WO2020001934A1

WO2020001934A1 - Method for drying and labelling containers by means of a labelling machine

Info

Publication number: WO2020001934A1
Application number: PCT/EP2019/064478
Authority: WO
Inventors: Klaus Krämer; Heinz-Michael Zwilling
Original assignee: Khs Gmbh
Priority date: 2018-06-25
Filing date: 2019-06-04
Publication date: 2020-01-02
Also published as: DE102018115162A1; DE102018115162B4

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for labelling containers (2) by means of a labelling machine (1), in the case of which the containers (2) are transported along a transporting route (TS), in a transporting direction (TR), to a container inlet (8) of the labelling machine (1) by at least one entry-side transporting device (3). Along the transporting route (TS), prior to being transferred to the container inlet (8), a drying tunnel (7), which is provided at least to some extent along the entry-side transporting device (3), dries the containers (2) along their respective outer lateral surface (13) as they are being conveyed through the drying tunnel (7). Along the transporting route (TS), between the container inlet (8) and a container outlet (9), the labelling machine (1) has at least one labelling subassembly (6) for labelling the containers (2). It is particularly advantageous for at least one moisture value of the containers (2) to be determined during and/or after the operation of the containers (2) being conveyed through the drying tunnel (7), and it is also advantageously the case that, in dependence on the moisture value determined, the containers (2), rather than being labelled by the labelling subassembly (6), are fed anew to the drying tunnel (7).

Description

METHOD FOR DRYING AND LABELING CONTAINERS BY MEANS OF A LABELING MACHINE

The invention relates to a method for labeling containers by means of a labeling machine according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

In the beverage and packaging industry, the labeling of containers such as of bottles or cans but also of cardboard boxes or the like of particular importance, since an advantageous and appealing equipment of the containers contributes significantly to the sales success of a product.

Methods for labeling containers by means of a labeling machine are known, for example as disclosed in DE 10 2010 045 661 A1, in which labeling units arranged on a container table carry out numerous different techniques for labeling containers, such as using cold or hotmelt technology. Another labeling technique provides for the containers to be provided with printed, self-adhesive film sections, so-called self-adhesive labels.

Before labeling the containers in the beverage industry with a medium such as. B. filled with water, lemonades, juice, beer or the like. It may be necessary for the media to be filled to be filled into the container preferably at approx. 2 to 4 ° C. The consequence of this is that the containers can become damp immediately after filling due to condensed air humidity on their outer surface of the container. Depending on the current conditions of air temperature and absolute or relative humidity in the spatial environment of the filling, the containers even get really wet on their outer surface. The problem with this is that no labels adhere to the moist or wet outer surface of the container or that the labels slip on the outer surface of the container. As a result, optimal labeling is not possible. Of course, one could heat the already filled containers so that the condensate dries on the outer surface of the container and then an error-free labeling, such as with self-adhesive labels, is possible on the dry outer surface of the container. In various applications, however, it is essential that the containers already filled with a medium must remain in the cold chain or the cold chain must not be interrupted, ie the product and thus the containers must not be heated, for example due to hygiene regulations. Since heating is therefore not permitted, the filled containers are moist due to the condensation and are therefore initially completely unsuitable for labeling.

In order to remove the condensate on the outer surface of the container, labeling machines are known in which a drying tunnel is arranged before the actual labeling with at least one labeling unit. During the transport through the drying tunnel, the containers are dried before they are one

Container inlet of the labeling machine are handed over. Such drying tunnel in labeling machines are such. B in EP 1 927 547 B1 and EP 2 072 405 B1.

When passing through the drying tunnel, the containers are essentially only exposed to slightly warmed but dry air, which causes the outer surface of the container to dry. In continuous operation, the containers are dried sufficiently by this procedure so that subsequent labeling on the outer surface of the containers is possible.

Another problem arises with labeling machines in a start-stop operation. If, for example, the labeling machine stops, since the cooling chain of the container filled with a medium must not be interrupted, the supply of only slightly warmed dry air to the drying tunnel must also be interrupted. As a result, when the labeling machine is restarted, there are still containers in the drying tunnel which could not be (sufficiently) dried in the available, short time interval until these containers enter the labeling machine.

If the insufficiently dried containers are then handed over to the container table along with the labeling units for labeling, the labeling or adhesion problems of the labels on the moist or wet outer surface of the container would lead to insufficient labeling results. This would result in new malfunctions and new interruptions in the labeling machine.

