AT506966B1 - METHOD AND DEVICE FOR IDENTIFYING A PLASTIC FIBER - Google Patents

Description

Austrian Patent Office AT506 966B1 2010-01-15

Description: The invention relates to a method and a device for identifying a plastic fiber by attaching code features.

In the clothing industry, more and more manufacturers, in particular brand suppliers, are exposed to ever increasing competitive pressure, suffering damages as a result of the increasing number of copies of branded clothing being put on the market; The low-priced products sold under known brands are often scarcely distinguishable from the original product for customers as well as for retailers, at least not without direct comparison.

For authenticating goods, in particular also textile products, it has already been proposed in DE 10 2004 060 315 A1 to apply a marking in the form of a pattern on the surface of the respective product so as to allow a local modification of physically measurable properties of the surface receive. In a later identification step, transmission, reflection or scattering of an analysis radiation due to the thus changed surface are detected; In the case of the marking, the irradiation takes place, which if appropriate can also bring about a photochemical reaction on the surface of the respective product, in particular through a mask which contains the pattern which is imaged onto the surface of the product. On the one hand, this technology is laborious and also disadvantageous because of the alteration of the surface for garments, which may have an undesirable different appearance in areas, and furthermore a counterfeiting of so characterized goods is still possible.

The technology proposed in DE 195 18 231 A is also complicated, wherein a textile fabric, in particular for labels and tapes, is described, in which at least one warp thread and / or weft thread is to be contained, which is intended to directly contain the coding , Specifically, the threads are to be coded by adding microscopically small color particles to the spinning melt during the spinning process within the package.

In DE 101 59 047 A1, on the other hand, the coding of a thread by, in particular, plastic deformation of the thread surface is described, wherein, for example, markings are applied to the thread at predetermined intervals. For this purpose, it is also proposed to provide only temporarily such markings, namely in the form of depressions in a thread sheath, whereby the sheath can be dissolved and removed with the aid of water or solvent so as to remove the core, i. the actual thread without exposing marks. The marking is primarily intended for easy identification, processing and testing. In particular, it is suggested that each label contains information about the manufacturer, the thread, the batch, etc. An authenticity check, in particular a coding for preventing a counterfeiting of the goods or for the rapid detection of counterfeit goods, is not addressed here.

In the non-prepublished PCT / EP2008 / 004965 an identification of fibers by means of laser radiation is disclosed, wherein a separate "Soul " the composite fiber, which is surrounded by a shell, locally changed by the laser radiation, in particular also melted. This inherently excellent and virtually tamper-proof marking with respect to the placement of code elements in the fiber offers a good way out with regard to preventing counterfeiting of branded textiles; However, this technique has the disadvantage that it is based on a specific composite fiber.

The object of the invention is therefore to enable labeling of plastic fibers in an efficient, cost-effective manner, even if the plastic fiber is a homogeneous, monolithic plastic fiber. Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to provide a simple as possible, with high speed "label " to allow the plastic fibers. Furthermore, a simple reading of the code elements in finished textiles is to be ensured. 1/15 Austrian Patent Office AT506 966B1 2010-01-15 [0008] To achieve the object, the invention provides a method and a device according to the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments and further developments are specified in the subclaims.

In the present technique, preferably a monolithic plastic fiber, preferably made of polyamide, is used, wherein locally in the center of this plastic fiber by means of a laser beam by plasma interaction characteristics (code elements) are attached. This localized plasma interaction is achieved when the attenuation for the laser beam within the fiber, in the beam path, does not lead to general melting of the fiber material. The laser beam must have a corresponding energy density to exceed the plasma threshold, e.g. 64 GW / cm 2, whereby an interaction is already achieved with an energy of 8 μϋ to 25 μϋ per "shot", also depending on the wavelength used and with a pulse duration of about 1 ns. The laser beam wavelength may be, for example, between 337 nm and 633 nm or 1065 nm. Tests have been successful at wavelengths; of 337 nm, 488 nm, 633 nm and also 1065 nm. Depending on the color of the plastic fibers and the associated damping, the labeling process uses different laser units. It is easily possible by simple experiments, matching common laser for each plastic fiber, due to simple experiments, find out. In order to achieve the high energy density in the center of the plastic fibers, as close as possible focusing of the laser beam in the center of the fiber is desirable, and it is further favorable to provide a conical beam shape of the laser beam, the cone tip come to lie as accurately as possible in the center of the plastic fiber should. For this purpose, the laser unit is arranged with its lens relatively close to the plastic fiber, the distance is for example only about 500 pm. With such a "shallow " Cone, a small focal point in the center of the fiber, with the associated high energy density, can be achieved. The fiber thickness, i. the diameter of the plastic fiber, plays a less important role in terms of focusing, since nevertheless a good focus in the center can be achieved. Optionally, the lens of the laser unit may be slightly adjustable relative to the fiber. Depending on the fiber strength, however, the different astigmatism effect, wherein the fiber surface curvature may vary depending on the diameter of the fibers, for example in the range of 40 pm to 200 pm. In order to compensate for this, the beam can be widened to the aperture of the objective by means of an aspherical mirror provided in the beam path of the laser (or also by an aspherical lens, generally by an aspheric optical element), in order to reduce the radial curvature of the Compensate projection surface.

