Cardboard processing machine and method for attaching a foil tape to a cardboard

Abstract

A cardboard processing machine (10) is provided, comprising a cardboard conveying device (12), a foil tape conveying device (14) and a pressing station, wherein the cardboard conveying device (12) is configured to convey cardboard such that it passes through the pressing station (16) and the foil tape conveying device (14) is configured to convey a foil tape (22) such that it passes through the pressing station (16), wherein the pressing station (16) is configured to press foil tape (22) onto the cardboard such that the foil tape (22) is attached to the cardboard, wherein the cardboard processing machine (10) comprises at least one light strip (30) that extends in a direction transverse to the travel direction of the foil tape (22), and wherein the cardboard processing machine (10) comprises a control unit (32) that is configured to control the light strip (30) to light up in such a way that an illuminated section of the light strip (30) constitutes a position marking (34) indicating the transverse target position of the foil tape (22). Furthermore, a method for attaching a foil tape (22) to a cardboard is provided.

Description

[0001] Cardboard processing machine and method for attaching a foil tape to a cardboard

[0002] The invention refers to a cardboard processing machine and a method for attaching a foil tape to a cardboard in a cardboard processing machine.

[0003] A respective cardboard processing machine comprises a cardboard conveying device, a foil tape conveying device and a pressing station, wherein the cardboard conveying device is configured to convey cardboard such that it passes through the pressing station and the foil tape conveying device is configured to convey a foil tape such that it passes through the pressing station.

[0004] In the pressing station, a metal layer of foil tape is attached to a cardboard, in particular by applying heat and pressure on the respective location where the foil shall be attached to the cardboard. For example, a stamp is used to press the foil tape on the cardboard in the respective area to create a logo or a highlight on the cardboard. Thus, part of the metal layer is transferred to the cardboard, and part of the metal layer remains on the plastic carrier of the foil tape.

[0005] To achieve an accurate depiction on the cardboard, the foil tape has to be accurately positioned in the cardboard processing machine. Otherwise, a respective logo or highlight on the cardboard will be misaligned or insufficiently depicted.

[0006] To ensure an accurate alignment of the foil tape throughout the cardboard processing machine, it is a known solution to install rulers in the cardboard processing machine which have a marking that indicates a target position of the foil tape, in particular at several locations in the cardboard processing machine.

[0007] However, this solution is disadvantageous with regard to the setup time of the machine. In particular, for each production job that requires a different position of the foil tape, the rulers in the machine have to be exchanged. Also, this solution is prone to errors, because the rulers might be mixed up.

[0008] It is thus an object of the present invention to provide an optimized solution for aligning a foil tape in a cardboard processing machine. This object is achieved by a cardboard processing machine comprising a cardboard conveying device, a foil tape conveying device, and a pressing station. The cardboard conveying device is configured to convey cardboard such that it passes through the pressing station and the foil tape conveying device is configured to convey a foil tape such that it passes through the pressing station. The pressing station is configured to press foil tape onto the cardboard such that the foil tape is attached to the cardboard. To be more specific, a typical foil tape has a carrier layer made of plastic, a wax layer, a metal layer, and a thermalsensitive glue layer. When heated and pressed, the metal is glued on the cardboard, while the wax is melted and releases the metal from the carrier layer. Thus, the metal layer is transferred to the cardboard at the pressing locations, thereby creating the desired metalized pattern on the cardboard, while the carrier layer continues its path toward the waste container. Furthermore, the cardboard processing machine comprises at least one light strip that extends in a direction transverse to the travel direction of the foil tape. The cardboard processing machine comprises a control unit that is configured to control the light strip to light up in such a way that an illuminated section of the light strip constitutes a position marking indicating the transverse target position of the foil tape, or the target position of any element used to align the foil tape.

[0009] In particular, the light strip is arranged such that the foil tape passes the light strip with a distance that allows an accurate alignment of the foil tape, for example, a distance of less than 3 cm.

[0010] By means of a light strip that can be illuminated a simple solution for indicating a target position of the foil tape is provided. The light strip in particular constitutes an illuminated ruler.

[0011] The control unit is, for example, connected to a cloud computer such that the setup of a production job can in part be controlled remotely.

