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Shrink Sleeve Labeling at High Speeds
WORLD-BEAM® QS18LLP series laser sensor integrated into a high-speed shrink sleeve label applicator
Customer Requirements: A highly responsive sensor for use in a very fast-paced shrink sleeve label applicator
Solution: WORLD-BEAM® QS18LLP series sensor
Why Banner? Precise Triggering – 4 mm diameter spot size enables quick bottle detection and output, accommodating 800 bottles/minute
Customer Benefits
Production Efficiency – Consistent sensing reduces bottle relabeling, rejection and related downtime, increasing product output
Durability – Reliable operation over prolonged periods of multi-shift operation
Versatility – Single form factor for multiple sensing modes simplifies equipment design
Background
To meet production demands, large scale bottlers rely on automated equipment operating at high speeds over prolonged periods of intense use. Equipment accuracy and consistency are essential to maintaining standards. Products that are not correctly filled, capped or labeled may have to be removed from the line and reprocessed, driving down efficiency and productivity and raising expenses.
Challenges
A leading manufacturer of labeling equipment offers high-speed shrink sleeve label applicators designed to process 800 bottles per minute. The company had used standard retroreflective sensors to detect bottles on the line and trigger a label sleeve to drop down. These sensors did not perform reliably at high speeds. To maximize the machine’s performance potential, the company wanted to install sensors capable of consistent detection and output for high-speed bottling.
Solution
The manufacturer integrated WORLD-BEAM® QS18LLP series retroreflective laser sensors onto their shrink sleeve applicators. The very small spot size of the QS18LLP created a more precise output trigger than would be possible using standard retroreflective sensors; bottles traveled less distance to block the sensor’s effective beam, triggering the output. The QS18LLP was able to consistently detect the bottles traveling on the line and reliably respond within microseconds, matching throughput speeds of up to 800 bottles per minute.
The compact form factor and flexible mounting options of the QS18LLP allowed the manufacturer to integrate the sensor into their equipment without complicated alterations to design or function. The sensor’s sealed housing and protected circuitry ensured reliable operation in challenging environments. The crosstalk rejection algorithm provided interference immunity from neighboring sensors.
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