EP3672882A1

EP3672882A1 - Method for controlling the amount of an adhesive to be applied to a substrate

Info

Publication number: EP3672882A1
Application number: EP18743491.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Christian SCHLICHTENBREDE; Joachim BRZOSKA
Original assignee: KHS GmbH
Current assignee: KHS GmbH
Priority date: 2017-08-24
Filing date: 2018-07-20
Publication date: 2020-07-01
Anticipated expiration: 2038-07-20
Also published as: EP3672882B1; US11534792B2; CN111032518A; JP7157139B2; WO2019037970A1; US20200230639A1; DE102017119439A1; JP2020531256A

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for controlling and monitoring an adhesive to be applied to a substrate, which is applied to the substrate by means of an application unit (40), wherein the amount of the adhesive to be applied is controlled by means of a control device (52) of the application unit (40). According to the invention, the partial pressure of at least one ingredient of the adhesive is measured with at least one gas sensor (50), and the application unit (40) is controlled according to the sensor signal of the gas sensor (50).

Description

Method of controlling the amount of a carrier

applied adhesive

In the Verpackungsindusthe arise again and again situations in which an adhesive is applied to a container, a package or a label. As part of the control and monitoring of the applied adhesive so far the supply pressure of the adhesive and / or the volume of the supplied adhesive are detected, for which corresponding sensors are arranged in the adhesive supply or in an adhesive container. Depending on the

Output signals of these sensors is then an application unit for

Controlling applying the adhesive controlled, for example, a feed pump with a spray unit or the like.

A problem with this known method is that changes in the composition of the adhesive are not detected, resulting in a

Influencing the function of the adhesive can contribute. In addition, it is even possible that a specific adhesive is needed for a particular application. By the known methods, however, it is not recognizable whether the correct adhesive was actually introduced into the adhesive container.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus which take into account the properties of the adhesive.

This object is achieved by a method having the features of claim 1 and by an apparatus having the features of claim 14. Advantageous developments of the invention are the subject of the associated dependent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are also in the

Description and described in the drawings. The invention is based on a method for controlling and monitoring an applied on a support adhesive, which by means of a

Application unit, e.g. a spray application device is applied to a support or carrier surface, wherein, for example, the amount, temperature and flow rate of the applied adhesive by means of a

Control device of the application unit is controlled. The method can be used, for example, in the labeling of containers or packaging, but also in the mutual bonding of containers, for example for forming multi-packs of 4, 6 or 8 containers. According to the invention, the presence, in particular the concentration

or the partial pressure of at least one ingredient of the adhesive, e.g. a binder, a solvent or an additive with at least one gas sensor and the application unit is controlled in dependence on the sensor signal of the gas sensor. Partial pressure and concentration should be used synonymously below. Ideally, an additive is detected as the secondary substance delivered to the adhesive, e.g. Perfume or odorant.

This secondary substance ideally has no functional property for the

Adhesive or the bonding process itself. In the following, therefore, solvent should always be understood to mean such a secondary substance. In this way, it can be determined whether, for example, the solution or binder content of the adhesive has decreased too much in the course of use, so that a satisfactory adhesive result may no longer be achieved. In this case, the partial pressure of the solvent and / or binder decreases, which can be detected by means of the gas sensor. The application unit can thus be stopped, for example, before reaching a reference value or limit value, if, due to the reduced solvent and / or

Binder content no satisfactory adhesive result is expected more. Otherwise, by the sensor signal and a binder and / or

Solvent supply are controlled, which lead to the adhesive again the more volatile components, so that this remains constant in its composition and thus in its adhesive quality over time. In this way, aging of the adhesive due to evaporation or evaporation of more volatile components can be counteracted. It is therefore possible by the invention to also detect the property, that is the composition of the adhesive itself, in the control of the application unit. It is also possible that by the evaporation behavior, ie the partial pressure change of the secondary material is recognizable whether the adhesive has aged and may need to be replaced. Accordingly, then on a display of the system or device, such as a

Labeling device or container packing station with hot glue dots one

Warning message that the adhesive should be replaced. Alternatively, the plant could also be stopped, operated on a different power or operated with a higher glue discharge to the

To compensate for quality deterioration of the glue.

It could thus in the context of the control by the sensor signal of the

Gas sensors both messages are issued to the control device of the system and / or the system itself be controlled, for. not started or stopped.

