JP2795536B2 - Method and apparatus for transferring a peelable foil to a moving web - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for transferring foil from a carrier tape (48) to a moving web (2) comprising a rotatable cylinder (17) including at least one die (51). The web is traversed around the cylinder. A transport mechanism (42, 49) which is rotatable with the cylinder indexes the tape generally lengthwise of the cylinder and over the position of the die. The tape travels along a guide (59) in the cylinder. Where the tape passes over the position of the die a roller or band presses the web against the tape and the die.

Description

The present invention relates to the transfer of foil from a foil carrier tape to a moving web, such as a web, using impression dies, and more particularly, on a moving web. Transfer of the foil to a preprinted bill or other security in a single device or a discontinuous pattern.

It is generally known to imprint a thermally peelable foil from a carrier onto paper. In this step, the following is required. That is, a pressing metal plate that is installed inside a cylindrical heating platen (platen) or as a part of the pteran. In addition, the substrate
The foil that is transported on board. Among these foils, a metal foil is typical, and this foil can be peeled off from the substrate by applying heat and pressure. What is further needed is a means for applying pressure to the paper to transfer the foil peeled from the carrier to the paper. The features of the means and materials employed in the above technical processes are not important for the present invention, and are generally applied to all forms of foil that can be transferred onto paper in the manner described above. . Foil includes, in addition to metal foil, holograms, diffraction gratings, and various types of thin films. The web can be formed from a material such as polyester.

In the above technique, it is necessary to apply heat and pressure sufficiently in time, and the length of time depends on the degree of the heat and pressure. The foil, metal plate, and paper must be relatively fixed until the foil is peeled from the carrier and the foil is surely pressed against the piece of paper. Therefore, it is relatively easy to stamp a foil on a cut form of securities by using the above-described technique.

However, the invention relates to imprinting the foil on a moving web. The web is a web formed of paper or other material, such as polyester. As an example, it is known to print banknotes and other securities on a web that travels at about 75 meters per minute, while leaving the components of the device relatively stationary while transferring the foil. It is inherently difficult to put it.

To solve the above problem, it is natural to move the foil in the same direction as the web. For example, providing a cylindrical platen with a built-in gold plate, moving the foil carrier around the platen in synchronism with the web, and applying pressure to the web while the foil carrier is confined to the plate and web is problematic. Is resolved. The above arrangement of operating the apparatus to satisfactorily transfer the foil to the web is feasible. However, these techniques are not sufficient to transfer foils of separate designs. Because the designs are spaced at least the distance of two consecutive securities printed on paper, the above technique wastes foil unnecessarily, and at least wastes time proportional to the change in winding of the foil. Is very expensive if you take into account.

The present invention provides a compact and versatile foil transfer device such that when transferring foil from a foil carrier tape to a moving web, the foil transfer is not constrained by web movement and the foil is used very economically. It is to provide.
However, as will be apparent from the following description, the present invention includes further improvements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to transferring foil from a carrier tape to a moving web by pressing the moving web against a metal plate held on a rotating cylinder. The foil carrier tape is transported in a direction substantially transverse to the direction of web movement while being fed and continuously transferred between the plate and the web.

The most important advantage of this technique is that the transfer of the foil is not constrained by the movement of the web, and it is feasible to use the foil very economically.

In particular, several gold plates are held in a cylinder that rotates in synchronization with the movement of the web. The foil tape is transported in a direction inclined with respect to the direction in which the metal plates are placed at regular intervals. The reason for this is that each metal plate is drawn along and across a strip (tape guide), preferably from regions that are regularly spaced on a straight line oblique to the strip (tape guide). This is to transfer the foil. As a result, the distance of transfer of the foil tape between transfers is relatively short, and waste of the tape can be considerably reduced. The above technique is particularly suitable for imprinting a single design on each of a large number of rows and columns of banknotes and securities printed at regular intervals in the cross-shaped direction on the web.

