Foil transfer device

A foil transfer device for transferring foil onto a sheet laid on a foil film containing the foil, the foil transfer device comprising:

• a supply reel on which the foil film is wound;
• a take-up reel on which to take up the foil film;
• a heating roller configured to heat the foil film and the sheet;
• a pressure roller configured to rotate, with the foil film and the sheet being nipped between the heating roller and the pressure roller, to thereby cause the sheet to move forward together with the foil film drawn out from the supply reel;
• conveyor rollers configured to convey the sheet, to feed the sheet to a transfer position in which the foil film and the sheet are to be nipped between the heating roller and the pressure roller to transfer foil onto a foil transfer area defined on a surface of the sheet;
• a film-transport regulator capable of changing a state of transport of the foil film drawn out by the heating roller and the pressure roller, between a restricted state in which restriction is placed on the transport of the foil film and a release state in which the restriction is removed;
• a nip/release actuator configured to move a first roller that is one of the heating roller and the pressure roller, relative to a second roller that is another of the heating roller and the pressure roller, between a nipping position in which the first roller is pressed against the second roller, and a release position in which the first roller is separated from the second roller;
• and
• a controller configured to exercise control over the conveyor rollers, the nip/release actuator, and the film-transport regulator in such a manner that:
• before the foil transfer area of the sheet reaches the transfer position, the first roller is positioned in the nipping position and the state of transport of the foil film is kept in the release state;
• the state of transport of the foil film is changed from the release state to the restricted state while the sheet of which the foil transfer area has moved past the transfer position remains on the transfer position;
• and
• after the state of transport of the foil film is changed to the restricted state, the first roller is moved to the release position,
• wherein the controller is configured such that:
• when a sheet of which the foil transfer area is located at a second distance or farther from a trailing edge of the sheet is fed, the state of transport of the foil film is changed from the release state to the restricted state while the sheet of which the foil transfer area has moved past the transfer position remains on the transfer position, and the first roller is moved to the release position after the state of transport of the foil film is changed to the restricted state;
• and
• when a sheet of which the foil transfer area is located at a distance shorter than the second distance from a trailing edge of the sheet is fed, the state of transport of the foil film is changed from the release state to the restricted state after the sheet has moved past the transfer position, and the first roller is moved to the release position after the state of transport of the foil film is changed to the restricted state.

A foil transfer device for transferring foil onto a sheet laid on a foil film containing the foil, the foil transfer device comprising:

• a supply reel on which the foil film is wound;
• a take-up reel on which to take up the foil film;
• conveyor rollers configured to convey the sheet;
• a heating roller configured to heat the foil film and the sheet;
• a pressure roller configured to rotate, with the foil film and the sheet being nipped between the heating roller and the pressure roller, to thereby cause the sheet to move forward together with the foil film drawn out from the supply reel;
• a clutch configured to selectively effect and stop rotation of the pressure roller and the heating roller;
• a nip/release actuator configured to move a first roller that is one of the heating roller and the pressure roller, relative to a second roller that is another of the heating roller and the pressure roller, between a nipping position in which the first roller is pressed against the second roller, and a release position in which the first roller is separated from the second roller;
• and
• a controller configured to:
• drive the conveyor rollers to feed the sheet to a transfer position between the pressure roller and the heating roller while the first roller is positioned in the release position and the clutch is caused to stop rotation of the pressure roller and the heating roller;
• move the first roller to position the first roller in the nipping position while the sheet is present at the transfer position and before a foil transfer area of the sheet on which the foil is to be transferred reaches the transfer position;
• and
• cause the clutch to effect rotation of the pressure roller and the heating roller to place the foil film in a release state in which the foil film is not restricted from being drawn out
• from the supply reel after the first roller is positioned in the nipping position,
• wherein the controller is configured such that:
• when a sheet of which the foil transfer area is located at a first distance or farther from a leading edge of the sheet is fed, the first roller is moved and positioned in the nipping position while the sheet is present at the transfer position and before the foil transfer area of the sheet reaches the transfer position, and the foil film is placed in the release state after the first roller is positioned in the nipping position;
• and
• when a sheet of which the foil transfer area is located at a distance shorter than the first distance from a leading edge of the sheet is fed, the first roller is moved and positioned in the nipping position before the sheet reaches the transfer position, and the foil film is placed in the release state after the first roller is positioned in the nipping position.