Labelling apparatus for transferring a label image and an adhesive layer onto containers

Abstract

The present invention relates to a labelling apparatus (10, 20) for labelling containers (18) by applying a label image (E) and an adhesive layer (K) to the containers (18), wherein the labelling apparatus comprises: a transport device (T) with a movable carrier belt for transporting labels (12), each comprising a label image (E) and an adhesive layer (K); a positioning device (13) for positioning the labels (12) transported by the transport device (T) to the positioning device (13); a pallet carousel (15) with a plurality of vacuum pallets (14) or electroadhesion pallets (14) for receiving the labels (12) at the positioning device (13); and a control device (S) which is designed to control the transport device (T) and the pallet carousel (15) in such a way that when the labels (12) are received at the positioning device (13) by the vacuum pallets (14) or electroadhesion pallets (14), the relative speed between the labels (12) and the receiving vacuum pallets (14) or electroadhesion pallets (14) is essentially zero.

Description

[0001] Labeling device for transferring label image and adhesive layer to containers

[0002] Field of the invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a labeling device for labeling containers by transferring label images and adhesive layers to the containers using vacuum pallets.

[0004] State of the art

[0005] In beverage bottling plants, containers such as bottles, cans, etc., are treated in several consecutive process steps. These process steps are generally carried out in separate treatment stations, which can be combined, for example, as modules of a common plant concept. A container treatment plant for glass bottles or plastic bottles, e.g., made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PEP), etc., can include, for example, a blow molding device, filling device, carbonation device, capping device, labeling device, packaging device, cleaning device, pasteurization device, inspection device, etc., as separate, modular treatment stations.

[0006] The individual treatment stations, which carry out successive process steps, are generally connected in series, with one or more transport devices transporting the containers from the treatment stations to the respective downstream treatment stations.

[0007] In a labeling device, labels are continuously applied at high speed to continuously fed articles, containers, or sets of containers. The containers can be glass bottles, plastic bottles, especially PET bottles, cans or can-like containers, or the like, filled with liquid or solid food products, medical or cosmetic products, hygiene products, or the like.

[0008] Typical conventional labeling devices comprise at least one pallet or glue segment carrier, also referred to as a pallet carousel, which can be driven to rotate around a vertical assembly axis and on which a plurality of label pallets or glue segments are provided, each forming at least one label receiving or support surface. For example, labels are transferred from a gripper cylinder, which holds the cut and glued labels with grippers, to a rotating container. During the container's rotation, the label is transferred from the gripper cylinder to the container, first being attached to the container with the front adhesive side, and then the label is completely wrapped around the container with the rear adhesive side.

[0009] Recently, labels have been developed that do not require a (top) material layer (label film / facestock) to which the label image (print / color) is applied in conventional labels, thus achieving a significant sustainability advantage. However, the error-free application of such labels presents a major challenge. Compared to conventional labels with the additional (top) material layer (label film / facestock), these innovative labels are less rigid, which results in poorer dispensing behavior from a label carrier tape and an increased risk of cracking and wrinkling in the label, particularly when detaching it from the carrier tape. In addition, the application of the innovative labels to the containers is subject to increased static charge, which can lead to the labels folding in and sticking together.

[0010] The object of the present invention is to provide a labeling device which enables efficient and reliably error-free application of labels without the aforementioned additional material layer.

[0011] Description of the invention

[0012] The above-mentioned object is achieved by providing a labeling device for labeling containers by applying a label image and an adhesive layer to the containers according to patent claim 1. The provided labeling device comprises a transport device with a movable carrier belt for transporting labels, each comprising a label image (or a label image layer) and an adhesive layer (for adhering to a container). In particular, these labels can each consist of the label image and the adhesive layer, or of the label image and the adhesive layer and an additional protective layer formed on the label image for protecting the same. The label image can be a printed image that has been applied, for example, printed, directly to the adhesive layer.The labeling device further comprises a positioning device for positioning the labels transported from the transport device to the positioning device, a pallet carousel with a plurality of vacuum pallets for receiving the labels at the positioning device, and a control device designed to control the transport device and the pallet carousel such that, when the labels are received at the positioning device by the vacuum pallets, the relative speed (particularly in the transport direction of the labels) between the labels and the receiving vacuum pallets is essentially zero. Control is achieved by appropriately adjusting the movement or speed of the carrier belt and the rotation speed of the pallet carousel.The labels are transported in series from the transport device to the positioning device and are then picked up individually by a single vacuum pallet.

