CASE STUDY: In Line Manifesting

Above: Inline Manifest System

The Problem: Speed up FedEx, UPS and Common Carrier Shipping

An on line retailer of party supplies approached CASI with a need to speed up the inline manifesting of UPS and FedEx packages. A previous custom installed system was problematic and needed to be replaced by a new system.

The Solution: Automatic In-Line Manifest & Affordable Sortation System

CASI proposed installing an automatic in line manifest system using our SolidComm host interface software module to interface to the customer’s multicarrier shipping system, SolidLabel to control the random labeling process and SolidRoute Express for the five lanes of sortation.

System Overview

Above: Cartons transported from picking

Cartons travel from the picking area in a slug of cartons on existing conveyor. A customer supplied metering belt creates a gap for scanning and labeling.

Above: Inbound barcode scan

As cartons enter the system at the in motion checkweigh cuber, the ladder license plate barcode that was applied at order inception is read from the side by a Datalogic DS2400N fixed mount barcode scanner. This barcode identifies the order so the system can compare the weight to the expected and use the actual weight and cube for the in line manifest process.

Above: CASI checkweigh cuber

Once the product is scanned, it moves into the CASI 4951 Checkweigh Cuber zone where the weight and cube is obtained.

Above: CASI CD 160 cornering device

After the 4951 Checkweigh Cuber, the carton is moved into a know position by the CD 160 blade stop carton cornering device for labeling.

Above: Label placement confirmation barcode scanning

Once the label is printed and applied, the label placement is confirmed by a Datalogic DS2100N.

Above: Exception labeling

Exceptions such as barcode no reads, wrong weight or not found in database are labeled with the error and diverted for manual processing.

Above: Exception divert

The first divert is utilized for exceptions.

Above: Low cost pusher sortation

The carrier sortation system utilizes the low cost SolidRoute Express sortation software module that uses a barcode scanner at each sortation lane. It is more cost effective than tracking for less than six lanes of sortation.

Benefits from the new efficiencies

The benefits from the new system include reduced errors, labor and 100% automatic inspection of the product.