CN116507558A - Device and method for applying glue to container labels and labelling machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device and a method for gluing container labels. In view of this, at least one transfer element (5, 25, 45) for transporting the labels (2, 22, 42) is used to pass through the working area of the gluing means, and the gluing means forms a glue coating (7 a,27a,47 a) on the transfer element, which then picks up the labels in an adhering manner and thereby causes a glue transfer to the labels, or forms a glue coating on the labels transported by the transfer element. By continuously measuring the layer thickness of the adhesive coating on the respective transfer element or label with a machine, the quality of the adhesive can be monitored and the adhesive application mechanism controlled based on the measured layer thickness.

Description

Device and method for applying glue to container labels and labelling machine

The present invention relates to a device and a method for gluing container labels according to the preamble of claims 1 and 10, and a correspondingly designed labeling machine.

It is known to apply cold or hot glue to labels of containers, such as bottles, by first moving a tray or similar transfer element circulating on a tray carousel along a glue mechanism, in the process of which it is brought into contact with a glue roller to form a glue coating on the tray. This glue coating is capable of picking up the label from the magazine by adhesion and generally transferring it to the label. Subsequently, the label is turned over and transferred to the container by means of a gripping roller. Alternatively, the label may be picked up by a vacuum tray, then the glue mechanism coats the label in micelles without contact, and finally transferred directly to the container.

DE 26 32 A1 discloses a labeling machine having a rubber roller and a rubber strip arranged in an adjustable manner relative to this rubber roller for setting the thickness of a film to be formed later. The adhesive tape is assigned an actuator motor to machine the film thickness under certain operating conditions. In this connection, DE 83 00 012 U1 also proposes to detect the film thickness on the glue roller by means of a sensor. If the measured film thickness deviates from a predefinable setpoint value, the gap width between the adhesive strip (doctor blade) and the adhesive roll can be changed.

EP 069 5252b1 also discloses a labelling machine for gluing pallets in this way. Hereby, the device comprises a glue roll with a glue strip, which glue strip presets the thickness of the glue film on the glue roll and is settable in relation to the glue roll, and measuring means for detecting the thickness of the glue film on the glue roll without contact based on a laser beam substantially tangential to the side of the glue roll.

However, the disadvantage is that the measurement on the rolling rubber roller is disturbed by the falling off rubber particles, and both the laser transmitter and the corresponding receiver are contaminated, which leads to an increased cleaning effort.

It is also conceivable that, if appropriate, a so-called body label or a so-called neck label, breast label or foil label is provided on the bottle body. In this case, the labels should be glued as simultaneously as possible and suitably offset from each other in the vertical direction. The problem is that the thickness of the adhesive coating required for each of the aforementioned label types may be different. For equipment related reasons, it may also be desirable to deliver more glue in the upper region of the glue roll than in the lower region and vice versa.

This cannot be taken into account in the known measurement of the glue line thickness. It is also not possible to determine whether glue is being transferred normally to the trays, as may occur due to wear or incorrect adjustment of the respective trays.

In addition, the prior art also discloses setting the amount of glue transferred by purposefully varying the spacing of the glue strip from the glue roll surface. Depending on the spacing set in detail, the glue is scraped more or less from the roller and only the remaining glue layer with the corresponding thickness is transferred to the tray. The thickness of the adhesive coating transferred to the label is set in this way. For this purpose, manually operated adjusting screws have been used for the adhesive strips.

Various problems occur during this process. The adhesive tape must be precisely set for precisely repeatable film thickness. This is difficult to operate manually and is subject to individual fluctuations. Furthermore, for example in the case of dark-colored protective sheets, the adhesive strips and/or the roller surface are generally not visible or are visible only to a limited extent. Furthermore, the trend is that for safety reasons and/or to prevent operational malfunctions, access to the glue roll area should be avoided as much as possible.

Accordingly, there is a need for an apparatus and method for gumming container labels that prevents or at least reduces at least one of the aforementioned drawbacks.

