METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PROVIDING A LICENCE PLATE, PREFERABLY A MOTOR VEHICLE LICENCE PLATE, WITH A DATA CARRIER

Abstract

A device for the automatic fitting of vehicle registration plates with data carriers. A plurality of work stations interlinked by at least one conveyor are provided for this purpose. The work stations are equipped with handling devices and associated imaging devices. As a result, a respective data carrier can be automatically gripped and placed in its precise position in the opening and prefixed there. The data carriers are then each cast automatically in the opening for the permanent fixation of the data carrier in the opening of the registration plate.

Claims

1. A device for providing a registration plate, preferably a motor vehicle licence plate, with at least one data carrier (14) which can be read contactlessly, with at least one work station (10, 11, 12) and with at least one plate body (15) having at least one receptacle for a data carrier (14) or with a material web for the formation of plate bodies of the registration plate, wherein a plurality of work stations (10, 11, 12) arranged in succession is provided and at least one conveyor (13) for interlinking the work stations (10, 11, 12) is provided.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one work station (10, 11, 12) is assigned a means, preferably at least one measuring or imaging device (26; 33, 35, 36), for determining the position of the respective plate body (15) or of the material web for the formation of plate bodies and/or of its receptacle (14) or of its receptacles on the conveyor (13) or on the respective conveyor (13).

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a first work station (10) and/or third station (12) is assigned a handling device (24) having at least one dispenser device (25), with the first work station (11) and/or the third work station (12) having at least one device, preferably an imaging device (26), for determining the position of the plate body (15) and/or of its receptacle or of the material web for the formation of plate bodies on the conveyor (13) or on the respective conveyor (13).

4. The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein a second work station (11) is assigned a stocking device (31) which preferably has a pre-supply conveyor (30) for the provisioning of a plurality of data carriers (14) or which is configured as a pre-supply conveyor (30), and/or the second work station (11) has a handling device (27) which is configured for the purpose of gripping at least one single data carrier (14) from the stocking device (31) and/or the second work station (12) is configured for placing the relevant data carrier (14) into the respective predetermined receptacle of the plate body (15) or material web.

5. The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the second work station (11) has at least one measuring or imaging device (33, 35, 36), which supplies the handling device (27) with the position of the data carrier (14) to be gripped at the stocking device (31) and/or the pre-supply conveyor (30) and/or the second work station (11) has a further measuring or imaging device (35) for determining the position of the data carrier (14) after the latter has been gripped by the handling device (27).

6. The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the handling device (27) of the second work station (11) has at least one suction device (29) for pneumatically retaining the or each gripped data carrier (14) by means of negative pressure.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention will be discussed in more detail in the following on the basis of the drawing, in which

[0033] FIG. 1 shows a perspective representation of a motor vehicle licence plate (not yet covered with film),

[0034] FIG. 2 shows a partial cross-section through the motor vehicle licence plate in FIG. 1, on an enlarged scale,

[0035] FIG. 3 shows a perspective total view of the device according to the invention,

[0036] FIG. 4 shows a side view of a first work station of the device in FIG. 3,

[0037] FIG. 5 shows a top view of the work station in FIG. 4,

[0038] FIG. 6 shows a side view of a second work station of the device in FIG. 3, and

[0039] FIG. 7 shows a top view of the work station in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0040] The device shown as a whole in FIG. 3 has three work stations 10, 11 and 12, which are each assigned different individual operations. In the shown exemplary embodiment, the three work stations 10, 11 and 12 are interlinked by two parallel, preferably identical conveyors 13, which are realised as belt conveyors. However, the invention can also be realized with different conveyors, conveyors running in different courses, more than two conveyors and/or with only a single conveyor 13.

[0041] The device is employed to provide, preferably to fit, registration plates, in particular motor vehicle licence plates, with data carriers 14 that can be read and/or written contactlessly. This may involve RFID chips which operate at various frequency ranges, but also NFC (Near Field Communication) chips, for example. In the present exemplary embodiment, it will be assumed that each registration plate is to be fitted with a single data carrier 14. However, the invention is also suited for fitting identification tags with a plurality of identical or even different data carriers 14.

