Labelling machine and method for applying labels

1. A labelling machine ( 1 ) for applying labels ( 2 ) to receptacles ( 3 ) comprising:

a web ( 11 ) of labelling material positioned along a feed path (Q); said web ( 11 ) of labelling material having a succession of decorative patterns ( 15 ), each of which defining the extension of an individual label ( 2 );

a cutting unit ( 12 ) configured to cut said web ( 11 ) of labelling material into individual labels ( 2 ) at a cutting station ( 13 );

a conveying means ( 14 ) configured to advance the individual labels ( 2 ) from the cutting station ( 13 ) to at least one application station ( 5 ), at which the individual labels ( 2 ) are applied to the respective receptacles ( 3 );

a control unit ( 17 ) configured to control the labelling machine ( 1 ) in at least one set-up configuration in which the web ( 11 ) of labelling material is positioned in relation to a reference station ( 18 );

a determination device ( 19 ) configured to determine and/or detect at least in the set-up configuration of said labelling machine ( 1 ), a relative positioning of the decorative patterns ( 15 ) in relation to the reference station ( 18 );

a removal device ( 20 ) configured to remove labels ( 2 ) from the conveying means ( 14 ) at a removal station ( 19 ), at least when said labelling machine ( 1 ) is controlled into the set-up configuration;

wherein said determination device ( 19 ) comprises a processing unit ( 32 ) configured to determine and/or detect the advancement of an incorrect label ( 2 ) by said conveying means ( 14 ), the detection of an incorrect label is detected as a function of the relative positioning of the decorative patterns ( 15 ) in relation to said reference station ( 18 ), the relative positioning of the decorative patterns is obtained as a function of an advancement position of said web ( 11 ) of said labelling material, and the individual label ( 2 ) is marked by the processing unit ( 32 ) as an incorrect label where said individual label has portions of two subsequent decorative patterns ( 15 ) or has a longitudinal length that differs from a predetermined length;

wherein said control unit ( 17 ) is configured to control at least said removal device ( 20 ) so as to remove said incorrect label ( 2 ) from the conveying means ( 14 ); and

wherein the machine further comprises a position sensor configured to determine and/or detect an advancement position of said web ( 11 ) of labelling material.

2. The labelling machine according to claim 1 , wherein said determination device ( 19 ) comprises:

a sensor ( 33 ) configured to generate a detection signal (S d ) indicative of visual characteristics of said decorative patterns ( 15 );

a memory configured to store respective characterisation information associated with said decorative patterns ( 15 ), for a number of different types and/or formats of said decorative patterns ( 15 ); and

a processing unit ( 32 ), operatively coupled with said sensor ( 33 ) and said memory, and configured to receive and process said detection signal (S d ) for determining the relative positioning of said decorative patterns ( 15 );

wherein said processing unit ( 32 ) at least when in use, said labelling machine ( 1 ) is controlled in the set-up configuration, is configured so as to recover from said memory, as a function of a current type and/or format of said decorative patterns ( 15 ), the respective characterisation information, and to determine said relative positioning based on comparison between said characterisation information and information associated with said detection signal (S d ).

3. The labelling machine according to claim 2 , wherein said processing unit ( 32 ) is also configured to obtain and store in a database incorporated in said memory said respective characterisation information for each type and/or format of said decorative patterns ( 15 ).

4. The labelling machine according to claim 3 , wherein said processing unit ( 32 ) is configured such to obtain said characterisation information based on the detection signal (S d ) generated by said sensor ( 33 ) in association with a number of reference decorative patterns of said web ( 11 ) of labelling material.

5. The labelling machine according to claim 2 , wherein said sensor ( 33 ) is configured to obtain said detection signal (S d ) as a function of variations of contrast and/or colours and/or light intensity in the image of said decorative patterns.

6. The labelling machine according to claim 1 , wherein said removal device ( 20 ) comprises a suction assembly configured to generate a suction force for removing said incorrect label ( 2 ) from said conveying means ( 14 ).

7. The labelling machine according to claim 1 , wherein said conveying means ( 14 ) comprises a conveyor drum ( 31 ) configured to retain the individual labels ( 2 ) during the advancement of the labels ( 2 ) from said cutting station ( 13 ) to at least said application station ( 5 );

wherein said removal device ( 20 ) is arranged adjacent to said conveyor drum ( 31 ) at least at the removal station ( 21 ).

8. A method for applying labels ( 2 ) to receptacles ( 3 ) comprising:

providing a web ( 11 ) of labelling material along an advancement path; said web ( 11 ) of labelling material having a succession of repeated decorative patterns ( 15 );

cutting said web ( 11 ) of labelling material into individual labels ( 2 ) at a cutting station ( 13 );

advancing the individual labels ( 2 ) from the cutting station ( 13 ) to at least one application station ( 5 ) by a conveying means ( 14 ); and

determining and/or detecting a relative positioning of the decorative patterns ( 15 ) in relation to a reference station ( 18 ) by a determination device ( 19 );

wherein an incorrect label ( 2 ) is removed from the conveying means ( 14 ) depending on a relative positioning of the decorative patterns ( 15 ) in relation to the reference station ( 18 );

wherein the method further comprises:

advancing the web ( 11 ) of labelling material along an advancement path; the patterns ( 15 ) comprising a succession of repeated decorative patterns ( 15 ), each of which defining the extension of an individual label ( 2 );

positioning the web ( 11 ) of labelling material ( 2 ) in relation to a reference station ( 18 ) at least during a set-up step;

wherein the positioning step further comprises:

determining and/or detecting a relative positioning of the decorative patterns ( 15 ) in relation to the reference station ( 18 );

determining and/or detecting the advancement of an incorrect label ( 2 ) as a function of the relative positioning of the decorative patterns ( 15 ) in relation to said reference station ( 18 );

removing the incorrect labels ( 2 ) during the step of advancement of the labels ( 2 ) at a removal station ( 21 );

wherein during the step of determining and/or detecting the advancement of an incorrect label, said incorrect label is detected also as a function of the advancement position of said web of labelling material.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the incorrect label is determined and/or detected as a function of the relative positioning of the decorative patterns ( 15 ) in relation to said reference station ( 18 ) if an individual label ( 2 ) has portions of two subsequent decorative patterns ( 15 ) and, if so, said label is marked as an incorrect label.

10. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the relative positioning further comprising:

generating, by a sensor ( 33 ) a detection signal (S d ) indicative of visual characteristics of said decorative patterns ( 15 );

receiving and processing, by a processing unit ( 32 ) operatively coupled to said sensor ( 33 ), said detection signal (S d ) to determine the relative positioning of said decorative patterns ( 15 );

receiving, by the processing unit ( 32 ) from a memory operatively coupled to said processing unit ( 32 ), respective characterisation information associated with said decorative patterns ( 15 ), for a number of different types and/or formats of said decorative patterns ( 15 );

wherein said processing unit ( 32 ) recovers from said memory, as a function of an actual type and/or format of said decorative patterns ( 15 ), the respective characterisation information, and determines said relative positioning based on a comparison between said characterisation information and information associated with said detection signal (S d ).

11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein said processing unit ( 32 ) obtains said characterisation information based on the detection signal (S d ) generated by said sensor ( 33 ) in association with a number of reference decorative patterns of said web ( 11 ) of labelling material.

12. The method according to claim 10 , wherein said detection signal (S d ) is a function of variations of contrast and/or colour and/or light intensity in the image of said decorative patterns ( 15 ).

13. The method according to claim 8 , wherein during the advancement step of the web ( 11 ) of labelling material, a position sensor determines and/or detects an advancement position of said web ( 11 ) of labelling material.

14. The method according to claim 8 , wherein, during said removal step, the incorrect label is removed through the application of a suction force onto said incorrect label.

15. The method according to claim 8 , further comprising:

applying the individual labels ( 2 ), at least during an operating step, at the application station ( 5 ) to respective receptacles ( 3 ).

16. The method according to claim 8 , wherein during the step of determining and/or detecting the advancement of an incorrect label, said incorrect label is detected also as a function of the advancement speed of said web of labelling material.