WO2024110836A1

WO2024110836A1 - Labelling apparatus and method

Info

Publication number: WO2024110836A1
Application number: PCT/IB2023/061682
Authority: WO
Inventors: Maurizio Pedercini; Paolo LANFREDI SOFIA; Alessandro Gazzini
Original assignee: Sacmi Verona S.P.A.
Priority date: 2022-11-25
Filing date: 2023-11-20
Publication date: 2024-05-30

Abstract

A labelling apparatus (1) comprises: a feed roller (11); a gluing roller (12); a cutting roller (13), provided with a knife (130), and a transfer carousel (14), including a plurality of suction protrusion arrangements (140), angularly distributed along a periphery of the transfer carousel (14) and provided with corresponding recesses (140R). The transfer carousel (14) is adapted to receive a web (2) from the feed roller (11) in a loading zone (C), to keep the web (2) adherent to one or more of the suction protrusion arrangements (140) and to bring the labels (20) into contact with corresponding bottles (21), in an unloading zone (S). The transfer carousel (14) is also configured for interacting with the gluing roller (12) in a gluing zone (I) and with the cutting roller (13) in a cutting zone (T), where the rotations of the gluing roller (12), of the cutting roller (13) and of the transfer carousel (14) are synchronized so that the gluing roller (12) acts in conjunction with the suction protrusion arrangements (140) of the transfer carousel (14) to apply glue, and at least one knife (130) of the cutting roller (13) is inserted cyclically into the recesses (140R) of the suction protrusion arrangements (140) to cut the web (2) into labels (20).

Description

DESCRIPTION LABELLING APPARATUS AND METHOD

Technical field

This invention relates to a labelling apparatus and to a labelling method, for applying labels to the surface of containers.

Background art

Labelling is typical of the beverage industry and other industries where labels need to be provided with glue so that they can be applied to surfaces in a continuous-cycle industrial process.

Typically, the labels are obtained from a web that is wound on a roll. The roll is then cut to obtain the labels to be applied to the containers.

With regard to gluing, that is, the application of glue on suitable zones of the web, some solutions known in the prior art involve the use of a preglued web. Solutions where the web is pre-glued are described, for example, in patent documents EP1871674B1 and EP2507135B1 .

In a solution of this kind, however, there is the risk of defects due to labels not being applied correctly, suggesting that it is preferable to adopt a different solution, where the glue is applied after the web is unwound, for example, just before or after it is cut.

An example of a system where the glue is applied after unwinding the web is described in patent document WO2019243203A1 , where the glue is applied to the web by a spray gun.

With regard to cutting, in some solutions known in the prior art, the web is transported by a drum which is provided with anvils, and is cut by one or more rotating knives, mounted on a cutting roller, which interact with the anvils to cut the web, interposed between the knife and the anvil, by pressure cutting. Examples of this approach are described in patent documents EP2067701 B1 , EP2221154B1 , EP2279954B1 ,

DE102013215999A1 and EP3919397A1. This approach, which involves interaction between knives and anvils to perform pressure cutting, has the disadvantage of causing the knives to wear rapidly.

An alternative cutting method is described in patent documents WO2021239626A1 , WO2021198072A1 and WO2022069415A1 , where the drum that transports the web while it is being cut is provided with slots which accommodate the knives. This system, however, has the disadvantage of being complex, which increases the cost of the apparatus. Another method for cutting the web is described in patent document EP3925743A1 , where the drum that transports the web while it is being cut is provided with recesses, and where a rotary knife, mounted on a cutting roller, interacts with the recesses. This cutting method has the advantage of being more economical than the solution with the blades house in the slots of the transporting drum and is more reliable than the solution in which the blades interact with the anvils. The apparatus of patent document EP3925743A1 , however, has the disadvantage of being complex and cumbersome. Moreover, the approach proposed by EP3925743A1 to tension the web when it is being cut by making use of the rotation of the transporting drum in combination with the selective use of suction upstream and downstream of the recess, is complicated and not very reliable.

The patent document W02020/088923A1 describes a labelling apparatus; however, neither this document is able to satisfy the market’s needs.

In this context, there remains a need for an apparatus for gluing and cutting a web and then applying the labels, which is compact, or reduced in size, which is capable of applying glue on the web after unwinding it, and which has a cutting system that is simple, robust and reliable.

Disclosure of the invention

This disclosure has for an aim to provide a labelling apparatus and method to overcome the above mentioned drawbacks of the prior art.

More specifically, the aim of this disclosure is to provide a labelling apparatus and method allowing the web to be glued and cut after being unwound and then applying the labels with an apparatus that is particularly reduced in size. Another aim of the disclosure is to (glue and) cut the labels in a particularly simple, robust and reliable manner.

These aims are fully achieved by the labelling apparatus and method of this disclosure, as characterized in the appended claims.

The purpose of the labelling apparatus is essentially that of providing a succession of labels with glue on them and intended to be applied to respective containers.

More specifically, the labels are made from a polymeric material, but they could be made from other materials.

The labels are obtained by cutting a web in such a way that each cut separates a piece of web from the web itself, where each piece defines a label. Preferably, the labels are rectangular in shape because the cut is perpendicular to the web; embodiments in which the labels have a different shape (for example, rhomboidal) are not excluded, however.

Each label is provided with glue on a leading end zone and a trailing end zone of it; thus, each piece (defining a corresponding label) has a leading end zone and a trailing end zone which are provided with glue the moment it is ready to be applied to the container.

The apparatus comprises a feed roller. The feed roller has the function of applying an entraining action on the web; for this purpose, the web is at least partly wound around the feed roller. In an example, the feed roller rotates about a vertical axis.

The labelling apparatus also comprises a gluing roller. The gluing roller has the function of spreading glue on the surface of the web; more specifically, on surfaces of the web intended to define the leading end and trailing end zones provided with glue. In an example, the gluing roller rotates about a vertical axis.

The labelling apparatus also comprises a cutting roller. The cutting roller has the function of cutting the web to separate the pieces. The cutting roller is provided with at least one knife configured for cutting the web. The at least one knife rotates as one with the cutting roller. In an example, the cutting roller rotates about a vertical axis.

The labelling apparatus also comprises a transfer carousel. The transfer carousel has the function of defining a web movement path, along which the web is kept adherent to the transfer carousel (for example, on a lateral surface of the transfer carousel). The web interacts with the cutting roller in a cutting zone along the movement path; thus, the transfer carousel has the function of interacting with the cutting roller to cut the pieces.

In an example embodiment, the web also interacts with the gluing roller in a gluing zone along the movement path; the transfer carousel, therefore, also has the function of interacting with the gluing roller to apply glue to the surfaces of the web.

The transfer carousel receives the web from the feed roller in a loading zone.

