JPH06262751A - Method and device for transferring decoration from embossed foil onto substrate - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To accurately correlate a decoration with a base in transferring an emboss foil for decoration on the base. CONSTITUTION: In a method and an apparatus for transferring a decoration on a base with a flat surface such as a card from an emboss foil, the base 64 is passed through an emboss processing region 66 with the emboss foil 74 and is moved and the decoration is transferred there on the base 64 from the emboss foil 74. The emboss foil 74 has a series of decorations respectively provided with correlated marks and is continuously moved at a definite speed and passes through a sensor for detecting each mark. The sensor 78 controls a forward-carrying means 16 to send stepwisely the base 64 to the emboss processing region 66 to fit movement of the base 64 with movement of the foil 74 and to adjust in such a way that a right positional relation of the base 64 and decoration to be applied on the base is ensured.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to methods for transferring decoration from embossing foils onto flat surface substrates and apparatus for carrying out such methods.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The modern market, commercial and social tendency to transfer a very decorative character-here simply called decoration-from an embossing foil such as a hot embossing foil. Depending on the application, it is often necessary to apply it on a substrate having a flat surface such as an identification card or a card such as a credit card. In one form of a method for transferring a decoration made from a strip of embossing foil parallel to the length direction of the strip of embossing foil to a substrate with a flat surface such as a card, the substrate is embossed. It passes through the embossing area with the foil, where the decoration is transferred from the embossing foil to the substrate. An embossing foil with a plurality of decorations placed in succession, with associated marks, passes through a sensor for detecting each mark and a feed means for advancing the substrate relative to the embossing area is the sensor. Controlled by. The method involves a device including a conveying means for driving the embossing foil intermittently. The means for advancing the substrate or cards to be decorated can be designed so that they are fed continuously to the embossed area without any gaps between the cards. Due to the intermittent driving of the conveying means, i.e. the embossing foils are fed intermittently, the foil is subjected to a pulling action, which adversely affects the proper placement of the decoration on each card, i.e. the pulling action The overlay accuracy of the substrates may be impaired. Heretofore, embossing foils have been moved at relatively low operating speeds or cycle speeds in order to at least reduce their adverse effects on overlay accuracy.

In another form of the above method, German Patent Publication
As described in (DE-OS) No. 3718048, the foil with the decoration is conveyed to the embossing area in stages by the conveying device. To that end, the mechanism comprises control means for controlling the transport device. Since the conveying means is driven intermittently, that is, the embossing foil is fed intermittently, the pulling of the embossing foil can be prevented only to a limited extent, and the above-mentioned drawbacks occur. In order to at least reduce such drawbacks in the mechanism, it is still necessary to carry out the stepwise movement of the embossing foil at a relatively low speed, which adversely affects the productivity of the method.

[0004] The same problems and drawbacks are associated with German patent publication (DE-O
S) It can also be found in the rotary embossing machine described in No. 3713666, in which the embossing foil is also moved intermittently, i.e. in steps, so that unfavorable pulling of the embossing foil and its The resulting inaccuracies in the overlay between the decoration on the embossing foil and the substrate to be decorated cannot be adequately prevented unless the machine is operated at low speeds.

In a device for transferring a printed decoration from a carrier or a support strip onto an object, such as described in DE-A-3149950, this support strip, which may be called an embossing foil, is embossed. Rather than being continuously fed to the area at a constant rate, the mechanism comprises a stepper motor to feed the embossing foil intermittently. During the operation of transferring the decoration from the embossing foil to the respective substrate, the foil is pulled through the transfer area. After the transfer operation is completed, the drive motor, which is a stepper motor as described above, is switched so that the carrier strip or foil is conveyed in the opposite direction. Then the drive motor is switched off. The pulling of the embossing foil, which can be caused by such an intermittent driving action, is prevented by the dancer roller. However, such a dancer roller has some inherent inertia, so the feed rate in the mechanism is still low.

