Hot stamping apparatus
AssigneeIllumination Corporation
InventorsYoshiharu Fujita, Koji Fujita
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hot stamping apparatus and a hot stamping method are for collectively decorating a plurality of decoration objects using a decorative sheet. In a hot stamping apparatus, an upper chamber and a lower chamber are partitioned by a partition sheet and pressing bodies, so that decorative sheet pieces can be used instead of a decorative sheet having a large area. Then, by using the decorative sheet pieces, local thermal deformation can be prevented. A usage amount of the decorative sheet can be reduced, and three-dimensional decoration can be implemented as needed on a portion requiring decoration.
Claims12
A hot stamping apparatus comprising:
- a decoration object;
- a plurality of separate and independent decorative sheet pieces;
- a chamber which includes an upper chamber and a lower chamber;
- a placing table inside the lower chamber, wherein the decoration object is placed on the placing table with the plurality of separate and independent decorative sheet pieces fixed to the decoration object so as to be in direct contact with the decoration object but not in direct contact with the upper chamber or the lower chamber;
- a heater configured to heat the decorative sheet pieces;
- a partition sheet above the decorative sheet pieces, wherein the partition sheet is fixed to and covering an opening portion of either the upper chamber or the lower chamber;
- at least one pressing body that is elastic, is separate from the decorative sheet pieces, and configured to press the decorative sheet pieces against the decoration object;
- and
- a vacuum pump configured to reduce a pressure in the chamber, wherein the hot stamping apparatus is configured to apply pressure to the partition sheet and to cause the pressing body to be brought into contact with and press against the decorative sheet pieces, by increasing the pressure from the upper chamber, so that the decorative sheet pieces are brought into tight contact with the decoration object.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.