A method for transferring a decorative section of a stamping foil onto a substrate by means of an embossing die, wherein the stamping foil includes a carrier film and a transfer ply arranged on the carrier film. The method includes:

a) Provision of the stamping foil;
b) Embossing or pressing of at least one compression section spaced apart from the edge of the decorative section, into the transfer ply;
c) Stamping of the decorative section onto the substrate;
d) Detachment of the residual stamping film from the substrate embossed with the decorative section.

A coating device for coating a base body, as well as a method. The coating device has at least one holding device for fixing a base body, at least one stamping station and at least one printing station for applying one or more printed layers to at least one partial area of a first surface of the base body and/or to at least one partial area of one or more film elements stamped on the base body and/or to at least one partial area of one or more further printed layers applied to the base body, and in that the stamping station has one or more stamping units for stamping one or more film elements on at least one partial area of a first surface of the base body and/or on at least one partial area of one or more further film elements stamped on the base body and/or on at least one partial area of one or more printed layers applied to the base body.

Hot foil stamping machine stamping a foil onto a substrate, which improves stamping quality under changing conditions, includes a control unit for controlling the temperature of the stamping interface surface to a predefined desired temperature. The control unit receives at least an actual temperature of the heating plate from the at least one temperature sensor and provides a manipulated variable to the at least one heating device. Further, the stamping machine includes a state observer for estimating an actual temperature of the stamping interface surface of the at least one stamping plate based on a physics-based analytical model of the heat transfer between the heating plate and the stamping plate. The control unit also includes a feedback controller for calculating the manipulated variable for a heating device based on the predefined desired temperature and the estimated actual temperature of the stamping interface surface provided by the state observer.

The machine (1) comprises: a stationary frame structure (2), wherein support elements (8-12) are provided for supporting an article (A) on which an image (I) is to be printed; a thermal transfer assembly (20) which is vertically movable relative to the frame structure (2), above the support elements (8-12), between a raised rest position and a lowered working position, and includes a transfer pad (21) having an active surface (21a) which is heated in operation; and supply and guide devices (23-36) arranged to advance, along a predetermined path extending in part between the active surface (21a) of the transfer pad (21) and the support elements (8-12), a flexible printing ribbon (N) which on a side thereof carries, at predetermined intervals, images (I) formed of a thermally transferable ink. The machine (1) further comprises a position sensor (80) arranged to provide electrical signals indicative of the vertical position of the transfer pad (21), and a control unit (14) arranged to carry out a learning phase wherein the control unit (14) causes a descent run of the thermal transfer assembly (20), until the transfer pad (21) is brought into engagement with an article (A) of a predetermined type positioned on the support elements (8-12), and through the position sensor (80) detects and then stores reference data characterizing such descent run, and a subsequent printing phase, wherein the control unit (14) causes a subsequent descent run of the thermal transfer assembly (20) towards and up to an article (A) of the same type positioned on the support elements (8-12), detecting and comparing with said reference data the corresponding data that characterize the current descent run, and stopping the printing phase when the comparison between these data is indicative of an anomaly in the current descent run.

A foil reel mounting device (10; 40) for supporting a reel (2) of stamping foil (3) in a supporting module (1). The device is fixed to the supporting module (1). It includes a support (11; 41) having a recess (16; 46) to receive an axle (7) of the reel (2) of stamping foil (3). A retaining element (12; 42) mounted on the support (11; 41) and arranged to move between a closed position, in which the retaining element (12; 42) retains the axle (7) of the reel (2) in the recess (16; 46), and an open position, in which the retaining element (12; 42) releases the axle (7) of the reel (2) from the recess (16; 46). The retaining element (12; 42) is biased towards the closed position. Also, a supporting module (1) has at least one foil reel mounting device (10; 40) and a stamping machine (100) includes a supporting module (1) or at least one foil reel mounting device (10; 40). A method for loading and unloading a reel (2) of stamping foil (3) with such at least one foil reel mounting device (10; 40) is also disclosed.

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 device for storing a sheet pile in a converting machine (10) comprises a transfer mechanism (28) for delivering sheets (22) into a piling area (26) of the device (22), and a sampling plate (44) which is adjustable between a sampling position and an access position, wherein the top of the piling area (26) is covered by the sampling plate (44) when the sampling plate (44) is in the sampling position and the top of the piling area (26) is free when the sampling plate (44) is in the access position.

A method of marking a fiber-based product includes providing a heat stamp apparatus including a heating element thermally coupled to a stamping block and a temperature sensor thermally coupled to the stamping block. The system further includes a platen bearing an embossed pattern. Marking is accomplished by heating the stamping element to a predetermined temperature via the heating element and information acquired from the temperature sensor, then bringing the embossed pattern in relation to the surface of the fiber-based product (e.g., via direct contact and compression or simply very close to the surface) to form at least one of a corresponding three-dimensional contour and charred surface region.