[0012] Preferably, several light strips are arranged in the cardboard processing machine such that the alignment of the foil tape can be made at different positions along the conveying direction of the foil tape. Thereby, a particular accurate alignment can be achieved. According to one embodiment, the control unit is configured to light up the light strip according to different illumination patterns for different production jobs which require different positions of the foil tape. In other words, different position markings for different machine setups can be indicated. Thus, the light strips can stay in the cardboard processing machine for different production jobs, which allows the machine to be set up faster. Also, the chance of mixing up the rulers is eliminated.

[0013] For example, the foil tape conveying device comprises at least one drive roller for conveying the foil tape, wherein a light strip is arranged adjacent to and parallel to the drive roller. The foil tape is in particular guided over the drive roller such that it is in contact with the drive roller. Thus, a rotation of the drive roller moves the foil tape along the conveying direction. By means of positioning the light strip adjacent to the drive roller, the position of the foil tape on the drive roller can be corrected particularly easily. As the position of the foil tape on the drive roller has a huge impact on the overall alignment of the foil tape, a respective position of the light strip is particularly advantageous.

[0014] Moreover, the foil tape conveying device may comprisea pressure roller configured to hold the foil tape in contact with the drive roller, wherein a light strip is arranged adjacent to the pressure roller and the control unit is configured to control the light strip to light up in such a way that the illuminated section constitutes a position marking indicating the transverse target position of the pressure roller or of a carrier of the pressure roller. Thereby, the pressure roller can be aligned in the cardboard processing machine as well.

[0015] By means of the pressure roller, the foil tape cannot lift off from the drive roller, which ensures that the foil tape is continuously conveyed through the cardboard processing machine.

[0016] The position of the pressure roller can be shifted compared to the position of the foil tape such that a section of the pressure roller is in contact with the drive roller. Thereby, it is ensured that the pressure roller rotates synchronously with the drive roller and the pressure roller does not need a separate drive unit.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the cardboard processing machine comprises a foil tape reel from which foil tape is unwound and fed into the cardboard processing machine, wherein a light strip is arranged adjacent to the foil tape reel and parallel to a rotation axis of the foil tape reel, and wherein the control unit is configured to control the light strip to light up in such a way that the illuminated section constitutes a position marking indicating the transverse target position of the reel or of a carrier of the reel. Thereby, the position of the foil tape reel can be adjusted as well.

[0018] In an alternative embodiment, the reel can be positioned on an axis outside of the cardboard processing machine, and the axis together with the properly positioned reel can be mounted in the cardboard processing machine. In that case, an external light strip that is positioned for example at an assembly station can be used to position the reel on the axis.

[0019] A further light strip extending transverse to the paper travel direction may be arranged at an entrance of the pressing station and / or at an exit of the pressing station. Thereby, a position of the foil tape may be aligned at a position in the cardboard processing machine that is close to the position where the foil is attached to the cardboard and where an accurate position of the foil tape is thus most important. A properly aligned position of the foil tape at the exit of the pressing station ensures that the foil tape is well aligned throughout the whole length of the pressing station.

[0020] For example, the light strip comprises a plurality of LEDs. LEDs are particularly energy efficient, such that the light strips can be operated in a cost-efficient manner.

[0021] In particular, the light strip has at least two LEDs per cm, or at least three LEDs per cm, and preferably one LED per mm. Thus, the illuminated section can indicate a target position with good precision.

[0022] Alternatively, the light strip may comprise adisplay (LCD or LED display). Thereby, further information in addition to the target position of the foil tape can be displayed on the light strip, for example, a production job number. The display may replace the LED’s of the light strip, since a display is made of light emitting pixels. Thus, by light strip we not only mean a strip made of LED’s but we also mean a screen with an elongated shape.

[0023] In a further alternative embodiment, the light strip may be made of an OLED display. For example, the light strip is configured to light up in different colors. The different colors may indicate the target positions of different foil tapes if more than one foil tape is processed in a production job. Moreover, different colors can indicate the target position of different elements, such as the foil tape, a pressure roller, and a reel.

[0024] The object is further achieved by a method for attaching a foil tape to a cardboard in a cardboard processing machine, wherein the cardboard processing machine comprises a cardboard conveying device, a foil tape conveying device, a pressing station, and at least one light strip that extends in a direction transverse to the travel direction of the foil tape.

[0025] In one method step, a section of the light strip is illuminated before a new production job is started, wherein the illuminated section constitutes a position marking for the transverse target position of the foil tape. The foil tape is aligned at the illuminated section, in particular by means of the position marking on the light strip. The alignment may be done manually by a user. In the pressing station, the foil tape is attached to the cardboard.

