Beef ScriberTM

Semi-automated Beef Scribing

Beef Scribing

Benefits

Eliminates dangerous operational practices
Improves downstream processing, increasing productivity
Improves yield through:

Background

Beef scribing is one of the most hazardous operational procedures practiced on the processing floor. Not only is the job physically demanding; it also requires the scriber to perform consistently accurate cuts to ensure that the maximum yield is achieved from each carcass. Performed manually, the process is solely reliant on the ability of the scriber to assess and complete the cut accurately on each carcass with no guarantee that an optimal cut is achieved every time. The BeefScriberTM, developed by Machinery Automation & Robotics (MAR) in collaboration with Meat and Livestock Australia, is an innovation designed to improve every aspect of this difficult practice.

BeefScriberTM

The BeefScriberTM comprises a tungsten tip circular saw blade attached to a KUKA robot armed with vision technology and connected to a large-screen PC. Whenever a carcass is presented for cutting, the camera completes a scan and the scan is compared to a large database of preloaded images.

The carcass is then presented to the scriber with a number of recommended cut lines, which may be manually adjusted by the scriber if required. Once satisfied that the cut lines are in the correct place the scriber instructs the robot to proceed.

Beef Scribe Lines

Operation

  1. The suspended carcass is presented for cutting
  2. The carcass is stabilised by the backboard in preparation for scanning
  3. Pattern-matching tools are applied to the scanned image
  4. The image is cross-referenced with the database
  5. Cut lines are drawn on screen and may be adjusted manually as necessary
  6. The selected cut lines are scribed on the carcass
  7. Sterilisation of the blade is complete