Patent ID: 12251927

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

While the present description sets forth specific details of various embodiments, it will be appreciated that the description is illustrative only and should not be construed in any way as limiting. Furthermore, various applications of such embodiments and modifications thereto, which may occur to those who are skilled in the art, are also encompassed by the general concepts described herein. Each and every feature described herein, and each and every combination of two or more of such features, is included within the scope of the present invention provided that the features included in such a combination are not mutually inconsistent.

This application discloses configurations of heat press devices and components therefor that provide for control of a pressure state between two platens and an indicator to help a user achieve an operating condition. In some cases, the pressure state control is by way of detecting the actual height of a platen or one or more components that have a height related to the relative position between platens. These measurements can be closely related to pressure as to provide a functional alternative to actually sensing or directly measuring pressure. SECTIONI discusses heat press devices that are able to control and convey pressure states between platens without requiring expensive or complex load sensors. SECTIONII discusses a heat press control apparatus that can be coupled with heat press devices to enable such devices to control and convey pressure states between platens without requiring expensive or complex load sensors.

I. Heat Press Device with Pressure State Control

FIG.1illustrates features of a heat press device100as claimed herein. The heat press device100includes a support structure104that can be placed on a table or other convenient locating structure. The support structure104can include bolt apertures for securing the heat press device100to the table or locating structure. The support structure104can include rubber feet to enable the heat press device100to sit on a surface without damaging the surface. The heat press device100can include a lower platen108coupled with the support structure104. The lower platen108is configured to support a workpiece112and a transfer material114. The lower platen108can include a rigid plate and a silicon pad, the silicon pad being somewhat compressible but able to compress the workpiece112and the transfer material114between the rigid plate and another rigid structure of the heat press device100.

The heat press device100also includes a heating element assembly116that has a heating element120and an upper platen124. The upper platen124can provide a rigid structure against which the lower platen108can act. The heating element assembly116can comprise any suitable structure for heating the upper platen124, such as by providing a high resistance conductor that increases in temperature as current is passed therethrough. The upper platen124can have a lower surface that faces an upper surface of the lower platen108, in some cases the silicon pad. These surfaces can be separated from each other in an open configuration132(shown inFIG.1) and brought close together or even touching in a closed configuration. The closed configuration provides that lower platen108to be very close to or in contact with the upper platen124. Movement from the open configuration132to the closed configuration and from the closed configuration to the open configuration132can be a simple movement along an arc, e.g., when the heat press device100has a clamshell configuration. In some variations, a heating element assembly can also rotate about a vertical axis to be disposed to a side of the lower platen108and then to be moved back to a position over the lower platen108, e.g., in a swing away configuration. The swing away configuration then operates by moving straight down rather than over an arc as in a clamshell arrangement. The improvements herein can apply to both clam-shell and swing-away style heat presses, by providing pressure control and an output to the user confirming the pressure state in each case. In another embodiment, the open configuration132is one in which the lower platen108is moved, e.g., slides, out from under the upper platen124in manner similar to a drawer. Movement from the closed to the open configuration132can be achieved automatically or manually when a heat press operation is complete.

The open configuration132enables the workpiece112and the transfer material114to be moved into a space disposed between the upper surface of the lower platen108and the lower surface of the upper platen124. The workpiece112and the transfer material114can be placed on the upper surface of the lower platen108. The workpiece112and the transfer material114can be placed on a silicon pad of the lower platen108. The lower surface of the upper platen124can then be brought into contact with one or both of the workpiece112and the transfer material114to provide a selected pressure state between the lower platen108and the upper platen124, as discussed further below.

Although the platen108is illustrated as below the platen124of the heating element assembly116, other configurations are possible. For example, the spatial orientation can be modified such that the platen108is not lower than or below the platen124. The platens108,124can be side-by-side in some embodiments. The heating element assembly116can be disposed below the platen108, such that the platen124is lower than the platen108. Also, a heating element120can be disposed in an assembly including the platen108instead of or in addition to the heating element120in the assembly including the platen124. Due to these variations, the lower platen108can be a first platen and the upper platen124can be a second platen or the upper platen124can be a first platen and the lower platen108can be a second platen. Also, the platens108,124need not necessarily have a flat plate configuration. The platens could be curved to act on a curved workpiece, such as a cup, mug, or cap.

