MEETING THE NEED FOR ROBOTIC HANDLING OF FOOD-PRODUCTS

This paper identifies the need for a new range of end effectors suitab le for handling non-rigid products in the food industry. The mechanica l properties and handling difficulties of food products are introduced . Hygiene and the hygienic requirements in the food industry are discu ssed in detail from a consumer health and a safety point of view. The usage of automation and robotics in the manufacturing industry and foo d industry am briefly introduced The end effectors which are available are discussed from the usage point of view in the food sector Finally a novel end effector is introduced with fundamental working principle s and examples given of applications of the end effector used with act ual food products. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.