Such an application unit is, for example, a spray application unit with a spray head as an application unit, which sprays the adhesive onto the container or onto a label or a hot glue unit, with at least one

Job opening as an application unit that applies a drop of hot glue to a container to connect it to other containers. It may also be an outer packaging, e.g. a carton or bottle carrier which is to be provided with a label. The adhesive can be applied either to the labels, to the container or packaging and / or to points between the containers.

The invention not only makes it possible to check the composition of the adhesive, but also to check whether the right adhesive is used at all for a particular purpose. For example, different adhesives can be used for different purposes. Using a wrong adhesive for a particular purpose may result in poor gluing results. Therefore, by determining the partial pressure of at least one component of the adhesive, in particular of a secondary material, it can be immediately recognized whether the correct adhesive has been introduced into the adhesive container for the given adhesive purpose. If, on the basis of the sensor signal (ie the partial pressure of, for example, the secondary material), it turns out that it is the wrong adhesive, the application unit, for example, does not even start. It is therefore possible in an advantageous development of the invention that a start of the application unit is only allowed if the partial pressure of at least one

Ingredient of the adhesive is within a permissible value range. In addition or alternatively to the control of the application unit, it is always possible to emit an error signal and / or to store corresponding data in a suitable manner, which then can use the system controller or a person commissioned with the controller in any manner, e.g. to stop or

Performance reduction of the equipment, and to check the production of adhesive.

The feeding of the aforementioned non-functional secondary materials to the adhesive has the great advantage that they can be developed and used completely independently of the adhesive itself in their intended use and in terms of comprehensibility. Thus, for example, a secondary material can be very volatile and can no longer be detectable very quickly after the liquefaction of an adhesive, if, for example, the purpose of the use alone is to ensure that only an approved adhesive has been introduced into a plant. The lack of partial pressure peak in the temporal context of the change in the level could then, for example, lead to an error message, power throttling the system or shutdown of the system. Ideally, the secondary material after the manufacture of the adhesive is the adhesive

Adhesive and added prior to the dedicated use in or for an order unit. This can be done in particular by known mixing processes and / or by spraying the adhesive with the secondary material. Here, as stated above, adhesive means a fully functional adhesive understood, for which the secondary substance has no or virtually no importance of the actual adhesive function meaning. Usually, the application unit contains an adhesive container in which the adhesive to be applied is filled, an adhesive supply from the adhesive container to the application unit, and the application unit itself, eg a scraper, a spray head with spray nozzles or a drop application unit. The gas sensor is arranged in the region of one of these components. It is possible that the adhesive is supplied or stacked through a larger external storage tank or tank. In this case, the application unit does not contain its own adhesive container but only the adhesive supply, with which the gas sensor is then arranged in the region of the adhesive supply or the application unit or, if appropriate, a suitable sensor gas space provided there.

In particular, the gas sensor may be located directly at and / or above the

Applikationskopfes be arranged for the adhesive. In the case of such an arrangement is due to the possibly strongly changing Gasströmungs- and

Mixture conditions often only a yes / no statement regarding the gas ingredients sought possible.

Preferably, a gas-chromatographically or olfactometrically operating sensor is used as the gas sensor, in particular an assessment of the

Solvent content and / or binder content allowed in the adhesive. But also all other conceivable gas sensors are used, such as.

Sensors according to the principle of proton exchange reaction mass spectrometry. The gas sensor in conjunction with the analysis and evaluation is

in particular, the gas constituents after the presence or absence of at least one type of substance and / or the concentration of the at least one substance type detect.

In an advantageous development of the invention, the application unit contains a spraying device and the intensity of the spray jet is set as a function of the sensor signal. In this way, the adhesive can under

Adjusting the gas partial pressure of the ingredient of the adhesive to an optimum operating value can be set, which allows an optimal adhesive performance taking into account the property of the adhesive and possibly the binder and / or solvent content of the adhesive. Preferably, the application unit is formed in another embodiment as a hot melt adhesive application unit, for example, for the application of

