A method for applying a transfer ply of a foil to a substrate, with the steps of: a) regionally applying a radically curable adhesive to the transfer ply and/or the substrate by means of an inkjet printhead; b) precuring the adhesive by UV irradiation; c) applying the transfer ply to the substrate by means of a stamping apparatus; d) fully curing the adhesive by UV irradiation; e) peeling a carrier ply of the foil, to leave at least one first subregion of the transfer ply on an application region of the substrate, and at least one second subregion of the transfer ply on the carrier ply; f) winding up or recoiling the carrier ply with the remaining second subregion of the transfer ply; g) applying at least one further subregion of the transfer ply remaining on the carrier ply to the substrate by at least once repeating steps a) to f).

A method includes storing a design in a database. The design includes (i) a print component and an inner crop mark that are configured to be printed, and (ii) a foil component configured to be foil-stamped. The method further includes storing a foil-press die that is embossed with both the foil component and a foil alignment mark. The foil alignment mark is configured to be aligned with the inner crop mark.

A thermal transfer sheet includes a support film and a transfer layer provided on one surface of the support film. The transfer layer at least includes a decorative layer and an adhesive layer provided on an obverse side of the decorative layer. The adhesive layer includes a first adhesive layer and a second adhesive layer laminated on the first adhesive layer. The first adhesive layer is positioned on an obverse side of the second adhesive layer. The first adhesive layer is made of a first resin having thermal plasticity and has a lower viscosity than the second adhesive layer. The second adhesive layer is made of a second resin having thermal plasticity and has a higher glass-transition point than the first adhesive layer. Monomer units constituting the first resin and monomer units constituting the second resin are partly or entirely identical.

Methods, apparatus and system for decorating plastic articles having an uneven surface or hollow structure are disclosed. An assembly comprising a transfer pad and a flexible heat transfer die comprising a thermal interface material (TIM) replace the hard rubber die in a hot-stamping process to fuse indicia into the surface. The assembly modifies ordinary pad printing into a hot-stamping process that transfers indicia onto uneven surfaces. A pad printing machine or other robotics is used to move the assembly from a position of heating to a position of compressing the ink transfer to the surface of the article.

A packaging structure with patterns formed through continuous multi-color hot foil stamping includes a packaging portion consisting of a receiving unit and a bottom panel, and a pattern portion located on an outer surface of the packaging portion and including continuous multi-color hot foil stamped areas. The receiving unit internally defines at least one holding space and has a first and a second opening respectively formed at a top and a bottom thereof and communicable with the holding space. The bottom panel is an integral one-piece member connected to the bottom of the receiving unit to close the second opening. The one-piece bottom panel allows the bottom of the packaging portion to have a flat and seamless middle area and accordingly, increased overall structural stability. Since the pattern portion includes continuous multi-color hot foil stamped areas, it can be formed in a quick, low-cost and aesthetic manner.

Methods, apparatus and system for decorating plastic articles having an uneven surface or hollow structure are disclosed. An assembly comprising a transfer pad and a flexible heat transfer die comprising a thermal interface material (TIM) replace the hard rubber die in a hot-stamping process to fuse indicia into the surface. The assembly modifies ordinary pad printing into a hot-stamping process that transfers indicia onto uneven surfaces. A pad printing machine or other robotics is used to move the assembly from a position of heating to a position of compressing the ink transfer to the surface of the article.

Methods, apparatus and system for decorating plastic articles having an uneven surface or hollow structure are disclosed. An assembly comprising a transfer pad and a flexible heat transfer die comprising a thermal interface material (TIM) replace the hard rubber die in a hot-stamping process to fuse indicia into the surface. The assembly modifies ordinary pad printing into a hot-stamping process that transfers indicia onto uneven surfaces. A pad printing machine or other robotics is used to move the assembly from a position of heating to a position of compressing the ink transfer to the surface of the article.

Methods, apparatus and system for decorating plastic articles having an uneven surface or hollow structure are disclosed. An assembly comprising a transfer pad and a flexible heat transfer die comprising a thermal interface material (TIM) replace the hard rubber die in a hot-stamping process to fuse indicia into the surface. The assembly modifies ordinary pad printing into a hot-stamping process that transfers indicia onto uneven surfaces. A pad printing machine or other robotics is used to move the assembly from a position of heating to a position of compressing the ink transfer to the surface of the article.

Disclosed is a device for printing an object with a foil, which device includes a needle block with needles that can be heated, a control unit that can determine and set which needles are heated at which moment. The device is also provided with a roller that is positioned rotatably and which can guide the object, when placed on the roller, under the needle block.

A heat transfer film having a) a carrier film, b) at least one coating layer arranged directly on the carrier film, and c) at least one hot-sealable polymer adhesive layer is disclosed. The coating layer is based on a non-aqueous, radiation-curable, liquid composition which contains at least 60 wt %, based on the total weight of the composition, of curable constituents selected from organic oligomers which have ethylenically unsaturated double bonds. Use of the heat transfer films for the dry coating of surfaces, production of such heat transfer films, and methods for coating or lacquering surfaces of objects using the heat transfer films are also disclosed.