CASE STUDY: Inbound Labeling System

The Problem: Manual Labeling Process Needs to be Automated to Reduce Touch Labor Costs

A Tier 1 material handling systems integrator needed a system that would automatically receive cartons from one of three in bound docks and automatically label the cartons for put away.

The Solution: Inbound Labeling and Automatic Receiving System

CASI Proposed using the SolidLabel module from SolidSuite to control both the automated labeling, conveyor control and putaway sortation system. A custom host interface using SolidComm was established with the enduser host system.

System Overview

Cartons travel from three dock doors to the automatic receiving, labeling and sortation system.

Due to the fact that floor space was limited, skewing rollers could not justify the cartons reliably from the curve to the labeling zone. A SortMaster 130 heavy duty pusher was used in conjunction with the zero pressure accumulation conveyor in order to justify the cartons to one side for labeling.

A pair of Datalogic DS6300 oscillating mirror barcode scanners is used to read the case code or compliance label from the side of the carton to identify the SKU for putaway labeling.

After the cartons are justified to one side, they are labeled from the top with a high speed electric tamp labeling system.

Once the label is applied from the top, label placement is confirmed with a fixed position barcode scanner.

After labeling for putaway, the carton is tracked to the correct lane and diverted.

The operators manually palletize the cartons received by the putaway Label.

All control of the host interface, labeling conveyor controls and sortation is from SolidSuite.

Benefits from the new efficiencies

The benefits from the new system include reduced labor in the receiving operation and an automatic QC function by ensuring the number of items received is the correct amount and SKU.