The transfer carousel is configured to make the cut (and glued) labels available at the exit, in an unloading zone.

In an example embodiment, the movement path also includes a stretch that is positioned downstream of the cutting zone. In this case, the movement path is a path for moving the web as far as the cutting zone, after which, downstream of the cutting zone, it is a path for moving the pieces of web, that is to say, the labels.

In this case, in an example embodiment, the transfer carousel, along the movement path downstream of the cutting zone, cooperates with a labelling machine (or a central carousel) to transfer the labels onto the containers (in the unloading zone); thus, the transfer carousel also has the function of transferring the cut and glued labels to the containers (which are on the labelling machine and moving along a respective container movement path; for example, the labelling machine may be a rotary machine).

The unloading zone is angularly spaced from the loading zone along a web movement path. The gluing zone and the cutting zone are angularly interposed between the loading zone and the unloading zone with respect to the web movement path. Preferably (but not necessarily) the gluing zone precedes the cutting zone in the feed direction of the web from the loading zone to the unloading zone. It is also possible that the cutting zone precedes the gluing zone in the feed direction; an example of this specific case is provided by the patent document IT102023000014994 by the same Applicant, here incorporated by reference.

In an example embodiment, the transfer carousel includes a plurality of suction protrusion arrangements (suction pads or shoes), angularly distributed along a periphery of the transfer carousel.

Each suction protrusion arrangement may comprise one suction protrusion (that is, a single suction protrusion) or it may comprise a pair of suction protrusions (that is, one gluing suction protrusion and one cutting suction protrusion).

Unless otherwise specified, the following description applies to both the first embodiment, comprising one (single) suction protrusion, and the second embodiment, comprising a pair of suction protrusions (for each suction protrusion arrangement).

Preferably, the plurality of suction protrusion arrangement is located on the transfer carousel. In particular, the plurality of suction protrusion arrangement is configured to move together with the transfer carousel. The transfer carousel can rotate around an axis of rotation, for example at a constant speed. Preferably, the plurality of suction protrusion arrangement is configured to move (around the axis of rotation) at a speed equal to the speed of the transfer carousel.

Each protrusion of the suction protrusion arrangement is provided with a recess (oriented radially, that is to say, a radial recess). The recess divides each suction protrusion into two portions, or expansions, so that each suction protrusion includes a leading expansion and a trailing expansion, the recess being interposed between the leading expansion and the trailing expansion. For each suction protrusion, the leading expansion and the trailing expansion project radially from the periphery of the transfer carousel, away from the axis of rotation of the transfer carousel. For each suction protrusion, the leading expansion precedes the trailing expansion in the rotation direction of the transfer carousel.

Preferably each suction protrusion of the suction protrusion arrangement includes a pair of portions (or expansion) and a recess, the recess being interposed between the expansions, the expansion being provided on a same body. In other words, each suction protrusion comprises a body having a pair of expansions and a recess interposed between the two expansions.

The transfer carousel is configured to keep the web (received from the feed roller in the loading zone) adherent to one or more of the suction protrusion arrangements. In an example, the transfer carousel is also configured to hold the labels with the suction protrusions, while bringing the labels into contact with corresponding bottles.

The rotation of the cutting roller and the rotation of the transfer carousel are synchronized so that the at least one knife of the cutting roller is inserted cyclically into the recesses of the suction protrusion arrangements in order to cut the web. The interaction between the knife of the cutting roller and the recesses of the suction protrusion arrangements of the transfer carousel takes place during a step of cutting. Thus, the web is cut during the step of cutting to separate a piece of it.

Also, the rotation of the gluing roller is synchronized with the rotation of the transfer carousel so that the gluing roller cooperates with the suction protrusion arrangements of the transfer carousel to apply glue on the zones of the web corresponding to the leading end zones and the trailing end zones of the labels. The interaction between the gluing roller and the suction protrusion arrangements of the transfer carousel takes place during a step of gluing. Thus, the glue is applied to the web to make the glue (or adhesive) zones of the web during the step of gluing. There is therefore at least a first embodiment and second embodiment. In the first embodiment, each suction protrusion arrangement of the plurality of suction protrusion arrangements comprises one suction protrusion (that is, a single suction protrusion); in this case, the suction protrusion preferably interacts with the gluing roller and also with the cutting roller, that is to say, the gluing roller and the cutting roller are configured to interact with the same suction protrusion. In a second embodiment, each suction protrusion arrangement of the plurality of suction protrusion arrangements comprises one gluing suction protrusion and one cutting suction protrusion (defining a pair of suction protrusions); the gluing suction protrusion is configured for interacting with the gluing roller during a step of gluing, and the cutting suction protrusion is configured for interacting with the cutting roller during a step of cutting.

In an embodiment, the knife has a first end and a second end, opposite to the first; preferably, the first end of the knife is operatively in contact with the web. The knife has a first side extending between the first end and the second end of the knife, and a second side extending between the first end and the second end of the knife, the second side being opposite to the first side. The cutting edge is preferably located at the first end of the knife. In an example, an angle 0 formed by a plane passing through the rotation axis of the transfer carousel and the rotation axis of the cutting roller and one side (either the first side or the second side) of the knife, evaluated with the knife penetrating into the recess, is between -45° and +45°, preferably between -20° and 20°, more preferably between -15° and 15°. In a preferred example, 0 is comprised between -20° and -15° or 20° and 15°. It is noted that the angle 0 represents the inclination of the knife relative to a plane passing through the rotation axis of the cutting roller and the rotation axis of the transfer carousel.

The apparatus also includes a control unit.

It should be noted that synchronizing may be accomplished by (exclusively) mechanical systems. Synchronizing, however, is preferably accomplished through the control unit, also because the cutting roller, the gluing roller and the transfer carousel each include their own drive motor unit, configured to set them in rotation about the respective axes of rotation. In this case, the control unit is connected to the gluing roller, to the cutting roller and to the transfer carousel (that is, to the motor drive units of the gluing roller, cutting roller and transfer carousel) to synchronize their respective rotations, so that the gluing roller cooperates with the suction protrusion arrangements of the transfer carousel to apply glue at the leading and trailing expansions, and so that the at least one knife of the cutting roller is inserted cyclically into the recesses of the suction protrusion arrangements in order to cut the web.

The fact that cutting, gluing and transfer of the labels to the bottles take place on the same transfer carousel, provided with recesses, make the apparatus particularly compact and reliable. In effect, this configuration reduces the number of components and allows placing them in a reduced space, as well as avoiding the need to make the knives interact with anvils or other contact surfaces.

