Apparatus for sticking on stamps from an embossing foil

The operation of sticking stamps from a foil in strip form at predetermined locations on a substrate which has motifs printed thereon and which is pulled through at least one sticking station at a predetermined forward feed speed is effected by means of pressing portions, which are raised radially above a pressing cylinder, in the sticking station. The pressing portions have curved pressing surfaces which are parts of a larger cylindrical surface which is concentric with respect to the pressing cylinder and which during each sticking phase roll against a backing cylinder and transfer the stamps onto the substrate. The strip speed of the foil may also be lower than the forward feed speed. The foil used may be a hot embossing foil with a layer of adhesive or an embossing foil without a layer of adhesive, while the apparatus, for sticking the embossing foil onto the substrate has an applicator mechanism for adhesive upstream of the sticking station and an irradiation station for the activation of adhesive layers.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The invention relates to an apparatus for sticking stamps onto a substrate. 
Such apparatuses are suitable, for example, for sticking individual 
visually striking stamps onto a printed item in strip form. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
GB 238 360 A discloses an apparatus for transferring portions of a hot 
embossing foil onto a substrate in strip form. A heated stamping or 
pressing member which can be moved up and down, at the bottom dead centre 
point of its movement, presses the hot embossing foil which is supplied on 
a carrier or backing strip, onto the substrate. The hot embossing foil 
being joined to the substrate while the backing strip and the substrate 
stop, are prevented from moving. As soon as the pressing member is lifted 
off, a fresh forward feed movement of the backing strip and the substrate 
takes place, with the backing strip and the unconsumed residue of the hot 
embossing foil being lifted off the substrate and rolled up. 
EP 170 832 A1 discloses hot embossing foils with holograms. They are joined 
to a backing strip until they are stuck onto the substrate. 
Swiss application CH 02 110/89-8 discloses a hot embossing foil with 
diffraction gratings and an additional clear protective layer which is 
fixedly connected thereto. When stamps are stuck onto a substrate from the 
hot embossing foil, they have to be stamped out at the same time. 
Apparatuses are also known with, which a narrow hot adhesive foil strip, 
for example a magnetic strip, is continuously stuck onto a substrate in 
strip form in the longitudinal direction thereof, by use of a 
continuous-flow procedure. Portions of such substrates are used for bus 
and rail tickets, credit cards or the like. 
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
The object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the kind set 
forth in the opening part of this specification, which permits stamps to 
be stuck on a substrate at predetermined isolated locations thereon, in an 
inexpensive fashion. 
In accordance with the invention that object is attained by the features of 
claim 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
In FIG. 1 reference numeral 1 denotes a substrate consisting of paper or 
plastic or metal foil in the form of a long strip or in sheet form. For 
example the substrate 1 is a paper strip on which motifs or designs 2 have 
been printed on one or both sides in a previous working operation, wherein 
the motif 2 comprises for example a number, a picture or image which is 
indicated herein by a small frame, and a background motif or design, as is 
known from banknotes or securities, bonds or share documents. The motifs 2 
are disposed at a motif pitch MoT. It is also possible to envisage an 
arrangement of a plurality of parallel rows of motifs 2 on the substrate 
1, that arrangement in respect of the motifs 2 being the case in 
particular in relation to substrates 1 in sheet form. The motif 2 is 
supplemented by a stamp 3 or 3' respectively which is stuck on at a 
predetermined location. The substrate 1 can be divided into individual 
securities, bonds or share documents by means of a device not illustrated 
herein, in accordance with the motif pitch MoT. 
For example the stamps 3, 3' come from a hot embossing foil 4 shown in FIG. 
2. Because of its low tensile strength, it is stuck onto a carrier or 
backing strip 5 and on the side remote from the backing strip 5 has a 
layer of adhesive 6 which can be activated by heat. The stamps 3, 3' (FIG. 
1) which are fixedly stuck on the substrate 1 (FIG. 1) after the thermal 
activation operation can be easily peeled from the backing strip 5, by 
applying a pulling force thereto. 
Embedded into the hot embossing foil 4 are for example optically variable 
diffraction patterns 7 such as diffraction gratings or holograms, at the 
spacing of a stamp pitch MaT, wherein the material of the hot embossing 
foil 4 is transparent at least in relation to a part of the 
electromagnetic waves in the range of wavelengths from 0.3 to 10 .mu.m. 
The stamp 3 or 3' which is stuck on the substrate forms for example a 
visually striking authentication feature of the bond, security or share 
document. 
The stamps 3, 3' are stuck onto the substrate 1 which is of strip form, by 
an apparatus shown in FIG. 3. The apparatus includes means for feeding and 
removing the substrate 1 and for unwinding and winding on the backing 
strip 5, a first strip guide means for the substrate 1 and at least one 
second strip guide means for the backing strip 5 with the hot embossing 
foil 4 (FIG. 2). The substrate 1 and the backing strip 5 are pulled 
through the sticking apparatus for example in the same direction of travel 
as indicated by the arrow 8. All axes of the cylinders and rollers 
required for strip guidance are oriented in mutually parallel relationship 
and are normal to the plane of the drawing in FIG. 3. The arrangements 
required for drive purposes are not shown herein. 
