With the improvement of people's living standards, the requirements for food safety are also getting higher and higher. In this context, machine vision technology, as an efficient and accurate automated detection method, plays an increasingly important role in the field of food safety detection. The machine vision system simulates the visual function of the human eye and uses cameras and computer vision algorithms to quickly and non-destructively detect the appearance, size, color, label and other characteristics of food to ensure the quality and safety of food.
Use scenarios of machine vision in the field of food safety inspection
Appearance defect detection
In the food production process, appearance defects such as irregular shape, damage, discoloration, etc. are common quality problems. Machine vision systems capture food images with high-resolution cameras and use image processing algorithms to identify products that do not meet standards. For example, in fruit sorting, machine vision systems can identify the size, color, and surface defects of the fruits to achieve automatic sorting.
Dimensions
For certain foods that require strict shape specifications, such as candies, biscuits, etc., machine vision systems can accurately measure their dimensions to ensure that the dimensions of each product meet production standards.
Color detection
The color of food directly affects consumers’ desire to buy. Machine vision systems can detect the color of food and evaluate whether it meets preset color standards. For example, the freshness of meat products is often closely related to its color.
Label and packaging inspection
Proper labeling and complete packaging are critical to food safety. The machine vision system can check whether the date, batch number, barcode and other information on the food packaging are clear and correct, and also detect whether the packaging is intact.
Foreign body detection
Foreign objects such as metal and plastic may be mixed in during the food production process. Machine vision combined with X-ray detection technology can effectively identify and eliminate these potentially harmful substances.
The importance of machine vision
Compared with traditional manual inspection, machine vision system has the following advantages:
1. Improve detection speed and efficiency: The machine vision system can continuously perform detection, greatly improving the detection speed and efficiency of the production line.
2. Improve detection accuracy: Manual detection is easily affected by subjective factors and fatigue, while machine vision systems can maintain high accuracy over a long period of time.
3. Reduce costs: Although the initial investment is large, the machine vision system can save a lot of labor costs during operation and reduce waste caused by manual inspection errors.
4. Improve food safety levels: Machine vision systems can promptly detect safety hazards in the food production process and effectively prevent substandard products from entering the market.
Future development prospects of machine vision
With the continuous advancement of technology, future machine vision systems will develop in the following aspects:
1. Intelligence: Through the application of artificial intelligence technologies such as deep learning, future machine vision systems will be able to achieve more intelligent image recognition and analysis capabilities, improving detection accuracy and adaptability.
2. Integration: Machine vision systems will be more closely integrated with other automation equipment and information systems to achieve data sharing and decision support, and build a more intelligent production environment.
3. High resolution and high speed: With the improvement of camera technology, future machine vision systems will have higher resolution and processing speed, and can handle more complex inspection tasks.
4. Multi-dimensional detection: Combining 3D vision technology, spectral imaging technology, etc., future machine vision systems will be able to detect food from multiple dimensions, such as three-dimensional shape, component analysis, etc.
5. User-friendliness: With the popularization of technology, machine vision systems will be easier to operate and maintain, reducing the technical requirements for operators.
In summary, machine vision technology is increasingly used in the field of food safety inspection. It has significantly improved food safety levels by improving inspection speed, accuracy and efficiency. Looking to the future, with the continuous advancement of technology, machine vision will usher in new development opportunities in terms of intelligence, integration, and high performance, protect food safety, and bring safer and healthier food choices to consumers.