As noted above, the relative positions of the lower platen108to the upper platen124can change during the use of the heat press device100. During use, the heat press device100can be in the open configuration132as shown inFIG.1to provide access to the space provided between the lower platen108and the upper platen124such that the workpiece112and the transfer material114can be positioned in that space. The heat press device100includes a mechanism128to provide relative motion between the lower platen108and the upper platen124of the heating element assembly116to enable the heat press device100to be moved to the closed configuration from the open configuration132. In the closed configuration the heat press device100applies pressure to one or both of the workpiece112and the transfer material114. In a swing-away type heat press device, the mechanism128can provide the open configuration132by both separating the platens vertically from each other but also by rotation about a vertical axis such that the lower platen108is not covered by the upper platen124. Advantageously the pressure that is applied is carefully controlled by a low cost and simple configuration, making the heat press device100suitable for home based consumers and other users benefitting from flexibility in selection of the nature of the workpiece112and the transfer material114. As is discussed further below, the heat press device100enables improved control of a pressure state in the closed configuration, e.g., by enabling simple selection and visual confirmation of the pressure state.

In one embodiment, the configuration control mechanism128of the heat press device100includes a linkage128A that can raise and lower the upper platen124. The linkage128A can include one or more bars or links, e.g., a first pair of bars pivotably coupled to a frame129secured to the support structure104. The frame129and/or support structure can be considered, alone or together, to be a pedestal supporting other components of the heat press device100. A handle128B can be coupled with pivotable bars of the linkage128A. The handle128B can move pivotable bars down and can apply a load to the heating element assembly116, e.g., to the heating element120, to the upper platen124or to both of the heating element120and the upper platen124. The handle128B can move pivotable bars to apply a load to a load plate128C via another pair of bars of the linkage128A. As discussed further below, the heat press device100can include an arm145that is pivotable relative to the frame129. The load plate128C can be coupled with the upper platen124, e.g., with a top surface of the heating element assembly116which includes the upper platen124. The load plate128C can be coupled to and extendable from the arm145to alter a pressure state in the space between the lower platen108and the upper platen124.

The heat press device100includes a movement assembly136that is configured to change the pressure state between the lower platen108and the upper platen124of the heating element assembly116when the heat press device is in the closed configuration. The movement assembly136can include a manual position adjusting device. In other words, the movement assembly136allows the user to select how much pressure is applied to the workpiece112and/or the transfer material114. Importantly, the pressure state that is selected can be accurately predicted and the pressure state can be clearly conveyed to the user by the heat press device100. The movement assembly136can be mounted on or to the arm145of the heat press device100that is disposed over the heating element assembly116and to which the load plate128C is coupled. In a modified embodiment, the movement assembly136is integrated into a swing-away format heat press. For example, in the heat press device100A ofFIG.5the movement assembly136is disposed at an upper portion143A of a column that is adapted to enable the upper platen thereof to rotate out of the work zone, e.g., about a vertical axis of the column. The movement assembly136can adjust the position of the platens by movement induced upon rotation of a threaded rod in the column. Further details of the movement assembly136are discussed below in connection withFIGS.2-3andFIG.5.

The heat press device100also includes an indicator140. The indicator140can be located at an upper portion143of the heat press device100on the frame129secured to the support structure104. The indicator140can be configured as part of a user interface portion144. The user interface portion144can be an interface that provides information about one or more operational states of the heat press device100. The user interface portion144allows the user to input and see displayed a selected temperature for the heating element120or upper platen124. The user interface portion144can include a timer function by which the user can determine how long the heat and pressure will be applied. A timer function can also include a count-down to help the user know when the heat press operation will conclude. The timer function of the heat press device100can be set independently of other variables of the heat press device100. The timer function of the heat press device100can be selected based on one or more of a temperature setting, the position of the movement assembly136, and/or an input indicating the workpiece112and the transfer material114of the heat press device100.

