US3813270A - Heat transfer machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for effecting the transfer of an image from one piece of material to another in which a platen and a heating element are enclosed in a container such that when a vacuum is created therein the platen and heating element are drawn together to compress the materials therebetween and cause the image to be transferred. The platen and heating element are respectively affixed to a base and a cover of the container which are, in turn, interconnected by a hinge structure that permits the cover to move in a linear path of travel toward the base in response to the vacuum, thus avoiding fatiguing of the base and cover walls because of flexing.

Description

y 28, 1974 c. A. HIX ETAL 3,813,270

HEAT TRANSFER MACHINE Filed June 2, 1972 United States Patent 3,813,270 HEAT TRANSFER MACHINE Clifford A. Hix and Daniel H. Hix, Pittsburg, Kans., assignors to His: Automation Incorporated, Pittsburg,

Filed June 2, 1972, Ser. No. 258,959 Int. Cl. B32b 31/20 US. Cl. 156382 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A device for effecting the transfer of an image from one piece of material to another in which a platen and a heating element are enclosed in a container such that when a vacuum is created therein the platen and heating element are drawn together to compress the materials therebetween and cause the image to be transferred. The platen and heating element are respectively atfixed to a base and a cover of the container which are, in turn, interconnected by a hinge structure that permits the cover to move in a linear path of travel toward the base in response to the vacuum, thus avoiding fatiguing of the base and cover walls because of flexing.

This invention relates to a heat transfer device adapted especially for transferring a design from a piece of carrier material, which may be in the nature of silicon release paper, to another piece of material such as an article of clothing. The transfer is effected by compress ing and heating the two pieces of material for a predetermined length of time during which the image releases from the silicon paper and adheres to the article of clothing, the process of which is well known for purposes of placing a monogram, novel design or the like, as for example, on a shirt.

Heat transfer machines heretofore used for this particular purpose have either been driven mechanically or by air to apply compressive pressure to the two pieces of material. These machines necessitated a considerable amount of structure in order to provide the required rigidity and equalized pressure throughout the entire area of contact with a platen and a smooth surfaced heating element between which the two pieces of material were compressed.

It is, therefore, a very important object of our invention to provide a heat transfer machine Which utilizes a vacuum to provide the necessary compressive pressure on two pieces of material, between a platen and a heating element, to apply a heat transfer.

It is a further important object of the invention to provide a heat transfer device that does not require the use of complicated mechanical linkage or complex airpowered mechanism for applying pressure to the mate rials undergoing image transfer.

It is yet another important object of the invention to provide a heat transfer machine in which the problem of structural fatigue due to frequent and constant flexing is virtually eliminated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a heat transfer machine that is capable of generating sufiicient pressures to apply heat transfers without the need for strong, massive and therefore cumbersome structural members.

Yet another object of our invention is to provide a hinge structure interconnecting a base and cover, forming 3,813,270 Patented May 28, 1974 a container, which permits the cover to move in a linear path of travel in response to the vacuum created inside the container, yet which will permit swinging of the cover to an open position upon loss of the vacuum.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a heat transfer machine made in accordance with our present invention and showing the same in an open, material-receiving condition;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, vertical, cross-sectional view of the machine as it would appear when closed;

FIG. 3 is a yet further enlarged, fragmentary, crosssectional view taken along line 3-3 of 'FIG. 2 showing the details of construction of a seal between the base and the cover of the machine;

FIG. 4 illustrates, on the same scale as -FIG. 3, a fragmentary, detailed, vertical cross-sectional view showing the two pieces of material compressed between the heating element and platen during operation of the machine; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, detailed, cross-sectional view showing a modified form of the heating element using flexible heating wires embedded in a resilient substance such as silicon rubber.

Referring initially to FIGS. 14, a heat transfer device, broadly designated by the numeral 10, is comprised of a base 12 and an overlying cover 14 to present a hollow container 16. A platen 18 is supported in the base 12 by a pedestal 20 having a foot 22 affixed to a bottom wall 24 of the base 12. The platen 18 includes a pad 26 made of resilient material, positioned thereon to present an upwardly facing, planar face 28. While the platen 18 herein illustrated is of a square, planar configuration, it is to be understood that the same could be constructed in any number of other configurations including those presenting curved, facial areas.

