predominantly the company ’ s UniPAKer robotic crate packer .
FOOD SAFETY OF THE FUTURE
Providing instant results and capable of analysing an entire line of packed produce , a hyperspectral camera can be positioned at any part of the food production process . Yet , Brillopak utilises this AI technology predominantly between the packing and case loading operation where operatives previously inspected and rejected produce packs based upon sensory evaluations - sight , touch and smell .
In addition to checking the quality of produce being packed , the use of hyperspectral imaging can detect multiple anomalies with greater precision and speed . This includes appraising the colour , position , count , labels , packaging condition , print inspection , position detection ( 2D / 3D ), barcode / data code reading .
For cooked items , like bread rolls , a change in colour may indicate burnt areas . Change in size may indicate that a partial product , for example an apple sliced in half , has been inserted into a pack during the wrapping process . On beverage lines , it may identify partial filling . Cameras can also check the presence of labels , including verifying critical data such as date codes , and spot where food or debris may have become trapped , affecting the closure of packaging .
Advanced applications can even detect the chemical compositions of produce to accurately determine ripeness and the shelf life . Some producers already use it to check the pH level and tenderness of meat , such as beef .
For Brillopak customers , however , the ability to improve the accuracy of how products are picked and presented to the packing robot at speed is where director David Jahn sees immediate tangible advantages . He explains : “ Using these cameras we can find the centre and orientation of products . This information is conveyed to the robot , which accurately responds , adjusting its speed and position to pick up the pack , regardless of its location on the conveyor . The result is fewer line stoppages to address bottlenecks and better presentation in the retail crates .”
In its simplest form , the technology works by analysing how light is reflected across the electromagnetic spectrum . The camera generates a digital image containing far more colour for each pixel than a traditional vision system , or the human eye , which is limited to three primary colours . This ability to differentiate between similar coloured objects means that factories would now be able to spot minor blemishes , such as a small bruise on an apple .
The exact vision technology deployed by Brillopak will depend on the application , continues David . “ We might use a camera to select and reject products that don ’ t meet the quality criteria with regards to colour , size or count . Alternatively , vision might be used to sort multiple products as they move randomly down a conveyor in preparation for the next process . Critically , packs that don ’ t comply with labelling laws will also be rejected before the case loading process .”
By 2024 , the hyperspectral imaging systems market will be worth an estimated US $ 18.88 bn . i Although still a relatively small adopter of the technology , food processing and agriculture are expected to benefit significantly from advancements micro-hyperspectral imaging camera technology .
“ With food safety , quality assurance and food waste so high on the agenda , we anticipate that hyperspectral imaging will soon become the go-to vision system on food processing lines in the future ,” adds David .
Customers wanting a demo of vision technology can visit Brillopak ’ s new trial centre in Tonbridge , Kent . To book a visit , email info @ brillopak . co . uk
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