The first strip guide means includes an unwinding roller 9 with a supply of 
the substrate 1 and a first direction-changing roller 10 on the one side 
of a sticking station 11 comprising a pressing cylinder 12 and a backing 
cylinder 13, and on the other side a pulling means 14 and a winding-on 
roller 15 which receives the substrate 1 with stamps 3, 3' (FIG. 1) stuck 
thereon. 
The pulling means 14 which comprises at least one drive cylinder 16 and a 
second direction-changing roller 17 engages the substrate 1 by means of 
the drive cylinder 16 and the second direction-changing roller 17 and 
pulls it from the unwinding roller 9 at a predetermined forward feed speed 
V. Downstream of the first direction-changing roller 10, the substrate 1, 
together with the hot embossing foil 4, passes through between the 
cylinders 12 and 13 for sticking on the stamps 3, 3', and goes to the 
pulling means 14. The substrate with stamps 3, 3' stuck thereon is wound 
onto the winding-on roller 15 under a predetermined tension. 
Further sticking stations 11' are advantageously arranged downstream of the 
first sticking station 11 and upstream of the pulling means 14 in order to 
make better use of the expensive hot embossing foil 4 if the stamp pitch 
MaT (FIG. 2) is shorter than the motif pitch MoT (FIG. 1) of the substrate 
1. It is advantageous not to have to rewind the hot embossing foil 4 after 
each passage through the arrangement, which is necessary when making 
multiple use of the same hot embossing foil 4 by means of a single 
sticking station 11, thus avoiding the risk which that involves, of 
over-stretching the hot embossing foil 4. 
Each sticking station 11' comprises a pressing cylinder 12' and a backing 
cylinder 13'. Each pair formed from the cylinders 12, 13 and 12', 13' 
respectively encloses a sticking plane 18 in which the substrate 1 and the 
backing strip 5 move through the sticking station 11 or 11' respectively. 
For example only one sticking plane 18 is common to the sticking stations 
11, 11', that plane being a tangential plane in relation to all backing 
cylinders 13, 13'. A predetermined spacing A is provided between the 
sticking stations 11, 11'. 
Each of the successively disposed sticking stations 11 and 11' transfers 
the respective stamp 3, 3' which immediately follows on the hot embossing 
foil 4 the stamp which has been stuck on by the preceding sticking station 
11 or 11', into successive motifs or designs 2. When the last sticking 
station 11' has applied the stamp 3' at the predetermined motif 2, the 
following stamp 3 is again stuck into position in the next motif 2, by the 
first sticking station 11. 
If the arrangement has for example two sticking stations 11 and 11', the 
first sticking station 11 transfers onto the substrate 1 stamps 3 which 
are contained on the hot embossing foil 4 for example at the first, third, 
fifth etc. positions in the stamp pitch MaT, while the following sticking 
station 11' sticks on stamps 3' which are arranged at the second, fourth, 
sixth etc. positions in the stamp pitch MaT. 
On one side of the sticking station 11 or 11' respectively the second strip 
guide means has a supply roller 19, a pair of drive rollers 20 which are 
resiliently pressed together and a first strip roller 21. The drive 
rollers 20 are disposed between the supply roller 19 and the first strip 
roller 21. On the other side of the sticking station 11 or 11' 
respectively the second strip guide means additionally includes a second 
strip roller 22 or 22' for deflecting the backing strip 5 out of the 
sticking plane 18 and a third strip roller 23 or 23', an auxiliary roller 
24 and a receiving roller 25. A further fourth strip roller 26 may be 
arranged between the sticking stations 11 and 11', downstream of the third 
strip roller 23 or 23' respectively but upstream of the sticking station 
11'. All parts 19 to 26 of the second strip guide means are arranged on 
the side of the substrate 1 which faces towards the pressing cylinder 12 
or 12'. 
The backing strip 5 with the hot embossing foil 4 is unwound from the 
supply roller 19 at a predetermined strip speed B produced by the drive 
rollers 20 between which the backing strip 5 with the hot embossing foil 4 
is passed. The first strip roller 21 brings the backing strip 5 down into 
the sticking plane 18. Downstream of the first strip roller 21 the backing 
strip 5 lies on the substrate 1, with the adhesive layer 6 (FIG. 2) of the 
hot embossing foil 4 facing towards the substrate 1. The two strips 1 and 
5 are pulled through the sticking station 11 or through the sticking 
stations 11, 11'. Downstream of the sticking station 11 or 11', the second 
strip roller 22 or 22' respectively lifts the backing strip 5 off the 
substrate 1, with the stamp 3 or 3' (FIG. 1) which is stuck onto the 
substrate 1 in the sticking station 11 or 11' respectively being separated 
from the backing strip 5. The backing strip 5 with the remains of the hot 
embossing foil 4 is passed by way of the third strip roller 23 or 23' 
directly to the auxiliary roller 24 and is thereafter wound onto the 
receiving roller 25 under a predetermined tension, with for example the 
auxiliary roller 24 being in the form of a tension measuring means. 
