Abstract: The present invention provides a system and process for direct-to-transfer printing, including heat presses and corresponding heat press stations through which the heat presses are indexed, and at which garments are (1) dressed upon the heat presses; (2) the garments are pre-pressed; (3) thereafter components are sequentially placed on top of and fused with their corresponding garments by applying heat and pressure; and (4) the finished garments are unloaded from the heat presses. The present invention also provides a component on a carrier sheet for use in such a direct-to-transfer printing system and process, which includes identification and registration symbols (such as barcodes, QR codes or other suitable markings) in addition to a design or embellishment. The present invention further provides an ASR system for use with a direct-to-transfer printing system.

Abstract: A labeling arrangement for labeling beverage bottles. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

Abstract: A method of printing on a web of substrate (510) using a web printer (610) comprising: interrupting a first print operation on a first substrate (512); attaching a second substrate (514) to the first substrate (512); and continuing the first print operation on the first substrate (512).

Abstract: A label manufacturing apparatus manufactures a label L having a sub-label Lb bonded to a predetermined position on a main label La. A main label conveyance mechanism 10 conveys a main continuous label strip Ta in a first direction Da. A sub-label conveyance mechanism 20 conveys a sub-continuous label strip Tb in a second direction which crosses the first direction. The sub-labels Lb arranged in series on a backing strip Db, are separated from their backing strip and are each bonded to the surface of a respective main label La by a bonding mechanism. The completed display label L is separated from its backing strip Db of the main continuous label strip Ta. The label manufacturing apparatus can adjust the relative bonding position between the sub-label and the main label La so as to allow the sub-label bonding mechanism 20 to bond the sub-label Lb to the main label La at a predetermined position.

Abstract: A method and software for a consumer end user to print one or more, but generally less than all, labels of a label assembly without the need to run the label assembly though a printer multiple times. A boundary corresponding to the label is printed on a separate paper sheet to allow the label to be positioned for printing. The paper sheet with the label adhered within the boundary is run through a printer to print on the label. The printed label is removed from the paper sheet to applying to the intended object to be labeled. Software can be implemented on a data processor for printing the boundary and/or coordinating the label printing with the printed boundary.

Abstract: A tamp pad includes a housing that defines an air flow chamber having an inflow opening and an outflow opening. The tamp pad further includes an impact plate having one or more openings therethrough that are in fluid communication with the air flow chamber and an air flow generator fluidly coupled to the air flow chamber for generating an air flow in a first direction. The tamp pad has a valve system for directing the air flow generated by the air flow generator to draw air into the one or more openings to hold a label thereon and to blow air out of the one or more openings to eject the label from the impact plate.

Abstract: A printing machine contains a transfer unit for transferring a transfer layer onto a print carrier in a transfer nip. The printing machine further has at least one applicator unit for applying an adhesive to the print carrier. The applicator unit precedes the transfer unit, and the transfer layer is detached from the carrier film in the transfer unit in the regions in which adhesive is applied. By printing units being converted into transfer units or applicator units, the functionality of the printing unit for a printing operation is lost. If the applicator device and the transfer device are located in this order on an impression cylinder of a printing unit, the applied adhesive is not predried sufficiently. To overcome these disadvantages, the transfer unit is a further processing unit and has at least one further processing device which follows the transfer nip and which acts on the print carrier.

Abstract: A method for applying at least one image to a plastics substrate of a security document, comprising the following steps: selection of an image section from electronically stored image data of an image by means of a selection device; application of a connecting layer to the plastics substrate, the surface area and surface shape of the connecting layer corresponding to the surface area and surface shape of the selected image section, by means of an application device; and printing the applied connecting layer with a printed image that reproduces the image section, in such a manner that the connecting layer and the printed image are congruent, by means of a printing device.

Abstract: A labeling device includes a conveyor belt for taking up a row of labels, and two label dispensers, each for dispensing labels from a dispensing sheet over a dispensing edge onto the conveyor belt. The label dispensers are disposed one behind the other, the dispensing edge of a rear one of the dispensers being shifted, so that the dispensing edges of the two label dispensers are one above the other. The conveyor belt is guided over a belt deflector for changing the course of the belt between two positions as to the dispensing edges, the belt deflector including a tilting lever, over which the conveyor belt is deflected and which can be swiveled between two positions. The conveyor belt is in a first position for taking up labels at the first dispensing edge and in a second position, for taking up labels at the second dispensing edge.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention includes a continuous feed variable depth die cut for use in cutting kinesiology tape. The die cut includes a housing, including a first opening configured to allow the kinesiology tape to enter the housing and a second opening configured to allow the kinesiology tape to exit the housing. The die cut also includes a roller inside the housing, wherein the roller is configured to rotate as the kinesiology tape passes over the roller and a die formed on the outer surface of the roller, wherein the die includes a cutting edge for cutting the kinesiology tape and wherein the cutting edge is formed in the shape of the strip of kinesiology tape to be cut. The die cut further includes a surface inside the housing, wherein the kinesiology tape passes over the surface when the kinesiology tape is being cut.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a heating station, a laminating and transfer-printing station, and a molding station in succession, and a transport arrangement that transports the material being processed among the stations. In the heating station, a substrate is pre-heated and consolidated. In the laminating and transfer-printing station, a decorative cover layer is laminated onto the substrate and simultaneously a surface decoration (design, pattern, image, colors, text, etc.) is transfer-printed by sublimation of inks or dyes from a transfer paper onto an outer surface of the decorative cover layer. The resulting laminated body with a transfer-printed surface decoration is then three-dimensionally deformed and molded to form a three-dimensionally contoured, molded, laminated article with the transfer-printed surface decoration. The article may be a motor vehicle interior trim component.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for medical structure embellishments. The apparatus includes a medical structure that facilitates the mobility or healing of a patient. The apparatus also includes a heat source that outwardly radiates heat. Further, the apparatus includes a shrink-film structure cover that shrinks around a surface of the medical structure when the shrink-film structure cover is exposed to heat radiated from the heat source and a marking instrument adapted to mark the shrink-film structure with an embellishment.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a laminate panel comprises the steps of providing a support panel having at least one side to be decorated and applying an overlay on said side of the support panel. A finishing decoration pattern is printed on the support panel and/or the overlay by a printing device which is substantially free of contact with the support panel and/or the overlay, respectively.

