EP3936446B1 - Method for separating labels - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method for severing self-adhesive, carrier-free endless tape labels or carrier tape labels using a cutter of a label printer, the cutter comprising a transport roller that can be rotated about an axis of rotation and a knife unit that can be moved linearly parallel to the axis of rotation of the transport roller and has a cutter unit in the direction has a cutting knife directed towards the transport roller, in which the endless tape or carrier tape labels run through between the transport roller and the cutter unit, the endless tape or carrier tape labels are transported further by motor step by step, one label at a time, and in each case between two subsequent further transport -steps the knife unit is linearly motorized between a starting position and a target position in order to separate a label.

A cutter or a label printer with a cutter is used to be able to process carrierless endless tape labels coated on one side with an adhesive, which are also referred to as linerless labels, or carrier tape labels in which the labels are applied to a carrier tape needed to separate the labels. With batch production, the labels can be collected in a collecting box after the cutting process and kept ready for use. If only individual labels are to be printed on-demand, a so-called presenter can be connected downstream of the label printer or the cutter, which pulls off the label that has been cut off when it reaches the label printer or the cutter. leaves the cutter. The next label is only printed when the separated label is removed from the presenter. Such presenters can be in one right from the start label printer can be integrated or retrofitted as an accessory. In both cases, it is an additional and therefore costly component.

document U.S. 2018/312289 A1 describes a method for severing self-adhesive linerless endless tape labels or liner tape labels with a cutter of a label printer according to the preamble of claim 1.

The invention is based on the object of specifying a method of the type mentioned at the outset which, when using endless tape or carrier tape labels, offers a more cost-effective way of removing labels that have been severed off individually.

This object is achieved by a method having the features of claim 1, and in particular in that the knife unit is moved in such a way that the label is completely severed and held in the target position of the knife unit by the knife unit on the transport roller.

According to the invention, it is therefore provided that the label is completely severed, but is still held by the cutter, so that the severed label does not simply fall down at an output of the label printer, but is held there until the severed label is removed from a operator is removed. An additional presenter, as is known from the prior art, is therefore not required.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the cutting blade protrudes with a fixed projection beyond an end face of a blade holder of the blade unit that is in the direction of the transport roller, with the endless strip or backing strip labels resting with an underside on the transport roller and with the movement of the blade unit the end surface of the knife holder abuts against an upper side of the endless tape or carrier tape labels in such a way that the endless tape or carrier tape labels are clamped between the transport roller and the end surface of the knife holder, and wherein in the target position of the knife unit the severed label is separated from the end surface of the knife holder is held clamped to the transport roller. This enables the severed label to be held securely.

In particular, the knife unit is only moved so far that in the target position of the knife unit the end face of the knife holder with a trailing section is still in the area of the endless strip or carrier strip labels. The trailing section is responsible for holding the severed label.

In particular, the knife unit is moved in such a way that the end surface of the knife holder runs along a surface line of the transport roller that is closest to the end surface of the knife holder, and/or that the cutting knife runs along a surface line of the transport roller that has a predetermined offset to that of the end surface of the knife holder has nearest surface line. As a result, the severed label can be held particularly reliably by the end face of the knife holder on the transport roller.

A detector device can be used to detect whether the severed label has been removed from the transport roller, with the knife unit only being automatically moved out of the target position when it has been detected that the severed label has previously been removed from the transport roller. The detector device can be a light barrier, for example.

When the knife unit is moved out of the target position, the knife unit can be moved back to the starting position or further into a further starting position that goes beyond the target position, and then the endless tape or carrier tape labels can be transported further by one label. The label printer is then ready to cut off the next label. A return to the starting position takes place in particular when the cutting knife has a cutting edge only in one direction of movement of the knife unit having. A further movement into the further starting position beyond the target position can take place if the cutting knife has a cutting edge in each of the two movement directions of the knife unit, ie if labels can be severed in both movement directions.

According to one embodiment of the invention, to cut off the next label, the knife unit is moved from the further starting position in the opposite direction of travel to a further target position, with the knife unit in turn being moved in such a way that the next label is completely cut off and in the further target position of the knife unit is held on the transport roller in accordance with the knife unit, with the knife unit being moved back to the starting position after the next label has been removed. Labels that have been cut off in both directions can thus be held on the transport roller.

In particular, the separation of labels is repeated continuously first in the direction of travel and then in the reverse direction of travel, but in particular with the proviso that the previously separated label was previously removed from the label printer or the transport roller by an operator.