The solution to achieve the above object of the invention is an apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or a method as claimed in claim 10.

The device is used for sizing labels of containers, in particular bottles, and comprises: a conveying device for conveying the labels, in particular continuously, by means of at least one transfer element; a sizing mechanism adapted to form a glue coating on a respective transfer element for subsequently picking up a label in an adhering manner and in the process causing a glue transfer to the label, or to form a glue coating on a label conveyed on a respective transfer element; and a layer thickness measuring instrument.

According to the invention, the layer thickness measuring device is arranged in particular stationary in the region of the conveyor/transfer element and is suitable for measuring the layer thickness of the adhesive coating on the respective transfer element or label.

In an advantageous embodiment, a plurality of transfer elements are provided as components of the conveying device. In this case, the conveying device is preferably a pallet carousel on which the transfer elements are pallets circulating in a deflectable manner. In this case, the tray passes through the working area of the glue mechanism before passing through the working area of the label container. Alternatively, the conveying means may comprise at least one transfer element in the form of a endless label conveyor belt in the form of a loop.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the transfer element is constructed as an integral part of a label strip in the form of a label carrier strip and is detachably connected to the labels. In this case the conveying means are adapted to convey the label tape or tapes, i.e. labels on the carrier tape, through the working area of the gluing mechanism.

The glue application mechanism is generally referred to as a glue application device and is adapted to transfer the glue coating in a contact manner or to eject the glue particles (on the side of the device) without contact.

Thus, a glue coating formed from cold glue or hot glue may: transferring with a rubber roller (also called doctor blade) with a rubber strip to transfer elements by a first contact and transferring from these transfer elements to the labels by a second contact; or formed on the back side of the label by direct micelle application with a micelle extruder without contact.

When the label is directly glued in a contactless manner, the label does not necessarily need to be individualized; alternatively, the labels in the form of label tapes may be directly applied and then singulated.

Preferably, the device comprises electronic adjustment means for adjusting the amount of glue released by the gluing mechanism for each transfer element/label in accordance with the measured layer thickness. This allows the preset nominal thickness of the glue coating to be automatically maintained during the gluing operation.

Preferably, the at least one adjusting device comprises a memory for providing nominal values of the glue coating thickness and/or preset values of the glue applying mechanism, which relate to nominal glue coating thickness, actual values of the glue and/or actual values of the glue temperature on the transfer element/label, in particular of different glue types.

The memory may provide preset values for performing the operation of the motor on the strip or the operation of the pressure nozzle of the micelle, reference values for sensors for thickness measurement, temperature measurement, pressure measurement, etc., and/or fault signals. This simplifies the labelling operation, quality control and optionally the determination of the cause of the failure.

The memory can in particular be designed such that measured values, for example the glue quantity and/or the glue coating thickness, and corresponding operating parameters of the glue application mechanism are stored together during the labelling operation. This allows a later review of whether the operating parameters used lead to the desired characteristics and results or whether corrections are required.

In an advantageous embodiment, the gluing mechanism comprises: a glue roll and at least one glue strip for stripping glue of a predetermined layer thickness from the glue roll; an actuator motor for setting the distance between the adhesive strip and the adhesive roll, in particular by means of the aforementioned adjusting device. This allows the layer thickness to be adjusted by the machine without the person approaching the glue strip.

Preferably, the glue application mechanism comprises at least two glue strips which are axially offset relative to the glue roller, in particular with an actuator motor for individually setting the distance between the glue strips and the glue roller. In this case, the actuator motors can be controlled independently of each other in order to optimize the spacing (stripping gap) between the glue roller and the respective glue strip individually/independently of each other.

Thus, different glue amounts can be set independently for the axial (vertical) partition of the glue roller. Thus, the containers are better labeled multiple times, and these labels need to be mounted in different axial (vertical) sections of the container. In this case, each label requires a different thickness of the adhesive coating depending on the specific partition/label type and can be made accordingly.

