The R. A. Rodriguez linear axis system chosen to carry an inkjet print head across a conveyor-width of food products has brought a range of operational benefits for a major food processing company. It has resulted in consistently high quality printing of ‘best before’ and ‘sell by’ dates, a factor that is all-important for any food processor dealing in the mass market.
Linear motion is now one of five main product sectors for Hertfordshire-based R.A. Rodriguez who represents the sales interests of German handling and automation specialists IEF Werner in the UK. However the company’s role was far more than just a supplier of components. Using elements from the Werner Easyline range of modules, R. A. Rodriguez designed and installed a complete package of equipment complete with programmed controller.
The Easyline axis is integrated into a dessert-packaging machine and used to transport the inkjet print head across a conveyor carrying rows of pots. Each row holds three pots and the conveyor indexes to the next row every three seconds. Smooth operation and consistent speed are vital components in the efficiency of the inkjet printing process and thanks to its controlled acceleration and deceleration the stepper motor controlled Easyline system ensures no disturbance to ink flow.
The IEF Werner linear motion product programme is now a popular programme especially for systems integrators. It has been designed to provide elements that are freely combined to create bespoke, multi-axes handling systems. They offer high loading capacity, high rigidity, quiet operation and are complemented by a wide choice of motors and controllers.
IP65 rating qualifies the system for the wash down environment required by this dairy application and its controller enables a range of different products and print positions to be accommodated. The freely programmable controller has integrated input/output processing enabling it to control all x-y movements; it has the ability to run a maximum of 32 programmes in parallel.
Continuous, low-maintenance operation of the original system has since resulted in three further units being specified.
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