FLAT EMBOSSED PRINTING MACHINE WITH A FOIL WEB GUIDANCE AND TRANSPORT DEVICE

Abstract

A flat embossed printing machine for embossing a flat material includes a flatbed press having a tool plate and an embossing table, a foil web guidance and transport device for guiding at least one embossing foil web over the embossing table of the flatbed press along a foil transport path, a flat material guidance for guiding a flat material through the flatbed press along a flat material transport path, and a control device for operating the flat embossed printing machine. The foil web guidance and transport device subsequently to the flatbed press considered in the transport direction of the flat material includes a peel-away element, arranged above the flat material transport path as well as behind the foil transport path, for holding back and peeling the embossing foil web away from the flat material on transporting the flat material away out of the flatbed press.

Claims

1. A flat embossed printing machine for embossing a flat material, comprising: a flatbed press, comprising a tool plate and an embossing table, a foil web guidance and transport device for guiding at least one embossing foil web over the embossing table of the flatbed press along a foil transport path, a flat material guidance for guiding a flat material through the flatbed press along a flat material transport path, and a control device for operating the flat embossed printing machine, wherein: the foil web guidance and transport device subsequently to the flatbed press in the transport direction of the flat material comprises a peel-away element which is arranged above the flat material transport path as well as behind the foil transport path, for holding back and peeling the embossing foil web away from the flat material on transporting the flat material away out of the flatbed press.

2. The flat embossed printing machine according to claim 1, wherein the peel-away element is arranged relative to the flat material transport path such that the embossing foil web which adheres to the embossed flat material which is transported away out of the flatbed press is held back by the peel-away element and thus peeled away amid the formation of an open peel-away loop which coming from the peel-away element extends downstream in the transport direction of the flat material.

3. The flat embossed printing machine according to claim 1, wherein the foil web guidance and transport device comprises a deflecting element which in the transport direction of the flat material is arranged at the exit of the flatbed press above the flat material transport path and in front of the peel-away element, for deflecting the embossing foil web out of the transport direction of the flat material wherein the embossing foil web is led into a deflection between the deflecting element and the peel-away element.

4. The flat embossed printing machine according to claim 3, wherein the deflecting element is arranged at a distance to the flat material transport path.

5. The flat embossed printing machine according to claim 1, wherein the peel-away element is arranged at a distance to the flat material transport path.

6. The flat embossed printing machine machine according to claim 1, wherein the peel-away element is arranged at a distance of 1 mm or larger to the flat material transport path.

7. The flat embossed printing machine according to claim 1, wherein the peel-away element is arranged at a distance of 30 mm or less to the flat material transport path.

8. The flat embossed printing machine according to claim 1, wherein the peel-away element forms an arcuate deflecting surface for the deflection of the embossing foil web.

9. The flat embossed printing machine according to claim 1, wherein the flat embossed printing machine comprises an unwinding device for unwinding the embossing foil web from an unwind roll.

10. The flat embossed printing machine according to claim 9, wherein the flat embossed printing machine comprises a foil store which in the transport direction of the embossing foil web is arranged in front of the flatbed press for the temporary intermediate storing of a foil web length of the embossing foil web between two embossing procedures.

11. The flat embossed printing machine according to claim 10, wherein the foil store comprises a store formation device for filling the foil store with an embossing foil web length.

12. A method for operating the flat embossed printing machine according to claim 1, wherein the embossing foil web and the flat material are positioned and brought together in the flatbed press and embossing pictures are transferred from the embossing foil web onto the flat material by way of an embossing procedure, wherein: subsequently to the embossing procedure, the flat material is transported away out of the opened flatbed press along the flat material transport path in the transport direction and past the peel-away element, wherein the embossing foil web which is carried along and adheres to the flat material meets the peel-away element and activates a peeling of the embossing foil web away from the flat material.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the embossing foil web which adheres to the flat material is peeled away from the flat material amid the formation of an open peel-away loop which coming from the peel-away element extends downstream in the transport direction of the flat material.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein an embossing foil web excess length which is advanced through the flatbed press amid the formation of an open peel-away loop is pulled back again counter to the foil advance direction subsequently to the peeling-away procedure and is intermediately stored in the foil store for a later embossing procedure.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein the embossing foil web excess length is pulled back by way of the store formation device of the foil store.