Glue points is used. The adhesive dots on the outer periphery of e.g. PET bottles allow them to be connected without surrounding shrink films or plastic straps. By gas sensor monitoring the property of the adhesive, for example the solvent and / or binder content, it can be ensured that the adhesive properties of the adhesive are optimized at all times. In one development of the invention, the sensor signal or a signal derived therefrom is compared with a reference value and an error message is issued when the reference value is reached or exceeded or undershot. For example, when the solvent content of the adhesive agent is checked by the gas sensor, it happens that due to the higher gas pressure of the solvent, it gradually evaporates from the adhesive, so that its content continuously decreases. The partial pressure for the solvent can thus be constantly monitored via the gas sensor, and if a lower limit for the solvent content is reached, either a system error message can be issued or a correction message can be issued, which causes a solvent and / or binder supply to be switched on which re-supplies solvent and / or binder to the adhesive to restore the quality of the adhesive. Depending on the sensor signal, it is of course also possible to actuate a stirring or mixing device, which then causes the added solvent and / or binder to be well stirred with the adhesive present in the adhesive container.

In this case, it is advantageous if a quantity sensor for the amount of in the

Adhesive container existing adhesive is provided, so that the

Control for the application unit from the amount of adhesive still present in the adhesive container can calculate the amount of solvent and / or binder to be supplied from the gas partial pressure and the amount of adhesive present in the adhesive container. This system can thus run automatically and help make the more volatile components of the adhesive, such as solvents and / or binders, always remain at a certain desired level.

Preferably, the gas sensor is designed to contain different ingredients of the

Adhesive to measure. Alternatively, several different

Gas sensors for the measurement of different ingredients may be provided, for example, a gas sensor for a partial pressure of an adhesive base, a gas sensor for the partial pressure of a binder and a third gas sensor for the partial pressure of the adhesive solvent. In this case, an error signal is preferably output when the measured composition of the ingredients deviates from a desired composition. For example, this error signal may indicate on a display which components are deviating from the desired composition so that a service technician is able to load the corresponding undershoot components into the adhesive container

to track. This can also happen automatically when through the

different gas sensors or by the measured values for the different ingredients corresponding feeders for the different

Ingredients are controlled, which then automatically according to the

measured signals which are supplied as undershot measured components in the correct amount. For this purpose too, it is advantageous if a quantity sensor for the adhesive container is provided which determines the amount of adhesive present in the adhesive container. This can be a weight sensor, a

Volume sensor or an optical sensor. The invention thus allows the composition of the different ingredients of the adhesive to be monitored and possibly even corrected. In principle it is by the / the

Gas sensor / gas sensors for different components possible to examine the adhesive for its chemical composition, i. not only on its solution and binder content, but also on its e.g. adhesive chemical substances.

In an advantageous development of the invention, the sensor signal and / or a control value derived from the sensor signal is / are detected over time and an error procedure is carried out if the time derivative of the control values exceeds a limit value. It is possible, for example, that the Solvent partial pressure of the adhesive decreases over the period of use, because the solvent because of its higher partial pressure first from the

Adhesive evaporates. This leads to a temporally decreasing intensity profile of the sensor signal. Thus, the derivation of the measured intensity over time can be formed and this value can be compared with a limit value. In this way it is possible to predict when a certain minimum partial pressure will be reached, beyond which the adhesive no longer works satisfactorily.

On the other hand, by knowing the derivative and the minimum value, a supply means for the corresponding component can be switched on, which either continuously or batchwise adds the corresponding component in order to keep it in the adhesive at a certain desired level.

It could hereby be recognized a strong or too rapid aging, which is done, for example, by too long or long-lasting thermal or mechanical stress of the adhesive, so that the quality of the adhesive no longer meets the target values. Thus, it is also possible in this way that when using the right adhesive deviates from ideal or setpoints plant operation can be avoided or detected. The invention also relates to a device for applying adhesive to a carrier, in particular a label, a container such as a bottle, a can, a keg or a cardboard. The device comprises an application unit for the adhesive on the carrier, optionally one

Adhesive container and / or an adhesive supply for the adhesive to be applied to the application unit, wherein the applied by the application unit amount, the temperature and / or the flow rate of the adhesive is controlled by a control device. According to the invention, the device, in particular in the adhesive container and / or in the adhesive supply, contains a gas sensor which is designed to detect the partial pressure of at least one ingredient contained in the adhesive, the gas sensor being connected on the output side to the control device and the control device is designed to control the application unit as a function of the sensor signal of the gas sensor. With regard to the advantages and the properties of this device, reference is made to the description of the above-mentioned method. This device allows the measurement of the gas partial pressure of at least one ingredient of the adhesive and the control of the application unit as a function of the sensor signal, that is of the gas partial pressure of the corresponding ingredient. In this way it can be ensured that the property of the adhesive is monitored over time and advantageously retained. In this sense, the proportion of at least one component of the adhesive, for example the

Solvent, be monitored and ensured that the

Gas partial pressure of the solvent, that is, whose content in the adhesive does not fall below a certain minimum value.

