Operation of a cold film unit with glue application

A multi-color printing machine comprising:

• a plurality of printing units;
• one of said printing units functioning as an application unit for coating image areas onto printed sheets with an adhesive pattern;
• one of said printing units functioning as a coating unit for transferring an image forming layer of a transfer film to the printed sheets, said coating unit including an impression cylinder and a pressure roller that defines a sheet passage and transfer nip;
• a supply of transfer film having a multi-layer structure including a carrier layer and an image forming layer, a transfer foil guiding device for guiding the transfer foil through the sheet passage and transfer nip with the carrier layer of the transfer foil in contacting relation to the press cylinder under pressure for transferring the image forming layer of the transfer foil to the adhesive pattern on the printing sheets, and
• said application unit having a dosing device for providing a controlled supply of adhesive for application to printed sheets, and a control for controlling the dosing device such that the adhesive supply can be regulated during operation of the coating unit and printing machine.