16. A flat embossed printing machine for embossing a flat material according to claim 1, comprising: a flatbed press comprising a tool plate and an embossing table, a foil web guidance and transport device for guiding at least one embossing foil web over the embossing table of the flatbed press along a foil transport path, a flat material guidance for guiding a flat through the flatbed press along a flat material transport path, a foil tensioning device for tensioning an embossing foil web section which is led through the flatbed press, and a control device for operating the flat embossed printing machine, wherein the foil tensioning device comprises: a foil clamping device for clamping the at least one embossing foil web at a clamping location which considered in the transport direction of the at least one embossing foil web is arranged in front of the flatbed press, and a foil deflecting device for deflecting the at least one embossing foil web out of the foil transport path after the clamping location considered in the transport direction of the embossing foil web, for the purpose of controlling the foil tension.

17. The flat embossed printing machine according to claim 16, wherein the foil deflecting device is designed for deflecting the at least one embossing foil web out of the foil transport path between the clamping location and the flatbed press.

18. The flat embossed printing machine according to claim 16, wherein the foil clamping device is a first foil clamping device and the clamping location a first clamping location, and the foil tensioning device comprises a second foil clamping device for clamping the at least one embossing foil web at a second clamping location which in the transport direction of the at least one embossing foil web is arranged after the flatbed press, and the foil deflecting device is designed for deflecting the at least one embossing foil web out of the foil transport path between the first and the second clamping location.

19. The flat embossed printing machine according to claim 16, wherein the foil deflecting device is arranged in front of the flatbed press considered in the transport direction of the at least one embossing foil web.

20. The flat embossed printing machine according to claim 16, wherein the foil deflecting device comprises a foil deflecting element which amid the deflection of the at least one embossing foil web is movable with a movement component transverse to the foil transport path.

21. The flat embossed printing machine according to claim 16, wherein the foil deflecting device comprises two counter-holder elements which are distanced to one another in the transport direction of the embossing foil web and which are arranged on the side of the embossing foil web which lies opposite the foil deflecting element and between which a deflection section for the embossing foil web is formed.

22. The flat embossed printing machine according to claim 16, wherein the flat embossed printing machine forms several foil transport paths for leading several embossing foil webs next to one another through the flatbed press, wherein a foil deflecting device for the individual setting of the foil tension for each embossing foil web is assigned to each foil transport path.

23. A method for operating a flat embossed printing according to claim 16, wherein the at least one embossing foil web and the flat material are positioned in the flatbed press and brought together by way of closing the flatbed press and embossing pictures are transferred from the at least one embossing foil web onto the flat material by way of an embossing procedure, wherein the at least one embossing foil web is clamped at the clamping location before the closing of the flatbed press, and the foil deflecting element is subsequently moved, in particular pivoted, towards the embossing foil web, and the foil deflecting element deflects the at least one embossing foil web transversely to the foil transport path until the embossing foil web section which is led through the flatbed press has a predefined tension.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0162] The subject-matter of the invention is hereinafter explained in more detail by way of an embodiment example which is represented in the accompanying figures. Shown schematically in each case are:

[0163] FIG. 1: a cross-sectional view of a flat embossed printing machine according to the invention;

[0164] FIG. 2 a cross-sectional view from the region of the peel-away element of the flat embossed printing machine according to FIG. 1;

[0165] FIG. 3 a cross-sectional view of a typical embossing foil;

[0166] FIG. 4 a speed profile of foil advance and sheet transport;

[0167] FIG. 5 a cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of a flat embossed printing machine, from the region of the flatbed press.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0168] Basically, in the figures the same parts are provided with the same reference numerals. Certain features, for example features which are not essential for the invention are not represented in the figures for a better understanding of the invention. The described embodiment example is exemplary for the subject-matter of the invention or serves for its explanation and has no limiting effect.

[0169] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment example of a flat embossed printing machine 1 according to the invention, with a flatbed press 2 which is designed as a flat-flat press, for embossing sheets 12. The flatbed press 2 includes an embossing table 3 with a counter-pressure plate and as a counter-piece a tool plate 4 with heated embossing tools, also called Clichs, (not shown) which are arranged on this tool plate at the embossing side.

[0170] The sheets 12 which are to be embossed are individually pulled away from a sheet stack 63 which is provided in a sheet feeder 60, and are transported to the flat embossing table 3 via a transport device 61. For this, the singularised sheet 12 is gripped and held at its leading edge by a gripper beam 62 and is pulled by this onto the embossing table 3 of the open flatbed press 2 and positioned below an embossing foil web 6.