In one embodiment, the indicator140is not part of the user interface portion144. For example, the indicator140can be located on or coupled to the arm145of the heat press device100. The indicator140can be a component of or coupled with the movement assembly136. The indicator140can be located adjacent to the movement assembly136, whether it is on the arm145or on another portion of the heat press device100. In some embodiments, the indicator140includes an output that shows or can be predictive of a pressure state. The pressure state can be shown or predicted from the position or configuration of the movement assembly136. The indicator140can be disposed on a common housing with an actuator or other components of the movement assembly136. As discussed above, the position of the movement assembly136can include a number of turns of a threaded member which corresponding to a linear position of the load plate128C relative to one or both of the lower platen108and the upper platen124.

FIG.2shows further details of one embodiment of the movement assembly136and of the indicator140. The movement assembly136can include a threaded member254and an actuator258. The actuator258can include a wheel to be gripped by hand to adjust the movement assembly136in one embodiment. The threaded member254can be located inside the arm145and hence is not visible inFIG.2. The actuator258is accessible, e.g., on a top side of the arm145. The threaded member254can extend through the arm145and into driving contact with the load plate128C. For example, the movement assembly136includes a rack250. The actuator258can provide relative rotation between the threaded member254and the rack250. Such rotation can move the rack relative to the threaded member254in a vertical direction, e.g., to move the load plate128C toward the lower platen108. Such movement can change the pressure state between the lower platen108and the upper platen124of the heating element assembly116when the heat press device100is in the closed configuration. More particularly, each rotation of the actuator258can move the rack250and thereby the load plate128C toward or away from the lower platen108. This movement can be detected by the indicator140to provide a clear and simple visual indication to the user of the pressure state. Any other configuration can be provided in which movement of an input device, such as the actuator258, causes vertical translation of the load plate128C to modify a pressure state between the lower platen108and the upper platen124when the heat press device100is in the closed configuration. For example, one or both of the lower platen108and the upper platen124can be configured such that the platen itself may rotate. Such a platen may be coupled with a thread mechanism so that as the platen rotates the elevation of the platen changes. Such an arrangement is within the scope of the movement assembly136. In such other embodiments, the indicator140is configured to detect and output an indication of pressure state. Other configurations are discussed further below.

FIG.2also shows one embodiment of the indicator140. In this embodiment, the indicator140is able to detect motion of the threaded member254and/or the rack250under control of the movement assembly136. The indicator140can include first and second pulleys140A,140B and a belt140C. The pulley140A can be coupled with the actuator258of the movement assembly136for one-to-one rotation such that one rotation of the actuator258provides a corresponding one rotation of the pulley140A. The rotation of the pulley140A can cause a same rotation of the pulley140B by virtue of the belt140C that is mounted on the pulleys140A,140B. This enables a user interface146responsive to rotations of the pulley140B to display information to the user regarding a pressure state. In one example, the user interface146can output information on a counter disposed in the indicator140. The counter can count revolutions of the movement assembly136by virtue of rotation of the pulley140B, driven by the belt140C, driven by the pulley140A. The pulley140B can be configured to rotate the same number of revolutions as the pulley140A. A gear ratio could be provided between the pulley140A and the pulley140B which would be factored into a counter display on the user interface146. In one embodiment, the rotation of the pulley140A corresponds to, e.g., is the same number of revolutions as, the movement assembly136.

If a user wants to enhance the pressure state of the heat press device100the movement assembly136can be operated, e.g., the actuator258rotated one revolution, and the user interface146may display “1”. From experience of use with the heat press device100the user can determine that a setting of “1” provides excellent results for a certain workpiece112and transfer material114at a certain time and temperature. If more pressure is desired, the movement assembly136can be operated, e.g., the actuator258rotated until the user interface146displays “5” for example. The setting “5” my correspond to a much higher pressure state than the setting “1” to provide best results for a different combination of the workpiece112, transfer material114at a selected time and temperature. The direct mechanical output of the illustrated embodiment of the movement assembly136provides an immediate, reliable indication of these and other pressure state without requiring any electronic sensors or detectors.

