Label Applicator

Abstract

The labelling machine comprises a conveyor (2) for transporting the containers (3) to be labelled, and at least one labelling station (6) having an unwinding assembly (7) for unwinding a continuous label ribbon (8) on which a plurality of labels (8a) are successively printed, and at least one drum (10) having a plurality of runners (12) around its periphery, the runners having at least one relief portion (13) that is raised relative to the side of the drum (10), and in which the label ribbon (8) and / or the labels (8a) can be engaged via contact. Applicator rollers (14) are arranged laterally of the drum (10) for applying adhesive onto the label ribbon (8) and / or the label (8a) to provide at least one respective adhesive imprint (15) on the leading and trailing ends of the label (8a) on the at least one relief portion (13) of the runner; at least one of the runners (12) comprises at least one contour portion (16) in which at least one abutment area (17) is formed for the applicator roller (14), the at least one abutment area (17) protruding further from the side of the drum (10) than at least one other area (18) of the at least one contour portion (16), such that the applicator roller (14) can apply at least one adhesive imprint (15) having at least one adhesive-free area (15b) to the portion of the label ribbon (8) and / or the label (8a) that lies on the contour portion (16).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a label applicator. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Labeling machines are known that can automatically apply labels to containers, the labels being obtained by cutting a continuous label ribbon taken from a reel on which a plurality of labels are continuously printed.

[0003] Typically, in a labelling machine, the containers to be labelled are conveyed along a forward path by a conveying means, usually constituted by a rotating carousel provided with supports for the individual containers, which support the containers themselves to rotate about their own axes.

[0004] Additionally, along the forward path of the container there is at least one labelling station provided with an unwinding assembly which allows a label ribbon to be taken off a reel, possibly passing it through a tensioning means, and feeding it to a cutting drum which is provided in its peripheral area with a number of blades which allow a cut to be made in the label ribbon between one label and the next.

[0005] As the individual labels thus cut leave the cutting drum, they come into contact with a transfer drum which applies the labels to containers transported by the carousel and gradually presented in front of the transfer drum.

[0006] In particular, the labels are arranged to adhere to the transport drum in corresponding sectors of the outer surface of the transport drum.

[0007] If the label ribbon is not pre-applied with adhesive, the labeling machine is equipped with a gluing unit, which may consist of an adhesive spreading roller positioned adjacent to the transport drum, that applies a layer of adhesive to the leading or trailing edge of each label, which is then picked up by the transport drum and applied to each container being transported by the carousel.

[0008] In particular, when the gluing unit is constituted by an applicator roller, the ends of the various sectors of the transport drum have two adhesive bonding regions, which are formed by respective blocks called runners, which are recessed and projected from the main side of the transport drum. The leading and trailing edges of the labels are designed to rest on these blocks, and as the labels pass in front of the applicator roller, the roller applies a quantity of adhesive to the labels, which is distributed so as to form only two adhesive imprints or adhesive regions in the form of a continuous strip of substantially rectangular shape extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the label ribbon.

[0009] To produce adhesive imprints of this shape at the leading and trailing ends of the label, the runners are shaped to present relief portions formed corresponding to the adhesive imprints to be produced. These relief portions are substantially constituted by ribs projecting radially from the sides of the transfer drum, which extend along their longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the axis of the transfer drum and have, at their outermost ends opposite the ends connected to the corresponding remainder of the runners, substantially outwardly convex and continuous contact surfaces against which the faces of the labels that are to receive the adhesive imprints from the application roller abut.

[0010] To prevent the label from remaining attached to the applicator roller, the label is kept attached to the side of the transfer drum and to the runner by holes in the side of the transfer drum and in the runner itself that are connected to air suction means.

[0011] During operation of the labeling machine, the individual labels that have been separated from one another may adhere to the transfer drum, causing the latter to become soiled with glue, often resulting in the need to stop the labeling machine to perform any necessary cleaning.

[0012] There is also the following labeling machine, in which the transfer drum is provided with a number of cutting devices arranged around its periphery, which allow the label ribbon to be cut at the separation between one label and the next, and which can hold the resulting labels on its side for application to the corresponding bottles after cutting. In this case, the transfer drum would more accurately be called a "cutting-transfer drum."

[0013] This type of labelling machine is known and operates a cutting device to perform the cutting of the label after the adhesive has been applied to the label by the applicator roller, thereby avoiding the possibility that the applicator roller will smear the sides of the label with adhesive.