[0171] The embossing foil web 6 is constructed in a multi-layered manner and includes a carrier foil 55, e.g. of polyester, which serves as a carrier for the further layers (see FIG. 3). An embossing picture 57 is arranged on the carrier foil 55 via a separating layer 56. An outer-lying activatable adhesive layer 58 is arranged on the embossing picture 57 at the embossing side of the embossing foil web 6.

[0172] The embossing picture 57 with the adhesive layer in front is pressed onto the sheet 12 during the embossing procedure. By way of activating the adhesive layer 58, e.g. by way of heat, the embossing picture 57 connects to the sheet 12 via the adhesive layer 58. On the other hand, the separating layer 56 loses its adhesive force or this is reduced, due the effect of heat, so that the carrier foil 55 can be released from the embossing picture 57 along the separating layer 56 subsequently to the embossing procedure, the embossing picture being applied on the sheet 12.

[0173] The embossed sheets 12 subsequently to the embossing procedure are each pulled out of the opened flatbed press 2 by way of the gripper bar 62 and are fed to a sheet delivery 70 amid the formation of a sheet stack 73 of embossed sheets.

[0174] The flat embossed printing machine 1 further includes a foil web guidance and transport device 7 for transporting and guiding an embossing foil web 6, also called picture foil web, with embossing pictures 57 arranged thereon, through the flatbed press 2.

[0175] The foil web guidance and transport device 7 includes a foil feed device 20 for feeding an embossing foil web 6 to the flatbed press 2. The foil feed device 20 includes an unwinding device 21 for receiving an unwind roll 22, on which the embossing foil web 6 is wound as a roll product and from which embossing foil web 6 is unwound for the foil advance.

[0176] The flat embossed printing machine 1 or the foil web guidance and transport device 7 includes a foil loop store 23 downstream after the unwinding device 21 and in front of the flatbed press 2 in the transport direction T.sub.2 of the embossing foil web 6. The foil loop store 23 includes at least one loop receiver 25 for receiving a foil loop 11, as well as a vacuum device 24 for shaping the foil loop 11 in the loop receiver 25. For this, a vacuum is exerted by the vacuum device 24 upon the embossing foil web 6 which is led past the loop receiver 25. By way of this, the embossing foil web 6 is sucked into the loop receiver 25 amid the formation of the foil loop 11.

[0177] As already eluded further above, the foil advance on the flatbed press 2 is intermittent, wherein this foil advance is matched to the embossing cycle. Hence, for example, the embossing foil web 2 is at rest in the closed flatbed press 2 during the embossing procedure, whereas given an opened press the foil advance is effected at a high speed at the beginning of a new embossing cycle. The foil advance must be effected in a gentle as possible and precise manner, but also in a rapid manner, so that the embossing foil web 6 on the one hand is advanced rapidly but despite this in a gentle manner into the next embossing position, as well as positioned in an exact manner or even in register on the embossing table 3 and is kept still in a positionally accurate manner on closing the flatbed press 2.

[0178] On changing between the holding-still and foil advance or between the foil advance and the holding-still, the covered speed profile has high positive or negative accelerations.

[0179] Since the unwinding device 21 with the heavy unwind roll 22 reacts in a far too sluggish manner between the standstill and high advance speed for the rapid and above all greatly changing transport speed of the embossing foil web 6 on the flatbed press 2, speed differences between the advance speed at the flatbed press 2 and the web speed or unwinding speed at the unwind roll 22 are equalised or compensated by way of a suitable enlargement or size reduction of the foil loop 11 in the foil loop store 23.

[0180] Thus, with regard to the embossing foil web length for the foil advance, in contrast to the unwinding device 21 it is merely the intrinsic weight of the embossing foil web length which is intermediately stored in loop form which needs to be moved out of the loop receiver 25. Moreover, the embossing foil web length which is stored in a loop-like manner is not mechanically held in the foil store. By way of this, the foil loop store 23 can provide embossing foil web lengths with a very low reaction time, for the foil advance which is effected rapidly and at a high speed.

[0181] Furthermore, a sensor device 26 for detecting the stored embossing foil web length is assigned to the foil loop store 23. The vacuum device 24 is controlled on the basis of the store data which is determined by the sensor device 26.

[0182] A flat braking and guidance wall 27 past which the embossing foil web 6 is led can be arranged between the foil loop store 23 and the flatbed press 2.

