Abstract: The present disclosure provides air-tight mechanical valves. In a general embodiment, the valves include a shaft and a segmented sleeve. The shaft includes a plurality of shaft ports distributed around a circumference of the shaft. The sleeve is configured to fit concentrically around the shaft and includes a body having at least two body pieces, at least one internal seal, and at least one set of a plurality of sleeve ports distributed around a circumference of the body. The plurality of sleeve ports cooperates with the plurality of shaft ports to facilitate fluid flow. The valves of the present disclosure advantageously reduce losses of pressure and compressed air during use.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides air-tight mechanical valves. In a general embodiment, the valves include a shaft and a segmented sleeve. The shaft includes a plurality of shaft ports distributed around a circumference of the shaft. The sleeve is configured to fit concentrically around the shaft and includes a body having at least two body pieces, at least one internal seal, and at least one set of a plurality of sleeve ports distributed around a circumference of the body. The plurality of sleeve ports cooperates with the plurality of shaft ports to facilitate fluid flow. The valves of the present disclosure advantageously reduce losses of pressure and compressed air during use.

Abstract: A die plate (14) to be used in a foil stamping machine (10). The die plate (14) includes a plate steel back (20) to which there is secured an image layer (21). The image layer (21) is secured to the plate steel back (20) by means of a compressible adhesive (22). Preferably, the adhesive (22) is an acrylic polymer. The image layer (21) is formed of metal such as brass, steel, copper, zinc, aluminium, magnesium, or photo-polymer.