An image forming device comprises: a receiving part that receives image data containing first image data relating to a black and white image and second image data relating to a foil image; a carrying path along which a recording medium is carried in a predetermined direction; an inkjet printing part, arranged on the carrying path, injects an ink based on the first image data to the recording medium, and forms the black and white image or the color image on the recording medium; a toner image printing part, arranged on the carrying path, forms the toner image for adhesion based on the second image data, and transfers the toner image to the recording medium; and a foil image forming part, arranged on the carrying path, enables the toner image transferred to the recording medium to melt and attaches the foil to the melted toner image to form the foil image.

A position fine tuning device for a unit-type die cutting & hot stamping machine includes at least two imprinting elements, wherein paper of the imprinting elements is delivered by the gripper installed on the chain. The present invention is characterized in that a positioning element is disposed on an input end of a first unit imprinting element and a positioning element is disposed on an output end of each imprinting element. Two neighboring positioning elements accomplish the positioning between the two positioning elements together. By providing the fine tuning elements, the accuracy in the art of die cutting & hot stamping can be assured when the machine is performing a multiple-working-position procedure; whereas, by setting up the reference positioning, it assures that the standards of the front and rear positioning are consistent.

A method and an apparatus for cold-stamping onto a three dimensional object. In a first step, an adhesive is applied to the object at a first workstation. In a second step, a transfer film is pressed onto the object by a pressing device at a second workstation. At the same time, the adhesive is cured at the second workstation. As a result, the decorative material of the transfer film adheres to the object at the positions on the object which are provided with adhesive. If, following this, the transfer film is removed from the three-dimensional object after being pressed on, the decorative material remains on the object at the desired positions. At the positions at which in the first step no adhesive has been applied to the object, the decorative material does not adhere to the object but rather remains on the carrier film of the transfer film.

A marking device performs a marking process onto a long object. The marking device includes a driving source and a marking unit that performs a circular motion in accordance with a driving force supplied from the driving source. While the long object is being transferred, marks are applied onto the long object in accordance with the circular motion of the marking unit. An extent of interference by the marking unit to the transfer of the long object is reduced, thus facilitating higher speed transfer of the long object.

A precision positioning device of a unit-type die cutting & hot stamping machine includes a positioning element on an input end of a first imprinting element and a positioning element on an output end of each imprinting element. Two neighboring positioning elements accomplish the positioning between the two positioning elements together. Each positioning element is constituted by a positioning assembly installed symmetrically on each end of the imprinting element. The positioning assembly includes a positioning rod which can rotate against an installation shaft. Each positioning rod includes a positioning block which is provided with a reference surface. A rear side of the gripper is provided with a reference matching surface. By the positioning elements, the accuracy in the art of die cutting & hot stamping can be assured when the machine is performing a multiple-working-position procedure.

There is disclosed a web transfer apparatus including a web transfer roller to advance a web, a foil transfer roller to advance a foil, and a movable curing unit. The foil transfer roller is movable between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the foil transfer roller is to press the foil against the web and in the second position the foil transfer roller is to disengage the foil from the web. The movable curing unit may comprise a curing device and may be movable between a first position adjacent to the web and a second position remote from the web.

There is described a sheet-fed stamping press (10*) comprising a foil application unit (2*) designed to allow transfer or lamination of foil material onto successive sheets (S), which foil material is fed to the foil application unit (2*) in the form of a foil carrier (FC) supplied by means of a foil feeding system (3). The foil application unit (2*) comprises a stamping cylinder (21) with at least one circumferential stamping section (210) provided on a circumference of the stamping cylinder (21) and comprising successive stamping segments (211*; 211**) distributed one after the other about the circumference of the stamping cylinder (21), the stamping cylinder (21) also acting as sheet-transporting cylinder and comprising multiple sheet holding units (21a) distributed about the circumference of the stamping cylinder (21) and designed to hold successive sheets (S) against the circumference of the stamping cylinder (21). The foil application unit (2*) further comprises a plurality of counter-pressure units (25) distributed about a portion of the circumference of the stamping cylinder (21) and designed to press the successive sheets (S) and the foil carrier (FC) against an outer surface of the stamping segments (211*; 211**), the foil carrier (FC) being supplied by the foil feeding system (3) between the sheets (S) and the stamping segments (211*; 211**). Each counter-pressure unit (25) is designed as a cylinder unit (250, 255) provided with at least one circumferential pressing element (255) positioned to cooperate with the circumferential stamping section (210) of the stamping cylinder (21), and the counter-pressure units (25) are driven into rotation by means of at least one dedicated drive (26).

Retransfer printing methods and systems are described where a variable stripping process is utilized while stripping all or a portion of the retransfer film (also known as intermediate transfer media) from the surface of a substrate. The variable stripping process includes stripping the retransfer film from different sections of the substrate surface while applying different tensions to the retransfer film and/or at different transport speeds of the retransfer film and the substrate.

A method for monitoring a characteristic of a printed image of a thermal transfer printer. The method comprises providing a ribbon and a substrate at a printing location of the thermal transfer printer. The method further comprises printing an image on the substrate at the printing location by transferring ink from a region of the ribbon in a printing operation, a negative image being formed on the region of ribbon. The method further comprises transporting the region of ribbon, by a ribbon transport system, from the printing location towards an imaging location along a ribbon transport path. The method further comprises when a characteristic of the ribbon transport meets a predetermined criterion, obtaining, by an image capture system, a ribbon image of the negative image. The method further comprises processing said ribbon image to generate data indicative of the characteristic of the printed image.

A method of operating a transfer printer configured to transfer ink from a printer ribbon to a substrate which is transported along a predetermined substrate path adjacent to the printer. The printer comprises a tape drive comprising two tape drive motors, two tape spool supports on which said spools of ribbon may be mounted, each spool being drivable by a respective one of said motors. The printer further comprises a printhead being displaceable towards and away from the predetermined substrate path and being arranged to, during printing, contact one side of the ribbon to press an opposite side of the ribbon into contact with a substrate on the predetermined substrate path, and a printing surface. The printer further comprises a controller configured to control the tape drive to transport ribbon between the first and second ribbon spools. The method comprises controlling the tape drive to perform a ribbon movement in which ribbon is transported between first and second ribbon spools along a ribbon path, the ribbon path having a first length during a first part of said ribbon movement, and a second length during a second part of said ribbon movement, a transition from the first length to the second length being caused by a displacement of the printhead with respect to the printing surface, wherein control of at least one of the tape drive motors is based upon data indicative of the first and second lengths.