EP2093057B1 - Method and apparatus for removing used stamping foil - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method and to a device for disposing of spent embossing film web during operation of an embossing device according to the preamble of claims 1 and 8. In hot embossing in a hot embossing device to be embossed material layer, for example, a printing material or a printing substrate by a Carried out embossing gap between an embossing tool carrier device and a counter-pressure element, for. B. an impression cylinder is formed. The embossing tool carrier device carries one or more embossing tools which can be heated during hot stamping by means of a heating device. Depending on the type of embossing device, the embossing tool carrier device can have, for example, a flat shape - in so-called round-flat machines - or a cylindrical shape - in so-called round-round machines or rotary machines. During operation of the embossing device At least one embossing film web is moved by means of a film transport device with a predeterminable by the control of the film transport device web speed through the embossing gap that moves during a stamping interval at the same speed as the material layer to be embossed by the embossing gap. During the embossing interval, embossing material located on the embossing foil web, for example discrete stamping units lying one behind another, such as images, texts and / or holograms, or a part of a color layer or metal layer to be coated, is transferred to the material layer under the action of pressure and temperature. The embossing film web is thereby removed by the film transport device from a normally roll-shaped film supply and moved through the embossing gap, the spent embossing film is carried away and must be disposed of.

In general, successive embossing on the substrate have a certain distance from each other. Since it would be uneconomic to maintain the corresponding embossing units or ink layer areas at the same distance on the embossing film web, it is desirable to optimize film consumption that one behind the other to be embossed ink layer areas or consecutive embossing units are closer together on the embossing film than consecutive embossing on the substrate. This goal can be achieved in that the embossing foil web is guided out of the embossing interval slower than the material layer to be embossed, accelerated to material layer speed before the embossing interval and then braked again and possibly also retracted against the main transport direction.

The EP 0 718 099 B1 shows by way of example an embossing rotary machine with a film transport device, which such successive acceleration, deceleration, deceleration and retraction phases the embossing foil web with minimal mechanical stress of the usually quite thin and thus sensitive embossing foil web allowed. In this hot stamping device, the disposal is carried out by the spent stamping foil web is wound on a continuously rotating take-up storage roll. Between the last control devices of the film transporting device and the take-up reel actively involved in the control of the film web speed, a film loop store is provided, which allows the transition between the discontinuous film web movement in the region of the embossing gap and the continuous winding movement on the take-up reel. The take-up reel needs to be replaced from time to time for an empty reel, causing unwanted machine downtime.

From the EP 0 989 086 B1 is a hot stamping machine with a continuously operating disposal facility known. This has a designed as a suction roller transport roller over which the embossing foil web is guided over a certain angle of wrap, and cooperating with the transport roller mechanical separating device for severing the recorded on the circumference of the transport roller foil web section by means of a cutting blade. Since the embossing foil web is held on both sides of the separation point on the circumference of the transport roller, an undesired reaction of the mechanical cutting process on the film transport through the embossing gap can be prevented. The separated web sections are sucked off via a downstream of the transport roller suction and fed to disposal.

In the embossing device of DE 10 2005 003 787 A1 the embossing foil web intended for disposal is introduced into a storage chamber via a slip drive belonging to the film transport device, where it forms free-hanging or depositing loops. These form a reservoir for a discontinuous or alternating mode of operation the embossing device. The loops or packs may be cut individually at the disposal facility or wound up at the exit of the storage chamber to form coils.

One from the GB 2 254 586 On the waste side, a known embossing device has a disposal device, which operates in the manner of a shredder or document shredder, to which the used web material is fed by means of an upstream conveying station. This has two counter-rotating transport rollers, between which the sheet material is clamped and conveyed through. The conveyor station serves as an intermittently operating pulling device for the film transport, which is always carried out discontinuously with changing speed, but without withdrawal phases in the direction of the conveyor station.

It is an object of the invention to provide a method and apparatus for disposal of spent embossing film web which ensures quick and trouble-free disposal of spent embossing film web, especially in discontinuous film transport with successive acceleration, deceleration, deceleration and retraction phases of the embossing film web. The film disposal should be done without adverse effect on the controlled film movement through the embossing gap.

To solve these objects, the invention provides a method having the features of claim 1 and a disposal device having the features of claim 8. Advantageous developments are specified in the dependent claims. The wording of all claims is incorporated herein by reference.

