A method is described herein for attaching an adhesive label to a plastic object such that upon removal of the adhesive label substantially no adhesive residue is left-behind on the plastic object. In an example, the method can include applying a textured pattern to a portion of a plastic object to provide a textured surface on the plastic object. The textured pattern can be applied post molding of the plastic object. The method can include attaching to the textured surface an adhesive label.

Engraver configured to be coupled to a heater piece of a hot foil stamping machine for decorating sides of plastic cards wherein the engraver is made of silicone and capable of being heated up and comprising a recess on its external face opposite to a foil of the hot foil stamping machine, in such a way that a cross-section of said engraver is a negative shape and size of a side of plastic cards, including rounded corners formed by said side and adjacent side, wherein engraver size is dependent on number of plastic cards and the engraver is capable of being heated up and is suitable for being coupled to the heater head piece of the hot foil stamping machine.

A method for producing a polymeric vehicle add-on part having a decorative element is presented. According to one aspect, the method includes provision of a first polymeric material phase and transfer of a decorative element from a carrier film onto a first surface of the first polymeric material phase by hot stamping using a punch. A second polymeric material phase is then applied on the first surface of the first polymeric material phase so to arrange the decorative element between the first polymeric material phase and the second polymeric material phase. According to another aspect, the first polymeric material phase or the second polymeric material phase is transparent.

An image forming apparatus includes a housing, a toner image forming portion, a foil transfer unit, a sheet tray, and a discharge portion. The toner image forming portion is provided in the housing and configured to form a toner image on a sheet. The foil transfer unit is configured to superpose a foil with a surface of the sheet. The sheet tray is installable in the housing in an inserting direction and configured to accommodate a sheet to be supplied to the toner image forming portion. The first discharge portion is configured to discharge the sheet from the foil transfer unit to the outside of the housing in a discharging direction opposite to the inserting direction. The second discharge portion is configured to discharge the sheet from the toner image forming portion to the outside of the housing without passing through the foil transfer unit in the discharge direction.

A patterned article includes a carrier layer having a microstructured first major surface and an opposing second major surface. The first major surface includes pluralities of upper and lower edges spaced apart along a thickness direction of the carrier layer and defining respective upper and lower portions of the first major surface. The lower portion is disposed between the upper portion and the second major surface. The article includes a first functional layer disposed on the lower, but not the upper portion of the first major surface. The first functional layer includes at least one first micro-cut inorganic layer including a plurality of cut edges substantially coextensive with the plurality of lower edges. A method of making the patterned article is provided. Articles that can be made by transferring a functional layer from the patterned article are provided.

A multi-purpose heat foil embossing machine and a heat foil adapter are disclosed herein. According to an embodiment, the heat foil adapter includes an injection molded body, a metal heat plate configured in the cavity of the molded body, a heating element, a temperature control system configured to maintain metal heat plate temperature, and a polycarbonate lid. According to another embodiment, the multi-purpose heat foil embossing machine is of platform and roller type construction wherein platform provides a flatbed working area and roller is moved over it that eliminates need to sandwich folder between plastic mats and push the mat between the rollers. According to another embodiment, the heat plate adapter is configured within a cavity on the platform of the embossing machine with electric connectivity.

An image forming apparatus includes a housing, a toner image forming portion, a foil transfer unit, a sheet tray, and a discharge portion. The toner image forming portion is provided in the housing and configured to form a toner image on a sheet. The foil transfer unit is configured to superpose a foil with a surface of the sheet. The sheet tray is installable in the housing in an inserting direction and configured to accommodate a sheet to be supplied to the toner image forming portion. The first discharge portion is configured to discharge the sheet from the foil transfer unit to the outside of the housing in a discharging direction opposite to the inserting direction. The second discharge portion is configured to discharge the sheet from the toner image forming portion to the outside of the housing without passing through the foil transfer unit in the discharge direction.

A plastic card is printed on by transferring an adhesive to a surface of the plastic card from a thermal transfer ribbon using a thermal printhead. A donor material is then applied over the transferred adhesive to adhere the donor material to the card surface with portions of the card surface not containing the transferred adhesive not being covered by the donor material. The techniques described herein permit the addition of high value features, such as three dimensional features, matte finishes, metallic or metallic appearing features, optical structures, and the like, to the surfaces of plastic cards. In addition, the techniques described herein can be integrated into existing card processing systems, such as central issuance card processing systems, that use thermal printing technology.

A decorative film, a transfer film, the use of a transfer film, a method for producing a transfer film, a method for decorating a plastic molded article, and a plastic molded article. The decorative film, in particular for decorating a plastic molded article, here includes at least one first color varnish layer, at least one second color varnish layer and a transparent laser protective varnish layer, wherein the transparent laser protective varnish layer is arranged between the at least one first color varnish layer and the at least one second color varnish layer.

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.