Watch this video to set up your ELF-20 Tabletop Labeler.
Intro [00:00:10] Hi, I'm Jonathan with Pack Leader USA. And today we're gonna be talking about the ELF-20 Tabletop Labeler. We'll be discussing the label head and how it adjusts both horizontally and vertically. The conveyor, which brings your product into the label head to be labeled. The touch panel controls, which controls the entire operation of the machine. The leveling pads to level the machine. The different options between using a generic table or using the Pack Leader cart that is designed specifically for the ELF series equipment and bolt to the cart to keep it secure.
Leveling the Machine [00:00:46] If you've purchased the optional ELF series cabinet, it'll come pre-installed on your elf machine. Once you get it in place where you want it, you'll lower your leveling pads down onto the floor. Take a wrench and then you'll level out the rest of the way. We do have set nuts, you'll raise those up to tighten it, to keep your leveling pads in place and keep your machine from moving.
Power & Electronic Components [00:01:13] The most important aspect of your ELF series equipment is to make sure that you supply good, clean 110 power. That's on a dedicated 15 amp outlet. This ensures prolong life for each one of your components in the control panel. To go through the control panel. I'll name each one of these specifically, we've got our power supply, which supplies the 24 Volt to our sensors. We've got the transformer, which takes 110 and steps it up to 220 for the motors that operate off 220. Our VFD, that controls the conveyor. Our stepper drive that controls the stepper motor on the label head. Our PCV board, which controls the entire machine, LCD display, and the touch panel. The on-off button and the e-stop.
Machine Controls [00:02:02] To turn on, make sure that your cord is plugged in. The e-stop is released, which will show more of the green. You'll then take the machine from the off position to the on position. All of your controls are on the touch panel, which is link-set to the gap between your labels to where you need the label to stop. Then your menu button, you've got your pre-count quantity, which we can take up to a thousand or four thousand. Your label position, which once the product sensor reads the product, it's gonna have a delay before it dispenses. Your label on feature, which you can turn the label head on or off. And your speed select, this will run speed one through four, and we currently have the printer off as we do not have a printer on the machine. You can also store memory presets which allow you to recall them whenever you change over to a different product. And then once you're ready to label, you'll hit the on button and you'll be off and labeling.
Label Head Threading [00:03:04] When threading your ELF-20 label head, always use the chart as a reference. Located on the label head motor. You'll put your labels on the unwind. Put your plate on the label so that it secures it and makes sure this bolt is tight. You're then going to thread it around the first roller and making sure that your spring-loaded guide is in place. Come up and around the dancer arm that releases your brake to your fixed roller that the felt pad sits against. The shaft turns counterclockwise and it's spring-loaded so that once you tighten this thumb screw down, it's going to put tension on that webbing material and then through your label sensor underneath the roller prior to the peel plate. And then around your peel plate and back up in between the knurl roller and the polyurethane roller, which pulls the labels. And then to your take up wind that's a collect based system that runs at a faster or slower pace based on the diameter of the take-up.
Label Sensor Calibration [00:04:07] Another important step in setting up your labels on your label head is the calibration of your label sensor. To do that, you're going to take a label off of the backing paper, advance it so that it's in between the label sensor. Then you're going to hold down the normal button until it flashes and let go. Then you'll press link-set on the touch panel. Until the label is just flush or hanging past the peel plate about a millimeter.
Product Sensor Calibration [00:04:35] To calibrate your product sensor, you're going to make sure that no products are in front of the fiber optic light. And on the amplifier, you're gonna hold down auto-set until the light starts blinking, and then you'll let go. Once it flashes, you know that it is calibrated properly. Once your sensor is calibrated, you want to make sure that it's detecting your products. You can either place it manually or with the label head in the off position. Turn your conveyor on and make sure the light blinks every time the product runs in front.
Conveyor Adjustments [00:05:07] Another important setup feature on the conveyor is to make sure that the belt is always centered. We do center it and set it up from the factory. But if it does start moving over time, you can adjust either side.
Label Head Adjustments [00:05:22] Your ELF-20 label head will adjust both horizontally and vertically to move the peel plate in relationship to the product. To move this horizontally, we're gonna center it over the product and move it in, and then vertically we're gonna move it down. And it's very important that we have this peel plate about a millimeter to two millimeters above your product for good consistent labeling.
Brush Adjustments [00:05:47] To adjust the brush on your ELF-20 label head, you're going to move it into position and you want it just above your product to where it still allows it to pass through without holding it up. You'll then tighten the Allen screw to keep it in position. And with your label head off, you can turn the conveyor on to make sure it passes through with no issue. You can then proceed with testing your labels to make sure it's applied accurately.
Other Top Labeling Applications [00:06:12] The ELF-20 is a very versatile machine that can run many different applications. We currently have it set up to run bags. In this case, we've cut down the peel plate. So that is just two millimeters above the conveyor belt, installed a foam roller to press that label down on the bag. We also have an option that is an automated bag feeder to reduce the labor involved.
Contact Us [00:06:36] To learn more about the ELF series equipment, visit PackLeaderUSA.com.