[0183] The braking and guidance wall 27 serves as a foil tensioning device and forms a guide surface, via which the at least one embossing foil web 6 is led. The guide surface interacts with a vacuum device, by way of which a vacuum can be generated on the guide surface. The applied vacuum ensures that the embossing foil web 6 bears on or is sucked onto the guide surface of the braking and guidance wall 27. The applied vacuum in particular also ensures a braking of the embossing foil web 6. The greater the applied vacuum, the greater is the braking effect upon the embossing foil web 6 and vice versa. The guide surface can be formed by a cloth-like or textile-like, air-permeable rest layer. This ensures a gentle guidance of the sensitive embossing foil web 6 despite physical contact between the embossing foil web 6 and the guide surface.

[0184] The foil tension between the braking and guidance wall 27 and the foil advance device 41 can be controlled by way of the braking effect of the vacuum which is applied to the guide surface and acts upon the embossing foil web 6 which is led past. An increase of the vacuum on the guide surface leads to a greater braking effect and thus to an increase of the foil tension.

[0185] A controlled foil tension, as is yet explained further below, in particular is important in the region of the flatbed press 2 as well as in the context of detecting print marks, since it is only this which ensures an arching-free and if necessary positionally accurate or in-register positioning of the embossing foil web 6 in the flatbed press 2.

[0186] However, the braking and guidance wall 27 is not a necessary feature of this invention.

[0187] The foil web guidance and transport device 7 further includes a foil lead-away device 40 for leading away the embossing foil web 6 from the flatbed press 1.

[0188] The foil lead-away device 40 includes a foil advance device 41 which is arranged after the flatbed press 2, for carrying out the foil advance at the beginning of a new embossing cycle. The foil advance device 41 can include, e.g., a driven advance roller or a driven advance roller pair, by way of which the advancing of the embossing foil web 6 is effected.

[0189] The foil lead-away device 40 furthermore downstream of the foil advance device 41 includes a winding roll 42 for winding up the embossed embossing foil web 6.

[0190] The embossing foil web 6 is guided through the flatbed press 2 above the embossing table or above the sheet 12 which is positioned on the embossing table 3, and below the tool plate 4 by way of the foil web guidance and transport device 7.

[0191] A deflecting rod 15 which ensures a deflection of the embossing foil web 6 obliquely upwards out of a horizontal transport path 17 is arranged at the exit of the flatbed press 2 in the transport direction T.sub.2 of the embossing foil web 6 above the transport path 18 of the sheet 12 and the embossing foil web 6.

[0192] The foil lead-away device 40 furthermore includes a peel-away element 16 which in the transport direction T.sub.1 of the sheets 12 is arranged after the deflecting rod 15 downstream and likewise above the transport path 18 of the sheet 12. The deflecting rod 15 and the peel-away element 16 are arranged such that the transport path 17 of the embossing foil web 6 runs through between the deflecting rod 15 and the peel-away element 16.

[0193] Furthermore, the foil lead-away device 40 between the deflecting rod 15 or the peel-away element 16 and the foil advance device 41 can include a (further) flat braking and guidance wall 43 for ensuring a constant foil tension between the foil advance device 41 and the further braking and guidance wall 43.

[0194] The further braking and guidance wall 43 can be constructed in the same manner as the braking and guidance wall 27 between the foil store 23 and the flatbed press 2. The further braking and guidance wall 43 is likewise not a necessary feature of this device.

[0195] A print mark sensor 44, also called print mark reader can be arranged between the foil advance device 41 and the braking and guidance wall 43. This detects the position of print marks on the embossing foil web 6 for the purpose of a register-accurate positioning of the embossing foil web 6 in the flatbed press 2. The print mark sensor 44 is arranged in a section of the foil transport path 17 between the braking and guidance wall 43 and the foil advance device 41, in which section a controlled foil tension prevails.

[0196] Alternatively, the print mark reader 28 can also be arranged between the braking and guidance wall 27 and the flatbed press 22. Alternatively, the print mark reader 13 can also be arranged in the flatbed press 2 at the entry side. Alternatively, the print mark reader 13 can also be arranged in the flatbed press 2 at the exit side.

[0197] Common to all three positions for the print mark sensors 13, 14, 28 is the fact that a braking and guidance wall 27 for the purpose of the control of the foil tension is arranged in front of these between the foil store 23 and the flatbed press 2.