The pedestal 20 and the foot 22 combine to present a support 30 for the platen 18, the support 30 also serving as a housing for a vacuum-producing means 32 in a chamber 34 interiorly of the pedestal 20. The pedestal 20 includes an upper section 36 having a plurality of orifices 38 which provide communication between thhe interior of the device 10 and the chamber 34. A lower section 40 of the pedestal 20 supports the vacuum-producing means 32 which is in the nature of an air pump provided with an annular flange 42. The flange 42 engages the upper end of the section 40 in sealing contact therewith to divide the chamber 34 into upper and lower compartments 44 and 46 respectively. The platen 18 forms the top pOItiOH of the section 36 while the foot 22, which is provided with a number of exhaust ports 48 which are in alignment with an opening 50 in the Wall 24, forms the lower part of the section 40.

The base 12 and the cover 14 are interconnected by a pair of spaced-apart hinges 52 that permit the cover 14 to be moved in a linear path of travel toward the base 12, as well as permit swinging movement of the cover 14 to an open position, as shown in FIG. 1. Each hinge 52 includes an elongated, upright loop 54 carried by the base 12, and a horizontally disposed pin 56 extending through the loop 54 and carried by the cover 14.

A top wall 5 8 of the cover 14 carries a heating element 60 having a surface 62 adapted to be in spaced, overlying relationship to the platen 18 interiorly of the container 16 when the latter is initially closed. The element 60 may be of any metallic, heat-conducting mate 3 rial such as aluminum, and is provided with a series of thermostatically controlled, electric heating rods 64. The areas of engagement of the foot 22 with the bottom wall 24, and the element 60 with the cover 14, are essentially the same, the purpose of which will be made clear hereinafter.

Sealing means 66 are interposed between the base 12 and cover 14 for purposes of preventing the passage of air into the container 16 when the same is closed. The sealing means 66 may be of any suitable construction such as shown in FIG. 3, wherein a pair of upright, opposed spring-like panels 68, extending around the entire perimeter of the base 12, receive corresponding, downwardly projecting wall sections 70 of the cover 14 therebetween in clamping engagement. A spring-loaded return means 72 is provided between the cover 14 and the base 12 and includes a compression spring 74 operably coupled to a rod 76 In operation, a piece of material 80, such as an article of clothing, is placed in overlying relationship on the pad 26 of the platen 18 after which a second piece of material, as for example, a decal 82 in the nature of a design that has been silk-screened onto a piece of silicon release paper is placed on the material 80 in a manner to effect the transfer of the design from the paper to the material upon the application of heat and pressure for a predetermined period of time. An operator initially closes the container 16 by lowering the cover 14 onto the base 12 to bring the surface 62 of the element 60 into close proximity or, depending on material thicknesses, initial engagement with the decal 82. The lowering of the cover 14 against the action of the spring 74 also engages a microswitch (not shown) to activate the air pump 32 and a timer (not shown) operably coupled therewith. The engagement of the wall sections 70 of the cover 14 with their corresponding panels 68 sufficiently seals the interior of the container 16 from the atmosphere so that as the pump 32 withdraws the air from the container 16, a vacuum is created therein. The pump 32 draws the air through the orifices 38, into the compartment 44, and then expels the air into the compartment 46, from which it exhausts through the ports 48 into the atmosphere. The drawing of the vacuum interiorly of the container 16 causes the cover 14 to move toward the base 12, further tightening the seal 66 therebetween by virtue of the wall 70 being pulled tightly between the opposing panels 68 as illustrated by dotted lines in FIG. 3. The construction of the hinges 52 permits a lost motion movement between the pins 56 and the loops 54 so that the cover may move in a substantially linear path of travel throughout its entirety.

The combined action of the vacuum created in the container with the prmsure of the atmosphere on the container 16 causes the surface 62 and the face 28 to be drawn into close proximity with one another to compress and heat the material 80' and the decal 82, thereby effecting the transfer of the image from the decal to the material.

