Introducing a new 3D ordering process for discrete food products using food categorisation

Purpose – This paper aims to introduce and identify a new 3D handling operation (bin picking) for natural discrete food products using food categorisation. Design/methodology/approach – The research shows a new food categorisation and the relation between food ordering processes and food categories. Bin picking in the food industry needs more flexible vision software compared to the manufacturing industry in order to decrease the degree of disarray of food products and transfer them into structure. Findings – It has been shown that there are still manual operated ordering processes in food industry such as bin picking; it just needs new ideas of image processing algorithms such as active shape models (ASMs) on its development in order to recognise the highly varying shapes of food products. Research limitations/implications – This research was aimed at locating a new ordering process and proving a new principle, but for practical implementation this bin picking solution needs to be developed and tested further. Originality/value – Identifying new ordering processes via food categorisation is unique and applying ASMs to bin picking opens a new industrial sector (food industry) for 3D handling.