A foil transfer film cartridge includes a supply reel on which a foil film including a transfer layer containing foil is wound, a take-up reel on which to take up the foil film, a first connecting portion extending in a direction perpendicular to a first axial direction along a rotation axis of the supply reel and connecting the supply reel and the take-up reel at a position apart from the foil film, and a film guide member extending in a second axial direction along a rotation axis of the take-up reel the film guide member being capable of assuming an out-of-contact state and an in-contact state with the foil film extended between the supply reel and the take-up reel.

A hot foil stamping press with a pressing table (10) on which a sheet can be advanced, a pressing system (20) for pressing a foil (14) onto the sheet, a guiding system (18) for guiding the foil (14) over the sheet, the guiding system (18) defining a foil transportation path which extends across the path along which the sheet is being advanced, a holder (11) for receiving a supply (12) of foil, and a discarding system (22) for the used foil, the holder being arranged at an operator side of the press.

A foil reel mounting device for supporting a reel of stamping foil in a supporting module. The device includes a support having a recess to receive an axle of the reel of stamping foil. A retaining element mounted on the support and arranged to move between a closed position, in which the retaining element retains the axle of the reel in the recess, and an open position, in which the retaining element releases the axle of the reel from the recess. The retaining element is biased towards the closed position. Also, a supporting module has at least one foil reel mounting device and a stamping machine includes a supporting module or at least one foil reel mounting device. A method for loading and unloading a reel of stamping foil with such at least one foil reel mounting device is also disclosed.

This invention relates to an apparatus and a process for transferring images, barcodes, optical patterns, latent images, Fresnel lenses, holograms, sterling lenses etc from a stamping foil (116) at desired locations on to a substrate (110) such as paper, polymeric film, flexible laminates, woven or non-woven substrate and combination of these in roll to roll form and more particularly to an apparatus and a process for registered transfer of images, barcodes, optical patterns, latent images, Fresnel lenses, holograms, sterling lenses etc from a stamping foil (116) to a substrate (110) in accurate registered relation. The use of high resolution and high speed sensors (135, 160, 162, 164, 166, 168) provides continuous precise data to the regulating device which results in the continuous correction in the corresponding position of stamping punch/es (137) and stamping foil (116) to match the locations on substrate (110). This provides accurate registered transfer of prints, latent images or Fresnel lenses on the substrate (110) with efficient utilization of stamping foil (116).

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.