[0042] In the case of the exemplary embodiment shown here, the data carrier 14 is provided, in particularly connected, to a plate body 15 of the licence plate made of an electrically conductive material, such as aluminium or, alternatively, a synthetic material that has been made at least partially electrically conductive. For this purpose, the plate body 15 has a receptacle for the data carrier 14. In the present exemplary embodiment, the receptacle is formed as a punched-out opening 16 in the plate body 15, for example. However, the receptacle can also be a depression in the plate body 15. The opening 16 extends uninterrupted with the same cross-section from a front side 37 to the rear side 39 of the plate body 15 (FIG. 2). The opening 16 has a base area corresponding to the contour of the data carrier 14. However the opening 16 is somewhat larger that the base area of the data carrier 14, so that the outer edge 17 of the data carrier 14 is spaced all around, preferably evenly, from the contour 18 of the opening 16 after the data carrier 14 has been inserted in the opening 16. This produces a gap 19 running all the way round between the data carrier 14 and the opening 16. The ring-shaped gap 19 is preferably of uniform width at all points.

[0043] In the shown licence plate the plate body 15 has an elongated slit 38. The slit 38 leads to a narrow side in the opening 16, thus forming a transition from the slit 38 to the opening 16. The slit 38 forms in particular at least one part of an antenna for the data carrier 14.

[0044] The data carrier 14 is permanently connected to the plate body 15 in the opening 16 by means of casting with a castable, non-conductive casting compound, such as a castable plastic and/or synthetic resin which preferably hardens or cures with UV radiation. Here the data carrier 14 can be completely embedded in the casting compound so that the casting compound not only fills out the circumferential gap 19 but also covers the complete surface of the front side 37 and/or rear side 39 of the data carrier 14. If necessary, one side of the data carrier 14 can remain uncovered by the casting compound or casting material.

[0045] In the shown exemplary embodiment the plate body 15, specifically the front side 37 (the side facing up in FIG. 2) of the plate body 15 visible in its assembled state, is covered or laminated with a thin film 20, for example a self-adhesive film. The film 20 extends at least across the surface area of the opening 16 and an adjacent circumferential region of same. If required, the film 20 covers the entire bottom side of the plate body 15 (FIG. 2).

[0046] The first work station 10 is configured for the purpose of attaching a single adhesion site 21, but also a number of adhesion sites 21 if necessary. The adhesion site 21 can be a small-area casting compound or adhesive point, for example. The adhesion site 21 is applied in the contours of the opening 16 or, alternatively, in a trough-like depression, preferably in the centre of the area. The application of the adhesion site 21 in the opening 16 or depression results in the adhesion site 21 being positioned on the film 20 freely exposed in the region of the opening 16. The adhesion site 21 is then located on the film 20 inside of the opening 16. The adhesion point 21 can be formed from a hot glue or a casting compound capable of solidifying, for example, which still exhibits adhesive characteristics after application for the purpose of pre-fixing the data carrier 14.

[0047] The first work station 10 can be dispensed with if the adhesion site 21 is formed by the adhesive layer on the bottom side of the film 20 (FIG. 2) facing the interior of the opening 16 because then no separate adhesion site 21 needs to be applied.

[0048] Following the first work station 10inasmuch as it is not dispensablein the direction of transport 22 of the conveyor 16 is the second work station 11. In this work station 11 the plate body 15 is fitted with the data carrier 14 by the automatic insertion of the data carrier 14 in the opening 16. In the process the bottom side of the data carrier 14 is placed on the adhesion site 21 in the opening 16 or directly on the film 20 and pressed upon it if necessary in order to pre-fix the data carrier 14 in the opening 16 of the plate body 15.

[0049] The third work station 12, which follows the second work station 11 in the direction of transport 22, serves to embed and/or recast the data carrier 14 in the opening 16 of the plate body 15, thus protectively accommodating the data carrier 14 in the opening 16 and fixing it permanently in the opening 16 to achieve a non-detachable and damage-free connection of the data carrier 14 to the plate body 15. In addition, the casting or embedding of the data carrier 14 in the opening 16 results in insulating the data carrier 14 from the electrically conductive plate body 15.

[0050] Located upstream of the first work station 10 is a magazine (not shown) with a supply of a plurality of plate bodies 15. The magazine can be realised such that it can accommodate batches of plate bodies having different formats. Individual plate bodies 15 are automatically taken from the magazine one after the other, for example by means of an appropriate charging device, and placed on upper strands 23 of the conveyor 13, preferably in an alternating manner. Depending on the configuration of the device, this can occur at specific positions on the upper strand 23 as established by stops and/or carriers for the plate bodies, for example, but also in an approximate position, as an alternative. However, the orientation of the plate body 15, particularly with respect to its opening 16, should preferably always be the same.

