Method and device for applying labels to cigarette packs

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for applying labels to blanks, material webs, or partially finished packages - products - during the production of cigarette packs or packs for other tobacco products. In this method, a carrier strip with labels arranged thereon is conveyed to a removal station comprising a removal means, in particular a removal edge, at which the labels are successively separated in cycles by being removed from the carrier strip, each transferred to an associated product, and placed or adhered thereto. The invention further relates to a device for applying such labels, having the features of the preamble of claim 9.

[0002] In the cigarette packaging industry, products are provided with various types of labels. For this purpose, labels on a carrier web are removed from the carrier web at a removal station, separated, and applied to the products in readiness. A method according to the preamble of claim 1 is known from DE 102 27 065 A1.

[0003] It is known to compensate for positional deviations of the labels on the carrier tape in the label removal direction, should they occur. This is achieved by adjusting the speed of the label carrier tape as needed. Methods and devices for correcting positional deviations of labels are known, for example, from WO 00 / 68091 A1 or EP 0 734 953 A1.

[0004] The applicant has recognised that it is desirable, particularly but not only in connection with the manufacture of so-called sealed packs, in which closure labels are placed over the removal openings of the packs, to pay particular attention to positional deviations of labels perpendicular to the label removal direction and to ensure the most precise positioning of the labels possible throughout the entire pack production process.

[0005] Based on this, it is the object of the present invention to further develop the method and device of the type mentioned at the beginning.

[0006] This object is achieved by a method having the features of claim 1 and a device having the features of claim 9.

[0007] Accordingly, a method (and a device) for applying labels of the type mentioned at the outset is provided, in which during the application process or during the package production / package manufacturing it is automatically determined continuously or periodically whether the carrier tape, (at least) one label still on the carrier tape or (at least) one label already applied to a product (cut-out, material webs or partially finished package) deviates from a target position or target location perpendicular to the label removal direction.

[0008] The target position or the target orientation can, for example, be stored in a data memory associated with a control device that controls the method according to the invention or implements the method. This control device can expediently also be part of the device according to the invention.

[0009] If the above-mentioned deviation is detected, it can be concluded that the next labels to be removed in the application process are being applied incorrectly or incorrectly positioned to the respective product, and / or that incorrectly positioned labels have already been applied to products. Therefore, according to the invention, countermeasures are then automatically initiated (during the subsequent production or labeling process) to counteract (possibly further) incorrect positioning with respect to the next or subsequent application processes.

[0010] The continuous or periodic detection of said deviation according to the invention together with the counteraction according to the invention to reduce the deviation basically corresponds in nature to a closed control (i.e. a regulation).

[0011] Specifically, preferably either the carrier tape (including labels) or the products (before they are provided with the labels), the latter not being according to the invention, can be automatically moved (or adjusted in their spatial position) in such a way (spatially) perpendicular to the label removal direction, i.e. in a direction perpendicular to the removal direction (of the two possible, mutually opposite directions perpendicular to the label removal direction), in particular within the X / Y plane in which the label to be removed extends, that the detected deviation of the carrier tape, the label still on the carrier tape or the label already on the product from the target position is counteracted at least with regard to future application processes.

[0012] As a result, the relative position of the respective label to be applied to the product to which the label is applied is changed for or during subsequent application processes in such a way that the incorrect positioning of the labels is reduced or, in the best case, no longer occurs at all, at least during these subsequent application processes - i.e. application processes in which the deviation has already been counteracted.

[0013] It is also conceivable to move both the carrier tape and the product accordingly.

[0014] At least theoretically, it is possible to move the carrier tape and / or the products only in the narrowest area immediately upstream of the removal agent. In extreme cases, it is even conceivable that only the label to be removed immediately next or only the product to be labeled next is affected by this corrective movement.

[0015] As a rule or preferably, however, it is advisable to avoid (excessive) strong movements / changes in direction and the associated stress on the carrier tape or the product within a (too) small spatial area.

