Material web with labels of different label variants and method for producing labels of different label variants

A material web with labels of different label variants, comprising:

• at least one label layer to which a predetermined first digital print and a predetermined second digital print are applied, the first and the second digital print differing with respect to a respective print image and the first digital print being assigned to a first label variant and the second digital print being assigned to a second label variant, and
• a machine-readable indicating element which is detectably formed differently from the first and the second label variant on the label layer and is set up to indicate a change of type of the first and the second label variants, so that, by processing the common material web, the first label variant can be checked and made up, the machine-readable indicating element can be detected using a control device, the material web can be cut in a transition area between the first and the second label variants and a control and finishing of the second label variant can be carried out, so that a first label web with the first label variant and a separate second label web with the second label variant can be formed,
• wherein:
• a plurality of labels associated with the first and/or the second label variant are checked using the control device,
• the plurality of labels associated with the first and/or the second label variant checked using the control device are compared with stored data for labels of the first and/or second label variant using a data control device, and
• processing of the source material web and/or the material web is controlled using a control unit in dependence on the comparison, if it is determined that a label associated with the first or the second label variant deviates from the stored data.

A method for producing labels of different label variants, comprising:

• providing a source material web with one or more label layers,
• carrying out a first printing process and thereby forming a predetermined first digital print on the source material web using a digital printing device associated with a first label variant,
• carrying out a second printing process separate from the first printing process and thereby forming a predetermined second digital print on the source material web using the digital printing device associated with a second label variant, wherein the first and the second digital print differ with regard to a respective print image,
• forming a machine-readable indicating element on the source material web, which is detectably formed differently from the first and the second label variants and is arranged to indicate a change of type of the first and the second label variants,
• performing a die-cutting process and thereby forming a material web having a plurality of label variants and the machine-readable indicating element, and
• processing the material web, the processing comprising
• checking and making up the first label variant,
• detecting the machine-readable indicating element using a control device,
• cutting the material web in a transition region between the plurality of label variants and a checking and finishing of the second label variant, so that a first label web is formed with the first label variant and a separate second label web is formed with the second label variant,
• recording image information of the material web using a control device in an area of the first and/or the second label variant comprising the first and/or the second digital print,
• comparing the image information recorded using the control device with stored data for the predetermined first and/or second digital print, and
• initiating a corrective measure as a function of the comparison, insofar as it is determined that the recorded image information about the first and/or second digital print deviates beyond a predetermined tolerance range from the stored data for the predetermined first and/or second digital print.

A method for producing labels of different label variants, comprising:

• providing a source material web with one or more label layers,
• carrying out a first printing process and thereby forming a predetermined first digital print on the source material web using a digital printing device associated with a first label variant,
• carrying out a second printing process separate from the first printing process and thereby forming a predetermined second digital print on the source material web using the digital printing device associated with a second label variant, wherein the first and the second digital print differ with regard to a respective print image,
• forming a machine-readable indicating element on the source material web, which is detectably formed differently from the first and the second label variants and is arranged to indicate a change of type of the first and the second label variants,
• performing a die-cutting process and thereby forming a material web having a plurality of label variants and the machine-readable indicating element, and
• processing the material web, the processing comprising checking and making up the first label variant, detecting the machine-readable indicating element using a control device, cutting the material web in a transition region between the plurality of label variants and a checking and finishing of the second label variant, so that a first label web is formed with the first label variant and a separate second label web is formed with the second label variant,
• wherein the processing of the material web is carried out, at least in sections, by a processing device through which the material web is continuously guided, the method further comprising:
• guiding the material web through the processing device and checking and making up the first label variant,
• detecting the machine-readable indicating element using the control device,
• stopping the continuous guiding of the material web by the processing device and finishing the checking and making up of the first label variant,
• removing components associated with the first label variant from an area of the processing device, and
• continuing the processing of the remaining material web by the processing device and checking and making up the second label variant.