A method of labeling plastic beverage bottles in a beverage bottling plant, said method comprising the steps of:
- feeding a first filled, closed bottle to a bottle labeling machine;
- feeding said first filled, closed bottle into a first container carrier on a rotor of said bottle labeling machine;
- moving said first filled, closed bottle past a first camera;
- taking at least a first scan of at least a substantial portion of said first filled, closed bottle with said first camera;
- sending a first signal, relating to said at least one first scan of said first filled, closed bottle, from said first camera to a control unit;
- detecting a frame raised from the surface of said first filled, closed bottle from said first signal with said control unit;
- comparing said at least one first scan relating to said frame raised from the surface of said first filled, closed bottle to a stored, at least one electronic image equivalent of at least one bottle in said control unit and determining the orientation of said first filled, closed bottle in said first container carrier of said rotor with respect to said first camera;
- sending a signal from said control unit to said first container carrier on said rotor of said bottle labeling machine;
- rotating said first container carrier and thus rotating said first filled, closed bottle into a first predetermined approximate orientation comprising a first, loose tolerance with regards to the position of said frame raised from the surface of said first filled, closed bottle with respect to said first container carrier and preparing said first filled, closed bottle for labeling;
- moving said first filled, closed bottle past a second camera;
- taking at least a second scan of at least a substantial portion of said first filled, closed bottle with said second camera;
- sending a second signal, relating to said at least one second scan of said first filled, closed bottle, from said second camera to said control unit;
- detecting said frame raised from the surface of said first filled, closed bottle from said second signal with said control unit;
- comparing said at least one second scan relating to said frame raised from the surface of said first filled, closed bottle, with said control unit, to a stored, at least one electronic image equivalent of at least one bottle and determining the orientation of said first filled, closed bottle in said first container carrier of said rotor;
- sending a signal from said control unit to said first container carrier on said rotor of said bottle labeling machine;
- rotating said first container carrier and thus rotating said first filled, closed bottle into a second predetermined orientation comprising a second tolerance, being tighter than said first, loose tolerance, with regards to the position of said frame raised from the surface of said first filled, closed bottle with respect to said first container carrier;
- correcting said first predetermined approximate orientation, with regards to the position of said frame raised from the surface of said first filled, closed bottle with respect to said first container carrier, with said second predetermined orientation, with regards to the position of said frame raised from the surface of said first filled, closed bottle with respect to said first container carrier, and preparing said first filled, closed bottle for labeling;
- moving said first filled, closed bottle past a third camera;
- taking at least one scan of said frame raised from the surface of said first filled, closed bottle with said third camera;
- sending a third signal, relating to said at least one scan of said frame raised from the surface of said first filled, closed bottle, from said third camera to said control unit;
- detecting the size and the shape of said frame raised from the surface of said first filled, closed bottle from said third signal with said control unit;
- measuring the inner dimensions of said frame raised from the surface of said first filled, closed bottle from said third signal with said control unit;
- comparing said third signal relating to said size and shape of said frame raised from the surface of said first filled, closed bottle, with said control unit, to a stored, at least one electronic image equivalent of a frame raised from the surface of at least one container and determining the inner dimensions of said frame raised from the surface of said first filled, closed bottle in said first container carrier of said rotor;
- determining the moment of transfer of a first self-adhesive label to said first filled, closed bottle in order to affix said first self-adhesive label on said first filled, closed bottle in a predetermined location and orientation with respect to said frame raised from the surface of said first filled, closed bottle;
- determining the position of said first self-adhesive label at said moment of transfer of said first self-adhesive label to said first filled, closed bottle, in order to affix said first self-adhesive label on said first filled, closed bottle in a predetermined location and orientation with respect to said frame raised from the surface of said first filled, closed bottle;
- sending a signal from said control unit to a labeling device adjacent said rotor and initiating the labeling of said first filled, closed bottle;
- affixing said first self-adhesive label on said first filled, closed bottle in a predetermined location on said first filled, closed bottle and with a predetermined orientation with respect to said frame raised from the surface of said first filled, closed bottle;
- and
- moving said first filled, closed bottle out of said first container carrier of said rotor of said labeling machine.