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 a weighing 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 an it adapts to any type of product and packaging.
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:
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 WDEK-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 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