Robot improves labelling at paper mill

Citation

(2002), "Robot improves labelling at paper mill", Industrial Robot, Vol. 29 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/ir.2002.04929caf.008

Robot improves labelling at paper mill

Robot improves labelling at paper mill

Keywords: Robots, Labelling, Paper industry

St Regis Paper has installed its first industrial robot at Sudbrook Mill, near Chepstow, to facilitate the mill's labelling requirements.

To avoid any production loss, there was a narrow window of three to four days in which the robot could be fitted. This meant that there was little time for the usual preparatory work but ABB and Robomec were able to complete the task satisfactorily within these constraints.

The mill produces fluting paper, the inner corrugated material used in boxes and other cardboard products. Reels can be up to 1.5m in diameter and some 2.8m long. The ABB IRB4400L robot checks the product parameters and then correctly labels the reels before offering them for storage in the warehouse. Its use automates a previously manual operation (Plate 8).

Plate 8 St Regis Paper has automated reel labelling at Sudbrook Mill using an ABB robot

When each reel of fluting has been made it is manually labelled at the final winder with a bar code as part of the production process. The reel is then delivered by conveyor belt to a secure bay where the robot is located.

The robot reads the barcode and remotely checks this information against the main computer details to ensure that it has the correct reel. The relevant details are then printed onto labels using a thermal printer at the side of the bay. These are collected by the robot and attached in the right positions to the reel. As an extra function the robot is fitted with an inkjet printer and it also sprays the label details on to the ends of the reel.

On completion of its tasks the robot returns to a static position at the side of the secure bay and the reel is automatically transferred to the warehouse prior to despatch.

The ABB IRB4400 industrial robot has a handling capacity of up to 60kgs. The "L" version (long arm) has an extended reach and is capable of covering a diameter of 5m. With a top speed of 2,200mm/sec and a repeatability of 0.1mm it is the ideal robot for demanding pulp and paper applications. The full range of ABB industrial robots covers payload capacities from 1kg to 500kg.

For further information contact: Bob Kingman, ABB. Tel: 01480 488207; Fax: 01480 218361, E-mail: bob.kingman@gb.abb.com