A manufacturing method for the same purpose is a German patent publication (D
E-OS) No. 3741588, which does not use embossing foils but has embossing jaws that move toward and away from each other while reciprocating.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for transferring a decoration from an embossing foil to a substrate which allows the decoration and the substrate to be accurately associated.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for transferring a decoration from a foil onto a flat surfaced substrate which allows the transfer operation to be carried out at high speed and to obtain a high level of productivity. Especially.

Another object of the invention is the embossing foil-to-decoration, in which the decor and the substrate to which it is attached can be exactly superposed even if the spacing between the individual decor materials changes for any reason. It is to provide a method for transferring a substrate onto a flat surface substrate.

Another object of the invention is a method for transferring a decoration from an embossing foil onto a flat surfaced substrate, since the decoration and the substrate on which it is attached can be adjusted. To provide.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for transferring a decoration from an embossing foil onto a substrate which can be operated at high working speeds.

Another object of the invention is the embossing foil, in which the substrate and the decoration to be applied thereto can be precisely superposed and the relation between the substrate and the decoration can be adjusted in a suitable manner. An object of the present invention is to provide a device for transferring a decoration having a fixed length to a substrate.

[0013]

According to the present invention, in a first aspect, the above and other objects are provided: from a strip of embossing foil on a flat surface substrate such as a card,
In the longitudinal direction, parallel to the length of the foil strip,
That is achieved by a method for transferring a decoration with a limited amount in the lengthwise direction. The substrate passes through the embossing area with the embossing foil, where the decoration is transferred from the foil onto the substrate. An embossing foil with a series of decorations, with associated marks, passes through a sensor to detect each mark and the feed means to feed the substrate to the embossed area is controlled by the sensor To be done. The embossing foil moves continuously at a constant speed, and the feeding means moves stepwise in a certain manner with respect to the feeding movement of the embossing foil.

In order to make the embossing foil move continuously at a constant velocity, this method essentially involves at least the undesired pulling of the embossing foil, as will be better understood in the preferred embodiment described below. It has the advantage of preventing it. The embossing foil can be easily marked with the individual decorations when applying the decorations themselves. As soon as a sensor associated with the feeding means of the substrate to be decorated, such as a card, detects a corresponding mark, it causes a precisely determined stepwise feeding movement of the forward feeding means, for example the card to be decorated, e.g. Accurately send to embossed area. This allows the decorative material on the embossing foil and the corresponding substrate, e.g. the card, to be accurately associated, so that the precise decoration is applied, i.e. the decoration is applied on the corresponding substrate such as the card at a relatively high speed The advantage is that accurate transfer can be performed with. In addition, even if the spacing between the individual decorative materials on the embossing foil changes for any reason, accurate decoration can be applied.

Another advantage of the method according to the invention is that
The diameter of the embossing roller used need not be an exact multiple of the spacing between adjacent decorations, but is freely selectable.

According to a preferred feature of the invention, the sensor is moved in the feed direction of the feed means in order to adjust the precise association between the decoration on the embossing foil and the flat surface substrate. You can The ability to move the sensor means that it can be tailored to the specific spacing between the embellishments on the embossing foil. Of course, in this regard, the spacing between adjacent embellishments on the embossing foil must be at least as large as the longitudinal dimension in the feed direction of the continuous flat surface substrate.

Also in accordance with the principles of the present invention, in another aspect thereof, the foregoing and other objects extend forward feed means for feeding a substrate to an embossing zone, and extending therethrough. It is achieved by an apparatus for transferring a decoration of limited length from embossing foil strips onto a flat surfaced substrate, which comprises embossing foil transport means. In the embossed area, the decoration is continuously transferred from the foil onto the corresponding substrate. A sensor for detecting at least one mark on the embossing foil is arranged near the embossing area, which sensor is connected to the driving means of the forward feeding means and which has an individual, flat surface. Advance and move the substrate. The drive means of the advancing feed means includes a connecting means for carrying out a stepwise operating cycle of the driving means of the advancing feed means, which ensures the substrate with continuous advancing feed at a constant speed of the embossing wheel. Step forward.

