DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PRINTING LABELS

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for printing labels according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a method for printing labels according to claim 15.

[0002] Various methods for printing labels, particularly product labels, are known in the prior art. These labels are either self-adhesive labels detachably mounted on a backing strip or linerless labels supplied as a continuous strand and separated by cutting. The labels and / or the backing strip can be made of paper or plastic. These types of labels, which are supplied particularly as rolls or in sheet form, are also part of the invention, which is described in detail below.

[0003] A known device for printing labels (EP 1 280 705 B1), from which the invention is based, has several separate label feeders for providing and feeding labels. Each label feeder has a reel for unwinding a receipt roll, which consists of a backing strip and the labels detachably attached to it; a rewind reel for winding the label-free backing strip; and a stripper head for deflecting the backing strip and thereby detaching the respective label from the backing strip. The label feeders are all assigned to the same transport device, which, according to one embodiment, has a conveyor belt as the transport means. Once activated, each label feeder can feed labels to the transport device, which are then fed to a common printing device.After the labels are printed in the printing device, they are applied to a product, either individually or in multiples, using an application device.

[0004] In the aforementioned prior art, a detection device for recording the position of each label is provided in the transport direction upstream of the printing unit, which, for example, has a thermal printhead, inkjet printhead, or laser printhead. The detection device is arranged in a gap between the conveyor belt and a roller that forms another transport element. Based on the detected label position, the printhead can place the corresponding print on the label and correctly transfer the label to the application device.

[0005] For label detection on a transport system, color recognition sensors are generally used, which generate a stationary, highly focused beam of light. When the light beam strikes a passing label, the light is reflected, and the reflection is detected by the color recognition sensor / luminescence switch. The color recognition sensor thus operates on the principle of a light barrier. When a label is detected by the light beam, a corresponding detection signal is generated by the color recognition sensor, which controls the printhead so that printing can be applied to the intended label.

[0006] A problem with the previously described state of the art, however, is that the label is detected by the scanning device and a corresponding detection signal is generated even if the label is not optimally aligned with the printhead. This often results in suboptimal printing on the label, for example, printing that is slanted to the label edges or has an unwanted transverse or longitudinal offset, and in the worst case, even extends beyond the label edges or a pre-printed area.

[0007] The invention is based on the problem of designing and further developing the known device for printing labels in such a way that the respective label can be printed more precisely.

[0008] The above problem is solved in a device for printing labels according to the preamble of claim 1 by the features of the characterizing part of claim 1.

[0009] Specifically, it is proposed that the detection device include a line or area scan camera with which the side of the transport vehicle facing the labels during intended use, in particular the top side, and / or a gap formed in the transport direction between two transport vehicle sections, can be optically detected within a detection area. The detection area of ​​the detection device or the camera is thus arranged and designed in such a way that the transport vehicle and / or any transverse gap present, and therefore also the labels transported by the transport vehicle, possibly across the gap, are detected within the detection area.

[0010] The fundamental consideration is to use a camera—specifically a line scan or area scan camera—to detect labels on the transport medium, such as a conveyor belt, instead of a color recognition sensor, which only produces a single, stationary point of light. Such a camera has a significantly larger detection range than a color recognition sensor and thus allows, in particular, the detection of a label across its entire width (extent perpendicular to the direction of transport). Specifically, a label can also be detected across its entire length (extent in the direction of transport) with both a line scan and an area scan camera. With a line scan camera, the detection range is defined as a line, i.e., one-dimensional, and therefore has a defined width. With an area scan camera, the detection range is defined as an area, i.e., two-dimensional, and therefore has a defined length and width.

[0011] A line scan or area scan camera is also significantly more accurate than a color recognition sensor. Unlike a color recognition sensor, which only provides information about the mere presence or absence of a label on the transport vehicle, a line scan or area scan camera can capture the entire label contour and also provide information about the position and / or orientation of the respective label on the transport vehicle. Such a camera can also determine the specific label type, which in turn allows for the use of a wider variety of labels, since a camera has a comparatively high contrast and can therefore detect labels on a transport vehicle even if the label has no or only a slight color difference to the surface of the transport vehicle. It is even possible, in principle, to detect transparent labels and / or the label thickness.Even pre-printed labels can be precisely detected. The information generated by a camera allows for particularly precise printing of the respective label in a subsequent printing process. This means the print can be optimally positioned on the label, for example, right up to the edges or corners of the label or any pre-printed area. Reliable label identification is also possible, meaning that the label captured by the camera can be compared to a defined or stored template (the "expected" label). Furthermore, a line scan or area scan camera is less expensive to purchase than a color recognition sensor and also easier to install, simply because a camera is less sensitive to vibrations.

