Page 10 - Industrial Technology EXTRA 26th April 2021

MOTION CONTROL...

Increased throughput and

accuracy on labelling machine

A large labelling machine OEM in the USA has upgraded the motion controllers on its

machines to boost throughput and increase label application accuracy. The
controllers from Trio Motion Technology, have increased throughput by over 25% with
labelling accuracy improving to ±0.5mm, as well as create a future-proof design.

ounded over 100 years
ago, the OEM designs
and builds hundreds of
Fmachines every year
for packaging and labelling
applications, primarily in the
food & beverage market as well
as the medical and
pharmaceutical industries. In
addition to packaging meat,
poultry and seafood, the packs
have to be labelled, placed with
a high degree of accuracy that is repeatable over labels, maintaining accuracy even when infeed of
thousands of units. High volume production also packs is high. Previously, the labelling machine
means that high speed is required to maximize OEM used a programmable HMI to provide control.
throughput. However, greater accuracy in label placement was
The machines can include both top labelling for required by the OEM’s customers which decreased
branding and bottom labelling displaying product with variation in conveyor speed.
data such as nutritional information. Added directly The labelling machine OEM turned to
after the packaging machine, the inline labellers experienced motion control manufacturer, Trio
form part of the production process and must Motion Technology, to provide a solution that
coordinate with the speed of the infeed conveyor, improved accuracy which would not deviate at high
which can vary based on multiple factors including throughput. The controller also had to provide easy
conveyor loading, mechanics, and voltage integration as well as increased reliability to
fluctuations to the driving motor. The next challenge maintain productivity. Trio’s Euro404 Motion
is for the labelling machine to accurately apply the Coordinator was selected to control two stepper

April 2021 • INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY EXTRA • p10