In this case, a strong aging could be due to excessive thermal or mechanical stress of the adhesive, so that the quality of the adhesive no longer meets the target values.

If this is the case, either the application unit can be stopped, or a supply device can already be switched on in advance depending on the sensor signal, which ensures that the volatile component of the adhesive is tracked in a timely manner. This feed can be continuous or batchwise. In this way, the quality of the adhesive can be ensured over the entire process duration by means of the invention.

By this device it is also possible to monitor whether the right adhesive is used for a desired gluing process.

Preferably, the gas sensor is designed to detect different gas contents of the adhesive and their concentration. Instead, different gas sensors for the different gas constituents can also be used. In this way, the composition of several components of the adhesive can be monitored to a desired value. Thus, in particular, the identification of the adhesive is possible. Preferably, the apparatus comprises a supply circuit which comprises the adhesive container and / or the adhesive supply as well as the gas sensor which is arranged in the supply circuit. In this way it can be ensured that the measurement result of the gas sensor is not falsified by external environmental influences.

Preferably, the device includes at least one second sensor that measures at least one of the following parameters: adhesive temperature, adhesive level in the adhesive container, viscosity, and / or

Flow rate of the supplied adhesive. By additional measurement of these parameters and joint interpretation and evaluation of the data, the quality of the adhesive can be monitored and ensured over the course of the process. The consideration of the temperature even allows the use of different solvent contents at different temperatures, so that an optimal adhesive for the corresponding prevailing temperature bonding result is achieved. The detection of the level makes it possible, in the case of tracking of individual components of the adhesive, to detect the amount of adhesive still present in the adhesive container and correspondingly to meter the missing or undershot components optimally. Another important property of the adhesive can be detected via the viscosity, and this can be continuously optimized, for example by adding solvent and / or binder.

Preferably, the device includes a gas extraction and / or

Vacuum generation in the area of the adhesive container and / or the

Adhesive supply and / or the application unit. In this way it can be ensured that the more volatile components of the adhesive do not end up in the environment and lead to health problems there. Preferably, the device is a labeling machine for labeling

Containers such as bottles, cans or kegs, or a machine for connecting a plurality of containers to a container pack. Preferably, two adhesives are provided for the temperature and / or the viscosity of the adhesive, and the control device is designed to have a heater and / or a conveying device for the adhesive, such as an adhesive feed pump, depending on the person

To control adhesives sensors. In this way it can be ensured, for example, that the viscosity and / or temperature of the adhesive are always within a certain desired range.

It is obvious to those skilled in the art that the above described

different embodiments of the method and the device

with each other and with each other are arbitrarily combinable.

The following expressions are used synonymously: sensor signal - output signal supply - supply device; Control valve - control valve;

The invention will be described below, for example, with reference to the schematic

Drawing described. In this show:

Fig. 1 is a very schematic plan view of a labeling, and

Fig. 2 is a graph of the measured solvent content of an adhesive over time. a graph of the measured solvent content of an adhesive over time in connection with the refilling of an adhesive container with adhesive.

FIG. 1 shows, by way of example, a labeling apparatus 10 with a vacuum drum 12, which has six receiving spaces 14 distributed equidistantly around its circumference, each having an outwardly facing suction surface 28 for one label 24 each. The labeling apparatus 10 further comprises a label feeder 16 having a

Cutting roller 18 and a transfer drum 20. The vacuum drum 12 has a receiving area 22 in which a label 24 is taken from a label holder 21 of the transfer drum 20 to the receiving space 14. The Vacuum drum 12 further has a delivery area 26, in which the label 24 is applied from the receiving space 14 to the periphery of a container 34 located at a transport location 30 of a transport device 32 of a treatment device. Each receiving space 14 includes a suction surface 28 which is connected to an associated vacuum space 36 which terminates in a perforation 38 of a base plate, the axis normal and concentric with the axis of rotation of the