It is preferred if the knife unit is moved in such a way that the cutting knife, sitting on the surface of the transport roller, slides along the surface of the transport roller without penetrating into the transport roller. Otherwise the cutting blade would successively damage and wear out the transport roller. This would be disadvantageous, particularly in the case of self-adhesive, carrier-free endless strip labels which rest on the transport roller with their adhesive-coated side. For trouble-free transport of the endless strip labels, however, it is essential that the surface of the transport roller offers the adhesive no adhesion or only the lowest possible adhesion. This property of the transport roller would be lost over time due to wear due to intrusion of the cutting blade.

The cutting blade is preferably mounted in a displaceable manner and is prestressed in the direction of the transport roller by means of a spring device, in particular a compression spring. This makes it possible, in particular, for the cutting knife to slide along the surface of the transport roller, sitting on the surface of the transport roller, without penetrating into the transport roller, since the cutting knife can then move away from the transport shaft in the direction of contact with the surface of the transport shaft. At the same time, the spring force exerts sufficient pressure on the cutting knife to achieve a clean cut when separating a label.

In addition, it can be provided that at a given point in time, in particular when the label printer is started, a reference run is carried out and by means of a sensor device, which in particular includes a magnet traveling with the knife unit and an associated stationary magnetic field sensor, in particular a Hall sensor, a reference position of the knife unit, in particular the starting position, is calibrated. Knowing the reference position of the knife unit makes it possible to move the knife unit with a high degree of accuracy with regard to the absolute position between the respective starting position and the respective target position and vice versa.

In particular, the cutter unit can be moved linearly transversely, in particular perpendicularly, to a transport direction of the endless strip or carrier strip labels. The transport roller is preferably a driven transport roller, so that the endless strip or carrier strip labels are also pulled in the area of the cutter and kept under tension. However, a driven pressure roller of the label printer, in which the cutter is installed, usually ensures controlled transport of the endless tape or carrier tape labels.

In principle, however, the transport roller can also be a non-driven, traveling transport roller.

Further advantageous configurations of the invention are described in the dependent claims, the description of the figures and the drawing.

Fig. 1

eine Waage, insbesondere Ladenwaage, mit einem Etikettendrucker,

Fig. 2A, B

den Etikettendrucker aus Fig. 1 in Einzeldarstellung mit einer vorderseitigen Abdeckung und in einer Darstellung, in der die vorderseitige Abdeckung weggelassen ist, so dass ein Abschneider sichtbar ist,

Fig. 3

den Abschneider aus Fig. 2B in Einzeldarstellung mit einer Messereinheit,

Fig. 4A, B

die Messereinheit aus Fig. 3 in Einzeldarstellung mit einer einen Messerhalter und ein Schneidemesser umfassenden Baueinheit in einer Vorderansicht und in einer Darstellung, in der der Messerhalter ausgeblendet ist,

Fig. 5A, B

die Messereinheit aus Fig. 4A in einer Seitenansicht und in einer Explosionsdarstellung,

Fig. 6A, B

die Messereinheit aus Fig. 4A in einer Rückansicht und in einer Darstellung, in der die Baueinheit abgenommen ist,

Fig. 7

die Baueinheit aus Fig. 6B in einer Explosionsdarstellung,

Fig. 8A, B

die Messereinheit gemäß Fig. 4A in einer Darstellung mit ausgefahrener Baueinheit und in einer Darstellung mit zurückgedrängter Baueinheit,

Fig. 9

die Messereinheit gemäß den Fig. 8A und 8B in einer Zielposition

Fig. 10

ein erfindungsgemäßes Verfahren zum Abtrennen von EndlosbandEtiketten, und

Fig. 11

eine alternative Messereinheit in einer geschnittenen Seitenansicht.

The invention is described below by way of example with reference to the drawing. Show it,

1

a scale, in particular a shop scale, with a label printer,

Figure 2A,B

the label printer 1 in an isolated view with a front cover and in a view with the front cover omitted so that a cutter can be seen,

3

the cutter Figure 2B in individual representation with a knife unit,

Figure 4A,B

the blade unit 3 in an individual representation with a unit comprising a knife holder and a cutting knife in a front view and in a representation in which the knife holder is hidden,

Figure 5A,B

the blade unit Figure 4A in a side view and in an exploded view,

Figure 6A,B

the blade unit Figure 4A in a rear view and in a view with the assembly removed,

7

the assembly Figure 6B in an exploded view,

Figure 8A,B

the knife unit according to Figure 4A in a representation with the assembly extended and in a representation with the assembly pushed back,

9

the knife unit according to the Figures 8A and 8B in a target position

10

a method according to the invention for separating endless band labels, and

11

an alternative knife unit in a sectional side view.

