Patent ID: 7018491

Claim:
A method for the application of self-adhesive labels to flat objects transported along a conveying path, by means of a pressure and applicator drum driven under control, the respective label being pushed onto the pressure and applicator drum when the latter is at rest and held on it by means of vacuum, the pressure and applicator drum then being accelerated in such a way that the peripheral speed of the label on the pressure and applicator drum during application for specific transport speed ranges always corresponds to a defined, average transport speed of the flat objects and, following the application of the label, the pressure and applicator drum being braked in such a way that it comes to a standstill again in the initial position after one revolution, the method comprising the steps: off-line, before the application procedures, determining the acceleration times of the acceleration profiles, respectively the same in the specific transport speed ranges, from the starting time of the pressure and applicator drum as far as the peripheral speed, corresponding to the defined, average transport speed of the objects, of the circumferential region accommodating the labels; measuring the times at which the front edge of the respective object passes two sensor devices located one after another in the transport path before the pressure and applicator drum and determining the starting time of the pressure and applicator drum in accordance with the relationship t 5 = t 4 + ( t 4 - t 3 ) * x 6 - x 4 x 4 - x 3 - T Tr where x 3 is the position of the first sensor device in the transport direction, x 4 is the position of the second sensor device in the transport direction, x 6 is the position at which the front edge of the label and object are led together, t 3 is the time: front edge of the object at x 3 , t 4 is the time: front edge of the object at x 4 , t 5 is the starting time of the pressure and applicator drum, T Tr is the acceleration time of the pressure and applicator drum to a peripheral speed, corresponding to the respective average transport speed of the objects, of the circumferential region accommodating the labels.