Pressure can be applied to the web by a pressing roller or band that is associated with the web. It can be driven by a pressing band or a roller, and can be idled by engaging with a cylinder. In particular the band is carried between rollers or gears, these rollers or gears tensioning the band and driving the band so that the band is fixed against the web in the area where the band extends around the cylinder I do. It is also possible for the web to drive the stamping cylinder (or rotating cylinder, hereinafter the same) 17 by virtue of the contact between the web and the cylinder, by means of said rollers or bands.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided: A device consisting of a rotating cylinder containing at least one metal plate to transfer the foil from the carrier tape to the moving web, a means for traversing the web around the cylinder, a substantially longitudinal direction of the cylinder (axial Direction) and a means rotatable with the cylinder for transporting the tape over the position of the plate, and means for applying pressure to the web.

The means for transporting the tape comprises a tape supply mechanism and a tape take-up mechanism, which are held in an assembly that rotates with the cylinder.

The supply mechanism comprises a spool (winding frame) and means such as a brake for maintaining the tension of the tape. The spooling mechanism includes a spool operable to rotate the tape at a fixed angle by a set moving distance each time the winding mechanism passes through at least one set position in a rotation angle direction of the rotary cylinder. Or a spool associated with said means. For example, given a circular track engaged with a follower, incremental movement of the tape by manipulating the pawl
nt) to move the cam to cause the follower to operate.

As mentioned above, the rotating cylinder includes a set of stamping plates spaced approximately along a line extending approximately in the axial direction of the cylinder. Further, the means for transporting the foil carrier tape includes a means for guiding the carrier tape, and the pressing metal plate is moved from a position having a certain interval in the longitudinal direction along the tape and in the transverse direction across the tape. The guide is oriented to engage with.
Multiple sets of plates are angularly rotated around the cylinder (angu
larly) equally spaced, each set preferably being associated with a transport mechanism for transporting the foil onto each set of plates.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an overall view of a foil transfer apparatus, mainly showing a web path, various rollers and a driving mechanism.

FIG. 2 shows the stamping cylinder 17 and the foil transport mechanism connected to it.

 FIG. 3 shows the tape take-up reel assembly.

 FIG. 4 shows a tape supply reel assembly.

 FIG. 5 shows a part of the tape winding assembly.

 FIG. 6 shows the details of the imprint cylinder 17.

 FIG. 7 shows a partial cross section of the imprint cylinder 17.

FIG. 8 is another view of the portion shown in FIG.

 FIG. 9 is a detailed view of the metal plate area.

FIG. 10 is another view of the metal plate area shown in FIG.

 FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the winding assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The following is a preferred embodiment of a foil transfer unit devised for transferring small designs or small patterned foils to specific portions of a moving web. Although the invention can be used in other contexts, it has been specifically devised for the purpose of producing foil devices to be imprinted on banknotes and other securities.

The general technique for transferring foil is well known and is sometimes referred to as "blocking". This technique requires a heated metal plate placed on a heated platen and a metal sheet, typically a thermally transferred foil, fixed to a substrate so that it can be peeled off. A certain period of time, determined by the degree of heat and pressure,
By pressing the paper against the gold plate and sandwiching the foil between the substrate and the paper, the foil can be transferred from the substrate to the paper in a pattern determined by the gold plate.

As mentioned above, in order to transfer the foil continuously, a gold plate,
It is necessary that the carrier (ie, tape) and the paper remain relatively fixed for a certain period of time. As a fourth device component, the means for applying pressure to the back of the paper must also be relatively fixed, as with other components, such as a metal plate. It is known and not difficult to transfer the foil by means of a certain size or shape of a metal plate onto a piece of paper that has been fixed for the time required to transfer the foil.