[0026] By means of the inventive method, as already discussed with respect to the inventive cardboard processing device, a simple solution for indicating a target position of the foil tape is provided.

[0027] According to one embodiment, illumination patterns for different production jobs are stored in a database, wherein, before a new production job is started, a specific illumination pattern assigned to the planned production job is sent to the control unit of the cardboard processing machine, and wherein the control unit controls the light strip to light up according to the received illumination pattern. Thus, the illumination of the light strips can be controlled remotely. Also, the machine setup for a new production job can be particularly fast, as the change between two different illumination patterns can occur much faster than by means of exchangeable rulers.

[0028] The illumination patterns may comprise the necessary number of foil tapes, the width of the foil tapes, and / or the transverse position of the foil tapes. Thus, the illumination pattern not only helps to align the foil tapes in the correct position, but it also allows to check if the correct foil tape with the correct width or if the correct number of foil tapes has been entered in the cardboard processing machine.

[0029] By indicating the width of the foil tape, it can be indicated to a user which foil tape is to be driven by which feed shaft.

[0030] For example, advancement patterns for different production jobs are stored in the database, wherein, before a new production job is started, a specific advancement pattern assigned to the planned production job is sent to the control unit of the cardboard processing machine and the control unit controls a conveying speed of the foil tape accordingly. More precisely, the control unit controls the rotation of the drive roller accordingly. An advancement pattern defines how the foil tape is advanced in the cardboard processing machine by the conveying device. By storing these advancement patterns In a database, they can be sent to the cardboard processing machine remotely, such that the setup of the cardboard processing machine is further simplified.

[0031] Further features and embodiments can be derived from the following description and the drawings. In the drawings.

[0032] Figure 1 schematically shows an inventive cardboard processing machine,

[0033] Figure 2 schematically shows a light strip of the cardboard processing machine,

[0034] Figure 3 schematically shows a detailed view of a light strip mounted in the cardboard processing machine close to a drive roller and a pressure roller,

[0035] Figure 4 schematically shows a top view of the assembly of Figure 3,

[0036] Figure 5 shows a pattern of foil attached to a cardboard that has been processed in the cardboard processing machine,

[0037] Figure 6 shows a foil tape passing over the cardboard in the pressing station, and

[0038] Figure 7 shows a foil tape passing over the cardboard in the pressing station according to a different embodiment.

[0039] Figure 1 shows a cardboard processing machine 10. The cardboard processing machine 10 comprises a cardboard conveying device 12, a foil tape conveying device 14, and a pressing station 16, which is for example a hot foil press.

[0040] The cardboard conveying device 12 is configured to convey cardboard such that it passes through the pressing station 16. For example, the cardboard conveying device 12 comprises grippers 18 that are configured to grab a cardboard blank 20 and move it along the conveying direction.

[0041] The foil tape conveying device 14 is configured to convey a foil tape 22 such that it passes through the pressing station 16 as well.

[0042] In the pressing station 16 the foil tape 22 is for example pressed onto a cardboard blank 20 by means of a stamp and at the same time heated up, such that the foil in the respective area is attached to the cardboard. Thereby, a metallization can be formed on the cardboard.

[0043] For example, the foil tape 22 has a carrier layer and a metallization layer, wherein part of the metallization layer is attached to the cardboard in the pressing station 16 and the carrier layer remains and is removed from the cardboard processing machine 10 as waste.

[0044] The foil tape 22 is unwound and fed into the cardboard processing machine 10 from a foil tape reel 23 that is mounted in the cardboard processing machine 10.

[0045] The foil tape conveying device 14 comprises at least one drive roller 24 for each strap of foil tape 22 that is conveyed in the cardboard processing machine 10. Upon rotation of the drive roller 24, the foil tape 22 progresses along the conveying direction.

[0046] In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1 , two straps of foil tape 22 are processes in the cardboard processing machine 10. For each foil tape 22, at least one drive roller 24 is provided.

[0047] The drive rollers 24 that are assigned to different foil tapes 22 are displaced with respect to each other. In other words, the foil tapes 22 may be driven by different drive rollers 24 such that the different foil tapes 22 can be conveyed with a different speed, respectively. At least one pressure roller 26 is assigned to each drive roller 24. The pressure rollers 26 are configured to hold the foil tape 22 in contact with the respective drive roller 24.