[0051] The plate bodies 15 are inversely positioned on the upper strand 23 of the conveyor 13, in other words with the rear side 39 facing upwards, in order that the openings 16 in the plate bodies, which are covered by the film 20 on the front side 37 of the plate body 15, are freely accessible from the rear side 39 of the plate body 15. By virtue of the openings 16 in the plate bodies 15 being freely accessible at the rear side, adhesion sites 21 can be introduced into the openings 16 and the openings 16 can be fitted with data carriers 14. In addition, the openings 16 open at the rear can be casted as such.

[0052] The first work station 10 is equipped with a handling device 24, which bears a dispenser device 25 at the end of its arm. The dispenser device 25 is realised such that it can release in a targeted manner a drop of a flowable casting material for the formation of the adhesion site 21. The dispenser device 25 is assigned a stocking means and, in addition, a heating device in case the glue or adhesive being used is a type of hot glue.

[0053] The first work station 10 is in addition equipped with an imaging device 26, for example a camera, which may be a two- or three-dimensional camera, which can be either a black-and-white camera or a colour camera. The imaging device 26 determines the position of the opening 16 of the plate body 15 held ready on the upper strand 23 of the respective conveyor 13 in the first work station 10. Image data recorded by the imaging device 26 are transferred to a control system of the handling device 24, where the position of the opening 16 relative to the handling device 24 and/or to the dispenser device 25 is calculated from the data. On the basis of the position thus calculated, the handling device 14 can move the dispenser device 25 into the position designated for the application of the adhesion site 21 at the opening 16 and apply the adhesion site 21 on the film 20 preferably at the centre of the opening 16.

[0054] The second work station 11 also has a central handling device 27. Located at the free end of a gripper arm 28 of the handling device 27 is at least one suction device 29 charged with negative pressure 29 and with an elastically deformable suction pad. The suction device 29 is configured and dimensioned such that it holds with negative pressure a flat side, specifically the top side, of a data carrier 14.

[0055] In the shown second work station 11, the handling device 27 is arranged somewhat between the inner conveyor of the two parallel conveyors 13 running adjacent to one another and a pre-supply conveyor 30 of a stocking device 31. The stocking device 31 contains a stock of a number of preferably identical data carriers 14. Data carriers 14 are taken one by one from this stock to an upper strand 32 of the pre-supply conveyor 30 which is realised as a belt conveyor. There is always a plurality of data carriers 14 lying on the upper strand 32 with arbitrary orientation. Here the top or bottom sides of the data carriers 14 can lie facing upwards or downwards at random. The conveyor belt of the pre-supply conveyor 30 can be driven preferably continuously at a low speed such that the upper strand 32 of the conveyor 13 continues to move along with the data carriers 14 upon it contrary to the direction of transport 22.

[0056] The second work station 11 has a first imaging device 33 in the region of pre-supply conveyor 30 above its upper strand 32. Said imaging device records an image of all data carriers 14 on the upper strand 32 or at least those located in the action area of the gripper arm 28 of the handling device 27. The imaging device 33 also records which side of the data carrier 14 lies upwards. Following the evaluation of the data transferred from the imaging device 33 to the control system of the stocking device 31, at least one suction device 29 of the handling device 27 is driven, as determined by the data of the imaging device 30, to the position of such a data carrier 14 which can be easily gripped and which is suited for fitting the plate body 15 because it lies the right way round on the upper strand 32 of the pre-supply conveyor 30, that is to say, with its top side actually facing upwards, and which is also intended to lie facing upwards after the plate body 15 has been fitted.

[0057] Data carriers 14 which lie the wrong way round on the upper strand 32 of the pre-supply conveyor 30 are not gripped and transported by the pre-supply conveyor 30 back to the start of the pre-supply conveyor 30 or stocking device 31. They continue to circulate and, if oriented correctly, return to the start of the pre-supply conveyor 30.

[0058] The drive of the pre-supply conveyor 30 can be temporarily shut down for the visual recording of the data carriers 14 and for the suction action to be applied to a selected data carrier 14 by the suction device 29 of the handling device 24. Provision is preferably made that the pre-supply conveyor 30 is driven continuously, specifically at a constant uniform speed which the control system of the handling device 27 can take into account or compensate.

