Label Counting - How it works
by Bob Bushnell on 05/09/12
We received an interesting call yesterday from a company that needed to count cloth labels that they receive in bulk. They had tried weighing techniques but were not getting the accuracy they needed. I explained the general principles of how our Label Counting Machines work. Thought it might be helpful to post here.
There are a number of ways to count labels, but the most common method is to pass labels (on a roll) through a counting station that has both a light Emitter and Detector. This method works well when the labels are in the form of a roll, the labels are attached to the web of the roll, and there is space between the labels.
As the roll is wound thru the counting station the labels pass between the Emitter and Detector. The Emitter is always ON and the Detector is always looking for light. When a label passes through the station the light is blocked from reaching the detector, when the gap between the labels moves through the station, the light passes through the web material and is detected by the Detector. It is this change in light detection that is used to register a count.
Scanning Devices Label Counting Machines are manufactured so that users can make minute adjustments to sensitivity and almost any combination of label and label backing material (the web) can be detected in this manner. Special sensors can also be used to count clear labels on clear label web/backing.
Sensing light changes on a roll of labels is only one way to count labels. Labels that have bar codes can be counted using a bar code reader, and items that pass on a conveyor that are separated from one another can be counted using retroflective or proximity sensing depending on the material and size of the items to be counted. In the case of our caller who needs to count cloth labels, this might be one approach to explore.
To see a video demonstration of the process cut and paste this link into your browser.
http://scanningdevicesinc.com/Label-Counting-Machine-Demo.html
If you have a specialized counting or sensing operation you need assistance with, please give us a call 781-272-5135, or email us at mail@scanningdevices.com. We would be glad to help.
Bob Bushnell