[0048] In the depicted embodiment, the pressure rollers 26 are provided in pairs. That means that two pressure rollers 26 are arranged next to each other (see Figure 4).

[0049] The pressure rollers 26 are respectively mounted on an axis x that is fixed in the cardboard processing machine 10.

[0050] Furthermore, the foil tape conveying device 14 comprises a return axle 28. This axle may also be implemented as a roller.

[0051] At an exit of the cardboard processing machine 10 a tensioning shaft 29 is provided.

[0052] Moreover, the cardboard processing machine 10 comprises several light strips 30 at different locations in the cardboard processing machine 10.

[0053] The light strips 30 extend in a direction transverse to the travel direction of the foil tape 22. In particular, the light strips 30 extend in a direction perpendicular to the travel direction of the foil tape 22.

[0054] A respective light strip 30 is depicted in Figure 2.

[0055] The light strip 30 comprises a plurality of LEDs 31 , for example, three LEDs 31 per centimeter.

[0056] The cardboard processing machine 10 further comprises a control unit 32.

[0057] The control unit 32 is connected to a database 33.

[0058] The control unit 32 is configured to control the light strips 30 to light up.

[0059] More precisely, the control unit 32 is configured in such a way that an illuminated section of the light strip 30 constitutes a position marking 34. A respective position marking 34 is visualized in Figure 2, wherein the LEDs 31 that are lit up are marked as filled circles.

[0060] In one possible embodiment, the LEDs 31 can light up in different colors. The position marking 34 can indicate the target position of different elements in the cardboard processing machine 10, which will become clearer in the following description.

[0061] In the embodiment depicted in Figure 1 , one light strip 30-1 is arranged adjacent to the foil tape reel 23 and parallel to a rotation axis R of the foil tape reel

[0062] 23.

[0063] The control unit 32 is configured to control the light strip 30-1 to light up in such a way that the illuminated section constitutes a position marking indicating the transverse target position of the reel 23 or of a carrier 36 of the reel 23.

[0064] Further light strips 30-2 are arranged adjacent to and parallel to the drive rollers

[0065] 24.

[0066] The arrangement of the respective light strips 30-2 is also depicted in Figures 3 and 4, which depict a section of the cardboard processing machine 10 comprising a drive roller 24.

[0067] The control unit 32 is configured to control the light strip 30-2 to light up in such a way that an illuminated section of the light strip 30-2 constitutes a position marking indicating the transverse target position of the foil tape 22.

[0068] A respective light strip 30-2 is preferably assigned to every drive roller 24 of the cardboard processing machine 10.

[0069] Moreover, a light strip 30-3 is arranged adjacent to each pressure roller 26.

[0070] The control unit 32 is configured to control the light strip 30-3 to light up in such a way that the illuminated section constitutes a position marking indicating the transverse target position of the respective pressure roller 26 or of a carrier 38 of the pressure roller 26.

[0071] More generally, the unit 32 is configured to control the light strip 30 to light up in such a way that the illuminated section may show a position marking of the transverse target position of any elements configured to guide the foil tape. By guiding, we mean contributing to maintaining its positioning. Said element can be, for example, rhe pressure roller 26, the carrier 38 of the pressure roller, the reel 23, the carrier of the reel 23, etc. As it is illustrated in Figure 4, the position of the pressure rollers 26 is slightly displaced with respect to the position of the foil tape 22 to ensure that the pressure rollers 26 are in contact with the drive roller 24. Thereby, the pressure rollers 26 are driven by the drive rollers

[0072] Further light strips 30-4, 30-5 are arranged at an entrance of the pressing station 16 and at an exit of the pressing station 16. The light strips 30-4, 30-5 can be light up by the control unit 32 such that the illuminated section of the light strips 30-4, 30-5 constitutes a position marking indicating the transverse target position of the foil tape 22, respectively.

[0073] Thus, by lighting up the light strips 30 as explained above, the reel 23, the pressure roller 26, and the foil tape 22 can be properly aligned in the cardboard processing machine 10.

[0074] An accurate position of the foil tape 22 is decisive for the precision with which the foil can be attached to the cardboard in the pressing station 16. That is why there are preferably several position markings for the foil tape 22 along the conveying direction.

[0075] In a further embodiment that is not illustrated for reasons of simplicity, further light strips 30 can be present which indicate a position marking for the cardboard blanks 20. For example, a position marking can indicate the position of the cardboard blanks 20 on a paper pile.