The pressing cylinder 12 or 12' respectively carries radially raised smooth 
pressing portions 27 which are uniformly distributed around its periphery 
and the pressing surfaces 28 of which are curved in such a way that they 
form parts of a concentric cylindrical surface 29 which is notionally 
attributed to the pressing cylinder 12 or 12' and which rolls against the 
substrate 1 in the region of the location which is prescribed for sticking 
the stamps 3, 3' thereon. For the sake of clarity reference numerals 27 to 
29 are indicated only at a single location on the pressing cylinder 12. 
The circumference of the cylindrical surface 29 is for example an integral 
multiple of the motif pitch MoT. Preferably the pressing portions 27 are 
arranged replaceably on the pressing cylinder 12 or 12' in order to adapt 
the pressing surface 28 to the size and shape of the stamp 3 or 3'. 
For example boundaries of the pressing surfaces 28 are in the form of a 
cutting edge (not shown herein) which is raised above the pressing surface 
28 so that, when they are stuck into position, the stamps 3 and 3' are 
simultaneously cut out of the hot embossing foil 4. With that construction 
the sticking apparatus may also process the hot embossing foil 4 which has 
been mentioned in the opening part of this specification and whose backing 
strip 5 is in the form of a tough transparent protective layer which is 
fixedly connected to the hot embossing foil 4. 
The pressing cylinders 12, 12' are displaceable on their respective shaft 
and thus permit lateral alignment of the pressing portions 27 in relation 
to the prescribed location for sticking the stamps on the motifs 2. 
The pressing cylinder 12 or 12', per revolution thereof, involves at least 
one working cycle Az comprising a sticking phase and a forward feed phase, 
which preferably incorporate an intermediate phase following the sticking 
phase. FIG. 3 for example shows the pressing cylinders 12 and 12' with 
three pressing portions 27, in other words, three working cycles Az take 
place per revolution. It is possible to envisage a different mode of 
division of the pressing cylinder 12 or 12'. The pressing surfaces 28 roll 
against the backing cylinder 13 or 13' only during the sticking phases. 
The cylindrical surface 29 and the backing cylinder 13 or 13' rotate at a 
peripheral speed which corresponds to the forward feed speed V. 
The pressing portions 27 and the backing cylinders 13 and 13' are at a 
predetermined temperature. The adhesive layer 6 can be heated to the 
temperature required for the sticking operation, on the one hand by the 
backing strip 5 and the hot embossing foil 4 and on the other hand by the 
substrate 1. 
During the intermediate phase and the forward feed phase of the working 
cycle Az, the substrate 1 and the backing strip 5 are not pressed 
together. In the intermediate phase the substrate 1 and the backing strip 
5 which are stuck together by the stamp 3 or 3' are advanced as far as the 
second strip roller 22 or 22', until the backing strip 5 is deflected out 
of the sticking plane 18 and the stamp 3 or 3' which has just been stuck 
on is separated from the backing strip 5 and from the hot embossing foil 
4. The substrate 1 and the backing strip 5 are therefore freely 
displaceable in the forward feed phase which now takes place. The backing 
strip 5 is advantageously pushed back by a predetermined length during the 
remaining time of the intermediate phase in order to make better use of 
the hot embossing foil 4. As it is only during the sticking phase and the 
intermediate phase that the backing strip 5 moves at the forward feed 
speed V in the sticking plane 18, the necessary strip speed B is reduced 
relative to the forward feed speed V. Upstream and downstream of the 
sticking station 11 or 11' respectively strip rollers for example which 
are not shown herein and which are arranged on both sides of the sticking 
station 11 or 11' act as dancers to compensate for the irregular forward 
feed movement of the backing strip 5 in the sticking plane 18. 
If the third strip roller 23 is disposed between two sticking stations 11 
and 11', instead of guiding the backing strip 5 to the auxiliary roller 
24, it guides it back into the sticking plane 18 by means of the fourth 
strip roller 26 so that the backing strip 5, together with the substrate 
1, is passed through the following sticking station 11'. The second strip 
roller 22' associated with that sticking station 11' again lifts the 
backing strip 5 away from the sticking plane 18, with a further stamp 3' 
which has been stuck onto the substrate remaining thereon. The backing 
strip 5 which is used, according to the number of sticking stations 11, 
11' through which it passes is then passed by way of the associated third 
roller 23' and by means of the auxiliary roller 24 to the receiving roller 
25. 
Advantageously, a cooling section 30 or 30' is arranged immediately 
downstream of each respective sticking station 11 or 11' so that the 
adhesive layer 6 of the stamp 3 or 3' is sufficiently cooled down prior to 
separation of the stamp 3 or 3', when the backing strip 5 is guided around 
the second strip roller 19 or 19', and the adhesive thus develops 
sufficient strength in order to prevent the edges of the stamp 3 or 3' 
suffering from fraying when the stamp is removed from the hot embossing 
foil 4. 
The drive systems (not shown herein) of the sticking stations 11, 11', the 
pulling means 14, the winding-on roller 15, the drive rollers 20 and the 
receiving roller 25 are connected to a common control arrangement 31 by 
means of lines which are not shown herein. Control parameters can be 
detected by means of sensors (not shown) and passed to the control 
arrangement 31. It computes therefrom, in mutually matching relationship, 
the drive power and the speed of rotation for each drive system. The 
control arrangement 31 monitors the temperatures of all heated surfaces, 
for example the pressing surfaces 28, and the cooling output of the 
cooling sections 30 and 30', with control parameters being passed thereto 
by means of temperature sensors (not shown). 
