Brief History and Introduction
Eye marks, also known as 'eye spots', are small, black rectangular printed areas located near the edge of flexible packaging materials. They were first introduced in the 1990s when clear labels became popular for products like Crystal Pepsi and Miller Clear Beer. The need for eye marks arose due to the inability of label applicators to distinguish between labels and determine the beginning and end of each label. Eye marks are read by传感器 on the form-fill-seal (FFS) machine to identify packaging material, control material's position, and coordinate the separation and cutting of the flexible packaging material.
Why Are Eye Marks Still Used?
Despite advances in sensor technology, eye marks are still used in some applications. Label applicators that use older models with optical sensors still require eye marks to ensure proper label application. However, those with newer sensor technologies, such as electric fields or ultrasonic sensors, can successfully apply labels without eye marks. Printing eye marks adds an additional cost to labels, so if a label applicator has a non-optical sensor, it may be more cost-effective to refrain from printing eye marks.
Benefits of Using Eye_marks
Eye marks provide several benefits, including:
- Guiding the label machine to identify the start and end of each label for a smooth packaging process.
- Dividing the large roll of printed packaging into smaller rolls with minimal Variance.
- Instructing the bagging machine where to make cuts during the packaging process.
- Providing information for troubleshooting, such as identifying which Lane or pitch the defect occurred on.
- Enhancing the quality and esthetics of the pouch by trimming off the eye mark.
Disadvantages of Using Eye_marks
While eye marks have some benefits, they also have disadvantages, including:
- Adding an extra cost to labels.
- Potentially causing issues during application, such as misalignment or errors.
- Reducing efficiency and increasing costs if the older sensor technology is still in use.
- Changing the design of the pouch to accommodate the eye mark may be more complex and costly.
Future of Eye Marks
As sensor technology continues to advance, we can expect to see eye marks become unnecessary in the future. New sensor technologies will be able to detect the edge of clear labels without the need for eye marks. However, for now, eye marks continue to be an important tool for manufacturers during the packaging stage ensuring accurate and efficient processing of products.
##Eye marks are small printed marks located near the edge of flexible packaging materials that serve an important purpose in the packaging process. While advances in sensor technology have made them obsolete in some applications, they still provide benefits such as guiding the label machine and enhancing the quality of the product. As technology evolves, Eye marks will likely become less prevalent in the industry, but they will always hold a special place in the world of packaging.