[0014] In particular, WO 2018 / 114618 in the name of the same applicant discloses a labeling machine in which an unwinding assembly feeds a label ribbon directly onto a transport drum, the transport drum being provided with a number of cutting devices. Each cutting device is arranged immediately behind each runner in the direction of rotation of the transport drum and is constituted by a blade. The blades are fixed integrally to the transport drum and housed in corresponding suction chambers which open into a side of the transport drum and are connected to air suction means. The air suction means makes it possible to draw the label ribbon into the suction chamber and apply it to the blades, resulting in the labeling ribbon being cut.

[0015] The labeling machine further includes a control means for varying the feed rate of the label ribbon onto the transfer drum by the unwinding assembly while the transfer drum is rotating, thereby enabling the labeling machine to determine an operating procedure in which the label ribbon feed rate is equal to or slightly slower than the peripheral speed of the transfer drum. This is to allow the applicator roller to apply adhesive imprints to the leading and trailing edges of two successive labels on the label ribbon that are positioned on the runner passing in front of it, or to allow a cutting device to perform a cut between two successive labels. Furthermore, the labeling machine can determine an operating procedure in which the label feed rate onto the transfer drum is slower than the speed at which the labels are transported, to allow slippage of the transfer drum relative to the label ribbon, thereby positioning the cutting device at the separation between two successive labels that the applicator roller previously applied adhesive to, just behind the runner where the trailing and leading edges of those two labels were positioned when the applicator roller applied adhesive. Alternatively, it is for removing the cut label from the remainder of the label ribbon after activating a cutting device that performs the cut on the label ribbon.

[0016] With regard to the labelling machines mentioned above, there is a widely felt need to be able to limit as much as possible the amount of adhesive transferred to the label by the applicator roller in order to save on the running costs of the labelling machine.

[0017] Another widely felt need is to make labels easily removable from containers so that they can be reused with new labels after cleaning and sterilization, thereby limiting the dispersal of empty containers into the environment.

[0018] A challenge for current labeling machines is the ability to properly apply labels to containers that have contours formed by peaks and valleys (ridges and valleys) on their exterior surfaces. In fact, on these types of containers, labels that have an adhesive imprint at their edge, consisting of a continuous rectangular adhesive strip extending transversely to the label, tend to adhere to the valleys on the exterior surface of the container, creating a wavy pattern. This is undesirable because it makes the label difficult to read.

[0019] Furthermore, the adhesive (glue) present in the adhesive imprint in the valleys of the container is not needed to secure the label to the container because the adhesive present in the peaks of the container is sufficient, and therefore the adhesive in the valleys of the container is wasted.

[0020] To overcome these problems, labeling machines have been proposed in which the runners continue to have relief portions, but have a flat, continuous contact surface for the label portion that is to receive the adhesive. However, in these labeling machines, the sides of the application roller are not smooth, with some portions having a more raised contour than others. This is to allow the labels to have an adhesive imprint that includes not only adhesive areas but also adhesive-free areas, rather than a simple, continuous adhesive strip, as is common in conventional labeling machines. The adhesive-free areas are designed to facilitate label removal and / or to be located in valleys present on the exterior surface of the container to which the label is to be applied.

[0021] Although this solution is effective in solving the above-mentioned problems and preventing undesirable wrinkles from forming on the label, it has the drawback of making the structure somewhat complicated by providing an application roller.

[0022] Furthermore, this solution does not allow for changing label formats, except by changing the applicator roller, which involves considerable operational difficulties and long downtimes of the label applicator. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0023] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an aim of the present invention to provide a labelling machine that can improve upon the known art in one or more of the above mentioned aspects.

[0024] Within this aim, it is an object of the present invention to provide a labelling machine which makes it possible to give labels an adhesive imprint that is suited to the label format without wasting adhesive.

[0025] Another object of the present invention is to provide a labelling machine that makes it possible to apply an adhesive imprint to a label that conforms to the shape of the container without the risk of wrinkling the label.

[0026] Another object of the present invention is to provide a labeling machine that can quickly and easily adapt to changes in label formats.

[0027] Another object of the present invention is to provide a label applicator that is simple in construction.

[0028] Another object of the present invention is to provide a labeling machine that can provide a wide range of guarantees of safety and reliability in operation.

[0029] A further object of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the background art in an alternative way to existing solutions.