The necessary energy density is achieved only immediately at the focal point due to the beam-cone geometry, the focal point diameter should be assumed, for example, 1 pm: in this example, the focus is a 3.2 million times higher energy density in comparison to the exit location of the beam on the lens. The energy density in the fiber interior increases inversely proportional to the square of the radius toward the focal point.

In view of these critical parameters with the sharpest possible focal point in the center of the plastic fiber to achieve the high energy density and thus the plasma interaction and the most accurate guidance of the plastic fiber in the identification is important. For this purpose, a guide body or generally bearing body is provided, wherein lateral contact or guide surfaces for the plastic fiber are present. These bearing or guide surfaces are preferably formed by the side walls of a cross-sectionally V-shaped groove in the contact or guide body. In this case, furthermore, the groove in those areas where the fiber does not interact with the laser beam is comparatively deep in order to achieve a good contact or guidance of the plastic fiber. In the "label area", i. in the region of the impact of the laser beam, in particular when the lens of the laser unit is not aligned in the center plane of the plastic fiber or groove, but obliquely thereto, namely on one side with respect to this center plane, on the other side a camera for reading the just can be arranged, the groove provided shallow, so that a larger part of the cross section or circumference of the plastic fiber - for the irradiation with the laser beam or to read the label with the help of of light rays or laser beams - is accessible.

Although it would be possible for the marking of a portion of the plastic fiber to hold the fiber stationary and to move the laser unit along the plastic fiber over this portion, it is still simpler and more rational to advance the fiber step by step, in which case the laser unit (and if applicable the test camera) can be mounted stationary. This stepwise advancement of the fiber is possible in particular if a guide body with lateral guide surfaces, as mentioned above, in particular with a triangular guide groove, is provided. It is also the plastic fiber to keep curious during the labeling and during the forward motion, and the stride lengths of the forward motion are to comply exactly. For this purpose, a stepping motor of per se conventional design can be used, such as a stepper motor that can drive with about 56 000 steps over 360 °, so that - depending of course on the diameter of the actual transport or drive roller - step lengths in the fiber movement of 1.3 pm can be realized, as the practice has shown. For advancing the plastic fiber, a pressure roller preferably cooperates with the motor-driven drive roller, wherein preferably the fiber is guided via the drive roller, expediently also via the pressure roller, according to a wrap angle of at least 180 °. The drive roller and the pressure roller can be equipped with a friction lining (rubber coating) with appropriate softness and friction, so as to avoid slippage of the fiber. When advancing, the plastic fiber is advantageously kept taut by means of a braking device, with a simple friction brake, for example with a spring force adjustable brake shoe, pressing the fiber against a wall (e.g., an aluminum housing wall). For the brake shoe, in order to be able to dose the braking force well, a covering made of a fine felt can be provided.

In order to optimize the axial distance between the drive roller and the pressure roller in the drive unit for the plastic fiber depending on their strength, the pressure roller for adjustment can be mounted eccentrically, i. the axis of the pressure roller runs in a bearing that is eccentrically drilled.

Now, if the bearing is slightly twisted, thus automatically changing the distance of the axis of the pressure roller from the axis of the drive roller. The bearing, for example a gunmetal bearing, can be fixed in a receiving part by means of screws.

