Hot stamping method and apparatus for photo film spool

A hot stamping apparatus for recording a bar code on a data disk, wherein said data disk is disposed near to an axial end of a core of a spool, and said spool is used for winding photo film about said spool core to be contained in a cassette in rotatable fashion, said hot stamping apparatus comprising:

• a rotatable indexing table;
• plural pallets arranged on said indexing table at a predetermined angle, each pallet having two or more of said spool holders respectively for holding said spool;
• a spool setting station disposed at said rotatable indexing table;
• a phase regulating station disposed at said rotatable indexing table and downstream from said spool setting station;
• a bar code recording station disposed at said rotatable indexing table and downstream from said phase regulating station;
• a spool removing station disposed at said rotatable indexing table and downstream from said bar code recording station;
• and
• rotating means for intermittently rotating said indexing table to move said pallets past said spool setting station, said phase regulating station, said bar code recording station and said spool removing station in sequence;
• spool supplier means for supplying said spool;
• orientation regulator means for rendering said spool core of said spool erect and said data disk oriented upwards after said spool is supplied from said spool supplier means;
• spool setter means, disposed in said spool setting station, for setting said spool at each of said spool holders, said spool having been erected and transferred;
• phase regulator means, disposed in said phase regulating station, for regulating a phase of said data disk by rotating said spool on each of said spool holders;
• a movable unit, disposed in said bar code recording station, and including disk support means, shifter means and cushion means, said disk support means for supporting said data disk;
• said shifter means for shifting said disk support means between a retracted position away from said spool holders and an advanced position close to each of said spool holders, said data disk support means, in said advanced position, adapted for lifting said data disk by contact with a bottom of said data disk;
• and said cushion means biasing said disk support means upwards;
• a hot stamping head, disposed in said bar code recording station, adapted to be pressed against a top of said data disk, for recording a bar code thereto while said data disk is supported on said disk support means;
• spool remover means, disposed in said spool removing station, for removing said spool from each of said spool holders after said bar code is recorded.

A hot stamping method of recording a bar code on a data disk provided on a spool, wherein said data disk is disposed near to an axial end of a core of said spool, and said spool is used for winding photo film about said spool core to be contained in a cassette in rotatable fashion, said hot stamping method comprising steps of:

• providing said spool to be placed at one spool holder while said spool core is erect;
• lifting said data disk at said spool holder by bringing a fork in contact with a bottom of said data disk, said fork supporting said data disk;
• pressing a hot stamping head against a top of said data disk, for recording a bar code thereto;
• and
• biasing said fork upwards while said hot stamping head is pressed against said data disk.

A hot stamping method for recording a bar code on a data disk provided on a spool, wherein said data disk is disposed near to an axial end of a core of a spool, and said spool is used for winding photo film about said spool core to be contained in a cassette in rotatable fashion, said hot stamping method comprising steps of:

• supply said spool;
• rendering said spool core of said spool erect and said data disk oriented upwards after said spool is supplied;
• holding said spool on a spool holder, said spool having been erected;
• moving said spool holder past a phase regulating station, a bar code recording station and a spool removing station in sequence;
• regulating a rotational position of said data disk by rotating said spool on said spool holder while said spool holder is set at said phase regulating station;
• lifting said data disk at said spool holder by bringing a fork in contact with a bottom of said data disk while said spool holder is set at said hot stamping station;
• pressing a hot stamping head against a top of said data disk, for recording a bar code thereto;
• biasing said fork upwards while said hot stamping head is pressed against said data disk;
• and
• removing said spool from said spool holder when said spool holder is set at said removing station.