As will be better understood in the preferred embodiment described below, as soon as the sensor detects a mark associated with the decoration, the coupling means is activated and the drive means activates the precisely defined feed movement of the forward feed means. Raising and feeding the substrate closest to the embossed area into the embossed area. At the same time, a continuously moving embossing foil is fed to the embossing zone, where the corresponding decoration is accurately transferred to the substrate. Immediately after the substrate is fed to the embossing zone, the advancing feed means retracts, then the next substrate moves to the standby position, and the forward feeding movement to the embossing zone again starts.

According to a preferred feature of the invention, the sensor can be moved in the forward feed direction of the forward feed means in order to precisely align the decoration with the corresponding substrate. With such a structure of the device, it is possible to easily adapt the stepwise forward feed movement of the substrate to be decorated, such as a card, to a predetermined spacing between adjacent decorations on the embossing foil. it can.

In doing so, the operating speed or the cycle speed of the device is not sacrificed to be adapted, but the overlay accuracy, that is, the accuracy of the relation between the base material and the decoration applied to the base material is maintained at a high level. Also allows the device to operate at high speeds. As already mentioned, another advantage of the device according to the invention is that the diameter of the embossing rollers in the embossing zone is freely selectable and is an exact multiple of the spacing between adjacent decorations on the foil. It is not necessary. In other words, this means that the inventory of embossing rollers is kept to a minimum.

According to another preferred characteristic, the advancing feed means are capable of linearly advancing and reciprocating reciprocating movements, and at least one holding or returning means for reliably preventing each substrate from retracting. A stop latch or pawl can be provided. The forward feed means of this construction allow the individual substrates to be decorated to be fed past a limited detent point towards the embossing zone, immediately following the return of the forward feed means, i.e. During the backward movement,
The substrate moves away from the embossed area, but is held in its precise delimited position at its detent point by its at least one latch or pawl. In this way, the substrate to be decorated is held in the correct position against the latches or pawls and cannot be followed further by the return or retracting movement of the advancing feed means. Therefore, this mechanism holds the individual substrates to be decorated in precisely defined positions. Then, as already mentioned above, when the sensor detects a mark associated with the decoration on the embossing foil, the coupling means actuate the drive means for the advancing feed means to move the substrate closest to the embossing area. , Send to embossing area with decorated embossing foil.

According to another preferred feature of the device according to the invention, its at least one pawl or latch is moved by gravity into its working biting position and in its release position by a substrate or card moving in the forward feed direction. Moving.

According to another preferred feature of the device, the end portion of the advancing feed means, which is remote from the embossing zone and upstream of the embossing zone in the advancing feed direction, is provided with a magazine for the substrate and a single magazine from the magazine, respectively. There is a take-out means for taking out one substrate and carrying it to the forward feeding means. In this way a plurality of flat-surfaced substrates, in particular cards, can be accommodated in the magazine. Then, the take-out means can automatically take out the substrates in the magazine one by one and feed them step by step to the embossing area of the apparatus.

The unloading device preferably comprises at least one suction member for reliably holding the substrate in the correct position and feeding it to the advancing feed means. The at least one suction member of the extraction means is connected to a vacuum source, the communication between the vacuum source and the suction member is not permanent and is advantageously controlled in a pulsed manner by the drive means of the forward feed means. Is. Therefore, a vacuum is applied to the at least one suction member until the at least one suction member grips the substrate closest to the advance feeding means and carries it to the advance feeding means.
Immediately after transporting the substrate, the fluid communication between the vacuum source and the at least one suction member of the removal means is interrupted, while at the same time, the device ensures that the substrate transported to the forward feeding means is held properly there. It works as if it were done.