In a method according to the invention, the embossing foil web is removed from a last control device of the film conveying device by means of a tension conveying device connected downstream of the film conveying device, which is designed to generate a pulling force acting on the embossing foil web independently of the direction and magnitude of the web speed of the embossing film web in the same pulling direction, as well as a severing of the embossing foil web in predeterminable time periods downstream of the Zugfördereinrichtung outside an engagement region of the Zugfördereinrichtung for generating separated embossing film web sections, which can then be disposed of.

The film transport device, which is also referred to below as "film plant", has one or more control devices actively involved in the control of the film web movement in order to precisely determine the web speed of the embossing film web in the embossing gap in terms of amount and optionally direction in accordance with a control program. To the control devices may e.g. the so-called clock rollers (or control rollers) include, which are in slip-free rolling contact with the embossing foil web and are precisely controlled in terms of rotational speed and direction of rotation. In particular, in film works, which are designed for a phased reverse sheet transport against the main transport device, also control devices can be used with slip drive. In addition to the active control devices, a plurality of passive guide means, e.g. Deflection rollers and / or Luftumlenkstangen, provided to determine the course of the stamping foil web (s) through the film factory.

The Zugfördereinrichtung is a separate from the elements of the film transport device, whose essential task is the (at least one) from the film transport device with varying speed exiting stamping foil web reliable to detect and exert on the embossing foil web a tensile force such that the embossing foil web still has a certain residual web tension even after exiting the film transport device and thus can be transported in an orderly form of the film transport device away. For this purpose, the tension conveying device can be designed such that the tensile force acting continuously or uninterruptedly at any time is less than the tensile forces acting on the embossing film web within the film transporting device, which are responsible for defining the web speed and the web position within the film transporting device. The pulling force of the pulling conveyor acts independently of the direction and amount of the web speed always in the direction of stripping the embossing film from the last control device of the film transport device to ensure an orderly stripping the embossing film without noticeable repercussion on the film transport within the film transport device. To generate the tensile force, the tension conveying device acts on the embossing foil web over a more or less extended engagement region in the web direction.

Downstream of the engagement area, i. on the side facing away from the film factory of the Zugfördereinrichtung, the embossing foil web is severed by measuring and / or control or otherwise defined time intervals by means of a separator, so that separate embossing foil web sections arise, the length of which essentially by the ratio between the global transport speed of the embossing foil web in Direction disposal side and the length of the time intervals between the Durchtrennungsschritten is defined and can be adjusted accordingly. These stamping foil web sections can then be disposed of in different ways.

In some process variants, the embossing foil web is phase-wise opposite to the main transport direction and thus counter to the effective direction the tensile force applied by the pulling conveyor retracted by a certain withdrawal distance, whereby the film consumption can be minimized. For these cases, it may be provided that the length of the engagement region of the Zugfördereinrichtung is greater than the amount of the maximum retraction distance of the embossing film web. In this way, a reliable Zugförderung the embossing foil web is also guaranteed if the severing of the embossing foil web takes place spatially immediately after the exit of the embossing foil web from the Zugfördereinrichtung.

In some embodiments, the embossing foil web is conveyed within the tension conveying device by means of a directed gas flow, in particular an air flow, substantially without contact in the pulling direction. Due to the pneumatic application of force, a particularly gentle and gentle pulling of the embossing foil web is possible and a tug on the embossing foil web, which could possibly react on the critical web transport within the film factory, is reliably avoided.

In some embodiments, the embossing foil web is pressed in the tension conveying device to generate sliding friction against a plane, curved or curved conveying surface that is moved in the pulling direction. Such variants can also be referred to as "slip drive", since the conveying surface at least temporarily, but preferably during the entire conveying time with an excess speed against the embossing foil web moves in the direction of pull, so that phases of static friction can be avoided. This also makes it possible to generate a gentle and tip-free tensile force on the embossing foil web, which remains without noticeable repercussion on the controlled film advance or retraction of the stamping foil web in the film factory.

Different embodiments of basically suitable slip drives are, for example, from EP 0 718 099 B1 are known and will therefore not be described here. However, while in the prior art slip drives are used as active control devices in the context of controlling the film movement through the embossing gap, in systems according to the invention an application outside the responsible for the defined film transport foil work is provided, the forces acting on the embossing foil from the slip drive forces usually can be significantly lower than when used in the context of film transport devices.

