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Automatic Shipping Label Applying
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Automatic Shipping Label Applying systems form part of a large majority of automated solutions for warehouse and factory operations. Labelling of product for identification purposes around an automated conveyor system, using automatic shipping label applying machines, allows product to be tracked and routed to the required areas, license plate barcode labels (LPN) are typically used for this purpose and are generated as a sequential number at the beginning of a process, the barcode number can then be scanned and tied to a specific order or product via the host warehouse management system (WMS) or enterprise resource planning system (ERP). The LPN label gives the product context after the container (box, bag, etc) has been sealed, allowing the software systems to keep track of the specific container. Scanning systems will then be used throughout the conveyor system to identify containers and make decisions about where they are sent and what happens to them next. Optical barcode scanners used are typically of two types, laser scanners and vision scanners:
Laser scanners use red light to detect the difference between the black and white barcode lines, which are then converted to text via a decoder. Laser scanners are generally the most cost-effective approach for reading of barcodes, but they have limitations when it comes to barcode orientation and quality, which can result in misreads if the conditions are not ideal.
Vision scanners use a completely different approach, as the names suggests, vision cameras are used to capture an image of the barcode to be read, the image captured is then interrogated by software to retrieve the barcode data. Vision based scanners are generally higher in cost but are a lot more robust when reading barcodes with imperfections, so higher read rates can be achieved. Vision based scanners can also read multiple barcodes at once, barcode orientation when passing the scanner is less important, and barcodes such as QR codes can also be read. Both laser and vision based scanning systems can be incorporated into a scanning tunnel, enabling 5- or 6-sided scanning of products when travelling along a conveyor system, as typically seen in DWS (dimensioning, weighing & scanning) solutions, most commonly seen in the post and parcel industry.
Radio-frequency identification (or RFID) can be used for identification and tracking of containers around a conveyor system instead of barcode labels. RFID tags or smart labels can be applied to containers and used in the same way as LPN barcodes to tie specific containers to an individual identification number. RFID is similar to barcoding in that data from a tag or label are captured by a device that stores the data in a database. RFID however, has several advantages over systems that use barcode tracking. The most notable is that RFID tag data can be read outside the line-of-sight, whereas barcodes must be aligned with an optical scanner.
With LPN barcodes or RFID tags applied to containers and scanning equipment included as part of an automated conveyor system, it is then possible in an eCommerce warehouse environment to track specific customer orders and apply the customer specific shipping label. Shipping label (also known as carrier label) print and apply systems are able to receive the label information from the host software system (WMS, ERP, etc) and apply the label to the container for that specific order. Shipping label print and apply systems are typically available in two distinct machine types, tamp applicator and wipe on. Tamp applicator print and apply systems use an application arm to apply the label to the container, the arms are generally pneumatically powered and press the label onto the surface of the container. The tamp head uses pneumatic vacuum to hold the non-sticky side of the label prior to application. Tamp application is suitable for most labelling scenarios and can apply labels to containers of varying sizes during a single production run. Wipe on applicator print and apply systems apply the label to the container on the fly as the product travels past, this type of machine is generally capable of higher throughput speeds but requires products to be uniform in size, as the applicator head needs to sit just above the product as it travels past. Wipe on systems are used more frequently in factory and manufacturing environments, as they can achieve higher throughput speeds and the containers are of uniform size and shape.
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We also offer
Pallet Conveying Solutions, Packaging Solutions, Telescopic Boom Conveyors, Mobile Van Loading Conveyors, Telescopic Conveyors, Flexible Conveyors, Pallet Buffer Systems, Automatic Shipping Label Applying, Preventative Maintenance Plans, Breakdown Support Cover, PLC Software Support Cover, System Health Check Inspections, Comprehensive Spare Parts Packages.
