Process and apparatus for printing and decorating by means of sublimable inks

摘要

A process is provided wherein images preformed and realised with sublimable inks are submitted to compression and heating stages until their transfer onto surfaces to be printed is obtained, and wherein the preformed images are compressed through thermoretraction of thermoretractable material. The apparatus comprises means for compressing the images on surfaces to be printed and means for heating said inks, compression means comprising a thermoretractable material that substantially wraps the images and preheating means suitable to obtain the thermoretraction of the thermoretractable material, selected from among polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) in the form of a film thermoretractable in one or two directions.