A device and a method for clampingly positioning a heat transfer sheet around a substrate

A method for clampingly holding against a substrate a heat transfer sheet using a clamping sheet, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a device with a substrate holder for clampingly holding the substrate;
• providing a clamping sheet with a width and a length, said length being measured between longitudinal ends of the clamping sheet, and wherein at the longitudinal ends of the clamping sheet coupling means are provided;
• and
• positioning in catch means of a positioning device the coupling means for keeping the clamping sheet in a first position;
• and
• wherein the method further comprises the steps of:
• positioning on the clamping sheet a heat transfer sheet wherein a layer comprising a transferrable ink is to be directed towards the substrate;
• positioning against each other the substrate and the heat transfer sheet;
• moving along the substrate the coupling means and at least partially extending the clamping sheet;
• and
• moving towards each other the coupling means that are provided at respective ends of the clamping sheet for clamping the heat transfer sheet in a second position against the substrate wherein the clamping sheet has a substantially maximum extension.

A device for clampingly holding against a substrate a flexible and stretchable clamping sheet and a heat transfer sheet, wherein the clamping sheet has a width and has a length, said length being measured between longitudinal ends of the clamping sheet and wherein at the longitudinal ends of the clamping sheet coupling means are provided, said device having a substrate holder with a positioning-axis which is embodied for holding the substrate, such that a longitudinal axis of the substrate substantially coincides with the positioning axis of the substrate holder, and wherein the device further comprises:

• a table for carrying the clamping sheet and the heat transfer sheet in a first position at a distance from the substrate holder;
• and
• a translation device for moving the table and the substrate holder mutually towards each other, such that the translation is preferably performed substantially perpendicular to a surface of the table;
• and wherein:
• the substrate holder is coupled substantially rigidly to a main frame of the device;
• the translation device is coupled movably with respect to the main frame of the device;
• said translation device comprising a first sub frame with a rotatable camshaft, a first cam of which runs over a first cam support rigidly coupled to the frame and of which a second cam runs over a second cam support forming part of a second sub frame;
• and
• said second sub frame comprising catch means for holding the clamping sheet and the heat transfer sheet and such that:
• when the camshaft rotates over a first rotation angle the first cam moves the two sub frames in the direction of the substrate;
• and
• in a subsequent rotation of the camshaft through a second rotation angle the second cam moves the second sub frame further such that the second sub frame is situated at least partly on both sides of the substrate.