Machine and method for labeling containers

A machine for labeling containers, comprising:

• a rotatable transfer drum fed by an unwinding assembly that unwinds a labeling ribbon on which a plurality of labels are printed continuously thereon, said transfer drum including a lateral surface and being provided with multiple cutting means thereon, wherein the cutting means are distributed around the transfer drum and each cutting means comprises a respective blade that is positioned on and fixed within a respective recessed portion of the lateral surface of the transfer drum such that the labeling ribbon must move into the recessed portion to be cut by the blade, and wherein each cutting means is configured to be activated for cutting on command by respective actuation means, also positioned on the recessed portion of said lateral surface of said transfer drum for rotation with the transfer drum, that pull said ribbon inward against the cutting means in order to cut said labeling ribbon at a separation portion between two consecutive labels, said transfer drum being positioned and configured to bring the individual labels, separated after cutting, into contact with corresponding containers supported by a conveyor,
• a roller for spreading adhesive facing said transfer drum and being configured and positioned to apply to the labels that are present on said labeling ribbon at least one line of adhesive at both a leading edge and a trailing edge of each label prior to separation of each label from the labeling ribbon,
• a controller configured to activate each of the actuation means to separate each label from the labeling ribbon after at least one line of adhesive is applied to both the leading edge and the trailing edge;
• wherein said transfer drum is provided with a plurality of adhesive bonding regions which are distributed mutually spaced apart around said transfer drum, said adhesive bonding regions being, with at least one portion thereof, in relief with respect to the lateral surface of said transfer drum and being adapted to receive, by coming to rest thereon, the leading and trailing edges of the labels that are present on said labeling ribbon, in order to allow, in cooperation with said roller, the application of a respective strip of adhesive on each of the trailing edge of a leading one of two consecutive labels and the leading edge of a trailing one of two consecutive labels, prior to separation of the leading one of two consecutive labels from said labeling ribbon.

A machine for labeling containers, comprising:

• an unwinding assembly that unwinds a labeling ribbon on which a plurality of labels are printed continuously thereon;
• a rotatable transfer drum to which the labeling ribbon is fed by the unwinding assembly, said transfer drum including a lateral surface and being provided with multiple cutting means thereon, wherein the cutting means are distributed around the transfer drum and each cutting means is configured to be activated for cutting on command by respective actuation means, also positioned on said transfer drum for rotation with the transfer drum, said transfer drum being positioned and configured to bring individual labels, separated after cutting, into contact with corresponding containers supported by a conveyor,
• a roller for spreading adhesive facing said transfer drum and being configured and positioned to apply to the labels that are present on said labeling ribbon at least one line of adhesive at both a leading edge and a trailing edge of each label prior to separation of each label from the labeling ribbon;
• a controller configured to operate the unwinding assembly and to activate each of the actuation means such that:
• the roller applies at least one line of adhesive to the trailing edge of a first label and the leading edge of an immediately following second label while a separation portion between the first label and the second label is at an application position on the lateral surface of the transfer drum, and
• thereafter, to slow down a feed rate of the labeling ribbon to the transfer drum to reposition the separation portion between the first label and the second label into alignment with cutting means that follows the application position and then activate the actuation means such that the labeling ribbon is cut, by the cutting means aligned with the separation portion, between the line of adhesive applied to the trailing edge of the first label and the line of adhesive applied to the leading edge of the second label;
• wherein said transfer drum is provided with a plurality of adhesive bonding regions which are distributed mutually spaced apart around said transfer drum, said adhesive bonding regions being, with at least one portion thereof, in relief with respect to the lateral surface of said transfer drum and being adapted to receive, by coming to rest thereon, the leading and trailing edges of the labels that are present on said labeling ribbon, in order to allow, in cooperation with said roller, the application of a respective strip of adhesive on each of the trailing edge of a leading one of two consecutive labels and the leading edge of a trailing one of two consecutive labels, prior to separation of the leading one of two consecutive labels from said labeling ribbon.