Notes

Robotic Potato Machines and Their Applications
The Herbert Engineering Robotic Potato is a machine that helps the packing and sorting process of potatoes. It uses a pneumatic gripper mounted on the wrist of an articulated arm robot to clamp the potatoes horizontally. Then, a row of tines underneath supports the load. This process helps avoid the unnecessary manual labor of workers.

Tasteful Selections

Tasteful Selections is a global leader in specialty potatoes. Their vertically integrated farming operations are committed to food safety and quality. The company pioneered smaller potatoes, which provide consumers with an easier, more convenient source of nutritious potatoes. Robotic automation is integral to the company's strategy to expand its potato production and achieve sustainability goals.

Recently, Tasteful Selections began automating the tray sealing process. The process involves a film seal and a paperboard sleeve.

Thelning

A potato depositor robot can be a game-changer in the production process. Not only can it reduce the time it takes to produce a batch of potatoes, but it can also increase overall output. Moreover, this machine can operate day and night, meaning that its production cost can be reduced.

De Aardappelhoeve, a Dutch potato specialist, had a specific requirement for its robotic packing system. It needed to maximize production while minimizing human error and ensuring food safety and quality. The robot's design included pneumatic air pressure control to ensure a secure grip. The system can handle a variety of different bag sizes, so it can load multiple formats at one time.

UniPaker

The UniPaker Robotic Potato Packing System has recently been installed in the Morrisons fresh produce depot. Developed in collaboration with the Rushden team, the system is an automated packaging system that uses robotics to automatically pick and place potato packs. The system is designed to improve product handling and presentation while reducing waste. It uses an innovative automated loading technique to ensure consistent packing quality.

The system is equipped with an end effector that loads the whole range of Morrisons potatoes. It is able to accommodate various sizes and weights of potato packs, as well as lumps of different shapes. In addition, the end effector's enveloping capabilities mean that it can handle a wide range of pack sizes. This means that the system can be used to pack potatoes from as little as 0.5 kilograms to as much as 2.5kg.

D-Blade

The D-Blade for Robotic Potato is a high-speed robotic cutter that can cut up to 5 potatoes per second. It works by utilizing delta robots and vision technology to detect defects on produce and trim them away. This reduces waste and improves yield. As a bonus, the machine also removes black spots on rejected produce, returning them to the production line for a second chance.

The blade has a timing belt system that transfers motion from a single actuator to the blade. This allows for smooth movements. It also allows for an arm to be mounted high above the lettuce, enabling the height of the cutting mechanism to be adjusted.

Soft Robotics

Soft Robotics has teamed up with Tasteful Selections to help the company expand their potato production lines. This forward-thinking company specializes in state-of-the-art production technology, including robotic automation. In order to increase production speed, Tasteful Selections wanted to reduce the number of human touch points while maintaining quality and food safety standards. They turned to Soft Robotics for a robotic gripper and ended up with a solution that meets their requirements perfectly.

Soft Robotics has developed a soft robotic gripping system that can handle delicate produce. It has applications in harvesting, food processing, and supply chain automation. Soft Robotics has also developed state-of-the-art production technology that allows for a higher yield per acre. A robotic irrigation system, for example, allows the company to grow up to 40 more plants per acre, while reducing labor costs to just seven cents per vine.

mGrip

The mGrip Robotic Potato Grasping System is a food-safe robotic solution that allows food producers to increase the speed and accuracy of processing lines without the use of additional human labor. The potato-grabbing system has a pneumatic air pressure control system that allows operators to tighten or loosen its grip on the potato. The mGrip also provides information to the operator that allows them to place the potatoes where they want them to be.

The m Grip is designed to withstand harsh environments and can execute multiple picks in less than one second. The system is already used worldwide in various manufacturing environments and has completed billions of picks. The robustness of the m Grip makes it a perfect choice for food automation.
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