Vacuum drum 12 is arranged. About these perforations 38 are the

Vacuum chambers 36 of the individual recording sites 14 supplied with vacuum. The labeling apparatus 10 further includes a glue roller 13, which in the first sector A of the vacuum drum 12 between the receiving area 22 and the

Abgabegereich 26 is arranged and there the back of the on the

Accommodates 14 held labels 24 with glue. This glue roller 13 rotates in the opposite direction to the vacuum drum 12, whereby a glue layer is evenly applied to the back of the labels 24 during unrolling, which then serves to secure the labels 24 on the circumference of the container 34. In the figure, it is not shown that the receiving sites 14 can also optionally be moved radially outward so as to be in the delivery area 26 e.g. in an improved manner to come into contact with the outer periphery of the container 34. The vacuum drum 12 can also be designed and arranged such that the receiving places 14 with their suction surface 28 also enter the peripheral area of the containers 34 located in the transport locations 30 without radial movement, so that the labels 24 are applied even without a radial movement of the individual receiving locations 14 is possible. In the area of the glue roller 13, an application unit 40 is provided, which has a spraying device 42, with which the adhesive is sprayed onto the glue roller 13 evenly, which glue roller 13 then later on the

Label back page 24 unrolls, so that the label 24 adheres well to this after pressing on the container 34.

The amount of the sprayed adhesive is controlled via a control valve 44 which is disposed in an adhesive supply 46 to the spray device 42. The adhesive supply 46 is connected to an adhesive container 48 in which a larger amount of the adhesive is present to a longer Process to ensure the adhesive supply to the spray device 42. In the adhesive container 48, a gas sensor 50 is arranged, which with a

Control device 52 is connected, which drives the control valve 44. Furthermore, a temperature sensor 54 and a viscosity sensor 56 are arranged in the adhesive supply 46, with which further physical properties of the supplied adhesive can be monitored.

In the adhesive container 48, a level sensor 58 is arranged for the amount of the adhesive contained in the adhesive container 48. In addition, in the adhesive container 48 is a heater 64, which also with the

Control device 52 is connected. All of the above-mentioned sensors 50, 54, 56, 58 are connected to the control device 52 and deliver these measurement signals or control signals. Furthermore, a solvent supply 60 and a

Binder supply 62 connected to the adhesive container 48, which feeders 60, 62 are also controlled by the control device 52. In that

Adhesive container 48 may also be provided a stirring device, which is also actuated by the control device 52. According to the invention, at least one gas partial pressure of at least one component of the adhesive, for example the

Solvent partial pressure, measured and in response to this sensor signal of the gas sensor 50, the control device 52 controls, for example, a control valve 44, which is arranged in front of the spray device 42. Thus, the amount of the adhesive to be applied can be controlled depending on the sensor signal of the gas sensor 50.

Of course, it is also possible to completely switch off the application unit 40 if a certain limit value of the partial pressure of a component of the adhesive in question is exceeded, which indicates that the measured component of the adhesive is no longer present to a sufficient extent a satisfactory

Adhesive result to achieve. In addition to the gas sensor 50 can via the

Temperature sensor 54 and the viscosity sensor 56 constantly the viscosity and the Temperature of the solvent to be queried or monitored, which may cause the control device to also the amount of

to be supplied adhesive via the control valve 44 optimized to adjust the viscosity and the temperature. Further, depending on the signal from the temperature sensor 54, the heater 64 in the adhesive container 48 may be controlled to maintain the adhesive at a desired temperature, which in turn affects the viscosity of the adhesive. On the

Gas sensor 50 may also contain an ingredient other than the adhesive

Solvents are detected.

In one case, for example via the gas sensor, the partial pressures of several chemical components of the adhesive can be detected, which allows a conclusion about the type of solvent and thus an assessment of whether the

Adhesive for the desired purpose is correct or not. If it is determined by the sensor signals of the gas sensor 50 and the viscosity sensor 56 that, for example certain ingredients such as solvents or binders are missing, these ingredients can be tracked via the solvent supply 60 and the binder feed 62, so that the composition of the adhesive in the adhesive container 48 is back on target. When tracking over the solvent supply 60 and the binder supply 62, the current level in the adhesive container 48 via the level sensor 58 can be taken into account, so that the optimized amount of solvent and binder supplied or

can be tracked. For example, FIG. 2 shows the sensor signal of the gas sensor 50, which in this case measures the partial pressure of the solvent in the form of an intensity value I in the adhesive. The intensity value I, that is to say the height of the solvent partial pressure over the measured time t, is thus plotted in FIG. For example, it should be noted that the partial solvent pressure curve of the solvent

may have decreasing course, which can be applied to the evaluation curve, a straight line dl / dt, so that in connection with a