[0016] It is therefore particularly preferred that the entire carrier belt or the entire conveying plane of the carrier belt be moved or shifted accordingly; or at least a section thereof that is large enough so that the resulting change in direction of the carrier belt is carried out as gently as possible.

[0017] The same applies to any (possible) movement of the products.

[0018] As regards the determination of a possible deviation of the carrier tape from the target position, according to a preferred alternative of the invention, the (actual) position (perpendicular to the label removal direction) of (at least) one of the longitudinal edges of the carrier tape is detected by means of a sensor device preferably comprising a line sensor and compared with the target position.

[0019] As far as the determination of a possible deviation of a label already applied to a product from a target position or target orientation is concerned, at least one edge of the label on the product can be detected in a similar manner using a sensor device preferably comprising a line sensor and compared with an assigned target orientation or target position.

[0020] To detect any deviation of a label on the carrier tape or a label already applied to a product from the target position, a sensor device comprising an (electro-optical) camera can also be used. The (actual) position of the label (perpendicular to the label removal direction) on the carrier tape or on the product thus detected is then compared with the target position.

[0021] The above-mentioned types of deviation detection can also be combined. For example, the process can be designed to determine whether the carrier tape deviates from a target position, as well as whether a label already applied to the product deviates from a target position.

[0022] Regarding the targeted (corrective) movement of the carrier tape perpendicular to the label removal direction in order to counteract a detected deviation, according to the invention, a reel from which the carrier tape is removed and at least one guide means along which the carrier tape is guided are moved while driving the carrier tape. For this purpose, guide means, such as guide rollers or guide rolls along which the carrier tape is guided, can be moved by motor while driving the carrier tape, and / or at least one reel onto which the carrier tape is wound and / or the removal means for removing the labels. All movements preferably also occur perpendicular to the label removal direction.

[0023] As far as the targeted (corrective) movement of the products perpendicular to the label removal direction is concerned, in order to counteract a detected deviation, conveyors that transport the products to the removal station can be moved by motor, preferably perpendicular to the label removal direction, in order to counteract the deviation.

[0024] In a further embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that, in particular at the beginning of the respective manufacturing or application process in which the labels are applied to the products, the position of a label on the carrier tape is determined by means of a sensor device comprising in particular a print mark sensor, and the position of a longitudinal edge of the carrier tape on which the label is arranged is determined by means of a sensor device, and that the (shortest) distance between the longitudinal edge and the label perpendicular to the label removal direction is determined from the results.

[0025] Based on the distance between the longitudinal edge of the carrier tape and the label determined in this way, the target position can then be determined from which or relative to which the deviations of the carrier tape, the label still on the carrier tape or the label already applied to a product are determined perpendicular to the label removal direction.

[0026] The products to which the labels are applied may be partially finished packs for rod-shaped tobacco products such as cigarettes, in particular inner packs made of film or cardboard, in which the labels, which are preferably designed as multi-actuable closure labels, are applied to the packs in such a way that they cover a dispensing opening for the tobacco products.

[0027] A device according to the invention, suitable for carrying out the above-mentioned method, for applying labels to blanks, material webs or partially finished packages - products - in the context of the production of packages for tobacco products, in particular cigarette packages, has the following features: a) a removal station at which labels arranged on a carrier tape can be removed individually and successively from the carrier tape by means of a removal means, in particular a removal edge, and at which the individual labels can each be transferred to an associated product, b) at least one conveying means, in particular one or more conveying rollers or rollers, with which the carrier tape with the labels arranged thereon can be conveyed to the removal station, c) at least one guiding means for guiding the carrier tape, in particular laterally, on the way to the removal station, in particular one or more guiding rollers or rollers, d) at least one conveying means with which the products can be conveyed individually and successively to the removal station, in particular a belt conveyor, e) a sensor device with the aid of which it can be determined whether the carrier tape,a label still on the carrier tape or a label already applied to a product deviates from a target position perpendicular to the label removal direction, f) an automatically operated displacement device with which, in the event that such a deviation is detected, the at least one guide means for the carrier tape can be moved perpendicular to the label removal direction (in particular back and forth) at least in the area of ​​the removal station (taking along the carrier tape or the products), in such a way or in a direction that the deviation is counteracted, g) the guide means for guiding the carrier tape and a reel from which the carrier tape with the labels thereon is unwound are fastened to a common support plate which can be moved perpendicular to the label removal direction with the displacement device.

