Apparatus and process for hot-stamping containers

A method for hot-die transfer of metal or pigmented foil material onto circular plastic containers, comprising the steps of:

• mounting for individual rotation a series of such plastic containers onto spaced mandrels, indexing a substantially continuous sheet foil of predetermined length past a heated die which includes a die plate having means providing a substantially free universal movement of said die, said die plate providing information intended to be transferred as a permanent foil lamination onto the confronting surface of the plastic container, imposing on said die a controlled force matrix effecting substantially linear engagement between the plastic container and opposing die as the two are engaged under critical temperature and pressure to effect viscoelastic conditions on the surface of the container, said foil being compressed between the plastic container and die during such critical viscoelastic conditions, translating the container on the mandrel across the face of the die while permitting relatively free rotation thereof, and hot pressing the foil permanently onto the confronting surface of the container.