Minimum concentration of the solvent l _min can be determined a time at which this minimum value is achieved in the running process. Either the application unit 40 can be stopped beforehand or the Solvent delivery 60 and the binder feed 62 are activated so that the loss of solvent and / or binder is compensated by the corresponding addition again. In this way, a consistent quality of the adhesive over the duration can be ensured.

Figure 3 shows a diagram of a partial pressure over time, as would be expected in the context of a refill of the adhesive container or an external template container with adhesive. Mean here

t1 = time of filling with adhesive

t2 = time for an expected partial pressure peak

k1 = intensity range of the expected partial pressure peaks after refilling the adhesive container with adhesive. It may be e.g. the partial pressure of the solvent or a secondary substance in the adhesive is measured, which is added to the adhesive for identification purposes only, as stated above.

When the adhesive is filled in the adhesive container or external storage container over the period of time t1, the partial pressure of the secondary substance and / or solvent then increases sharply and is expected in the intensity range k1. If, on the basis of the sensor signal of the gas sensor, this peak is actually measured in the expected range, then the system is disconnected. If this peak after filling within the subsequent period t2 not in

Intensity range k1 obtained, it is an aged or a wrong adhesive. It can then be issued a warning and / or the system stopped or not powered up.

Furthermore, an advantageous embodiment is that, for example, in the embodiments according to Figures 2 and 3, a

Temperature dependence is observed. Thus, at a higher temperature of the adhesive, a steeper course dl / dt will be set and, in the case of the embodiment according to FIG. 3, the expectation window k1, t2 for the concentration peak will be different in its position and possibly dimension.

The labeling device is shown only as an adhesive applicator, for example. It may also be a device for labeling cartons, Beverage carriers or adhesive devices for bonding of several

Containers for larger packs, or an applicator for adhesives associated with a carton packaging folding and erection station. The spraying device 42 is mentioned, for example. It may also be a device for applying adhesive dots or another

Surface applicator act.

In the adhesive supply 46 is usually still a feed pump, with which the delivery pressure of the adhesive to the spray device 42 is adjustable. The control device 52 then preferably controls the control valve 44 and / or the feed pump. The adjustable delivery pump can also replace the control valve. The invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, but may be varied as desired within the scope of the following claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10 labeling device

12 vacuum tunnel

13 glue roller

14 recording room -Vacuum pool

16 Label feeder

17 endless label tape

18 cutting roller

20 transfer drum

21 Label holder of the transfer drum

22 recording area

24 label

26 delivery area

28 suction surface

30 transport location of the transport device

32 Transport device of the container treatment device

34 container - bottle

36 Vacuum space of the reception area

38 perforation in the base plate

40 application unit

42 spray device

44 control valve

46 adhesive feed

48 adhesive containers

50 gas sensor

52 control device

54 temperature sensor

56 Viscosity sensor

58 level sensor

60 solvent feed

62 Binder feed

64 Heating device in the adhesive container or in the adhesive feeder Time

Duration Intensity Intensity range

Claims

claims:

1 . Method for controlling and / or monitoring a carrier

applied adhesive, wherein the adhesive means of a

Application unit (40) is applied to the carrier, wherein the promotion of the applied adhesive by means of a control device (52) of the application unit (40) is controlled, characterized in that the partial pressure or the gas concentration of at least one

Ingredient of the adhesive is measured with at least one gas sensor (50), this sensor signal is evaluated in a control unit (52),

and that the application unit (40) controlled in dependence on the sensor signal of the gas sensor (50) and / or a display and / or a

Error signal is output and / or stored.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that a start, a speed and / or an adhesive volume flow of

Application unit (40) only allowed and / or controlled accordingly, if the partial pressure of an ingredient of the adhesive is within a permissible value range.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that as

Gas sensor (50) an olfactometric sensor is used.