Abstract: A tax stamp apparatus applies labels to individual packages of cigarettes, and prints tax information on the labels after they are applied to cartons of cigarettes. The apparatus may include a digital scanner that scans and decodes two-dimensional bar code information printed on the labels. The tax information may be supplied to the apparatus from a remote location, and the scanned data may be compared to the tax information supplied to the apparatus to verify that the tax indicia have been applied to the cartons of cigarettes.

Abstract: When a label on a conveyor belt is detected, there is performed a label sticking process of making a sticking mechanism take out the label and stick it to an article at a predetermined position, while when a defect of the label on the conveyor belt is detected before detecting the label, the label is sent out to a label recovery position without performing the label sticking process.

Abstract: A printing arrangement includes a driving station configured to drive print media along a path. An adhesive application station is arranged to be in alignment with the path so as to apply adhesive to the print media. A printing station is arranged to be in alignment with the path so as to print upon the print media. The adhesive application station is located between the driving station and the printing station so that adhesive is applied to the print media prior to printing.

Abstract: Conventional media receives print imaging and an adhesive during a printing operation thereby converting such conventional media into a label, i.e., media having print imaging and an adhesive for application to a contact or display surface. Print imaging is applied in conventional fashion. Adhesive is applied as taken from a reel-form stock including in various embodiments and configurations protective backing sheets and the like supporting application of adhesive to media to produce as output labels on arbitrarily selected media. As a result, users produce labels from arbitrary media and need not limit selection to commercially available label-making media.

Abstract: A conveyor system conveys a plurality of printed products along a path of travel in an imbricated stream and such that a border region of each printed product is exposed by the imbricated overlap. A contrast panel (14), which forms a text panel (12), is applied to the exposed border region of each printed product (10). The contrast panel is provided with the text (18) and the contrast panel forms a contrast with respect to the text (18), with the result that the latter can be immediately seen and read easily. In one embodiment, the contrast panel is applied by printing, and in another embodiment, the contrast panel comprises a separate label which is adhesively applied.

Abstract: An aqueous adhesive composition, as for bonding rubber substrates together or for bonding a rubber substrate to a fabric, comprising a blend of a carboxylated rubber latex as made from styrene, butadiene, and an unsaturated acid monomer, and a natural rubber latex, is sulfur curable and desirably utilizes rubber accelerators. The adhesive composition is substantially free of hydrocarbon solvents and/or tackifiers and has good physical properties such as high peel strength.

Abstract: A multilayer film useful for making plastic adhesive labels for glass substrates such as glass bottles. The multilayer films contain a base layer, an adhesive layer, and optionally an intermediate layer to improve interlayer bonding between the base layer and the adhesive layer. The adhesive layer comprises a heat-activated thermoplastic adhesive that is not tacky at room temperature. Films of the present invention are sufficiently non blocking at room temperature so as to not require the use of a separate release liner. The film can be utilized in conventional graphics printing operations and made into labels. Labels made from films of the present invention can be thermally adhered to glass substrates and exhibit sufficient adhesion to glass substrates to withstand washing/rinsing, filling, and pasteurization processes utilized in the bottling industry.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a folded document, such as a mailer, including a camera and microprocessor for viewing printed information on a printed sheet and storing the information in a memory. The printed sheet is then folded to enclose the printed information within the folded sheet. A printer is connected to the camera and microprocessor to retrieve the stored information and print the information on the folded sheet.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for ablating selected surfaces of an elastomeric product or an attached work piece. A tire is positioned beneath a laser system such that a laser beam is cast upon the tire sidewall or applied work piece. A microprocessor controls the directing of the laser beam and the position of the tire with respect thereto such that various informational and/or decorative designs and configurations may be ablated into the surface impinged by the laser beam. The dwell time of the laser beam upon the surface and other factors control the depth of ablation. In certain embodiments of the invention, a multi layered work piece is employed such that the depth of ablation will correlate to contrasting or complimentary colors or will effect a desired relief appearance.