[0030] Another object of the present invention is to provide a labelling machine which can be manufactured at low cost so as to be competitive from a purely economic point of view. [Means for solving the problem]

[0031] This aim, as well as these and other objects that will become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a labelling machine according to claim 1 which may comprise one or more of the features of the dependent claims.

[0032] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the description of preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments of a labelling machine according to the invention, which are shown by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, in which: [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0033] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a labeling machine according to the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cutting and transport drum of the labeling machine according to the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a runner of a drum of a labeling machine according to the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. [Figure 6] 1A-1C are schematic plan views from above showing a series of operational steps of a labeling machine according to the present invention; [Figure 7] 1A-1C are schematic plan views from above showing a series of operational steps of a labeling machine according to the present invention; [Figure 8] 1A-1C are schematic plan views from above showing a series of operational steps of a labeling machine according to the present invention; [Figure 9] 1 shows an example of an adhesive imprint that can be produced by a runner on the drum of a labeling machine according to the present invention. [Figure 10] 1 shows an example of an adhesive imprint that can be produced by a runner on the drum of a labeling machine according to the present invention. [Figure 11] 1 shows an example of an adhesive imprint that can be produced by a runner on the drum of a labeling machine according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0034] With reference to the drawings, a labelling machine according to the present invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, comprises a conveyor 2 of containers 3 to be labelled along an advancing path.

[0035] The conveyor 2 is constituted, for example, by a rotating carousel 4. The rotating carousel 4 has in its peripheral area a number of pans 5 supporting the individual containers 3, which pans 5 rotate so as to rotate the containers 3 about their axes.

[0036] Along the forward path of the container 3 there is at least one label application station 6 which includes an unwind assembly 7, for example formed by a pair of counter-rotating entrainment rollers 7a, 7b which allow a continuous label ribbon 8 on which a plurality of successive labels 8a, 8b are printed to be removed from a reel (not shown).

[0037] Advantageously, the label ribbon 8 taken off the reel by the unwinding assembly 7 is also passed through a device 9 for straightening and adjusting the tension of the label ribbon 8, as is known per se.

[0038] The labelling station 6 further comprises at least one drum 10. The drum 10 is rotatable about its own axis and is designed to receive the label ribbon 8 and / or labels 8a, 8b attached to its side surface 10a.

[0039] For this purpose, in a manner known per se, the drum 10 has a plurality of suction holes 11 in its side surface 10a, which are connected to a vacuum source (not shown) so that the label ribbon 8 and / or the labels 8a, 8b can be tightly attached to the drum 10.

[0040] The drum 10 is further provided with a plurality of runners 12 arranged around its periphery at angular intervals around the axis of the drum 10.

[0041] Each of the runners 12 has at least one respective relief portion (i.e., raised or recessed portion) 13 that is recessed or raised relative to the side surface 10a of the drum 10. This relief portion is capable of contact-engaging with the label ribbon 8 and / or labels 8a, 8b.

[0042] To ensure that the label ribbon 8 and / or labels 8a, 8b adhere closely (stick) to the runner 12, the runner 12 is also advantageously formed with suction ports 11.

[0043] An adhesive application roller 14 is arranged next to the drum 10, making it possible to apply adhesive to the label ribbon 8 and / or the labels 8a, 8b.

[0044] In particular, the runner 12 defines at least one area for applying adhesive on at least part of its relief portion 13. This area is designed to face the application roller 14 so that, as the runner 12 passes in front of it, the application roller 14 can apply at least one respective adhesive imprint 15 to the leading and trailing ends of the labels 8 a, 8 b that are in contact with the relief portion 13 of the runner 12, and subsequently apply the labels 8 a, 8 b to the respective containers 3.

[0045] At least one of the runners 12 has at least one contoured part 16, substantially in the area where adhesive is to be applied, defining at least one abutment area 17 for the applicator roller 14. The abutment area 17 protrudes from the side surface 10a of the drum 10 more than at least one other area 18 of the contoured part 16 that is not intended to come into contact with the applicator roller 14, so that the applicator roller 14 can transfer adhesive to the portion of the label ribbon 8 or labels 8a, 8b located in the abutment area 17 but not to the portion located in the area 18.

[0046] In this way, the application roller 14 is able to apply at least one adhesive imprint 15 to the portion of the label ribbon 8 and / or labels 8a, 8b that is in contact with the contoured portion 16. This adhesive imprint 15 has not only at least one area 15a containing adhesive, provided by the abutment area 17 of the contoured portion 16, but also at least one area 15b that is free of adhesive in the portion of the runner 12 provided in the area 18 of the contoured portion 16.