The above-described sticking apparatus makes it possible for the stamps 3 
and 3' to be stuck onto the substrate 1 at predetermined locations, in 
mutually isolated relationship, in a continuous procedure, without the 
substrate 1 having to be stopped for the sticking operation in the 
sticking station 11 or 11', and then accelerated again. That is achieved 
by virtue of the particular form of the pressing surfaces 28 which are 
parts of a cylindrical surface 29 which is concentric with respect to the 
pressing cylinder 12 or 12' and the peripheral speed of which, in the 
rolling movement of the pressing portions 27 against the backing cylinder 
13 or 13' respectively, is equal to the forward feed speed V. 
Between two sticking stations 11 and 11' which are arranged in succession 
at the spacing A, the backing strip 5 advantageously forms a storage loop 
32, immediately downstream of the cooling section 30. The length of the 
loop 32 can be adjusted in a predetermined manner by adjustment in respect 
of the height of the third strip roller 23 above the sticking plane 18. 
That makes it possible to match the stamp pitch MaT to the spacing A and 
the motif pitch MoT. 
It is advantageous to provide between the sticking stations 11 and 11' a 
storage loop 33 for the substrate 1, which is arranged on the same side of 
the plane 18 as the backing cylinder 13 or 13'. For example a deflector 
roller 34 guides the substrate 1 out of the sticking plane 18 and away 
from the backing strip 5. The substrate 1 passes around a tensioning 
roller 35 which is displaceable perpendicularly to the sticking plane 18, 
and goes back into the sticking plane 18 again by way of the downstream 
backing cylinder 13'. The length of the storage loop 33 is predetermined 
by the distance of the tensioning roller 35 relative to the sticking plane 
18. The motif pitch MoT of the substrate 1 can be adapted to the spacing A 
and the stamp pitch MaT by displacement of the tensioning roller 35. 
The sticking stations 11 and 11' are advantageously arranged displaceably 
in the sticking plane 18 in order to adapt the spacing A to the motif 
pitch MoT and the stamp pitch MaT. Depending on the particular 
requirements involved, individual sticking stations 11' may additionally 
be installed in the sticking plane 18 or removed from the sticking 
apparatus. 
The pulling means 14 is advantageously designed for a post-treatment of the 
motif 2 which has been completed by the application of the stamp 3 or 3'. 
If a post-embossing operation or a printing operation is effected, a 
further safety feature which extends over parts of the substrate 1 and the 
stamp 3, 3' can be applied to the substrate 1 by means of those working 
operations. The drive cylinder 16 can be provided for example in the form 
of an embossing or printing roller. The post-treatment operation involved 
may also be a process involving reheating of the adhesive layer 6 of the 
stamp 3 or 3' in order to improve its bonding strength to the substrate 1, 
particularly when high forward feed speeds V are involved. As a 
post-embossing station or as a printing station, the pulling means 14 
additionally has at least one backing roller 36 and a guide roller 36', 
which roll against the drive cylinder 16. For the post-embossing or the 
reheating operation, the means 16, 17, 36 and 36' can be heated to a 
predetermined temperature. If the forward feed speed V attains 60 meters 
per minute or more, then, instead of a single backing roller 36, the 
arrangement preferably has a plurality thereof on the drive cylinder 16 so 
that the adhesive layer 6 is heated for a sufficiently long period of 
time. 
The sticking apparatus advantageously has sensors 37 and 38 which are 
connected to the control arrangement 31 in order to ensure that the stamps 
3 and 3' are stuck onto the motifs 2 at the prescribed locations, in a 
highly accurate fashion. The sensors 37 and 38 are for example optical 
reading devices which receive light in a transmission or reflection mode, 
with the received light being modulated by each graduation marking which 
moves past at the forward feed speed V and the strip speed B respectively. 
At the moment at which each graduation mark goes past, the sensor 37 or 38 
outputs a pulse signal to the control arrangement 31. The sensor 37 or 38 
is preferably displaceably and/or replaceably fixed in position so that, 
in the event of a change, it can be quickly adapted to the position of the 
graduation marks on the new substrate 1 or the new hot embossing foil 4. 
For example the first sensor 37 is disposed between the first 
direction-changing roller 10 and the first sticking station 11 and records 
the movement therepast of the graduation marks on the substrate 1. They 
provide for integral subdivision of the motif pitch MoT and for example 
are printed on one of the two sides of the substrate 1, together with the 
motifs 2. 
The second sensor 38 is disposed for example between the supply roller 19 
and the drive rollers 20 and reads the graduation marks which move 
therepast from the hot embossing foil 4. They provide for integral 
subdivision of the stamp pitch MaT. 
Preferably the pressing cylinder 12 or 12' has a rotary pick-up or sender 
39 and 39' respectively which is connected to the shaft thereof so that it 
is possible to transmit a precise value in respect of the angle of 
rotation of the pressing cylinder 12 or 12' respectively, by way of lines 
(not shown) to the control arrangement 31. 
