(54(3):169-183)Development of Postharvest Handling Machine for Fresh Litchis

本文旨在敘述荔枝脫粒、果粒分級及保鮮小包裝等一貫作業處理機械與技術之研發，其目標為節省人工、降低生產成本、確保貯運品質，並提升新鮮荔枝（果粒）之內、外銷市場競爭力。經研製與數度試驗改良後，已完成齒桿型荔枝脫粒機之研製、脫粒機與圓盤式分級機之整併、計數與計重式裝填裝置和輸送系統之研製，以及荔枝果粒保鮮小包裝機械之改良等。荔枝採收後處理機經測試效果良好，脫粒分級良品率、損傷率與帶梗率之平均值分別為91.28、0.72與8.01%，其包裝作業能力為360盒/小時。果粒經保鮮膜小包裝處理後,其樣品於溫度5℃，相對濕度90~95%之條件下至少可貯存二週，此時果皮褐化比率約30%。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℃ (RH 90~95%). The peel browning rate of the stored litchis was found to be about 30% in two weeks