The adjusting device may be a component of the glue mechanism or of the corresponding labelling machine in order to control and/or adjust the execution motor. Thus, the motor can be operated semi-automatically or fully automatically.

The at least one actuator motor or regulating device may comprise a display for outputting information relating to, for example, a setting, an operating mode, measured values or fault conditions of the actuator motor, and a user interface for data input. The user interface may comprise different input elements in the form of keys and/or touch sensors, in particular a touch screen. Voice control/input may also be employed. The user can thus review before, during and/or after the work how the at least one execution motor is set and controlled, and perform preset, intervention work and/or evaluate the work.

The plurality of actuating motors may be controlled and/or regulated by a common regulating unit or several independent regulating units. The common adjusting unit makes it easier to coordinate the execution motors with each other during operation. The individual adjusting units enable a great constructional flexibility and can be integrated in each execution motor. Each control unit can have a wired or wireless data connection to the central control unit of the control device or to other control units of the actuator motor. In this way, a modular construction of the adjusting device is achieved.

Preferably, the adjusting means are adapted to control and/or adjust the at least one actuator motor or the gluing mechanism as a whole based on the measured values of the one or more sensors. The measurement may relate to the thickness of the adhesive coating on the label (label tape) and/or the width of the peel gap (distance of the adhesive strip from the surface of the adhesive roll) and/or the amount of adhesive on the adhesive roll and/or the adhesive temperature. The power at which the glue mechanism is operated can also be taken into account when controlling and/or regulating.

The application means can be connected to and/or comprise one or more sensors, for example, which can be components of a distance meter, a layer thickness measuring device, a measuring device for measuring the wetness of the adhesive roller or label, a thermometer and/or a viscometer.

Such a sensor may continuously detect the actual values of the process results and/or the operating parameters. These values may then be used to control and/or regulate the at least one execution motor. For example, certain motor performance values for different values of glue temperature and/or glue adhesion may be saved in order to control the corresponding performance motor accordingly. Alternatively or additionally, the adjusting device can compare the measured glue quantity or glue coating thickness with a stored setpoint value and adjust the actuating motor such that the measured actual value lies within a predefined setpoint range.

Preferably, different operating modes are provided for the actuator motor/motors, which can be defined by a number of parameters, such as the type of glue and/or the nominal value of the thickness of the glue coating, and/or the type, size and/or shape of the label, and/or the position of the label on the container. In this case, the regulating means comprise a control program or regulating program for each operating mode. The control/regulation program may be selected automatically or by user input of the operating mode.

The mode of operation may, for example, provide that a certain type of glue needs to be applied at a predetermined glue temperature and viscosity to two labels of a certain type, each having a predetermined glue coating thickness. In this case, the control/regulation program preferably controls/regulates the execution motor/execution motors in such a way that a preset glue coating thickness is reached with the boundary conditions of the allowed tolerance.

The adjustment means may comprise a user interface which may be used to input/select parameters such as the kind of glue, and/or the kind, size, shape and/or position of the label or corresponding label strip. This makes it easier to conduct series of tests or to process small orders without being limited by a particular mode of operation, and allows for parameter adjustment during work and/or readjustment.

The actuator motor/motors or the micelle squeeze can be calibrated by means of an adjusting device, in particular comprising associated sensors, or manually. For example, the adjusting device can empirically adjust the respective actuating motor in appropriate steps for a certain parameter set (on the one hand the nominal thickness of the adhesive coating and on the other hand the boundary conditions, such as the properties of the adhesive or the label), until the nominal thickness of the adhesive coating is reached with sufficient accuracy and/or repeatability. In this case, the applied execution values (of the execution motor) may be corresponding to the respective parameter sets. Finally, the control and regulation program can thereby create an operating mode for the test/calibration parameter set.