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized

in that the application unit (40) contains a spray device (42) and that the intensity of the spray jet is set in dependence on the sensor signal.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the application unit (40) contains a hot melt applicator device.

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the application unit (40) comprises a circulation system for an adhesive or is connected thereto.

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized

characterized in that the sensor signal or a signal derived therefrom is compared with a reference value and that a system error message is output when the reference value is exceeded or undershot.

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized

characterized in that the gas sensor (50) is designed to measure different ingredients, and that an error signal is output when the measured composition of the ingredients of a

Desired composition deviates, in particular with respect to at least one type of substance and / or concentration deviates from a desired composition.

9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized

characterized in that the sensor output signal and / or a control value derived from the sensor signal is / are detected over time, and that an error procedure is carried out if the time derivative of the control values exceeds a limit value.

10. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized

in that the sensor output signal and / or a control value derived from the sensor signal are detected and correlated depending on the fill level value and / or filling process of at least one adhesive container and / or an external receiver container.

1 1 .Verfahren according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized

in that a binder and / or solvent is supplied to the adhesive as a function of the sensor signal.

12. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized

in that a so-called secondary substance is used as the adhesive, namely a perfume or odor substance which has no functional property for the adhesive itself or the actual bonding process.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that the

Secondary material is added to the adhesive after the preparation of the adhesive.

14. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized

in that at least one of the following parameters is measured by means of at least one second sensor:

The temperature of the adhesive,

Level of the adhesive in the adhesive container (48),

Viscosity of the supplied adhesive and / or

Flow rate of the supplied adhesive,

and that the sensor signal of the gas sensor (50) is evaluated and correlated together with the at least one parameter or at least one data set of the at least one further sensor obtained therefrom, and furthermore the application unit (40) and / or at least one functionally connected machine element as a function of this data controlled and / or a display takes place and / or at least one (error) signal is output and / or stored.

15. Device for applying an adhesive to a carrier,

in particular according to a method according to one of the preceding claims, comprising an application unit (40) for the adhesive on the carrier (24), which comprises an adhesive container (48) and / or a

Adhesive supply (46) for the applied adhesive as well as an applicator device (42), wherein the by the application unit (40) to be applied adhesive by a control device (52) is controllable, characterized in that

it has a gas sensor (50) designed to withstand the partial pressure at least one contained in the adhesive or adhering ingredient to detect that the gas sensor (50) on the output side connected to the control device (52), and that the

Control device (52) is designed to monitor the application unit (40) in response to the sensor signal of the gas sensor (50) or to control and / or output an error signal.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, characterized in that a

Extraction device is provided in the application area.

1 /.Vorrichtung according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that the gas sensor (50) in the adhesive container (48) and / or in a

Adhesive supply (46) is arranged. 18. Device according to one of claims 15 to 17, characterized in that the gas sensor (50) is designed to detect different gas contents of the adhesive and its concentration.

Device according to one of claims 15 to 18, characterized in that it comprises a supply circuit comprising the adhesive container (48) and / or the adhesive supply (46), and in that the gas sensor (50) in the supply circuit is arranged.

20. Device according to one of claims 14 to 18, characterized in that it comprises at least a second sensor which measures at least one of the following parameters:

The temperature of the adhesive,

Level of the adhesive in the adhesive container (48),

Viscosity of the supplied adhesive,

- Flow rate of the supplied adhesive, and these parameters in the control unit (52) alone or in dependence on each other are evaluated.

21 .Vorrichtung according to one of claims 15 to 20, characterized in that it comprises a gas suction / negative pressure generation in the region of

Adhesive container (48) and / or the adhesive supply (46).

22. Device according to one of claims 15 to 21, characterized in that it is a labeling machine (10) or a machine for one or both sides adhesive bonding of containers to containers, wherein the containers are in particular glass or plastic bottles, cans or the like ,

23. Device according to one of claims 15 to 22, characterized in that it contains adhesive means (54, 56) for the temperature and the viscosity of the adhesive, and that the control device (52) is designed, depending on the output signals of Adhesive sensors (54, 56) a heating device (64) and / or a control device, in particular a delivery pump and / or a control valve (44) to control the adhesive.

24. Device according to one of claims 15 to 23, characterized in that the at least one gas sensor (50) is arranged at or above of the adhesive-releasing assembly, such as the glue roller (13) or a spray device (42) and / or directly is stored or attached thereto.