The control arrangement 31 processes the signals from the sensors 37 and 38 
and the rotary senders 39 and 39' and sets the strip speed B, the forward 
feed speed V and the angular speed of the pressing cylinder 12 or 12' to 
the predetermined values so that the stamps 3, 3' are precisely aligned in 
the sticking station 11 or 11', in relation to the location intended 
therefor on the motifs 2. 
The control arrangement 31 advantageously regulates the angular speed of 
the pressing cylinder 12 or 12' during each sticking and intermediate 
phase in such a way that the peripheral speed of the pressing surfaces 28 
is equal to the forward feed speed V. The angular speed of the pressing 
cylinders 12 and 12' can be reduced or increased during the forward feed 
phase, depending on whether the motif pitch MoT is greater or smaller than 
the spacing of the pressing surfaces 28 on the cylindrical surface 29. 
It is advantageous for the arrangement to include a carriage 40 which is 
displaceable parallel to the sticking plane 18 and on which the shafts of 
the strip rollers 21, 22, 23 and 21, 22, 22', 23, 23' and 26 are arranged 
so that the backing strip 5 can be unwound from the supply roller 19 at a 
strip speed B which is lower in comparison with the forward feed speed V, 
so that it can be put to better use. In the plane 18 the backing strip 5 
moves at a speed which is composed of the strip speed B and the speed of 
the carriage 40 and which is equal to the forward feed speed V of the 
substrate 1 at least during the sticking and intermediate phases. Movement 
of the carriage 40 in the forward feed direction 8 or in opposite 
relationship thereto increases the speed of the backing strip 5 in the 
sticking plane 18 relative to the strip speed B or reduces it, or reverses 
it, in other words the backing strip 5 is pulled back by a predetermined 
length in opposite relationship to the forward feed direction 8. 
A drive 41, for example by means of a linkage 42, transmits the 
predetermined periodic movement to the carriage 40, the speed of which is 
predetermined at each point in the movement. A travel measuring device 43 
is arranged at a stationary position on the sticking apparatus and for 
example reads off travel marks on the carriage 40. The travel measuring 
device 43 is connected to the control arrangement 31 by means of lines 
(not shown) and transmits the respective position of the carriage 40 on 
its predetermined travel path which is delimited by two reversal points 44 
and 45, to the control arrangement 31, by means of signals. The control 
arrangement 31 controls the speed of rotation of the drive 41 in 
dependence on the position of the carriage 40 and the signals from the 
sensors 37 and 38 and the rotary senders 39 and 39'. The drive 41 is 
advantageously for example a stepping or linear motor which is actuated by 
means of a predetermined pulse train from the control arrangement 31 
because the predetermined differential speed V-B on the travel path can be 
produced in the forward feed direction 8 during a major part of the 
working cycle Az and the movement of the carriage 40 can be adapted in the 
optimum fashion in each case to the motif pitch MoT and the stamp pitch 
MaT. 
The substrate 1 is pulled through the sticking stations 11 and 11' by the 
pulling means 14 at the predetermined uniform forward feed speed V which 
is regulated by the control arrangement 31 by means of the signals from 
the sensor 37. By means of a predetermined value which gives the number of 
graduation marks in each motif pitch MoT, the control arrangement 31 
computes the necessary angular speed of the pressing cylinders 12 and 12' 
in dependence on the respective phase of the working cycle Az. At the same 
time the strip speed B is imparted to the backing strip 5 by the drive 
rollers 20; the speed B is regulated by means of the signals from the 
sensor 38 and two predetermined values of which the first gives the number 
of graduation marks in each stamp pitch MaT and the second gives the 
number of sticking stations 11 and 11'. Immediately prior to each sticking 
phase, the carriage 40 is moved from the first reversal point 44 in the 
forward feed direction 8 to the second reversal point 45 in a uniform 
manner at the differential speed V-B. 
The stamp 3 or 3' in the hot embossing foil 4 moves at the forward feed 
speed V in the sticking plane 18 together with the substrate 1 and lies on 
the motif 2 at the predetermined location thereon. From the time sequence 
of the signals from the sensors 37 and 38, the control arrangement 31 
recognises precise alignment of the stamps 3 and 3' in relation to the 
motif. Any deviations are eliminated by brief variations in the strip 
speed B. The control arrangement 31 synchronises the movement of the motif 
2 relative to the pressing portion 27 by means of the signals from the 
sensor 37 and the rotary sender 39 or 39' so that the pressing surfaces 28 
are precisely aligned in relation to and roll against the stamps 3 and 3'. 
During the sticking phase the adhesive layer 6 is heated on a generatrix of 
the cylindrical surface 29 and is stuck to the substrate 1 under the 
pressure applied by the pressing portion 26 and the backing cylinder 13 or 
13'. In the intermediate phase the backing strip 5 and the substrate 1 
pass in mutually superposed relationship through the cooling section 30 or 
30'. Thereafter the strength of the adhesive in the adhesive layer 6 is so 
great that the stamp 3 or 3' is firmly affixed to the substrate 1 and is 
separated from the hot embossing foil 4 when the backing strip 5 is guided 
away from the substrate 1 by means of the strip roller 22 or 22' 
respectively. 
