US 12,240,260 B2
Dye sublimation apparatus with a multi-zone independent heater control
Jeffrey Humenick, Bloomsburg, PA (US); Jym Kauffman, Bloomsburg, PA (US); and Rebecca Gallup, Bloomsburg, PA (US)
Assigned to Sekisui Kydex, LLC, Bloomsburg, PA (US)
Filed by Sekisui Kydex, LLC, Bloomsburg, PA (US)
Filed on Jun. 30, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/855,490.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/217,724, filed on Jul. 1, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0001728 A1, Jan. 5, 2023
Int. Cl. B41M 5/035 (2006.01); B41F 16/00 (2006.01); B41J 2/325 (2006.01)
CPC B41M 5/0358 (2013.01) [B41F 16/0006 (2013.01); B41J 2/325 (2013.01); B41J 2202/30 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A dye sublimation apparatus for infusing an image on a printed sheet to a substrate, the dye sublimation apparatus comprising:
a non-planar heating surface spaced apart from the printed sheet and comprising a plurality of zones,
wherein the non-planar heating surface is configured to indirectly radiate heat toward the printed sheet; and
one or more controllers configured to individually regulate heat from each of the plurality of zones,
wherein each of the plurality of zones comprises an individually regulated heater,
wherein the one or more controllers are further configured to maintain a first temperature range at a first stage of the process of infusing the image into the substrate and maintain a second temperature range at a second stage of the process of infusing the image into the substrate, the first temperature range being different than the second temperature range, and
wherein one or more dyes forming the image sublimate such that the one or more dyes travel into the substrate in a gaseous state and deposit into the substrate in a solid state to infuse the image into the substrate during the first stage and the second stage.