[0012] A line scan camera has the special advantage that, due to its line-shaped and therefore relatively narrow detection area, it can also detect labels through a narrow gap between two transport vehicle sections, especially from below, thus offering more possibilities for camera placement.

[0013] According to the embodiment of claim 2, the line or area camera is arranged vertically above the transport means, i.e., in the direction of gravity above the transport means. In this case, the upper surface of the transport means, on which the labels rest, is specifically oriented towards the camera. However, other orientations or arrangements of the camera relative to the transport means and the transported label are also conceivable, as long as it is ensured that the label can be captured as described. For example, the line or area camera can also be arranged vertically below the transport means. In this case, the camera is specifically directed at or into a gap between two adjacent transport means sections in the direction of transport, a gap through which the labels traverse during their transport.The respective transport element section is, for example, part of a conveyor belt or a conveyor roller; that is, the gap is then arranged between two conveyor belts or between two sections of the same conveyor belt or between two conveyor rollers or between a conveyor roller and a conveyor belt.

[0014] The line or area scan camera according to claim 3 is, in particular, a monochrome or color camera. It is especially preferred that it be a plug-and-play camera, preferably a USB camera (USB: Universal Serial Bus). A scanning device or camera that can be connected to the proposed device by means of "plug and play," i.e., simply by connecting it to a suitable interface, in particular a USB interface, is particularly easy to install. In particular, a separate power supply is not required, since, for example, a USB interface is suitable for both data transmission and power supply.

[0015] In the embodiment according to claim 4, the detection device comprises at least one light source that illuminates the detection area at least partially, and in particular completely. This allows for particularly precise detection of a particular label and, if applicable, any pre-printed information on the label.

[0016] Claims 5 to 7 define preferred embodiments and arrangements of the detection area. This area is located, in particular, in front of the printhead in the transport direction, and may overlap the printing area in the transport direction, be adjacent to the printing area in the transport direction, or be spaced apart from the printing area in the transport direction. The "printing area" refers to the area of ​​the conveyor belt in which the printhead can print. Within this printing area, the label can then be printed and, in particular, adjusted.

[0017] According to the embodiment of claim 8, a reference point and / or a reference line is provided, via which the camera can be calibrated in the transport direction and / or transversely to the transport direction and / or perpendicular to the transport plane (at which the camera can be aligned). This reference point or reference line can be formed by the printhead, in particular by its housing or prominent points or edges thereon, and can lie within or outside the detection range. For electronic calibration, the reference point or reference line is preferably located within the detection range; for mechanical calibration / alignment of the camera, the reference point or reference line can also lie outside the detection range. A "reference point" is a point that defines the zero point of a coordinate system, in particular a Cartesian coordinate system (XY coordinate system or XYZ coordinate system).A "reference line" is formed in particular by a corresponding coordinate axis.

[0018] According to the invention, a control device is provided. Based on a label contour detected by the detection device and / or a pre-printed area or the contour of a pre-printed area, this control device controls the printing process for the label. Additionally, the control device can also be used for slip monitoring, which will be explained further below.

[0019] According to the invention, the printing process is automatically adjusted as soon as a label passes through the detection area that has a different position and orientation than a predefined target value for position and orientation, or that has a different position and orientation than the immediately preceding label. "Position" refers to the position relative to the lateral boundaries of the transport medium or relative to a longitudinal marking on the transport medium, i.e., the position in the transverse direction. This allows for the determination of a transverse offset between a predefined target position and the actual label position (actual position), or a transverse offset between two consecutively transported labels. "Orientation" refers to the alignment of the respective label or the direction of the label's edges with respect to the transport direction.This refers to the direction of travel of the lateral boundaries of the transport vehicle or a longitudinal marking on the transport vehicle, which allows for the determination of an angular offset between a specified target orientation and the actual label orientation (actual orientation), or also an angular offset between two labels transported consecutively. The printing process can be controlled and / or adjusted in such a way that the print extends to the contour (outer edges) of the label or to the pre-printed area.