Preferably, in a working cycle, the gluing roller is configured to apply the glue (that is to say, the gluing roller is configured to cooperate with the suction protrusion arrangements of the transfer carousel to apply the glue) and the cutting roller is configured to cut a label from the web (that is, at least one knife of the cutting roller is inserted into a recess of the suction protrusion arrangements to cut a label from the web). In other words, a working cycle comprises a step of gluing and a step of cutting a label from the web.

In an example embodiment, in the working cycle, the transfer carousel rotates at a constant angular speed. That way, even a peripheral speed of the transfer carousel (that is, the peripheral speed of the zone of the transfer carousel adapted to receive and keep the web adherent to it) is constant.

Further, the angular speed of the transfer carousel is variable (from one working cycle to the next working cycle or in the same working cycle), for example, as a function of a production speed of the apparatus or, more specifically, as a function of an angular speed of a central carousel, configured to receive a plurality of bottles and to interact with the transfer carousel to bring the cut labels into contact with the bottles.

In an example embodiment, the feed roller may be configured to vary its rotation speed, in the same working cycle, between a maximum value and a minimum value (that is, a value that is reduced or less than the maximum value). For example, the control unit may be programmed to vary the rotation speed of the feed roller (preferably in the same working cycle) between the maximum value and the minimum value. In this case, the maximum speed of the feed roller is set to impart to the web a movement speed that is equal to the peripheral speed of the transfer carousel. Thus, when the feed roller rotates at the maximum speed, the movement speed imparted to the web by the feed roller coincides with the peripheral speed of the transfer carousel. On the other hand, when the feed roller rotates at the minimum speed (or in any case at a speed that is reduced, lower or less than the maximum speed), the movement speed imparted to the web by the feed roller is less than the peripheral speed of the transfer carousel; this produces sliding, causing the transfer carousel (which is moving at a higher speed along the movement path) and the web, kept adherent to it (and moving more slowly, also along the movement path), to slide (that is, to slip) relative to each other.

The rotation of the feed roller is synchronized (that is, in phase) with the rotations of the transfer carousel (in other words, the control unit is programmed to coordinate the rotations), of the gluing roller and of the cutting roller, so that the feed roller has its maximum speed during the steps of gluing and cutting; also, the rotation of the feed roller is synchronized (that is, in phase) so that the feed roller has its minimum speed in a decelerated time interval that follows the step of cutting a label (and precedes the step of cutting the next label); preferably, the decelerated time interval is placed temporally between the step of cutting a label and the step of gluing in the next cycle. In addition, or alternatively, the decelerated time interval is placed temporally between the step of gluing a label and the step of cutting the label. In this regard, the speed of the feed roller may adopt a first minimum speed in a first decelerated time interval, placed temporally between the step of gluing and the step of cutting a label, and a second minimum speed in a second decelerated time interval, placed temporally between the step of cutting the label and a step of gluing a label in a subsequent working cycle. In this regard, the decelerated time interval comprises the first decelerated time interval and the second decelerated time interval.

It should be noted that the term "minimum" comprises both the case in which the minimum is relative, and the case in which the minimum is absolute (for example, the first minimum speed may be a relative minimum and the second minimum speed may be an absolute minimum, or vice versa).

Thus, during the decelerated time interval, the feed roller produces sliding between the web, positioned in contact with the periphery of the transfer carousel, and the transfer carousel itself.

The rotation of the feed roller is synchronized (that is, in phase) with the rotations of the transfer carousel (in other words, the control unit is programmed to coordinate the rotations) so that at the end of the decelerated time interval, when the speed of the feed roller is again at its maximum, the web is positioned on the transfer carousel with a portion of the web to be cut located at the recess of one of the suction protrusion arrangements.

It should be noted that, operatively, the suction protrusion arrangements are disposed along the periphery of the transfer carousel so that two consecutive suction protrusion arrangements are spaced by an arc that is greater than the length of the labels (the pieces of web constituting the labels have a predetermined length). Thus, the sliding resulting from the slowing down of the feed roller relative to the transfer carousel has the effect of spacing the piece just cut from the rest of the web (because while the web slows down, the cut piece continues to move as one with the transfer carousel). Moreover, the sliding resulting from the slowing down of the feed roller relative to the transfer carousel has the effect of repositioning the web correctly relative to the next portion of web to be glued and cut so that this portion is aligned with the next suction protrusion arrangement.

It should be noted that the gluing roller is configured to interact with the suction protrusion arrangements to apply the glue on the surfaces of the web at the leading and trailing expansions (without applying any glue on the web portion interposed between the leading end and trailing end zones, that is, in the zone of the web facing the recess of the suction protrusion) so that each piece has a leading end zone and a trailing end zone that are provided with glue (and has no glue on the web portion interposed between the two glue zones, that web portion being the portion that will receive the cut). In other words, at each interaction between the gluing roller and the web coupled to one of the suction protrusions, glue is spread on two zones (that is, on a pair of zones) that are close to each other but separated by a gap along the movement direction of the web, these zones of the pair of zones corresponding to the trailing end portion of one piece and the leading end portion of the next piece; in effect, the cut is made after the step of gluing in the zone of the web interposed between the two glue zones of the pair.

It should be noted that for each suction protrusion, the leading expansion and the trailing expansion are suction expansions; for example, the leading expansion and the trailing expansion are provided with suction ducts connected to a compressor or to a vacuum source.

In an example embodiment, each suction protrusion is configured to produce a sucking action (also) in the recess. This sucking action in the zone where the recess is has the function of tensioning the portion of web positioned at the recess. Tensioning the web in the zone where the web is to be cut has the advantage of improving the quality of the cut in a particularly simple manner. Alternative solutions for obtaining the tensioning effect on the portion of web facing the recess are also imaginable: for example, the two expansions of the suction protrusion may oscillate towards and away from each other along the movement path.

In an example embodiment, when each suction protrusion arrangement of the plurality of suction protrusion arrangements comprises a gluing suction protrusion, to interact with the gluing roller, and a cutting suction protrusion, to interact with the cutting roller, the feed roller is configured to produce a first sliding action between the web and the transfer carousel, in the first decelerated time interval, and a second sliding action between the web and the transfer carousel, in the second decelerated time interval, so that at the end of the second decelerated time interval, the web is positioned on the transfer carousel with the portion of web to be cut located at the recess of a cutting suction protrusion.

This disclosure also provides a labelling method.

The method comprises a step of feeding a web (the web being made from a label material). Preferably, the step of feeding the web is carried out by a feed roller.

The method also comprises a step of cutting the web to divide the web into pieces of web that form the labels. The step of cutting is carried out by a cutting roller on which at least one knife is mounted.

The method also comprises a step of gluing, that is a step of applying glue to surfaces of the web. The step of gluing is carried out preferably by a gluing roller.

The method also comprises a step of moving the web along a movement path.

This movement is carried out by means of a transfer carousel.