In some embodiments, the Zugfördereinrichtung contains at least one attacking on the embossing foil conveyor belt brush whose bristles transmit a contribution to the tensile force on the embossing foil web upon rotation of the conveyor brush. One or more conveying brushes may be provided in addition to other conveying means, for example in addition to a slip drive, within the scope of the tension conveying device. It is also possible for the tension conveying device to be designed as a brush conveyor, in which the entire pulling force acting on the embossing foil web is transferred by means of conveying brushes via mechanical contact, but very gently onto the used embossing foil web. The Zugfördereinrichtung may also be constructed in the manner of a rod chain conveyor or provide a rod chain promotion in addition to a further delivery principle.

The severing of the embossing foil web after release from the engagement region of the tension conveying device can take place mechanically, for example with the aid of a cutting blade which is pressed cyclically against a counter element. Shearing cutting by means of a cutting shear or the like is also possible. In preferred variants, however, a non-contact separation device is provided, so that the embossing foil web without contact, ie without mechanical Contact between the stamping foil web and an element of the separating device is severed. As a result, no mechanical force is exerted on the embossing foil web during the separation process, so that the promotion of the embossing foil web by the tension conveying device remains unaffected by the separating process. Of course, therefore, no repercussion of the separation process on the web transport through the embossing gap to be feared.

In some variants, the embossing foil web is melted by means of a locally concentrated heat action along a parting line extending transversely to the web direction, which is possible in the usually relatively thin embossing foil webs with plastic carrier films quickly and using relatively small amounts of heat energy. In some embodiments, to sever the embossing foil web, at least one laser is used whose laser beam is e.g. is guided by movement of the laser and / or by a movable deflection in the manner of a scanner along the parting line. It is also possible to use a hot gas jet device for cutting the embossing foil web, which may be e.g. produces a wider "hot gas knife" or a correspondingly finely bundled hot gas jet, which is guided across the stamping foil web. There are also other ways to sever the embossing foil web without contact with the aid of a jet tool, for example by means of a suitably fine and thus "sharp" liquid jet. As an alternative to non-contact thermal cut-through, a thermal cut-through can also be provided by means of a heating wire which can be electrically or otherwise heated and which, during a brief contact with the stamping foil web, introduces the heat energy required to melt the web along the dividing line.

Many suitable methods and devices can be used to dispose of the severed embossing film web sections. For some Embodiments, the separated embossing foil web sections are first guided via a suction device into a collecting device, which can then be replaced from time to time, even during operation of the embossing device. It is also possible to provide a shredder or another device for dividing the severed stamping foil web sections into smaller, possibly easier to dispose particles. Alternatively or additionally, a baling press or other means for compressing complete embossing film web sections (or comminuted products thereof) may be provided to obtain small volume waste packages. The waste products (embossing foil web sections or parts thereof) of one or more embossing devices can also be disposed of via a central extraction system.

An embossing device suitable for carrying out the method has an embossing unit in which an embossing gap is at least temporarily formed between an embossing tool carrier device and a counterpressure element, and a film transport device for transporting at least one stamping film web through the embossing gap with changing web speed, and a disposal device connected downstream of the film transport device for disposing of used embossing foil webs. The disposal device comprises a train conveying device connected downstream of the film transport device for removing at least one embossing film web from a last control device of the film transport device and a separating device connected downstream of the train conveying device for severing the embossing film web in predefinable time periods outside an engagement region of the train conveying device. The separator is usually followed by a disposal unit for disposal of separated embossing foil web sections.

The invention also relates to a corresponding disposal device, which may be assembled as a separate module and downstream of the last control device of the film transport device of an embossing device is to be removed in order to deduct spent embossing film web from the last control device in an orderly form.

Fig. 1

zeigt schematisch eine Rund-Flach-Prägevorrichtung zum Heißprägen von Materialbögen;

Fig. 2

zeigt schematisch eine berührungslos arbeitende, pneumatische Zugfördereinrichtung;

Fig. 3

zeigt schematisch eine Zugfördereinrichtung mit einem Saugförderband;

Fig. 4

zeigt schematisch eine Zugfördereinrichtung mit einer Saugwalze;

Fig. 5

zeigt schematisch eine Zugfördereinrichtung mit einer Saugwalze und nachgeschalteten Förderbürsten;

Fig. 6

zeigt schematisch eine Zugfördereinrichtung mit mehreren Paaren von Förderbürsten;

Fig. 7

zeigt schematisch eine Ausführungsform einer Trenneinrichtung mit einem quer zur Bahnrichtung verschiebbaren Laser;

Fig. 8

zeigt eine Ausführungsform einer Trenneinrichtung mit einen verschwenkbaren Heißgasstrahlerzeuger, und

Fig. 9

zeigt schematisch eine Trenneinrichtung mit einem elektrisch aufheizbaren Heizdraht.