Banknotes and securities are manufactured by two generally different types of machines. Banknotes and securities can be printed on sheets and also on the web. At some stage, the web is cut like a sheet, but there is usually a difference between sheet and web machines. In sheet-fed machines, the majority of the printing process is performed on cut-off sheets, which are typically printed with a series of banknotes or securities. In web machines, almost all processes and printing take place on moving webs. The invention particularly relates to the latter web machine. Typically, securities are printed in several rows, and the web moves continuously through the many steps required to print banknotes or other securities. Web machines having such general characteristics have a known construction and will not be described here. What is important for the purposes of the present invention is that the web passing through the foil transfer device is
Typically, it moves continuously at about 75 meters per minute.

FIG. 1 shows a web (winding paper) path of an embodiment of the foil transfer apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 1 mainly shows the web, the rollers through which the web passes, and the drive mechanism for the rollers shown schematically.

Arrow 1 indicates the direction of movement of web 2 entering the foil transfer device near the bottom of the device. The web passes through a fixed roller 3, a dancing roller 4, a fixed roller 5, and an additional fixed roller 6. The dancing roller 4 is mounted on an arm 7 arranged on a pivot (rotating shaft) 8 mounted on a support 9. Conventional means for measuring the angular position of the arm 7 may be provided. The arm 7 and the roller 4 constitute a tension arm, and the angular position of the arm is determined by a web loop formed between the roller 3 and the roller 5. The rate of ch of the length of this loop
ange) is determined by the difference between the speed of the web entering the foil transfer device and the speed of the rollers 13, which are used to draw the web into the foil transfer device and control the speed of the web. After leaving roller 6, the web is
Steering unit (steer) consisting of 10 and rollers 10a
ing unit) and these two rollers 10 and 10
a is mounted on each end of a pivot chassis 11, which is rotatable about a vertical axis to maintain the correct lateral position of the web in the foil transfer device.

The web exiting the steering unit passes around the rollers 12 and then around stretching rollers 13 driven by a motor 26 by means described below. Stretching roller 13
After passing through the fixed rollers 14, the web enters a loading guide wheel 15 disposed at one end of the circumferential path. In the present embodiment, this circumferential path is a semicircular path 16, which is a half circumference of the imprint cylinder 17. The end of the semicircular road is determined by the second guide wheel 18,
After passing around the second guide wheel 18, the vehicle advances to the roller 19.
Finally, as indicated by reference numeral 2a, the web leaves near the top of the device.

A large wheel 13a connected to a car 21 by a flexible drive coupling 20 is associated with the stretch roller 13 and the wheel 21 is fixed to a wheel 22 connected to a car 24 by a flexible drive coupling 23. Fixed rotation
al relationship). Fitting 23 is a jockey car (joc
nervous by key wheel) 25. Vehicle 24 is driven differentially with vehicle 24a at some variable rate due to a gearbox. The wheels 24, 24a are coaxially connected to the gearbox. Imprint cylinder 17
The purpose of this mechanism for changing the speed of the drawing roller 13 in relation to the purpose is to synchronize the pitch of the preprinted web 2 with the pitch of the stamping die on the impression cylinder 17. The angular position of the pressing cylinder 17 is monitored by an encoder, and the position of the preprinted web 2 leaving the stretching roller 13 is monitored using an optical sensor. Errors in the position of the web in comparison to the correct position are used to cause a change in gearbox ratio. This change creates a tensional change in the web between the stretch roller 13 and the impression cylinder 17 in the sense of eliminating errors. This mechanism in known form is not shown in FIG. 1 for convenience. The vehicle 24a is driven by the output shaft of the motor M by the flexible drive coupling 27.
8, and two cars 29, 30 which tension the joint 27, respectively. The wheel 28 rotates with a pinion (small gear) 31, which meshes with a pinion 32 fixed to rotate with the wheel 33.

In this embodiment, the imprint cylinder 17 is driven by at least one band, preferably at least two bands, which are on the underside of the paper to bring the paper into close contact with the plate held by the imprint cylinder 17. Apply pressure to This will be described later. Belt 34 is car
Driven by 33, it passes through the roller 18, goes around the semicircular path 16, passes through the roller 15, and goes around the tension roller 35 mounted on the movable carriage 36. The movable carriage 36 is adjustable to change the tension of the band 34. Another driving tension belt 37 is driven by a wheel 33 at an axially offset position relative to the belt 34, passes through the rollers 18, goes around the half-circuit, passes through the rollers 15, the tension of the band 37 Passes through a roller 38 mounted on a carriage 39 which can be adjusted.