[0198] The four print mark sensors 23, 14, 28, 44 which are shown at alternative positions along the transport path 17 of the embossing foil web 6 are likewise not an essential feature of the present invention.

[0199] As mentioned, at the beginning of an embossing cycle the embossing foil web 6 in the so-called foil advance is advanced by the foil advance device 41 by a defined advance length in the transport direction T.sub.2 of the embossing foil web 6 (advance direction). Concerning this procedure, the embossing foil web length which is embossed in the preceding embossing cycle is transported away or pulled out of the open flatbed press 2 in the advance direction T.sub.2 and a not yet embossed embossing foil web length of the foil advance is transported or pulled into the open flatbed press 2. Furthermore, a new sheet 12 is transported from the sheet feeder 60 into the open flatbed press 2 by way of a gripper beam 62.

[0200] If the embossing foil web 6 is to be positioned in the flatbed press 2 in register with the sheet 12, then the print mark sensor 13, 14, 28 or 44 reads out so-called print marks on the embossing foil web 6. For this, the transport of the embossing foil web 6 is effected at a reduced advance speed towards the end of the foil advance (see also FIG. 4).

[0201] For this, the print mark sensor 13, 14, 28, or 44 is arranged in an embossing foil web section with a controlled foil tension, downstream of a braking and guidance wall 27 and 43 respectively.

[0202] As soon as the embossing foil web 6 and the sheet 12 are positioned in the flatbed press 2 (register-accurate), this is closed and the embossing procedure is carried out by way of a forceful leading together of the tool plate 4 and embossing table 3 by way of the action of pressure and heat.

[0203] After completion of the embossing procedure, the flatbed press 2 is opened again and the embossed sheet 12 together with the embossed-out embossing foil web length is transported out of the open flatbed press 2.

[0204] Herein, the release of the embossing foil web 6 from the sheet 12 is effected at the exit of the flatbed press 2 in the course of the foil advance. For this, the embossed sheet 12 is pulled out of the opened flatbed press 2 by way of the gripper beam 62, as well as the embossing foil web 6 by way of the foil advance. The embossed sheet 12 at the exit of the flatbed press 2 is pulled away out of the flatbed press 2 in an essentially horizontal direction. The embossing foil web 6 is pulled away obliquely to the top, wherein the deflecting rod 15 which is arranged at the exit side and above the embossing foil web 6 ensures the deflection obliquely upwards from an essentially horizontal guidance.

[0205] Given comparatively easily releasable embossing foil webs 6, a detachment of the embossing foil web 6 from the sheet 12 is now effected by push separation by way of pulling away the embossing foil web 6 obliquely upwards and the simultaneous horizontal pulling-away of the sheet 12. The embossing foil web 6 is accordingly deflected at the deflection rod 15.

[0206] If however the embossing foil web 6 is not easily releasable, then this remains adhering to the sheet 12 and is horizontally pulled along together with this. Accordingly, the peel-away point 10 or the peel-away line displaces downstream. The embossing foil web 6 which is pulled along now abuts on the peel-away element 16 which is arranged further downstream above the sheet 12 and at a distance to this. Consequently, the embossing foil web 6 is pulled through below the peel-away element 16 amid the formation of a peel-away loop 9 until the retaining force which is generated by the foil tension is greater than the peel-away force which is to be mustered for peeling the embossing foil web 6 away from the sheet 12 (see FIG. 2). Accordingly, the peel-away point 10 now lies downstream of the peel-away element 16.

[0207] By way of the formation of a peel-away loop 9, the embossing foil web 6 is peeled away from the sheet 12 at an acute peel-away angle . The acute peel-away angle or the peel-away element which ensures the formation of the peel-away loop and accordingly of the acute peel-away angle furthermore prevent a lifting and consequently a deformation of the sheet 2 by the adhering and upwardly pulled-away embossing foil web 6.

[0208] However, an embossing foil web excess length 8 is (post-) pulled due to the peel-away point 10 which is arranged downstream of the peel-away element 16. The embossing foil web excess length 8 is a length section of non-embossed embossing foil web 6 which is (post-) pulled through the flatbed press 2 beyond the specified advance length of the foil advance and is pulled out of the flatbed press 2 at the exit side. This embossing foil web excess length 8 is not (post-) pulled by the foil advance device 41 since the foil advance device 41 merely carries out a foil advance with a predefined advance length.