You may also be interested in our Conveyor Solutions…
Market Sectors
Warehouse Automation
Warehouse automation is the application of computer software and/or automated machinery to improve the efficiency of logistics operations. Typically, this refers to operations within a warehouse or distribution center, automating tasks such as inventory and stock management, put away, picking, packing, transport of product on a warehouse roller conveyor systems, and sortation. The term intralogistics is commonly used when referring to solutions for the warehouse industry, and the term defines the marriage of software systems to physical automated machinery, allowing businesses to control the physical flow of product around their operations using high level software applications, which provides tracking and status information at all stages of their operations. Intralogistics solutions allow businesses to gain real-time productivity data for their operations, allowing them to identify bottlenecks and problem areas, and collect data about their operation so on-the-spot decisions can be made about stock holding, labour resource, etc. Data can be collected about their operations, so forecasts can be produced for future planning, which is a very powerful tool in a modern warehouse operation.
Warehouse automation systems are comprised of a variety of hardware and software components, some examples of these are as follows:
Automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS), including pallet cranes, miniload cranes, shuttles, and autonomous mobile robots (AMR). These technologies service a rack(s) of storage locations, allowing many levels of stock to be stacked vertically, and allowing for high storage densities of product, which is automatically stored into and retrieved from the racking when the product is required to be picked. ASRS technologies remove the need for human operators to physically travel to stock holding locations, once picked conveyor systems will then transport the tote, box or pallet of product to an operator for picking, and in the case of AMR systems, the complete rack or pallet of product is brought by the robot to the operator for picking.
Conveyor systems enable the automated movement of products around a warehouse, removing the need for operators to physically move product between locations, which is a non-value adding activity. Containers can enter automated conveyors in one area of the warehouse and, either through hard-coded rules or data input, be moved to a selected destination.
Vertical carousels and lift storage systems are based on paternoster lift or vertical carriage lift technology, allowing for high density vertical storage of small to medium product sizes. This technology is similar to vending machines, but on a larger scale, and can provide a cost-effective solution for the automated storage and retrieval of stock in a warehouse or factory.
Sortation systems enable the sortation of stock items or complete order parcels. Sortation systems are available in a wide variety of hardware options, depending on budget, throughput, and number of sort destination requirements. Automated sortation removes the need for manual operator sortation, massively reducing sort errors through human decision making. Sortation using autonomous mobile robots (AMR), provides a robust system compared with traditional fixed infrastructure type sorters, removing the single point of failure, and providing flexibility and almost infinite expansion possibilities.
Industrial and collaborative robots, typically four and six-axis designs, are used for palletising, de-palletising, packing, and order picking.
Factory Automation
Factory automation is the process of incorporating automated machinery into the manufacturing process of components and products. With automated systems in place, manufacturing businesses have the ability to manufacture and assemble goods without the need for an excessively large human workforce, which could prevent businesses from making profit. The aim of factory automation is to decrease risks associated with laborious and dangerous work faced by human operators, the main advantages of adopting factory belt conveyor systems for factory processes are as follows:
- Remove human operators from dangerous environments
- Remove tasks from human operators, which involve monotonous or hard physical work
- Improve process accuracy
- Increase process throughput and cycle time
- Reduce operating costs
- Increase process resilience
Automated systems in manufacturing environments generally fall into three categories, integrated production lines, robotic systems, and special purpose machines.
Integrated production lines are the most common solution seen in manufacturing environments, these lines are typically adopted to perform a specific set of functions in a process in a specific order, such as bottling lines in a drinks manufacturing environment. Each process stage in the manufacture of a specific product is automated in a linear flow layout, taking raw materials or components and bringing them together to form the finished product.
Robotic systems are common in modern manufacturing environments, their functions can be used to perform a variety of tasks, and due to their flexibility in operation, they can be used for bespoke applications where speed, accuracy, and repeatability is required. Most commonly however, industrial and collaborative robots are used in the following applications:
- Case packing
- Palletising and de-palletising
- Assembly
- Parts manufacturing
- Machine tending
- Welding
Special purpose machines as the name suggests, are machines designed and developed to perform a specific function in a manufacturing operation. The function that requires automating is often very unique, and so “off the shelf” automated machines and solutions are not readily available, and so a machine needs to be developed specifically for that purpose.