At least one suction member of the take-out means is preferably provided on a rotatable base member connected to a lever link which meshes with an eccentric wheel connected to the drive means of the advancing feed means. A device of such construction is capable of pulsatingly controlling or actuating a vacuum source in fluid communication with at least one suction member.

Preferably, the advancing feed means is provided with a suction member for securely and accurately holding at least one substrate on the advancing feed means. Like the at least one suction member of the above-mentioned take-out means, the suction member of the forward feeding means is preferably adapted to be intermittently connected to the above vacuum source. Intermittent fluid communication between the suction member of the forward feed means and the vacuum source is also preferably provided by the drive means of the forward feed means. The individual substrate to be decorated is held on the advancing feed means by a suction member on the advancing feed means each time the advancing feed movement of the advancing feed means. As the advancing feed means moves back, i.e. retracts, following each advancing feed movement, the fluid communication between the vacuum source and the advancing feed means is interrupted and the substrate is no longer fixed to the advancing feed means, As described above, it engages with at least one detent or retention latch or pawl provided on the advance feed means to be held in a precisely defined position.

In a preferred feature, the advancing feed means may be a flat surfaced member through which a suction passage in intermittent fluid communication with the vacuum source extends to form the suction member of the advancing feed means. With the proper size of the suction member, even very thin substrates, such as cards, can be reliably held flat by the advancing feed means and fed stepwise to the embossing zone.

In addition to the heated actuating roller, the embossing or transfer area may be provided with a heatable support roller. With this structure, even when handling a very thin substrate, the substrate to be decorated can be prevented from being bent or deformed. The working roller and / or the supporting roller in the embossing or transfer area are preferably provided with an antistick coating. The coating is, for example, Teflon (PTFE)
It may be a coating. If for some reason there is a relatively large spacing between the individual substrates to be decorated, the embossing layer of the embossing foil may stick, which is caused by coating on the rollers in the embossing area. , Can be sufficiently prevented.

Due to the preferred features of the apparatus according to the invention, in order to at least reduce, preferably prevent, undesired bending or deformation of the decorated substrate, even when handling relatively thin substrates, embossing in the forward feed direction. Cooling means is provided downstream of the processing area. This cooling means comprises two diverting rollers connected to the drive means of the forward feeding means,
In other words, it can be an endless belt that stretches to form a flat surface between the guide rollers, the support foil layer of the embossing foil being guided close to and parallel to the belt portion. Therefore, the individual substrates with their respective decorations in the embossing zone carry the above-mentioned belt part of the endless belt of cooling means and the earliest decoration of the embossing foil along the cooling zone downstream of the embossing zone. No moving between supporting foil layers. The above belt portion of the endless belt of the cooling means, and the supporting foil layer of the embossing foil,
Helps prevent undesired bending of individual decorated substrates. The support foil layer of the embossing foil is preferably separated from the individual decorated substrate at the end of the endless belt of the cooling means which is the flat part of the surface remote from the embossing area.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention are illustrated by the preferred embodiments of the method and apparatus according to the invention described below.

[0031]