In the meantime the carriage 40 has reached the second reversal point 45 
and moves back to the first reversal point 44 during the forward feed 
phase in order to be set in movement again in the forward feed direction 
8, just prior to the beginning of the next sticking phase. 
The drive rollers 20 move the backing strip 5 forwardly in a working cycle 
Az by as many stamp pitches MaT as the number of stamps 3 and 3' which are 
simultaneously stuck on the substrate during the sticking phase. That 
procedure is shown in the FIG. 4 diagram. The reference characters which 
are referred to hereinafter and which are not shown in FIG. 4 refer to 
FIG. 3. In a time t which corresponds to the sticking and intermediate 
phases of the working cycle Az, the substrate 1 covers a distance W.sub.1 
at the forward feed speed V. In the same time t the backing strip 5 is 
unwound from the supply roller 19 over a distance W.sub.2 at the strip 
speed B and moved in the sticking plane 18 by a distance W.sub.3. The 
function of the distance W.sub.3 during each working cycle Az arises out 
of the distance W.sub.2 shown in broken lines and the superimposition of 
the movement of the carriage 40. Between each first reversal point 44 and 
each second reversal point 45 the backing strip 5 is moving at a forward 
feed speed V while it is moved back by a predetermined length between each 
second reversal point 45 and each first reversal point 44, that is to say 
during the forward feed phase. 
In FIG. 5 each sticking station 11 or 11' or each group of such stations 11 
and 11' advantageously has the backing strip 5 or 5' associated therewith, 
with independent strip guide means which are indicated in the drawing by 
the unwinding and winding-on rollers 19, 25 and 19', 25' respectively. 
That arrangement permits at least two stamps 3 and 3' (FIG. 1) to be stuck 
onto the same motif 2 (FIG. 1) or permits at least one respective stamp 3 
or 3' respectively to be stuck onto motifs 2 of the same substrate 1, 
which motifs 2 are disposed in juxtaposed relationship transversely with 
respect to the direction of travel 8. It is also possible to stick onto 
the substrate different stamps 3 and 3' which can also be of different 
sizes. 
For example the two sticking stations 11 and 11' are arranged as shown in 
FIG. 6 in order to stick the stamps 3 and 3' on both sides of the 
substrate 1. The independent strip guide means are indicated in the 
drawing by the unwinding and winding-on rollers 19, 25 and 19', 25' 
respectively. In the second sticking station 11' the arrangement of the 
pressing cylinder 12' and the backing cylinder 13' is interchanged in 
relation to the configuration used in the first sticking station 11, with 
the strip guide means 19', 25' for the backing strip 5' being provided on 
the side of the pressing cylinder 12' of the substrate 1. When the 
substrate 1 leaves the sticking apparatus, it has the stamps 3 which are 
stuck thereon in the first sticking station 11, on one side, and the 
stamps 3' which are affixed by the second sticking station 11', on the 
other side. 
In FIG. 7 the sticking plane 18 (see FIG. 3) is advantageously in the form 
of part of the peripheral surface 18' of the single backing cylinder 13 in 
order to save space by rolling up the sticking plane 18. At least one 
pressing cylinder 12 or 12' is arranged on the backing cylinder 13 in such 
a way that the cylindrical surface 29 of the pressing cylinder rolls 
against the backing cylinder 13. The pressing cylinder 12 or 12', with the 
backing cylinder 13, forms the respective sticking station 11 or 11' (FIG. 
3). Enclosed between the radial lines 47, 47' which extend from an axis 46 
of the backing cylinder 13 and which intersect the axes of the pressing 
cylinders 12 and 12' is an angle .theta. which determines the spacing A 
(FIG. 3) between the sticking stations 11 and 11'. The sticking stations 
11 and 11' are displaceable on the peripheral surface 18' in the direction 
of the axes 46 or rotationally about the axis 46, with the angle .theta. 
being variable. 
The carriage 40 is in the form of a sector of a circle whose apex (not 
shown herein) is rotatable about the axis 46. The drive 41 displaces the 
carriage 40 with a swinging movement about the axis 46 with the duration 
of an oscillation movement corresponding to the length of the working 
cycle Az. The axes of the strip rollers 21, 22 and 23 or 21, 22, 22', 23, 
23' and 26 respectively move on the carriage 40 at a predetermined radial 
distance about the axis 46. 
The backing cylinder 13 rotates in the forward feed direction 8 and moves 
at a peripheral speed which corresponds to the forward feed speed V of the 
substrate 1, which is produced by the pulling means 14. The drive rollers 
20 convey the backing strip 5 from the supply roller 19 to the first strip 
roller 21 and the used backing strip 5 from the third strip roller 23 or 
23' to the receiving roller 25. Downstream of the cooling section 30 or 
30' the strip roller 22 or 22' lifts the backing strip 5 off the substrate 
1, in which case the stamps 3 and 3' which are stuck on the substrate 1 
are released from the backing strip 5. 