The pulley140B can be journaled on a housing that also contains the user interface146. The pulley140A can be configured to mount to an adjusting screw of a conventional heat press device to provide a heat press pressure control apparatus that can be easily installed by an end user. Accordingly these components can be part of a unit, as discussed further below in SECTIONII.

FIG.2Adiscloses a modified embodiment of the heat press device100. The description of the components of the heat press device100set forth above are fully applicable in that the arm assembly145A can be integrated into the other components of the heat press device100. In this embodiment, an arm assembly145A is provided that can be integrated into the heat press device100. The arm assembly145A provides the indicator140having the actuator258journaled thereon. The actuator258is configured to drive a mechanism to turn the threaded member254disposed away from the actuator258. The actuator258and the threaded member254can be coupled with a belt and pulley mechanism as discussed above in connection withFIG.2. The threaded member254can be coupled with a rack250disposed inside the arm145of the arm assembly145A. The modification illustrated byFIG.2Abeneficially hides the belt and pulleys (or other mechanism) and also allows the actuator258to be located closer to the user to be more accessible.

FIG.3shows the indicator140in more detail. As shown, the indicator140can include a housing that has the user interface146disposed thereon. The indicator140can also include a position detector input259that can be coupled with a component or apparatus to enable the indicator140to detect or count the motion of the movement assembly136such that a relative position of the load plate128C and the lower platen108can be determined.

FIG.4shows further details of various components of the indicator140and embodiment of the user interface146. As noted above, the user interface146can include a counter that can count rotations of the actuator258of the movement assembly136in order to give the user an indirect but very straight-forward indication of the pressure state in the space between the lower platen108and the upper platen124when the heat press device100is in the closed configuration. In certain modified embodiments, the pressure state can be registered in any one or a plurality of features of the user interface146. The user interface146can have one or more windows or functions to communicate the pressure state to the user. The heat press device100comprises a processor148. The148and the indicator140can comprise a user interface146, as discussed above. The user interface146can have one or a number of sections or windows to convey information.

A display150can provide enhanced or different information to a user on the user interface146. The display150configured to receive signals from a processor148. The processor148can be configured to process a signal indicative of the pressure state between the lower platen108and the upper platen124. The processor148can output a signal to drive a visual representation of the pressure state on the user interface146. The processor148can be configured to receive signals from another component of the heat press device100. The signals can be based on output of a sensor. A sensor can provide an indirect measurement of a pressure state. For example, the processor148could receive an electrical signal indicating revolutions of the actuator258of the movement assembly136. The processor148could receive an electrical signal indicating position of the rack250based on the position being detected by a linear position sensor162.

The processor148can be wired to a sensor or another signal source in some embodiments. In other embodiments, a wireless signal can be received by the processor148. The linear position sensor162can output a signal that is conveyed by a transmitter, e.g., can be a wireless sensor signal. The linear position sensor162can generate a signal indicative of the pressure state and can convey the signal indicative of the pressure state to the processor148. The linear position sensor162can be coupled with a wireless transmitter166disposed on the heat press device100. The wireless transmitter166can be coupled with the linear position sensor162to wirelessly convey the signal indicative of the pressure state to the processor148. The linear position sensor162can detect, directly or indirectly, the amount the load plate128C has advanced by operation of the movement assembly136. The linear position sensor162can convey that position information to the processor148by a wired connection or by the wireless transmitter166. If the wireless transmitter166is used, the processor148includes or is coupled with a wireless receiver to receive that information and incorporate that information into the processing performed by the processor148.

FIG.4illustrates great flexibility that can be provided in the display150of various embodiments of the user interface146of the indicator140to provide indications of the pressure state to the user. The display150can include a text output field180indicating the pressure state and, in some cases, other useful information. The text output field180can include text that does not directly state the pressure in the space between the lower platen108and the upper platen124but rather provides a qualitative indication of pressure, e.g., “Moderate” indicating higher or heavy pressure. The text output field180also can state what sort of workpiece112and transfer material114(e.g., heat transfer vinyl) would be suitable under the conditions set by the position of the movement assembly136. In other words, as the actuator258is rotated to cause the load plate128C to move toward the lower platen108, the output in the text output field180can change from a first type of heat press procedure (e.g., “screen print”, “sublimation”) to a second type requiring more pressure. As the actuator258is rotated to cause the load plate128C to move away the lower platen108, the output in the text output field180can change from the first type of heat press procedure (e.g., “screen print”, “sublimation”) to a third type requiring less pressure. The text output field180can move from “Moderate” to another qualitative statement of the pressure state, e.g., to “Heavy”, “Medium”, or “Light”.