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a method for labeling containers by means of a labeling machine which reliably avoids the disadvantages from the prior art described above and thus enables trouble-free and uninterrupted labeling of containers.

The object is achieved by a method for labeling containers by means of a labeling machine according to independent patent claim 1. The respective subclaims relate to particularly preferred embodiment variants of the invention.

The present invention provides a method for labeling containers by means of a labeling machine, in which the containers are transported along a transport route in a transport direction to a container inlet of the labeling machine with at least one transport device on the input side. The containers are dried along the transport route before being transferred to the container inlet by means of a drying tunnel provided at least in sections along the input-side transport device on their respective outer surface of the container during transport through the drying tunnel. The labeling machine has at least one labeling unit for labeling the containers along the transport route between the container inlet and a container outlet. The labeling units can be designed differently and allow different configurations with a modular construction from individual assemblies. The different labeling units can be assigned to the labeling machine optionally and in a varying number depending on requirements, such as cold glue or hot glue units, dispensing units for self-adhesive labels, labeling units for different label types, label printing and / or printing units or the like. This meets the requirements of the beverage industry when labeling bottles or other containers for maximum flexibility in processing different container configurations. The method according to the invention is characterized in particular by the fact that at least one moisture value of the containers is determined during and / or after the containers are conveyed through the drying tunnel and that the containers are not labeled by the labeling unit depending on the determined moisture value and are fed back to the drying tunnel become.

The essence of the idea underlying the invention is essentially to be seen in that by determining the moisture value of the containers during and / or after the containers have been conveyed through the drying tunnel, conclusions can be drawn as to whether the containers conveyed in the labeling machine are dry or damp or with condensate on the outer surface of the container. Accordingly, the containers are either labeled or not. The fact that wet containers are not labeled by the labeling unit and then fed back to the drying tunnel means that there are no longer any incorrect labeling results. Say every label to be used adheres to the container as desired. As a result, there is also no longer any need to remove labels that have either not adhered to the wet container in the first place or adhered crookedly to the wet container. With regard to containers that are still wet and their labeling, there is also no longer any need to stop a labeling machine, since the containers can be labeled continuously. The method according to the invention thus achieves trouble-free and uninterrupted labeling of containers by means of a labeling machine.

According to an advantageous embodiment variant of the method according to the invention, the moisture value of the containers is determined during and / or after the containers are conveyed through the drying tunnel by at least one direct and / or indirect moisture measurement.

In the case of a direct moisture measurement, the moisture value of the containers is preferably determined by a measurement on the outer surface of the container.

The moisture value of the containers is then particularly advantageously determined in a direct moisture measurement by a camera unit. In this embodiment variant, the moisture value can then be determined visually in the form of a condensate on the outer surface of the container. However, it is also conceivable that, in the case of a direct moisture measurement, the moisture value is determined, for example, by test sticks or other analysis products for determining moisture, in particular water.

In the case of an indirect moisture measurement, the moisture value of the containers is preferably determined by measuring the ambient temperature and / or ambient air humidity. This indirect measurement can be determined by previously defined parameters of ambient temperature and / or ambient air humidity. If, for example, a previously determined ambient air humidity is exceeded, it can be assumed that due to the high air humidity, a condensate has formed on the outer surface of the container. The same naturally applies to the ambient temperature as well as in combination of both parameters.

It is particularly advantageous to determine the moisture value of the containers after being transported through the drying tunnel at least in sections up to the container inlet. Thus, wet containers can be be determined before the transfer to the container table with the labeling units arranged on the container table.

According to a further advantageous embodiment variant of the method according to the invention, the moisture value of the containers during the transport of the containers through the drying tunnel is also determined during a malfunction of the labeling machine. An operational malfunction in the sense of the registration can be any malfunction during labeling, such as an emergency stop, an activation of the bottle press, a general emptying of the labeling machine or also a refilling of labels when they are used up.

The drying tunnel is advantageously switched off during a malfunction of the labeling machine. It should advantageously be switched off so that the containers in the drying tunnel are not further heated by the warm air supply due to a standstill. In this way, flygia measures can be maintained, for example. Particularly advantageously, the containers are not labeled by the labeling unit during the malfunction and fed back to the drying tunnel.

According to a further advantageous embodiment variant of the invention

According to the method, at least one corresponding control and evaluation unit is provided for determining the moisture value of the containers, so that the containers are either labeled or not labeled depending on the determined moisture value.