In the 1 The exemplary retail scale 11 shown comprises a load plate 13 which determines the weight of an article lying on it, which is displayed both on a display 15 for the customer and on a display 17 for the seller. The display 17 is designed as a touch screen, so that the retail scales 11 can also be operated via this. An identification number (PLU) assigned to the respective article can be entered via the touchscreen 17 so that, taking the weight into account, a price can be calculated for the article, which is then also displayed on the two displays 15 , 17 . In addition, the retail scale includes a label printer 19 for printing a label with the weight, the name of the item and the price charged. Furthermore, in 1 A control device 20 of the retail scales 11 is shown schematically, which is integrated in the retail scales 11 and designed to control the operation of the retail scales 11, in particular including the label printer 19.

The label printer 19 is in Figure 2A shown in a single view from the front. In Figure 2B if a front cover of the label printer 19 in the form of a flap 21 and a cover section 22 separate therefrom is omitted, so that the interior of the label printer 19 can be seen. A receptacle 23 for a label roll and a deflection roller 25 can be seen inside the label printer 19 . A print head and a print roller of label printer 19, on the other hand, are in Figure 2B not visible.

The label printer 19 can be operated in particular with self-adhesive, carrier-free endless strip labels. Therefore the label printer 19 has a cutter 27 (which is shown in Figure 2B partially covered by a cover plate 28) with which the labels are separated from the continuous band. How out 3 results, the cutter 27 comprises a driven transport roller 29 for the endless strip labels, which can be rotated about an axis of rotation. In addition, a knife unit 31 is provided, which has a knife carriage 33 (cf. Figures 4A to 6B ), which can be moved linearly parallel to the axis of rotation of the transport roller 29, and a plate-shaped cutting knife 34 which is held in a rotationally fixed manner on the knife carriage 33 and is directed in the direction of the transport roller 29. In principle, however, the label printer 19 can also be operated with receipt paper.

The knife carriage 33 is designed as a spindle nut with a passage 35 with an internal thread, which is driven by an electric motor 39 to be movable in both axial directions of the threaded rod 37 via a threaded rod 37 with which it forms a threaded spindle. In order to ensure stable guidance of knife carriage 33 when moving knife carriage 33, cutter 27 also includes a straight guide running parallel to threaded rod 37, which is designed as a guide rod 41 with a round cross section, which extends through an opening in knife carriage 33 43 extends therethrough. The opening 43 has a slot-shaped cross section, so that tolerances in the distance between the threaded rod 37 and the guide rod 41 can be compensated.

The self-adhesive, carrier-free continuous tape labels are guided between the transport roller 29 and the knife unit 31, with the adhesive-coated side of the continuous tape labels facing the transport roller 29, which acts as a counter-holder for the knife unit 31, in particular the cutting knife 34 of the knife unit 31. The two opposite directions of movement of the knife carriage 33 run perpendicular to the transport direction of the endless strip labels. The print head and the platen roller are in the Figure 2B and 3 arranged behind or below the transport roller 29 and thus - as already mentioned above - not visible in the figures.

The knife carriage 33 has a base body 45 and a plate-shaped extension 47 projecting from the base body 45 in the direction of the transport roller 29, on which the cutting blade 34 is held by means of a plate-shaped blade holder 49 of the blade unit 31. The cutting knife 34 is arranged between the extension 47 and the knife holder 49 . The extension 47, the cutting blade 34 and the blade holder 49 are arranged with their flat sides lying against one another. The flat sides of these components are thus oriented parallel to the plane of movement of the cutting blade 34 when the blade carriage 33 is moved. The passage 35 for the threaded rod 37 and the opening 43 for the guide rod 41 are each provided in the base body 45 .

The knife holder 49 and the cutting knife 34 form a structural unit 51 (cf Figures 5A, 5B , 6B and 7 ), which is slidably attached to the extension 47 of the knife carriage 33 (see. The respective double arrow in the Figure 5A and 8A ), which is moved by a spring device 53 in the form of a compression spring into an extended position (cf. Figure 8A ) is pressed and when the blade unit 31 is placed on the endless strip labels 55 running between the transport roller 29 and the blade unit 31, it is pushed back into a retracted position against the spring force of the spring device 53 (cf. Figure 8B ). The spring device 53 is supported with one end on the base body 45 and with the other end on the structural unit 51, both on the blade holder 49 and the cutting blade 34, from.

