Automated Scoring Systems
Bakers traditionally score dough products with a blade before baking, allowing the product to expand in a controlled manner during baking. More importantly, this scoring is the baker’s signature: a good or bad cut can either enhance or ruin the bread. We have automated this process.
Scoring Systems
Kaak has long supplied traditional XY scoring systems. These systems are primarily used on lines producing uniform products, where items are neatly aligned on conveyors. In this setup, multiple blades arranged in a fixed pattern score the products in the same way.
However, the market has evolved, and there is now increasing demand for a wide variety of free-form (moldless) breads in different sizes, shapes, and flavors. Each has its own unique “signature,” and our automated 3D vision-controlled cutting robots can successfully handle this diversity.
3D Vision Technology
Dough is “alive,” which means it never rests in exactly the same shape. This results in products having varying shapes, positions, and orientations. That is why 3D vision technology is used. Each product passes sequentially in front of a camera, which scans its shape, position on the conveyor, and orientation. This data is then used to guide the cutting robot to score the product precisely as required.
Our 6-axis robots can hold and maneuver the scoring tool (blade) in any position. This is crucial because keeping the blade slightly angled allows the bread to develop a beautifully lifted crust during baking. This enhances flavor development and increases the visual appeal of the bread.