[0059] The handling device 27 is preferably assigned a read station 34 near the pre-supply conveyor 30. After a data carrier 14 has been gripped by the suction device 29 of the handling device 27, this read station 34 serves to read in a contactless manner at least one item of information already stored on the data carrier 14. For example, this can be a serial number of the data carrier 14, but also, as an alternative or in addition, at least one other specification, such address data. On the basis of this information, the licence plate can be identified once the plate body 15 has been fitted with the data carrier 14.

[0060] Furthermore, the second work station 11 can have a testing device which checks the data carrier 14 gripped by the handling device 27 as to whether it is in order, in particular if it can be read.

[0061] The testing station is preferably integrated into the read station 34 so that the reading of at least one item of information from the gripped data carrier 14 is simultaneously linked with its testing. For example, the non-readability of the desired information indicates a faulty function of the data carrier 14. Such a data carrier 14 is unusable and is removed as a reject by being released by the handling device 27.

[0062] Following or, if necessary, even during the readout of the desired data from the carrier 14, the data carrier 14 retained by the suction device 29 of the handling device 27 is recorded by a second imaging device 35 with respect to its exact position under the suction device 29, in other words on the handling device 27. This imaging device 35 is arranged between the pre-supply conveyor 30 and the conveyor 13 opposite thereto, specifically below the suction device 29. In this way, the data carrier 14 held by the suction device 29 of the handling device 27 passes by the imaging device 35 on its way to the conveyor 13. As it moves past the imaging device 25, or briefly pauses at the latter, the imaging device 35 measures the relative position of the data carrier 14 held by the suction device 29. As a result, it is possible to establish, for example, the position at which the data carrier 14 is held by the handling device 27 as expressed in a coordinate system running through the vertical longitudinal centre axis of the suction device 35. The data of the second imaging device 35 transferred to a control system of the handling device 27, specifically the acquired position values, provide the handling device 27 with the first reference values for the insertion of the data carrier 14 into the opening 16 of the plate body 15 in the precise position.

[0063] The second work station 11 has at least one further imaging device 36. In the shown device having two conveyors 13, each conveyor 13 is assigned its own imaging device 36. Each of the two imaging devices 36 is disposed above one of the two parallel conveyors 13. The respective imaging device 36 captures the position of the opening 16 of the plate body 15 lying turned over on the respective conveyor 13. The plate body 15 that is first brought into a position that is readily transferable for a data carrier 14 has priority in being fitted with the data carrier 14 momentarily held by the handling device 27 (first in-first out principle). If, for example, a plate body 15 is on an outer conveyor 13, the opening 16 is recorded by the imaging device 36 associated with said conveyor. The image data are then transferred to the control system of the handling device 27, which calculates the exact position of the opening 16 of the plate body 15. This calculated position of the opening 17 provides the handling device 27 with the second position required for the fitting operation. The data carrier 14 held by the handling device 27 is then positioned by the latter exactly over the opening 16 of the plate body 15 on the outer conveyor 13 and inserted into the opening 16. This is done by having the data carrier 14 placed, and if necessary pressed down, in the exact position provided in the opening 26 earlier at the first work station 10, namely onto the adhesion site 21 on the film 20 lying directly on the conveyor 13 under the plate body 15 lying upside down on the conveyor 13, whereby the adhesion site 21 pre-fixes the data carrier 14 in the position it has been inserted to by the handling device.

[0064] When the plate body 15 is fitted with the data carrier 14 in the second work station 11, the pre-fixing of the data carrier 14 on the plate body 15 is made in particular by the at least one adhesion site 21. In addition, the automatic fitting process is executed in such a targeted manner that results in the circumferential gap 19, preferably of equal width, being formed between the edge of the data carrier 14 and the contours 18 of the opening 16, thus ensuring that the data carrier 14 has no contact with the conductive plate body 15.

[0065] The third work station 12 following the second work station 11 serves to fix the data carrier 14 permanently in the opening 16 of the plate body 15. For this purpose, in the third work station 12, the space of the opening 16 not filled in by the plate body 15 is recast with a flowable insulating material, such as a plastic and/or synthetic resin compound which hardens or cures with UV radiation. The space in the opening 16 left empty by the data carrier 14 is thereby filled out, preferably completely. In the process, at least the circumferential gap 19 between the edge 17 of the data carrier 14 and the contours 18 of the opening 16 is filled out, thus producing an all-round bridge-like connection of the data carrier 14 with the plate body 15. At the same time, the electrically non-conductive casting material serves to form in the gap 19 an insulation barrier all around the data carrier 14 so that the latter has no electrically conductive contact with the plate body 15. In particular, the casting material also fills out the intermediate space between the film 20 and the bottom side of the data carrier 14 formed by the adhesion site 21 attached to the film 20 in the first work station 10 for the pre-fixing operation in the region of the opening 16. As a result, the entire bottom side of the data carrier 14 is also wetted and covered with casting material. When the data carrier 14 is cast in the opening 16, even the top side of the data carrier 14 can be completely covered by the casting compound over its entire surface. The data carrier 14, enclosed on all sides by the casting compound, is thereby fixed in the opening. Furthermore, the data carrier 14 is completely embedded in the electrically non-conductive casting compound. This also causes the casting compound to be flush with the rear side 39 of the plate body 15.