[0020] According to the further embodiment of claim 12, the printing device has, in particular, a thermal printhead with a thermal strip.

[0021] However, it is also conceivable to use a laser printhead or inkjet printhead.

[0022] The transport device can, in turn, comprise at least one conveyor belt, preferably exactly one or more conveyor belts, and / or at least one unit with one or more transport and / or pressure rollers (claim 13). "Transport rollers" are rollers on which a label can be transported. "Pressure rollers" are rollers that press the label against another transport means, such as a conveyor belt or transport rollers, during its transport. The transport means can also comprise transport means sections directly adjacent to one another in the transport direction, between which the aforementioned gap is formed in the transport direction, wherein the transport means sections can be part of a conveyor belt or a unit of transport rollers.

[0023] According to the particularly preferred embodiment of claim 14, several label feeders are provided, each configured for supplying and feeding labels and assigned to the same transport device, the same detection device, and / or the same printing device. The label feeder(s) used according to the proposal preferably comprise a disentanglement reel, a stripper head, and a rewind reel. The disentanglement reel serves to hold a receipt roll with a label strip, the label strip preferably being a carrier strip with detachably attached labels. However, the label strip can also be a strip of material from which labels are formed by cutting the material strip to length.In the preferred case of a carrier strip with detachably attached labels, these labels are removed at the wiper head by strongly deflecting the carrier strip, whereby the now label-free carrier strip is wound onto the take-up reel. If several such label feeders are provided, different label types can be fed, and a label feeder can also take over the feeding of labels when the label supply of a previously active label feeder is exhausted. Particularly in the case where labels are fed to the same printhead via different label feeders, it is advantageous to detect the labels with exceptional precision.

[0024] According to the further teaching of claim 15, which has independent significance, a method for printing labels, in particular labels provided on a carrier strip, is claimed, wherein the labels are provided via at least one label feeder and fed to a transport device that transports the labels in a transport direction past a detection device to a printing device in which the labels are printed. Essential to the method, which is carried out using a device as defined above, is that the labels are optically detected in a detection area of ​​the detection device by a line or area scan camera of the detection device. The same advantages result as described above in connection with the device.

[0025] The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to a drawing that merely illustrates exemplary embodiments. The drawing shows Fig. 1 a schematic view of a proposed device for printing labels and Fig. 2 detail ii from Fig. 1 a) in an enlarged view and b) in a top view.

[0026] Fig. 1 Figure 1 shows, by way of example and purely schematically, a proposed device for printing labels 1, in particular adhesive labels 1, which are provided here detachably on a carrier strip 2. The device has several separate label feed devices 3, via which the individual labels 1 are provided and fed to a transport device 4.

[0027] Each of the label feeding devices 3 is constructed according to the same principle. Thus, the label feeding devices 3 have an unwind reel 3a, a stripper head 3b, and a rewind reel 3c. The unwind reel 3a serves to hold a receipt roll 5, which in this case comprises a carrier strip 2 with detachably attached labels 1. The carrier strip 2, loaded with the labels 1, is guided by the unwind reel 3a to the stripper head 3b, where the carrier strip 2 is deflected sharply, here by, for example, more than 90°, causing the labels 1 to detach automatically from the carrier strip 2. The carrier strip 2, now free of the labels 1, is then rewound by the rewind reel 3c.

[0028] The individual components of the label feeder 3, in particular the unwind reel 3a, the stripper head 3b and the rewind reel 3c, are arranged here in a cassette 6, which can be removed from the device as a whole or is replaceable.

[0029] How Fig. 1 As shown, the label feeder 3 and / or the unwind reel 3a, the stripper head 3b, and / or the rewind reel 3c are connected via an associated control line 7 to a control unit 8 of the device, which will be explained in more detail below. This allows each individual label feeder 3 to be activated or deactivated as needed. "Activating" means that the label feeder 3 is positioned and / or controlled in such a way that individual labels 1 can be fed to the transport unit 4. It is conceivable that the other label feeders 3 are deactivated in this process, i.e., they do not feed any labels 1 themselves. However, it is also conceivable that other label feeders are also activated and feed labels 1 simultaneously.

