August’s machine of the month features the ALcode P pallet labelling system. The labeller, installed at an important European food manufacturer’s plant, prints and applies A5 labels to pallets at the end of their packaging line. The system answers the common request to identify each pallet with a unique label, using an alphanumeric format and barcode in compliance with the EAN128 standards. The system prints and applies the labels on three faces of each pallet. A verification system confirms that each of the labels have been successfully applied and that the bar code is correct and readable.
The system is based on our ALcode P and integrates a SATO thermal transfer print engine. Each pallet is stopped in front of the labeller and the front and side labels are applied. The pallet is then moved to a second position where the third label is applied to the trailing side of the pallet. The application arm includes a supplementary air blow device that aids in better label adhesion when the pallet shape is uneven. A barcode reader mounted on the application arm then verifies that the label has been applied to the pallet and that the barcode is readable. If the scanner should reject a label, the machine automatically repeats the print and application cycles.