The invention will be described below with reference to preferred embodiments, to which it should not be limited, and with reference to the drawings even further. The drawings show in detail: FIG. 1 a very schematic view, partly in a view and partly as a block diagram, of a device for marking plastic fibers; FIG. Fig. 2 is a plan view of a portion of the apparatus of Figure 1, wherein the braking device, the guide body and the drive unit schematically illustrated and the laser unit and the inspection camera are shown only hinted. Figure 3 is a perspective view of the guide body and the drive unit in their mounted on a plate-shaped mounting body position. 4 is a perspective bottom view of the drive unit and the braking device, wherein the guide body and the laser unit and the inspection camera are omitted; Fig. 5 diagrammatically the drive unit from the opposite side, to Veran vividly the eccentric mounting of the pressure roller; [0021] FIG. 6 is a schematic view in a view of the drive roller and the pressure roller in the antiperspirant passage of a plastic fiber which is pulled through a hole in the mounting plate; [0021] FIG. Figures 7A and 7B are schematic cross-sections through the guide groove of the guide body at a position away from the flat top of the guide body (Figure 7A) and from the flattened top where the groove is very shallow (Figure 7B); Fig. 8 schematically in the region of the shallow groove, in the labeling station, in a

Cross-sectional representation of the relation of lens of the laser unit, lens of the inspection camera and guided in the shallow groove section plastic fiber; Fig. 9 shows schematically the beam path of the laser beam in the laser unit from the actual laser via an aspherical mirror to the lens, with the aid of which the "write" focus is generated; and Fig. 10 schematically shows a plan view of a portion of a fiber (coded) identified in accordance with the present technique.

In Fig. 1, a device 1 for labeling a fiber 2 (plastic fiber) is shown very schematically, which is unwound from a supply reel 3, passed through the device 1, is characterized in a labeling station 4 with code features and finally on a take-up reel 5 is wound up again. The recorded on the fiber 2 codes are used to identify the fibers 2 and subsequently, after processing the fibers into textiles, to identify these textiles, especially clothing, so as to distinguish original goods quickly and clearly from a forgery, as such is known.

For labeling, the fiber 2 in the labeling station 4 via a guide body 6 (generally plant body 6) out so as to ensure a stable, reproducible position for the fiber 2 during labeling or marking. As such, it would be conceivable to arrange and hold the fiber 2 straight on a longer section and to perform an axis-parallel movement relative to the fiber 2 with the components intended for inscription, which would, however, mean a relatively large outlay for the components provided for inscription. In this case, however, a corresponding body would be provided with clamping elements for the fiber of appropriate length.

In the present preferred embodiment of the (sliding) guide body 6 is provided for the moving fiber 2, which ensures an exact lateral guidance of the fiber 2 during the advancement of the fiber 2, so as to reproducibly and reliably in the core of the label To be able to make fiber 2. The fiber 2 is kept taut so as to avoid waves or bulging of the fiber 2.

In the illustrated embodiment, this guide the fiber 2 is achieved in an advantageous manner by means of a special guide body 6, which is formed substantially semi-cylindrical, but on its upper side 7 has a flat flattening 8. In the lateral surface of the semi-cylindrical guide body 6, a V-shaped guide groove 9 is provided, which at the top 7 due to the flattening 8 has a much smaller depth than the rest (partially cylindrical) cladding region, see. also Fig. 2 and Fig. 7A and 7B. The guide groove 9 is triangular in cross section, wherein the apex angle is for example 90 °. In the region of the flattening 8, the height H of the guide groove 9 (see Fig. 8), for example, is only about 40 μm.

Thus, while in the other shell region of the guide body 6, the fiber 2 may be more or less entirely within the guide groove 9, see. Fig. 7A, wherein the guide angle ident identical to the opening angle of the groove 9, that is for example 90 °, see. the angle α-ι in Fig. 7A, the fiber 2 is in the region of the flattening 8 of the guide body 6, s. Fig. 7B, almost entirely outside the guide groove 9, so that there is a much smaller guide angle a2, with only the two outer edges 10 of the guide groove 9 contribute to the leadership. Leaves thus the fiber 2 largely the groove 9, so that only the two outer edges of the guide groove 9 lead the fiber 2, the guide angle a2 reduces as much as the From the guide groove 9 still spanned circumference of the fiber 2 is reduced. The guide angle a2 generally results from the size ratio of the secant (opening width of the groove 9) and the radius r of the fiber 2 of the groove 9, namely sin (a2 / 2) = (1/2 secant) / r, thus a2 = 2arc sin (secant / 2r); if a groove 9 with 90 ° vertex angle is assumed, then the half secant equals H (see Fig. 8), and accordingly a2 = 2arc sin (H / r).

