The invention relates to a die (10) for printing through a print carrier onto an object in a hot stamping machine, characterized in that the die comprises a first layer (11) 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, and a second layer (12) 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 being intended to be in contact with the print carrier.

Systems and methods for forming and applying decorations onto substrates are disclosed. According to some aspects, a decoration may be formed on a carrier web at a decoration forming station positioned along a web path. The decorations may be transported along the web path to an application station at which the decorations are applied to substrates from the carrier web.

The invention relates to 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 printing pad includes a printing surface to be pushed against a printing original plate and a surface to be printed, the printing original plate having ink placed on the printing original plate; an inner layer disposed inside the printing pad; and an outer layer provided in contact with a surface of the inner layer that is closer to where the printing surface is disposed than is an opposite surface of the inner layer. The outer layer has the printing surface on an outside surface of the outer layer, and is formed such that the printing surface is brought into close contact with the surface to be printed to conform to the surface to be printed when the printing surface is pushed against the surface to be printed, and the inner layer has a cavity provided in the inner layer.

A sublimation device includes a first heater and a second heater. The first heater includes a proximal end, a distal end, and an inner surface. The distal end is disposed opposite the proximal end. The inner surface extends between the proximal end and the distal end and at least partially forms a cavity. The second heater is disposed proximate the distal end of the first heater.

The object of this invention is to transfer, fix and polish images produced by: toner laser printers or inkjet printers, flexographic technology, silkscreen technology, offset technology, printed on reel support (A), on the plastic or metal surface of three-dimensional objects (16), thanks to which it is possible to detach images from the reel support (A) and subsequently transfer them to the surface of said plastic or metal objects (16) by a thermomechanical (1, 10) action.

Apparatuses and methods for applying a transfer material onto the surface of an article are disclosed, including apparatuses and methods of transfer printing on and/or decorating three-dimensional articles, as well as the articles printed and/or decorated thereby. In some cases, the apparatuses and methods involve providing a deposition device, such as a printing device; providing a transfer component; depositing a material onto a portion of the transfer component with the deposition device; modifying the portion of the transfer component with the transfer material thereon to conform the transfer component to at least a portion of the surface of the three-dimensional article; and transferring the transfer material onto the surface of the article.

Apparatuses and methods for applying a transfer material onto the surface of an article are disclosed, including apparatuses and methods of transfer printing on and/or decorating three-dimensional articles, as well as the articles printed and/or decorated thereby. In some cases, the apparatuses and methods involve providing a deposition device, such as a printing device; providing a transfer component; depositing a material onto a portion of the transfer component with the deposition device; modifying the portion of the transfer component with the transfer material thereon to conform the transfer component to at least a portion of the surface of the three-dimensional article; and transferring the transfer material onto the surface of the article.

A sublimation device includes a first heater and a second heater. The first heater includes a proximal end, a distal end, and an inner surface. The distal end is disposed opposite the proximal end. The inner surface extends between the proximal end and the distal end and at least partially forms a cavity. The second heater is disposed proximate the distal end of the first heater.

A printing apparatus includes: a printing pad having a surface that is deformable to a shape of a surface to be printed; a printing original plate having a surface on which ink is placed; a plate stage on which the printing original plate is placed; a printing stage on which an item to be printed is placed; and a head configured to print an image on the printing original plate by an ink jet system. The printing pad is configured to be moveable between an area above the plate stage and an area above the printing stage, and to move perpendicularly to and vertically from and to the plate stage or the printing stage. The head includes a plurality of storage portions to store each of a plurality of inks including intermediate color ink, and nozzles configured to discharge each of the plurality of inks toward the printing original plate.