The components of the regulating device, the sensor and/or the actuator motor may be connected both by electrical wires and also communicate with each other wirelessly, for example by means of a smart phone, a tablet or similar interface, for example by means of bluetooth and/or a network.

Preferably, the layer thickness measuring device comprises at least one sensor, which is operated in a contactless manner, for measuring a layer thickness of between 10 and 300 μm. This allows coverage of a range of thickness of the adhesive coating that is particularly useful for labelling.

Preferably, the sensor is adapted to perform capacitive measurements with a measurement pitch of 5 to 30mm relative to the transfer element/label. This configuration is applicable to different glue coatings on the tray and on the label/tag tape.

However, as an alternative, optical sensors, in particular infrared sensors or ultrasonic sensors, can also be used in principle.

The layer thickness measuring device comprises an electronic evaluation unit for evaluating and transmitting the actual value of the thickness of the adhesive coating.

The device according to at least one of the above embodiments is preferably part of a labelling machine for labelling containers, which labelling machine comprises a conveyor member for providing containers during labelling, in particular in the form of a loop.

The labeling machine preferably further comprises an inspection unit for inspecting the labels of the containers and an adjusting device for presetting and/or correcting the nominal thickness of the adhesive coating according to the inspection result of the inspection unit. This enables data feedback to be achieved that ensures/improves the quality of the process during the ongoing operation.

Hereby, as is well known, the labels are transferred to the containers circulating on the container table by means of gripping rollers or directly vacuum-assisted transfer elements/trays. After brushing and/or rolling the labels on the containers, these labels are rotated on a turntable in such a way that the labels to be inspected, for example the body and back labels, are directed outwards with respect to their transport path and subsequently inspected in an imaging manner.

For example, if the label has a tendency to float with a large thickness of the adhesive coating, particularly on wet containers, and inspection shows that there are too many labels outside the allowable tolerance, correction of the adhesive coating thickness can be made based on the above data feedback. In case the glue coating is too small, the tag ends may also protrude from the container, which is also undesirable.

After appropriate statistical evaluation of the inspection results, for example, the thickness of the adhesive coating can be corrected accordingly to eliminate undesired processing results, thereby improving the quality of labeling. Advantageously, the optimization can also be performed by self-learning algorithms of artificial intelligence.

The method is used for sizing labels of containers, in particular bottles. In view of this, a transfer element/elements for transporting labels is/are used through the working area of the gluing mechanism and the gluing mechanism forms a glue coating on the transfer element/elements, which then pick up the labels in an adhering manner and thereby cause a glue transfer to the labels or form a glue coating on the labels transported by the transfer element/elements. According to the invention, the layer thickness of the adhesive coating on the transfer element/elements or on the labels is measured continuously with the machine.

Preferably, the measured layer thicknesses are calculated mechanically using electronically stored and in particular stored nominal values for the particular type, and the glue application amount of each transfer element/label is automatically adjusted as a function of the calculation result.

This allows the precise maintenance and/or optimization of the preset glue application for labelling according to the specific type.

Furthermore, an evaluation can be made which calculates and displays the glue consumption according to the size of the tray (transfer member) label and the measured glue application amount.

In particular, after the thickness of the adhesive coating formed has been measured on each tray or each label, it is likewise possible to evaluate whether the respective tray is worn or whether there is a mistake in the adjustment relative to the adhesive roller.

The thickness of the adhesive coating on the adhesive roll can also be measured directly (after stripping the adhesive with the adhesive strip).

Furthermore, the thickness of the adhesive coating on the transfer element can be measured with (fixedly corresponding) sensors upstream and downstream of the adhesive roller, respectively. This allows a particularly accurate determination and evaluation of the amount of glue actually transferred to the label.

Furthermore, separate sensors may be used before, on and after the glue roller to make the corresponding measurements. In this way, a particularly accurate evaluation can likewise be achieved.

Preferably, the adhesive coating is applied to the transfer element in contact by means of an adhesive roller or to the label/label tape with label by means of a micelle without contact.

