Machine head for production of a surface relief
AssigneeApi Group PLC
InventorsStephen Done, Ken Shepherd, Phil Carpenter
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A machine head for producing a surface relief on a substrate, the machine head comprising a flexible stamping element having a curved profile and an inverse of the surface relief on its convex side; and the flexibility of the element being such that the inverse of the surface relief can be pressed to become flat and in planar contact with the substrate being pressed.
Claims16
A machine head for producing a surface relief on a substrate, the machine head comprising:
- two or more swivelling mounts connected to the machine head so that the swivelling mounts are held positionally fast but are rotationally free with respect to the machine head such that, during production of a surface relief on the substrate, the swivelling mounts remain positionally fast but rotationally free with respect to the machine head;
- a flexible element having:
- a curved profile formed by holding a part of the flexible element between the swivelling mounts, and
- an inverse of the surface relief on its convex side;
- and
- wherein the flexibility of the element is such that the inverse of the surface relief is capable of being pressed to become substantially flat and in substantially planar contact with the substrate being pressed.
A method for producing a surface relief on a substrate using a machine head comprising two or more swivelling mounts and a flexible element having a curved profile and an inverse of the surface relief on its convex side, the method comprising the steps of:
- connecting the swivelling mounts in the machine head so that the swivelling mounts are held positionally fast but are rotationally free with respect to the machine head such that, during production of a surface relief on the substrate, the swivelling mounts remain positionally fast but rotationally free with respect to the machine head;
- forming the curved profile of the flexible element by holding a part of the flexible element between the swivelling mounts;
- bringing the convex side of the flexible element into contact with the substrate;
- and
- flattening the profile of the flexible element such that the inverse of the surface relief is in substantially flat and substantially planar contact with the substrate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.