Laumas Case Study: Weighing tunnel with RFID identification system

Laumas Elettronica SRL (Italy) – Weighing tunnel with RFID identification system. Machine for double control of production quality.

Requirement:

Autentico srl needs to build an automated movable RFID/NFC tunnel with a weighing machine and management software for a bottling plant in the wine-making sector.

It is aweighing scale with a motor-driven belt that integrates a radio-frequency identification (RFID) system in the HF, UHF or hybrid band.

The machine is conceived to weigh boxes containing single products equipped with a RFID/NFC label (or tag), so that during the control the system will automatically reject boxes that do not contain one or more products, or if they contain something other than the finished product.

The movable RFID tunnel is an extremely versatile machine. It can be moved according to production needs and it adapts to any type of product and packaging.

Autentico srl is an italian company that develops hardware and software solutions for antiforgery and logistics.

The machine must respect certain requirements of space (maximum overall dimensions 60 cm) and must be water resistant and dust-proof so as to be easily integrated in the bottling plant.

Our solution:

For the RFID movable tunnel machine we have used:

• 1 ACN 150 kg single load cell platform with stainless steel loading plate
• 1 APL 200 kg single-point load cell, integrated in the platform
• 1 WDESK-L weight indicator

The ACN 150 kg weighing platform measures 600 x 600 mm, so as to respect the space requirements for integration in the plant.

The APL 200 kg load cell is made of aluminium alloy and has an IP 65 protection rating, while the WDESK-L weight indicator has an IP 67 protection rating, so that both are dust-proof and water resistant.

How does it work?

Each single product is equipped with a special label (transponder) that is detectable by the RFID device.

The special label can be neither cloned nor forged and protects the product from counterfeiting. In addition, it allows controlling its global distribution.

The measuring device is integrated in the structure on which is also housed the weighing platform connected to the WDESK-L weight indicator, in its turn connected to the PLC by a fieldbus.

The boxes run on the conveyor belt, where the double system of controls and cross-checking data is activated: the RFID service device scans the tags of the single items in the box, meanwhile the weighing platform measures the weight of the box and the weight indicator sends it to the PLC.

The PLC then cross checks the data with the management software, comparing the products identified by the RFID system and the weight measured by the weighing platform, which must match the presumed weight of a full box.

Any non-conforming boxes are rejected.

The added value:

• The ACN 150 kg weighing platform enables precise weighing even in dynamic applications, returning an accurate weight value that allows promptly identifying any non-conforming products.
• The WDESK-L weight indicator, thanks to its transmission speed, manages production sessions of up to 9000 bottles an hour.
• The 20 mm backlit LCD display of the weight indicator ensures excellent visibility even at a distance, allowing the operator to always have an eye on the measurements and on any errors.
• The combination of the ACN 150 kg weighing platform and the WDESK-L weight indicator is at the same time both economical and efficient, significantly reducing the chance of error in the system: the ideal solution for roller conveyors and belts with small dimensions.