[0047] The presence of an area (adhesive-free area) 15b in the adhesive imprint 15 formed by the application roller 14 saves the amount of adhesive transferred to the labels 8a, 8b by the application roller 14 and also makes it easier to remove the labels 8a, 8b from the container 3 once they have been attached, making it easier to reuse the container 3 after the contents have been consumed.

[0048] Preferably, each of the runners 12 of the drum 10 has at least one contoured portion 16 .

[0049] For example, contoured portion 16 may include a substantially continuous, preferably outwardly convex, abutment region 17 and a region 18 located at the periphery of contoured portion 16 and projecting less from drum side surface 10a than abutment region 17. Abutment region 17 affects substantially the majority of contoured portion 16 and extends longitudinally substantially parallel to the axis of drum 10.

[0050] The contour 16 thus configured actually makes it possible to deposit an adhesive imprint 15 on the label 8 a, 8 b. This adhesive imprint 15 is largely constituted by a single area 15 a with adhesive in the shape of a substantially strip, affecting most of the lateral length of the label 8 a, 8 b, except for one adhesive-free area 15 b in its peripheral region. The adhesive-free area 15 b forms a kind of missing corner or missing part of the strip formed by the adhesive-containing area 15 a, making it possible to easily remove the label 8 a, 8 b by lifting the end flap of the label where the adhesive-free area 15 b of the adhesive imprint 15 is located and peeling the label 8 a, 8 b from the container 3.

[0051] Alternatively, the contoured portion 16 may comprise a plurality of contact areas 17, separated from one another by areas 18 that protrude less from the side of the drum 10 than the contact areas 17. This allows for the creation of adhesive imprints 15 formed by a plurality of spaced apart areas 15a with adhesive interleaved with areas 15b without adhesive. This allows for the labels 8a, 8b to be adhered only in some places on the adhesive imprints 15, particularly where greater holding power is required, but not in other areas where it is not required, resulting in significant savings in adhesive.

[0052] For example, if the outer surface of the container 3 has a contour of peaks and valleys, the abutment area 17 can be positioned so that the adhesive-containing areas 15a in the adhesive imprint 15 are positioned on the peaks of the container 3 but not on the valleys.

[0053] In practice, the abutment areas 17 are constituted by respective raised portions defined in the contoured portion 16, while the areas 18 are constituted by respective hollow portions also defined in the contoured portion 16.

[0054] Referring now more particularly to the embodiment shown in the drawings, it will be noted that the drum 10 is fed directly with the label ribbon 8 by the unwinding assembly 7 and has a plurality of cutting devices 19 distributed around its periphery, which are activated on command to perform a cut in the label ribbon 8 between one label 8a, 8b and the next label.

[0055] Advantageously, such a cutting device 19 is adapted to carry out a cut of the label ribbon 8 at the separation between two successive labels 8a, 8b along the label ribbon 8 after the application of two adhesive imprints 15 by the application roller 14, one adhesive imprint 15 on the trailing edge of one of said two successive labels, for example on the trailing edge corresponding to the edge designated 8a in Figures 6, 7 and 8, and another adhesive imprint 15 on the leading edge of the other label 8b which immediately follows the previous label in the advance direction of the label ribbon 8.

[0056] In this case, each of the runners 12 comprises at least two relief portions 13 which are in each example designed to receive, in contact with each other, the rear and front ends of two successive labels 8 a, 8 b of the label ribbon 8 .

[0057] In particular, both relief portions 13 on each runner 12 define respective areas for applying adhesive, at least one of which includes at least one contoured area 16 .

[0058] More specifically, the relief portion 13, including at least one contoured area 16, is intended to receive at least the rear ends of the labels 8a, 8b in contact therewith. Thus, when the labels 8a, 8b are applied to the container 3 with their rear ends overlapping the front ends of the labels 8a, 8b, easy removal of these labels is possible due to the presence of an adhesive imprint 15 with at least one adhesive-free area 15b on their rear ends, which allows them to be removed by pulling.

[0059] Alternatively, each of the relief portions 13 on each runner 12 may include at least one contoured portion 16 .

[0060] Examples of adhesive imprints 15 that can be provided using two relief portions 13 of runner 12 are shown in FIGS.