As can be seen in particular from Fig. 3, the existing example of steel guide body 6 is mounted on a base plate 11, which is also indicated schematically in Fig. 1, and which forms the general mounting plate of the device 1, on the underside thereof Further, a drive unit 12 for the fiber 2 and, with respect to the guide body 6 located on the other side, a braking device 13 are mounted; the two components 12, 13 serve to drive the fiber 2 while keeping the same. In the base plate 11 9 corresponding bores 14, 15 are provided in alignment with the Ausmündenden guide grooves, which are indicated only schematically in Figures 1 and 2, and through which the fiber 2 runs during advancing. Although in Fig. 2, the base plate 11 is omitted for the purpose of illustrating the drive unit 12 and the braking device 13, nonetheless, however, the positions of the bores 14, 15 are indicated.

The drive unit 12 can be seen in particular from FIGS. 4 and 5, but also from FIG. 6, the illustrations in FIGS. 4 and 5 showing the drive unit 12 on the base plate 11 from the underside. A stepper motor 16 drives a drive roller 18 via a shaft 17; this drive roller 18 is provided with a Friktionsbelag 19, as well as a pinch roller 20, which is otherwise stored in an eccentric bearing bore 21 of a gunmetal bearing bush 22, held rotatably in frame members 23, 24 of the drive unit 12 and, for example by means of grub screws 25th can be fixed in the respective set rotational position. By rotating the bearing 22, the distance of the axis of the pressure roller 20 to the axis of the drive roller 18 can thus be adjusted in order to be able to safely take along friction between the two rollers 18, 20 (not shown in FIGS. 4 and 5). As can be seen in Fig. 6, the fiber 2 wraps around the two rollers 18, 20 by at least 180 °, i. half the circumference so as to achieve a safe entrainment of the fiber - even in conjunction with the friction lining 19 on the two rollers 18, 20 - even in extremely short steps, in the stepwise advancing movement. The short steps are provided with regard to the marking (coding) of the fiber 2, the step length being for example less than 2 pm, e.g. about 1.5 pm, can be.

The friction lining 19 may for example be 2.5 mm thick and made of NBR (Perbunan) material.

From Fig. 4, the braking device 13 is further shown in detail, which has a spring-mounted plunger 26 which carries a brake shoe 27, which against a brake plate 28, e.g. a web of an aluminum profile 29, which also supports the plunger 26 presses. Between the brake shoe 27 and the plate 28, the not visible from Fig. 4 fiber 2 is clamped in the sense of braking, with a slipping of the fiber 2 in this braking, however, is possible without the fiber 2 tears. The brake shoe 27 may, for example, have a fine felt covering in order to be able to set the dosage of the brake friction as accurately as possible.

In Fig. 1, a deflection roller 30 is then shown, over which the fiber 2 from the drive unit 12 to the take-up reel 5 runs.

Furthermore, a laser unit 31 for labeling the fiber 2 and a test camera 32 are schematically illustrated schematically in FIG. 1, the test camera 32 being used to read out the label carried out immediately after the laser unit 31, thus checking it out to enable. In Fig. 2, parts of the laser unit 31 and the inspection camera 32 are illustrated schematically, wherein it is also apparent that they are above the flattening 8 of the guide body 6 side of a central plane through the guide groove 9 and further, for example, obliquely to the longitudinal axis of the fiber 2 in Area of the flattening 8 5/15 Austrian Patent Office AT506 966B1 2010-01-15 are arranged.

1, a central control unit 33 and drive or driver circuits 34 and 35 on the one hand for the laser unit 31 and on the other hand for the drive unit 12, i. specifically of their motor 16, illustrated. Connected to the camera 32 is a signal conditioning unit 36, to the output of which the control unit 33 is connected so as to process the test signals directly and to evaluate them with regard to any required control operations. In particular, the control unit 33 coordinates the advancement of the fiber 2 by the stepper motor 16, with e.g. 2 pm increments on the circumference of the drive roller 18, and the trigger signals for the laser unit 31, so always at standstill of the motor 16, the laser unit 31 to a "shot". to trigger. Thereby, e.g. Firing frequencies of 1 to 10 x 106 per second in conjunction with a feed rate of 20 m / s are provided.

The reader, i. The camera 32, can be built with a simple 1.3 mpi USB cam camera with a large field of view, with the large field of view, the search for labeled fibers 2 in a finished fabric can be extremely shortened. In this respect, the camera 32 can also be used as a reading device when checking coded textiles.