Bands 34 and 37 are both compression bans
called d). The reason for this is that the two bands function to bring one sheet of paper into close contact with the impression cylinder 17 like a pressure roller, with the web facing the cylinder. The bands 34, 37 are preferably formed from synthetic rubber or plastic. Both of these bands have a flat and smooth surface facing the roller 15. In addition, the rear faces of these bands 34, 37 engage with co-operating gear teeth on the associated vehicle so that they are driven without skidding. It has the shape of a wavy rack.

Apart from the above, when the web passes through the metal plate by a roller installed in place of the roller 15, pressure is applied to the web. Such pressure rollers are idlers.
r) or driven.

FIG. 1 or a schematic of the tape supply cassette assembly 49 mounted for rotation with the imprint cylinder 17 is also shown. The take-up (wind-up) assembly is also mounted for rotation with the imprint cylinder 17 and will be described in connection with FIGS.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of an imprint cylinder. In the present embodiment, this cylinder includes a set of metal plates 51,52,53. In this embodiment, these plates are stamped cylinders.
They are aligned along an axis parallel to the 17 axes. Each plate is held in a forward or pressed position by a conical cam. When the cam retracts, the metal plate also retracts according to the movement of the return spring, as described later.

As a typical example, a large number of sets of metal plates may be placed around the impression cylinder 17 at regular intervals. This imprint cylinder 17
Corresponds to the full length of the printing paper in the circumferential range, including the spacing between the printing papers pre-printed on the web.

As mentioned above, the web (winding) is an imprint cylinder
17 is wound at a considerable angle (substantial angle).
The imprint cylinder 17 is driven in synchronism with the web, so that each row of the plate accurately overlays its position on a particular row of securities to which the foil design is to be transferred. Imprint cylinder 17
And the web are driven synchronously, so that the web is relatively fixed with respect to the metal plate and the pressing band while the impression cylinder 17 rotates by a considerable amount.

The cassette assembly 42 including the spool 43 for tensioning the foil transfer tape (carrier tape) 48 is conveyed to one side of the imprint cylinder 17. The tape is straight and inclined with respect to the line 54 where the plate is located.
The width of the tape is such that all of a particular set of plates will engage carrier tape 48 simultaneously.

A circular track (circular) is used to control the longitudinal (axial) transport of tape 48, i.
track) 45, and its small segments (fragments)
Only one is shown in FIG. The track 45 is coaxial with the rotation axis of the stamp cylinder 17 and is engaged with a roll follower 46 mounted on a lever 47. This track 45 is lever 47
Is moved, and by the movement of the lever 47,
At a specific time when the tape and plate are not close to the web, i.e., at some point of the semicircle opposite the semicircular path 16, the incremental transport of the tape 48 and the constant movement of the ratchet wheel Turn the corner.

FIGS. 3, 5, and 11 show tape winding assemblies.
42 is a detailed view of FIG.

The cassette 58 is placed on the holder 57. Spool 43
Is associated with the two pinch rollers 44 and 55. There is a small approach guide roller 56, around this roller 56,
The tape enters the drive system from an elongate guide 59. The extension guide 59 is connected to the supply assembly 49.
And the take-up assembly 42 and serves to guide the tape 48 between the impression cylinder 17 and the web. This guide will be described later with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 11, the roller 44 rotates together with the coaxial ratchet 63, and the ratchet 63 is controlled by a pawl 64 mounted by a pivot 67 of the arm 47. The pawl 63 is adjacent to a pulley wheel 63a (FIG. 11). The adjacent surfaces of the ratchet wheel 63 and the wheel 63a are frictionally engaged.
nt). Car 63a spool 4 by flex band 65
It is connected to a car 66 mounted on the third shaft. The above configuration forms a slipping drive for maintaining the foil tension of the take-up spool. Raising the slaves 46 respectively causes the levers 47 to swing about pivots 47a (schematically shown in FIG. 5), and the pawls 67
So that the tape 48 moves vertically (longitudinal mov
ement).

