Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-lnqnp Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T07:00:12.306Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Developments in robot grippers for soft fruit packing in New Zealand

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2009

J.D. Tedford
J.D. Tedford
Affiliation:
Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Auckland (New Zealand)*
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

The heavy reliance which New Zealand places on its primary industries makes it important that every effort be made to automate these industries to improve their productivity. This presents many unique problems, especially when consideration is given to the use of robots in the horticultural sector for the handling of soft fruit for export. As part of this process, fruit must be individually packed in trays without the risk of damage. This is currently achieved through labour-intensive manual handling and for this reason a range of specialised robot grippers have been developed. These, to varying degrees, overcome many of the problems associated with the harsh handling which occurs when conventional industrial robot grippers are used.

Keywords

GrippersFruit packingNew ZealandRobots
Type
Article
Information
Robotica , Volume 8 , Issue 4 , October 1990 , pp. 279 - 283
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1990

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Johnson, J.C. et al. , “Two Experimental Bruise Reduction Methods for Mechanically Harvested Apples”, ASAE Transactions 1037 (1983).Google Scholar
2.Friedrich, W.E., “A New Silhouette-Related Algorithm for Improving Vision-Aided Robot Applications”, Annals of the CIRP 37(1), 481(1988).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
3.Lundstrom, G., Industrial Robots-Gripper Review (Intn. Fluidics Services Ltd, Bedford, England, 1977).Google Scholar
4.Bendz, P., “Systematization of the Grip of the Hand in Relation to the Finger Motor System” Scandinavian J. Rehabilitation Medicine 6, 158 (1974).Google Scholar
5.Schoorl, D. and Holt, J.E., “Bruise Resistance Measurements in Apples” J. Texture Studies 11, 389 (1980).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
6.Peleg, K., “A Mathematical Model for Produce Damage Mechanisms” ASAE Transactions 287–293 (1984).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
7.Tsukamoto, M., “Studies on the Mechanical Injury of Fruit” J. Japan Soc. Hort. Sci. 48 (3), 374 (1979).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8.Warnecke, H.J. and Schmidt, J.I., “Flexible Grippers for Handling Systems Design Possibilities and Experiences” Proc. 5th ICPR Chicago 320 (1979).Google Scholar
9.Andorf, P. et al. , “Robot Finger” U.S. Patent No 3,981,528 (1976).Google Scholar