According to one aspect of the present invention, when there is no leaf object striding over a boundary of two leaf rolls in a leaf image, a leaf image generating section performs processing for dividing first leaf image in first print data for leaves and a second leaf image of second print data for leaves at the boundary, replacing one of divided leaf images with one of other divided leaf images that hold the boundary between the first leaf image and the second leaf image to generate a first combined-leaves image and a second combined-leaves image, and rotating the second combined-leaves image at a predetermined angle.

A hot-stamping device (1) is described, having a stamping device (2) for transferring a transfer layer (15u) disposed on a carrier layer (15t) of a hot-stamping foil (15) onto a substrate (14). The hot-stamping device comprises a heatable stamping roller (11) and a counter-pressure roller (12), between which a stamping gap (16) is realized, in which a stamped substrate (17) is realized, and comprising a separating device (3), disposed downstream, for separating the carrier layer (15t) from the stamped substrate (17). The separating device (3) has a separating element (20), which is realized as a bar-shaped hollow body, disposed on which there is a supply for a compressed gas (21). At least one longitudinal edge of the separating element (20) is realized as a perforated separating edge (20k) having outflow openings (20a) for the compressed gas (22), for the purpose of realizing a gas cushion between the carrier layer (15t) and the separating element (20). The separating edge (20k) is disposed transversely in relation to the running direction and parallelwise in relation to the top side of the coated substrate (17).

A device including a computing unit that is adapted to read a pattern of transfer portions to be realized by means of a printing process prior to operation of the device and to evaluate various options as to input of at least one foil web to the device and reuse of a length of foil web in the device so as to determine that option involves the most efficient use of the foil for realizing the pattern, so that output is obtained that is suitable to be used for realizing optimal control of the device.

Drive device for unwinding a reel of foil in an unwinding module of a stamping machine, having an inactive position, and an active position in engagement with the reel, and comprising: a belt, having an inactive configuration, and an active configuration for contacting a portion of the reel and driven by a driver of the module so as to unwind the reel, rollers, maintaining the belt in the inactive and the active configuration, a translatable roller, which engages the belt and compensates for variations in length when the belt moves from the inactive to the active configuration, and a biasing arrangement, attached to the roller and thereby keeping the belt tensioned in both the inactive and the active configuration, and the biasing arrangement is actuated and disengaged from the belt, to move the belt from the inactive to the active configuration and vice versa.

A stamping machine is configured for stamping with a stamping head onto an article, The stamping machine includes a camera and a computer system. The computer system includes a display. The computer system is configured to capture from the camera an image of the article prior to the stamping and presents the image on the display. A user selects a symbol using the computer system prior to the stamping onto the article. The user using the computer system, positions the selected symbol as a displayed symbol superimposed on the image of the article.

A method and a device for producing and transferring diffractive microstructures to a printing material include applying a fluid to an embossing cylinder and there, during the rotation of the embossing cylinder, solidifying the fluid to such an extent that the fluid is transferred to a printing material in the manner of a film with a solidified microstructure. The embossing cylinder has a cover which is preferably constructed to be either soft as a flexoshim or hard as a nickel shim. A web-fed or sheet-fed rotary printing press having the device is also provided.

A die is provided for printing through a print carrier onto an object in a hot stamping machine. The die comprises a first layer of a first material, hereinafter referred to as the base layer, the hardness of which is less than 50 shore A measured according to ISO 868 or DIN 53505, and the thickness of which is greater than 20 mm. The die includes a second layer of a second material, hereinafter referred to as the printing layer, the hardness of which is greater than 50 shore A measured according to ISO 868 or DIN 53505, and the thickness of which is less than 5 mm. The second layer is intended to be in contact with the print carrier.

A system for printing on a substrate can comprise a conveyor that is configured to move the substrate along a substrate movement axis. The system can further comprise at least one print head array. Each print head array has a plurality of print heads, each print head having a respective orientation axis. The plurality of print heads can have at least a first print head and a second print head, wherein the orientation axis of the first print head is angularly offset from the orientation axis of the second print head. The first print head can be offset from the second print head along the substrate movement axis.

A system for printing on a substrate can comprise a conveyor that is configured to move the substrate along a substrate movement axis. The system can further comprise at least one print head array. Each print head array has a plurality of print heads, each print head having a respective orientation axis. The plurality of print heads can have at least a first print head and a second print head, wherein the orientation axis of the first print head is angularly offset from the orientation axis of the second print head. The first print head can be offset from the second print head along the substrate movement axis.

The present invention relates to a foil stamping die used for foil stamping, and a method of manufacturing a vehicle interior component using the foil stamping die. An object of the present invention is to provide a foil stamping technique capable of enhancing the design property of a printing object. In a foil stamping die capable of transferring a foil to the printing object while applying an uneven pattern to a surface of the printing object by pressing the die toward the printing object on which the foil is placed, a pattern-shape portion which is a portion corresponding to the uneven pattern is provided, and an edge of the pattern-shape portion has the same thickness over the entire area thereof.