Patent ID: 8113257

Claim:
A method for the multi-lane and multi-row application of labels on articles, which are guided in parallel lanes, said method comprising the steps of: dispensing the labels from a backing film by a label dispenser, which is disposed at a side of the lanes; taking up the dispensed labels by a conveyor belt, which is guided transversely over the lanes; and transferring the labels by a transfer device from the conveyor belt onto the articles, said step of transferring including the steps of: transferring the labels in consecutive rows from the conveyor belt to a section of a transfer belt, which extends transversely to the conveyor belt over and beyond the lanes, until a set with a specified number of label rows on the transfer belt section is completed; and driving the transfer belt, during an advance of the lanes, so as to dispense the set of label rows onto the articles; wherein the set of label rows includes multiple label rows that each include multiple labels, and the driving step is performed such that the entire set of label rows is dispensed onto the articles during a single advancing cycle of the lanes.