The transfer carousel receives the web (from the feed roller) in a loading zone and keeps it adherent as the web moves along a movement path. The step of cutting is carried out during step of moving the web along a movement path. More specifically, the transfer carousel interacts with the cutting roller in a cutting zone. The cutting zone is positioned downstream of the loading zone with respect to the web movement path.

The transfer carousel transports the pieces cut from the web up to an unloading zone; thus, the movement path has a first stretch (upstream of the cutting zone), where the web is uncut, and a second stretch (downstream of the cutting zone), where the labels are.

The step of gluing is carried out during step of moving the web along a movement path. More specifically, the transfer carousel interacts with the gluing roller in a gluing zone. The gluing zone (like the cutting zone) is positioned downstream of the loading zone. The gluing zone and the cutting zone are positioned upstream of the unloading zone. Thus, the gluing zone and the cutting zone are angularly interposed between the loading zone and the unloading zone with respect to the web movement path.

In the unloading zone, the labels are transferred to a labelling machine (or central carousel); for example, the labelling machine includes a labelling carousel and the labels are transferred to the labelling carousel, that is, directly onto the bottle transported by the labelling carousel.

In an example embodiment, the transfer carousel includes a plurality of suction protrusion arrangements, angularly distributed along a periphery of the transfer carousel. In a (first) embodiment, each suction protrusion arrangement may comprise one suction protrusion (that is, a single suction protrusion) or, in a (second) embodiment, it may comprise a pair of suction protrusions (that is, one gluing suction protrusion and one cutting suction protrusion).

It is stressed that the concepts described in this disclosure with regard to the first and second embodiments of the apparatus also apply to the method.

Each suction protrusion of the suction protrusion arrangements may be provided with a corresponding recess.

Preferably, the plurality of suction protrusion arrangement is located on the transfer carousel. In particular, the plurality of suction protrusion arrangement moves together with the transfer carousel. The transfer carousel can rotate around an axis of rotation, for example at a constant speed. Preferably, the plurality of suction protrusion arrangement moves (around the axis of rotation) at a speed equal to the speed of the transfer carousel. Preferably each suction protrusion of the suction protrusion arrangement includes a pair of portions (or expansion) and a recess, the recess being interposed between the expansions, the expansion being provided on a same body. In other words, each suction protrusion comprises a body having a pair of expansions and a recess interposed between the two expansions.

In this case, as the web moves along the movement path, the web (or each piece of web) is kept adherent to one or more suction protrusion arrangements (from the loading zone to the unloading zone).

The method comprises synchronizing the steps of moving (on the transfer carousel) and cutting. Preferably, the method comprises synchronizing the steps of moving, cutting and feeding. More preferably, the method comprises synchronizing the steps of moving, cutting, feeding and gluing.

In this context, the rotation of the cutting roller and the rotation of the transfer carousel are synchronized so that the at least one knife of the cutting roller is inserted cyclically into the recesses of the suction protrusion arrangements in order to cut the web.

The rotations of the gluing roller and of the transfer carousel are synchronized so that the gluing roller applies glue on the surfaces of the web positioned at the suction protrusion arrangements of the transfer carousel.

In an example embodiment, the transfer carousel rotates at a constant angular speed. The peripheral speed of the transfer carousel is also constant. Preferably, in a working cycle, the gluing roller applies the glue and the cutting roller cuts a label from the web. Thus, in a working cycle, the transfer carousel can rotate at a constant angular speed, so that the peripheral speed of the transfer carousel is constant.

The feed roller can vary its rotation speed, for example, in a working cycle, between a maximum value, where the movement speed it imparts to the web is equal to the peripheral speed of the transfer carousel, and a minimum value. Thus, the speed of the feed roller varies periodically according to a predetermined curve, defining a period that corresponds to (that is, depends on) the working cycle of the apparatus. The period (which is a time interval) of the feed roller speed includes a synchronous phase (that is, a synchronous time interval), where the rotation speed has a maximum value, and a decelerated phase (that is a decelerated time interval), where the rotation speed of the feed roller is less than the maximum speed. Thus, the minimum value of the rotation speed of the feed roller is adopted in the decelerated time interval. In the decelerated time interval, the feed roller produces sliding between the web, positioned in contact with the periphery of the transfer carousel, and the transfer carousel itself. At the end of the decelerated time interval (in the synchronous time interval), the web is positioned on the transfer carousel with the portion of web to be cut located at the recess of one of the suction protrusion arrangements and the web resumes moving synchronously with the movement of the transfer carousel.

In an example embodiment, the rotations of the gluing roller, of the cutting roller and of the transfer carousel are synchronized so that the feed roller has the maximum speed during the steps of gluing and cutting. In an example embodiment, the rotations of the gluing roller, of the cutting roller and of the transfer carousel are synchronized so that the decelerated time interval is located temporally between the step of cutting a label and the step of gluing the next label; in this case, preferably, each suction protrusion arrangement comprises one (single) suction protrusion which interacts with both the gluing roller in the step of applying the glue and with the cutting roller in the step of cutting.

In another example, the rotations of the gluing roller, of the cutting roller and of the transfer carousel are synchronized so that the decelerated time interval comprises a first decelerated time interval, placed temporally between the step of gluing and the step of cutting a label, and a second decelerated time interval, placed temporally between the step of cutting the label and a step of gluing a label in a subsequent cycle; in this case, preferably, each suction protrusion arrangement comprises a gluing suction protrusion, to interact with the gluing roller in the step of applying the glue, and a cutting suction protrusion, to interact with the cutting roller in the step of cutting. In the first decelerated time interval, the feed roller produces a first sliding action between the transfer carousel and the web positioned in contact with the periphery of the transfer carousel. At the end of the first decelerated time interval (in the synchronous time interval), the web is positioned on the transfer carousel with the portion of web to be cut located at the recess of one of the suction protrusion arrangements and the web resumes moving synchronously with the movement of the transfer carousel in the step of cutting. In the second decelerated time interval, the feed roller produces a second sliding action between the transfer carousel and the web. At the end of the second decelerated time interval (in the synchronous time interval), the web is positioned on the transfer carousel with the portion of web to be glued located at the recess of one of the suction protrusion arrangements and the web resumes moving synchronously with the movement of the transfer carousel in the step of gluing.

Preferably, in each working cycle, the step of gluing precedes the step of cutting; in any case, the steps of cutting and gluing are carried out during the synchronous time interval (in the context of the period of varying the speed of the feed roller).

In an example embodiment, the method comprises a step of generating a negative pressure in the recess, for example, by air suction in the recess; this causes the portion of web positioned at the recess during the step of cutting to be tensioned.

