Device for applying self-adhesive labels on moving containers

A device for applying self-adhesive labels (101) on moving containers (2) on a machine, said device being associable with the machine on which the containers (2) are, in use, positioned;

• the device comprising:
• a supporting body (3) extending from a first end (4) to a second end (5) which is, in use, positioned at the machine;
• feed means (28) for feeding a web (103) along a movement path, the labels (101) being arranged on the web (103);
• said feed means (28) being mounted on the supporting body (3) and configured to bring one label (101) at a time to the second end (5) of the supporting body (3);
• said feed means (28) being synchronisable with the movement of the containers (2) on the machine;
• a detaching unit (12) mounted on the second end (5) of the supporting body (3) and operatively associated with the labels (101) for detaching them from the web (103) in such a way as to bring them into contact with a container (2);
• a control unit (23) for the feed means (28) configured and programmed to move the web (103) in an outward direction (19) in such a way as to bring a respective label (101) to the detaching unit (12);
• said control unit (23) being configured and programmed to move the web (103) until the web reaches a predetermined speed in the outward direction (19), substantially equal to a speed of movement of a container (2) at the detaching unit (12), in such a way that the latter detaching unit (12) detaches the label (101) when the moving container (2) passes by the detaching unit (12);
• characterised in that the control unit (23) is configured and programmed to control the web (103) and labels (101) in a continuing series of movement cycles wherein, at a beginning of a first movement cycle, a front of a first label (101) on the web (103) is provided at a predetermined initial position which is in register with the containers (2) on the machine and in the first movement cycle the front of the first label (101) starts from the predetermined initial position and at the end of the first movement cycle a front of a next label is located at the predetermined initial position, the control unit (23) being further configured and programmed so that, after a first label (101) has been detached, the front of the next label (101) on the web (103) is moved in a return direction (20), opposite to the outward direction (19), by a preselected distance from the predetermined initial position, wherein the movement of the front of the next label (101) in the return direction (20) increases a movement space between the front of the next label (101) and the detatchinq zone (105) by a predetermined amount, wherein the preselected distance from the predetermined initial position is a distance which is effective to (a) reduce a maximum acceleration of the next label (101) to the detaching zone (105) below a preselected amount, or (b) reduce a maximum deceleration of the web (103), after the next label (101) is detached, below a preselected amount, or (c) both (a) and (b).