EXAMPLE First, referring to FIG. 1, a decoration parallel to the longitudinal direction of the embossing foil strip and having a limited length in the longitudinal direction is applied from a substrate having a flat surface such as a card to the embossing foil. 1 shows an apparatus for transferring to. More particularly, this apparatus, generally designated by the numeral 10, comprises a lower support structure with drive means 14 for advancing feed means 16 for feeding the substrate forward, and an actuating roller 20 and a supply drum 22 and a take-up drum. It consists of an upper support structure 18 with a drum 24. The lower support structure 12 of the device 10 comprises a drive motor 26 with a transmission 28. Drive motor 26
Can drive the first infinite drive mechanism 30, the second infinite drive mechanism 32, and the third infinite drive mechanism 34 via the transmission device 28. Infinite drive mechanism 30, 32 and 34
May be, for example, a belt drive mechanism, a chain drive mechanism, or the like. The first drive mechanism 30 is connected by a coupler or clutch 36 to a rotating link 38 rotatably mounted about a fixed mounting shaft 40, which link is connected to the forward feed means 16 for rotation at 42. ing. When the clutch or coupler 36 is in the engaged state, the drive movement of the first endless drive mechanism 30 is converted into a linear reciprocating movement of the forward feed means 16, as indicated by the two-way arrow 44 in FIG. Further, the first infinite drive mechanism 30 drives the cam disk or the eccentric ring 46 which is in contact with the fixed shaft 5 to operate the lever link 48.
It is rotatably mounted at 0 and is rotatably connected at 52 to the ejection means 54. As can be seen in FIG. 6, the removal means 54 comprises a base member 56 mounted for rotation in the direction indicated by the two-way arrow 60 about a fixed axis indicated at 58 in FIG. The rotational movement of the base member 56 of the take-out means 54 in the direction indicated by the two-way arrow 60 is produced by the eccentric ring 46 and its associated lever link 48.

A magazine 62 for accommodating a substrate 64 having a flat surface such as a card to be decorated is arranged on the take-out means 54, and the substrates are mutually placed in the magazine 62. It is housed in piles. Take-out means 5
4 takes out from the magazine 62 the substrate 54 or the card 64 at the bottom, which faces the take-out means 54, that is, the forward feed means 16, and takes it out.
Send to. The individual substrates or cards 64 removed from the magazine 62 are then intermittently fed to the embossing zone generally indicated at 66 by the advance feed means 16 driven by the drive means 14. In the reciprocating motion of this mechanism, as indicated by arrow 44 in FIG.
To prevent the 4 from retracting or reversing, the device comprises a retaining latch or pawl 68, which will be described in more detail with respect to FIGS. 4 and 5. Embossing area 6
Reference numeral 6 denotes a working roller 20 in addition to the working roller 20.
Also included is a support roller 70 disposed in an opposing relationship underneath. The working roller 20 and the support roller 70 are simultaneously driven by the third endless drive mechanism 34. The actuating roller 20 can be pulled up and separated from the support roller 70 and heated by a suitable heating device shown diagrammatically at 72. The support roller 70 can be heated similarly.

An embossing foil, schematically indicated at 74, and more particularly a hot embossing foil, is wound on the supply drum 22. The foil 74 is unrolled from the supply drum 22 at a constant speed and continuously fed to the embossing area at a constant speed. The feed movement of the foil 74 is indicated by the arrow 76 in FIG. The foil 74 has a plurality of decorations arranged successively thereon, each decoration being provided with at least one mark, which mark is of the embossed area,
A sensor 78 located immediately upstream of the working roller 20
Is detected by. As already mentioned above, the flat-surfaced substrate 64 is individually removed from the magazine 62 by the extraction means 54 and the forward feed means 16
Sent to. The advancing feed means 16 makes a linear reciprocating movement indicated by the two-way arrow 44, during which the substrate 64 taken out advances towards the embossing zone 66. The individual substrates 64 are retained by the latches or pawls 68 so that they do not retrograde or retract with respect to the forward feed movement of the forward feed means 16.

When the sensor 78 detects at least one mark associated with each decoration on the foil 74,
Immediately, the clutch or coupling 36 of the drive means 14 is engaged and the forward feed means 16 carries out a precisely defined forward feed movement in the direction towards the embossing zone 66. This precisely defined forward feed motion causes the initial flat surface substrate 64 adjacent to the embossing zone 66 to move the embossing zone 66 together with the embossing foil 74 in a precisely defined manner in FIG. It moves in response to the continuous forward feed motion of the embossing foil 74 indicated by arrow 76. In the embossing area 66, the decoration on the foil 74 is transferred exactly on the corresponding substrate 74, ie the decoration and the substrate are precisely associated. Then, the advancing feed means 16 again moves backward or retracts, after which the substrate or card at the lowest position in the magazine 62 is taken out by the ejecting means 54, and the advancing feed means 1
Sent to 6.