According to a further advantageous embodiment variant of the invention

In the method, the containers, in which an actual moisture value that exceeds a predetermined target moisture value is determined during and / or after the containers are conveyed through the drying tunnel, are removed from the transport path after the drying tunnel, preferably immediately after the drying tunnel. This is the fastest possible rejection of containers with condensate on the outer surface of the container. Rapid rejection from the transport route to the drying tunnel and subsequent re-supply to the drying tunnel of the containers enables the containers or the medium filled into the containers not to heat up due to excessive transport along the transport route of the labeling machine.

Advantageously, the containers, in which an actual moisture value is determined during and / or after the containers are conveyed through the drying tunnel that exceed a predetermined desired moisture value, are discharged from the transport path before and / or during the transfer to the container inlet. As already mentioned, the desired cooling of the filled containers continues to be achieved by rapidly discharging the containers from the transport route.

Equally advantageous are the containers in which an actual moisture value that exceeds a predetermined nominal moisture value is determined during and / or after the containers have been transported through the drying tunnel, and / or after they have passed through the container outlet from the transport path. Regardless of whether the containers are discharged from the transport route before and / or during the transfer to the container inlet or during and / or after passing through the container outlet, each container that is diverted is fed in a kind of loop to a feed device upstream of the labeling machine against the transport direction. In the case of the feed device or by means of this feed device, the containers to be labeled are preferably fed individually in the mass flow to the conveyor belt on the input side.

According to a further advantageous embodiment variant of the method according to the invention, at least one pressing unit for pressing labels against the outer surface of the container is moved back from a working position into a parking position while the containers are not being labeled by the labeling unit. In particular, the pressing unit is already part of a labeling unit, for example, or the pressing unit forms a labeling unit in addition to a label dispenser. This is particularly advantageous if the containers with a specific actual moisture value deviating from a target moisture value are only discharged from the transport path during and / or after passing through the container outlet, since the containers then pass through the container table. By moving back the pressing unit for pressing labels onto the outer surface of the container from a working position into a parking position, unnecessary interactions between the containers and the pressing unit, such as e.g. B. lateral forces and / or wear can be avoided. Likewise, by moving the pressing unit back accordingly, it is avoided that the moist containers or the containers with condensate do not wet the labels to be attached to the containers, such as pads, self-adhesive labels or the like, when driving through them. This ensures that the labels in the labeling units can still be removed if the labeling continues again, since they did not come into contact with the wet containers.

Further developments, advantages and possible uses of the invention also result from the following description of exemplary embodiments and from the figures. All of the features described and / or depicted, in themselves or in any combination, are fundamentally the subject of the invention, regardless of how they are summarized in the claims or their relationship. The content of the claims is also made part of the description. The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the figures using exemplary embodiments. Show it:

1 shows a labeling machine known from the prior art in a schematic plan view to illustrate a process sequence for labeling containers by means of this labeling machine;

2 shows an exemplary embodiment variant of a labeling machine in a schematic plan view to illustrate a process sequence according to the invention for labeling containers by means of the latter

labeling; and

3 shows, by way of example, an alternative embodiment variant of the labeling machine in a schematic plan view to illustrate a further process sequence for labeling containers by means of the latter

Labeling machine.

Identical reference numerals are used in the figures for identical or identically acting elements of the invention. Furthermore, for the sake of clarity, only reference numerals are shown in the individual figures that are necessary for the description of the respective figure.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a labeling machine 1 known from the prior art in a schematic plan view to illustrate a process sequence for labeling containers 2 by means of this labeling machine 1.

In this case, the containers 2 to be labeled are, for example, individually fed in the mass flow via an inlet 13 to an input-side transport device 3 of the labeling machine 1. The containers 2 are then transported along a transport path TS in a transport direction TR to a container inlet 8 of the labeling machine 1 with the transport device 3 on the input side. As already described in the introduction, the containers 2 are already filled with a medium when they are transferred to the labeling machine 1. This medium was preferably filled with a filling material temperature of approx. 2 ° to 4 ° C. into the containers 2 and should not be heated, or not significantly, in the further course - also when labeling - in order to comply with hygiene regulations or the like. Consequently, condensed water may have already formed on the outer surface of the container 2, so that subsequent labeling of the container 2 is not possible (without errors).

Therefore, with the labeling machine 1 shown here, containers 2 are dried along the transport path TS before being transferred to the container inlet 8 by means of a drying tunnel 7 provided in sections along the input-side transport device 3 on their respective outer surface of the container during transport through the drying tunnel 7.