[0061] In particular, FIG. 9 shows a pair of adhesive imprints 15 that can be provided on the label ribbon 8 by a runner 12 at the rear end of label 8a and at the front end of label 8b adjacent to label 8a. This runner 12 has a first relief portion 13 with a contoured portion 16 that can provide an adhesive imprint 15 at the rear end of label 8a, with an adhesive-carrying area 15a in a strip across label 8a. The adhesive imprint 15 has a missing corner on the side facing label 8b, with an adhesive-free area 15b. The runner 12 also has a second relief portion 13. This second relief portion 13 is made in accordance with known techniques, so that an adhesive imprint 15 can be provided on the front end of label 8b, essentially entirely constituted by a rectangular adhesive-carrying area 15a across label 8b, extending along substantially the entire lateral length of label 8b.

[0062] In contrast, Figure 10 shows a pair of adhesive imprints 15 that can be provided on the label ribbon 8 by a runner 12 having two relief portions 13. Both relief portions 13 have respective contour portions 16 that can form adhesive imprints 15 at the leading and trailing ends of two consecutive labels 8a, 8b after passing in front of an application roller 14. These adhesive imprints 15 include a plurality of localized areas 15a with adhesive. Each localized area 15a has a generally rectangular shape and is substantially parallel to the extension direction of the label ribbon 8. The localized areas 15a are alternately arranged with adhesive-free areas 15b in the direction across the labels 8a, 8b.

[0063] Figure 11 shows adhesive imprints 15 provided on the trailing and leading ends of two consecutive labels 8a and 8b on a label ribbon 8 by a runner 12. Both relief portions 13 of this runner 12 are provided with respective contour portions 16. The adhesive imprint 15 provided on the trailing end of label 8a consists of a continuous area 15a with adhesive in the form of a strip across the label 8a, but is missing corners that are formed by areas 15b without adhesive. The adhesive imprint 15 provided on the leading end of label 8b consists of localized areas 15a with adhesive that are separated from one another in the transverse direction to label 8b by areas 15b without adhesive.

[0064] Referring again to the illustrated embodiment, each of the runners 12 of the drum 10 cooperates with a respective cutting device 19 located immediately behind the corresponding runner 12 in the direction of rotation of the drum 10 .

[0065] In this case, control means are advantageously provided for controlling the label application machine (also referred to as machine), constituted for example by an electronic control unit 30. The control means are adapted to drive the unwinding assembly 7 which unwinds (i.e. pays out) the label ribbon 8 in order to vary the feed rate of the label ribbon 8 by the unwinding assembly onto the drum 10 relative to the circumferential speed of the drum 10, with machine operating steps in which the circumferential speed of the drum 10 is faster than the rate at which the label ribbon 8 is fed onto the drum 10 by the unwinding assembly 7, in order to obtain slippage of the lateral surface of the drum 10 on the label ribbon 8, and machine operating steps in which the feed rate or supply rate of the label ribbon 8 onto the drum 10 is substantially the same as the circumferential speed of the drum 10.

[0066] In particular, the control means can command a slowdown in the speed at which the label ribbon 8 is fed onto the drum 10 by the unwinding assembly 7 immediately after the runner 12 passes in front of the application roller 14 with the leading and trailing ends of two consecutive labels 8a, 8b of the label ribbon 8 in contact with the runner 12, causing the application roller 14 to apply two adhesive imprints 15, one to the trailing end and one to the leading end of the two consecutive labels 8a, 8b in contact with the runner 12.

[0067] This results in sliding of the drum 10 over the label ribbon 8, which allows the label ribbon 8 to stretch and avoids the situation where the label ribbon 8 remains wrinkled after adhering to the contoured portion 16 of the runner 12. This sliding also makes it possible to position a cutting device 19 just behind the runner 12 (on which the application roller 14 applies the adhesive imprint 15) at the separation between two consecutive labels 8a that have received the adhesive imprint 15, to cut the label ribbon 8 and separate from the label ribbon 8 the label 8a that precedes label 8b in the forward direction of the label ribbon 8.

[0068] Following cutting, the labels 8a separated from the label ribbon 8 are held in close contact with the side surface 10a of the drum 10 by the suction holes 11, so that the drum 10 can adhere the labels 8a to the corresponding containers 3 on the carousel 4.

