AUTOMATED SIMULTANEOUS MULTIPLE ARTICLE SUBLIMATION PRINTING PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MARKETING

摘要

A process and apparatus for sublimating printed images (100, 300) onto two or more products substantially simultaneously are disclosed. Software components are configured to receive input of a desired number of products (50, 60) to sublimate, and then determine a spatial arrangement (54, 56, 62, 64, 66) of the printed images on transfer media (52) to sublimate the desired number of products substantially simultaneously, The apparatus is configured to print the images onto the media (52) according to the spatial arrangement, then position the media onto a substrate (36). The products are automatically placed on the media proximate to their corresponding printed images. The apparatus manipulates the media to substantially surround the products and places at least one image onto each side of each product to be sublimated. One or more heating platens (14) engage the media to sublimate the images. The heating platens are configured, using a control, to sublimate multiple products substantially simultaneously in a single thermal cycle.