An Automated Label Dispenser

Labels like "FRAGILE DO NOT DROP” are a great way to advise people on what to do (or not to do) with a box or other sensitive item. However, separating the sticker from its backing isn’t always easy, an effect that would certainly be exacerbated after doing this over and over... and over. To help alleviate this potential de-backing issue, Mr Innovative has come up with an automated machine with Arduino.

This device is constructed mostly out of wood using hand tools, along with a variety of 3D-printed and off-the-shelf parts. It features a NEMA 17 motor to pull the rolled-up labels over a series of rods, and during this process, the front of one label separates from the backing sheet after a particularly sharp turn. The label is then easily removed, and another label soon takes its place.

Control of the label separator is via an Arduino Nano on a custom PCB, with an A4988 driver employed to interface with the stepper directly. A 16x2 I2C LCD display gives user feedback, while a rotary encoder input dictates the length of each label. An infrared sensor detects the presence of the half-hanging sticker, and when it’s removed and the roll needs to be advanced. The build also tracks the number of labels that are used, which could be especially handy in some situations. Code for the project can be found on GitHub.