Abstract: Articles such as glassware, ceramicware and hollowware are decorated with hot stamping foil along their exposed edge. The hot stamping foil is adhered to an underlying radiation curable adhesive ink which avoids the use of inks or frits having heavy metals such as lead which are leachable. The hot stamping foil may have a metallized noble metal decorative layer. The hot stamping process employs a polymer die having a hardness in the range of from about 50 to 80 durometer for adhering the hot stamping foil to the article under applied heat and pressure.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for thermally curing polymeric coated substrates by effective drying of solvents used in the production of the coated component. A feedback system coupled to a heating apparatus is comprised of one or more gas sensors internal or external to the heating apparatus to provide monitoring of the quantity of solvent gases being generated. The present invention allows the curing process to be precisely controlled, where, for example, a predetermined concentration of solvent gases input to the gas sensor can trigger the heating process to be stopped or to provide for a controlled cool down period for curing of the photoresist substrate. A controller coupled between the gas sensor and the heating apparatus may also contain temperature and/or time controls for varying the output of the heating apparatus in response to indications from the gas sensor.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying a decoration to at least one article provides that the article is immersed through a liquid which is contained in a tank and on which the decoration floats. The apparatus has a pallet whose inclination .alpha. with respect to the horizontal plane can be adjusted using at least two height adjustable arms.