Sublimation printing

1. A sublimation printing apparatus comprising a substrate for receiving a three dimensional object having a film carrying sublimable ink thereon, an infrared heater mounted adjacent the substrate and airflow inducing means, wherein the infrared heater is operable to direct infrared radiation toward the substrate, the airflow inducing means being operable to induce a flow of air onto and/or over and/or across the film.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the airflow inducing means is positioned to induce a flow of air through or around the infrared heater, the infrared heater being shaped to restrict the airflow to create a high velocity airstream.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising louver means for selectively opening or closing the flow of air through the infrared heater.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the infrared heater comprises a heating element at least partially surrounded by a reflector, wherein the reflector is shaped to at least partially restrict the airflow to create an airknife.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the infrared heater comprises a second heating element at least partially surrounded by a second reflector which is adjacent but separate from the first reflector to provide a gap therebetween, the airflow inducing means being positioned to induce a flow of air through the gap.

6. Apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the portion of the reflector or reflectors which at least partially causes the airknife is tapered or convex.

7. Apparatus according to claim 4 , further comprising one or more louver plates slidably or pivotably connected to the reflector or reflectors for selectively opening or closing the flow of air through the infrared heater.

8. Apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the gap is between 1 and 2 millimeters.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising an airflow heater adjacent the airflow inducing means for heating the flow of air.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the airflow heater is adjustable to provide air flow at two or more different temperatures.

11. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the airflow inducing means is operable to provide two or more different flow velocities.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the airflow inducing means comprises a fan or a blower with an inverter for providing the two or more different flow velocities.

13. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the airflow inducing means comprises at least one pair of opposed centrifugal fans positioned with their outlets above the infrared heater and their inlets below the infrared heater.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13 further comprising an enclosure above or around the infrared heater, wherein the fans are positioned at opposite ends or sides of the enclosure.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the fans are positioned at opposite lateral sides of the enclosure with their inlets facing one another.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15 further comprising a second pair of opposed centrifugal fans positioned at the opposite longitudinal end of the enclosure to the first pair of fans, the inlets of the second pair of fans being located below the infrared heater and the outlets of the second pair of fans being located above the infrared heater and facing the outlets of the first pair of fans.

17. Apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a control unit for controlling the operation of the infrared heater and/or the airflow inducing means and/or the airflow heater and/or the louver means or plates.

18. Apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a plenum for distributing or spreading the or a flow of air from the airflow inducing means across the film.

19. Apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein the plenum comprises two or more plates having progressively smaller and more numerous apertures for spreading or distributing the flow of air more evenly across the film.

20. A film carrying sublimable ink in combination with an apparatus according to claim 1 .

21. A method of sublimation printing comprising placing a film carrying sublimable ink adjacent an object, heating the film to a first temperature such that it thermoforms over a surface of the object and subsequently heating the film and/or the object to a second, higher temperature such that the ink sublimates to the object, wherein the film and/or the object is exposed to infrared heat during one or both of the heating stages and to a flow of air during or after one or both of the heating stages.

22. Method according to claim 21 , wherein the film and/or the object is exposed to infrared heat to heat it to the first temperature and to a high velocity flow of heated air to heat it to the second, higher temperature.

23. Method according to claim 21 , wherein the film is exposed to a low velocity flow of air at a first temperature during the thermoforming stage and to a high velocity flow of air at a second higher temperature during the sublimation stage.

24. Method according to claim 21 , wherein the film and/or object is exposed to a non-heated high velocity flow of air after the sublimation stage for cooling the object and film.

25. Method according to claim 21 , wherein the flow of air comprises an airknife.

26. Method according to claim 25 , wherein the airknife is created by cooperating adjacent portions of the infrared heater which cause a restriction.