[0028] Preferably, the trigger means is attached to the common support plate.

[0029] Preferably, a reel is additionally attached to the support plate, onto which the carrier tape is wound after the labels have been removed.

[0030] The displacement device can have a linear guide gear that transfers the movements of a drive motor of the displacement device into linear movements of the support plate perpendicular to the label removal direction.

[0031] Furthermore, the displacement device can comprise means with which a conveyor belt of a conveying means designed as a belt conveyor for conveying the products can be moved perpendicular to the label removal direction at least in the region of the removal station.

[0032] It goes without saying that the labels do not necessarily have to be applied directly to the respective package at the peel-off station during the peel-off process. Rather, the labels can also be peeled off and transferred to an (intermediate) conveyor, such as a suction conveyor, which then applies the labels to the packages.

[0033] Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the appended claims, the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, and the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 to Fig. 3 a pack for cigarettes in a schematic oblique view, in the present case a so-called sealing pack, Fig. 4 a device according to the invention for applying labels to partially finished sealing packs, which operates according to the method according to the invention, Fig. 5 a detail of the device from Fig. 4 according to the viewing direction V in Fig. 4 , Fig. 6 a part of the Fig. 4 shown carrier tape with labels arranged thereon in plan view, Fig. 7 a section through the in Fig. 6 shown area along section line VII-VII in Fig. 6 , Fig. 8the device of Fig. 4 in the direction of view VIII-VIII, Fig. 9 an alternative embodiment in a representation according to Fig. 8 , Fig. 10the device from Fig. 4 in a sectional view according to section line XX in Fig. 4 , Fig. 11 a further alternative embodiment in a representation according to the section line XI-XI in Fig. 4 , Fig. 12 a section through a further alternative embodiment of the invention.

[0034] The labeling method according to the invention and the labeling device according to the invention are described below with reference to a particular product, namely a particular pack 12 for holding cigarettes 10, or with reference to the production of such a pack.

[0035] However, the invention is of course not limited to labeling or the application of labels to such packages 12. It can also be readily used in the context of applying labels to other types of tobacco product packages, as well as in the context of applying labels to intermediate or precursor products for such packages (such as blanks, etc.) required within such a manufacturing process.

[0036] The method according to the invention or the device according to the invention can be integrated into the process within a higher-level process for producing packs for tobacco products at any position suitable for the application of such labels.

[0037] The package 12 shown in the drawings is already well known per se and has been disclosed in a similar form, inter alia, in DE 10 2008 035 467 A1, the content of which is hereby incorporated into the present application.

[0038] A cigarette group 11 formed from a plurality of cigarettes 10 arranged in a formation fills the interior of the pack 12. The pack 12 is cuboid-shaped and designed as a sealed pack.

[0039] Pack 12, in turn, can form the inner packaging of an outer package (not shown). The outer packaging can, for example, be a hinge-lid pack. It is also conceivable, however, that pack 12 is already saleable on its own, without the need for an outer packaging.

[0040] The pack 12 is provided with a closure label 13 that closes a removal opening 14 for the cigarettes 10. The pack 12 and the closure label 13 form a largely closed, aroma- and moisture-tight wrapper. The closure label 13 is designed to be reusable and has an actuating tab 15 that can be grasped by a user to open the closure label 13 and thus expose the removal opening 14.

[0041] On the side facing the pack 12, the closure label 13 is partially provided with adhesive, namely primarily in its edge areas. The area of ​​the label 13 that, when correctly positioned, is located directly above the dispensing opening 14 is left open, i.e., not provided with adhesive, to prevent accidental sticking of the cigarettes 10 or their contamination with adhesive.

[0042] The Fig. 1 shows the closure label 13 in the correct position relative to the package 12.