[0069] It should be noted that at the moment of cutting of the label ribbon 8 by the corresponding cutting device 19, the control means commands the unwinding assembly 7 to feed the label ribbon 8 onto the drum 10 at a speed approximately equal to the peripheral speed of the drum 10, so that cutting of the label ribbon 8 is carried out with the movement of the label ribbon 8 and the movement of the cutting device 19 substantially synchronized.

[0070] After cutting the label ribbon 8, the control means can also command the speed at which the label ribbon 8 is fed onto the drum 10 to be slowed down relative to the peripheral speed of the drum 10. As a result, the drum 10 is dragged over the label ribbon 8, thereby pulling the label 8a obtained after it has been cut off from the remainder of the label ribbon 8.

[0071] Advantageously, in the embodiment shown, each cutting device 19 comprises a respective blade 20 arranged in a cutting chamber 21. The cutting chambers 21 open into the side 10a of the drum 10 and can be connected to suction means, for example consisting of the same vacuum source connected to the suction holes 11 of the drum 10, so that the part of the label ribbon 8 facing the cutting device 19 can be drawn into the corresponding cutting chamber 21 and brought into contact with the blade 20, where it is cut.

[0072] The operation of the labelling machine according to the invention is as follows.

[0073] Starting from the situation shown in Figure 6, the unwinding assembly 7 feeds the label ribbon 8 onto the drum 10 at a speed that corresponds approximately to the peripheral speed of the drum 10. Meanwhile, the runner 12 passes in front of the application roller 14 with the trailing and leading edges of two successive labels 8a, 8b of the label ribbon 8 in contact with their respective relief portions 13, so that the application roller 14 can apply two adhesive imprints 15 to the part of the label ribbon 8 that is in contact with the application roller 14 (one at the trailing edge of label 8a that precedes label 8b in the direction of travel of the label ribbon 8, and the other at the leading edge of label 8b).

[0074] In this situation, the suction holes 11 present on the runner 12 are conveniently activated by connection to a vacuum source, so that the label ribbon 8 is fully adhered to the relief portion 13 of the runner 12 and takes on its shape due to the attraction of the suction holes 11 present on the runner 12 to the relief portion 13.

[0075] Once the adhesive imprints 15 have been applied to the trailing and leading edges of the labels 8a, 8b, the situation shown in Figure 7 is reached, where the control means commands the unwinding assembly 7 to unwind the label ribbon 8 and feed the label ribbon 8 onto the drum 10 at a speed slower than the peripheral speed of the drum 10.

[0076] In this way, the drum 10 can slide against the label ribbon 8 in order to stretch the label ribbon 8 and return it to its original shape after it has adhered to the runner 12, thus avoiding the situation where wrinkles remain in the label ribbon 8 after it has adhered to the contour 16 of the runner 12. Furthermore, this is because the cutting device 19, which is located immediately behind the runner 12 (in the direction of rotation of the drum 10) and which was previously in front of the application roller 14, is now positioned at the separation between the two labels 8a, 8b with the adhesive imprint 15.

[0077] While the drum 10 slides over the label ribbon 8, at least some of the suction holes 11 present on the runner 12 are advantageously deactivated by disconnecting them from the vacuum source, thus helping to prevent wrinkles from remaining in the label ribbon 8.

[0078] FIG. 8 shows the situation where the cutting device 19, just behind the runner 12 where the leading and trailing ends of the labels 8a, 8b that received the adhesive imprint 15 were in contact, arrives at the separation between the labels 8a, 8b with its corresponding blade 20.

[0079] In this situation, the label ribbon 8 is again fed by the unwinding assembly 7 at a speed that corresponds approximately to the peripheral speed of the drum 10. The cutting chamber 21 of the cutting device 19 in the separation area between the labels 8a, 8b is connected to suction means, which draw the label ribbon 8 inwardly into the cutting chamber 21 and press the label ribbon 8 against the corresponding blade 20, which cuts the label ribbon 8 and separates the label 8a from the label ribbon.

[0080] After cutting the label 8a, the control means once again commands the unwinding assembly 7 to slow down the feeding speed of the label ribbon 8 onto the drum 10 relative to the circumferential speed of the drum 10 in order to move the cut label 8a away from the rest of the label ribbon 8 and to position the next runner 12 (in the direction of rotation of the drum 10) behind the runner on which label 8a received adhesive in the separation between label 8b and the label immediately following it along the label ribbon 8. The feeding speed of the label ribbon 8 is then returned to a value that approximately corresponds to (is equal to) the circumferential speed of the drum 10 so that the operating cycle begins again. Meanwhile, the labels 8a cut from the label ribbon 8 are fed by the drum 10 into respective containers 3 transported by the conveyor 2.

