ALline 3 Roller

ALline 3-roller labelling systems are designed for labelling cylindrical products in a method that ensures correct vertical positioning (to the labelling head), lessening the effect of any potential base inaccuracy in the product.

They also allow the possibility (where specified) of applying the label registered rotationally to an existing feature of the container; e.g. the seam or handle of a can, cartouche of a bottle or a pre-existing label or artwork already present on the product.

They operate by individually controlling the release of products (one-by-one) to a three-roller capture system. This module consists of a powered roller and two idle rollers each mounted on handwheel X/Y adjustment movement systems (with counters for positional recall between different products).

These rollers are tailored to the product range, with quick-change assemblies; e.g. to sit within recesses or below lids or lips, as well as to accommodate differing diameters.

Labels are applied by either one or multiple labelling heads positioned within the three-roller application system - depending on the labelling formats and the presentation of the labels. For example, a standard front/back labelling format can be achieved either via a single roll of labels/labelling head with labels placed alternately on the same reel; or via individual front-back label rolls and two labelling heads.

Where rotational registration is required, a suitable sensor is placed within the three-roller module to act as a trigger start for the labelling head ('s), from which a delay position can be defined. Importantly, the machine ensures a closed-loop process, not releasing the next product until this signal is received (given its potential variable response time), unlike many competitor machines, which provides a potential for sequence error.

ALline 3-roller machines are operated via a central management touchscreen (standard on all ALline machines), which controls all of the machine's modules from a single recipe display. This feature is particularly relevant with a three-roller machine due to the exact and different requirements of release timing and cylinder movements between products (as well as the delay timing of registration sensors, where present), and the setup of the labelling head - with optimised parameters stored and recalled in the touch of the button (including a menu table of all the movement counter positions).

Machine throughput depends on the diameter of the container and whether the machine needs to register to an existing feature. The intermittent stop-start operation of a three-roller machine does mean that application speeds are lower than comparative direct wraparound machines (such as our ALline C machine). Typical label application speeds range from 30-50 products p/minute, with up to 60 per minute achievable with smaller products.

ALline 3 Roller in Detail