[0076] To ensure a high flexibility of the cardboard processing machine 10, the control unit 32 is configured to light up the light strips 30 according to different illumination patterns for different production jobs, which require different positions of the foil tape 22.

[0077] When setting up the cardboard processing machine 10 for a new production job, a section of the light strips 30 is illuminated before the new production job is started, wherein the illuminated section constitutes a position marking that indicates the transverse target position of at least the foil tape 22. As described above, the target positions for the reel 23 and the pressure rollers 26 are indicated as well. After the setup is finished and the cardboard processing machine 10 is started again, the foil tape 22 is attached to the cardboard in the pressing station 16.

[0078] Figure 5 shows a cardboard 21 with an exemplary metallization pattern that is formed in the pressing station 16 by connecting the foil tape 22 to the cardboard 21.

[0079] The metallization pattern has three segments 40, 41 , 42, wherein two segments 41 , 42 are arranged in the same row, i.e., at the same transverse position.

[0080] To produce the depicted metallization pattern two different foil tapes 22 are necessary that are guided at different positions in the cardboard processing machine 10.

[0081] In particular, two of the segments 41 , 42 are formed by means of the same foil tape 22, as becomes more clear from Figures 6 and 7, in which the position of the two foil tapes 22-1 , 22-2 with respect to the cardboard 21 is depicted.

[0082] An advancement scheme of the foil tapes 22-1 , 22-2 is explained with reference to Figures 6 and 7.

[0083] The foil tapes 22-1 , 22-2 are not conveyed with a constant speed, but are stopped each time a segment of the respective foil tape 22-1 , 22-2 is attached to the cardboard 21 in the pressing station 16 and afterward moved forward by a defined extend for the next pressing step.

[0084] The first segment 40 is produced from a first foil tape 22-1. As the first segment is the only segment 40 that is made from the first foil tape 22-1 , the first foil tape 22-1 is moved forward about a regular distance d1 in each step. The distance d1 is only slightly bigger than a length L1 of the first segment 40.

[0085] For better understanding, the used sections 40’ of the foil tape 22-2 are visualized by depicting the form of the respective segment that has been produced by means of the foil tape 22 with lighter outlines than the actual segment formed on the cardboard 21.

[0086] The second segment 41 and the third segment 42 are made from the second foil tape 22-2.

[0087] In that case, there are two possible solutions to advance the foil tape 22-2. The first solution is explained with reference to Figure 6.

[0088] In the first step, the second segment 41 and the third segment 42 are formed while the cardboard 21 and the second foil tape 22-2 are stopped in the pressing station.

[0089] Afterwards, the second foil tape 22-2 is moved forward by a distance d2 that is slightly bigger than the length L2 of the segment with the bigger length, which is the second segment 41 in the depicted embodiment.

[0090] This step is repeated until the section 4T of used foil tape reaches the area where the third segment 42 is formed in the pressing station 16. In particular, it has to be avoided that a pressing operation is made with an already used foil section, because in that case the respective segment would not be materialized on the cardboard 21.

[0091] The number of steps that can be performed until the used foil tape reaches the area where the third segment 42 is formed depends on the distance between the first and the second segment and the width of the segments.

[0092] Once the section 4T of used foil tape reaches the area where the third segment 42 is formed, the foil tape 22-2 is moved forward by a distance d3, which corresponds to the distance between two opposed ends of the second and the third segment 41 , 42.

[0093] Then, the aforementioned steps are repeated.

[0094] Figure 7 visualizes an alternative solution to advance the foil tape 22-2.

[0095] In particular, according to the solution visualized in Figure 7, the foil tape 22-2 is advanced about the same distance d4 in each step. In other words, the foil tape 22-2 is advanced according to a regular advancement scheme.

[0096] A respective advancement scheme is achieved by respectively controlling the drive rollers 24.

[0097] Since the foil tapes 22-1 , 22-2 are advanced according to different advance schemes, each of the first and second foil tape 22-1 , 22-1 is advanced by means of a separate drive roller 24 designated to the respective foil tape 22-1 , 22-2. In comparison to the solution described in Figure 6, the solution described in Figure 7 has the advantage that the processing speed can be higher because of the regular advancement and because the distance d4 is shorter than the distance d3; the speed being limited by the largest distance. On the other hand, with the advancement scheme described with reference to Figure 7 the foil tape 22-2 is not used as efficiently as with the advancement scheme described with reference to Figure 6, i.e., more waste is produced, and thus the material costs are higher.

