Apparatus and method for providing film sheets, application apparatus for populating articles with film sheets

An apparatus for providing film sheets that are self-adhesive on at least one side, the apparatus comprising:

• a film dispenser for providing a film strip having at least one carrier film and a film for use that is self-adhesive on at least one side arranged thereon, the film for use being divided or divisible into film sheets;
• and
• a conveying device for conveying the film strip from the film dispenser together with the carrier film on a guide track;
• and a removal station, for receiving the film strip together with the carrier film from the guide track and for removing the film for use from the carrier film, the removal station having a carriage which, at the end thereof opposite the film dispenser, has a separating edge, over which the carrier film can be drawn by the conveying device, and to which an actuator is assigned for displacing the carrier film along the guide track;
• wherein the removal station is assigned a gripper which grips a film sheet located in front of the separating edge, as seen in a conveying direction, and holds the film sheet stationary, while the carriage is displaced on the guide track by the actuator counter to the conveying direction of the carrier film and, at the same time, the carrier film is drawn away over the separating edge for detachment from the film sheet.