Abstract: A process for providing microperforations in a zippered film useful for manufacturing reclosable zippered produce bags including the steps of(a) providing a web of thermoplastic film with zipper profile members on at least one side of the web, the zipper profile members spaced apart on the web forming a central web area between the profiles;(b) feeding the web between the nip of a cylinder having a plurality of heated pins and a pressure roller such that a plurality of microholes are formed in the central web area between the zipper profile members; and(c) maintaining the web in feeding alignment between the pin cylinder and the pressure roller such that uniform sized microholes are perforated in the web area between the profile members.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the continuous manufacture of printed, laminated stock is provided. The apparatus is designed to use plain, uncoated webs and at separate stations along a continuous path apply a release coating, apply an adhesive, join the webs together and imprint the combined webs to yield a final, laminated and imprinted stock. By die cutting and stripping the stock at further stations, discrete elements such as labels may be produced and carried by one of the webs. The apparatus preferably includes stations for curing and remoisturizing the release coated web, whereby a known moisture content is provided for the release coating prior to the application of adhesive and joining the webs into laminated stock. The process includes providing respective webs, applying a release coating to one web, joining the two webs together, imprinting at least one of the webs and routing the combined webs to a delivery station whereby the entire process is continuous and uninterrupted.

Abstract: Grille sticks used in the assembly of conventional window grilles are prefinished during their manufacture by a conventional foil transfer printing technique. Preferably, only one side surface of the grille sticks intended to face a window glazing is prefinished. The dry printing technique enables the finish material to cover the desired surface of the grille stick without entering joints where the sticks are assembled together or spreading on the opposite side surface of the sticks, which is left to be finished in a contrasting color.

Abstract: Methods of bonding a printing plate on a base film and an apparatus therefor are disclosed. The apparatus includes a pair of support mechanisms, one of which is horizontally located and the other of which is disposed at a right angle with respect to the horizontal one. A strip of paper is reeved around the horizontal support mechanism, while a strip of film is reeved around the vertical one. A plotter is provided above and in conjunction with the horizontal support mechanism for marking the location on which to place a printing plate, on the paper reeved around the horizontal support mechanism. A half mirror is disposed in close proximity to both of said horizontal and vertical support mechanisms for projecting the location marked on the paper onto the film reeved around the vertical support mechanism. Using a lifter, the operator looks down the half mirror to view the location of a printing plate as projected onto the film, and bonds the printing plate to the base film in that projected location.

Abstract: Several flat cable embodiments (10, 10', 10", 10'", 10"") are disclosed, as are methods and apparatus (30) for the selective manufacture and connectorization of same. In accordance with one preferred flat cable embodiment (10), adapted for telephone under carpet applications, two precisely offset arrays of rectangularly shaped conductors (13, 14) are separated by a center film (16), with each array being adhesively bonded through an associated adhesive coating (21 or 22) to only the respectively adjacent one of two outer films (18 or 19).

Abstract: A paper splicer incorporated in a line printer of a construction, wherein paper having a series of engaging holes formed at both sides thereof is forwarded in one direction. The splicer has a paper end position detector, a paper splicing table, and a tractor having a plurality of pins to be engaged with the engaging the holes of the paper, which are arranged sequentially in contact with the lower surface of the paper. With this arrangement, a position where the last end of the paper arrives is detected by the paper end position detector, and, at the same time, the last end of the paper is stopped on the upper surface of the splicing table, and the engaging holes of the subsequent paper are engaged with the pins on the tractor, and the last end of the paper is spliced, on the splicing table, with the subsequent paper by means of an adhesive tape.

Abstract: A composite laminate sheet material consists of a metallic foil positioned on a congruent thick sheet of paper by means of an adhesive which can be heat cured. The composite laminate is directed via a series of rollers through a printer and a rotary die cutter where suitable geometrical sections are cut in the laminate. After the cutting operation, the sheet is directed to a series of rollers having their axes of rotation parallel to and beneath a main roller. One series of rollers directs the foil material to a first collection site, while another series of rollers directs the paper waste material to a second collection site. The rollers are so positioned that the foil material is directed to its site in a direction transverse to that of the waste material. The sections are automatically removed from the composite material unto a conveyor belt where they are directed to a heat tunnel to permanently affix the foil to the paper backing.

Abstract: A machine for winding continuous tape and wire to form a flexible endless duct, which duct is fed out of the winding station by a cluster of rolls, and which rolls also serve as a mandrel at the winding station. The rolls are cantilever mounted with circumaxially spaced individual roll axes arranged in a hexagonal pattern around a central duct forming axis. The axes of the rolls are adjustable radially toward and away from the central axis, and these roll axes are also collectively adjustable angularly, that is to skew their collective axes relative to the duct central axis. The duct is marked off in units of length by a device which is periodically operated through a revolution counting circuit, and the duct is also cut by devices operated from a branch of said counting circuit.