[0013] The containers to be labelled may, for example, be plastic bottles (such as PET bottles) or glass bottles or, more generally, containers made of plastic or glass, or the containers to be labelled may be containers made of at least one natural organic material (such as paper) or comprise at least one natural organic material (such as paper).

[0014] Because, according to the invention, when the labels are taken over at the positioning device by the vacuum pallets, the relative speed (in particular in the transport direction of the labels) between the labels and the receiving vacuum pallets is essentially zero (namely within the scope of what is technically possible), a gentle detachment of the labels from the carrier tape and takeover of the labels is made possible, whereby the risk of tearing or wrinkling of the labels is minimized.

[0015] Alternatively, in the labeling device described above and in the further developments thereof described below, the vacuum pallets of the pallet carousel can be replaced by electro-adhesion pallets. Instead of using an applied negative pressure, in this case the labels are held to the pallets by electro-adhesion. The electro-adhesion is achieved by an applied electric current, which can be provided, for example, via a slip ring transmitter on the pallet carousel. A corresponding power cable can then lead to each individual electro-adhesion pallet. Unlike with vacuum pallets, the contact surface of electro-adhesion pallets can be completely smooth. Even fine structures of the label print can thus be taken over by the electro-adhesion pallets without the need for a (transparent) fill color, such as for areas of the labels that adhere via suction openings of vacuum pallets.Less printing material / ink may be required than with vacuum pallets. Compared to vacuum pallets, electro-adhesion pallets with consistently smooth contact surfaces may also result in better transfer of labels to containers. Label damage may also be better avoided with electro-adhesion, as the delicate label print rests flatly on the electro-adhesion pallet and is not sucked into the suction openings of a vacuum pallet.

[0016] The positioning device can be designed to be elastic so that it can deform when the vacuum pallets pick up the labels at the positioning device. The vacuum pallets can also be designed to be elastic so that they can deform when the labels are picked up at the positioning device. This elastic design of the positioning device and / or vacuum pallets allows the aforementioned relative speed to be reduced to zero even more reliably, and the vacuum pallets can pick up the labels at the positioning device even more gently and with less resistance.

[0017] According to a further development, the vacuum pallets are pivotally mounted on the pallet carousel in such a way that they can move during the transfer of the labels in such a way that the relative speed between the labels and the receiving vacuum pallets is essentially zero. Such a mounting allows a slight rocking motion (oscillation) of the vacuum pallets, which can further minimize any remaining relative speed between the labels and the receiving vacuum pallets during the transfer of the labels.

[0018] The labeling device can further comprise a container transport device, in particular a rotary transport device, designed to transport the containers. In this case, the pallet carousel can be designed and arranged such that the labels received from the vacuum pallets at the positioning device are applied to the containers by the vacuum pallets. For example, the labels can be received from the vacuum pallets at the label image or a protective layer of the labels that protects the label image and applied to the containers at the adhesive layer of the labels.In particular, the control device can be configured to control the container transport device and the pallet carousel such that the relative speed between the labels and the containers to be labeled is essentially zero during the application of the labels to the containers, thereby minimizing the risk of tearing or wrinkling of the labels during the labeling process. Control is achieved by controlling the movement or speed of the container transport device and the rotation speed of the pallet carousel.

[0019] According to a further development, the labeling device further comprises a container transport device, in particular a rotary transport device, which is designed to transport the containers, and a gripper device which is designed to take over the labels taken from the vacuum pallets at the positioning device using gripping elements and apply them to the containers. For example, the labels can be taken from the vacuum pallets at the adhesive layer of the labels and transferred to the gripping elements at the label image or a protective layer of the labels that protects the label image. The gripping elements then apply the labels to the containers at the adhesive layer.In particular, the control device can be configured to control the container transport device and the gripper device such that the relative speed between the gripping elements and the containers to be labeled is essentially zero during the application of the labels to the containers, thereby minimizing the risk of tearing or wrinkling of the labels during the labeling process. Control is achieved by controlling the movement or speed of the container transport device and the movement of the gripper device.