[0030] The transport device 4 comprises at least one transport element 9, 10, with which the labels 1 supplied by the respective label feeder 3 are transported in one direction. One of the transport elements is a conveyor belt 9, which interacts with another transport element in the form of a unit consisting of several pressure rollers 10. The conveyor belt 9 has a drive that is also coupled to the control unit 8. The unit of pressure rollers 10 serves to press the labels 1 onto the surface of the conveyor belt 9 during transport so that they remain optimally positioned and aligned on the conveyor belt 9. The conveyor belt 9 has two transport element sections 17, 18, one of which is curved and one of which is straight.A gap 19 is formed between these, over which the respective label 1 is conveyed from the curved to the straight transport section.

[0031] The transport device 4 transports the individual labels 1, in particular continuously, in the transport direction to a printing device 11 with a printhead 11a, which is configured to print on the labels 1 transported by the transport device 4. The printing device 11 is also connected to the control unit 8 via its own control line 7. In the embodiment described here, the printhead 11a is a thermal printhead with a thermal strip. This allows a thermosensitive medium to be colored, in particular blackened, by applying heat at a specific point. The corresponding printing process, known as thermal printing, can be direct thermal printing, thermal transfer printing, or dye-sublimation printing. However, the proposed solution also encompasses other printing processes, such as laser printing or inkjet printing.Accordingly, a laser printhead or inkjet printhead can also be used.

[0032] Individual labels can now be fed to the printing device 11 from each of the label feeders 3 via the transport device 4, whereby the labels 1 are guided past a detection device 12 in a section of the transport device 4 before reaching the printing device 11. This device detects the position and orientation of each label 1. The label feeders 3, which can be activated independently of one another and can also provide different labels, are thus, in the embodiment described here, assigned to the same transport device 4, the same printing device 11, and the same detection device 12.

[0033] It is essential that the detection device 12 has a line or area camera 13 with which the side facing the transported labels 1, here the top, of the conveyor belt 9 can be optically detected in a detection area 14. Accordingly, when a label 1 passes through the detection area 14, the respective label 1 is also detected. This is described in detail in the Fig. 2a und b depicted.

[0034] The detection device 12 is also connected to the control unit 8 via its own control line 7. In this way, data generated by the detection device 12 concerning the width, length, position, and / or orientation of each label 1 passing through the detection area 14 can be processed by the control unit 8. The control unit uses this data to control the printhead 11a so that printing can be optimally and precisely placed on the respective label 1. Thus, the geometry of even complex labels 1 can be recognized with a line or area scan camera 13, and the associated printing process can be adjusted accordingly. Since the detection area 14 can be chosen to be at least wide enough to completely detect a label 1 in the transverse direction (perpendicular to the transport direction) and preferably also in the longitudinal direction (i.e., in the transport direction), the position and / or orientation of the label 1 can also be determined.The lateral offset of a label and / or the orientation or angular offset of the label 1 can be detected, and a printing process assigned to the respective label 1 can be controlled or adjusted accordingly. A further advantage of the comparatively large detection range 14 is that a detection device 12 or a corresponding camera 13 can be aligned particularly easily with the respective means of transport, in this case the individual conveyor belt 9. This is considerably more difficult with the prior art, which uses a color recognition sensor.

[0035] Since the label 1 can be fully captured, which is also possible with a line scan camera 13 if the individual captured lines are combined to form a two-dimensional image, the respective label 1 can, if necessary, even be printed up to its edges, i.e., its outer contour, and especially to its corners. Even if the label 1, which is fed to the capture area 14 and subsequently to the printing unit 11, already has a pre-printed design, the pre-print or its contour can be captured to ensure particularly precise placement of the print relative to the pre-print.

[0036] With the proposed device, and in particular the provided detection unit 12, the printing process can also be adapted from one label to the next. In other words, it is possible to adjust the printing process within the period from the detection of the contour of label 1 until the start of the printing process assigned to label 1. If a subsequent label 1 with a different position or orientation then reaches the detection area 14, the printing process assigned to this label 1 can be immediately adjusted for this subsequent label 1. Furthermore, it can be automatically checked before printing whether the correct label format for the respective product ID is being fed in or inserted into the corresponding cassette 6.

[0037] By coupling the control unit 8 with the drive of the conveyor belt 9 on the one hand and with the detection unit 12 on the other, slip monitoring can also be implemented, in particular by the detection unit 12 detecting markings provided on the respective transport element 9, which the control unit 8 can use to determine the actual speed of the transport element 9 and then compare with the detected actual rotational speed of the drive of the conveyor belt 9. A difference between the determined actual speed of the transport element 9 and the detected actual rotational speed of the drive of the conveyor belt 9 then indicates slippage and can be displayed to an operator and / or automatically corrected.

