Innovation of new machines has generated a great impact to Thailand ' s industries especially in the food sector.

    To support the production potential of lime processing industry, Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research (TISTR) has developed a machine for lime production line and product. With its continuing success in the past in developing lime squeezing machine, plastic mold injection machine for lime packaging and pasteurizing machine for lime juice product. Food Technology Department has successfully developed a new machine called a lime cleaning machine. The machine has been design to clean limes and reduce contamination of chemical , microorganism, pesticide and other foreign residues such as dirt or dust that come with fruit after being harvested and before going to be further processed.

    The lime cleaning machine has been developed from combining rolling system. sprayer and nylon brush, which are the three important parts for the cleaning process. An one horsepower small engine is used to drive the chain and gear system and has a capacity in cleaning around 20,000-30,000 fresh fruit per hour. The machine is composed of commonly available domestic materials such as stainless steel. supeline, PVC, and plastic, etc.

    The operation process starts from loading fresh lime produce to a receiving chamber which contains chlorine or fungicide solution. The fruit is then transported on conveyor belt to a nylon brush roller unit with a clip eyelet nozzles that sprays solution directly downward to the fruit. This sprayer design helps keeping the nozzle easy for cleaning and has a low maintenance cost. Cleaned fruit from this machine are afterward ready for further proess.

    Furthermore, this prototype machine can be applied to other citrus family fruits or fruits with round shape.