[0043] In Fig. 2 In contrast, the closure label 13 is positioned too far toward the back of the pack 12, which means that the dispensing opening 14 is no longer completely covered by the area of ​​the closure label 13 that is not covered by adhesive. As a result, the narrow adhesive area of ​​the label 13 adjacent to the actuating tab 15 comes into contact with the cigarettes 10. Furthermore, the actuating tab 15, which is not covered with adhesive, partially covers the dispensing opening 14, which leads to leaks.

[0044] In Fig. 3 the closure label 13 has moved too far into the area of ​​the front wall of the pack 12 relative to the pack 12. It is clearly visible that here, too, a portion of the removal opening 14 is covered by closure label areas provided with adhesive.

[0045] The incorrect positioning of the labels 13 relative to the pack 12 is the result of an inaccurate or faulty application process during the application of the individual labels 13 to the packs 12.

[0046] The labels 13 are applied by means of an application device 16 or a labeling device according to the Fig. 4 ff. The application device 16 shown is to be understood as an example.

[0047] It is a component of a well-known packaging machine for producing cigarette packs or part of a corresponding process for producing cigarette packs. The details of the other components of the packaging machine are not relevant for the present invention. Only the labeling section is of interest.

[0048] The (cyclically operating) device 16 comprises a conveyor 17, in this case a belt conveyor, with which already partially finished packages 12, as shown in Fig. 1-3 are shown, but still without label 13, are conveyed individually and successively (cyclically) into the area of ​​a removal station 18. It is understood that other conveying means than belt conveyors can also be used to convey the packages 12.

[0049] Furthermore, labels 13 arranged one behind the other with a (small) distance from one another are conveyed to the removal station 18 on an (endless) carrier belt 19.

[0050] The carrier tape 19 is drawn off from a material reservoir, namely a reel 20 on which the carrier tape 19 is wound.

[0051] In the area of ​​the removal station 18, a removal means 21 is arranged, with the aid of which the labels 13 are separated one after the other or removed from the carrier tape 19. In this case, this is a known removal edge over which the carrier tape 19 is guided, subjecting the carrier tape 19 to significant deformation. Due to this deformation, the labels 13 are each detached from the carrier tape 19.

[0052] After removal, the respective label 13 is placed directly onto an associated (partially completed) pack 12 conveyed by the conveyor means 17 into the area of ​​the removal station 18 or the removal means 21 (into the area immediately adjacent to the removal means 21) and held ready there.

[0053] Downstream of the take-off station 18, the empty carrier tape 19 (without labels 13) is then wound onto a reel 22.

[0054] The carrier belt 19 is moved or conveyed along the conveying path described above by means of conveying means. In this case, the reels 20, 22 are motor-driven for this purpose and serve as conveying means in this sense. However, it is also possible to use separate conveyor rollers.

[0055] The conveying plane of the carrier belt 19 and the conveying plane of the packages 12 in the area of ​​the take-off station 18 or in particular in the area of ​​the take-off means 21 are, in the faultless operation of the device 16, coordinated or aligned with one another - target alignment - so that when the respective label 13 is detached from the carrier belt 19, the respective label 13 immediately comes to rest or is placed in the correct position on the package 12 held ready, ie positioned as shown in Fig. 1 is shown.

[0056] However, during operation of the device 16, it may occur that the aforementioned conveying planes and thus the relative position of the respective label 13 to the respective package 12 deviate from this target alignment. For example, the reel 20 may be wound telescopically and thus be responsible for an (increasing) offset of the carrier web 19 or the labels 13 arranged thereon from the original conveying plane during unwinding, specifically perpendicular to the longitudinal extent or direction of the carrier web.

[0057] In the present example, the vertical target conveying plane in which the carrier belt 19 is conveyed would then be, cf. Fig. 1 , laterally or in the horizontal direction. This corresponds to an offset (in the horizontal plane or in the X / Y plane in which the labels 13 lie) perpendicular to the direction in which the labels 13 are detached or pulled off the carrier tape 19, i.e. the label removal direction.