Brief description of drawings

These and other features will become more apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

- Figures 1 and 2A and 2B show an apparatus 1 according to one or more aspects of this disclosure;

- Figure 3 shows a cutting roller 13 interacting with a transfer carousel 14 according to one or more aspects of this disclosure;

- Figure 4 shows an apparatus 1 according to one or more aspects of this disclosure;

- Figure 5 shows an apparatus 1 according to one or more aspects of this disclosure;

- Figures 6A-6D show an operating sequence of an apparatus 1 according to one or more aspects of this disclosure;

- Figures 7A and 7B show a graph of a rotation speed of a feed roller 11 according to one or more aspects of this disclosure;

- Figure 8 shows an apparatus 1 according to one or more aspects of this disclosure.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention

The numeral 1 in the drawings denotes a labelling apparatus. The apparatus 1 comprises a feed roller 11 , a gluing roller 12, a cutting roller 13 and a transfer carousel 14. The feed roller 11 , gluing roller 12, cutting roller 13 and transfer carousel 14 each rotate about a respective axis of rotation.

The apparatus 1 also comprises a first roll 15A and a second roll 15B, each consisting of a web 2 of label material wound on a reel. The apparatus 1 comprises a film buffer (or rocker arm) 16, configured to receive the unwound web 2 from the first roll 15A or from the second roll 15B. Preferably, the film buffer 16 receives the web 2 unwound from the first roll 15A, while the second roll 15B remains on standby, or vice versa, that is to say, the film buffer 16 receives the web 2 unwound from the second roll 15B, while the first roll 15B remains on standby. The function of the film buffer 16 is to keep the tension of the web 2 constant. The apparatus 1 comprises a web guide 17, configured to receive the tensioned web 2 from the film buffer 16 and to orient and align the web 2 to be fed to the feed roller 11 .

The feed roller 11 receives the web from the web guide 17 and feeds the web 2 to the transfer carousel 14, in a loading zone C.

The gluing roller 12 is configured to interact with the transfer carousel 14 to spread glue on the surfaces of the web 2, in a gluing zone I.

The cutting roller 13 includes a knife 130 configured to interact with the transfer carousel 14 to cut the web 2 so as to divide the web 2 into pieces constituting labels 20, in a cutting zone T.

The transfer carousel 14 thus receives the web 2 from the feed roller 11 in the loading zone C; it then interacts with the gluing roller 12 in the gluing zone I to apply glue to the web 2, and with the cutting roller 13 in the cutting zone T to divide the web 2 into labels 20.

The apparatus 1 comprises a central carousel 18, rotating about an axis of its own, an infeed station 18A for a plurality of bottles 21 to be labelled, and an outfeed station 18B for the plurality of bottles 21 after being labelled. The central carousel 18 is configured to receive the plurality of bottles 21 from the infeed station 18A. The transfer carousel 14 also interacts with the central carousel 18 to bring the cut labels 20 into contact with corresponding bottles 21 , in an unloading zone S. The central carousel 18 is also configured to transfer the plurality of labelled bottles 21 to the outfeed station 18B.

Thus, inside the apparatus, the web 2 moves along a movement path, passing through the loading zone C, the gluing zone I and the cutting zone T, where it is cut into labels 20 which are then applied to the bottles 21 in the unloading zone S.

More specifically, the transfer carousel 14 includes a plurality of suction protrusion arrangements 140. The suction protrusion arrangements 140 are angularly distributed around a periphery of the transfer carousel 14. Each suction protrusion of the suction protrusion arrangements 140 comprises a recess MOR, a leading expansion MOT and a trailing expansion 140C. The recess MOR is interposed between the leading expansion MOT and the trailing expansion 140C and is oriented radially, while the leading expansion MOT and the trailing expansion 140C project radially from the periphery of the transfer carousel 14 away from the axis of rotation of the transfer carousel 14. With respect to the rotation direction of the transfer carousel 14, the leading expansion MOT precedes the trailing expansion 140C. For each suction protrusion 140, the leading expansion MOT and the trailing expansion 140C are provided with suction ducts connected to a compressor or to a vacuum source to produce a sucking action by which the web 2 (and the separate labels 20) is kept adherent to the periphery of the transfer carousel along part of the movement path; more specifically, the suction keeps the web adherent to the suction protrusion arrangements 140. The rotation of the transfer carousel 14, of the gluing roller 12 and of the cutting roller 13 are synchronized so that each suction protrusion arrangement 140 performs three functions; a first function, through the suction ducts, is that of keeping the web 2 adherent to the transfer carousel 14. A second function is that of cooperating with the gluing roller 12 in a step of gluing so that the glue is applied to the zones of the web 2 which are in contact with the leading expansion MOT and the trailing expansion 140C; more specifically, the leading expansion MOT applies glue on a trailing end zone 20B of the label 20 and the trailing expansion 140C applies glue on the leading end zone 20A of the label 20 following it in the feed direction of the web 2 on the transfer carousel. The third function is that of cooperating with the cutting roller 13 in a step of cutting in such a way that the knife 130 of the cutting roller 13 is inserted into the recess MOR of the suction protrusion 140 to divide the web 2 into labels 20. More specifically, the knife 130 separates the trailing end zone 20B of a label 20 from the leading end zone 20A of the label 20 following it by cutting the web 2 in a separating zone 20S between the trailing end zone 20B and the leading end zone 20A of the label 20 following it.

In an embodiment, the cutting roller 13 comprises a knife 130 having a first end and a second end, opposite to the first, wherein the first end of the knife 130 is operatively in contact with the web 2. The knife 130 has a first side extending between the first end and the second end of the knife 130, and a second side extending between the first end and the second end of the knife 130, the second side being opposite to the first side. The cutting edge is located at the first end of the knife 130. In an example, an angle 0 formed by a plane passing through the rotation axis of the transfer carousel 14 and the rotation axis of the cutting roller 13 and one side (either the first side or the second side) of the knife 130, evaluated with the knife 130 penetrating into the recess MOR, is preferably comprised between -20° and -15° or 20° and 15°.

In a first embodiment, each suction protrusion arrangement 140 comprises a single suction protrusion 140 (divided into two expansions, between which there is a recess), configured to interact with both the gluing roller 12 and the cutting roller 13; thus, the suction protrusion 140 performs both the (second) function of gluing and the (third) function of cutting.

In a second embodiment, each suction protrusion arrangement 140 comprises a pair of suction protrusions 140 (each of which is divided into two expansions, with a recess between them), specifically a gluing suction protrusion 140' and a cutting suction protrusion 140". The gluing suction protrusion 140' is configured to interact with the gluing roller 12 in a step of gluing, thus performing the (second) function of gluing. The cutting suction protrusion 140" is configured to interact with the cutting roller 13 in a step of cutting, thus performing the (third) function of cutting.