These and other features will become apparent from the claims but also from the description and drawings, wherein the individual features each alone or more in the form of sub-combinations in an embodiment of the invention and in other fields be realized and advantageous and protectable Can represent versions. Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and are explained in more detail below.

Fig. 1

shows schematically a round-flat embossing device for hot stamping sheets of material;

Fig. 2

shows schematically a non-contact, pneumatic train conveyor;

Fig. 3

shows schematically a Zugfördereinrichtung with a suction conveyor belt;

Fig. 4

schematically shows a Zugfördereinrichtung with a suction roll;

Fig. 5

schematically shows a Zugfördereinrichtung with a suction roll and downstream conveyor brushes;

Fig. 6

shows schematically a Zugfördereinrichtung with several pairs of conveying brushes;

Fig. 7

shows schematically an embodiment of a separating device with a transversely movable to the web direction laser;

Fig. 8

shows an embodiment of a separator with a pivotable hot gas jet generator, and

Fig. 9

schematically shows a separator with an electrically heatable heating wire.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic side view of an embodiment of an embossing device 100, constructed as a round-flat machine and is designed for embossing sheet-like substrate made of paper, cardboard, plastic and / or other flexible sheet material by means of hot stamping. The embossing device 100, also referred to as a hot embossing device, has an embossing unit 102, which comprises an embossing tool carrier device horizontally movably guided on the machine bed 104 of the embossing device and an impression cylinder 108 arranged with a horizontal axis of rotation above the machine bed, between which an embossing gap 110 is temporarily formed during operation of the device when the embossing tool carrier 106 is located in the area below the impression cylinder. The embossing tool carrier device 106 is reciprocated horizontally by a drive, not shown, along linear guides and is intended to carry replaceable embossing tools or types 107 on its upper side facing the counter-pressure cylinder, which are heated to temperatures above 100 ° C. by means of an integrated electrical heating device can be heated.

The material to be printed sheets are held on a supply stack or feed stack 112 shown on the right with the side to be embossed up and are in operation of the embossing device via a oblique feed table 114 supplied to the impression cylinder 108 of the embossing tool in a flaky arrangement. Around the circumference of the impression cylinder are gripper systems which are adapted to grasp each leading edge of a sheet and to pull on the surface of the uniformly rotating impression cylinder. During the gripping process, an orientation of the printing material sheet takes place, for example with respect to the leading edge or to certain image layers. The printing material sheet hanging with its front edge on the circumference of the impression cylinder is guided in the rotation direction shown from left to right through the embossing gap and thereby embossed in a manner which will be described later. After the embossing interval, the embossed material sheet is transferred to the display system 120 shown on the left, which extends with an oblique conveyor to the periphery of the impression cylinder and a gripper system or bands or the like, which convey the printing material sheets sequentially on the discard pile 118. The delivery system is in other embodiments on the same side of the embossing machine as the application system.

When passing through the embossing gap (in the figure from left to right), the surface of the material sheet to be printed has a speed which, depending on the material thickness of the printed sheet, substantially corresponds to the peripheral speed of the lateral surface of the continuously rotating impression cylinder.

During operation of the embossing device, at least one embossing film web 130, 130 'is moved through the embossing gap 110 by means of a film transporting device 140 with a changing web speed that can be precisely predetermined by the activation of active control devices of the film transporting device. The very thin embossing foil web, whose typical thickness can be for example in the range between 10 .mu.m and 20 .mu.m, usually consists of a relatively tough Plastic carrier film, on the front side 131 of which a layer system with a thermally activatable separating layer, the actual embossing layer (for example ink layer or metal layer or hologram or image or the like) and a thermally activatable hot-melt adhesive layer is applied, which forms the front side of the embossing film web.

The web speed of the embossing film web is controlled by control-active control means of the film transport device so that it runs through the embossing gap 110 at the same speed (in terms of amount and direction) with the material layer to be printed during an embossing interval. At the same time, the linearly displaceable embossing tool carrier device 106 is accelerated from its starting position shown on the left in the direction of the impression cylinder so that the embossing tools 107 also have the same speed during the embossing interval as the material layer to be embossed and the embossing film web guided between the material layer and the embossing tool. As a result, the embossing unit is transferred to the material layer to be embossed during the embossing interval under the influence of pressure and temperature. After the tool carrier device has been moved in the forward direction during the embossing interval synchronously with the material layer and the embossing film web, it is braked after completion of the embossing interval until it reaches the stop position shown on the right in dashed lines. During the return to the start position of the impression cylinder 108 is slightly raised, so that the return of the tool carrier device without contact with the embossing foil web or the impression cylinder is possible.