[0066] The casting of the data carrier 14 in the third work station 12 is carried out by a handling device assigned to the latter. To this end, the handling device, exactly like the handling device 24 of the first work station 10, is equipped with a dispenser device, which can be supplied with a stored quantity of a flowable and/or castable compound or some other electrically non-conductive substance.

[0067] The third work station 12 also has an imaging device. This imaging device records image data used to calculate the position of the plate body 15 on the respective conveyor 13 and/or of the opening 16 and/or of the data carrier 15 inserted therein. The handling device then moves the dispenser device arranged on it for a flowable casting compound, or a casting compound made flowable by heating, to the position above the data carrier 14 in the opening 16 of the plate body 15 as determined by the imaging device, where a precisely metered quantity of casting compound for casting or recasting the data carrier 14 in the opening 16 is delivered by the dispenser device. The casting compound then flows into the cavity between the opening 16 and the data carrier 14 and fills it out completely before it hardens and/or cures, e.g. under the influence of light.

[0068] Finally, the cast plate body 15 fitted with the data carrier 14 is removed by the relevant conveyor 13 to a stacking and/or packaging device for plate bodies 15 provided with data carriers 14. If necessary, the conveyors 13 can be lengthened downstream of the third work station 12 to form a finishing line. This allows the casting compound to harden sufficiently and cool off if necessary, thus ensuring that the final fixation of the data carrier 14 in the opening 16 of the plate body 15 can no longer become detached.

[0069] In place of all or only some of the imaging devices 26, 33, 35 and 36 it is possible to employ measuring devices with a different configuration and which do not necessarily involve cameras.

[0070] The invention is also not restricted to three interlinked work stations. The number of work stations may be greater or less. For example, the first work station can be omitted if the film 20 is self-adhesive on the side facing the opening 16 because then the application of at least one adhesion site 21 on the film 20 in the region of the opening 16 is no longer necessary. It is also conceivable, for example, to consolidate the second work station 11 and the third work station 12 and/or to interconnect a plurality of work stations.

[0071] It is also possible to vary the number of conveyors 13. It is possible to have more than two conveyors 13 or even just a single conveyor 13. Likewise, the conveyors 13 do not necessarily have to be realised as belt conveyors. They may also be pocket conveyors, operable roller conveyors or the like.

[0072] A second exemplary embodiment of the invention not shown in the drawings provides for fitting a continuous and/or band-shaped material web made of the material of the plate body, in particular aluminium or another such electrically conductive material, with data carriers and permanently connect them with the material webs. Following in succession in the longitudinal direction of the material web, preferably in tight formation, the plate bodies are chained by the material web to each form a licence plate. The material web have a width which corresponds to the width of the licence plate or which is somewhat wider. The material web can be unwound endlessly and/or continuously from a supply reel.

[0073] The material web has recesses, either openings or depressions, at specifically defined positions for one data carrier each. For this purpose, the material web has preferably a single receptacle, if necessary a plurality of receptacles, for each plate body or license plate to be punched from it.

[0074] After the receptacles of the material web have been provided with data carriers one by one and attached thereto, blanks, in particular plates, for the plate body of each license plate are punched from the material web in succession. At the same time, or subsequently, the plate body can be provided with a circumferential embossed edge. Later, the intended characters, in particular letters and/or digits as well as other marks as necessary, are embossed into the plate bodies that have been fitted with at least one data carrier.

[0075] In the following it will be assumed that registration plates, preferably motor vehicle licence plates, each having only a single data carrier, are to be produced from the material web, without this restricting the scope of the invention.

