Patent ID: 8057625

Claim:
A method for transferring an application layer from a transfer film onto printing sheets in a sheet fed offset printing machine including an application unit and a coating unit having a transfer nip comprising the steps of: subjecting the printing sheets to a non-contact surface treatment of a corona or plasma discharge prior to direction to the application unit; applying adhesive to the printing sheet in the application unit; directing to the coating unit a transfer film having a carrier layer and an application layer, transferring the application layer from the transfer film to the printing sheet by guiding the transfer film along the surface of a press roller in a transfer nip of the coating unit and placing the transfer film with application of pressure against the printing sheet such that the application layer detaches from the transfer film and adheres to the adhesive; guiding the printing sheet furnished with the application layer on a guide surface; subjecting the application layer of the transfer film to a non-contact surface treatment of a corona or plasma discharge prior to transfer of the transfer film through the transfer nip for increasing the adherence of the application layer to the printing sheets upon passage through the transfer nip, and thereafter printing over the application layer adhering to the printing sheets with a colored printing ink.