[0038] The following will be based on the Fig. 2a und b Further details of the detection device 12 of the proposed device for printing labels 1 are described.

[0039] In the exemplary embodiment, the line or area scan camera 13 is a color camera. However, the use of a monochrome camera is also conceivable. The entire scanning device 12, and thus also the camera 13, is connected to the rest of the device and, in particular, to the control unit 8 via a plug-and-play interface, specifically a USB interface. This interface allows both data transmission and power supply to the camera 13. It also enables the power supply of separate light sources 15 of the scanning device 12, which illuminate the scanning area 14 at least partially, and in particular completely. In the case shown here, the entire assembly consisting of the camera 13 and the light sources 15 is connected to the device or the control unit 8 via the plug-and-play interface or USB interface as described.

[0040] How Fig. 2a As illustrated, the detection device 12, or the line or area camera 13, is arranged vertically above the transport means 9, or at least vertically above the detection area 14. The detection device 12, in particular the line or area camera 13 and / or the light source 15, is / are oriented perpendicularly to the surface of the transport means 9 within the detection area 14. However, it is also conceivable to orient the detection device 12, or the camera 13 and / or the light source 15, obliquely to the surface. A detection device 12, i.e., a line camera 13, could also be arranged below the transport means 9 and / or directed at or into a gap 19 between two transport means sections 17, 18, in order to detect the labels, particularly from below, as they cross the gap 19. It is only necessary to ensure that the detection area 14 is aligned with the transport means 9 in such a way as to...The conveyor belt 9 is aligned such that a fed label 1 can be captured at least largely, and in particular completely, transversely to the transport direction and preferably also in the transport direction. Preferably, this is... Fig. 2b To illustrate, the detection area 14 is even designed in such a way that a label 1 can be arranged completely, that is, also over its entire length, in the detection area 14.

[0041] In the embodiment described here, the detection area 14 has a length (extension in the transport direction) of at least 100 mm, preferably at least 150 mm, and particularly preferably at least 200 mm, and in particular has a length that corresponds to at least one label length. Furthermore, the detection area here has a width (extension transverse to the transport direction) of at least 50 mm, preferably at least 100 mm, and particularly preferably at least 150 mm, and in particular has a width that corresponds to at least one label width. In the Fig. 2b In the illustrated example, the detection area 14 even extends laterally, i.e., in the transverse direction, beyond the transport means or conveyor belt 9. In principle, the detection area 14 detects at least one of the lateral edges 9a, 9b, preferably both lateral edges 9a, 9b, of the transport means or conveyor belt 9. For the purposes of the invention, "lateral edges" refers to the edges that bound the transport means 9, 10 in the transverse direction.

[0042] The detection area 14, which is arranged in the transport direction in front of the printhead 11a, is spaced apart in the transport direction from the printing area 16, in which printing can generally take place and which is defined here by the thermal printhead. Preferably, the distance is less than the length of a label. In particular, the distance is a maximum of 100 mm, preferably a maximum of 50 mm, and most preferably a maximum of 20 mm. However, it is also conceivable that the detection area 14 adjoins the printing area 16 in the transport direction or even overlaps the printing area 16 in the transport direction.

[0043] As in Fig. 2bAs also shown schematically, the line or area camera 13 is calibrated or calibratable in the transport direction and / or transverse to the transport direction and / or perpendicular to the transport plane or transport medium surface with respect to a reference point P and / or a reference line L. Here, the reference point P is a point and the reference line L is a line on the print head 11a, with reference point P and reference line L each being located outside the detection area 14.

[0044] Finally, the present invention also relates to a method for printing labels 1, in particular labels 1 provided on a carrier strip 2, which method can be carried out using the device described above.

[0045] In the proposed procedure, the labels 1 are each provided via at least one label feeder 3 and fed to the transport unit 4. The labels 1 are then transported by the transport unit 4, as previously described in detail, past the detection unit 12 to the printing unit 11, where the labels 1 are printed. Specifically, the printed labels 1 are subsequently applied to a product. The proposed procedure provides that the labels 1 are optically detected in a detection area 14 by the line or area scan camera 13 of the detection unit 12.