If for example stamps 3, 3' are to be stuck onto substrates 1 in sheet 
form, as shown in FIG. 8, the substrate feed and removal means 
advantageously comprise a feeder device 48 and a delivery device 49. A 
supply stack 50 is arranged in the region of the feeder device 48 upstream 
of the backing cylinder 13 in the forward feed direction 8. Disposed 
downstream of the backing cylinder 13 within the range of operation of the 
delivery device 49 is a deposit stack 51 on which the substrates 1 with 
marks stuck thereon are stacked in superposed relationship. For 
transportation of the stubstrate 1 in sheet form over the peripheral 
surface 18', the backing cylinder 13 has at least one entrainment member 
52 which engages and releases the substrate 1 on the peripheral surface 
18' at a predetermined angle of rotation of the backing cylinder 13. The 
feeder device 48, the delivery device 49 and the entrainment member 52 are 
connected by means of lines (not shown) to the control arrangement 31 
which is operable to synchronise the movements of the feeder device 48 and 
the delivery device 49 with the corresponding positions of the entrainment 
member 52. 
The feeder device 48 lifts a single substrate 1 from the supply stack 50 
and guides the leading edge thereof synchronously to the entrainment 
member 52 on the backing cylinder 13. The substrate 1 engaged by the 
entrainment member 52 bears snugly against a part of the peripheral 
surface 18' which is predetermined by the size of the substrate 1, and in 
that condition is passed to at least one sticking station 11 or 11' and 
has the stamp 3 or 3' stuck thereon. For example at least one backing 
roller 36 may be arranged for the post-treatment operation on the backing 
cylinder 13, with the substrate 1 with the stamp stuck thereon passing 
through beneath the backing roller 36. The delivery device 49 lifts the 
substrate 1 off the peripheral surface 18' at the predetermined angle of 
rotation at which the entrainment member 52 releases the substrate 1, and 
lays it in an orderly fashion on the deposit stack 51. 
A combination of the arrangements shown in FIGS. 5 and 8 is also possible. 
Instead of a hot embossing foil 4 (FIG. 2) it is also possible to use a 
conventional foil without adhesive layer 6 (FIG. 2), for example an 
embossing foil illustrated at 53 in FIG. 9, which has the stamps 3 and 3' 
(FIG. 2). In FIG. 9 reference numeral 5 identifies the backing or carrier 
strip comprising paper, polyester etc. as a carrier of the embossing foil 
53 with a low level of tensile strength. The embossing foil 53 is stuck 
onto the backing strip 5 with a separating layer 54, wherein the adhesive 
force thereof can be nullified for example by the effect of heat. 
Embedded into the embossing foil 53 are for example the optically variable 
diffraction patterns 7 such as diffraction gratings or holograms, wherein 
the material of the embossing foil 53 is highly transparent at least in 
regard to a part of the electromagnetic waves in the range of wavelengths 
from 0.3 to 10 .mu.m. Portions of the embossing foil 53 form the stamps 3 
which are composed of the diffraction patterns 7. For example, after being 
stuck onto a bond, security or share document, they serve as a visually 
striking authentication feature. 
The adhesive strength of the stamps 3 which are stuck on the substrate may 
be improved in the case of certain adhesives by means of a bonding layer 
53' which is applied to the side of the embossing foil 53 which is 
intended to be stuck on. 
In FIG. 10 the substrate 1 in strip form is applied to the backing cylinder 
13 by the first direction-changing roller 10 and passed through beneath at 
least one sticking station 11, 11' (FIG. 3) to the second 
direction-changing roller 17 which lifts the substrate 1 away from the 
backing cylinder 13 and feeds it to the pulling means 14. The pulling 
means 14 pulls the substrate 1 through the sticking apparatus. 
Adhesives on an epoxy resin or acrylate resin basis are advantageously 
suitable for sticking foils of plastic material as the adhesive strength 
thereof is activated in a predetermined fashion by means of 
electromagnetic beams or by means of particle beams and as no cooling 
section 30 or 30' (FIG. 3) is required. It is possible for example to use 
ultraviolet, X-ray, gamma or electron beams, in which respect UV-light is 
particularly simple to handle. 
The adhesive is applied at relatively low viscosity with an applicator 
mechanism 55, in a similar manner to a printing ink, with an applicator 
roller 56 having predetermined resilient pressure surfaces (not shown) 
which roll against the surface to be coated, to provide for transfer of 
the adhesive. After the application operation the adhesive is activated 
for example while still upstream of the first sticking station 11. An 
irradiation station 57 has a beam source 58 which produces a radiation 
dose sufficient for activation of the adhesive strength of the applied 
adhesive. In contrast to acrylate resin-based adhesives, epoxy resin-based 
adhesives can also be activated in the presence of oxygen in the air. 
For example the applicator mechanism 55 is arranged between the first 
direction-changing roller 10 and the first sticking station 11 on the 
backing cylinder 13 on which the substrate 1 is transported in the 
direction of travel 8. The applicator mechanism 55 puts a coating of 
adhesive on the surfaces of the substrate 1 which are intended for the 
sticking operation. 
Application of the low-viscosity adhesive to the substrate 1 affords the 
advantage of levelling out any surface structure on the substrate 1 at the 
location intended for sticking the stamp thereon, so that the brilliance 
of the stamp 3 (FIG. 9) is not adversely affected by that surface 
structure. 
