Heat press with self-adjusting clamp force

A heat press comprising:

• a base;
• a lower platen mounted to the base;
• an upper platen;
• a linkage configured to move the upper platen relative to the lower platen along a clamping direction between a first platen position and a second platen position wherein the upper platen is spaced apart from the lower platen a lesser distance than when in the first platen position, the linkage including a first link member pivotably coupled to the base, and a first intermediate link member pivotably coupled to the first link member and configured to rotate in a first rotational direction from a first rotational position to a second rotational position;
• and
• a clutch including a first clutch member and a second clutch member, the first clutch member being pivotably coupled to the first intermediate link member, the second clutch member being mounted to the upper platen for movement in the clamping direction with the upper platen;
• wherein when the first intermediate link member is in the first rotational position, the clutch is disengaged to permit relative movement in the clamping direction between the first and second clutch members, and when the first intermediate link member is in the second rotational position, the clutch is engaged to inhibit relative movement in the clamping direction between the first and second clutch members;
• wherein the second clutch member is disposed above the upper platen and a longitudinal axis of the second clutch member is aligned with a center of the upper platen, the longitudinal axis being parallel to the clamping direction.

A heat press comprising:

• a base;
• a lower platen mounted to the base;
• an upper platen;
• a linkage configured to move the upper platen relative to the lower platen along a clamping direction between a first platen position and a second platen position wherein the upper platen is spaced apart from the lower platen a lesser distance than when in the first platen position, the linkage including a first link member pivotably coupled to the base, a first intermediate link member pivotably coupled to the first link member, and a first brake member pivotably coupled to the first intermediate link member, the first intermediate link member including a first cam surface and the first brake member including a corresponding first follower surface;
• and
• a support body mounted to the upper platen for common movement with the upper platen, the support body and the first brake member being coupled together to form a prismatic joint, wherein the first cam surface and the first follower surface are configured to cooperate to move the first brake member relative to the support body between a disengaged position and an engaged position when the first intermediate link member rotates relative to the first brake member;
• wherein when the first brake member is in the disengaged position, the support body is permitted to move relative to the first brake member along the clamping direction, wherein when the first brake member is in the engaged position, the first brake member engages the support body to inhibit movement of the support body in the clamping direction relative to the first brake member.

A heat press comprising:

• a base;
• a lower platen mounted to the base;
• an upper platen;
• a linkage configured to move the upper platen relative to the lower platen along a clamping direction between a first platen position and a second platen position wherein the upper platen is spaced apart from the lower platen a lesser distance than when in the first platen position, the linkage including a first link member pivotably coupled to the base, and a first intermediate link member pivotably coupled to the first link member and configured to rotate in a first rotational direction from a first rotational position to a second rotational position;
• and
• a clutch including a first clutch member and a second clutch member, the first clutch member being pivotably coupled to the first intermediate link member, the second clutch member being mounted to the upper platen for movement in the clamping direction with the upper platen;
• wherein when the first intermediate link member is in the first rotational position, the clutch is disengaged to permit relative movement in the clamping direction between the first and second clutch members, and when the first intermediate link member is in the second rotational position, the clutch is engaged to inhibit relative movement in the clamping direction between the first and second clutch members;
• wherein the first clutch member is pivotally coupled to the first intermediate link member.

A heat press comprising:

• a base;
• a lower platen mounted to the base;
• an upper platen;
• a linkage configured to move the upper platen relative to the lower platen along a clamping direction between a first platen position and a second platen position wherein the upper platen is spaced apart from the lower platen a lesser distance than when in the first platen position, the linkage including a first link member pivotably coupled to the base, and a first intermediate link member pivotably coupled to the first link member and configured to rotate in a first rotational direction from a first rotational position to a second rotational position;
• and
• a clutch including a first clutch member and a second clutch member, the first clutch member being pivotably coupled to the first intermediate link member, the second clutch member being mounted to the upper platen for movement in the clamping direction with the upper platen;
• wherein when the first intermediate link member is in the first rotational position, the clutch is disengaged to permit relative movement in the clamping direction between the first and second clutch members, and when the first intermediate link member is in the second rotational position, the clutch is engaged to inhibit relative movement in the clamping direction between the first and second clutch members;
• wherein the first intermediate link member couples the first link member to the clutch.

A heat press comprising:

• a base;
• a lower platen mounted to the base;
• an upper platen;
• a linkage configured to move the upper platen relative to the lower platen along a clamping direction between a first platen position and a second platen position wherein the upper platen is spaced apart from the lower platen a lesser distance than when in the first platen position, the linkage including a first link member pivotably coupled to the base, and a first intermediate link member pivotably coupled to the first link member and configured to rotate in a first rotational direction from a first rotational position to a second rotational position;
• and
• a clutch including a first clutch member and a second clutch member, the first clutch member being pivotably coupled to the first intermediate link member, the second clutch member being mounted to the upper platen for movement in the clamping direction with the upper platen;
• wherein when the first intermediate link member is in the first rotational position, the clutch is disengaged to permit relative movement in the clamping direction between the first and second clutch members, and when the first intermediate link member is in the second rotational position, the clutch is engaged to inhibit relative movement in the clamping direction between the first and second clutch members;
• wherein engagement between the first clutch member and the second clutch member inhibits relative movement in the clamping direction between the first and second clutch members.

A heat press comprising:

• a base;
• a lower platen mounted to the base;
• an upper platen;
• a linkage configured to move the upper platen relative to the lower platen along a clamping direction between a first platen position and a second platen position wherein the upper platen is spaced apart from the lower platen a lesser distance than when in the first platen position, the linkage including a first link member pivotably coupled to the base, and a first intermediate link member pivotably coupled to the first link member and configured to rotate in a first rotational direction from a first rotational position to a second rotational position;
• and
• a clutch including a first clutch member and a second clutch member, the first clutch member being pivotably coupled to the first intermediate link member, the second clutch member being mounted to the upper platen for movement in the clamping direction with the upper platen;
• wherein when the first intermediate link member is in the first rotational position, the clutch is disengaged to permit relative movement in the clamping direction between the first and second clutch members, and when the first intermediate link member is in the second rotational position, the clutch is engaged to inhibit relative movement in the clamping direction between the first and second clutch members;
• wherein the first intermediate link member is configured to rotate from the first rotational position to the second rotational position in response to movement of the first link member.