Machine and method for its operation

A method of operating a labelling machine, the labelling machine comprising:

• a supply spool support for supporting a supply spool comprising label stock;
• a take-up spool support adapted to take up a portion of web;
• a web path being defined between the supply spool and the take-up spool;
• a rotation monitor;
• a torque application member;
• and
• a controller;
• wherein the method comprises:
• the rotation monitor monitoring the rotation of one of the spool supports, and outputting a rotation signal indicative of the rotation of the one of the spool supports;
• the torque application member applying a torque to the one of the spool supports;
• the controller determining a measure indicative of a width of the label stock based on the rotation signal and the torque applied to the one of the spool supports;
• and,
• wherein the width of the label stock is a dimension that is perpendicular to the web path.

A labelling machine comprising:

• a supply spool support for supporting a supply spool comprising label stock comprising a web and a plurality of spaced labels attached to the web and which are separable from the web;
• a take-up spool support adapted to take up a portion of web;
• a motor configured to propel the web along a web path from the supply spool support to the take-up spool support;
• a controller;
• and a sensor having a transmitter portion and a receiver portion, the transmitter portion and receiver portion being configured to receive a portion of the label stock therebetween, and to produce a sensor signal which is a function of a property of a portion of label stock at a plurality of positions spaced from one another in a direction non-parallel to the web path.