The irradiation station 57 is arranged downstream of the applicator 
mechanism 55 and upstream of the first sticking station 11. When using 
acrylate-based adhesive, the activated adhesive is to be protected from 
the oxygen in the air, for example by means of a local nitrogen 
atmosphere, until the stamps 3 are stuck on. 
The embossing foil 53, together with its backing strip 5, is fed to each 
sticking station 11, 11' by the supply roller 19, 19'. A pressing cylinder 
12, by means of its pressing portions 27 which do not necessarily have to 
be heated, transfers the stamps 3 onto the predetermined locations of the 
substrate 1, which have been prepared with adhesive. The stamps 3 have 
sufficient adhesion at the locations which have been made tacky and 
viscous by the activation operation so that they satisfactorily come out 
of the embossing foil 53 and away from backing strip 5. Pressing surfaces 
28 which are advantageously heated supply heat to the stamp 3 and 
facilitate release from the backing strip 5. 
After the stamps 3 have been stuck on, the receiving roller 25, 25' 
receives the remains of the embossing foil 53 and the backing strip 5. 
The adhesive between the stamp 3 and the substrate 1 reaches its full 
adhesive strength at room temperature after a curing time of a maximum of 
48 hours. The apparatus has the advantage that the embossing foil 53 has 
to be subjected to a lower level of thermal loading and the low-viscosity 
adhesive can be more easily adapted to the surface structure of the 
substrate 1 than a hot embossing foil. 
The supply of a predetermined amount of energy after the activation 
operation in the form of heat or irradiation to the adhesive under the 
stamp 3 shortens the curing time of the adhesive as the substrate 1 with 
the stamp 3 stuck thereon can be processed more quickly. 
The supply of energy to the adhesive can be effected in a post-treatment 
operation both on one side through the stamp 3 or through the substrate 1 
and also from both sides. For example the heat is supplied by means for 
the heated pressing surfaces 28 of the pressing cylinder 12 and/or by 
means of the heated drive cylinder 16 and the backing rollers 36 in the 
pulling means 14 or the energy is passed into the adhesive by means of 
radiation in a further irradiation assembly 58 disposed between the 
direction-changing roller 17 and the pulling means 14, while besides the 
above-mentioned kinds of radiation, it is also possible to use the entire 
range of electromagnetic waves which is suitable for heat production (IR, 
micro-, centimeter waves etc.). 
In FIG. 11 the irradiation station 57 is disposed downstream of the 
sticking station 11. Acrylate resin-based adhesives can preferably be used 
as the activation operation is effected only after affixing of the stamps 
3 and the stamps 3 deny oxygen access to the activated adhesive, even 
without a nitrogen atmosphere. The first strip roller 21 lowers the 
backing strip 5 with the embossing foil 53 facing towards the substrate 1, 
into the sticking plane 18. The irradiation station 57 is disposed 
downstream of the pressing cylinder 12 and upstream of the second strip 
roller 22. The substrate 1 which has a layer of adhesive 60 applied 
thereto at the prescribed locations passes together with the embossing 
foil 53 between the pressing cylinder 12 and the backing cylinder 13. The 
pressing surface 28 presses the stamp 3 of the embossing foil 53 against 
the adhesive layer 60, with all air bubbles beneath the stamp 3 being 
pressed away. As a result of the surface tension of the adhesive, the 
embossing foil 53 remains adhering to the non-activated adhesive layer 60 
until the radiation in the subsequent irradiation station 57 initiates 
activation of the adhesive. The radiation dose is so predetermined that 
the adhesive strength of the stamps 3 to the substrate 1 is already so 
great, after further transportation movement to the second strip roller 
22, that, when the backing strip 5 lifts away downstream of the strip 
roller 22, the stamp 3 is released out of the embossing foil 53 and from 
the backing strip 5. Only irradiation through the backing strip 5 and the 
embossing foil 53 is shown by way of example. 
As illustrated in FIG. 12, it is also possible for the adhesive to be 
applied directly to the embossing foil 53, instead of to the substrate 1, 
for example in an adhesive layer 60 which is applied over the full surface 
of the embossing foil. The backing strip 5 with the embossing foil 53 is 
unwound from the supply roller 19 by means of the drive rollers 20 at the 
strip speed B. The backing strip 5 is diverted into the sticking plane 18 
by way of a fixedly disposed auxiliary roller 61 and the first strip 
roller 21 which is movable with the carriage 40, in such a way that the 
backing strip 5 moves over the rollers 21 and 61 and that the adhesive 
layers 60 applied to the embossing foil 53 do not come into contact with 
the rollers 21 and 61. The applicator mechanism 55 and in some cases the 
irradiation station 57 is arranged along the path of movement of the 
embossing foil 53 between the drive rollers 20 and the auxiliary roller 
61. That arrangement advantageously makes available more time for applying 
and possibly activating the adhesive as the strip speed B is lower than 
the forward feed speed V of the substrate 1. 
The apparatuses shown in FIGS. 10 through 12 can be combined with those 
shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 through 8.