In the forward feed movement direction of the forward feed means 16,
Downstream of the embossing zone 66, shown generally at 80,
There is a cooling mechanism that is an endless belt 82 having a flat belt surface portion 84. Infinite belt 82 of this cooling means 80
Are driven by the second infinite drive mechanism 32. The flat belt surface portion 84 of the endless belt 82 is defined by an endless skid 82 passing through first and second deflecting or guide rollers 86 and 88. Adjacent to roller 86 is a stripping or releasing roller 90, around which the undecorated support foil layer 92 of embossing foil 74 passes and is wound onto take-up drum 24. Roller 90 is referred to as a peel or release roller because it peels or releases the support foil layer of embossing foil 74, which has had its decoration removed by transfer onto a corresponding substrate, from the substrate downstream of the embossing zone. . The base material 64 decorated with the embossing foil 74 is
Downstream of the embossing zone 66, the flat surface portion 84 of the endless belt 82 of the cooling mechanism 80 and the embossing foil 74.
Retained between the support foil layer 92 and the support foil layer 92 of the
Even thin materials do not bend or deform.

The operational relationship between the at least one sensor 78 and the clutch or coupling 36 of the drive means 14 is shown diagrammatically by the arrow 94 in FIG.

Next, FIG. 2 shows the forward feed means 16,
Taking-out means 54 and its base member 56, and FIG.
1, the first, second and third suction members 96 extend upward from the base member 56 toward the magazine 62 shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, the thin dashed line shows a card-like flat substrate 64 that is carried from the magazine 62 onto the advancing feed means 16 by the action of the ejecting means 54. The advancing feed means 16 has, at its two lateral edges, suction members 98 in the form of suction passages or ducts, whereby the individual substrates 64 are fixed to the advancing feed means 16. The advance feed means 16 is provided in the embossing area 6
Notch or opening 10 at its distal end remote from 6
0, in which the take-out means 54 is mounted for rotation about a mounting axis indicated at 58 in FIG. A longitudinal groove 102, which will be described in detail below with respect to FIG. 5, extends centrally in the longitudinal direction of the advancing feed means 16. Above the take-out means 54 is a magazine 62, as shown in FIG. 1, having an internal cross-section that matches the peripheral shape of a flat-surfaced substrate 64. The magazine 62 has, on its underside facing the take-out means 54, for holding the stacked substrates 64 in the magazine 62, for example third and sixth.
In the figure, it has a thin retaining bar designated by the numeral 104. More precisely, by the action of the take-out means 54, its suction means 96
By this, the base material 64 at the bottom in the magazine can be firmly fixed, the holding rod 104 can be passed, and it can be carried to the forward feeding means 16. The respective base materials 64 are the forward feeding means 1
Suction member 98 with two holding parts 106 at the end of 6
It is fixed to the forward feeding means 16 by. After the substrate 64 is thus fed to the advance feed means 16, the advance feed means performs a forward feed movement towards the embossing zone indicated by 66 in FIG. 1, during which movement the substrate 64 holds. Pass through the pawl or latch 68. Subsequently, when the forward feeding means 16 makes a return movement, that is, a backward movement, the base material 64 is held by the latches or the claws 68, so that the forward feeding means 16 has two
One holding portion 106 can again be used to receive the substrate 64 removed from the magazine 62.