FIG.4shows that the display150can have, in addition to or in place of the text output field180, a digital readout field184that can provide a numerical indication of the pressure state of the heat press device100between the lower platen108and the upper platen124when the heat press device100is in the closed configuration. The digital readout field184can provide a numerical output that is along a scale, such as from “1” to “10”. The scale can be calibrated to the configuration of the movement assembly136or position of the actuator258. For example, rotating the actuator258can cause the load plate128C to be advanced, e.g., to move closer to the lower platen108, as discussed above. A sensor or other signal generating device can provide a signal to the processor148to provide a digital readout to a digital readout field184. A readout of “1” can indicate a pressure state that is relatively low. A readout of “10” can indicate a pressure state that is relatively high. A readout of “6” can indicate a pressure state that is moderate. Specific readouts along this scale can be determined to correspond to good heat press performance for particular uses, e.g., for screen print at a particular temperature and time. The digital readout field184can be presented by itself or in combination with other aspects of the display150seen inFIG.4. The digital readout field184provides the advantage of more discrete readouts that allow a user to more precisely identify proper pressures states using the movement assembly136and the indicator140without requiring expensive load sensors.

FIG.4further shows that the display150can include an analog readout188instead of or in combination with one or both of the text output field180and the digital readout field184. The analog readout188can be in the form of a bar that illuminates from the left to a location corresponding to a level, for example from “1” to “10”. In the illustrated figure the bar is solid from “1” to “6” indicating a level of “6”. This output shows a moderate pressure. The analog readout188can visually show the pressure state at and in-between integer levels. The analog readout188can be a subtler indication of the pressure state than is provided with the digital readout field184. The analog readout188could be combined with the digital readout field184to provide more fine information of the analog readout188to the user when needed and more discrete output of the digital readout field184when more discrete information is sufficiently detailed.

The display150can include a color output field192. The color output field192is configured to display a color indicating a pressure state of the heat press device100resulting from operating the movement assembly136. The actuator258can change the position of the lower platen108of the heating element assembly116relative to the upper platen124. The color can indicate acceptable pressure on a workpiece112and/or a transfer material114when the heat press device100is in the closed configuration. The color output field192can be provided in addition to or in place of the output windows discussed above in connection between the display150. The color output field192can display green when the pressure state is acceptable and another color, e.g., red or yellow, when the pressure state is not acceptable. In one case, red indicates that the pressure state is too high for the selected heat press operation and other operating conditions. The color yellow indicates that the pressure state is too low for the selected heat press operation and other operating conditions. The color output field192can instead be based on a correspondence to a particular workpiece112and a particular transfer material114. For example, the color in the color output field192can be red for screen print at a particular temperature and time and can be yellow for another combination of workpiece, transfer type, at the same or a different time and temperature.

The display150can have an output that is graphical or symbolic in nature. The display150can include, in addition to the output forms discussed above, a graphical output field200that displays a graphical icon. The graphical output field200indicates that a pressure state, e.g., resulting from a separation between the lower platen108and the upper platen124of the heating element assembly116corresponds to acceptable pressure on a workpiece112and/or a transfer material114when the heat press is in a closed configuration. For example the graphical output field200can have a happy face symbol when the user configures the movement assembly136to arrange the load plate128C or otherwise position the upper platen124relative to the lower platen108to provide appropriate or acceptable pressure when the heat press device100is in the closed configuration. Other symbols that could be displayed include a check mark, a thumbs-up, or another visual symbolic representation that the pressure state is appropriate. In some embodiments, the graphical output field200provide a different graphic for the workpiece112and the transfer material114types that are appropriate for a given temperature and time given the configuration of the movement assembly136. In other words, the graphical output field200can display one of a plurality of images upon setting a temperature and time and further by setting the configuration of the movement assembly136, e.g., by moving the actuator258. The graphical output field200can show a symbol of a T-shirt for a screen print processing.