As in Fig. 1 On the left side, the film transporting device 140 can guide a plurality of adjacent embossing film webs 130, 130 'in parallel, for example 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6. The film transporting device 140 allows the embossing film web to be outside the embossing interval slower than the material layer to be printed, accelerate to material layer speed before the embossing interval and then decelerate again and retract against the main transport direction 149 in a retraction phase. By means of this discontinuous film web movement with retraction phases it can be achieved that the transferred embossing units or ink layer areas can be arranged directly successively on the embossing film web, even if the embossing locations are significantly further apart on the printing material, whereby the film consumption can be minimized.

Each embossing film web is fed from a supply roll 141, 141 'shown on the left by a film loop storage 142 via a suction roller 143 rotating against the main transport direction and passive deflection devices (eg air rods or blower tubes and / or deflection rollers) in the direction of the embossing gap 110 and There, via a plurality of passive deflection devices (eg air rods or blower tubes and / or deflection rollers) are guided to a so-called clock roller or control roller 145, which represents the "zero point" of the film web movement within the system of the film transport device. The film web is there, starting from an upstream deflection roller or deflecting over a relatively large wrap angle, for example, between 130 ° and 180 ° over the circumference of the clock roller in the direction of the downstream disposal facility 150 out. The clock rollers or control rollers 145 are controllable with the aid of suitable electromotive drives with respect to the direction of rotation and rotational speed, so suitable for a forward-reverse operation, and are among the control-active control means of the film factory. They are formed in the example as a low-mass suction rollers and each have a looped by the film web area with perforations, by means of a suction fan, a negative pressure can be generated, the reliable the wrap-around film web section on the Extends the circumference of the suction roll, so that a rolling contact with static friction is ensured without any slippage. Alternatively, or in addition to the suction, the slip-free rolling contact can also be ensured by means of pressure rollers or inflation or the like. The control rollers 145 arranged downstream of the embossing gap cooperate with the suction roller 143, which continuously rotates counter to the main transport direction, at the exit of the film loop storage 142 in order to ensure sufficient web tension in the useful region 148 therebetween and to precisely control the film web speed and direction. For this purpose, the suction roller 143 preceding the embossing gap is operated as a traction device with slip drive, which continuously exerts a tensile force in the direction of the film loop accumulator 142, ie against the main transport device 149, on the at least one embossing foil web guided over it. The tensile force is large enough to ensure the web tension in the embossing gap and to effect a return transport of the embossing foil web when the control roller or timing rollers 145 rotate in the counter-clockwise direction, ie in the return transport direction. However, the tensile force generated by the slip drive 143 is insufficient to overcome the stiction built up between the embossing film web and the tact roller circumference, so that the web position of the embossing film web and its web speed are accurately determined solely by the rotational position and rotational speed of the suction roller 145.

During operation of the device, the above-described discontinuous movement of the embossing foil web with retraction phases through the embossing gap is thus brought about by the interaction of the clock rollers 145 arranged downstream of the embossing gap with the slip drive 143 arranged upstream of the embossing gap. Since at the same time the unused embossing foil web is fed by the continuously rotating supply rolls 141, 141 ', the degree of filling of the vacuum foil loop store 142 changes, which is in acceleration phases partially emptied with rapid feed of embossing foil web and fills in braking phases and retraction phases of the embossing foil web further. The film loop store thus decouples the side of the continuous film inlet from the region of the discontinuous film web movement between the slip drive 143 and the slip-free control rollers 145.

Especially with embossing devices with discontinuous film feed and optionally film retraction, the disposal of the spent embossing foil webs is a challenge, since this should be ideally achieved without the machine downtime caused by the disposal and without the means for disposal in any way on the precisely controlled film transport to work back through the embossing gap. For this purpose, the disposal device 150 comprises a pull conveyor 145 immediately downstream of the Zugfördereinrichtung 160, which subtracts the at least one embossing foil web from the upstream her last last control device 145 of the film transporting device 140, and one of the Zugfördereinrichtung 160 downstream separation device 170, which exiting from the Zugfördereinrichtung (n ) Stamping foil web (s) from time to time severed so that embossing foil web sections of suitable length arise, which can be easily disposed of subsequently.

