Apparatus and process for applying labels to boxes

An apparatus for applying labels to boxes, the apparatus defining a labeling zone for receiving a box having an upper side and having first and second opposing lateral sides, the apparatus comprising:

• a label carrier for releasably carrying a label having a center portion and a first and second end portion, the label carrier is configured to be vertically moved along a vertical direction relative to said labeling zone to place the center portion of the label onto the upper side of a box received in the labeling zone;
• and
• a pressing assembly comprising two presser elements arranged on two mutually opposite lateral sides of the labeling zone, the presser elements being configured to be downwardly moved along the vertical direction both relative to the labeling zone and relative to the label carrier so as to fold the first and second end portions of the label onto the first and second lateral sides of the box,
• wherein the presser elements are further configured to be moved along a lateral direction running perpendicularly to the vertical direction relative to the labeling zone away from the first and second lateral sides of the box to increase a distance between the presser elements and to thereby release pressure from the first and second lateral sides of the box, and
• wherein the presser elements are elastically biased inwardly towards the first and second lateral sides of the labeling zone
• such that a lateral distance between the presser elements is smaller than a distance between the first and second laterals sides of the box during a downward movement of the pressure elements along the vertical direction.

A process of applying a label to a box having an upper side and having first and second opposing lateral sides, the process comprising the following steps, not necessarily in the present order:

• transporting the box to a labeling zone;
• fetching a label having a center portion and a first and second end portion from a label reservoir by a label carrier;
• positioning the label above the box so that the first and second end portion laterally project beyond the lateral sides of the box;
• placing the center portion of the label onto the upper side of the box by vertically moving the label carrier along a vertical direction;
• and
• folding the first and second end portions of the label onto the first and second lateral sides of the box by moving two presser elements arranged on two mutually opposite lateral sides of the labeling zone downward along the first and second lateral sides of the box, and
• releasing pressure from the lateral sides of the box by increasing the distance of the presser elements along a lateral direction running perpendicularly to the vertical direction relative to the labeling zone away from the first and second lateral sides of the box,
• wherein a horizontal distance between the presser elements is increased by means of a presser release mechanism such that in each case a lateral distance between the presser elements and the corresponding first lateral side and second lateral side of the box is increased equally over an entire length of the presser elements before the presser elements are moved upward again along the vertical direction while the presser elements are at said horizontal distance.