US 6,223,799 B1Granted

Foil transfer apparatus

AssigneeMoore Business Forms, Inc.

InventorRobert H. Johnstone

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Abstract

Colored or metallic foil is applied to toner printed onto a substrate, such as paper, in a high speed, versatile manner, using a rotating impression cylinder, and a rotating transfer cylinder having circumferentially spaced heated raised portions. The toner, which preferably includes a thermoplastic component, is applied to the paper with any suitable printer, such as a computer controlled MIDAX (ion deposition) print engine. The toner may be heated by an infra red heater just before the paper is fed to the nip between the impression and transfer cylinders. A foil strip having an adhesive layer facing outwardly, a foil layer, and a release coating on a backing, is also fed to the nip, and the backing taken up downstream of the nip. Heat and pressure applied at the nip transfer the adhesive and foil from the foil strip to the tacky toner, producing the desired foil printed paper, which then may be further processed.

Claims20

Dependent claims

Apparatus for producing a printed substrate web a speeds of at least 100 ft./min., the web having colored or metallic foil over at least a portion of the printing on the substrate web, said apparatus comprising:

means for variably printing a predetermined pattern, with toner, on the substrate web while the web is traveling at speeds of at least 100 ft./min.;
an impression cylinder mounted for rotation about a first axis;
a transfer cylinder mounted for rotation about a second axis parallel to said first axis, and to define a nip between said impression cylinder and said transfer cylinder;
means for continuously feeding the substrate web to and past the nip between the transfer cylinder and impression cylinder, with the toner pattern on the substrate web facing the transfer cylinder, at speeds of at least 100 ft./min.;
means for feeding a foil strip having an adhesive, a foil, and a backing, to the nip with the adhesive and foil facing the impression cylinder;
means for taking up the foil strip backing after passage of the foil strip through the nip;
and
means for heating said transfer cylinder to facilitate transfer of the adhesive and foil from the foil strip to the toner pattern on the substrate web.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/448,778Filed 24 May 1995 · division
Priority: 3 Feb 1992
Granted: 1 May 2001
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

B41M 5/398
Thermography ; Marking by high energetic means, e.g. laser otherwise than by burning, and characterised by the material used: processes based on…
B44C 1/1716
Decalcomanias applied under heat and pressure, e.g. provided with a heat activable adhesive: decalcomanias provided with a particular decorative…
H05K 3/046
The conductive material being removed mechanically, e.g. by punching: by selective transfer or selective detachment of a conductive layer
Y10T 156/1705
For plural parts or plural areas of single part: lamina transferred to base from adhered flexible web or sheet type carrier