For the caption (coding) in the respective fiber 2 an exact interaction of the laser beam with the fiber center is required, resulting on the one hand by the described guide technique, with the guide body 6 and the drive of the fiber 2 under tether holding in the labeling area, with a Tolerance in the single-digit pm range, is achieved. On the other hand, the laser unit 31 is equipped with a corresponding optics, on the one hand to achieve the most localized focal point in the interior of the fiber 2 and thereby compensate for the lens effect of the convex surface of the fiber 2 - to achieve a stretching of the focus - to achieve.

The mentioned plasma interaction between the laser beam and the fiber material should, as mentioned, be limited locally in the core of the fiber; For this purpose, a locally sharp focus point is required in order to reduce the plasma wave required for the plasma interaction, i. local energy density, reach and exceed. This energy density is for example 64 GW / cm 2. This energy density may vary depending on the wavelength used, e.g. between 337 nm to 633 nm or 1065 nm, and the pulse duration, e.g. about 1 ns, at energies from 8 pJ to 21 pJ or 25 pJ per "shot". be achieved. Decisive for this is, of course, the attenuation in the material of the fiber 2, which can be used here, depending on the fiber 2, in particular their color, with different lasers. The plasma interaction can only be achieved if the attenuation in the fiber in the region of the beam path does not lead to the melting of the fiber material. In other words, it must not have the energy of the laser beam already in the outer region of the fiber 2, a melting of the same. With appropriate coordination, fibers 2 with different coloration can certainly be identified or coded using appropriate laser sources according to the present technique. The fibers 2 may be monolithic fibers 2, for example of a polyamide.

In Fig. 8, a lens 37 of the laser unit 31 is partially illustrated schematically, wherein it is also apparent that an extremely small distance x to the fiber center 38 is provided. This distance x can be for example only 500 pm or 550 pm. By this arrangement and a corresponding expansion of the laser beam in front of the lens 37, see. Also Fig. 9, a strong focus towards the center 38 of the fiber 2 is achieved with a corresponding lens effect of the lens 37, so that there is a sharply limited focal point (focus point) in the pm range or smaller is achieved. In practice, the laser beam 39 has a flat conical shape from the objective 37 toward the center 38 of the fiber 2, assuming that a cone angle of, for example, 140 ° to 150 ° in the center 38 is obtained for a circular aperture of the objective 37 of 3.5 mm , This avoids an elongated focus area within the fiber 2 in the laser beam direction and achieves the desired sharply defined focus point. The distance to the center of the fiber 2 changes little with a changed diameter of the fiber 2. The size that may be taken into account is the different astigmatism effect of the fiber thickness. To compensate for this effect, i. of the fiber surface curvature, in the beam path of the laser beam 39 (see Fig. 9), the aspherical optical element which expands the beam onto the aperture of the objective 37, in particular an aspherical mirror 40, is arranged so as to have the different curvature of the surface of the fibers 2 depending on the diameter (eg between 40 pm and 200 pm).

In Fig. 10 is very schematically illustrated on a greatly enlarged scale a fiber 2 with provided in the manner described for identification code features 41 illustrates.

These code features 41 are read out immediately after their attachment with the aid of the test camera 32 - at least randomly - whereby the camera 32 can be synchronized with the laser unit 31. For reading, for example, light from a white-blue LED may be directed obliquely onto the fiber 2, as shown in Figs. 2 and 8, so as to provide the interaction sites, i. Code features 41, to recognize.

The laser unit 31 together with optics as well as the camera 32 are expediently mounted on the same base plate 11, on which also the guide body 6, the drive unit 12 and the braking device 13 are mounted.

