Patent ID: 8215943

Claim:
An apparatus for applying a heat-transfer label to an article, the apparatus comprising: (a) a pad; (b) a die-mark reduction device, the die-mark reduction device being positioned over the pad, the die-mark reduction device having a top, the top being contoured to include a plurality of contact areas and a plurality of non-contact areas, wherein the die-mark reduction device is a nickel retroreflective sheeting mold; (c) a heated die, the heated die being positioned over the die-mark reduction device; and (d) means for moving the heated die into and out of engagement with a plurality of the contact areas of the die-mark reduction device, the heated die not engaging the non-contact areas of the die-mark reduction device; (e) wherein the non-contact areas of the die-mark reduction device are positioned at a depth farther away from the heated die than are the contact areas of the die-mark reduction device and wherein the contact areas have a maximum width of approximately 125 microns and a maximum depth of approximately 100 microns.