[0020] The above-mentioned object is also achieved by providing a method for labeling containers (for example plastic bottles, such as PET bottles, or glass bottles or, more generally, containers made of plastic or glass or of at least one natural organic material, for example paper, or comprising at least one natural organic material, for example paper) by applying a label image and an adhesive layer to the containers with the advantages described above, wherein the method comprises transporting labels, each comprising a label image and an adhesive layer, on a carrier belt to a positioning device and receiving the labels at the positioning device using vacuum pallets attached to a pallet carousel such that, during the transfer, the relative speed between the labels and the receiving vacuum pallets is substantially zero.The method further comprises either applying the labels received from the vacuum pallets to the containers by the vacuum pallets, or transferring the labels received from the vacuum pallets to gripping elements of a gripper device and applying the labels to the containers by the gripping elements. In this case, the labels can either be applied to the containers by the vacuum pallets in such a way that the relative speed between the labels and the containers to be labeled is essentially zero during the application of the labels to the containers, or the labels can be applied to the containers by the gripping elements in such a way that the relative speed between the labels and the containers to be labeled is essentially zero during the application of the labels to the containers, thereby minimizing the risk of tearing or wrinkling of the labels during the labeling process.

[0021] The labels used in the labeling method can each consist of a label image (or a label image layer) and an adhesive layer, or a label image (or a label image layer), an adhesive layer, and a protective layer applied to the label image. During transport on the carrier tape, the label image can be closer to the carrier tape than the adhesive layer, or the adhesive layer can be closer to the carrier tape than the label image. In particular, each of these labels can have a total thickness of less than 60 micrometers, for example less than 30 or 20 micrometers. Thus, the method according to the invention allows the use of extremely thin labels for reliably and error-free labeling of containers.

[0022] The method can be carried out in particular by one of the above-described examples of the labeling device according to the invention.

[0023] In the process described above and its further developments, the vacuum pallets of the pallet carousel can also be replaced by electro-adhesion pallets.

[0024] The described examples of the labeling device according to the invention can be provided as part of a machine block together with other components such as, for example, a stretch blow molding machine for producing containers and / or a filling machine for filling the containers and / or a closing machine for closing the filled containers. It is understood that at least the filling, closing, and labeling machines comprised in a machine block are mounted on a common machine frame and / or that their machine frames can be mechanically connected to one another in a fixed manner for production operation, for example by screwing, clamping, or the like. The machine frames can be composed of several modules, assembly platforms, or the like for individual machines, treatment units, and / or transfer starwheels of the machine block that can be permanently connected to one another.Container transfer between the individual machines of the machine block is possible in a space-saving and precise manner using transfer stars, such as inlet stars and outlet stars, conveyor screws or the like.

[0025] Further features and exemplary embodiments, as well as advantages of the present invention, are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. It is understood that the embodiments do not exhaust the scope of the present invention. It is further understood that some or all of the features described below may also be combined in other ways as deemed appropriate.

[0026] Figure 1 illustrates a labeling device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 2 illustrates a labeling device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Figures 3a and 3b illustrate labels on a carrier tape that can be used in embodiments of the labeling device for labeling containers.

[0029] The present invention provides a labeling device for labeling containers by applying a label image and an adhesive layer to the containers. This device enables more reliable, error-free (in particular, tear- and wrinkle-free) labeling with labels that do not have a face material layer than the prior art. The label image can be a printed image printed directly onto the adhesive layer. The labels to be applied can be wrap-around labels or front and back labels. In addition, front and body labels for bottles can be used. The labeling device can be designed, for example, for an output of several thousand or even tens of thousands of applied labels per hour.The containers may, for example, be bottles or cans, for example plastic bottles or glass bottles or more generally containers made of plastic or glass, or the containers may be containers made of at least one natural organic material (for example paper) or comprising at least one natural organic material (for example paper).

[0030] Figure 1 illustrates a labeling device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The labeling device 10 comprises a transport device T with a carrier belt movable by a motor. The carrier belt with labels 12 thereon is transported from a label roll 11 via a positioning device 13. The positioning device 13 can be designed as an elastic support ("sponge board"). At the positioning device 13, the labels 12 are gradually transferred to individual vacuum pallets 14 of a pallet carousel 15. The carrier belt of the transport device T, freed of labels, continues to a carrier belt holder 16 and can be reloaded with labels 12.