[0209] Now, after completion of the peeling-away procedure, i.e. when the peel-away point 10 releases from the sheet 2, this embossing foil web excess length 8 is pulled back through the open flatbed press 2 counter to the advance direction T.sub.2. This is effected by the foil loop store 23 whose vacuum device 24 during the peeling-away procedure exerts a permanent tensile tension upon the embossing foil web 6 which is advanced in the direction of the flatbed press 2.

[0210] As soon as the embossing foil web 6 has completely detached from the sheet 2, the embossing foil web 6 springs back in a whip-like manner in the direction of the foil loop store 23 on account of the abrupt drop in tension. The embossing foil web excess length 8 is pulled back in the direction of the foil loop store 23. An embossing foil web length which corresponds to the pulled-back embossing foil web excess length 8 is now formed in the foil loop store 23 and is intermediately stored for the next embossing cycle.

[0211] If a braking and guidance wall 27 is arranged between the foil loop store 23 and the flatbed press 2, this is temporarily deactivated during the pulling-back of the foil web excess length, in a manner such that the braking effect is done away with. This, e.g., can be effected by way of a brief venting of the braking and guidance wall 27. By way of this, one prevents the pulling-back of the foil web excess length by way of the foil loop store 23 being inhibited or event prevented on account of the braking effect of the braking and guidance wall 27.

[0212] A new embossing cycle can now begin again. The embossing foil web excess length which is intermediately stored in the foil loop store 23 is hereinafter yet supplemented by a further embossing foil web length from the unwind roll 22, so that the total length of the foil web length which is intermediately stored in the foil loop store 23 corresponds at least to the advance length.

[0213] The individual assemblies such as the unwinding device, foil loop store, flatbed press, foil advance device and sheet transport device or the individual part-processes of the flat embossed printing machine, unwinding of the foil, storage and release of embossing foil web length respectively in and from the foil loop store, sheet feed and the sheet away-transport, foil advance and embossing procedure, etc. are controlled via the machine control 80. For this, the machine control 80 in particular also processes sensor data from the print mark reader 13, 14, 28 or 44 and store sensors 26.

[0214] Basically also several embossing foil webs 6 can be led through the flatbed press simultaneously, in particular parallel to one another, in the flat embossed printing machine 1 for embossing sheets 12 in several zones. These embossing foil webs, driven by a foil advance device 41, are each unwound from the unwind rolls 22 and each transported through the flatbed press 2 via a foil loop store 23 which is arranged in front of the flatbed press 2, and are wound onto a winding roll in the foil lead-away device 40.

[0215] FIG. 4 shows a schematic course of the speed profile 50 of the sheet transport and of the speed profile 51 of the foil advance relative to one another. The speed profiles serve merely for illustration and do not represent an effective speed course.

[0216] After opening the flatbed press 22 (reference numeral: 52), firstly the sheet transport is started with the speed profile 50. The sheet 12 is hereby pulled out of the flatbed press 2 by way of gripper beams 62. The foil advance starts with the speed profile 51 with some delay. Due to the delayed start of the foil advance, the sheet 12 together with the embossing foil web 6 which adheres to this is pulled towards the peel-away element 16 and amid the formation of a peel-away loop 9 is pulled through below the peel-away element over a certain stretch section.

[0217] During a phase of equal speed between the foil advance and the sheet transport, the embossing foil web 6 is peeled away from the sheet 12 amid the formation of a constant peel-away loop 9. Given the complete release of the embossing foil web 6 from the sheet 12 (reference numeral 53), the speed of the foil advance is also lowered to a so-called search speed. In a subsequent search run with a reduced speed of the foil advance, the print mark sensor searches for print marks on the embossing foil web 6 for a register-accurate positioning of the embossing foil web 6 over the flatbed press 2 in preparation for a subsequent embossing cycle.

[0218] If no register-accurate positioning of the embossing foil web 6 is necessary, then one can make do without the search run. The speed of the foil advance is then reduced directly to zero at the end of the foil advance.

[0219] The speed of the sheet transport is not reduced until some delay with respect to the speed profile 51 of the foil advance towards the end of the sheet transport and lowered to zero. This is because the speed profile of the sheet transport is based on the so-called sheet rapport between two gripper beams 62. The path stretch of a sheet rapport is herein significantly larger than the sheet length in the sheet transport direction T.sub.1.

[0220] After the foil advance and sheet transport are completed, the flatbed press 2 is closed again for a new embossing cycle (reference numeral 54).