The spring-loaded mounting of the cutting blade 34 or the structural unit 51 has the advantage that the cutting blade 34 or the tip of the cutting blade 34 does not or at least hardly penetrates the surface of the transport roller 29 when a label is cut off, but rather by a distance caused by the spacing between the Knife unit 31 and the transport roller 29 predetermined distance is pushed back from the extended position. This can prevent the surface of the transport roller 29 from being roughened by continuous cutting. This is because such a roughened surface would result in the continuous-strip labels sticking more and more to the transport roller 29 with their adhesive-coated side over the course of time, which would interfere with smooth transport of the continuous-strip labels.

How to look in particular Figure 4A (and also from the Figure 5A , 6A and 8A ). The depth of penetration of the cutting blade 34 into the endless strip labels thus always remains the same. This also applies in the case of tolerance-related unevenness in the surface of the transport roller 29. The overhang d is adapted to the thickness of the labels and selected in such a way that the labels can be reliably separated from the endless belt. For example, the overhang can have a value of between 0.1 mm and 0.8 mm, preferably between 0.2 mm and 0.3 mm.

The knife unit 31 is preferably aligned in such a way that the cutting knife 34 or the tip of the cutting knife 34 when the knife carriage 33 is moved along a cutting knife 34 or the tip of the cutting knife 34 closest surface line of the transport roller 29 runs. In principle, however, it is also possible for the cutting knife 34 or the tip of the cutting knife 34 to run along a generatrix of the transport roller 29 when the knife carriage 33 is moved, which has a predetermined offset from the nearest generatrix.

The displaceable attachment of the structural unit 51 comprising the knife holder 49 and the cutting knife 34 is ensured by an arrangement of elongated holes. For this purpose, a slot 57, 59 is formed in the blade holder 49 and the cutting blade 34, which are arranged congruently and through which a fastening screw 61 extends, so that the assembly 51 can be displaced along the two slots 57, 59. The fastening screw 61 is tightly screwed into a fastening hole 63 formed in the extension 47 of the knife carriage 33 .

So that the structural unit 51 is not immovably stuck on the extension 47 , the structural unit 51 is accommodated with play between the head of the fastening screw 61 and the extension 47 in the axial direction of the fastening screw 61 . The play is achieved in that a spacer sleeve 65 is provided, the extent of which in the axial direction of the fastening screw 61 is greater than the corresponding extent of the structural unit 51 and through which the shank of the fastening screw 61 is inserted, so that the spacer sleeve 65 also extends through the two elongated holes 57, 59 extends therethrough. The head of the fastening screw 61 abuts the spacer sleeve 65 at one axial end and the extension 47 of the knife carriage 33 abuts at the other axial end.

The knife holder 49 and the cutting knife 34 are plugged together to form the structural unit 51 . For this purpose, the blade holder 49 has two pins 67 that protrude in the direction of the cutting blade 34 and engage in corresponding openings 69 formed in the cutting blade 34 . These two connectors are opposite each other with respect to the fastening screw 61 or the spacer sleeve 65 . The two pins 67 of the blade holder 49 extend through the two openings 69 formed in the cutting blade 34 and each engage in a corresponding slot 71 formed in the extension 47 . This can reliably prevent the structural unit 51 from rotating about the longitudinal axis of the fastening screw 61 or the spacer sleeve 65 .

The knife carriage 33 is between a first end position to the right of the transport roller 29 (cf. Figure 8A ) and a similar second end position to the left of the transport roller 29 (not shown) can be moved back and forth and can separate labels in both directions. For this purpose, the cutting knife 34 has a cutting edge 73 in both directions of movement of the knife carriage 33 on the respective leading edge. The two cutting edges 73 together form a V-shape in the plane of movement of the cutting blade 34 when the blade carriage 33 is moved, as a result of which a particularly good cutting result can be achieved. Before changing the direction of travel, the endless tape labels 55 are motor-driven step by step, one label at a time.

An alternative method according to the invention for separating the endless tape labels 55 is in 9 shown. In the alternative method, a label is first printed, then the endless strip labels are transported further by one label and then the knife unit 31 or the knife carriage 33 is moved between a starting position which corresponds to the aforementioned first end position of the knife carriage 33 (cf. Figure 8A ), and a target position as shown in 9 is shown, proceed linearly. How out 9 results, the cutting blade 34 is located to the left of the left edge of the endless strip labels 55, ie the label to be separated has been completely severed. However, the severed label will be in the target position according to 9 from the knife unit 31 at the Transport roller 29 held and can then be removed from there by an operator.

