Optimised Date Coding With Traversing Unit | RPS AUTOMATION

Efficient and Accurate Printing with the Traversing Unit

In manufacturing, accuracy isn't a luxury - it’s a necessity. The Traversing Unit was developed with that in mind: a compact, automated system that moves a printer smoothly across a conveyor or production line, applying key information like the manufacturing and best before dates. It’s a simple but powerful tool that ensures every product is marked clearly, in the right place, and at the right time - even while everything’s in motion..

How the Traversing Unit Works

The Traversing Unit integrates effortlessly into your production line, ensuring every product is labeled with precision and consistency. Here’s a closer look at how it works:

1. Traversing Unit Safety Features

• Homing Sensor: At the start of every operation, the unit needs to home itself to ensure the printer is in the correct position for accurate printing. The homing sensor also serves to alert the operator if the traverser has moved past the set reference point, preventing potential errors.

• Overrun Sensor: This sensor alerts the operator if the traverser has moved too far in the opposite direction, providing another layer of safety.

• Audible Alarm: If the traverser exceeds its set stroke range, the audible alarm sounds to alert the operator, preventing damage or further operational issues.

• Reset Button: In the event of an overrun or to reset the system at the beginning of operation, the reset button ensures the system is safe to restart.

• Start & Stop Controls: These allow the operator to easily start or stop the traversing unit, ensuring control over the operation.

2. Product Detection and Positioning

The system integrates with the production line to detect when a product is present on the conveyor. A printer sensor is used to identify the exact moment when printing should occur, ensuring that no product is missed and that each one receives its required label with precision.

3. Traversing Motion

The printer head is mounted on a stepper-driven rail system, which enables it to move smoothly across the printing area. The motion is bi-directional (left to right and back), allowing for optimal coverage. When the system detects a product, the signal is sent to the traverser, and the printer begins moving to the correct position. This automatic movement helps reduce the risk of human error and ensures a precise print every time.

4. Printing Process

Once the printer reaches the correct position, it receives the signal to print. It then applies the Manufacturing Date and Best Before Date onto the surface of the product (such as Ready To Use Therapeutic Food/Supplementary Food (RUTF/SF)). This ensures that each product is properly labeled, helping to comply with industry standards for traceability and expiration tracking.

System Integration and Adjustments

The Traversing Unit is designed for flexibility. Both the speed and stroke length can be adjusted to accommodate different product sizes and varying production line speeds. This makes the system highly adaptable, ensuring that it can be used across a wide range of applications.

Additionally, the system is controlled via a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) and HMI (Human-Machine Interface), allowing operators to easily adjust printing parameters to suit their specific production needs. This level of control makes the Traversing Unit a versatile and scalable solution for manufacturers.

Advantages of the Traversing Unit in Printing

• Accurate and Consistent: The system ensures that the Best Before Date is printed clearly and in the correct location, reducing the chances of human error.

• Increased Efficiency: With its automated operation, the Traversing Unit minimises manual intervention, freeing up operators to focus on other tasks.

• Flexible and Scalable: The system can be adjusted to accommodate various product sizes and line speeds, making it suitable for a wide range of manufacturing environments.

• Seamless Integration: It can communicate with PLCs, encoders, and vision systems, ensuring the highest quality control standards are maintained.

A Smarter Way To Print

The Traversing Unit offers a reliable, efficient, and scalable solution for ensuring that your products are accurately labeled with critical information like manufacturing and expiration dates. Its automated design, combined with robust safety features and integration capabilities, helps streamline production processes, reduce errors, and enhance overall productivity.

If you're looking for a straightforward way to improve the consistency and speed of your product labelling, the Traversing Unit is worth a closer look.

Built by RPS Automation in Cape Town, it's been designed to do one job well - moving a printer across your line with precision, so every product is marked exactly where and when it should be. Resulting in a solid, reliable performance.

If that sounds like something your line could use, get in touch. We'll walk you through how it works and how it can be tailored to your setup.