[0031] The pallet carousel 15 is mounted on a support plate for rotation about a rotation axis. A (servo) motor can serve as the central drive for driving the pallet carousel 15. The rotary-driven vacuum pallets 14 can each be pivoted and / or rotated about their own pivot axis, radially offset from the rotation axis of the pallet carousel 15. By controlled pivoting / oscillating or rotating the vacuum pallets 14, their respective curved support surface is brought into contact with the label 12 to be picked up. The size of the vacuum pallets 14 will be adapted to the size of the labels 12 used.

[0032] The vacuum pallets 14 may comprise or be made of an aluminum and / or plastic material. The vacuum pallets 14 may, in particular, be manufactured using an additive or generative manufacturing process or 3D printing process.

[0033] The vacuum pallets 14 can have outwardly curved support surfaces for supporting the labels 12, with a plurality of suction openings or suction cups for holding the labels 12. The labels 12 can be held by a vacuum generated by a vacuum supply unit (for example, comprising a vacuum pump, a side-channel blower, a Venturi nozzle, or a Coanda nozzle) of the labeling device 10 during their movement on the pallet carousel 15 after the labels 12 have been received at the positioning device 13 until they are transferred to the containers to be labeled or to another gripper device (see below). The vacuum generated by the vacuum supply unit can be applied to the vacuum pallets 14 via corresponding vacuum lines.These vacuum lines can be led from above or below the vacuum pallets 14 to the vacuum pallets 14, or they can be led through a disc-shaped body of the pallet carousel 15 and bearings of the vacuum pallets 14.

[0034] Here and in the further detailed description of embodiments of the invention, the vacuum pallets 14 of the pallet carousel 15 can alternatively be replaced by electro-adhesion pallets 14. In this case, of course, no vacuum supply unit is necessary; instead, the electro-adhesion pallets 14 must be powered by electrical power, which is supplied to the individual electro-adhesion pallets 14, for example, via a slip ring transmitter on the pallet carousel 15 and power cables leading to the individual electro-adhesion pallets 14. In the further description, the term "vacuum pallets 14" can therefore also be replaced by the term "electro-adhesion pallets 14" according to alternative embodiments.

[0035] The vacuum pallets 14 can be moved, for example, via roller levers with rollers (cam rollers), with each vacuum pallet 14 being assigned a roller lever and the rollers running in a control cam. The roller levers can be connected to pallet shafts for driving the vacuum pallets 14 via the central drive of the pallet carousel. The control cam is designed, for example, as a (guide) cam groove or (guide) cam rail above or below the pallet carousel 15 in or on a corresponding fixed control cam plate.

[0036] The labeling device 10 further comprises a control device S for controlling the individual components of the labeling device 10. According to the invention, the control device S of the labeling device 10 is designed such that it controls the transport device T and the pallet carousel 15, or rather the rotational movement thereof, such that when the labels 12 are received at the positioning device 13 by the vacuum pallets 14, the relative speed between the labels 12 and the receiving vacuum pallets 14 is essentially zero. Control is achieved by controlling the movement or speed of the carrier belt and the rotation of the pallet carousel 15.Furthermore, an elastic design of the positioning device 13 and / or the vacuum pallets 14 as well as the mobility of the vacuum pallets 14 about their respective own axes of rotation can serve to achieve the relative speed between the labels 12 and the receiving vacuum pallets 14 of essentially zero during the transfer of the labels 12, which reliably enables the careful transfer of the labels 12 without damaging them.

[0037] By rotating the pallet carousel 15, each label 12 picked up by a vacuum pallet 14 is transported away from the positioning device 13 for labeling a container.

[0038] Figure 2 shows a further embodiment of a labeling device 20 according to the invention, which can comprise the same components as the labeling device 10 shown in Figure 1. The labeling device 20 shown in Figure 2 comprises a container transport device 17 for transporting containers 18 to be labeled or labeled. The container transport device 17 can be designed as a rotary conveyor or a linear conveyor. In particular, the container transport device 17 further comprises one or more devices on which the containers 111 can be positioned and set in rotation. These devices can be, for example, turntables.

[0039] In order to label the containers 18, which are in rotational motion and simultaneously in translational motion along the container transport device 17, the labels 12 are applied to the containers 18 from the vacuum pallets 14 of the pallet carousel 15. It can be provided that exactly one label 12 is transferred to each container 18.

