VERFAHREN UND VORRICHTUNG ZUM BEDRUCKEN VON ETIKETTEN VERSCHIEDENER GRÖSSEN

The invention relates to a process for printing labels (2, 2', 2"; 6, 6', 6"; 10, 10', 10") arranged individually or on a backing strip (1, 5, 9) using a printing device, especially with a thermal printing head with a thermal print line, a conveyor and a synchronisation device to synchronise the paper transport. The contours (13, 14) of the labels or other markings (3, 4; 7, 8; 11, 12) are detected by a sensor while the labels are being conveyed through the printing device and the signal generated are processed in the printing device. The signals from the sensor are used to measure the current length of the label in the conveyor and the structure of the information intended for printing in the store is prepared dependently on the current length of the label in such a way that there is a predeterminable geometrical matching of the information to the target format of the label. The results are used to adjust the printing device and the modified structures of the content of the store are imaged on the label. The zoom factor (the ratio between the stored image and the target format of the image to be printed) may be selected so that it is a whole-number ratio to or multiple of the division ratio of the printing matrix of the printing device, especially the thermal print line of the thermal printing head, as far as possible. Likewise, the current width of the label (2, 2', 2"; 6, 6', 6",; 10, 10', 10") transversely to the conveyor can also be measured from the sensor signals.