Unless otherwise specified, this disclosure applies to both the first and the second embodiment.

The apparatus 1 therefore cyclically performs a step of gluing the web 2 and a step of cutting the web 2 into labels 20.

The transfer carousel 14 also comprises a plurality of suction elements 141 , angularly distributed around the periphery of the transfer carousel 14. The suction elements 141 are spaced from each other and from the suction protrusion arrangements 140. The suction elements 141 protrude from the transfer carousel 14 less than the suction protrusion arrangements 140 do. More specifically, in an embodiment, the suction elements 141 protrude from the transfer carousel 14 less than the single suction protrusions 140 do. In another embodiment, the suction elements 141 protrude from the transfer carousel 14 less than the pair of suction protrusions, or than the gluing suction protrusion 140' and/or than the cutting suction protrusion 140". The suction elements 141 are also provided with suction ducts connected to the compressor or to the vacuum source to produce a sucking action which keeps the web 2 (and the separate labels 20) adherent to the suction elements 141 during transportation along the movement path.

More specifically, the suction protrusion arrangements 140 are spaced from each other along the periphery of the transfer carousel 14 covering a circular arc of length L. Each label 20 is characterized by a length I, so that each suction element 141 is spaced from the suction protrusion arrangement 140 following it (in the rotation direction of the transfer carousel 14) by a distance I equal to the length of the label 20. On completing the step of cutting a label 20, therefore, the trailing end zone 20B of the label 20 is held on the transfer carousel 14 by the suction on the leading expansion MOT of a suction protrusion 140 where the cut was made, while the leading end zone 20A of the label 20 is held on the transfer carousel 14 by the suction element 141 preceding the suction protrusion 140 where the cut was made (in the rotation direction of the transfer carousel 14).

The suction elements 141 also have the function of transferring to (placing on) the bottle 21 the leading end zone 20A of the label 20 cut from the web 2.

More specifically, the length I of the label 20 is such that l<L, so that each suction element 141 is spaced from the next suction protrusion arrangement 140 by an arc of length L-I=dl.

During a working cycle, comprising a step of gluing and a step of cutting a label, the transfer carousel 14 rotates at a constant angular speed, so that a peripheral speed Vt of the transfer carousel is constant, while the feed roller varies its speed V_a, in the working cycle, between a value V_a = V_amin and a maximum speed, where the speed of the feed roller adopts a value V_a = V_amax. More specifically, the maximum speed of the feed roller is such that V_amax = Vt, while the minimum speed of the feed roller is such that V_amin < Vt.

Thus, when the speed V_a of the feed roller 11 is equal to V_amax, the feed roller 1 1 imparts to the web 2 a movement speed that is equal to the speed Vt of the transfer carousel 14.

Next, the feed roller 1 1 slows down to V_amin and then accelerates to return to V_amax once again. The time between the instant in which it reaches V_amax, runs at a speed equal to V_amax, decelerates to V_amin and the instant in which it reaches V_amax again is called the cycle period T_c. The time between the instant in which it decelerates to V_amin, runs at V_amin speed, accelerates to V_amax and the instant in which it reaches V_amax is called the decelerated time interval Tdec, in which the rotation speed V_a of the feed roller 1 1 is always less than the rotation speed of the transfer carousel Vt (in other words, it is the time interval in which V_amin<=V_a<V_amax). More specifically, in the decelerated time interval Tdec, the web 2 slides relative to the periphery of the transfer carousel 14. Thus, the step of gluing and the step of cutting are carried out when the speed of the feed roller 1 1 is the maximum speed.

Thus, in the first embodiment in which the suction protrusion arrangement 140 comprises only one (that is, a single) suction protrusion 140, and in the second embodiment in which the suction protrusion arrangement 140 comprises a gluing suction protrusion 140' and a cutting suction protrusion 140", the speed V_a can vary in a first and a second mode, respectively.

In the first mode (as illustrated purely by way of example in Figure 7A), after the step of cutting, in the decelerated time interval Tdec, the feed roller 11 slows down, while the cut label 20 proceeds along the movement path at the speed of the transfer carousel Vt; in the meantime, the uncut web 2 slides so that the web 2 is repositioned in such a way that the separating zone 20S (that is, the zone between the trailing end zone 20B of the next label 20 to be cut, and the leading end zone 20A of the label 20 next after that) is positioned at the recess MOR of a suction protrusion 140 following the suction protrusion 140 where the cut was made. More specifically, the decelerated time interval Tdec is necessary for the web to cover the distance dl.

In the second mode (as illustrated purely by way of example in Figure 7B), after the step of gluing, which is carried out when the gluing suction protrusion 140' meets the gluing roller 12, at a gluing suction protrusion 140', the feed roller 1 1 slows down to a first minimum speed V_amin1 during a first decelerated time interval Tded ; the slowing of the feed roller 11 relative to the transfer carousel 14 produces a first sliding of the web 2 relative to the transfer carousel 14 so that the portion of web where the glue has been applied is positioned at the cutting suction protrusion 140" (specifically, in such a way that the separating zone 20S of the label is positioned at the recess MOR of the cutting suction protrusion 140"). After that, the feed roller 11 returns to V_amax speed, equal to the speed of the transfer carousel 14 during the step of cutting. After the step of cutting, the feed roller 11 again slows down, to a second minimum speed V_amin2 during a second decelerated time interval Tdec2; during this step, the label 20 just cut proceeds with the transfer carousel 14 and the rest of the web 2 slides in such a way as to be repositioned so that the separating zone 20S (that is, the zone between the trailing end zone 20B of the next label 20 to be cut, and the leading end zone 20A of the label 20 next after that) is positioned at the recess MOR of the gluing suction protrusion 140'.

Thus, in an operating sequence of the apparatus 1 , first of all, the feed roller 11 feeds the web 2, in continuous form, to the transfer carousel 14 in the loading zone C. The web 2 is transported by the transfer carousel 14 to the gluing zone I, where the gluing roller 12 applies glue to it at the trailing end zone 20B of a label 20 and at the leading end zone 20A of the label 20 following it; in the step of gluing, in particular, the trailing end zone 20B of the label 20 is in contact with the leading expansion MOT of a suction protrusion 140, and the leading end zone 20A is in contact with the trailing expansion 140C of the suction protrusion 140. After that, the web 2 proceeds with the transfer carousel 14 to the cutting zone, where the cutting roller 13 is synchronized in such a way that the knife 130 is inserted into the recess MOR of the suction protrusion 140, between the leading expansion MOT and the trailing expansion 140C to separate the label 20, specifically, to separate the trailing end zone 20B of the label 20 from the leading end zone 20A of the label following it (and then cutting it in the separating zone 20S). The label 20 separated from the web 2 proceeds with the transfer carousel 14 to the unloading zone S, where it is applied to a bottle 21. More specifically, from the cutting zone to the unloading zone S, the trailing end zone 20B of the label 20 is held on the periphery of the transfer carousel 14 thanks to the suction of the leading expansion MOT, while the leading end zone 20A of the label is held on the periphery of the suction element 141 that precedes the suction protrusion 140 where the cut has just been made.