The train conveying device has an inlet side facing the film unit 140 and an outlet side facing the separating device 170 and an intervening, in the exemplary case, rectilinear engagement region 161 in which it acts on the stamped foil web in the sense that the embossing foil web leaves the stamping foil web away from the cycle rollers pulling force arises, which always acts in the same direction of pull 165, namely away from the timing rollers, regardless of the direction and amount of the web speed of the embossing film. As a result, the spent embossing foil webs also outside of the controlled movement in the useful region 148, ie downstream of the clock rollers 145, held in an orderly form and under tension and transported away from the film transport device. The tensile force acts uninterrupted or continuous and is less than those forces that would be necessary to deduct the embossing foil web, overcoming the static friction of the circumference of the suction rollers 145. As a result, the control rollers 145 reliably shield the critical effective region 148 of the embossing film web movement through the embossing gap from reactions from the region of the disposal device 150. The length of the engagement region 161 in the web direction in this embodiment is greater than the maximum retraction distance by which the embossing film web is retracted during operation of the embossing device. In this way, it can be avoided that the free end of a stamping foil web is pulled out of the train conveying device after a severing of a stamping foil web section in the event of a subsequent withdrawal movement and thus comes out of engagement with the train conveying device. Typical lengths of the engagement region may be, for example, at least 20 cm or at least 30 cm or at least 40 cm or at least 50 cm or more.

In the operation of the apparatus, when a sufficient length of the spent embossing film web has been conveyed through the pulling conveyer by the intermittent feed in the main transport direction 149, the separator 170 activating an embossing film web section is activated. This can subsequently be conveyed for example by a suction device 180 in the direction of a shredder 190 or a baling press or another disposal unit for film web sections.

There are numerous possibilities for the design of a Zugfördereinrichtung. The pulling conveyor 260 in FIG Fig. 2 is a non-contact, pneumatic device (air conveyor) without moving Elements designed in which the embossing foil web 130 is conveyed exclusively in the pulling direction 165 by means of a directed air flow. In a flat, rectangular housing 261 of the air conveyor 260, a flat conveying channel 262 is formed, in which a plurality of embossing foil webs, for example two, three, four, five, six or more embossing foil webs, are juxtaposed. The conveying channel 262 has a measured perpendicular to the web passage level width of the order of one or a few centimeters and is bounded on both sides by oblique air passages surface nozzle elements 263 which produce obliquely in the conveying direction directed upon application of compressed air air streams on both sides, ie on the front and at the back of the embossing foil web, attack. With suitable control, the embossing foil webs can be conveyed between extensively vortex-free air flows in the pulling direction 165 without the embossing foil webs coming into contact with elements of the tension conveying device. The pneumatically applied tensile forces ensure an orderly guidance of the conveyed film web sections, wherein at the same time the applied tensile forces are so low that no effect on the film web movement through the embossing gap occurs.

In Fig. 3 5, there is shown a slip-drive pull conveyor 360 having a peripheral perforated conveyor 361 with an integrated suction box 362. The suction box generates through the holes of the conveyor belt through a suction force on the embossing foil web, through which the embossing foil web is pressed onto the continuously moving in the pulling direction conveying surface of the conveyor belt. The conveyor belt is moved at an excess speed with respect to the embossing film web in each phase of the operation, so that the embossing film web is conveyed at this device via sliding friction, which acts on a relatively large, flat conveying surface.

Fig. 4 shows another variant of a train conveyor 460 with slip drive. In this case, a suction roll 461 is provided, which is arranged between two deflection rollers 462, 463, that the (at least one) embossing foil web is passed over a wrap angle of about 90 ° on the cylindrically curved circumference of the suction roll in a suction active area in which the embossing foil web is sucked onto the circumference of the rotating suction roll. Again, there is always an excess speed of the suction roll against the embossing foil, so that only sliding friction is produced, whereby a continuously gentle tensile force is exerted on the embossing foil web, regardless of whether in the direction of the downstream separating device or, in a retraction phase, in the direction of the film transport device is moved.

The Zugfördereinrichtung 560 in Fig. 5 is a variant of in Fig. 4 shown Zugfördereinrichtung with a suction roll 561 and arranged on both sides deflecting means, wherein the downstream deflection device is formed by a pair of counter-rotating conveying brushes 565, which actively contribute to the film transport in Zugrichtung 165. To avoid film folding, the conveying brushes rotate at an excess speed with respect to the embossing foil webs and also with respect to the suction roller 561.

