Claims
- 1. An apparatus for simultaneously applying a plurality of preselected dye images to an assembly of a plurality of keycaps having respective irregular printing surfaces, by utilizing a flexible sheet bearing said dye in the mirror images of said preselected images, said dye being of the type requiring heat for the application thereof and having a melting point which is below the melting point of the material of which the assembly of keycaps is constructed comprising:
- (a) a base;
- (b) a bed mounted on said base, said bed having a support surface for receiving said assembly of keycaps and said flexible sheet thereon with said sheet overlying said irregular printing surfaces of said assembly of keycaps so that said dye mirror images face said irregular printing surfaces in a predetermined orientation;
- (c) a continuous resilient, flexible membrane attached to said apparatus and positionable in overlying relation on said assembly of keycaps and on the portion of said bed surface adjacent thereto;
- (d) means for establishing a pressure differential between opposite sides of said membrane to urge the membrane overlying said bed surface portion into engagement therewith and to urge said membrane overlying said assembly of keycaps into pressurized communication with said flexible sheet to simultaneously register and conform the dye images on said flexible sheet to said plurality of irregular printing surfaces of said assembly of keycaps to thereby effect the pressurized engagement of said dye images with said irregular printing surfaces; and
- (e) radiant heating means for heating said membrane and thereby heating said sheet to apply said preselected images to said plurality of keycaps.
- 2. In the apparatus of claim 1, said assembly of keycaps further characterized as an assembly of plastic keycaps, said dye further characterized as a disperse dye.
- 3. In the apparatus of claim 2, said radiant heating means further characterized as infrared radiant heating means.
- 4. In the apparatus of claim 3, said membrane further characterized as a silicone rubber membrane.
- 5. In the apparatus of claim 4, said membrane and said heating means further characterized as being matched so that said membrane is specifically absorptive to radiation emitted by said heating means.
- 6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for positioning individual keycaps of said assembly and said sheet so that said sheet overlies said keycaps with said mirror images facing said individual keycaps in a predetermined orientation.
- 7. In the apparatus of claim 6, said plurality of keycaps being assembled on a keyboard assembly, said positioning means comprising a frame assembly received on said bed surface, said keyboard assembly being received in said frame, said frame assembly including a skeleton plate having a plurality of apertures therein received on said keyboard assembly so that said keycaps are snugly received in said apertures and thereby securely positioned in said frame assembly, said skeleton plate also having a plurality of positioning pins thereon, said sheet having a plurality of spaced positioning apertures therein, said pins being receivable in said positioning apertures to position said sheet relative to said keycaps so that said dye mirror images face said keycaps in said preselected orientation.
- 8. In the apparatus of claim 1, said assembly of a plurality of keycaps irregular printing surfaces having printing surfaces which are disposed in nonparallel relation to said bed surface, the portion of said sheet adjacent said mirror images further characterized as being die-cut to define a flap therein and overlying said printing surfaces with said mirror images facing said printing surfaces.
- 9. In the apparatus of claim 8, said assembly of a plurality of keycaps having irregular printing surfaces which include first and second non-parallel printing surfaces thereon, said sheet having first and second dye mirror images thereon, the portions of said sheet adjacent both said first and second mirror images being die-cut to define first and second flaps in said sheet, respectively, and overlying said first and second printing surfaces, respectively, so that said first mirror image faces said first printing surface and said second mirror image faces said second printing surface.
- 10. In the apparatus of claim 9, said heating means further characterized as radiant heating means which emits radiation directed at both of said first and second printing surfaces.
- 11. The apparatus of claim 10, said heating means comprising:
- (a) a radiation emitter;
- (b) a parabolic reflector disposed adjacent said emitter for directing radiation therefrom toward both of said first and second printing surfaces.
- 12. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for establishing a pressure differential comprises vacuum means.
Parent Case Info
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 503,667, filed June 20, 1983 now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (15)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
14615 |
Aug 1980 |
EPX |
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
503667 |
Jun 1983 |
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