The user interface146can have a speaker196to communicate a pressure state to the user of the heat press device100. The user interface146is configured to use the speaker196to provide an audio output indicating the pressure state such as by using a position of the upper platen124of the heating element assembly116relative to the lower platen108. The speaker196can output audio indicating acceptable pressure on the workpiece112and/or transfer material114when the heat press is in the closed configuration. The speaker196can emit a sound such as a bell tone or a word such as “good”. In some implementations the speaker196can emit a specific workpiece112and/or transfer material114(e.g., “Cotton T-Shirt” and “decal”) or heat press process (e.g., “screen print”) that would be successfully processed at selected temperature and time settings.

The user interface146can be configured to combine one or more types of outputs, including in various examples a visual output on any one or more of the display150and an audio output on the speaker196. The outputs can be divided, for example providing an audio output of the workpiece112and transfer material114while visually displaying on the display150that the pressure state arising from operating the movement assembly136is acceptable. In other embodiments, the user interface146could also be configured to include a tactile feedback integrated into the movement assembly136, e.g., into the actuator258. The actuator258can be made to vibrate when the position of the actuator258is appropriate for a particular heat press process.

FIGS.5-8show a number of embodiments of a heat press device100A in which a visual indication of a pressure state between the lower platen108and the upper platen124can be provided. The heat press device100A is similar to the heat press device100except as described differently below. The heat press device100A can be a swing-away style heat press device100A that can operate to rotate one platen away from the other about a vertical axis such that the rotated platen is not over the other platen. The heat press device100A includes an upper portion143A that can have a cylindrical housing portion or column. The cylindrical housing portion or column can also house the mechanism that enables the rotation of one platen out of the workspace in a swing-away configuration. A scale212and a pointer216visible to a user can be provided on and in (respectively) the cylindrical portion of the upper portion143A. The scale212can be formed along the outside surface of the upper portion143A of the heat press device100. The upper portion143A can have a vertical, elongate slot forming the window. The scale212can be marked on an external surface of the upper portion143A adjacent to the slot. The pointer216can be a high contrast member disposed in the slot or within inner surface of the cylindrical portion or column of the upper portion143A of the heat press device100A. The pointer216can be coupled with a portion of the movement assembly136. For example, the pointer216can be coupled with a rack member disposed in the upper portion143A. Rotation of the actuator258of the movement assembly136can move the rack up and down within the cylindrical portion or column of the upper portion143A. This movement will move the pointer216a corresponding amount. The movement of the pointer216will cause the pointer216to be aligned with various graduations of the scale212. The position of the pointer216will indirectly convey to the user the level of the pressure state based upon the operation of the movement assembly136for a particular heat press process.

FIG.6shows the internal configuration of one variation of the heat press device100A in more detail. The actuator258can be coupled with a threaded member254. The threaded member254can be coupled with a rack250. The actuator258is configured to provide relative rotation between the threaded member254and the rack250. The rotation causes change the pressure state between the lower platen108and the upper platen124of the heating element assembly116to be altered. An opening formed in upper portion143A of the support structure104of the heat press device100A can enable viewing the pointer216which is coupled with the rack250and moveable with the rack250along or adjacent to the scale212to indicate a pressure state by pointing to the scale212. The location of the pointer216indicates a separation between the lower platen108and the upper platen124and thus can be read to indicate the pressure state on the workpiece112and/or transfer material114when the heat press device100is in the closed configuration.

FIG.7illustrates further details of features discussed in connection withFIG.4in the context of the heat press device100A shown inFIG.6. Common disclosure will not be described again. The features ofFIG.7also apply to the heat press device100. The movement assembly136ofFIG.7shows that the linear position sensor162discussed above can be positioned inside the upper portion143A of the support structure104of the heat press device100A. The linear position sensor162can be aligned over the range of motion of the rack250. The linear position sensor162can be configured to sense the position of the rack250. The sensed position can cause a signal to be generated by the linear position sensor162. The signal can be conveyed to the processor148to provide an input for generating output signals, including any one or a combination of the outputs discussed above in connection withFIG.4. The linear position sensor162can be coupled with the wireless transmitter166which is configured to convey the signals of the linear position sensor162to the processor148. The signals so conveyed are received by a receiver in or coupled with the processor148as discussed above. The wireless signals are then processed to provide an indication of the pressure state, as discussed above.

