A hot stamping machine is provided, including a machine table, a processing platform, a hot stamping device and a license plate conveying device, wherein the hot stamping device includes an upper heating plate, a single-rod cylinder, a carbon ribbon and a carbon ribbon conveying mechanism; two groups of lifting mechanisms are used for driving lifting plates to move in the perpendicular direction, tops of two groups of grabbing devices are connected, and tin grabbing device moving mechanisms are used for driving the grabbing devices to move linearly between the two groups of lifting plates and the processing platform up and down and to the left and the right. Compared with an existing rolling hot stamping machine, the hot stamping machine does not require manual involvement in feeding and discharging, shortens the time for hot stamping one license plate by two-thirds, and has a high hot stamping efficiency.

An apparatus for coating a part that has an asymmetrical edge. The apparatus includes a film dispenser, a film retriever, a mandrel; and a part holder. Preferably one or both of the mandrel and the part holder move in an angular relationship to one another, and the film dispenser and the film retriever move co-operatively in at least two dimensions with respect to the part holder. There is further provided a film having a first edge and a second edge, and the film can be a decorative coating, a protective coating or combinations of these. The film dispenser holds the first edge of the film, the film is positioned between the mandrel and the part holder and the film retriever holds the film second edge.

Exemplary embodiments are disclosed of jigs (broadly, inserts) for use when sublimation printing on socks, production ready sublimation printable socks with preinstalled jigs therein, and related systems and methods. In an exemplary embodiment, a jig includes an upper portion and a lower portion. A first transition or rounded shoulder portion is along a first side of the jig between the upper portion and the lower portion. A second transition or rounded shoulder portion is along a second side of the jig between the upper portion and the lower portion.

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.

The device for hot stamping a part of a vehicle body is provided. The device includes a strip including a carrier film and a decorative film; at least one motorized arm capable of moving; at least one head mounted movably in rotation on one end of the arm, the head comprising pressure means capable of applying pressure on the strip; and means for unwinding the strip in front of the head.

Apparatuses and methods for applying a transfer material onto one or more surfaces 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. The apparatuses and methods may include 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 one or more surfaces of the three-dimensional article; and transferring the transfer material onto the one or more surfaces of the article.

A device for marking a conductor includes: a gripper for gripping the conductor extending in a longitudinal direction; a heating jaw assembly having two jaws spaced from each other in an open position in a first transverse direction transverse to the longitudinal direction; and a transport mechanism for dispensing a foil tape extending along the first transverse direction on a first side of the heating jaw assembly, a foil side of the foil tape facing away from the heating jaw assembly being weldable by heat and a foil side of the foil tape facing the heating jaw assembly including a marking of the conductor; and a gripper mechanism for moving the gripper along a second transverse direction transverse to the longitudinal direction and transverse to the first transverse direction when the heating jaw assembly is in the open position. The gripper moves the gripped conductor.

Provided herein are methods and systems for the custom-printing of an item including, e.g., a) accepting customer request data for a workpiece and customer request data for a graphic design to cover at least a portion of the workpiece; b) accepting workpiece identifier data from a workpiece database based on the customer request data; c) accepting print design data from a print design database based on the customer request data for a graphic design; d) associating the print design data with the workpiece identifier data; e) printing the print design data onto a hydrofilm portion; f) placing the hydrofilm portion onto a fluid surface in a dip tank; g) applying an activator to the hydrofilm portion to yield an activated hydrofilm portion; and h) dipping the workpiece into the dip tank, whereby the activated hydrofilm portion is bonded to the workpiece as a result of the dipping.

A lower mandrel for a cap logo applicator includes a structure having a curved surface and a first end and a second end, an extension extending from the first end to the second end, and a first pad positioned on an upper surface of the structure. The first pad extends radially beyond both the first end and the second end and below a lower surface of the structure.

A printed material includes a base material, an image layer, and an adhesive layer. The image layer includes an image of a first shape. The adhesive layer has a second shape. The image layer and the adhesive layer are on opposite sides of the base material.