The Zugfördereinrichtung 660 in Fig. 6 is designed as a pure brush conveyor and includes in the example, four pairs each oppositely rotating conveyor brushes 665, which together form a straight conveyor line for each guided through the embossing foil web. The relatively long bristle conveyor brushes exert a continuous, gentle tensile force on the embossing foil web, which acts in the direction of the downstream separating device. However, they also allow a retraction of the embossing foil web against the pulling direction 165th

The FIGS. 7 to 9 show some examples of embodiments of separating means which cut the embossing film web (s) after exiting the engagement region of the upstream Zugfördereinrichtung at certain time intervals transverse to the longitudinal direction of the embossing foil web (s). In the separator 770 in Fig. 7 For example, a laser 771 which is linearly movable transversely to the transport direction of the film web and emits a laser beam 772 whose radiation energy is sufficient to melt the thin, substantially plastic embossing film web and thereby to separate along a parting line 775 extending transversely to the web direction. In each case several parallel embossing foil webs can be severed in a separating step. Since this thermal separating device operates without contact, no mechanical forces are exerted on the embossing foil web, so that a retroactive effect of the separating process on the film transport through the embossing gap is excluded.

The time periods between the separations may be fixed by suitable programming, but it is also possible to control the timing of the separations on the basis of measurements of the passed embossing foil web length. In any case, embossing foil web sections 130A of defined length are produced, which can subsequently be reliably disposed of without great expense.

The separator 870 in Fig. 8 has a hot air blower, which emits a finely bundled hot air jet 872 via a nozzle head 871 which can be swiveled about a vertical axis, which transversely sweeps over the embossing foil web during pivoting of the nozzle head and melts along the dividing line produced thereby, so that a severed embossing foil web section 130A is formed. Also in this non-contact variant, a retroactive effect on the film transport in the film factory is excluded.

Alternatively, similar to the laser 771, the hot air blower can also be linearly displaceable transversely to the web direction. Alternatively, the laser 771 may be pivotable, e.g. similar as shown for the hot gas blower.

The thermal separator 970 in Fig. 9 has an electrically heatable heating wire 971, which is clamped between two synchronously parallel to each other linearly movable bearings 974 so that it extends transversely to the longitudinal direction of the embossing foil web (s) and can be moved substantially in the direction perpendicular to the film web surface. For severing one or more embossing foil webs, the heating wire is briefly brought along the entire length of the continuous embossing foil web and melts this with short contact contact along the entire parting line, so that a separate embossing foil web portion 130A is formed. Even with this working contact contact variant, no forces acting in the direction of the film web arise.

Each of the in the Fig. 2 to 6 shown Zugfördereinrichtungen can with each of the in the Fig. 7 to 9 The separating devices are preferably each arranged directly behind the corresponding Zugfördereinrichtungen, ie without intermediate deflection, which may be provided, however. For example, if the non-contact, pneumatic Zugfördereinrichtung 260 combined with the laser separator 770 or the hot gas separator 870, so is neither for the Zugförderung, nor for the separation of a touch contact to the embossing foil required, so that the disposal without any repercussion on the film transport remains.

The method and associated apparatus for treating the embossing foil webs downstream of the last active ones described herein Control device of the film factory can be used in differently structured embossing machines. For example, the embossing machine can be constructed as a pure rotary machine (round-round machine). The disposal facilities can also work together with differently constructed film transport devices. For example, the film work can be constructed substantially as it is in the EP 0 718 099 B1 is shown, namely with the embossing gap downstream traction device with slip drive and a cooperating with the pulling device, the embossing gap upstream controllable film feeding device. Thus, it would be possible, for example, to swap the position of the suction roller 143, which acts as a traction device with a slipping drive, and the position of the clock rollers 145 with respect to the embossing gap, in which case the traction device with slip drive would permanently exert a tensile force in the direction of the disposal device.

The invention can be used in different variants of hot stamping as well as in various cold stamping techniques.