Preferably, the first layer thickness on the transfer member after the application of the glue coating and the second layer thickness on the transfer member before the application of the glue coating are measured. In particular, the layer thickness actually transferred to the label is calculated therefrom, in particular by means of a difference.

Preferably, at least two glue layers are formed on the transfer element, which glue layers are offset in relation to each other in the vertical direction. In this case, the layer thicknesses of the glue coating are set and/or measured independently of one another.

Preferably, the mutually offset glue layers are made to correspond to different axial (vertical) sections of the container.

The method according to at least one of the above embodiments is preferably part of a method for labelling containers, in particular bottles, in that the label is transferred indirectly to the bottle by means of a gripping roller or directly from the (at least one) transfer element to the bottle.

The drawings illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention. Wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of a first embodiment of an apparatus for applying adhesive to labels;

FIG. 2 is a second embodiment of an apparatus for applying glue to labels;

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of vertically offset label areas;

fig. 4 is a schematic side view of a third embodiment of the device.

As shown in fig. 1, in a preferred embodiment, the device 1 for gluing labels 2 of containers 3, in particular bottles, comprises a conveying device 4 for conveying the labels 2 by means of at least one transfer element 5, and a gluing mechanism 6 for applying glue 7 in the form of a glue coating 7a to the transfer element 5 for subsequently picking up in an adhering manner labels 2 stacked in a well-known manner in a label container 8.

The adhesive coating 7a thus carries the label 2 to the transfer element 5 in an adhesive manner, in the course of which the adhesive coating 7a is then transferred adhesively to the label 2 in a well-known manner.

The labels 2 glued in this way are then received by the gripping rollers 9, thereby turning around, and finally transferred onto the containers 3 on the container carousel 10 and applied to these containers during transport, as is well known.

As can also be seen from fig. 1, the conveyor 4 is preferably embodied as a pallet carousel on which the transfer elements 5 are embodied as pallets which circulate and can be deflected horizontally in a known manner.

The device 1 further comprises at least one first layer thickness measuring device 11 and optionally a second layer thickness measuring device 12 and/or a third layer thickness measuring device 13 for measuring the layer thickness.

Thus, a first layer thickness measuring device 11 is arranged downstream of the sizing means 6 to measure the layer thickness SD of the glue coating 7a on the transfer element 5.

The second layer thickness measuring device 12 is therefore arranged upstream of the sizing mechanism 6 in order to measure the layer thickness SD 'of the remaining adhesive layer 7a' remaining on the transfer element 5 after the transfer of the label 2 by the transfer element 5 to the gripping roller 9, as appropriate.

A third layer thickness measuring device 13 is arranged in the region of the application mechanism 6 in order to measure the layer thickness SD "of the adhesive layer 7a" produced by the at least one adhesive strip 15 on the adhesive roller 14 of the application mechanism 6 immediately before contact with the transfer element 5.

The layer thickness SD "of the adhesive layer 7a" is preset by a peeling gap 16 (see fig. 3) set between the adhesive strip 15 and the surface of the adhesive roll 14 by an actuator motor 17.

For monitoring the layer thickness SD of the adhesive layer 7a on the transfer element 5, at least the first layer thickness measuring device 11 is connected to an electronic control device 20, which controls the actuator motor 17 on the basis of the measured layer thickness SD of the adhesive layer 7a.

The gap width 16 between the adhesive strip 15 and the adhesive roller 14 and the layer thickness SD "of the adhesive layer 7a" formed later can thus be varied such that the layer thickness SD of the adhesive layer 7a formed/measured on the transfer element 5 matches a predetermined target value.

