Page 67 - FoodFocusThailand No.225 December 2024

STORAGE, HANDLING & LOGISTICS

Storage Technology for Maintaining Product The Future of Conveyance and Storage Technology
Freshness The future development of conveying and warehousing systems
Chemical, raw material, and finished goods warehouses can will increasingly integrate AI technology. In the past, systems
benefit from Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems used fuzzy logic controllers to predict and manage tasks like
(ASRS). These systems include: sorting candy bars on a conveyor belt from 1990 to 1999.
1. Storage Equipment and Systems: Vertical lift modules However, today, AI is becoming more prevalent in managing
(VLM) for limited spaces. The warehouse management can conveyor systems. This includes machine vision, digital image
adopt swarm robotics, Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs), processing, and deep learning techniques to allow machines
or Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) driven by artificial to inspect and assess food quality as it moves along the
intelligence (AI), dynamic storage racks adjustable to specific conveyor. AI can also automatically adjust parameters, such as
needs, as well as zoned temperature and humidity control evaluating the doneness of meat or baked goods during
systems. continuous cooking processes on the conveyor. Furthermore,
2. Warehouse Management Systems (WMS): AI can assess the ripeness of fruits or evaluate the quality of
Cloud-based warehouse management programs, real-time vegetables and grains while they are being transported on the
RFID tracking systems, AI-powered inventory data analysis, conveyor. It can also identify defective items and remove them
Automated cross-docking systems, etc. from the production process. All data can be integrated and
Refrigerated and frozen product storage often requires analyzed through cloud systems, enabling remote monitoring
specialized equipment, such as systems to prevent and control by consultants or factory analysts. Additionally, the
condensation through optimized airflow rates, real-time cold use of digital twin technology allows for simulation and analysis
chain monitoring, and temperature tracking throughout of production processes. For sorting various types of food
the supply chain, from production and storage to transportation. products from the conveyor and packaging them into boxes,
With IoT advancements, Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) collaborative robots (Cobots) can work alongside humans.
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technology is utilized for real-time condition reporting of items These robots work in tandem with self-optimizing conveyor
within cargo trucks. networks, automatically adjusting to maintain high efficiency
However, some types of food products require highly throughout the process.
specialized handling systems to maintain their quality. For In addition to AI, blockchain technology is now being
example, frozen ready-to-eat meals must be transferred from implemented to prevent product contamination, enabling full
high-temperature conditions after cooking to the freezing traceability of products throughout transportation and
process before being packaged into both primary and distribution. Extended Reality (XR) is also being used to control
secondary containers. This transfer process requires and maintain machinery and material handling systems in
meticulous handling to prevent contamination along the edges factories, along with smart factory solutions supported by 5G
of the boxes or conveyor belts. If specially designed conveyor networks. However, businesses should consider installation
belts are not used, the products may suffer damage during and operational costs, payback periods, financial returns, and
handling due to speed variations on curved paths and contact long-term cost savings before investing in these technologies
with side rails. To address these challenges, some to determine the most suitable technologies for their specific
manufacturers have developed Slip-Torque Roller Conveyors, operations.
which operate using independently rotating roller shafts. Each
roller shaft is powered individually and covered with
segmented small rollers that form the conveyor’s surface.
When trays stop on the conveyor surface, the segmented Service Info C013
rollers beneath them also stop, creating low back pressure More Information
and reducing the risk of product damage. The force driving
the trays comes from their weight combined with the friction
coefficient between the roller shaft and the inner diameter of เอกสารอ้างอิง / References
the rollers. The heavier the tray, the greater the force applied 1 Kold, J., & Silverman, C. (2016). Conveyors used in the food
to move it, ensuring smooth and damage-free handling industry. In Handbook of hygiene control in the food industry
throughout the transfer process. (pp. 367-382). Woodhead Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-
0-08-100155-4.00027-3
AI, A. O. A. I. (2022). APPLICATION OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
(AI) AND INTERNET OF THINGS (IOT) IN FOOD PROCESSING.
Pitjamit, S., Jewpanya, P., & Nuangpirom, P. (2024). Enhancing
Lean-Kaizen practices through IoT and automation: A comprehensive
analysis with simulation modeling in the Thai food industry.
Engineering and Applied Science Research, 51(3), 286-299.
Meenu, M., Kurade, C., Neelapu, B. C., Kalra, S., Ramaswamy, H. S.,
& Yu, Y. (2021). A concise review of food quality assessment using
digital image processing. Trends in Food Science & Technology,
118, 106-124.
Zhu, L., Spachos, P., Pensini, E., & Plataniotis, K. N. (2021). Deep
learning and machine vision for food processing: A survey. Current
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