Cutting baked goods

How Does Ultrasonic Food Cutting Work and What Are its Benefits?

Technology has progressed leaps and bounds in the recent few decades. What used to take hours and days by human hands can now be done within seconds by machines.
One of the major examples of this progressing technology can be seen in the ultrasonic food cutting process. It is a common cutting technology that is applied in almost all modern food processing plants.

In this article, you will learn about the basics of Ultrasonic wave cutting machines, how does an ultrasonic wave cutting machine work, and the various applications of this method.

What is an Ultrasonic Cutting Machine?

Ultrasonic cutters are machines where the cutting blade or knife vibrates at a very high frequency. The vibrating frequency is even higher than the frequency of sound audible by human ears, which is why the term ‘Ultrasonic vibration’ is employed.

The ultrasonic frequency of vibration of the blade leads to reducing friction to a bare minimum. This creates smooth and even cuts on a wide variety of surfaces.

Conventional food cutting processes often lead to smearing of food items due to high friction. Ultrasonic vibration cutting of food products removes this hindrance. Additionally, ultrasonic cutting provides the option to create very thin slices of food.

How Does Ultrasonic Cutting Work?

How Does Ultrasonic Cutting WorkThe working of the ultrasonic vibration cutters takes place by utilizing multiple parts in tandem. Here is a breakdown of different parts of an ultrasonic cutter:

Ultrasonic Generators

Ultrasonic Generator utilizes the 110 V AC or 220 V AC power supply electricity and turns it into a high voltage, high-frequency electricity signal. This signal is then fed to the transducers.

Ultrasonic Transducer

The ultrasonic transducer works as an ultrasonic converter. Its purpose is to take the high-frequency electrical signal and convert it into a mechanical high-frequency motion. It utilizes piezoelectric ceramic discs that expand on the application of electricity.

Transducers are completely sealed so as to avoid contact of electrical parts with water during washing.

Ultrasonic Booster

The purpose of an ultrasonic booster is to fine-tune the mechanical frequency obtained by the transducer. It also acts as a stationary intermediatory where the cutting tool can be clamped. Boosters are generally a one-piece part made of Titanium metal.

Cutting Tool

The cutting tool is also called the blade, cutting horn, or sonotrode. This tool vibrates on the high frequency provided by the booster. The most common material for the cutting tool design is Titanium since Titanium is very resonant and has high longevity.

Material Handling Equipment

Material handling equipment controls the movement of the food relative to the cutter or moves the cutter relative to the food. A good handling system is important to create precise cuts at the right location.

What are the Benefits of Using an Ultrasonic Cutting Robot?

There are many benefits of an ultrasonic cutter for food products as compared to other cutting alternatives. Some of these benefits include:

Excellent Cut Face

The ultrasonic food cutting process creates a high-quality, clean, and flat cut slices throughout the length of the food products. This makes it the ideal choice to prove high aesthetics to the food items.

No Smearing

While slicing, conventional cutting methods often apply pressure directly to the food items which leads to smearing of the food products. However, an ultrasonic cutting machine has vibrating blades which apply linear as well as perpendicular pressure. This avoids smearing of food during slicing.

No Shattering

Cutting soft products like cheese or soft bread with a knife often leads to the complete shattering of the product, making it unusable. In case of an ultrasonic cutter, the cutting motion is so swift that it eliminates any chances of shattering the food item.

High Speed

An ultrasonic cutter can automatically cut through the food items at a very high speed, which you can set through your material handling equipment.

Safety

By eliminating the contact of human hands, these cutting robots provide safety to the workforce. Additionally, they eliminate the risk of contamination of food items due to the elimination of the human contact factor.

What are the Applications of Ultrasonic Cutting Machines in the Food Industry?

What are the Applications of Ultrasonic Cutting Machines in the Food IndustryIn the food industry, ultrasonic cutters are utilized to cut through a wide variety of food items. These include:

  • Different Types of Cheeses (soft and hard)
  • Loaves of bread
  • Sandwiches
  • Wraps
  • Fresh Vegetables
  • Meats
  • Frozen food products
  • Ice cream
  • Bakery goods
  • Candy bars and snack bars
  • Pizzas

PWRpack Ultrasound Cutting Solutions

Ultrasound cutting machines might seem like the next-gen technology, but they are not hard to find. In fact, PWRpack’s ultrasonic cutter is present in most commercial kitchens and food processing plants.

Our range of ultrasonic food cutting machines and robots are present in different configurations and you can request the one that fits your needs perfectly. Here are some of the features of PWRpack’s cutting solutions:

  • The auto-cleaning mechanism can automatically clean the cutting blade at the right time.
  • Equipment comes with compatible software that can be used to set up the cutting and cleaning operation.
  • Option to create different cut patterns, with new cut patterns getting accommodated instantly.
  • Feature to check for defective products and reject them from the chain.
  • Works in tandem with all your present conveyor systems or other food-related equipment.

Conclusion

To keep up with the competition, you need to use the latest trends and innovations. Ultrasonic cutters are one of these innovations which has become a game-changer in recent years.

With PWRpack’s range of products, you will always be one step ahead in the market. The best part is that you can customize the product to suit your requirement and current plant setup.