Next, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the guide 59 has a narrow, inverted U section. The guide 59 is fitted in the inclined slot 100 of the cylinder 17, is held in a proper position by a tab 101 held by a screw 102, and extends to a margin 103 of the guide 59. To move largely adjacent to the cylinder 17, the tape passes through a narrow passage 104 between the bottom of the guide 59 and the bottom 105 of the slot 100.

FIG. 4 schematically shows the tape supply mechanism 49. This supply mechanism
Reference numeral 49 denotes a spool 50 mounted on a cassette 60 arranged in a holder 61. The tape 48 is unwound from the tape supply spool 50, turns around a small guide roller 62, and is pulled along and along the guide 59 by the take-up reel described above. Spool 50 preferably includes a brake to maintain tape tension.

FIG. 6 is a simplified sectional view of the imprint cylinder 17. This cylinder 17 is mounted on two half shafts 68, 69,
The two shafts rotate on bearings 70 and 71, respectively. Each of the tape winding assemblies 42 rests on a half shaft 69 and is positioned by a spigot 72 which fits into an opening 73 in an adjacent end face 74 of the cylinder 17. Similarly, a spigot 75 resting on each half shaft 68 of the tape supply assembly 49 and mating with an opening 76 in the adjacent end face 77 of the cylinder 17
The position is determined by

As described above, the cylinder 17 actually has a plurality of rows (e.g., 12 rows) of plates each associated with a tape supply assembly and a take-up assembly, but at least one row of retractable dies. ). FIG. 6 shows only one gold plate for convenience. Details of the region of the gold plate 53 are shown in FIGS.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the plate assembly in the longitudinal plane of the guide 59 (ie, cut axially). FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the metal plate assembly on the lateral surface of the guide 59.

As shown in FIG. 9 and FIG.
It is mounted on 17 spherical walls 78. This spherical wall has a circular opening 7 with an internal annular shoulder 80.
Has 9 The body 81 has a tubular portion 82 fitted in an opening 79 and an annular flange 83 in contact with a shoulder 80. The flange can be fixed to the spherical wall 78 by at least one bolt 84. Plunger (pl
unger) 85 is slidable inside the body, this plunger 85 has a central hole through which a fixing screw
Reference numeral 86 denotes a metal plate 53 fixed to the outer end of the plunger 85.
The plunger 85 is biased to a retracted position by a helical compression spring 87 between the plunger 85 and the flange 83. The inner surface 88 of the plunger 85 is shaped to conform to each conical cam 90. (See FIG. 6).

The metal plate 53 includes a flanged bush 110 held inside the plunger 85 by screws 86,
And a metal plate 111 fixed to the flange of the bush 110 by rivets 112 (FIG. 9).

As described above, the tape 48 passes under the guide 59. Guide 59 surrounds the gold plate 53 and the two tapered parts of the guide
It has a window 113 determined by 114,115. This window allows the web to be pressed against the tape and plate by each pressing band or roller. In the space below the tapered portions 114, 115 is a guide 116 in the form of a bridge. This is perforated to match the gold plate 53. This guide 116 is a guide 59
Serves to guide the tape to a position substantially flush with the outer surface of the tape, so that the tape is guided close to the web and not entangled by the metal plate. The guide 116 is fixed to the floor of the slot 100 by a fixing screw (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 6, inside the half shafts 68, 69 there is a hollow shaft 91 carrying the conical cams 90, 90a, 90b. Each cam activates each plate, or all plates, by engaging a surface 88 of each plunger. Hollow shaft 91
Is mounted on bearings 92 and 92a for rotation and inserted 93
In the axial direction. The bayonet 93 can be activated by some suitable form of pneumatic assembly.