[0058] Depending on the direction of the offset perpendicular to the label removal direction, the label 13 is then placed either too far towards the rear wall of the pack 12, cf. Fig. 2 , or too far towards the front wall of the pack 12, cf. Fig. 3 .

[0059] According to the invention, it is therefore now provided to first automatically detect such an offset occurring during operation of the device 16 or within the application process and then to automatically realign or adjust the device 16 in such a way that the labels 13 are subsequently correctly applied again in accordance with Fig. 1 be placed.

[0060] According to the invention, it is provided to automatically determine, continuously or periodically during the process, whether the carrier tape 19, a label 13 (still) located on the carrier tape 19, or a label 13 (already) applied to a product or package 12 deviates perpendicular to the label removal direction from a target position stored, for example, in a control system of the device 16. If so, the carrier tape 19 is automatically moved perpendicular to the label removal direction, specifically in such a way that the deviation is counteracted.

[0061] To determine whether the carrier tape 19 deviates from a predetermined target position perpendicular to the label removal direction, the position of one of the longitudinal edges, here the longitudinal edge 23, perpendicular to the label removal direction is detected. A sensor device is used for this purpose, which in the present embodiment comprises a line sensor 24. Of course, other sensors can also be used.

[0062] In addition, the present invention provides for detecting the edge 25 of the label 13 adjacent to the longitudinal edge 23 (and in this case running parallel thereto) by means of a print mark sensor 26. For this purpose, the label 13 is provided with a corresponding print mark 27 on its edge.

[0063] From the positions of the edges 23 and 25, the distance between the longitudinal edge 23 of the carrier tape 19 and the edge 25 of the label 13 can then be determined and thus the position of the respective label 13 on the carrier tape 19 can be determined (cf. S1-S2 in Fig. 7 ).

[0064] In order to determine (alternatively or additionally), as indicated above, whether a label 13 deviates from a target position when it has already been placed on a package 12, a suitably positioned (line) sensor 37 and / or a (line) sensor 38 could, for example, detect the position of (at least) one edge of the label 13, cf. Fig. 12 In this context, it is conceivable that one or more packages 12 deviate from the nominal dimensions (in Fig. 12 the dash-dotted, faulty pack 12' is thicker than the pack 12 shown with solid lines), which could / would lead to an incorrect positioning of at least one edge of the label 13, which can be detected accordingly (in Fig. 12 the sensor 38 would detect an incorrect position of the label 13' on the package 12' shown in dash-dotted lines, since no label edge would be detected at the test position).

[0065] Should the determined actual position of the carrier tape 23 and / or the label 13 deviate from a respective predetermined target position, according to a first embodiment of the invention, in order to compensate for the resulting offset between the respective label 13 and the respective package 12, it can be automatically ensured that the actual position(s) again correspond to the target position(s).

[0066] For this purpose, according to the embodiments of the Fig. 8, 9, 10 the position of the carrier belt 19 (in the area of ​​the removal station 18) relative to the position of the products or packages 12 (also in the area of ​​the removal station 18) is changed or adjusted accordingly.

[0067] For this purpose, guide means 28, in this case guide rollers or guide rollers, along which the carrier tape 19 is guided, are automatically moved perpendicular to the label removal direction while taking the carrier tape 19 along.

[0068] For this purpose, one or more guide means 28 may, for example, have guides which guide the carrier tape 19 laterally, ie in the longitudinal direction of the carrier tape.

[0069] In the design of the Fig. 8 The guide means 28 are moved accordingly together with the two reels 20, 22 and the removal means 21. For this purpose, the aforementioned elements or components are jointly attached or arranged on a support plate 30, which can be automatically moved back and forth linearly perpendicular to the label removal direction (or horizontally in this case) by means of a displacement device 29.

[0070] The displacement device 29 comprises a gear device 36 (with parallel shifting gear) connected to the support plate 30, which translates rotary movements of a drive motor (not shown) (e.g. a servo motor) of the displacement device 29 into linear movements (of the support plate 30).

