Printer pallet for flat printing of multiple target image areas on 3-dimensional object

A pallet for holding a 3-dimensional object for printing onto a plurality of target image areas on a 3-dimensional object, the target image areas on a flexible substrate of the 3-dimensional object, the pallet comprising:

• a bottom plate;
• at least one print station, each print station comprising
• a plurality of platens mounted on the bottom plate, the plurality of platens having respective flat top surfaces and positioned to support the target print areas of the 3-dimensional object when the 3-dimensional object is properly positioned in the pallet,
• a top plate movable between an open position and a closed position, the top plate comprising a plurality of openings positioned to expose at least a portion of each of the flat top surfaces of the plurality of platens when the top plate is in the closed position and the pallet is empty, and to expose the target image areas of the flexible substrate of the 3-dimensional object when the 3-dimensional object is properly positioned in the pallet and the top plate is moved into the closed position, and
• one or more compression distributors attached to the top plate and positioned between two or more of the top plate openings to engage the flexible substrate of the 3-dimensional object and to simultaneously pull portions of the engaged flexible substrate positioned over each of the platens corresponding to the two or more top plate openings towards the bottom plate as the top plate is moved from the open position and lowered onto the bottom plate to the closed position to thereby pull taut the portions of the flexible substrate corresponding to the plurality of target image areas over the plurality of platens.