Automation and sorting carcasses into and out of chillers

01 July 2018
Focus area: Hands-off processing
Program stream: Advanced manufacturing
Project number: 2016-1276
The laborious and sometimes inaccurate task of pushing carcasses into chillers will be negated using RFID technologies interfaced with pneumatic rams and sensors.

The new Production Scheduling & Chiller Marshalling Control Software will utilise slaughter floor data and unique RFID numbers on the carcase skids to facilitate a pre-determined Chiller Load Sequence based on selected grouping criteria set by the Operator. The solution will also allow for manual operation via the on-floor scheduling HEC touch screen.

With appropriate data available from within the host processor Kill Floor and Inventory systems, this will enable the automated sorting of carcasses into specified chillers based on pre-set criteria such as:
•    Weight and Fat score range
•    MSA eligibility
•    Owner of the Carcase
•    Producer of the Carcase
•    Animal Health Status Alerts
•    Selected Grades and/or Markets

This will be achieved by appropriately placed RFID readers, control software, and a mechanical method (to be provided by the host processor Abattoirs) to load and unload the chiller rails.
 
Previous in this focus area 03 January 2023 Astech PW bandsaw (hands free) set weight Next in this focus area 29 November 2019 Automation of primal cut bagging