[0040] The control device S can be configured to control the container transport device 17 and the pallet carousel 15 such that the relative speed between the labels 12 to be applied and the containers 18 to be labeled in the transport direction of the containers is essentially zero during the application of the labels 12 to the containers 18, thereby minimizing the risk of tearing or wrinkling of the labels 12 during the labeling process. Control is achieved by controlling the movement or speed of the container transport device 17 and the rotation speed of the pallet carousel 15. By rotating the containers 18 on the turntables of the container transport device 17, the labels 12 can be wound up. Other ways of completing the labeling of the containers 18 with the labels 12 applied using the vacuum pallets 14 are of course possible.According to further embodiments, the labels 12 can also be applied to the containers 18 using a further gripper device (not shown in Figure 2), which previously takes the labels 12 from the vacuum pallets 14. In this case, the control device S can be designed to control the container transport device 17 and the gripper device such that the relative speed between the labels 12 to be applied and the containers to be labeled.

[0041] 18 in the transport direction of the containers during the application of the labels 12 to the containers 18 is essentially zero.

[0042] In order to smooth out any wrinkles that may still occur in the labels 12 applied to the containers 18, a brushing unit (not shown) can be provided both in the labeling device 10 shown in Figure 1 and in the labeling device 20 shown in Figure 2, by means of which the labels 12, which have been at least partially detached from the vacuum pallets 14 or from gripping elements of the gripper device, can be brushed onto the containers 18. As already mentioned, embodiments of the labeling device according to the invention, for example the labeling device 10 shown in Figure 1 or the labeling device 20 shown in Figure 2, can be used for labeling with labels that do not have a top material layer.According to embodiments, the labeling device according to the invention, for example the labeling device 10 shown in Figure 1 or the labeling device 20 shown in Figure 2, can be designed for labeling with labels which consist of an adhesive layer K and a label image B or a label image layer B or which consist of an adhesive layer K and a label image B or a label image layer B and additionally a protective layer formed on the label image B or the label image layer B, wherein the labels can each have a thickness of less than 60 micrometers, for example less than 30 or 20 micrometers.

[0043] Figures 3a and 3b illustrate labels on a carrier belt of a transport device T for transporting labels for labeling containers, for example, labels 12 on a carrier belt of a transport device T for labeling containers 18 in the labeling device 10 shown in Figure 1 or the labeling device 20 shown in Figure 2. The labels consist of an adhesive layer K and a label image B or a label image layer B. The adhesive layer K serves to adhere the label to the container. For example, the label image B or the label image layer B is applied directly to the adhesive layer K, for example, printed.In other embodiments, the labels consist of an adhesive layer K, a label image B or a label image layer B, and a protective layer (not shown in Figures 3a and 3b) applied to the label image B or the label image layer B. The labels can each have a thickness of less than 60 micrometers, for example less than 30 or 20 micrometers.

[0044] In the example shown in Figure 3a, the adhesive layer K is closer to the carrier belt of the transport device T during transport than the label image B or the label image layer B, and in the example shown in Figure 3b, the label image B or the label image layer B is closer to the carrier belt of the transport device T during transport than the adhesive layer K. The carrier belt of the transport device T can here and in the embodiments of the labeling device described above have a release layer on which the adhesive layer K or the label image B or the label image layer B rests and which facilitates the removal of the labels by the vacuum pallets (cf. Figures 1 and 2).Labels that are fed to the vacuum pallets as shown in Figure 3a can, for example, be gripped by the vacuum pallets on the side of the label image B or the label image layer B and applied directly to the containers with the side of the adhesive layer K. Labels that are fed to the vacuum pallets as shown in Figure 3b can, for example, be gripped by the vacuum pallets on the side of the adhesive layer K and transferred to gripping elements of a further gripper device on the side of the label image B or the label image layer B, which can then apply them directly to the containers with the side of the adhesive layer K.

Claims

Patent claims 1. A labeling device (10, 20) for labeling containers (18) by applying a label image and an adhesive layer to the containers (18), wherein the labeling device (10, 20) comprises: a transport device (T) with a movable carrier belt for transporting labels (12), each comprising a label image (E) and an adhesive layer (K); a positioning device (13) for positioning the labels (12) transported from the transport device (T) to the positioning device (13); a pallet carousel (15) with a plurality of vacuum pallets (14) or electroadhesive pallets (14) for receiving the labels (12) at the positioning device (13); and a control device (S) which is designed to control the transport device (T) and the pallet carousel (15) such that when the labels are received (12) at the positioning device (13) by the vacuum pallets (14) or electro-adhesion pallets (14), the relative speed between the labels (12) and the receiving vacuum pallets (14) or electro-adhesion pallets (14) is substantially zero.

