Labelling machine and method for handling a web-like labelling material in an automated labelling process

A labelling machine (1, 1′) for applying labels (2) onto articles (3) intended to contain a pourable product;

• said labelling machine (1, 1′) comprising:
• a conveyor (5) configured to advance a plurality of said articles (3) along a transfer path (P);
• and
• a transfer element (8), arranged peripherally to said conveyor (5) and configured to receive a sequence of single labels (2) one after the other at a receiving station (R), to retain said labels (2) onto a lateral surface (10) thereof and to convey said labels (2), along an advancement direction, towards an application station (A), at which said labels (2) are, in use, released from said lateral surface (10) and are, in use, fed to said conveyor (5) to be applied onto said articles (3);
• said labelling machine (1, 1′) further comprising first detection means (15), arranged peripherally to said transfer element (8) in a position downstream of said application station (A) and upstream of said receiving station (R), relatively to said advancement direction, and configured to detect the single labels (2) still retained in use, by said lateral surface (10) downstream of said application station (A) and to generate a presence signal correlated with the presence of said labels (2) still retained in use, by said lateral surface (10) downstream of said application station (A);
• further comprising second detection means (17) arranged in a position downstream of said receiving station (R) and upstream of said application station (A), relatively to said advancement direction, and configured to detect a positioning of each label (2) onto said lateral surface (10) and to generate a positioning signal correlated with said positioning of said each label (2).