[0071] In the non-inventive embodiment according to Fig. 9 In contrast, the two reels 20, 22 are not movable, but are mounted in a stationary manner, for example, on a stationary housing 35 of the packaging machine. Only the take-off means 21, together with the guide means 28, is movably mounted on a correspondingly (smaller) movable support plate 30'.

[0072] In the non-inventive embodiment of the invention according to Fig. 11 In contrast to the embodiments of the Fig. 8-10 the carrier tape 19 is not moved perpendicular to the label removal direction in order to compensate for the determined deviations from the target positions or to adjust the relative position of packs 12 and labels 13 / label tape 19 accordingly, but the packs 12 are moved.

[0073] For this purpose, the conveyor 17 conveying the packs 12 is automatically moved in the area of ​​the removal station 18 perpendicular to the label removal direction.

[0074] For this purpose, a motor-driven displacement device 31 is provided, which has rollers 32 that roll on the belt 33 of the belt conveyor 17. The rollers 32 are rotatably mounted on a bearing part 34 of the displacement device 31. The bearing part 34 can be moved back and forth linearly perpendicular to the label removal direction (in this case by means of a motor-driven spindle drive). With a corresponding movement of the bearing part 34, the belt 33 is moved by the rollers 32 perpendicular to the label removal direction, and the position of the packs 12 located in each section is adjusted accordingly relative to the labels 13 arranged in the area of ​​the removal means 21.

[0075] It is understood that in order to implement the various method steps according to the invention or to control the various components or the device according to the invention, a control system known per se can be used, which must be set up or programmed accordingly. List of reference symbols

[0076] 10 Cigarettes 11 Cigarette group 12 Pack 12' Pack 13 Sealing label 13' Sealing label 14 Removal opening 15 Actuating tab 16 Labeling device 17 Belt conveyor 18 Take-off station 19 Carrier belt 20 Reel 21 Take-off device 22 Reel 23 Longitudinal edge of carrier belt 24 Line sensor 25 Edge of label 26 Print mark sensor 27 Print mark 28 Guide means of carrier belt 29 Travel device 30 Support plate 30 Support plate 31 Travel device 32 Rollers 33 Belt 34 Bearing part 35 Housing 36 Gear device 37 Line sensor 38 Line sensor

Claims

1. Method which is intended for applying labels (13) to blanks, material webs or partially completed packs (12) - products - during the production of cigarette packs or packs for other tobacco products and in which a carrier strip (19) with labels (13) arranged thereon is conveyed to a pull-off station (18), which comprises a pull-off means (21), in particular a pull-off edge, and at which the labels (13) are separated cyclically one after the other by each being pulled off from the carrier strip (19) and each being transferred to an associated product (12) and applied thereto, characterized in that it is automatically established, on a continuous or periodically recurring basis, whether the carrier strip (19), a label (13) still located on the carrier strip (19) or a label (13) already applied to a product (12) deviates from a target position in a direction perpendicular to the label pull-off direction, and in that, in the event of such deviation being ascertained, the carrier strip (19) is automatically moved in a direction perpendicular to the label pull-off direction, to be precise such that the deviation is counteracted, wherein, in order for the deviation to be counteracted, the carrier strip (19) is moved by virtue of a reel (20), from which the carrier strip (19) is pulled off, and at least one guide means, along which the carrier strip (19) is guided, being displaced, the carrier strip (19) being carried along therewith.

2. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that, for the purpose of establishing a possible deviation, the position of one of the longitudinal edges (23) of the carrier strip (19) is sensed by means of a sensor device, preferably comprising a line sensor, and is compared with the target position.

3. Method according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, for the purpose of establishing a possible deviation, the position of a label (13) on the carrier strip (19) or of a label (13) already applied to a product (12) is sensed by means of a sensor device, preferably comprising an electro-optical camera, and is compared with the target position.

