| 摘要 |
A method and apparatus (310) are disclosed for printing a meltable disperse dye image onto and into a workpiece (300) which comprises a metal substrate (204) coated on a surface to be printed with a disperse dye receptive plastic. An assembly is prepared of: 1) the workpiece (300), 2) a flexible sheet (108) bearing on one side one or more meltable disperse dyes in the mirror image of the image which will be melt printed, positioned with its dye image-bearing side adjacent ot the workpieces's printable plastic surface, and 3) a resiliently flexible membrane (16) overlaying the surface of the dye-bearing sheet (108) opposite its dye-bearing surface (206). The space between the dye-bearing sheet (108) and the membrane (16) is then evacuated to cause the membrane (16) to press the dye-bearing sheet (108) tightly against the printable plastic surface. A heat and pressure applying means (20), e.g., a heated plate (200) having a pressure-applying surface (206), is then pressed against the membrane (16) over the workpiece (300), while maintaining the vacuum, to cause the meltable disperse dye to melt onto and into the workpiece's printable plastic surface. |
