Apollo applicator for small delicate labelling

New from the creators of EASYLABEL has announced the introduction of the Apollo 1, a new label printer that features an optional label applicator designed for small, delicate, high-precision print and apply applications like electronic components and printed circuit boards. Like others in the Apollo Series, the Apollo 1 will also offer the stand-alone feature that allows label printing with or without a computer attached.

The Apollo 1 applicator is a tamp-type unit that provides delicate, high precision application of small labels with an accuracy of +/- 0.02 inch. Field tests for placement accuracy have recorded a best of 0.008 inches and a worst case of 0.031 inches. The smallest label end-users are currently applying is five wide by two inches high. The applicator attaches to the front of the new Apollo 1 thermal transfer label printer and provides a very small overall footprint.

The new Apollo 1 features 300 dpi print resolution running at eight inches (200mm) per second with a 4.2 inch (108mm) print width. The Apollo 1 comes standard with an internal rewind and ribbon saver, as well as a high-speed 32-bit processor with 2MB of RAM. The Apollo 1 also features three printer-resident scalable typefaces, and supports the primary bar codes including UPC/EAN, Code 39, Code 128 and Interleaved 2 of 5, and two dimensional symbologies such as PDF417.

High speed print & apply

A company has launched a high speed print and apply solution for variable information labelling. The ALX 720 is suited to the print and application of information such as pricing, ladder or picket fence barcodes, stock numbers, batch codes and general promotional labelling. It prints and applies up to 250 labels a minute, depending on label size, and has a label stop accuracy of ± 0.5mm. The system uses the latest thermal transfer, near edge, 300dpi print head technology to produce high resolution output in a choice of 17 fonts, including OCR/A and OCR/B, as well as two scaleable fonts. Digitised drawings and logos can be imported for incorporation in print designs. Applying labels to the top, sides and base of a variety of cartons, containers, packages and products, the ALX 720 prints at speeds of up to 300mm per second and labels at speeds of up to 30 metres/min. The company says that, unlike 1:1 print and apply systems – where label application is limited by print speed – the ALX 720 has a label buffer between the print head and dispensing edge. This, it says, enables greater flexibility and optimum speeds to be achieved at both print and apply stages. The unit features the company’s automatic product speed following technology as standard. This ensures accurate labelling through the continuous monitoring and automatic adjustment of the labelling speed to much product presentation to the labelling edge, says the manufacturer. Print and dispense functions are controlled through individual membrane keypads, located on the front of the cabinet, with system status visible on integral LED displays. The control system incorporates 1 Mb of dynamic RAM memory as standard, with an RS 232 serial interface also included. This enables print data to be generated and controlled from a linked PC, mini or mainframe computer system if required. An optional RS 485 interface is also available.