Troubleshooting Your Labeling Machine: An Ultimate Guide
A labeling machine is one of the most integral devices for packaging products. As long as your production line involves labeling, you will know how a sudden failure of the labeling machine can cause big losses.
Just imagine this. Your labeling machine suddenly fails to work, then your products won’t get labeled properly. This might lead to rework and downtime, which will further add to your total costs and delay your production schedule.
Sounds like a headache right? But no worries, we've put together a labeling machine troubleshooting guide for you. It will help you identify the cause of your labeling machine malfunction and get it back to normal.
How to Troubleshoot Your Semi-Automatic Labeling Machine?
Unlike fully automatic labellers, semi-automatic labeling machines still require manual intervention in some of its operations. This kind of semi-automatic machine is usually not too complicated to operate, but it does occasionally malfunction. Here are some common causes of semi-automatic labeling machine failures as well as solutions that you might find useful someday.
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Problems |
Possible Causes |
Solutions |
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The machine does not dispense labels |
Wrong microswitch position |
Adjust the microswitch to a correct position |
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The microswitch is broken |
Replace the microswitch |
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The label pulling knurled wheel does not press the label tape tightly and slips when pulling the label. |
Tighten the adjustment screw |
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The power switch is off |
Turn on the power switch |
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The backing paper is pulled off |
Re-thread the backing paper according to the label winding diagram |
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The label pulling motor is broken |
Replace the motor |
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The pin of the roller sprocket falls off and loosens |
Refasten the sprocket |
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The labels keep coming out |
The label sensor is in a wrong position |
Adjust the position of the label sensor |
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The label sensor fails |
Replace it with a new one |
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The label sensor is under or over sensitivity |
Adjust the label sensor sensitivity properly |
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Unable to label the bottles |
The reserved label is not long enough |
Make the reserved labels longer |
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The label is not sticky enough or the bottle surface is too wet. |
Use a new label and check the bottle surface |
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The bottle press roller is not holding down the bottle |
Adjust the gap for bottle placement |
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Too much clearance between the peeler plate and the labeling soft roller |
Adjust the distance between the two parts |
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The label is wrinkled on the bottle |
The reserved label is too long |
Reduce the length of the reserved label |
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The surface of the bottle is dirty |
Clean the bottle surface |
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The distance between the label peeling plate and the labeling soft roller is too close |
Get their distance right |
How to Fix Automatic Labeling Machine Failures?
When it comes to fully automatic labeling machines, people definitely associate them with precision and intelligence. But the truth is, automatic labeller is not infallible. It will occasionally break down for one reason or another. Learning how to fix automatic labeling machine malfunctions in advance can serve you well in the future.
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Problems |
Possible Causes |
Solutions |
|
The machine can't attach the label to the bottle |
The time when the bottle reaches the labeling position is not synchronized with the time when the label comes out. |
1. Adjust the speed of the machine's conveyor belt. If the bottle arrives after the label has come out, you can adjust the conveyor speed faster, and vice versa. 2. Adjust the counter-reflective photoelectricity. Set the photoelectric bracket fixed on the conveyor belt to the left, and then press the start button to start the machine. |
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The label is wrinkled |
Labels come out too fast |
1. Slow down the label exit speed to match the label roll speed 2. Speed up the label rolling speed |
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Unable to tighten the waste labeled belt |
The conveyor belt between roller and waste belt tray is too loose or broken. |
Check the conveyor belt. If it is too loose, release the screws that secure the waste belt tray and tighten the conveyor belt. If the belt is broken, replace it with a new one or try repairing it with heat fusion. |
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The label on the bottle is tilted |
The machine does not label the bottles at the same height |
First, you should observe whether the top and bottom diameters of the labeled bottles are the same. If there is a difference, it may lead to inaccurate labeling. If it is not due to the bottle, you can adjust the parallelism of the dials. |
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Missed labeling of some bottles |
The label machine’s sensor is not sensitive enough or the conveyor belt moves too fast |
Adjust the sensor sensitivity or slow down the conveyor speed |
How to Maintain Your Labeling Machine on a Routine Basis?
Apart from knowing how to troubleshoot your labeling machine, it's also helpful to carry out routine maintenance on it. It can help you minimize how often your labeling machine breaks down.
If your label machine doesn’t get proper maintenance on a regular basis, it may go on strike more frequently, which in turn can cause great losses to your production line. Here are some tips you can refer to for routine maintenance of your labeler machine.
Daily Maintenance
Before the labeling machine starts working:
1. Every day before turning on the labeling machine, you have to check whether there is any debris on the conveyor belt. If there is debris, please clean it up in time.
2. Check that the machine's power cord and air hose are not broken.
3. Release condensate from the regulator.
After the labeling machine finishes the day's work:
1. Turn off the power and air supply in time.
2. Clean the machine and wipe its external surfaces with a dry, soft cloth. For hard to reach corners of the machine, we can use compressed air to clean them.
3. If there is syrup sticking on the conveyor belt, wipe it with a wet cloth.
4. Check if the screws on the machine are loose. If the screws are loose, please tighten them.
Monthly Maintenance
1. Perform monthly maintenance on the label feeder assembly. Replace friction plates and lubricate timing pulley bearings with grease.
2. Clean the inside of the label feeder with compressed air.
3. Sensors should be thoroughly cleaned once a month.
4. Clean the regulator cartridges monthly with water.
5. Clean grease from conveyor belts, drive gears and guide rails and re-lubricate them once a month.
Invest in iPharMachine to Save on Label Machine Troubleshooting
Are you tired of your labeling machine breaking down so often? Investing in a labeler from iPharmachine can save you from these hassles for good. Our labeling machine series is built with the most advanced and durable components, which ensures the precision, efficiency and trouble-free operation of our labellers. Contact iPharMachine today to find out how our labeling systems can benefit you.
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