In operation of the described device 1, in the identification of a fiber 2, the stepping motor 12 is started after passing a fiber 2, which has also been placed over the guide body 6, with its stepping drive, the motor 16, for example, with 56 000 Steps per revolution taking into account the diameter of the drive roller 18 step sizes of about 1 to 1.5 pm, about 1.3 pm realized. With this stepwise advancement of the fiber 2, the laser unit 31 is synchronized in order to activate the laser beam 39 at each short-term standstill and to focus on the central location within the fiber 2 in order to produce the desired plasma interaction there. As mentioned, at the focal point, in the center 38 of the fiber 2, an energy density, for example, of more than 3 million times the laser beam at the point of exit from the objective 37 is achieved if a focal point diameter of 1 μm is assumed and the circular aperture of the lens 37 is 3.5 mm, for example. On the guide body 6, the fiber 2 is guided during this labeling virtually 100% ig, wherein the groove side surfaces are responsible as efficient guide surfaces 9 'for the fiber 2 in the region of the curved portions of the guide groove 9. In this exact side guide of the fiber 2, the radial clearance is virtually zero, and manufacturing tolerances of the guide also play no role, since the label is made stationary relative to the guide, since both the guide body 6 and the laser unit 31 are mounted on the base plate 11 , Notwithstanding the virtually 100% guidance, the fiber 2 in the center of the flattening 8 for a short distance almost completely leaves the 100% side guide area, s. 7B, in which area the inscription takes place and the inscription process is monitored by means of the camera 32 synchronized with the laser pulses.

The fiber 2 is held taut on the guide body 6 by means of the braking device 13. Of course, the braking device 13 can also be realized in a different form than shown and in particular with reference to FIG. 4. As far as the embodiment according to FIG. 4 is concerned, it is also conceivable to adjust the spring-loaded plunger 26 by an externally threaded hollow cylinder 42, as can be seen in FIG. 4, on the inside of the illustrated U-profile 29 so that you can set the braking force with the help of the brake shoe 27 exactly. 7/15

Claims (20)

Austrian Patent Office AT506 966B1 2010-01-15 Claims 1. A method of marking a plastic fiber (2) by attaching code features (41), characterized in that the preferably monolithic plastic fiber (2) by means of a laser beam (39) for which the Material of the plastic fiber (2) is permeable, is characterized in their interior by plasma interaction, wherein the conical laser beam (39) is focused on the interior of the plastic fiber (2) to locally localized to cause the plasma interaction in the focus area. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that a plastic fiber (2) made of polyamide is used. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the plastic fiber (2) advances during marking and in this case on a guide body (6) is guided laterally. 4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that the plastic fiber (2) is advanced stepwise and irradiated in the movement pauses with the laser beam (39). 5. The method according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the plastic fiber (2) is pulled during the forward movement over the guide body (6). 6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that the plastic fiber (2) by means of a braking device (13) is held taut during advancing. 7. The method according to any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the plastic fiber (2) is driven frictionally for advancement. 8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the attached label immediately after mounting using a test camera (32) is controlled. 9. Device (1) for identifying a plastic fiber (2) by attaching code features (41), characterized by a support body, in particular guide body (6), with lateral contact surfaces (9 ') for the plastic fiber (2), the adjacent a laser device (31) with a lens (37) for focusing the laser beam (39) at a location (38) in the interior of the plastic fiber (2) is arranged, wherein the laser device (31) has a sufficient energy density for a localized plasma interaction in the interior the plastic fiber (2). 10. The device according to claim 9, characterized in that the guide body (6) has a triangular in cross-section guide groove (9) for the plastic fiber (2). 11. The device according to claim 10, characterized in that the guide body (6) has a curved surface in which the guide groove (9) is mounted. 12. The device according to claim 11, characterized in that the guide groove (9) has a varying depth in the groove longitudinal depth, wherein the depth (H) in the region (4) of the implementation of the laser beam marking is the lowest. 13. Device according to one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that the laser device (31) comprises an aspherical optical element, preferably an aspherical mirror (40), for compensating the curved fiber surface. 14. Device according to one of claims 9 to 13, characterized in that for, preferably stepwise, advancing the plastic fiber (2) is provided a motor-driven drive roller (18) in combination with a pressure roller (20). 15. The apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that the plastic fiber is guided at least over the drive roller (18) according to a wrap angle of at least 180 °. 8/15 Austrian Patent Office AT506 966B1 2010-01-15 16. The apparatus of claim 14 or 15, characterized in that the drive roller (18) and the pressure roller (20) have a friction lining (19). 17. Device according to one of claims 14 to 16, characterized in that the pressure roller (20) is mounted eccentrically for adjustment. 18. Device according to one of claims 14 to 17, characterized in that the guide body (6) is preceded by a fiber braking device (13). 19. The apparatus according to claim 18, characterized in that the braking device (13) has a against a metal surface (28) resiliently displaceable brake shoe (27). 20. Device according to one of claims 9 to 19, characterized in that the support body (6) adjacent to a test camera (32) for reading the in the plastic fiber (2) mounted label is arranged. For this 6 sheets drawings 9/15