4 and 5, a portion of the advance feed means 16 is shown, in which a longitudinal groove 102 extends longitudinally through the center of the advance feed means and a retaining latch or pawl 68 is provided.
A holding projection, shown at 108 in FIG. 5, projects into the longitudinal groove at the holding position. This latch or claw 68
Is mounted so as to be rotatable about the mounting shaft 110 between an operation holding position shown by a solid line in FIG. 5 and a release position shown by a dotted line in FIG. Latch or claw 68
The mounting shaft 110 for is attached to the fixed mounting member shown at 112 in FIG. A support rod 114 projects from the mounting shaft 110, and a pin 116 projecting from the latch or pawl 68 contacts the support rod 114 when the latch or pawl 68 is in the operation holding position. This pin 1
16 and the support rod 114 cooperate to limit the rotational movement of the latch or pawl 68, and the action of gravity causes the latch or pawl 68 to move.
The upper projection 108 is held such that its operative holding surface 118 is at least approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal groove 102. As is clear from FIG. 5, the holding projection 1
08 also has a sloping surface 120, which is caused by the forward feed movement of the forward feed means 16 so that the flat surface substrate or card 64 hits the sloping surface 120 and the substrate or card 64 latches or Move the latch or pawl 68 upwards until it passes under the pawl 68, with the arrow 12
The mounting shaft 1 and the angle so as to rotate in the direction indicated by 2
It is arranged at an interval from 10. As soon as the substrate 64 separates from the beveled surface 120 of the latch or pawl 68, gravity causes the latch or pawl 68 to return to the operative holding position shown in the practice of FIG.
The base material 64 in contact with is not followed by the forward feeding means 16 even if it is retracted, that is, it does not move to the right in FIG. Of course, this requires breaking the fluid communication between the suction member 98 of the forward feed means 16 and the corresponding vacuum source (not shown) when the forward feed means 16 retracts. The operation is controlled by the driving means 14 shown in FIG.

Referring now to FIG. 6, the substrate 64 is shown stacked in a magazine 62 above the take-out means 54 and held by a thin holding rod 104. The lowermost base material of the base materials 64 stacked in the magazine is taken out by the take-out means 54. Reference numeral 16 in FIG. 6 shows a part of the advance feeding means provided with the suction member 98. The arrows 60 in FIG. 6 indicate the up-and-down movement of the take-out means 54, whereby the respective bottom substrate is taken out of the magazine 62 and carried onto the forward feed means 16.

At this stage, a sensor 78 for detecting at least one mark on the embossing foil
Adjusting the position in the moving direction of the forward feeding means 16 so that the base material and the decoration to be applied to the base material are accurately overlapped, and the position of the decoration is accurately adapted to the corresponding base material. You can

Of course, the above method and apparatus in accordance with the principles of the invention have been described by way of example only for purposes of illustration, and various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. .

[Brief description of drawings]

1 is a side view of an embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention for transferring a decoration from an embossing foil onto a flat surfaced substrate.

2 shows a part of the take-out means and the forward feed means, viewed from above in the direction indicated by arrow II-II in FIG. 1, with the magazine for containing the substrate to be decorated removed, FIG.
Partial view of the device

FIG. 3 is a view of a magazine showing the stack of substrates to be decorated in dashed lines, as seen in the direction indicated by arrow III in FIG.

4 is a partial plan view of the forward feed means of the apparatus of FIG. 1, viewed in the direction indicated by arrow IV in FIG.

5 is a sectional view taken along the line V-V in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 2 and line VI-VI in FIG. 3, showing a part of the take-out means, the advancing feed means and the magazine for the substrate to be decorated.

[Explanation of symbols]

 14 Drive Means 16 Forward Feed Means 20 Actuating Rollers 22 Supply Drums 24 Winding Drums 26 Drive Motors 30 First Infinite Drive Mechanisms 32 Second Infinite Drive Mechanisms 36 Clutch 48 Lever Links 50 Fixed Shafts 54 Ejection Means 64 Base Materials or Cards 66 Embossing Processing area 74 Wheel 78 Sensor

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Office reference number FI technical display location B44C 1/17 G 9134-3K

Claims (16)