2. The labeling device (10, 20) according to claim 1, in which the positioning device (13) is designed to be elastic in such a way that it can be deformed when the labels (12) are taken over at the positioning device (13) by the vacuum pallets (14) or electro-adhesion pallets (14).

3. The labeling device (10, 20) according to claim 1 or 2, in which the vacuum pallets (14) or electro-adhesion pallets (14) are designed to be elastic in such a way that they can deform when the labels (12) are taken over by the positioning device (13).

4. The labeling device (10, 20) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the vacuum pallets (14) or electro-adhesion pallets (14) are mounted on the pallet carousel (15) are pivotally mounted in such a way that they can move when taking over the labels (12) in such a way that the relative speed between the labels (12) and the receiving vacuum pallets (14) or electro-adhesion pallets (14) is essentially zero.

5. The labeling device (10, 20) according to one of the preceding claims, which further comprises a container transport device (17), in particular a rotary transport device, which is designed to transport the containers (18), and wherein the pallet carousel (15) is designed and arranged such that the containers (18) placed on the positioning device by the vacuum pallets (14) or electro-adhesion pallets (14) (13) taken over labels (12) are applied to the containers (18) by the vacuum pallets (14) or electro-adhesion pallets (14).

6. The labeling device (10, 20) according to claim 5, in which the control device (S) is designed to control the container transport device (17) and the pallet carousel (15) such that the relative speed between the labels (12) and the containers (18) to be labeled is substantially zero during the application of the labels (12) to the containers (18).

7. The labeling device (10, 20) according to one of claims 1 to 4, which further comprises a container transport device (17), in particular a rotary transport device, which is designed to transport the containers (18), and a gripper device which is designed to take over the labels (12) taken over from the vacuum pallets (14) or electro-adhesion pallets (14) at the positioning device (13) by gripping elements and to apply them to the containers (18).

8. The labeling device (10, 20) according to claim 7, in which the control device (S) is designed to control the container transport device (17) and the gripper device such that the relative speed between the gripping elements and the containers (18) to be labeled is substantially zero during the application of the labels (12) to the containers (18).

9. Method for labeling containers (18) by applying a label image (E) and an adhesive layer (K) to the containers (18), comprising the steps Transporting labels (12), each comprising a label image (E) and an adhesive layer (K), on a carrier belt to a positioning device (13); Accepting the labels (12) at the positioning device (13) by means of vacuum pallets (14) or electro-adhesion pallets (14) attached to a pallet carousel (15) in such a way that during the acceptance the relative speed between the labels (12) and the accepting vacuum pallets (14) or electro-adhesion pallets (14) is essentially zero; and a) applying the labels (12) accepted from the vacuum pallets (14) or electro-adhesion pallets (14) to the containers (18) by the vacuum pallets (14) or electro-adhesion pallets (14); or b) transferring the labels (12) accepted from the vacuum pallets (14) or electro-adhesion pallets (14) to gripping elements of a gripping device and applying the labels (12) to the containers (18) by the gripping elements.

10. The method according to claim 9, in which a) the labels (12) are applied to the containers (18) by the vacuum pallets (14) or electro-adhesion pallets (14) in such a way that the relative speed between the labels (12) and the containers (18) to be labeled is substantially zero during the application of the labels (12) to the containers (18); or b) the labels (12) are applied to the containers (18) by the gripping elements in such a way that the relative speed between the labels (12) and the containers (18) to be labeled is substantially zero during the application of the labels (12) to the containers (18).

11. The method according to claim 9 or 10, in which the labels (12) each consist of a) a label image (E) and an adhesive layer (K) or b) a label image (E), an adhesive layer (K) and a protective layer applied to the label image (E); and the labels during transport on the carrier tape, the label image (E) is closer to the carrier tape than the adhesive layer (K) or the adhesive layer (K) is closer to the carrier tape than the label image (E), and wherein in particular each of the labels (12) has a thickness of less than 60 micrometers.

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