Automation In Meat Processing

OVERVIEW:

Over the last two decades industrial robots are being implemented in various labour-intensive industries like automobile, manufacturing, agriculture and mining. But in case of food servicing industry especially in meat processing sector we can observe only a meagre amount of implementation of the automated industrial robots, apart from performing the basic or traditional process like picking, packing and palletisation.

Meat processing includes various tasks like

 meat selection

 meat processing

 meat cutting and slaughtering

 picking and packing

Automation is already into existence in term of downstream process like pick and packing process but for upstream process like meat cutting and slaughtering the automation is still in

The entire tasks are rigorous, strenuous and repetitive in nature. Due to which the workers get strain injuries in their hands, elbows, wrists and back therefore many neglect to take these kind of jobs especially young workforce are on their back foot to do these tasks.

 Unsuitable working environment: The working environment is always surrounded with noise, extreme temperatures (cold and humidity) and repetitive work

Joints connecting two links allow them to move freely relative to each other. Joints allow the robot to move in a straight path or in a rotary motion.

End-effectors:

It is defined as the robot’s hand. It acts as wrist attached to the manipulator for handling tools and to perform the various operations like lifting, carrying and pulling etc. Figure 1: Important components of an industrial robot

Figure 3: Industrial robot

Programmer:

The action to be performed by the robot is loaded into the memory of the programmer. The user uses the teach-pendant /hand-held device which allows the robot to follow a desired path or to perform the required tasks

Power supply: It provides the required energy to drive the controller, sensors and actuators.

Experimental Setup and Working principle for meat processing: Figure 3: Robotic carcass splitting system

The important components integrated for meat processing applications are:

a) Controller (ABB S4C+)

b) Industrial robot(ABB IRB