[0076] The material web having a receptacle for the data carrier of each licence plate is moved along three individual and successive work stations, preferably three work stations pursuant to the exemplary embodiment described previously, specifically in a non-continuous manner with brief standstill periods at the individual work stations. For this purpose, the individual work stations can be interlinked with a common conveyor as in the previously described exemplary embodiment. But it is also conceivable to provide merely one support running past all work stations, for example a roller track with non-driven rollers. The material web is then further transported by it being pulled along on the base, support or roller track. Here a supply of the material web is preferably drawn off a roll or the like at the same time.

[0077] Like the pre-fixing conducted at the first work station and the final fixation, in particular the casting of the receptacles, namely the space left open in the region of the receptacles at the third work station, the fitting of the receptacles of the material web with data carriers at the second work station is in principle executed in the device of this exemplary embodiment exactly as explained in the case of the previously described exemplary embodiment, with references being made to the preceding description of the device and method of the first exemplary embodiment shown in the figures.

[0078] In a departure from the previously described exemplary embodiment of the invention, the openings for the data carrier are applied in the material web or material strips at precisely the positions indicated for the subsequent punching out of the licence plate or plate body. As it passes the individual work stations the material web or the material strip is guided, for example by means of stops, laterally or in other words transversely to the continuation or transport direction. As a result, the openings are precisely aligned at the individual work stations transversely to the longitudinal direction of the strip-like material web. Due to the exactly positioned openings in the longitudinal direction of the material web, the further transport of same from one work station to the other can be stopped at every work station at the exact position. This can be achieved by measuring devices, for example light barriers as well as signal receivers for driving the further movement of the strip-shaped material web. As a result, the openings in the web or in the material strips of preferably all work stations are held ready in an exact position. For applying the data carriers to the openings, the handling devices can then be brought in a targeted manner to the exactly determined positions of the data carriers in the material web.

[0079] Provision is preferably made for spacing the individual work stations in succession from one another so that when the further transport of the material web is stopped in a position determined by a measuring device, for example, the activities assigned to all work stations, specifically at least the application and simultaneous pre-fixing of the respective data carrier in or on the receptacle as well as the final fixation of the data carrier by means of casting or recasting, can be carried out.

[0080] When the data carriers are applied in or on the receptacles of the continuous material web, it is not absolutely necessarily for imaging devices located at least at some working stations to record the position of the receptacle where the receptacles are to be provided with data carriers and/or the data carriers are to be cast in the receptacles. Since the receptacles have been provided in the material web at precisely predetermined positions, The measuring devices described previously are also sufficient for positioning the material web at the work stations, preferably at all work stations simultaneously, in order to position the data carriers on or in the receptacles correctly and precisely and for the final and permanent fixation of the data carriers in or on the receptacles with casting compound. In this case, it is not absolutely necessary to provide handling devices at least in the first and/or third work station.

[0081] In case the bottom side of the material web is already coated with a self-adhesive film and the receptacle is realised as a continuous opening in the material web, it is possible to dispense with, if appropriate, the application of at least one adhesion site at the first work station as described previously with respect to the first exemplary embodiment. Then the first work station does not have to be present in this second exemplary embodiment.

[0082] If in the case of this exemplary embodiment a first work station for the application of at least one adhesion site of glue or a casting compound is still provided, the at least one adhesion site does not necessarily have to be applied by a handling device. On account of the receptacle in the material web which is always held ready at the same position at the work station, it may be sufficient to provide at least one dispenser device at this position at the first work station, preferably a stationary dispenser device.

[0083] The third work station orif the first work station is not presentthe last work station also does not necessarily need to be equipped with a handling device for casting the data carrier applied in the previous work station because the material web is also halted at this last work station such that the respective receptacle with the already applied data carrier is always located exactly at the same position. There is then no need to provide any handling device at this last work station. It can suffice to provide merely at least one dispenser device for the casting compound, preferably a stationary one.

LIST OF DESIGNATIONS

[0084] 10 first work station [0085] 11 second work station [0086] 12 third work station [0087] 13 conveyor [0088] 14 data carrier [0089] 15 plate body [0090] 16 opening [0091] 17 edge [0092] 18 contour [0093] 19 gap [0094] 20 film [0095] 21 adhesion site [0096] 22 direction of transport [0097] 23 upper strand [0098] 24 handling device [0099] 25 dispenser device [0100] 26 imaging device [0101] 27 handling device [0102] 28 gripper arm [0103] 29 suction device [0104] 30 pre-supply conveyor [0105] 31 stocking device [0106] 32 upper strand [0107] 33 imaging device [0108] 34 read station [0109] 35 imaging device [0110] 36 imaging device [0111] 37 front side [0112] 38 slit [0113] 39 rear side