The regulating device 20 comprises, in a substantially known manner, at least one calculation unit and at least one memory unit (neither shown) to carry out the aforementioned calculations and to provide in particular class-specific nominal values for different glue classes, in particular cold glue classes, different labels 2, different containers 3 and/or different labelling areas on the containers 3. Thus, it is also possible to provide different ratings and/or machine parameters for certain properties of the glue, such as its temperature and/or viscosity, certain properties of the label, such as its size and/or material, and/or certain properties of the container, such as its material and/or surface humidity.

The layer thickness of the adhesive coating (not shown) actually transferred onto the label 2 can optionally be calculated by means of the second layer thickness measuring device 12 as the difference between the layer thickness SD downstream of the glue application mechanism 6 and the layer thickness SD' upstream of the glue application mechanism 6.

Optionally, a third layer thickness gauge 13 in the area of the glue application mechanism 6 can provide additional information for optimally setting the width of the stripping gap 16, i.e. the distance between the glue roller 14 and the glue strip 15.

In other words, the layer thickness measuring device 11, 12 and/or 13 can be used to determine how much glue is still present on the transfer element 5 after the transfer of the label, how much glue is still to be applied by the glue roller 14, and/or how much glue is actually present on the respective transfer element 5.

The layer thickness measuring device 11, 12, 3 comprises at least one sensor 18 which operates in a contactless manner and which is used for measuring the layer thickness SD, SD', sd″ in a measuring range of at least 10 to 300 μm. The sensor 18 performs a preferably capacitive measurement at a measurement distance 19 of 5 to 30mm from the transfer element 5.

Fig. 2 shows a device 21 for gluing labels 22 of containers 3 according to a second preferred embodiment in a view based on fig. 1.

This embodiment differs from the first embodiment mainly in that the transfer element 25 first sucks and picks up the labels 22 from the label holder 8, after which the glue applicator 26 applies the glue coating 27a to the labels without contact by means of the glue, i.e. by spraying the glue 27.

In this case, the sizing mechanism 26 comprises a micelle extruder 28 having at least one pressure nozzle 29, preferably a large number of pressure nozzles 29 arranged in a grid.

In this case too, a conveyor 24 with a transfer element 25 is provided, wherein, as is known, a conveyor means a pallet carousel with vacuum pallets for controlled suction and release of labels 22.

Furthermore, a first layer thickness measuring device 11 is provided, which is likewise arranged downstream of the application mechanism 26 and measures the layer thickness SD of the adhesive coating 27a after the direct contactless application to the label 22.

The adjusting device 20 is likewise suitable for processing the layer thickness SD measured with the first layer thickness measuring device 11 in the manner described above, and for controlling the glue application mechanism 26 on the basis of this in order to adjust the layer thickness SD of the glue coating 27a formed as a function of the relevant setpoint value.

Fig. 3 shows schematically for a first embodiment that different layer thicknesses SD of the adhesive layer 7a can be formed for different axial (vertical) sections 31, 32 of the labelling.

For this purpose, in addition to the adhesive strip 15 and the corresponding actuator motor 17, there are also an adhesive strip 35 offset therefrom in the axial (vertical) direction and a corresponding actuator motor 37. In this way, it is possible to set different stripping clearances 16, 36 with respect to the rubber roller 14, which are preset in terms of the respective layer thicknesses SD of the adhesive layer 27a transferred to the transfer element 5 in an axially (vertically) offset manner with respect to one another.

In this case, for measuring the layer thickness SD of the glue coating 7a which is offset in the axial direction (vertical direction), preferably a separate first layer thickness measuring device 11 is provided which is offset in the axial direction (vertical direction) in a suitable manner with respect to one another, and an adjusting device 20 (not shown) is connected.

Correspondingly, glue coating 27a offset from each other in the axial (vertical) direction can likewise be realized by micelle application in the second embodiment (not shown).

The different layer thicknesses SD of the adhesive layers 7a,27a, which are offset in the axial (vertical) direction, are adapted to the requirements of the labeling areas of the container 3 and/or the different labels 2, 22. Among these, for example, the neck label and the body label are concerned, that is to say the labels 2, 22 which correspond to different axial (vertical) divisions of the container 3.