FIG.8is a further modified embodiment in which the pressure state can be conveyed in a clear and simple manner. The description of common feature inFIG.6will not be described again.FIG.8shows that a window270can be provided in the upper portion143A of the support structure104of the heat press device100A. The window270can aligned with the threaded member254so that the threaded member254is visible therethrough. The threaded member254can have distinctive regions so that the position of the rack250relative to the threaded member254can be clearly seen. In one variation the threaded member254includes one or more colored lengths254A,254B,254C. The position of the rack250along the one or more colored lengths254A,254B,254C within the window278can indicate separation between the lower platen108and the upper platen124of the heating element assembly, the separation corresponding to pressure on the workpiece112and/or transfer material114when the heat press device100is in the closed configuration. The alignment of the rack250to the first colored length254A can indicate a lower pressure state between the lower platen108and the upper platen124. The alignment of the rack250to the second colored length254B can indicate a moderate pressure state between the lower platen108and the upper platen124. The alignment of the rack250to the third colored length254C can indicate a higher pressure state between the lower platen108and the upper platen124. Although three distinct and discrete locations are indicated on the threaded member254in other embodiments, more (e.g., four, five, six, seven, or more than seven) or fewer (e.g., only two) visually distinct regions are provided on the threaded member254. The embodiment ofFIG.8can also be applied on the heat press device100described above.

II. Modular Heat Press Pressure Control Apparatus

Although the technology described herein can be applied to a heat press, such as the heat press device100or the heat press device100A, in other embodiments a heat press pressure control apparatus300can be provided. The heat press pressure control apparatus300is sometimes referred to as a heat press control apparatus300herein. The heat press pressure control apparatus300can include sub-components of the heat press device100for example.

The heat press pressure control apparatus300can include a support bracket304configured to enable the heat press pressure control apparatus300to be coupled with other components of the heat press device100. The support bracket304can include a first end308configured to be secured to an outside surface of the heat press device100, e.g., to the arm145. The support bracket304can include a second end312disposed away from the first end308. The second end312can be configured to support a housing316of the indicator140. The housing316can have a lower portion configured to be secured to the second end312of the support bracket304. The housing316can have an upper surface having a shaft320extending therethrough. The shaft320can be coupled with the pulley140B. The pulley140B can be coupled with the pulley140A by the belt140C.

As discussed above, the rotation of the actuator258of the movement assembly136can cause one-to-one rotation of the pulley140A. The rotation of pulley140A can cause rotation of the pulley140B by the belt140C. The rotation of the belt140C can cause rotation of the shaft320. The rotation of the shaft320can be counted by a counter disposed in the housing316. Each revolution of the actuator258can be counted on the user interface146of the indicator140on the housing316can be incremented to provide user feedback of a pressure state of the heat press device100between the lower platen108and the upper platen124.

In one case, the actuator258is a standard adjustment knob of a heat press. The pulley140A is configured to be mounted to a standard shaft of the actuator258. The pulley140A can be positioned between the actuator258and the arm145of the heat press device100. In some cases, an adapter is provided lengthen the shaft of the actuator258to enable the pulley140A to be accommodated between the actuator258and the arm145. The heat press pressure control apparatus300can be used to retrofit an existing heat press. The heat press pressure control apparatus300can be sold separately to allow end users to modify existing heat press devices such that they can provide enhanced control of a pressure state between a first platen, e.g., the lower platen108, and a second platen, e.g., the upper platen124.