In the step of gluing and cutting, in particular, the speed V_a of the feed roller is kept constantly at its maximum V_amax. In the first mode, the feed roller 11 , immediately after the step of cutting, slows down to V_amin and the web 2 slides on the periphery of the transfer carousel 14 so that the trailing end zone 20B of the label 20 following the one just cut and the leading end zone 20A of the label 20 next after that are positioned at a suction protrusion 140 following the suction protrusion 140 where the cut has just been made (hence, with the separating zone 20S at the recess OR). Concurrently with repositioning, the speed V_a of the feed roller again reaches the maximum speed V_amax and the next cycle starts. Thus, each cycle comprises a first step F1 comprising the step of gluing and cutting, in which the speed V_a of the feed roller is the maximum speed and equal to the speed Vt of the transfer carousel 14, and a second step F2, comprising a step of repositioning in which the speed of the feed roller passes from V_amax to V_amin and vice versa. More specifically, it is noted that during the decelerated time interval Tdec, the trailing end zone 20B of a label 20 and the leading end zone 20A of the label following the label 20 are positioned on a suction protrusion 140, while the leading end zone 20A of the label 20 is positioned on a suction element 141 .

In the second mode, the feed roller 11 , immediately after the step of gluing, slows down to V_amin1 and the web 2 slides on the periphery of the transfer carousel 14 so that the trailing end zone 20B and the leading end zone 20A of the label 20 to which glue has just been applied are positioned at a cutting suction protrusion 140" following the gluing suction protrusion 140' where the glue has just been applied (hence, is positioned with the separating zone 20S at the recess MOR of the cutting suction protrusion 140"). Concurrently with repositioning, the speed V_a of the feed roller again reaches the maximum speed V_amax to make the cut. After the step of cutting, the feed roller 11 , immediately slows down to V_amin2 and the web 2 slides on the periphery of the transfer carousel 14 so that the trailing end zone 20B of the label 20 following the one just cut and the leading end zone 20A of the label 20 next after that are positioned at a gluing suction protrusion 140' following the cutting suction protrusion 140" where the cut has just been made and the next cycle starts. In the second mode, each cycle comprises a first step F11 comprising the step of gluing, in which the speed V_a of the feed roller is the maximum speed and equal to the speed Vt of the transfer carousel 14, a second step F12, comprising a step of repositioning in which the speed of the feed roller passes from V_amax to V_amin1 and vice versa, and a third step F13 comprising the step of cutting, in which the speed V_a of the feed roller is the maximum speed and equal to the speed Vt of the transfer carousel 14. The cycle then comprises a fourth step F14 comprising a step of repositioning in which the speed of the feed roller passes from V_amax to V_amin2 and vice versa.

Generally speaking, V_amin1 and V_amin2 may be the same or V_amin1 may be greater or less than V_amin2.

In the meantime, the central carousel 18 receives the bottles 21 to be labelled from the infeed station 18A.

The suction element 141 brings the leading end zone 20A of the label 20 into the unloading zone S to apply the label 20 to a bottle 21 positioned on the central carousel 18. Lastly, the labelled bottles 21 are transported to the outfeed station 18B.

Claims

1. A labelling apparatus (1 ), comprising:

- a feed roller (11 ), configured to feed a web (2), the web (2) being made from a label material;

- a gluing roller (12), configured to spread glue on surfaces of the web (2);

- a cutting roller (13), provided with at least one knife (130) configured for cutting the web (2) to divide the web into pieces of web (2) constituting labels (20);

- a transfer carousel (14), including a plurality of suction protrusion arrangements (140), angularly distributed along a periphery of the transfer carousel (14) and provided with corresponding recesses (MOR), the transfer carousel (14) being adapted to receive the web (2) from the feed roller (11 ) in a loading zone (C), to keep the web (2) adherent to one or more of the suction protrusion arrangements (140) and to bring the labels (20) into contact with corresponding bottles (21 ), in an unloading zone (S), angularly spaced from the loading zone (C) along a movement path of the web (2), the transfer carousel (14) being configured for interacting with the gluing roller (12) in a gluing zone (I) and with the cutting roller (13) in a cutting zone (T), the gluing zone (I) and the cutting zone (T) being angularly interposed between the loading zone (C) and the unloading zone (S) with respect to the movement path of the web (2), wherein the rotations of the gluing roller (12), of the cutting roller (13) and of the transfer carousel (14) are synchronized so that the gluing roller (12) acts in conjunction with the suction protrusion arrangements (140) of the transfer carousel (14) to apply glue, and the at least one knife (130) of the cutting roller (13) is inserted cyclically into the recesses (MOR) of the suction protrusion arrangements (140) to cut the web (2).

2. The apparatus (1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein in a working cycle in which the gluing roller (12) is configured to apply the glue and the cutting roller (13) is configured to cut a label (20) from the web (2), the transfer carousel (14) rotates at a constant angular speed so that a peripheral speed (Vt) of the transfer carousel (14) is constant, and wherein the feed roller (1 1 ) is configured to vary its rotation speed (V_a), in the same working cycle, between a maximum value (V_amax) and a minimum value (V_amin), wherein the maximum speed (V_amax) of the feed roller (1 1 ) is set to impart to the web (2) a movement speed that is equal to the peripheral speed (Vt) of the transfer carousel (14).

3. The apparatus (1 ) according to claim 2, wherein the rotations of the gluing roller (12), of the cutting roller (13) and of the transfer carousel (14) are synchronized so that the gluing roller (12) acts in conjunction with the suction protrusion arrangements (140) of the transfer carousel (14) to apply glue during a step of gluing, the at least one knife (130) of the cutting roller (13) is inserted cyclically into the recesses (MOR) of the suction protrusion arrangements (140) to cut the web (2) during a step of cutting, the feed roller (11 ) has its maximum speed (V_amax) during the steps of gluing and cutting and its minimum speed (V_amin) in a decelerated time interval (Tdec), placed temporally between the step of cutting a label (20) and the step of gluing in the next cycle.

4. The labelling apparatus (1 ) according to claim 3, wherein the feed roller (1 1 ) is configured to produce sliding between the web (2), positioned in contact with the periphery of the transfer carousel (14), and the transfer carousel (14) itself, in the decelerated time interval (Tdec), so that at the end of the decelerated time interval (Tdec), the web (2) is positioned on the transfer carousel (14) with the web portion (20) to be cut located at the recess (MOR) of one of the suction protrusion arrangements (140).