Fig. 3 also shows that the actuating motors 17, 37 can have individual actuating units 17a, 37a, which can be part of the actuating device 20 or can form the same. The adjusting unit 17a, 37a may for example comprise an input element and/or an output element, such as a touch screen, or such an input element and/or output element may be connected with the adjusting unit 17a, 37 a. Thus, the aforementioned regulation functions, input functions and/or output functions may be implemented in a decentralized manner.

Adjustment device 20 may also be constructed as a centralized part of the adjustment device of labelling machine 100, for example as an upper part of devices 1, 21.

Fig. 4 shows a device 41 for gluing a label 42 of a container 3 according to a third advantageous embodiment. Hereby, the label 42 may be an integral part of a label tape 43, for example provided by a reel (not shown), which is transported by a transport device 44, which is only schematically shown, through the working area of the aforesaid gluing mechanism 26 for ejecting glue 47.

In this case, the conveying element 45 is not an integral part of the device 41, but is an integral part of the label strip 43 in the form of a carrier strip detachably connected to the labels 42.

In this case, the adhesive coating 47a is formed on the label 42 without contact by means of the micelle, and the layer thickness SD of the adhesive coating 47a is measured by means of the first layer thickness measuring device 11 downstream of the glue application mechanism 26.

Based on this measurement, the layer thickness SD can be adjusted in the manner described above by means of the adjusting device 20 as a function of the relevant setpoint value.

By means of the regulating device 20, the aforementioned control function, regulating function and calculating function can in principle be realized in all the embodiments described above. The measured layer thicknesses SD, SD', sd″ can be calculated mechanically, for example, using electronically stored and in particular stored nominal values for the particular type, and/or the glue application amount of each transfer element 5/label 2, 22, 42 can be automatically adjusted as a function of this calculation. This allows the precise maintenance and/or optimization of the preset glue application for labelling according to the specific type.

Furthermore, an evaluation can be carried out which is based on the size of the transfer element 5, 25 and/or the label 2, 22, 42 and the measured glue application amount and which indicates the glue consumption.

The sensor 18 is in principle suitable for layer thickness measurement of the adhesive coating 7a,27a,47a on the surface of the transfer element 5 (tray) and on the surface of the labels 22, 42 on the transfer element 25 (vacuum tray) or on the transfer element 45 (carrier tape).

The devices 1, 21, 41 may also be referred to as labelling assemblies and are for example part of a labelling machine 100 which, as is well known, has a container carousel 10 for transporting containers 3 during labelling.

In this case, labelling machine 100 preferably comprises a unit 51 for brushing on and/or rolling up labels 2, 22, 42 on containers 3, for example after a suitable change of the rotational position of containers 3, and an inspection unit 52 (only shown in fig. 1) for inspecting labels 2, 22, 42 on containers 3.

In this case, the adjusting device 20 is also adapted to preset and/or correct the nominal thickness of the glue coating 7a,27a,47a depending on the inspection result of the inspection unit 52. In this case, the nominal thickness is again compared with the measured layer thickness SD, and the gumming mechanism 6, 26 is controlled as described above to adjust the measured layer thickness SD to the nominal layer thickness.

This enables data feedback to ensure/improve the quality of the process during the work and/or statistical data evaluation to optimize the setpoint values of certain machine parameters, with the labeling process being optimized in a specific manner and optionally also in a self-learning manner.

Claims (15)

1. Device (1, 21, 41) for gluing labels (2, 22, 42) of containers (3), in particular bottles, said device comprising: -conveying means (4, 24, 44) for conveying the labels by means of at least one transfer element (5, 25, 45); -a gluing mechanism (6, 26) adapted to form a glue coating (7 a) on said at least one transferring element (5) for subsequently picking up said label (2) in an adhering manner and in the process causing a glue transfer to said label, or to form a glue coating (27 a,47 a) on a label (22, 42) transported by said at least one transferring element (25, 45); and a layer thickness measuring device (11, 12), characterized in that it is arranged in the region of the conveyor device (4, 24, 44) and is adapted to measure the layer thickness (SD) of the adhesive coating (7 a,27a,47 a) on the transfer element (5)/label (22, 42).