The construction of drying tunnels 7 in labeling machines 1 is well known from the prior art, for example from the publications EP 1 927 547 B1 and EP 2 072 405 B1. By means of such a drying tunnel 7, the containers 2 are dried on their outer surface of the container before they are subsequently provided with a label, which is preferably affixed to their respective outer surface of the container.

For labeling, the labeling machine 1 has three labeling units 6 for labeling the containers 2 along the transport path TS between the container inlet 8 and a container outlet 9. The three labeling units 6 are arranged around a container table 5. The then filled and labeled containers 2 are then transferred via a container outlet 9 to a transport device 4 on the outlet side.

However, if the labeling machine 1 has stopped during labeling by means of the labeling machine 1 shown in FIG. 1, since, for example, an exchange of dispensing units for self-adhesive labels of the labeling units 6 has taken place, the operation of the drying tunnel 7 also had to be interrupted. This was the only way to avoid that the containers 2 filled with the medium are not heated and that the desired cooling chain is not interrupted. However, the consequence is that when the labeling machine 1 is restarted, container 2 still remains in the drying tunnel 7 are located, which could not be (sufficiently) dried in the available, only short time interval until these containers 2 enter the labeling machine 1. If the insufficiently dried containers 2 are then transferred to the container table 5 together with the labeling units 6 for labeling, the labeling or adhesion problems of the labels on the moist or wet outer surface of the container described above would lead to insufficient labeling results.

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment variant of a labeling machine 1 in a schematic plan view to illustrate a process sequence according to the invention for labeling containers 2 by means of this labeling machine 1, which shows the disadvantages from the prior art described in the introduction to the description and in FIG. 1 when labeling Avoids containers 2.

According to this labeling machine 1, the containers 2 are transported along a transport path TS in a transport direction TR to a container inlet 8 of the labeling machine 1 with a transport device 3 on the input side. In this case, the containers 2 are dried along the transport path TS before being transferred to the container inlet 8 by means of, for example, a drying tunnel 7 provided in sections along the input-side transport device 3 on their respective outer surface of the container during transport through the drying tunnel 7. Other design variants of the invention can also provide more than just one drying tunnel 7 along the transport device 3 on the input side.

Furthermore, the labeling machine 1 along the transport path TS between the container inlet 8 and a container outlet 9 here z. B. three labeling units 6 for labeling the container 2, such as three dispensing units for self-adhesive labels.

These are arranged around the container table 5. In this embodiment variant, the labeling machine 1 is consequently a rotary labeling machine. However, this design should not be viewed as a limitation of the invention. Labeling machine 1 in linear design is also conceivable.

The method according to the invention is generally characterized in that at least one moisture value of the containers 2 is determined during and / or after the containers 2 are conveyed through the drying tunnel 7 and that the containers 2 in Depending on the determined moisture value, the labeling units 6 do not label them and feed them to the drying tunnel 7 again.

According to the invention, it can thus be determined whether there are dry or moist containers 2 or containers 2 conveyed with a condensate on the outer surface of the container in the labeling machine 1. According to this determination, the containers 2 are either labeled or not. This means that incorrect labeling results no longer occur. In addition, the wet containers 2 are then fed back to the drying tunnel 7 again, so that the method according to the invention enables trouble-free and uninterrupted labeling of containers 2 by means of a labeling machine 1.

Containers 2 in the sense of the invention are any labeled containers 2, in particular cans, bottles (glass or PET bottles) but also, for example, other conceivable packaging means, which are preferably, but not necessarily, designed to be rotationally symmetrical to their longitudinal axis at least on a partial area of their outer surface.

In the embodiment variant of the labeling machine 1 shown here, the moisture value of the containers 2 is determined, for example, after the containers 2 have been transported through the drying tunnel 7 by at least one indirect moisture measurement. Other design variants can also provide that the moisture value of the containers 2 is determined during the transport of the containers 2 through the drying tunnel 7. 3 shows this in an alternative embodiment of the labeling machine 1.

In both exemplary embodiments in FIGS. 2 and 3, the moisture value of the containers 2 in a direct moisture measurement is preferably determined by a measurement on the outer surface of the container 2. The moisture value of the containers 2 is particularly advantageously determined in a direct moisture measurement, for example by a camera unit 10.