[0098] For example, different advancement schemes and / or operation speeds can be saved in the database 33 for each production job from which an operator can choose.

[0099] It is also possible that an operator can choose a number of foil tapes for a production job based on the number of available drive rollers 24.

[0100] The possible options may be displayed on a human-machine interface such as a display of the cardboard processing machine 10. The respective information can be sent to the cardboard processing machine

[0101] 10 remotely.

Claims

Claims1. A cardboard processing machine (10) comprising a cardboard conveying device (12), a foil tape conveying device (14) and a pressing station, wherein the cardboard conveying device (12) is configured to convey cardboard such that it passes through the pressing station (16) and the foil tape conveying device (14) is configured to convey a foil tape (22) such that it passes through the pressing station (16), wherein the pressing station (16) is configured to press foil tape (22) onto the cardboard such that metal from the foil tape (22) is attached to the cardboard, wherein the cardboard processing machine (10) comprises at least one light strip (30) that extends in a direction transverse to the travel direction of the foil tape (22), and wherein the cardboard processing machine (10) comprises a control unit (32) that is configured to control the light strip (30) to light up in such a way that an illuminated section of the light strip (30) constitutes a position marking (34) indicating the transverse target position of the foil tape (22) or the transverse position of any element (23,26,38) that guides the foil tape (22).

2. The cardboard processing machine (10) according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit (32) is configured to light up the light strip (30) according to different illumination patterns for different production jobs which require different positions of the foil tape (22).

3. The cardboard processing machine (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the foil tape conveying device comprises at least one drive roller (24) for conveying the foil tape (22), and wherein a light strip (30) is arranged adjacent to and parallel to the drive roller (24).

4. The cardboard processing machine (10) according to claim 3, wherein the foil tape conveying device (12) comprises at least one pressure roller (26) configured to hold the foil tape (22) in contact with the drive roller (24), wherein a light strip (30) is arranged adjacent to the pressure roller (26) and the control unit (32) is configured to control the light strip (30) to light up in such a way that the illuminated section constitutes a position marking (34) indicating the transverse target position of the pressure roller (26) or of a carrier (38) of the pressure roller.

5. The cardboard processing machine (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cardboard processing machine (10) comprises a foil tape reel(23) from which foil tape (22) is unwound and fed into the cardboard processing machine (10), wherein a light strip (30) is arranged adjacent to the foil tape reel (23) and parallel to a rotation axis of the foil tape reel (23), wherein and the control unit (32) is configured to control the light strip (30) to light up in such a way that the illuminated section constitutes a position marking (34) indicating the transverse target position of the reel (23) or of a carrier (36) of the reel (23).

6. The cardboard processing machine (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a light strip (30) extending transverse to the paper travel direction is arranged at an entrance of the pressing station (16) and / or at an exit of the pressing station (16).

7. The cardboard processing machine (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one light strip (30) comprises a plurality of LEDs (31).

8. The cardboard processing machine (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one light strip (30) comprises an OLED or a LCD display.

9. The cardboard processing machine (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the light strip (30) is configured to light up in different colors.

10. A method for attaching metal from a foil tape (22) to a cardboard in a cardboard processing machine (10), wherein the cardboard processing machine (10) comprises a cardboard conveying device (12), a foil tape conveying device (14), a pressing station (16) and at least one light strip (30) that extends in a direction transverse to the travel direction of the foil tape (22) , the method comprising the following steps:Before a new production job is started, a section of the light strip (30) is illuminated, wherein the illuminated section constitutes a position marking (34) that indicates the transverse target position of the foil tape (22) or the target position of any element (23,26,38) that guides the foil tape, the foil tape (22) or, respectively, the element guiding the foil tape is aligned at the illuminated section, and metal from the foil tape (22) is attached to the cardboard in the pressing station (16).

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein illumination patterns for different production jobs are stored in a database (33), wherein, before a new production job is started, a specific illumination pattern assigned to the planned production job is sent to a control unit (32) of the cardboard processing machine (10), and wherein the control unit (32) controls the light strip (30) to light up according to the received illumination pattern.

12. The method according to claim 10 or 11 , wherein advancement patterns for different production jobs are stored in the database (33), wherein, before a new production job is started, a specific advancement pattern assigned to the planned production job is sent to the control unit (32) of the cardboard processing machine and the control unit (32) controls a conveying speed of the foil tape (22) accordingly.

Images