Claims

1. Apparatus for printing labels (1), in particular labels (1) provided on a liner (2), - having at least one label feed device (3) for providing and feeding labels (1), - having a transport device (4) comprising at least one transport means (9, 10) for transporting the labels (1), which have been fed by the label feed device (3), in a transport direction, - having a printing device (11) comprising a printing head (11a) for printing the labels (1) transported by the transport device (4), and - having a capturing device (12) for capturing the position and orientation of the respective label (1) in a section of the transport device (4), characterized in that the capturing device (12) has a line-scan or area-scan camera (13) with which the side of the transport means (9, 10) that faces the labels (1) during correct use and / or a gap (19) formed between two transport means sections (17, 18) in the transport direction is optically capturable in a capturing region (14), in that a control device (8) is provided, in that the control device (8) controls, based on a contour of a label (1) captured by the capturing device (12) and / or based on a pre-print or a contour of a pre-print on a label (1) captured by the capturing device (12), an assigned printing process of the printing head (11a), and in that the control device (8) automatically adapts the printing process as soon as a label (1) that has a different position and orientation than a specified target value for the position and orientation or that has a different position and orientation than the immediately preceding label (1) passes through the capturing region (14).

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that the line-scan or area-scan camera (13) is arranged vertically above or below the transport means (9, 10).

3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the line-scan or area-scan camera (13) is a monochrome or colour camera and / or in that the line-scan or area-scan camera (13) and / or the capturing device (12) is connectable to the rest of the apparatus by means of a plug-and-play interface, preferably a USB interface.

4. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the capturing device (12) has at least one light-emitting means (15) that illuminates the capturing region (14) at least in a section-wise manner, in particular completely.

5. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the capturing region (14) is arranged upstream of the printing head (11a) in the transport direction, preferably in that the capturing region (14) overlaps the printing region (16) in the transport direction or adjoins the printing region (16) in the transport direction or is located at a distance from the printing region (16) in the transport direction, in particular by at most 100 mm, preferably at most 50 mm and with particular preference at most 20 mm.

6. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the capturing region (14) has a length of at least 100 mm, preferably at least 150 mm and with particular preference at least 200 mm, and / or in that the capturing region (14) has a width of at least 50 mm, preferably at least 100 mm and with particular preference at least 150 mm.

7. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the capturing region (14) also captures one of the lateral peripheries (9a, 9b) or both lateral peripheries (9a, 9b) of the one or more transport means (9, 10).

8. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the line-scan or area-scan camera (13) is calibrated or able to be calibrated with respect to a reference point (P) and / or a reference line (L) in the transport direction and / or transversely to the transport direction and / or perpendicularly to the transport plane, preferably in that the reference point (P) is a point, or the reference line (L) is a line, at the printing head (11a) and / or is located inside or outside the capturing region (14).

9. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control device (8) monitors and / or indicates and / or adjusts slip of the transport means (9) on the basis of marks on the transport means (9) captured by the capturing device (12).

10. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control device (8) automatically adapts the printing process as soon as a label (1) that has a different width and / or length than a specified target value for the width and / or length or that has a different width and / or length than the immediately preceding label (1) passes through the capturing region (14), preferably in that the adaptation of the printing process takes place within the time period from capturing the contour to the start of the assigned printing process.

11. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the printing process is able to be controlled and / or adapted such that the print reaches all the way to the contour.

12. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the printing device (11) has a thermal head with a thermal strip, a laser printing head or an ink jet printing head as the printing head (11a).

13. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transport device (4) has, as the transport means (9, 10), at least one transport belt (9) and / or at least one unit having one or more transport rollers and / or pressure rollers (10).

14. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a plurality of label feed devices (3) are provided that are configured in each case for providing and feeding labels (1) and that are assigned to the same transport device (4), the same capturing device (12) and / or the same printing device (11), preferably in that the label feed devices (3) are able to be activated independently of one another and / or provide different labels (1).

15. Method for printing labels (1), in particular labels (1) provided on a liner (2), using an apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the labels (1) are provided via the at least one label feed device (3) and fed to the transport device (4) that transports the labels (1) in the transport direction past the capturing device (12) to the printing device (11), in which the labels (1) are printed, wherein the labels (1) are optically captured in the capturing region (14) by the line-scan or area-scan camera (13) of the capturing device (12).