Claims (15)

1. Method for disposing of used embossing foil web during the operation of an embossing apparatus, wherein at least one embossing foil web (130, 130') is moved with the aid of a foil transport device (140) with varying web speed through an embossing gap and is subsequently supplied to a disposal device (150),
   characterized by the following steps:

   removing the embossing foil web (130, 130') from a final control device (145) of the foil transport device (140) by means of a tension conveying device (160) positioned downstream of the foil transport device, which tension conveying device produces a tension force acting on the embossing foil web in the same tension direction (165) independently of the direction and value of the embossing foil web speed;

   severing the embossing foil web in predeterminable time intervals downstream of the tension conveying device outside an engagement area (161) of said tension conveying device for producing severed-off embossing foil web portions;

   disposing of the severed-off embossing foil web portions.
2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the tension force of the tension conveying device (160) is at all times lower than the tension forces acting on the embossing foil web within the foil transport device (140).
3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the embossing foil web (130, 130') is retracted by a given retraction distance in a phasewise manner counter to the tension force applied by the tension conveying device, wherein preferably an amount of a maximum retraction distance of the embossing foil web during operation is smaller than the length of the engagement area (161) of the tension conveying device.
4. Method according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the embossing foil web within the tension conveying device (360, 460, 560) is pressed onto a conveying surface moved in the tension direction, which moves with a speed excess compared with the embossing foil web in the tension direction, and/or wherein the tension conveying device (560, 660) includes at least one conveying brush (565, 656) engaging on the embossing foil web, whose bristles, on rotating the conveying brush, transfer a contribution to the tension force on the embossing foil web, wherein end portions of the bristles acting on the embossing foil web move with a speed excess compared with the embossing foil web in the tension direction.
5. Method according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the embossing foil web within the tension conveying device (260) is conveyed in the tension direction in an essentially contactless manner, preferably by means of a directional gas flow.
6. Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein for severing the embossing foil web (130, 130') is melted with the aid of a locally concentrated thermal action along a cutting line running transversely to the web direction, and/or wherein during severing the embossing foil web (130, 130') is severed in a contactless manner.
7. Method according to claim 6, wherein for severing the embossing foil web use is made of a laser (771), with the laser beam (772) thereof being guided along the cutting line (775).
8. Disposal device (150) for disposing of used embossing foil webs passing out of a foil transport device downstream of a final control device (145) of the foil transport device (140),
   characterized by
   a tension conveying device (160) positionable downstream of the final control device (145) of a foil transport device (140) for removing at least one embossing foil web from the final control device (145) of the foil transport device, and by a severing device (170) downstream of the tension conveying device for severing the embossing foil web in predeterminable time intervals beyond an engagement area (161) of said tension conveying device.
9. Embossing apparatus, in particular for performing the method according to any of claims 1 to 7, comprising an embossing mechanism (102), wherein at least temporarily an embossing gap (110) is formed between an embossing tool carrier device (106) and a counter-pressure element (108);
   a foil transport device (140) for transport of at least one embossing foil web through the embossing gap with varying web speed; and
   a disposal device (150) positioned downstream of the foil transport device for disposing of used embossing foil webs,
   characterized in that
   the disposal device (150) is configured according to claim 8.
10. Embossing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the foil transport device includes active control devices (143, 145) arranged to retract the embossing foil web in a phasewise manner and counter to the tension force applied by the tension conveying device (160) by a retraction distance, wherein preferably an amount of a maximum retraction distance is smaller than a length of the engagement area (161) of the tension conveying device.
11. Embossing apparatus according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the final control device of the foil transport device has a control roller (145) controllable with respect to the rotation direction and rotation speed, which control roller is constructed as a suction roller.
12. Embossing apparatus according to any of claims 9, 10 or 11, wherein the tension conveying device is constructed as an essentially contactless operating tension conveying device, preferably is a pneumatic tension conveying device (260) for producing a directional gas flow.
13. Embossing apparatus according to any of claims 9, 10 or 11, wherein the tension conveying device (360, 460, 560) includes at least one conveyor element (361, 461, 561) with a conveying surface moving in the tension direction onto which the embossing foil web can be pressed, and/or wherein the tension conveying device (560, 560) includes at least one rotary conveying brush (565, 665), whose bristles, on rotating said conveying brush, transfer a contribution to the tension force onto the embossing foil web, wherein preferably at least one pair of oppositely rotatable conveying rollers is provided, between which at least one embossing foil web can be passed.
14. Embossing apparatus according to any of claims 9 to 13, wherein a thermally operating severing device (770, 870) is provided, which preferably is configured in such a way that the embossing foil web can be melted with the aid of a locally concentrated thermal action along a cutting line running transversely to the web direction.
15. Embossing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the severing device (770) includes a laser (771), with the laser beam thereof being guided along the cutting line.

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