Traceability solution for cartons and cases in a blister line

Traceability solution for cartons and cases in a blister line

This solution refers to the standards which provides for the obligation to trace the single sellable unit, therefore every single carton is marked and all the cartons, later inserted into the case, are checked; next, after the check of the case contents, the latter is validated by applying a label on which the contents data are printed.

This solution consists of a printer and a camera installed inside the cartoner to print and read the data on the carton; it also features a camera and a printer on the case-packer to read every single carton layer before its insertion and then to print the label for the case; it also features a computer (line server) which is connected to both machines, and which controls the data, compares them and guarantees their correctness.

The standard printing height on the carton is 12.5 mm, but it can be increased by applying more cartridges until reaching a maximum dimension of 50mm; there are 5 lines available.

The solution features the following data printed on the carton: a datamatrix, the batch number, the expiry date and the serial number of the product. These data are then read and transmitted, via the operator panel, to the line server for filing purposes. After having been grouped in a single row, the cartons are then read before being stacked to form the bundle that has to be inserted into the case. The central computer checks if every carton which has been marked in the cartoner has been inserted into the case and then it commands the printing of data on the case certifying its correct contents.

If there is no exact correspondence between the cartons marked in the cartoner and the cartons inserted into the case, if one of the guards is open or if the machines stop due to whatsoever reason, the case is rejected and the single cartons are recovered and put back into production.