, and the lighter sample reads 8.3 Volts DC, the rest of the readings in between, would fall in between those two values. The more samples used to create the correlation curve, the better, and more robust the readings will be.
The 0-10 Volt DC Signals can be fed directly in to a PLC, for automation. No ColorTrack Software is required for this application.
The ColorTrack Real Time Application was made to monitor and record real time data which is generated during a coffee roast, from various sensors. (ColorTrack Laser Module, drum and exhaust thermocouples, Humidity Sensors, etc...)
This information is displayed in both graph and table views. The roast data can be easily accessed through the track panel.
The user may choose to add gas and air values to be recorded during the roast. If the user has manual gas, or manual air controls, they may choose to record these values into the roast. This information is optional and will not affect how the system operates. Simply click the, "add air" or," add gas" buttons at the bottom of the display. A screen will pop up, showing the time, and if a value is entered, it will be recorded at that time.
ColorTrack RT is a laser based, shade sensing technology, originally developed to automate the roasting process, as it pertains to the color of coffee beans. It was originally designed for use in an automatic cafe roaster, that could roast small batches of coffee, without supervision.
