![]() These actions of repetitive, and hence, very applicable to being automated. Perhaps the most common and most effective use of robotics in the food industry is in packaging, casing and palletizing. ![]() Being able to remove contaminated seeds, grains or nuts will enhance human health globally. Mycotoxins, such as aflatoxin and fumonisin, are products of fungi metabolism and have been associated with the development of cancers in persons exposed to these metabolites over time. The European equipment manufacturer, Bühler, has developed a system called the LumoVision that utilizes this technology (). As an example, aflatoxins will fluoresce under ultraviolet light, allowing contaminated nuts, such as almonds or peanuts, to be removed from the process flow. Multispectral analysis has been utilized to detect grains, seeds and nuts that have been contaminated with mycotoxins. Optical sorters can do things like count the slices of pepperoni on a pizza, be programmed to remove materials that are different colors, or utilize different wavelengths of light to eliminate specific defects. Sorters utilize lasers and various kinds of optics to detect defects. Sorting technology has made incredible strides in recent years. One of the best applications for robotic systems is sorting for quality or other attributes. Eliminating the human element could help minimize the potential for cross-contamination. These systems can even be adapted to handle leafy greens, such as romaine lettuce, which was implicated in several foodborne outbreaks. One of the manufacturers of this technology is a company called Soft Robotics Inc. ![]() The robotic systems are faster than humans, and there are no concerns about repetitive motion injuries. These systems are currently being employed in produce operations, snack foods, bakery items and proteinaceous products, such as fish and meats. Companies have designed robotic hands and arms that gently grab different products and place them into the appropriate package. Butchers work in a cold environment and must wear the appropriate garments to keep warm and essential personal protective equipment to protect themselves from injury.Īnother potential application for robotics involves gripping and moving or placing different food products. The human effort involved in butchering carcasses is considerable, and the tools needed are potentially hazardous. The driving force in this application is in part worker safety. The meat application, therefore, focuses on beef carcass butchering rather than preparing cuts for retail sales. Meat processing is an interesting application in that meat is extremely variable in size, shapes, marbling and fat distribution. The 10 principles of sanitary design established by the American Meat Institute must be applied to any equipment manufactured for use in food processing.Īmong the current applications for robotics in food processing are meat processing, sorting, food handling (especially fruits, vegetables and leafy greens), and very specific applications, such as cake decorating. Any robotic system that touches foods needs to be designed so that it can be properly cleaned and sanitized. These advantages are all true, except for the comment about sterility. They mention that robots can work in harsh environments that would be uncomfortable for humans, that robots are sanitary and can be “sterilized” (which is the wrong word) and can work more safety. Robotics advocates like to talk about potential advantages of using robots in food processing applications. Processors purchasing mechanically harvested material must install systems, such as air blowers, float tanks and magnets, to catch contaminates. I have personally seen some of the foreign materials that come in with mechanically harvested products, including snakes, glass, metal, stones and many others. Mechanical harvesters have certain drawbacks in that they may collect nonfood items. This could be considered a robotics application. Growers have utilized mechanical harvesting systems for many, many years. These systems are designed to ensure more efficient operations. With more and more farmers adopting drip irrigation technology, the sensors may be linked to the system to deliver water and nutrients as needed. The sensors may be used to monitor such parameters as soil moisture, soil acidity and temperature. Some farmers are now employing robotics sensors to monitor different variables essential to efficient food production. Robotics are used for two basic agricultural applications: growing and harvesting. Let’s follow the process flow from field to consumer to look at how robotics may be applied to food production, processing and handling.
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