It is to be noted that the foot 22, pedestal 20, platen 18; and element 60' are all in axial alignment so that an equal pressure is maintained throughout the entire areas of engagement, thus precluding the need for auxiliary reinforcing structure to insure such equal pressure. Furthermore, the simplicity of operation and construction are clearly shown in that no exterior mechanism, linkage, or other paraphernalia are required to provide the compressive force for the heating element 60 and the platen 18 as are to be found in previously known heattransfer machines provided for similar purposes. The only auxiliary connections required would be those to provide an electrical power supply to the pump 32 and the heating element 60. An adjustable waste valve 84 is provided in the base 12 to manually control the extent of vacuum drawn interiorly of the container for those times when less pressure is desired than that for which the pump has been calibrated. It isknown, for example, that the extent to which the design penetrates the warp and woof of a piece of material depends on the amount of pressure as well as the time span during which the pressure is exerted. The greater the pressure, the more penetration there is of the design into the material.

The walls 24 and 58 of the base and cover respectively, are capable of flexing toward one another in response to the vacuum to insure a uniform and consistent engagement of the element 60 with the decal 82, although it is to be understood that normally the linear movement of the cover 14 toward the base 12 provides sufficient engagement, it being desirable to limit the flexing of the walls 24 and 58 to prevent premature fatigue due to the flexing thereof.

Upon deactivation of the pump 32 by the timer, the vacuum is lost, at which time the cover 14 is urged toward an open position, as shown in FIG. 1, by the return means 72, at which time the release paper is removed from the material and the latter is then subsequently taken from the platen 18.

FIG. 5 shows a cover 114 having an alternate heating element affixed thereto which is comprised of a resilient, compressible substance, such as a silicon rubber sheet, surrounding a plurality of flexible heating wires 164. The remaining components shown in FIG. 4 are the same as those referred to in the earlier embodiment and are identified by like numerals. The combination of the resilient element 160 with the resilient pad 26 of the platen 18 permits the surface 62 and the pad 26 to conform with irregularities such as those presented by buttons, snaps or the like on articles of clothing while an even, constant compressive pressure is maintained on the materials by the platen 1'8 and element 60 throughout their areas of engagement.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device utilizing heat and pressure for effecting the transfer of an image from one piece of material to another, said device comprising:

a container for said material;

said container including a base and a cover for said base;

platen defining pedestal means disposed on said base and adapted to receive and support said materials;

a heating element carried by said cover and having a surface adapted to engage one of said pieces of material when the materials are supported by said pedestal means;

sealing means interposed between said base and said cover for preventing the passage of air into said container when the container is initially closed; and

vacuum producing means incorporated with said pedestal means and in communication with the interior of said container and activatable for evacuating air from the initially closed container and expelling said air into the atmosphere whereby said surface and said pedestal means are drawn into close proximity with the surface in engagement with the said one piece of material to thereby compress and heat said materials, and transfer said image.

2. In a device utilizing heat and pressure for effecting the transfer of an image from one piece of material to another, said device comprising:

a container for said material;

said container including a base and a cover for said base;

a platen disposed on said base and adapted to receive and support said materials;

a heating element carried by said cover and having a surface aadpted to engage one of said pieces of material when the materials are supported by said platen;

sealing means interposed between said base and said cover for preventing the passage of air into said container when the container is initially closed;

vacuum producing means in communication with the interior of said container and activatable for evacuating air from the initially closed container whereby said surface and said platen are drawn into close proximity with the surface in engagement with the said one piece of material to thereby compress and heat said materials, and transfer said image; and

a support for said platen aflixed to said base,

the support including a foot and a pedestal, the foot of said support and said element having essentially the same area of engagement with said base and said cover respectively,

said vacuum-producing means including a vacuum pump mounted on the pedestal of said support to draw air from the closed container and expel said air into the atmosphere.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said foot is provided with an exhaust port and wherein said base has an opening in alignment with said port, said air being expelled into the atmosphere from said pump through said port and said opening.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,681,171 8/1972 Hojo et a1 156-382 2,624,389 1/1953 Bungay 156-583 3,255,843 6/1966 MacDonald 156-382 3,205,114 9/1965 Gross 156-285 2,794,104 5/1957 Nathan 156-583 CHARLES E. VAN HORN, Primary Examiner C. WESTON, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

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