In the packaging industry, labeling is a step in the process of putting a product into the market. The example provided by this MotionCode focuses on a labeling machine (see Figure 1) that can place the trademark of a product on a cardboard box. The label covers the entire length of the carton, so the label must align with the leading edge of the box.
At the beginning of the process, the box was fed to the labeling machine at a constant speed on the conveyor belt. The mechanical fixing device separates the boxes from each other by a fixed distance and pushes the box forward in the direction of the conveyor belt.
The labeler's mechanical system includes a drive wheel, a labeling wheel, and a reel. The driving wheel intermittently drags the label tape to move, the label tape is pulled out from the reel, and at the same time passes the labeling wheel, and the labeling wheel presses the label tape on the box. An open-loop displacement control is used on the reel to maintain the tension of the label tape.
Because the tags are closely linked to each other on the tape, the tag must start and stop continuously. The label is affixed to the box when the labeling wheel and the box move at the same speed. When the conveyor belt arrives at a specific position, the tape drive wheel will accelerate to match the speed of the conveyor belt, and after labeling, it will decelerate to a stop.
Since the label may slide, it has a registration mark on it to ensure that each label is correctly placed. The registration mark is read by a sensor. In the tape deceleration phase, the drive wheel repositions itself to correct any position error on the label tape.
For more information, please click the link: http://Support_content.asp?key=A00790008