4. Method according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that, in order for the deviation to be counteracted, the carrier strip (19) is moved by virtue of the guide means, for example a guide roller or a guide roll, along which the carrier strip (19) is guided, being displaced by a motor in a direction perpendicular to the label pull-off direction, the carrier strip (19) being carried along therewith, and / or by virtue of at least one reel (22), onto which the carrier strip (19) is wound up, and / or the pull-off means (21) for pulling off the labels (13) being displaced.

5. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in order for the deviation to be counteracted, conveying means (17) which convey the product (12) to the pull-off station (18) are displaced by a motor in a direction preferably perpendicular to the label pull-off direction.

6. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in particular at the beginning of the respective production process, in which the labels (13) are applied to the products (12), a sensor device comprising in particular a print-mark sensor (26) is used to determine the position of a label (13) on the carrier strip (19), and a sensor device is used to determine the position of a longitudinal edge (23) of the carrier strip (19), on which the label (13) is arranged, and in that the distance between the longitudinal edge (23) and the label (13) in a direction perpendicular to the label pull-off direction is established from the results.

7. Method according to Claim 6, characterized in that the target position, from which the deviations - in a direction perpendicular to the label pull-off direction - of the carrier strip (19), of the label (13) still located on the carrier strip (19) or of the label (13) already applied to a product (12) are ascertained, is determined in accordance with the distance between the longitudinal edge (23) of the carrier strip (19) and the label (13).

8. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the products (12) to which the labels (13) are applied are partially completed packs (12) for rod-form tobacco products such as cigarettes (10), in particular inner packs made of sheet material or cardboard, in the case of which the labels (13), which are designed in the form of preferably repeated-actuation closure labels, are each applied to the packs (12) so as to cover over a removal opening (14) for the tobacco products (10).

9. Apparatus which is intended for applying labels (13) to blanks, material webs or partially completed packs (12) - products - during the production of cigarette packs or packs for other tobacco products, preferably for carrying out the method according to Claim 1, and has the following features: a) a pull-off station (18), at which labels (13) arranged on a carrier strip (19) can be pulled off from the carrier strip (19) individually and one after the other with the aid of a pull-off means (21), in particular a pull-off edge, and at which the individual labels (13) can each be transferred to an associated product (12), b) at least one conveying means by way of which the carrier strip (19) with the labels (13) arranged thereon can be conveyed to the pull-off station (18), c) at least one guide means (28) for guiding the carrier strip (19) (in particular laterally) en route to the pull-off station (18), d) at least one conveying means (17) by way of which the products (12) can be conveyed individually and one after the other to the pull-off station (18), e) a sensor device which can help to ascertain whether the carrier strip (19), a label (13) still located on the carrier strip (19) or a label (13) already applied to a product (12) deviates from a target position in a direction perpendicular to the label pull-off direction, f) an automatically actuated displacement device (29, 31), by means of which, in the event of such deviation being ascertained, the guide means (28) for the carrier strip (19) can be moved in a direction perpendicular to the label pull-off direction at least in the region of the pull-off station (18), to be precise such that the deviation is counteracted, g) the guide means (28) for guiding the carrier strip (19) and a reel (20), from which the carrier strip (19) with the labels (13) located thereon is unwound, are fastened on a common carrying plate (30, 30'), which can be moved in a direction perpendicular to the label pull-off direction by way of the displacement device (29).

10. Apparatus according to Claim 9, characterized in that the pull-off means (21) is fastened on the common carrying plate (30, 30').

11. Apparatus according to Claim 10, characterized in that also fastened on the carrying plate (30, 30') is a reel (22), onto which the carrier strip (19) is wound up once the labels (13) have been pulled off.

12. Apparatus according to Claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the displacement device (29) has a linear-guidance gear mechanism (36), which transfers the movements of a drive motor of the displacement device (29) into rectilinear movements of the carrying plate (30, 30') in a direction perpendicular to the label pull-off direction.

13. Apparatus according to one or more of preceding Claims 9-12, characterized in that the displacement device (31) has means by way of which a conveyor belt (33) of the conveying means (17) for conveying the products (12), and designed in the form of a belt conveyor, can be moved in a direction perpendicular to the label pull-off direction at least in the region of the pull-off station (18).