How to Integrate Labeling and Palletizing for High Efficiency

Why does label position drift?

The label is positioned relative to the bottle, so any variation in bottle rotation, conveyor speed or label feed shows up as drift. On a round bottle the orientation is set by a roller or a star wheel; on a square bottle it is set by a mechanical aligner. Drift is usually a bottle handling problem, not a label problem.

Where does the labeller sit in the line?

After the filler and before the packer, normally with an accumulator on each side. The labeller is the most frequent short-stop on many lines, so the accumulator size in front of it decides whether a label roll change reaches the filler or not.

Site requirements, air and power consumption sit with the Rotary Sticker Labeling.

How is the labeller synchronised with the filler?

Through the conveyor and an accumulator, not through a mechanical link. The labeller runs slightly faster than the filler and the accumulator absorbs the difference. A labeller matched exactly to the filler speed will stop the line at the first roll change.

The specification sheet for the Sleeve Labeling carries the figures quoted here.

Why does a label need a vision check?

Because a missing or skewed label is a customer reject that the line cannot see. A camera at the labeller outlet with a reject gate catches it at the source, before the packer hides it inside a case.

The same question is worked through from another angle in How to Optimize Labeling Machines for Different Bottle Sizes.

Frequently asked questions