The separated label is held in the target position of the knife unit 31 by the fact that the underside of the endless strip labels 55 rests on the transport roller 29 and when the knife unit 31 is moved from the starting position to the target position between the in the direction of the transport roller 29 Lying end face 56 of the knife holder 49, which rests on the top of the endless tape labels 55, and the transport roller 29 are clamped. This then also applies in particular to the severed label in the target position of the knife unit 31. Ultimately, the knife unit 31 or the knife carriage 33 is not moved completely into the aforementioned second end position, but only to the extent that the end face 56 of the knife holder 49 has a trailing section is still in the area of the endless strip labels 55 or the severed label. When the knife unit 31 is moved, the cutting knife 34 sits on the surface of the transport roller 29 in a sliding manner.

It is advantageous if, when moving the knife unit 31, the end surface 56 of the knife holder 49 runs along a surface line of the transport roller 29 that is closest to the end surface 56 of the knife holder 49, since this allows the severed label to be held particularly well. The cutting blade 34 or the tip of the cutting blade 34 then runs along a surface line of the transport roller 29 that is offset, in particular slightly, from this.

Thereafter, there is a wait until the severed label is removed by an operator. For this purpose, a detector device (not shown) is provided, which is used to detect whether the severed label has been removed by an operator. Only when this is the case does the knife unit 31 automatically move out of the target position. The blade unit 31 can either return to the starting position or to a further starting position that goes beyond the target position, which corresponds to the aforementioned second end position, and the continuous band labels 55 can be pulled back (reversing) before the next label is printed, which has already partially passed through the print area, up to the respective beginning of the label at which the label was severed. . The method steps explained above are then repeated for the next label to be separated.

If the knife unit 31 has moved on to the further starting position, the knife unit 31 moves in the opposite direction of travel, i.e. in the direction of the starting position, to a further target position (not shown) in order to cut off the next label 9 corresponds to the position shown, albeit at the right-hand edge of the endless belt label 55. The knife unit 31 is thus again not completely moved back into the first end position, but only to the extent that the end face 56 of the knife holder 49 with a trailing section continues to be in the area of the endless belt -Label 55 is located, so that the next separated label is held on the transport roller 29. After the next label has been removed, the knife unit 31 then moves back completely to the starting position.

In order to calibrate the starting position of the knife unit 31, a reference run of the knife unit 31 takes place when the label printer 19 is switched on Magnet 75 detected (cf. 3 ).

A flowchart that illustrates the method steps explained above is in 10 shown, the process steps being controlled or executed by the control device 20 . The alternative method can also be carried out with carrier tape labels in which the labels are applied to a carrier tape.

In 11 an alternative knife unit 31 to the knife unit 31 explained in the previous figures is shown. Unlike the previous knife unit 31, the knife unit 31 extends according to FIG 11 the spacer sleeve 65 not only passes through the structural unit 51, but also through the extension 47 of the knife carriage 33. In particular, the spacer sleeve 65 of the knife unit 31 is in accordance with 11 with the other axial end not on the side of the extension 47 facing the structural unit 51, but with a flange 79 formed on this end on the opposite side of the extension 47. Furthermore, the fastening screw 61 of the knife unit according to 11 not screwed into the extension 47, but in the spacer sleeve 65. In order to allow the aforementioned play of the structural unit 51, the extension of the spacer sleeve 65 in the axial direction of the fastening screw 61 is greater than the joint extension of the structural unit 51 and extension 47 of the knife carriage 33.

The alternative knife unit 31 according to 11 has the advantage that no fastening hole with an internal thread is required in the extension 47 . This is particularly advantageous when the knife carriage 33 with the extension 47 is made of a plastic. For the same reason, in the knife unit 31 according to FIG 11 an insert sleeve 81 is also provided in the passage 35 . The spacer sleeve 65 and the insert sleeve 81 can be made of a metal that can easily be provided with an internal thread for the fastening screw 61 or for the threaded rod 37. Incidentally, in the alternative knife unit 31 according to 11 although the two elongated holes 71 are designed as countersunk holes, they can just as well be designed as continuous elongated holes.

