Method for using a foil on a printing press and optimizing the maximum usage of the foil

Abstract

A method for material deposition employs a printing press, such as those used in cold foil transfers, that permits a greater usage of the foil web than traditional methods. This is achieved by increasing the number of times the foil web is passed through the press, while simultaneously taking into account the area that has not been used and adjusting the impacted area of the foil web accordingly. The foil web is adjusted by using a series of adjustable rollers and angular bars to change the length of the circumferential path the foil takes through the press. By modifying the angle of these rollers and the distance between them, the path can be lengthened or shortened to correspond to the particular needs for a particular print job. This allows the press to use the foil in such a way that reduces foil waste and manufacturer and consumer costs.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A material deposition method comprising the steps of:
 feeding a foil web through a press, the press having a cold foil attachment configured to create at least two foil raceways;   manipulating a length of at least one of the at least two foil raceways in relation to a desired position of adherence of the foil web to a substrate;   applying an adhesive to the substrate; and   bringing a first section of the foil web into contact with the substrate.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of:
 bringing a second section of the foil web into contact with the substrate. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of:
 separating the first section of the foil web from the substrate. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising the step of:
 separating the second section of the foil web from the substrate. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the foil web makes multiple passes through the press. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a number of the foil raceways is determined by a maximum printing width of the press being used divided by a value determined by a format size of the foiled area. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the press further comprises,
 a sync cartridge having a plurality of roller trays, the plurality of roller trays having at least two angular guide assemblies, the at least two angular guide assemblies being capable of manual or electronic manipulation to at least one angle and distance relative to one another. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the at least one angle of the at least two angular guide assemblies is increased and a distance between the at least two angular guide assemblies is increased in order to increase the length of the foil raceway. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the at least one angle of the at least two angular guide assemblies is decreased and a distance between the at least two angular guide assemblies is decreased in order to decrease the length of the foil raceway. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein multiple foil webs having the same or different widths can be run through the press simultaneously.