2. The device according to claim 1, further having electronic adjusting means (20) for adjusting the amount of glue released by the gluing mechanism (6, 26) for each transfer element (5)/label (22, 42) according to the measured layer thickness (SD).

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the adjusting means (20) comprise a memory for providing a layer thickness rating and/or a preset value of the glue applying mechanism (6, 26) relating to a rated layer thickness, in particular of different glue types, a value of the glue and/or a value of the glue temperature on the transfer element (5)/tag (22, 42).

4. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the gluing mechanism (6) comprises: a glue roll (14) and at least one glue strip (15) for stripping glue of a predetermined layer thickness (SD ") from said glue roll; -an actuator motor (17) for setting the distance (16) between the glue strip and the glue roller, in particular by means of an adjusting device (20) according to claim 2 or 3.

5. Device according to claim 4, wherein the glue applying mechanism (6) comprises at least two glue strips (15, 35) axially offset with respect to the glue roller (14), the glue strips having an actuator motor (17, 37) for individually setting the distance (16, 36) of the glue strips from the glue roller.

6. The device according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the layer thickness measuring device (11, 12) comprises a sensor for measuring a layer thickness (SD, SD') of between 10 and 300 μm, which operates in a contactless manner.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the sensor is adapted to perform capacitive measurements with a measurement spacing of 5 to 30mm relative to the transfer element (5)/tag (22, 42).

8. A labelling machine (100) for labelling containers (3), comprising a device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, and a container carousel (10) for providing a sustainable rotation of the containers when labelling.

9. A labelling machine as claimed in claim 8, further comprising an inspection unit (52) for inspecting the labels (2, 22, 42) on which the containers (3) are mounted, and adjustment means (20) for presetting and/or correcting the nominal thickness of the adhesive coating (7 a,27a,47 a) as a function of the inspection result of the inspection unit.

10. Method for gluing labels (2, 22, 42) of containers (3), in particular bottles, wherein at least one transfer element (5, 25, 45) for transporting the labels is used through the working area of a gluing mechanism (6, 26), and wherein the gluing mechanism forms a glue coating (7 a,27a,47 a) on the respective transfer element (5), which subsequently picks up the labels in an adhering manner and thereby causes a glue transfer to the labels, or forms a glue coating on the labels (22, 42) transported by the respective transfer element (25, 45), characterized in that the layer thickness (SD) of the glue coating (7 a,27a,47 a) on the at least one transfer element (5)/label (22, 42) is measured continuously with a machine.

11. Method according to claim 10, wherein the measured layer thickness (SD) is calculated mechanically with electronically stored and in particular stored nominal values of the glue coating thickness for a specific kind, and the glue application amount of each transfer element (5)/label (22, 42) is automatically adjusted depending on the calculation result.

12. Method according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the glue coating (7 a) is applied to the transfer element (5) in contact by means of a glue roller (14) or to the labels (22, 42) in contact by means of a micelle pressure.

13. Method according to claim 10, 11 or 12, wherein a first layer thickness (SD) on the transfer element (5) after application of the adhesive coating (7 a) and a second layer thickness (SD') on the transfer element before application of the adhesive coating are measured, in particular whereby the layer thickness transferred to the label (2) is determined.

14. Method according to any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein at least two glue layers (7 a,27a,47 a) offset in the vertical direction from each other are formed on the transfer element (5) or label (22, 42), and the layer thicknesses (SD) of the glue layers are set and/or measured independently of each other.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the mutually staggered glue layers (7 a,27a,47 a) correspond to different vertical partitions (31, 32) of the container (3).