5. The apparatus (1 ) according to claim 4, wherein the pieces of web (2) constituting the labels (20) have a predetermined length (I) and wherein the suction protrusion arrangements (140) are disposed along the periphery of the transfer carousel so that two consecutive suction protrusion arrangements (140) are spaced by an arc (L) that is greater than the length (I) of the labels (20).

6. The apparatus (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a control unit, connected to the gluing roller (12), to the cutting roller (13), to the transfer carousel (14) and to the feed roller (11 ) to synchronize their respective rotations.

7. The apparatus (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each suction protrusion (140) includes a leading expansion (MOT) and a trailing expansion (140C), projecting radially from the periphery of the transfer carousel (14) away from the axis of rotation of the transfer carousel (14), the leading expansion (MOT) preceding the trailing expansion (140C) in the rotation direction of the transfer carousel and the recess (MOR) being interposed between the leading expansion (MOT) and the trailing expansion (140C), and wherein the gluing roller (12) is configured to interact with the suction protrusion arrangements (140) to apply the glue on the surfaces of the web (2) at the leading expansion (MOT) and trailing expansion (140C) so that each piece (20) has a leading end zone (20A) and a trailing end zone (20B) that are provided with glue.

8. The apparatus (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each suction protrusion arrangement (140) is configured to produce a sucking action in the recess (MOR) so as to tension the portion of web (2) positioned at the recess (MOR).

9. The apparatus (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the gluing zone (I) is angularly interposed between the loading zone (C) and the cutting zone (T) with respect to the movement path of the web (2).

10. The apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each suction protrusion arrangement (140) of the plurality of suction protrusion arrangements (140) comprises a suction protrusion (140), configured to interact with both the gluing roller (12) and the cutting roller (13).

11. The apparatus (1 ) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein each suction protrusion arrangement (140) of the plurality of suction protrusion arrangements (140) comprises: a gluing suction protrusion (140'), configured to interact with the gluing roller (12) in a step of gluing, and a cutting suction protrusion (140"), configured to interact with the cutting roller (13) in a step of cutting, and wherein the feed roller (11 ) has a maximum speed (V_amax) in the steps of gluing and cutting and a first minimum speed (V_amin1 ) in a first decelerated time interval (Tded), placed temporally between the step of gluing and the step of cutting a label (20), and a second minimum speed (V_amin2) in a second decelerated time interval (Tdec2), placed temporally between the step of cutting the label (20) and a step of gluing a label in a subsequent working cycle.

12. A labelling method, comprising the following steps:

- via a feed roller (11 ), feeding a web (2), the web (2) being made from a label material;

- via a gluing roller (12), applying glue on surfaces of the web (2);

- via a cutting roller (13) provided with at least one knife (130), cutting the web (2) to divide the web into pieces of web (2) constituting labels (20);

- providing a transfer carousel (14), including a plurality of suction protrusion arrangements (140), angularly distributed along a periphery of the transfer carousel (14), each suction protrusion (140) being provided with a corresponding recess (MOR); via the transfer carousel (14),

- receiving the web (2) from the feed roller (11 ) in a loading zone (C);

- keeping the web (2) adherent to one or more of the suction protrusion arrangements (140) and moving the web (2) along a movement path up to an unloading zone (S) angularly spaced from the loading zone (C) along the movement path to bring the labels (20) into contact with corresponding bottles /21 ) in the unloading zone (S), wherein the transfer carousel (14) interacts with the gluing roller (12) in a gluing zone (I) and interacts with the cutting roller (13) in a cutting zone (T), the gluing zone (I) and the cutting zone (T) being angularly interposed between the loading zone (C) and the unloading zone (S) with respect to the movement path of the web (2), wherein the rotations of the gluing roller (12) and of the transfer carousel (14) are synchronized so that the gluing roller (12) applies the glue on the surfaces of the web (2) positioned at the suction protrusion arrangements (140) of the transfer carousel (14), and wherein the rotations of the cutting roller (13) and of the transfer carousel (14) are synchronized so that the at least one knife (130) of the cutting roller (13) is inserted cyclically into the recesses (MOR) of the suction protrusion arrangements (140) to cut the web (2).

13. The labelling method according to claim 12, wherein, in a working cycle in which the gluing roller (12) applies the glue and the cutting roller (13) cuts a label (20) from the web (2), the transfer carousel (14) rotates at a constant angular speed, so that the peripheral speed (Vt) of the transfer carousel (14) is constant, the feed roller (11 ) varies its rotation speed (V_a), in the same working cycle, between a maximum value (V_amax), where it imparts to the web (2) a movement speed that is equal to the peripheral speed (Vt) of the transfer carousel (14), and a minimum value (V_amin), adopted in a decelerated time interval (Tdec) where the feed roller (11 ) produces sliding between the transfer carousel (14) and the web (2), positioned in contact with the periphery of the transfer carousel (14) itself, at the end of the decelerated time interval (Tdec), the web (2) is positioned on the transfer carousel (14) with the portion of web (2) to be cut located at the recess (MOR) of one of the suction protrusion arrangements (140).

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the rotations of the gluing roller (12), of the cutting roller (13) and of the transfer carousel (14) are synchronized so that the feed roller (1 1 ) has its maximum speed (V_amax) during the steps of gluing and cutting, and the decelerated time interval (Tdec) is placed temporally between the step of cutting a label (20) and the step of gluing in the next cycle.

15. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 14, comprising a step of generating a negative pressure in the recess (MOR) to tension the portion of web (2) positioned at the recess (MOR) during the step of cutting.

16. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein, in each working cycle, the step of gluing precedes the step of cutting.

17. The method according to any one of claims from 12 to 16, wherein at least one of the following conditions is true: i) each suction protrusion arrangement (140) of the plurality of suction protrusion arrangements (140) comprises a suction protrusion (140), configured to interact with both the gluing roller (12) in the step of applying the glue, and the cutting roller (13) in the step of cutting; ii) each suction protrusion arrangement (140) of the plurality of suction protrusion arrangements (140) comprises: a gluing suction protrusion (140'), configured to interact with the gluing roller (12) in the step of applying the glue, and a cutting suction protrusion (140"), configured to interact with the cutting roller (13) in the step of cutting, and wherein the feed roller (1 1 ) has a maximum speed (V_amax) in the steps of gluing and cutting and a first minimum speed (V_amin1 ) in a first decelerated time interval (Tded ), placed temporally between the step of gluing and the step of cutting a label (20), and a second minimum speed (V_amin2) in a second decelerated time interval (Tdec2), placed temporally between the step of cutting the label (20) and a step of gluing a label in a subsequent working cycle.