FIGS.10-13show a pressure control apparatus400and a method for applying the apparatus400to the heat press device100A.FIG.13shows the pressure control apparatus400in one form fully assembled on the heat press device100A. The pressure control apparatus400includes an indicator140A that is similar to the indicator140except as described differently below. The indicator140A has a user interface146which can be a numerical readout or any other user interface as discussed herein.FIG.11shows that the indicator140A has an opening402for receiving a portion of a movement assembly136A of the heat press device100A. The movement assembly136A is coupled with one or more platens of the heat press device100A, similar to the movement assembly136discussed above. The movement assembly136A can included the threaded member254disposed within the arm145.

FIG.10shows that in one embodiment, the pressure control apparatus400includes a coupler404. The coupler404can be configured to connect to and/or provide for an extension of the threaded member254of the heat press device100A. In one embodiment a lower end of the coupler404includes a threaded recess configured to couple with a threaded end of the threaded member254. The threaded end of the threaded member254extends out of the arm145. The threaded recess of the coupler404provides a direct connection to the threaded end of the threaded member254, which can be found in a heat press device that was not originally fitted with the indicator140A. In one method, to couple the threaded recess of the coupler404with the threaded end of the threaded member254, an actuator258that was previously connected to the threaded member254can be removed therefrom. The coupler404can have an elongate surface408configured to be positioned in the opening402of the indicator140A. The surface408can be a smooth, cylindrical surface or can have at least one flat portion configured to mate with a corresponding flat surface in the opening402. The coupler404can also have a threaded end412opposite the threaded recess. The threaded end412can be configured to mate with the actuator258in one embodiment.

FIG.12shows that the pressure control apparatus400can be secured to an arm145of the heat press device100A by a bracket418configured to be applied to a surface of the indicator140A and to the arm145. The bracket418can have a lower surface configured to extend over a top surface of the indicator140A. The bracket418also can extend over or along two sides of the indicator140A. The bracket418can have two lateral flanges that can rest on top of a top surface of the arm145of the heat press device100A. The lateral flanges of the bracket418can have screw holes (seeFIG.12) therein to enable screws to be advanced through the bracket and into the arm145to secure the pressure indicator140A to the arm.

FIGS.10-13illustrate a system and a method for retrofitting a heat press device100A with the pressure control apparatus400having an indicator140A. An actuator258previously attached to the heat press device100A can be removed as discussed above. The coupler404can be secured to a threaded end of the threaded member254to which the actuator258was previously connected. SeeFIG.10. Thereafter the opening402of the indicator140A can be advanced over the coupler404until the surface408is located in the opening402. SeeFIG.11. The coupler404can be rotationally secured to a rotatable member (e.g., a hollow cylinder) of the indicator140A within a housing thereof. This can be accomplished with mating flat portions of the surface408and of the hollow cylinder within the indicator140A, with adhesive, with a set screw or with other mechanical structures. The rotation of the coupler404therefore causes rotation of the rotational coupling element in the indicator140A of the pressure control apparatus400. Such rotation can be counted to provide a visual output of a pressure state, e.g., a numerical count of rotation or any of the other output techniques described above.

After the pressure control apparatus400is applied to the coupler404the bracket418can be advanced over the top of the pressure control apparatus such that an opening thereof is aligned with the opening402in the pressure control apparatus400. SeeFIG.12. The coupler404can extend through the bracket418at this opening. The lateral portions of the bracket418can then be secured to the top surface of the arm145as described above. The lateral portions of the bracket418can be secured above a column of the heat press device100A through which a threaded member extends, e.g., in a swing-away configured heat press. Then the actuator258can be secured to the threaded end412of the coupler408. SeeFIG.13. The indicator140A and the coupler404enable heat press devices to be adapted to provide improved pressure control thereof.

Although these inventions have been disclosed in the context of certain preferred embodiments and examples, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present inventions extend beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodiments and/or uses of the inventions and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof. In addition, while several variations of the inventions have been shown and described in detail, other modifications, which are within the scope of these inventions, will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art based upon this disclosure. It is also contemplated that various combination or sub-combinations of the specific features and aspects of the embodiments may be made and still fall within the scope of the inventions. It should be understood that various features and aspects of the disclosed embodiments can be combined with or substituted for one another in order to form varying modes of the disclosed inventions. Thus, it is intended that the scope of at least some of the present inventions herein disclosed should not be limited by the particular disclosed embodiments described above.