[0081] Indeed, it has been found that the present invention fully achieves the above aims and objects by providing a labelling machine which, with a very simple construction with respect to the known art, makes it possible to achieve an effective optimisation of the use and consumption of the adhesive applied to the labels, without compromising the quality of the labels.

[0082] The invention thus conceived is susceptible to numerous modifications and variations, all of which fall within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, all details may be substituted by other technically equivalent elements.

[0083] In practice, the materials, dimensions and shapes used may be any as appropriate, as needed and in keeping with the state of the art, so long as they are suitable for the particular application.

[0084] The disclosure of Italian Patent Application No. 102021000004100, from which this application claims priority, is incorporated herein by reference.

[0085] Where reference signs are placed after technical features referred to in any claim, these are included solely for the purpose of enhancing the clarity of the claims, and therefore such reference signs shall not have a limiting effect on the interpretation of the respective elements identified by such reference signs, by way of example.

Claims

1. a conveyor (2) for conveying containers (3) to be labeled along a forward path, and at least one labeling station (6) arranged along said forward path; The at least one label application station (6) comprises an unwinding assembly (7) for unwinding a continuous label ribbon (8) on which a plurality of labels (8a) are successively printed, and at least one drum (10) designed to receive the label ribbon (8) and / or the labels (8a) attached to its side, the at least one drum (10) being provided with a plurality of runners (12) around its periphery, the runners having at least one relief portion (13) that is uneven relative to the side of the drum (10), the relief portion being capable of being engaged by the label ribbon (8) and / or the labels (8a) through contact, and at least one relief portion (13) being provided with at least one area for applying adhesive, applicator rollers (14) arranged laterally of the drum (10) for applying adhesive onto the label ribbon (8) and / or the labels (8a) to provide at least one respective adhesive imprint (15) on the leading and trailing edges of the labels (8a) in contact with the at least one relief portion (13) of the runner (12); at least one of the runners (12) comprises, substantially in the adhesive application area, at least one contoured portion (16) in which at least one abutment area (17) for the application roller (14) is formed, the at least one abutment area (17) protruding from the side of the drum (10) more than at least one other area (18) of the at least one contoured portion (16), so that the application roller (14) can apply at least one adhesive imprint (15) having at least one adhesive-free area (15b) to the portion of the label ribbon (8) and / or the label (8a) in contact with the at least one contoured portion (16), each of the plurality of runners (12) comprises at least two relief portions (13) designed to receive, in contact with each other, the trailing and leading ends of two successive labels (8a) of the label ribbon (8), at least one of the relief portions (13) comprising at least one contoured area (16); the drum (10) is directly fed with the label ribbon (8) by the unwinding assembly (7) and has a plurality of cutting devices (19) distributed around the circumference of the drum, the cutting devices (19) being activated on command to perform a cut of the label ribbon (8) between one label (8a, 8b) and the next label; the cutting device (19) is adapted to perform a cut of the label ribbon (8) at a separation between two consecutive labels (8a, 8b) along the label ribbon (8) after the deposition of the two adhesive imprints (15) by the application roller (14), The application roller (14) applies the two adhesive imprints (15) in such a way that one adhesive imprint is applied on the trailing edge of one label (8a) of the two consecutive labels and the other adhesive imprint is applied on the leading edge of the other label (8b) that immediately follows the previous label in the forward direction of the label ribbon (8). A label application machine characterized by:

2. 2. The labeling machine of claim 1, wherein each of the runners (12) has at least one contoured portion (16).

3. 3. The label application machine according to claim 1, wherein the at least one contoured portion (16) comprises a substantially continuous contact area (17) and an area (18) located in a peripheral area of ​​the contoured portion (16) and protruding less from the side of the drum (10) than the contact area (17).

4. 4. The label applicator according to claim 1, wherein the contoured portion (16) comprises a plurality of contact areas (17) arranged so as to be separated from one another by areas (18) that protrude less from the side of the drum (10).

5. 5. A labelling machine according to claim 1, wherein the relief portion (13) provided with the at least one contoured area (16) corresponds to a relief portion designed to receive the trailing edge of the label (8a) in contact therewith.

6. A labelling machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein each of said relief portions (13) comprises at least one contoured area (16).

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