[Claims] 1. For transferring a decoration from an elongated embossing foil strip with a limited longitudinal length in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the embossing foil strip onto a flat surfaced substrate. In the method of claim 1, the embossing foil is provided with a plurality of decorations successively with associated marks, the substrate moving with the embossing foils through the embossing zone, in which the decorations are removed from the embossing foil. Transferred onto the substrate, the embossing foil passes through a sensor for detecting each mark, the forward feed movement of the substrate relative to the embossing zone is controlled by the sensor, the embossing foil being at least essentially constant speed And the substrate is stepwise moved in a limited manner to match the forward feed movement of its embossing foil. . 2. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the sensor is moved in the forward feed direction of the substrate to adjust the precise registration relationship between the decoration on the embossing foil and the substrate. Method. 3. An apparatus for transferring a decoration from an embossing foil onto a flat surfaced substrate, at least an embossing area for continuously applying the decoration to each substrate, at least the embossing foil passing through the embossing area. Transport means for continuous transport at an essentially constant speed, sensor for detecting at least one mark on the embossing foil, located near the embossing zone, individual substrate in the embossing zone For moving the substrate in a limited stepwise feed manner with a forward feed means including a drive means for forward feed and an embossing foil continuously fed at at least an essentially constant speed as described above. For operating a stepwise operating cycle of the drive means of the forward feed means, operating in cooperation with the drive means, Apparatus characterized by comprising a coupler means is initiated by. 4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that, in the feed direction of the feed means, the sensor can be moved in order to precisely adapt the position of the decoration to the relevant substrate. 5. The feed means is capable of linear reciprocating forward and backward movements and includes at least one retaining latch means for limiting the backward movement of the respective substrate. Device of 3. 6. The latch means is movable between an actuated position for limiting the retracting movement of the substrate and a release position for passing the substrate, the latching means being actuated by gravity. 6. The device of claim 5, wherein the device is moved to a position and is moved to the release position by means of a substrate that engages its latching means. 7. A magazine for substrates and a single substrate each from the magazine at the end of the feed means remote from the embossing region and upstream of the embossing region in the substrate feed direction. The apparatus of claim 3 including unloading means for unloading and delivering the substrate to the feed means. 8. The pick-up means includes at least one suction member for securely and positionally holding the substrate and for transporting the substrate to the feeding means. 7 devices. 9. The lever link means, wherein the take-out means is connected to a rotatable base member on which the at least one suction member is mounted, a lever link means connected to the base member, and a drive means for the feeding means. 9. The apparatus of claim 8 including eccentric means for actuating the. 10. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the advancing feed means includes a suction member capable of securely and positionally holding at least one substrate with the feed means. 11. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the embossing zone comprises a working roller and a support roller. 12. The apparatus of claim 11, including means for heating at least one of the rollers. 13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein at least one of the rollers in the embossed area is provided with a coating to prevent sticking to that roller. 14. The apparatus of claim 3 including cooling means disposed downstream of the embossing zone in the feed direction. 15. The cooling means includes an endless belt connected to a drive means of the feeding means and first and second diverting rollers, the belt passing around the diverting rollers and flattened between the diverting rollers. 15. A device according to claim 14, wherein the support foil layer of the embossing foil is guided close to and parallel to the belt portion of the endless belt, the belt portion having a uniform surface structure. 16. A method for continuously transferring individual decorations from embossed foil strips onto a flat surface of a respective continuous individual substrate, wherein the embellished foil strips are embossed in an area. Continuously passing through the substrate at at least an essentially constant speed, continuously feeding the substrate into the embossing zone in a stepwise feed motion in a working relationship in parallel with the foil strip, on the foil strip Sensing the position of the embellishment as it approaches the embossed area, adjusting the feed motion of the substrate and matching the position of the substrate with respect to each embellishment, thereby ensuring the embellishment on each substrate A method characterized by precise overlaying and actuating embossing zones to apply a decoration from foil strips to the respective substrate.