An indirect moisture measurement can take place here in parallel to the direct moisture measurement. The determination of the moisture value of the containers 2 is preferably carried out at least in sections up to the container inlet 8 after being conveyed through the drying tunnel 7. Thus, the moisture value when the container 2 is wet before the actual labeling - ie before Transfer to the container table 5 with the labeling units 6 - already be determined. In the indirect moisture measurement, the moisture value of the container 2 is preferably determined by measuring the ambient temperature and / or ambient air humidity. If, for example, a previously determined ambient air humidity is exceeded, it can be assumed that, due to the high air humidity, a condensate has formed on the outer surface of the container 2.

In addition, the moisture value of the containers 2 can be determined according to the method according to the invention during the transport of the containers 2 through the drying tunnel 7 due to a malfunction of the labeling machine 1. A malfunction can e.g. B. a general emptying of the labeling machine 1. During the malfunction of the labeling machine 1, the drying tunnel 7 is advantageously switched off so that the containers 2 located in the drying tunnel 7 are not further heated by the warm air supply to the drying tunnel 7. Containers 2, which are located on the input-side transport device 3, in particular in the drying tunnel 7 during the malfunction, are not affected by the labeling machine 1 when restarting due to a too short drying interval in the drying tunnel 7 and the risk of moisture on the outer surface of the container 2 Labeling units 6 labeled and fed to the drying tunnel 7 again via the feed device 13.

For the determination of the moisture value of the containers 2, the labeling machine 1 is assigned at least one control and evaluation unit 14 that is operatively connected to it in order to carry out the method according to the invention, so that the containers 2 are either labeled by the labeling units 6 or not, depending on the determined moisture value be labeled. Display units, operating consoles, etc. can be connected to the control and evaluation unit 14, for example, on the one hand to visually or graphically evaluate the determined moisture values of the containers 2 and on the other hand to control the labeling machine 1 according to these moisture values of the containers 2. The control and evaluation unit 14 can be part of the labeling machine 1 or can be provided spatially separate from the latter. In particular, the control and evaluation unit 14 can be designed to determine or assume a moisture value in the event of a malfunction at which the Containers 2 are not labeled by the labeling units 6 and are fed to the drying tunnel 7 again.

Thus, for example, the containers 2 are rejected, in which an actual moisture value is determined during and / or after the containers 2 are transported through the drying tunnel 7, which deviates from a desired moisture value. Those containers 2 in which an actual moisture value which exceeds a predetermined target moisture value during and / or after the containers 2 are conveyed through the drying tunnel 7 are determined in more detail. Containers 2 identified in this way are then discharged from the transport path TS during and / or after passing through the container outlet 9. This control is then z. B. taken over by the control and evaluation unit 14. The rejection can then take place in such a way that the containers 2 rejected from the transport path TS are fed in a kind of loop 15 to the upstream feed device 13 seen in the transport direction TR of the labeling machine 1.

In particular, if the containers 2 are discharged from the transport path TS during and / or after passing through the container outlet 9, at least one pressing unit for pressing labels onto the outer surface of the container 2 is moved back from a working position into a parking position, while the containers 2 are not be labeled by the labeling units 6. This can advantageously unnecessary interactions between the containers 2 and the pressing station, such as. B. lateral forces and / or wear can be avoided.

Likewise, the labels to be attached to the containers 2 are not moistened or soaked by the moist containers 2 or those with a condensate, so that they can be used for subsequent labeling.

FIG. 3 shows an example of an alternative embodiment variant of a labeling machine 1 in a schematic plan view to illustrate a further exemplary process sequence for labeling containers 2 by means of this labeling machine 1.

As already mentioned in connection with FIG. 2, the moisture value of the containers 2 is determined during the transport of the containers 2 through the drying tunnel 7 in this embodiment variant. This can be the case here for example with a direct Moisture measurement instead of a camera unit 10 can be carried out by means of test sticks or other analysis products 10 for determining water, which are arranged at one end in the interior of the drying tunnel 7.

In contrast to the previous embodiment variant according to FIG. 2, here the containers 2, in which an actual moisture value that exceeds a predetermined target moisture value during and / or after the container 2 is conveyed through the drying tunnel 7, are removed from the transport path TS rejected after drying tunnel 7. This is the fastest possible rejection of containers 2 with a condensate on the outer surface of the container. It is also conceivable that in a further embodiment variant, but not shown here, the containers 2, in which an actual moisture value is determined during and / or after the containers 2 are conveyed through the drying tunnel 7, which actual value exceeds a predetermined target moisture value, diverted from the transport path TS before and / or during the transfer to the container inlet 8.

Regardless of whether the containers 2 are discharged from the transport path TS before and / or during the transfer to the container inlet 8 or during and / or after passing through the container outlet 8, each container 2 which is diverted becomes a loop 15 of one of the labeling machines 1 upstream feed device 13 fed.

All other reference symbols shown here have already been described for FIG. 2 and can therefore be seen from this.

In the above description of exemplary embodiments, it was assumed that the labeling units 6 are for labeling the containers 2. In principle, the container equipment units can also be units for generating other equipment or other equipment features, for example, printheads for printing on the container 2.

The invention has been described above using exemplary embodiments. It goes without saying that a large number of changes or modifications are possible without thereby leaving the scope of protection of the invention defined by the patent claims. For example, it is provided for a further embodiment of the present invention that the labeling machine 1 is at least partially roofed over and / or sealed off from the surroundings. It is also provided that the resulting, delimited, separate room is treated with a special atmosphere in order to continue drying the bottles in the area of the labeling machine. Preferably, conditioned, ie tempered and dried, air is used as the special atmosphere.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 labeling machine

2 containers

3 input-side transport device

4 transport device on the output side

5 container table

6 labeling unit

7 drying tunnel

8 container inlet

9 container outlet

10 camera unit, test stick or other analysis product 1 1 control and evaluation unit

12 pressing unit

13 feed device, mass flow

14 Control and evaluation unit

15 loop

TR transport direction

TS transport route

Claims

claims

1. A method for labeling containers (2) by means of a labeling machine (1), in which the containers (2) along a transport route (TS) in a transport direction (TR) to a container inlet (8) of the labeling machine (1) with at least one

are transported on the input-side transport device (3), in which the containers (2) along the transport path (TS) before transfer to the container inlet (8) by means of a drying tunnel (7) provided at least in sections along the input-side transport device (3) on their respective outer surface of the container during transportation through the drying tunnel (7), in which the labeling machine (1) along the transport path (TS) between the container inlet (8) and a container outlet (9) has at least one labeling unit (6) for labeling the containers (2) characterized in that at least one moisture value of the containers (2) is determined during and / or after the containers (2) are transported through the drying tunnel (7), and that the containers (2) are not dependent on the determined moisture value the labeling unit (6) are labeled and the drying tunnel (7) again pull be led.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the moisture value of the container (2) during and / or after the transport of the container (2) by the

Drying tunnel (7) through at least one direct and / or indirect

Moisture measurement is determined.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that the moisture value of the container (2) in a direct moisture measurement by a measurement on the

Container outer surface of the container (2) is determined.

4. The method according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the

Moisture value of the container (2) is determined in a direct moisture measurement by a camera unit (10).

5. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that the moisture value of the container (2) in an indirect moisture measurement by a measurement of

Ambient temperature and / or ambient humidity is determined.

6. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the determination of the moisture value of the container (2) after transportation by the

Drying tunnel (7) is carried out at least in sections up to the container inlet (8)

7. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the moisture value of the container (2) is determined during the transport of the container (2) through the drying tunnel (7) during a malfunction of the labeling machine (1).

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that during a

Malfunction of the labeling machine (1) the drying tunnel (7) is switched off.

9. The method according to claim 1, 7 or 8, characterized in that the containers (2) are not labeled by the labeling unit (6) during the malfunction and are fed back to the drying tunnel (7).

10. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that when determining the moisture value of the container (2) at least one control and evaluation unit (11) which is operatively connected to it is provided, so that the container (2) in dependence on the determined moisture value either be labeled by the labeling unit (6) or not.

11. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container (2), in which an actual moisture value is determined during and / or after the transport of the container (2) through the drying tunnel (7)

exceeds the predetermined target moisture value, are discharged from the transport route (TS) to the drying tunnel (7).

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that the container (2) in which during and / or after the transport of the container (2) by the

Drying tunnel (7) an actual moisture value is determined, which exceeds a predetermined target moisture value, before and / or during the transfer to the

Container inlet (8) from the transport route (TS) are rejected.

13. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that the container (2) in which during and / or after the transport of the container (2) by the

Drying tunnel (7) an actual moisture value is determined, which exceeds a predetermined target moisture value during and / or after passing through the container outlet (9) are discharged from the transport route (TS)

14. The method according to claim 1 or 13, characterized in that at least one pressing unit (12) for pressing labels onto the outer surface of the container (2) is moved back from a working position into a parking position, while the container (2) is not removed from the labeling unit (6) be labeled.