Direct web printers automatically adjust to height of finished packs

Multivac Marking & Inspection has developed the DP 245, direct web printer for the X-line series of tray sealers. Although the high-performance model operates at a fixed working height, it automatically adjusts to possible differences in the height of finished packs.

Even trays with different product protrusions are marked safely, reliably and precisely, the company said. The printing position on the pack can be easily and conveniently adjusted using hand wheels so that batch changes require only minimal downtime.

The variable data, such as the best-before date or a batch number, is printed with the Multivac TIJ 10 using the thermal inkjet process. Printing heights of up to 12.7 mm can be achieved with one printing head, and even printing heights of up to 25.4 mm can be achieved by using a second printing head. As the printer is fully integrated into the operating terminal of the tray sealer, users benefit from significant advantages in terms of efficient and safe operation. To give just one example, the print layouts are stored in the recipe of the traysealer to ensure that the correct layout is always loaded.

The new development improves cost-effectiveness and print quality: The thermal inkjet printing technology involves heating water in the ink. This causes tiny bubbles to form explosively, forcing the ink droplet out of the nozzle. Print resolutions of up to 600 dpi can be achieved, so that even the smallest characters, fonts or codes can be reproduced exactly.

Unlike continuous inkjet printers, thermal inkjet printers also use print cartridges with integrated printing heads. The advantage, which are easy and quick to change and low maintenance.

The new DP 245 is also available in an optional washdown version with IP65 protection, which allows wet cleaning of the tray sealer including the direct web printer.

multivac.com