Reference List

11

shop scales

13

load plate

15

customer display

17

Operator touch screen

19

label printer

20

control device

21

flap

22

cover section

23

Recording

25

pulley

27

cutter

28

cover plate

29

transport roller

31

knife unit

33

knife slide

34

cutting knife

35

passage

37

threaded rod

39

electric motor

41

senior management

43

breakthrough

45

body

47

extension

49

knife holder

51

assembly

53

spring device

55

Continuous Tape Labels

56

end face

57

Long hole

59

Long hole

61

mounting screw

63

mounting hole

65

spacer sleeve

67

cones

69

opening

71

Long hole

73

cutting edge

75

magnet

77

magnetic field sensor

79

flange

81

insert sleeve

i.e

Got over

Claims (11)

1. A method of cutting off self-adhesive linerless endless tape labels (55) or carrier tape labels using a cutter (27) of a label printer (19), wherein the cutter (27) comprises a transport roller (29), which is rotatable about an axis of rotation, and a blade unit (31) that is linearly travelable in parallel with the axis of rotation of the transport roller (29) and that has a cutting blade (34) directed in the direction toward the transport roller (29),
   in which

   the endless tape or carrier tape labels (55) pass between the transport roller (29) and the blade unit (31),

   the endless tape or carrier tape labels (55) are transported further step-wise in a motorized manner, in each case by one label, and,

   in each case between two consecutive further transport steps, the blade unit (31) is linearly traveled in a motorized manner between a start position and a target position in order to cut off a label,

   characterized in that
   the blade unit (31) is traveled such that the label is completely cut off and is held at the transport roller (29) by the blade unit (31) in the target position of the blade unit (31).
2. A method in accordance with claim 1,
   characterized in that
   the cutting blade (34) projects with a fixed overhang (d) over an end face (56) of a blade holder (49) of the blade unit (31), said end face (56) being disposed in the direction toward the transport roller (29), with the endless tape or carrier tape labels (55) being disposed with a lower side on the transport roller (29) and, on the travel of the blade unit (31), the end face (56) of the blade holder (49) contacting an upper side of the endless tape or carrier tape labels (55) such that the endless tape or carrier tape labels (55) are clamped between the transport roller (29) and the end face (56) of the blade holder (49), and with the cut-off label being held in a clamping manner at the transport roller (29) by the end face (56) of the blade holder (49) in the target position of the blade unit (31).
3. A method in accordance with claim 2,
   characterized in that
   the blade unit (31) is only traveled so far that, in the target position of the blade unit (31), the end face (56) of the blade holder (49), with a trailing section, is still located in the region of the endless tape or carrier tape labels (55).
4. A method in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that

   the blade unit (31) is traveled such that the end face (56) of the blade holder (49) runs along a surface line of the transport roller (29) that is disposed closest to the end face (56) of the blade holder (49); and/or

   in that the blade unit (31) is traveled such that the cutting blade (34) runs along a surface line of the transport roller (29) that has a predefined offset from the surface line disposed closest to the end face (56) of the blade holder (49).
5. A method in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   it is detected by means of a detector device whether the cut-off label has been removed from the transport roller (29), with the blade unit (31) only being automatically traveled out of the target position when it has been detected that the cut-off label has previously been removed from the transport roller (29).
6. A method in accordance with claim 5,
   characterized in that,
   on the travel of the blade unit (31) out of the target position, the blade unit (31) is traveled back into the start position or further into a further start position going beyond the target position; and in that the endless tape or carrier tape labels (55) are subsequently transported further by one label.
7. A method in accordance with claim 6,
   characterized in that,
   to cut off the next label, the blade unit (31) is traveled from the further start position in the reverse direction of travel into a further target position, with the blade unit (31) in this respect again being traveled such that the next label is completely cut off and is correspondingly held at the transport roller (29) by the blade unit (31) in the further target position of the blade unit (31), with the blade unit (31) being traveled back into the start position after the removal of the next label.
8. A method in accordance with claim 7,
   characterized in that
   the cutting off of labels is continuously repeated first in the direction of travel and then in the reverse direction of travel.
9. A method in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the blade unit (31) is traveled such that the cutting blade (34) slides along the surface of the transport roller (29) seated on the surface of the transport roller (29) without penetrating into the transport roller (29).
10. A method in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that
    the cutting blade (34) is displaceably supported and is preloaded in the direction of the transport roller (29) by means of a spring device (53), in particular a compression spring.
11. A method in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that
    a reference travel is carried out at a respective predefined point in time, in particular on a start of the label printer (19), and a reference position of the blade unit (31), in particular the start position, is calibrated by means of a sensor device which in particular comprises a magnet (75) traveling along with the blade unit (31) and an associated fixed-position magnetic field sensor (77), in particular a Hall sensor.

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