A robotic labeling system includes a package locating system and a package identification system identifying a package orientation. The robotic labeling system includes a label application system having first and second label printers and first and second label applicators. The label printers are both capable of printing a shipping label and a customer specific label. The first label applicator applies a first label (either the shipping label or the customer specific label) to a first side of the package while the second label applicator applies a second label (other of the shipping label or the customer specific label) to a second side of the package different than the first side. The printing and application of the labels is based on the orientation of the package.

Labelling machine for labelling containers, having at least one docking station for a label-ling apparatus, and a machine control system, wherein the docking station comprises at least one network access for establishing a network connection between the machine control system and a docked labelling apparatus, wherein the network connection is de-signed to transmit security-relevant data and/or time-critical data, and wherein the net-work access is connected to a manageable Ethernet network switch of the machine control system with a DHCP server, wherein the DHCP server is adapted to assign a pre-set IP address determined by the DHCP server to a labelling apparatus connected to the network access.

Labelling machine for labelling containers, having at least one docking station for a label-ling apparatus, and a machine control system, wherein the docking station comprises at least one network access for establishing a network connection between the machine control system and a docked labelling apparatus, wherein the network connection is de-signed to transmit security-relevant data and/or time-critical data, and wherein the net-work access is connected to a manageable Ethernet network switch of the machine control system with a DHCP server, wherein the DHCP server is adapted to assign a pre-set IP address determined by the DHCP server to a labelling apparatus connected to the network access.

A system for printing and applying labels to a flow of objects, including a labelling unit, an object transporting device, an object detection sensor, and a control unit, wherein the labelling unit comprises a label printing unit for printing labels to be applied to the objects, wherein the object transporting device is transporting individual objects in a random flow to the labelling unit in an object transporting direction, wherein the object detection sensor is arranged upstream the labelling unit and is detecting a position of the objects when they are transported past the object detection sensor towards the labelling unit, wherein two directly after each other transported objects arranged on the object transporting device are separated by a separation distance, wherein the separation distance is calculated by the control unit based on position detection by the object detection sensor of reference points between a preceding object and a directly subsequent object being transported on the object transporting device, wherein the label printing unit if the separation distance is equal to or less than a predetermined first trigger distance value is printing labels to be applied to the objects in a continuous printing mode, wherein the label printing unit if the separation distance is greater than the predetermined first trigger distance value, is printing labels to be applied to the objects in an intermittent printing mode.

A system for printing and applying labels to a flow of objects, including a labelling unit, an object transporting device, an object detection sensor, and a control unit, wherein the labelling unit comprises a label printing unit for printing labels to be applied to the objects, wherein the object transporting device is transporting individual objects in a random flow to the labelling unit in an object transporting direction, wherein the object detection sensor is arranged upstream the labelling unit and is detecting a position of the objects when they are transported past the object detection sensor towards the labelling unit, wherein two directly after each other transported objects arranged on the object transporting device are separated by a separation distance, wherein the separation distance is calculated by the control unit based on position detection by the object detection sensor of reference points between a preceding object and a directly subsequent object being transported on the object transporting device, wherein the label printing unit if the separation distance is equal to or less than a predetermined first trigger distance value is printing labels to be applied to the objects in a continuous printing mode, wherein the label printing unit if the separation distance is greater than the predetermined first trigger distance value, is printing labels to be applied to the objects in an intermittent printing mode.

A container labeling machine, including a conveyor of containers to be labeled and at least one labeling unit that comprises an unwinding assembly adapted to pick up from a spool a label ribbon to be applied to the containers, and to feed the label ribbon to a cutting drum which is provided with suction apertures for retaining the label ribbon in adhesion and provided with cutting apparatus for cutting the label ribbon at the separation region between two consecutive labels; the cutting drum supports at least one cutting device provided with a respective air suction chamber, which is open substantially at the lateral surface of the cutting drum and accommodates inside it at least one blade; the suction chamber is connectable to air suction apparatus for drawing the label ribbon against the blade, in order to cut the label ribbon.

A container labeling machine, including a conveyor of containers to be labeled and at least one labeling unit that comprises an unwinding assembly adapted to pick up from a spool a label ribbon to be applied to the containers, and to feed the label ribbon to a cutting drum which is provided with suction apertures for retaining the label ribbon in adhesion and provided with cutting apparatus for cutting the label ribbon at the separation region between two consecutive labels; the cutting drum supports at least one cutting device provided with a respective air suction chamber, which is open substantially at the lateral surface of the cutting drum and accommodates inside it at least one blade; the suction chamber is connectable to air suction apparatus for drawing the label ribbon against the blade, in order to cut the label ribbon.

A label applying system includes a conveyance path for moving an item in a conveyance direction, a printer for printing and dispensing a label, the printer having opposite first and second sides, the printer having a label output at the first side, and a label applicator comprising an elongated label applying arm pivotably moveable between a label load position spaced away from the item and a label apply position in which a free end of the arm is moved into contact with the item. A pivot axis of the elongated label applying arm is located toward the second side of the printer and the elongated label applying arm extends across the printer to position an end of the elongated label applying arm at the label output toward the first side of the printer.

A label applying system includes a conveyance path for moving an item in a conveyance direction, a printer for printing and dispensing a label, the printer having opposite first and second sides, the printer having a label output at the first side, and a label applicator comprising an elongated label applying arm pivotably moveable between a label load position spaced away from the item and a label apply position in which a free end of the arm is moved into contact with the item. A pivot axis of the elongated label applying arm is located toward the second side of the printer and the elongated label applying arm extends across the printer to position an end of the elongated label applying arm at the label output toward the first side of the printer.

The invention relates to a container processing system (10A-10U) for processing containers (12). The container processing system (10A-10U) has a plurality of processing units (22) for processing the containers (12) and a planar drive system (14) for transporting the containers (12). The planar drive system (14) is configured to move the plurality of movement devices (18) individually to a selection of the plurality of processing units (22) according to in each case one of a plurality of processing profiles for different container processing, wherein each of the plurality of processing profiles has a different selection of the plurality of processing units (22). The container processing system (10A-10U) advantageously allows flexible processing of different containers (different formats, contents, designs, bundles, packages, etc.) from a lot size of 1.