[0221] One can envisage the speed profile 51 of the foil advance temporarily having a speed increase (not shown) shortly before the end of the peeling-way procedure for the purpose of reducing the peel-away loop (not shown), before the speed goes back to zero or goes back to the level of the search speed towards the end of the foil advance.

[0222] Concerning the detail from the region of the flatbed press 2 which is shown in FIG. 5, it is the case of part of a flat embossed printing machine 1. For example, it can be a flat embossed printing machine 1 as is shown in FIG. 1, wherein this is additionally equipped with a foil tensioning device 90 according to the second aspect of the invention. However, the foil tensioning device 90 is not restricted to a flat embossed printing machine with a peel-away element according to the first aspect of the invention, but is also suitable for other embodiments of flat embossed printing machines.

[0223] The flat embossed printing machine according to FIG. 5 includes a foil tensioning device 90 for tensioning the embossing foil web section 89 which is led through the flatbed press 2.

[0224] For this, the foil tensioning device 90 includes a first foil clamping device 93 for clamping the embossing foil web at a first clamping location 94 which in the transport direction T.sub.2 of the embossing foil web is arranged in front of the flatbed press 2. For this, the first foil clamping device 93 includes a first and a second clamping element 95, 27, between which the embossing foil web 6 can be led and clamped. For this, the first clamping element 95, e.g. a clamping roller, is movable, in particular pivotable towards the second clamping element 27 amid the creation of a clamping. In the present embodiment example, the second clamping element 43 is formed by braking and guidance wall 27.

[0225] Furthermore, the foil tensioning device 90 includes a second foil clamping device 96 for clamping the embossing foil web 6 at a second clamping location 98 which in the transport direction T.sub.2 of the embossing foil web 6 is arranged after the flatbed press 2. For this, the second foil clamping device 96 includes a first and a second clamping element 97, 43, between which the embossing foil web 6 is led and can be clamped. For this, the first clamping element 97, e.g. a clamping roller, is movable, in particular pivotable, towards the second clamping element 43 amid the creation of a clamping. The second clamping element 43 is formed by a foil brake 43 in the present embodiment example.

[0226] Furthermore, the foil tensioning device 90 includes a foil deflecting device 91 for deflecting the embossing foil web 6 out of the foil transport path 17 between the first and second clamping location 94, 98 for the purpose of the control of the foil tension and for a controlled stretching of the foil. The foil deflecting device 91 is arranged in front of the flatbed press 2 considered in the transport direction T.sub.2 of the embossing foil web 6.

[0227] The foil deflecting device 91 includes a foil deflecting element 92 which is pivotable towards the embossing foil web 6 transversely to the foil transport path 17. For this, the foil deflection element 92 is pivotably mounted via a pivot axis.

[0228] Furthermore, the foil deflecting device 90 includes two counter-holder elements 99 in the form of counter-holder rollers, which are arranged distanced to one another along the transport direction T.sub.2 of the embossing foil web 6. These are arranged on the side of the embossing foil web 6 which lies opposite the foil deflecting element 92. A deflection section 6 of the embossing foil web 6 is formed between the counter-holder rollers 99.

[0229] The counter-holder rollers 99 ensure that the embossing foil web 6 is only deflected between the counter-holder rollers 99. The foil deflecting element 92 is hereby pivotable towards the embossing foil web 6 between the two counter-holder rollers 99.

[0230] For deflecting the embossing foil web 6, the foil deflecting element 92 is pivoted towards the embossing foil web 6 transversely to the foil transport path 17. The foil defecting element 92 herein presses the embossing foil web 6 laterally away out of the foil transport path 17 and deflects this laterally. Herein, the embossing foil web 6 is deflected, which is to say deflected out of the foil transport path 17, at the counter-holder rollers 99. The laterally deflected embossing foil web 6 herein forms a laterally projecting foil loop.

[0231] The path stretch of the embossing foil web is lengthened due to the deflecting of the embossing foil web 6. Since the embossing foil web 6 is clamped in front of as well as after the foil deflecting device 91 considered in the transport direction T.sub.2, the additional path stretch for the lateral deflection of the embossing foil web 6 can only be provided via a tensioning or stretching of the embossing foil web section 89 which is led through the flatbed press. The tension and with this the stretching of the embossing foil web section 89 is now controlled via the extent of the deflection of the embossing foil web 6.