The assembly 94 stops operating to retract the plate when the rotation of the cylinder stops. Because the heated plate must be retracted when the cylinder is not rotating to prevent the heated plate from contacting the web or press belt under pressure. It is.

The heat for the metal plate is applied to each of the conical cams, for example, as shown in FIG.
Supplied by an electric heater 95 fixed to the cam 90 of the
Current is supplied to the heater through a slip ring (not shown).

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-60-29353 (JP, A) JP-A-58-166054 (JP, A) JP-A-59-124135 (JP, U) JP-B-52-14647 (JP, A) , B2) JP 52-44099 (JP, Y2) U.S. Pat. No. 3,584,572 (US, A) British publication 1130210 (GB, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B41F 16/00 B44C 1/16-1/17 B65C 9/00-9/46

Claims (8)

(57) [Claims] 1. A foil carrier tape (48) is supplied between a metal plate and a moving web (2), and the moving web (2) is pressed from the foil carrier tape (48) by pressing the metal plate. The foil is transferred to 2), and the metal plate is moved synchronously with the moving web (2), and the foil carrier tape (48) moves in the moving direction of the moving web (2) while the foil is continuously transferred. In a method of being transported in a direction substantially transverse to the direction, the plate is contained in a rotating cylinder (17) around which a moving web (2) is wound at a considerable angle, A foil transfer method, wherein the moving web (2) is pressed against a metal plate by a continuous pressing band (34, 37) extending around the rotating cylinder (17). 2. A large number of metal plates (51, 52, 53) arranged on a line extending along the rotary cylinder (17) make a large number of transfers simultaneously, and the metal plate is inclined relative to the line on which the metal plate is arranged. The foil transfer method according to claim 1, wherein the foil carrier is transported. 3. A rotary cylinder (17) containing at least one metal plate, means (15, 18) for moving the moving web around said rotary cylinder (17), and rotatable with the rotary cylinder (17). Means for transporting the tape substantially axially of the rotating cylinder (17) and past the plate (42, 49) and means for applying pressure to the web (3
A foil transfer device for transferring a foil from a carrier tape (48) to a moving web (2), characterized by comprising: The means for transporting the tape includes a tape supply mechanism (49) maintained on an assembly (68, 69) rotating with the cylinder, and a tape winding mechanism (42).
The foil transfer device according to claim 3, comprising: 5. A tape feeding mechanism comprising a spool (50) including a means for maintaining a tension of a tape, and a tape winding mechanism includes a spool winding mechanism which rotates each time the winding means passes a preset position when the cylinder rotates. , Means that can be operated to rotate the tape at a fixed angle by the set web movement (45,
46, 47) or a spool (4
5. The foil transfer apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the apparatus comprises: 6. The rotary cylinder (17) is connected to the rotary cylinder (1).
7) Including a number of stamping plates (51, 52, 53) spaced at regular intervals along the substantially axially extending line, the means for transporting the tape along a line inclined with respect to the axial direction 6. The method according to claim 3, further comprising means for guiding the tape so that the pressing plate engages the tape.
Item 15. The foil transfer device according to Item 1. 7. A shaft (91) extending in the axial direction of the rotating cylinder (17), means for moving the shaft in the axial direction of the rotating cylinder (17), coaxial with the shaft (91) and together with the shaft. Conical cam (90) for each movable plate
And wherein each plate is capable of exiting and retracting from the cylinder, and each plate has a support including a follower (85) cooperating with a cam surface. 7. The foil transfer device according to 6. 8. The means for applying pressure to the web comprises at least two wheels (15,18) which limit winding at a substantial angle about a rotating cylinder (17) for movement in the same direction as the web. The flex bands (34, 37) passed between
Means for tensioning the band (35, 36, 38, 39);
The foil transfer device according to any one of claims 3 to 7, comprising: