• 专利附录
  • 专利说明
  • 权利要求
  • 类似技术
  • 同族专利
  • 引用文献
  • 法律状态
  • 优先权
    • 专利摘要:
    inkjet printer with controlled oxygen levels. the present invention relates to a line printing apparatus with an inertia station that releases an atmosphere having an optimum composition to render a layer of ink inert, such that irradiation with led adequately cures the ink. a process for configuring the printing environment to release an atmosphere having an optimal composition to render a layer of ink inert, such that irradiation with led adequately cures the ink.
    公开号:BR112013015256B1
    申请号:R112013015256-7
    申请日:2011-12-15
    公开日:2020-09-29
    发明作者:Matthew Tennis；Josh Samuel；Paul Edwards
    申请人:Electronics For Imaging, Inc；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    CROSS REFERENCE WITH RELATED REQUESTS
    [0001] This application claims priority for U.S. Patent Application No. 12 / 968,730, filed on December 15, 2010, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION TECHNICAL FIELD
    [0002] The invention relates to the field of inkjet printing. More specifically, the invention relates to a process for controlling the composition of an atmosphere exposed to a curable ink in a radiation curing printing process. DESCRIPTION OF RELATED TECHNIQUE
    [0003] Inkjet printing involves producing a digital image on a substrate by propelling droplets of liquid material (ink) onto the substrate. Inkjet printing solutions can involve the use of base layers, electromagnetic radiation, curing and inertia of a printing region with an inert atmosphere.
    [0004] Some printing solutions involve applying a base layer to a substrate before printing a desired image. For example, in order to print color images on non-white substrates, such as colored or transparent substrates, it is typically necessary to deposit a layer of white ink to serve as a background for the colored inks. Also, to print a multicolored image on a black or colored substrate, the substrate area on which the image is to be printed is first pre-coated with a layer of white ink and then the image is printed on top of the pre-coated layer of White. The white background layer prevents the colors in the image from being distorted by the black or colored substrate.
    [0005] Additionally, when printing on a transparent substrate, colored inks can be applied on the reverse side of the substrate, so that the image can be seen through the front side of the substrate. Then, a layer of white ink is printed over the colored ink pattern in a post-coverage step. The white "after-cover" layer serves as a background, so that the colors of the image appear appropriately when viewed from the front side of the transparent substrate. In some cases, the transparent substrate is then laminated to a second transparent substrate, such as a window, so that the color image is protected between the two transparent substrates.
    [0006] Applicants have developed methods and apparatus for printing a cover layer in copending United States Patent No. 20060158473, filed January 19, 2006, entitled Methods and apparatus for backlit and dualsided imaging, which is incorporated here in its full.
    [0007] According to United States Patent Publication No. 20060158473, a formation of printheads arranged along a single geometric axis of the printhead is configured to print images and a cover layer on a substrate during a single print step (that is, without requiring separate pre-cover or post-cover processing). In particular, a printing device deposits a first image layer on a substrate, then deposits a cover layer on the first image layer and then deposits a second image layer on the cover layer.
    [0008] The cover layer may comprise a specialized printing fluid, such as a substantially white ink. The substrate is often a substantially translucent or substantially clear material, such as glass or plastic media. In reality, these printing techniques are useful for backlit imaging and double-sided imaging.
    [0009] Although basic base covering techniques have been previously developed, there is a need in the art for methods and systems to control the quality and characteristics of the base layer, where these characteristics affect the overlapping image. Currently, features such as dot gain, adhesion between layers and slipping are controlled using additives, such as surfactants based on silicone.
    [00010] Additionally, an inert gas, such as nitrogen or carbon dioxide, is generally used in radiation-curable processes to increase the rate of cure, particularly surface cure by reducing oxygen which slows down the cure as a result of competitive reactions of triple and radical extinction.
    [00011] Some printing solutions also involve light curing of inks. Known ink curing techniques involve using a specific ink formulation and exposing it to energy from an electromagnetic radiation source. The goal in both conventional and inkjet printing is to enable curing with a reduced dose and / or actinic radiation force. Curing liquid chemical paint formulations has been an established practice for many years. Ultraviolet curing, a liquid chemical formulation comprising photoinitiators, monomers and oligomers and possibly pigments and other additives is exposed to ultraviolet light, thereby converting the liquid chemical formulation to a solid state.
    [00012] Ink curing involves directing photons, typically with wavelengths in the ultraviolet spectrum, over an ink deposit. The photons interact with the photoinitiators present in the ink, creating free radicals. The free radicals created initiate and propagate the polymerization (cure) of the monomers and oligomers within the paint. This chain reaction results in the paint curing to a polymer solid. However, the presence of oxygen on the ink surface inhibits the occurrence of such a chain reaction within the ink. This is often called oxygen inhibition.
    [00013] In normal ultraviolet curing in an air environment, a high amount of ultraviolet energy and / or a high concentration of the photoinitiator is required to achieve complete cure, compared to the strength of the ultraviolet and the photoinitiator concentration required in an oxygen-free curing environment. Higher concentrations of photoinitiator can adversely affect the final properties of the film and increase ink costs. Higher ultraviolet energy required to overcome oxygen inhibition increases the strength and heat requirements generated in the sample.
    [00014] Common solutions to provide less reactive cure include completely supplanting atmospheric oxygen with a less reactive gas, such as nitrogen in the cure zone. For example, United States Patent No. 6,126,095 to Matheson et al., Entitled "Ultraviolet Curing Apparatus Using an Inert Atmosphere Chamber" teaches a curing apparatus comprising a curing chamber to accommodate a controlled atmosphere. The curing chamber includes inlets and nozzle assemblies to supply less reactive gas into the chamber and maintain a less reactive atmosphere in it.
    [00015] The prior art involves specialized and expensive approaches to produce curing conditions with reduced oxygen, but they lack practicality for common inkjet printing systems. For example, curing chambers take up a lot of space and are typically expensive to obtain, operate and maintain. In addition, large curing chambers have unacceptable levels of power consumption and heat production, requiring the use of heat sinks and other cooling systems.
    [00016] According to the current state of the art, although the addition of a surfactant in a base, such as a light or white color, allows sufficient expansion and a smooth surface, the adhesion and print quality of the subsequent printed layer can be negatively impacted. This is particularly pertinent for inkjet printing where drops need to expand spontaneously to cover the surface and there is no contact pressure to increase the expansion that is found in many conventional printing processes. For inkjet printing, some of the current practices mentioned above, such as the use of particulate matte agents, are not accessible. This is because the particle size, in order to be effective, exceeds the size that the printhead can accommodate.
    [00017] Additionally, most current ink curing solutions use high pressure arc lamps for curing. However, there are several disadvantages to these techniques.
    [00018] First, typical light curing systems using arc lamps have a very large physical coverage area. In the case of a system for printing the base layer followed by an upper layer, a first printer having a UV curing station deposits and cures the base layer while an additional printer is required to deposit the upper layer. It would be highly beneficial to reduce the physical size of printers with light curing stations. Likewise, it would be highly beneficial to eliminate the need for two printers in a two-step printing process.
    [00019] Also, the current known light curing systems using high pressure arc lamps produce a very high level of heat. This high level of heat prevents a traditional curing lamp from being placed in line with other printing processes. In this way, heat sinks are needed to remove excessive heat. Likewise, traditional light-cured printing techniques release ozone that needs to be evacuated or otherwise removed.
    [00020] Therefore, there is a need in the art for a solution that provides adequate cure without requiring a large area of coverage, without requiring large amounts of strength and without producing unacceptable levels of heat while at the same time maintaining acceptable levels of print quality. and adhesion between layers. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION.
    [00021] In view of the foregoing, the invention features a small coverage area line printing apparatus with an inertia station that releases an atmosphere having an optimal composition to render an ink deposit inert, such that the light generated by a light-emitting diode (LED) cures the ink properly. Likewise, the invention features a process for setting up a printing environment to release an atmosphere having an optimal composition for rendering a layer of ink inert, such that the radiation from the LED adequately cures the ink.
    [00022] The invention also features a printing system with a source of pressurized air and a source of nitrogen configured to control the levels of oxygen and inert gas in a region of inertia of a printer. Likewise, the invention features a printing system having a source of compressed air, a nitrogen generator to control the levels of oxygen and inert gas in a region of inertia of a printer.
    [00023] The invention also features a computer-operated printing environment that allows a user to control the purity of the inert gas to release to an inertia station that releases an atmosphere to render an ink layer inert in an LED curing system .
    [00024] The invention also features a method for dynamically controlling surface attributes in a print job by accepting instructions from a user-controlled computer to change said at least one variable of the printing method, wherein changing said at least one variable of the printing method changes at least one print attribute of said print job. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
    [00025] Figure 1A illustrates an inkjet printing apparatus configured to deposit a base layer that is cured with a formation of light-emitting diodes before a layer of colored ink is deposited on the cured base layer according to some modalities of the invention;
    [00026] Figure 1B illustrates an inkjet printing device 199 with a set of base layer printheads, a region of inertia, a curing lamp and a color printing region according to some embodiments of the invention,
    [00027] Figure 2 illustrates a light curing ink printing process in a region of inertia according to some embodiments of the invention;
    [00028] Figure 3A illustrates an example of a printing system with a pressurized air source and nitrogen source configured to control the levels of oxygen and inert gas in a printer's inertia region;
    [00029] Figure 3B illustrates an example of a printing system having a source of compressed air, a nitrogen generator to control the levels of oxygen and inert gas in a region of inertia of a printer;
    [00030] Figure 4A is a page printed using a single pass UV curable white inkjet ink that was formulated to cure under an LED light source;
    [00031] Figure 4B is a printed page applying the high purity nitrogen source to the printed white ink as it passes under the curing unit which alters the curing of the surface and produces a glassy and cured hard surface.
    [00032] Figure 4C is a page printed by applying a nitrogen source of lower purity on top of a printed ink when it passes under the curing unit which alters the curing of the surface and allows a glassy cured surface. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
    [00033] Systems and methods are presented for introducing a gas that is at least partially inert into a curing region of a printing device to aid in an optimal curing of the ink.
    [00034] For purposes of the invention, the term "inert" will mean an atmosphere having a reduced level of any substance that inhibits the desired cure rate for the paint. In currently preferred modalities, "inert" refers to an atmosphere having a reduced level of gaseous oxygen while this has been done with higher levels of nitrogen, those with knowledge in the art having the benefit of this disclosure will easily understand that "inert" can refer to oxygen reduction through other non-reactive gases.
    [00035] As explained above, the current state of the inkjet printing technique uses high power lamps to cure a base coat ink. As mentioned above, these systems prevent the two-stage printing process, from base coverage to top coverage, from running online due to concerns about curing and heat. In the currently preferred embodiments of the invention, light emitting diodes (LEDs) are used to improve the hot, bulky systems of the prior art. Additionally, the LEDs increase the uniformity of the cure and increase the longevity of the printer. According to the invention, an improved curing process allows the design of the low-profile, low heat curing station that does not require a segmented process of two printers.
    [00036] In some embodiments of the invention, an inert atmosphere (of reduced oxygen) is introduced into a curing region of a printing apparatus to obtain sufficient curing when using inks that cure by means of a free radical mechanism that is initiated by actinic radiation. Surprisingly, we found that using higher levels of purity does not produce the required surface characteristics and that controlling the oxygen level in the inert gas produces better results.
    [00037] In the currently preferred embodiments of the invention, the oxygen level in the inert gas is adjusted in order to control the surface characteristics of the printed layers.
    [00038] Also in the currently preferred embodiments, a white ultraviolet (UV) curable inkjet ink is printed on a substrate in an at least partially inert atmosphere. In some embodiments of the invention, white ink acts as a base layer for one or more subsequent layers of colored ink.
    [00039] Figure 1A illustrates an inkjet printing apparatus 100 configured to deposit a base layer that is cured with a light emitting diode (LED) formation before a colored ink layer is deposited on the cured base layer. The inkjet printing apparatus 100 at least comprises a printing roll 102, a base layer printhead 103, a curing region 106 with a curing lamp 14 and a color printing region 105 having a plurality of heads Printing.
    [00040] According to figure 1A, the substrate 101 passes through the printing roller 102, as indicated by an arrow, and directed through a series of printing applicators. Substrate 102 is first exposed to a set of base layer printheads 103 to apply a base layer to the substrate. In the currently preferred embodiments of the inventions, the base layer 103 printheads are configured to spray white ink. In some embodiments of the invention, the base layer printheads 103 are configured to apply a white ink flow layer to cover substantially the entire face of the substrate 101. In some other embodiments of the invention, the base layer printheads 103 particular areas of substrate 101 are configured to color punctually which will subsequently receive a colored overprint layer (as explained below) or which otherwise will be left white. Those skilled in the art having the benefit of such disclosure will readily find that any number of base layer techniques, not known or later developed, will equally benefit from the teachings of the invention, as revealed here widely.
    [00041] Substrate 101 receives at least some ink base layer before being transported to a curing region 106 of the inkjet printing apparatus 100. Curing region 106 includes a curing lamp 104 to expose the base layer with electromagnetic lighting, thereby curing the deposited ink. As explained above, in the currently preferred embodiments of the invention, the curing lamp 104 comprises light emitting diodes (LEDs). However, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the revelation that other types of lighting technology are equally applicable.
    [00042] In the currently preferred embodiments of the invention, the curing lamp 104 is configured to emit light in the ultraviolet (UV) range. However, those skilled in the art having the benefit of such disclosure will easily find that several other visible and invisible colors and level of brightness are equally applicable to carrying out the invention, as is widely disclosed here.
    [00043] Subsequently, substrate 101 with a cured base layer is transported to a color printing region 105. As shown in figure 1A, the printing region 105 includes printheads defining the CMYK color model. However, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of disclosure that other color models, now known or later developed, are equally applicable to carrying out the invention, as is widely disclosed here.
    [00044] In the currently preferred embodiments of the invention, the ink from the white UV-curable inkjet base layer is printed on a substrate and cured using LED lights under a controlled level of an inert gas, such as nitrogen. Figure 1B illustrates a view of the printing region of an inkjet printing device 199 configured to deposit a base layer on a substrate under a controlled level of nitrogen that is cured by forming a light-emitting diode (LED) before a layer of colored paint is deposited on the cured base layer.
    [00045] Figure 1B illustrates an inkjet printing apparatus 199 with a printing roller 198 for supporting a substrate (not shown) in the direction of the arrows. A set of base layer 197 printheads is configured to apply a base ink layer when the substrate is transported under it. The substrate having a printed base layer on it is then transported through a region of inertia 196 comprising an inert gas applicator 195. The substrate then travels to a curing region 194 with a curing lamp 193 and a color printing region 192 having a plurality of printheads 191.
    [00046] Although figure 1B describes a system for supplying a curing region with an inert gas in a fixed printhead printer having a printing roll to support a moving substrate, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit from this revelation that inert gas can be used in any curing region for any type of printer, now known or later developed.
    [00047] Figure 2 illustrates a process for printing 200 light curing ink in a region of inertia according to some embodiments of the invention. Process 200 begins by initiating a print job 201 which involves transporting a substrate through a series of regions or inline printing zones. First, the substrate is transported to a printing zone of the base layer 202 where a base layer is applied to the substrate 203. The base layer is preferably white.
    [00048] Next, the substrate, with an applied base layer, is transported to a zone of inertia 204 of the printing apparatus where the substrate is exposed to an inert gas 205. The substrate is then transported to a curing region 206 and illuminated 207, thereby curing the base layer. Finally, the substrate having a cured base layer is transported to an upper layer region 208 and an upper layer layer is applied to it 209.
    [00049] Using the system and process as generally described in figure 1B and figure 2, the surface quality of the printed image and the adhesion between layers of the subsequent colored layers vary with the particular mixture of the ambient atmosphere, that is, air, and a inert gas. The surface quality refers to the image finish, that is, smoothness. Adhesion between layers refers to the ease or relative difficulty to remove the colored paint layer from the white layer by scratching or by cross shading and tape testing. Using the observation that print attributes vary with varying mixtures of atmosphere composition, the inventors conducted experiments to examine how varying levels of nitrogen and oxygen present in a region of inertia in a printing process affect image quality. printed.
    [00050] The inventors have found that a high level of nitrogen purity produces a smooth white surface on which the subsequent layer of colored inks, when printed on that surface, expands and produces a high quality image. On this surface, while the print quality is good, we found that the adhesion between layers between the colored inks and the white layer is poor. On the other hand, curing the white layer without using an inert gas results in good adhesion between layers. Good adhesion between layers generally describes a printed substrate on which it is difficult to remove the colored paint layer from the white layer by scraping it or by cross shading and tape testing. In these cases, although adhesion between layers was sufficient, the expansion of the second layer of colored inks in the insufficiently cured white layer was weak, producing a failed image with observable lines between individual jets.
    [00051] Therefore, it is desirable to have control over the amount of nitrogen and oxygen in a curing process in order to control the quality of the print. In reality, the currently preferred embodiments of the invention involve a process by which the inert gas surrounding the area where the UV light is striking the newly printed ink has a controlled level of oxygen in order to obtain the surface characteristics. In a particular embodiment, a white inkjet ink is printed on a substrate and an LED lamp is used to cure the ink under a controlled concentration of oxygen in order to obtain the necessary characteristics, that is, both the expansion enough of the subsequently printed inks for good adhesion between layers.
    [00052] In some embodiments of the invention, a static composition of the inert gas is established based on the resulting printing characteristics and that composition is used exclusively. In some other embodiments of the invention, a controller configured to adjust the composition of the inert gas is dynamically configurable, such that the resulting printing characteristics are adjustable.
    [00053] In the currently preferred embodiments of the invention, a printing system includes an inert gas controller to control the levels of oxygen and inert gas in a region of inertia on a printer.
    [00054] Figure 3A illustrates an example of a printing system 300 having a printer 305, nitrogen source 301, an air source 302, a three-way connector 303 and an air flow valve 304 to control the levels of oxygen and inert gas in a region of inertia on a 305 printer. The 305 printer receives print jobs from one or more 306 computers.
    [00055] According to figure 3A, a high purity nitrogen gas composition from the nitrogen source 301 is intentionally contaminated with oxygen from the air source 302. The air flow rate of the air source 302 is measured using a airflow valve 304 to control the amount of intentional air contamination. In some embodiments of the invention, the air source is an air pump. In some other embodiments, the air source is a pressurized oxygen container.
    [00056] In some embodiments, a three-way connector 303 couples the nitrogen source 301, the air source 302 and a nitrogen applicator (not shown) to the 305 printer. The purity of the nitrogen source is fixed; therefore, when the airflow valve is opened, the purity of the nitrogen stream is reduced. In the currently preferred embodiments of the invention, the nitrogen applicator is placed before an LED lamp (not shown), as explained above.
    [00057] In some embodiments of the invention, the airflow valve 304 is coupled with a 306 user computer. The 306 user computer comprises at least one processor, a memory, a monitor, a user input device and a graphical user interface. According to these modalities, the user can adjust the levels for the composition of the gas released to the 305 printer. In this way, the user can adjust the resulting print quality. In some embodiments, the 305 printer receives a print job from a first computer and the purity of the inert gas is controlled by an additional computer. In some other modalities, the same computer starts printing tasks and controls the purity level of the inert gas.
    [00058] In some other embodiments of the invention, a membrane-based nitrogen generator is used to supply the inert gas, where incoming air pressure and flow are used to control the oxygen level of the inert gas. These modalities replace these modalities using a nitrogen source, an air source and a mixer. In reality, the elimination of nitrogen or oxygen tanks eliminates the need for nitrogen or consumable oxygen tanks that constantly require replacement and can be expensive. Furthermore, the elimination of tanks further reduces the system's coverage area.
    [00059] In some embodiments of the invention, a process for separating the adsorption gas is used to generate nitrogen. In some other embodiments, a gas separation membrane is used to generate nitrogen. According to the modalities in which a membrane is used, a source of compressed air releases the air that is first cleaned to remove oil vapor or water vapor. The clean compressed air is then conducted through a series of membranes to separate oxygen from the air, resulting in a gas having higher levels of nitrogen. The resulting amount of nitrogen in the resulting gas can be controlled by changing the system pressure and the rate of air flow through the system. In this way, the resulting inert gas is controllable.
    [00060] Figure 3B illustrates an example of a printing system 399 having a compressed air source 398, a nitrogen generator 397 and a flow meter 396 and a printer 395.
    [00061] The compressed air source 398 is trapped at the inlet of the 397 nitrogen generator. The purity of the separated nitrogen leaving the generator is controlled by the pressure and flow rate of the gas traveling through the generator membrane (s) nitrogen 397. As the pressure is increased, the purity of the outgoing nitrogen increases. As the rate of gas flow through the membrane is increased, the purity of the outlet decreases. The output of the nitrogen generator 397 is attached to the input of a flow meter 396 to control the amount of nitrogen applied to the 395 printer. The output of the flow meter is attached to the nitrogen applicator (not shown). The nitrogen applicator is placed in the 395 printer, before the curing lamp, so that curing takes place under a controlled atmosphere.
    [00062] In either mode, the connection to the nitrogen applicator can be interrupted and an O2 sensor can be placed in line to determine its N2 concentration.
    [00063] In some embodiments of the invention, the nitrogen generator 397 is coupled with a 394 user's computer. The 394 user's computer comprises at least one processor, a memory, a monitor, a user input device and an interface graphical user. According to these modalities, the user can adjust the levels for the composition of the gas released to the 395 printer. In this way, the user can adjust the resulting print quality.
    [00064] As will be understood by those familiar with the technique, the invention can be personified in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or its essential characteristics. Likewise, the particular appointment and division of members, traits, attributes and other aspects are not mandatory or significant, and the mechanisms that implement the invention or its aspects may have different names, divisions and / or formats. Accordingly, the disclosure of the invention is intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the invention, which is presented in the following claims. Example
    [00065] Examples of the printing process are described below. Representative examples of samples printed under various oxygen levels are discussed here with reference to figures 4A, 4B and 4C.
    [00066] In the prior art, the focus is on decreasing the energy required for healing by lowering oxygen to as low a level as possible in the healing environment. The example here shows that extremely low levels of oxygen do not produce optimal printing characteristics. On the contrary, there is an ideal range of oxygen concentration that will produce excellent printing characteristics including, but not limited to resistance to disfigurement, dot gain and adhesion.
    [00067] In this example, a printer is described that deposits a white ink formulated to cure under an LED light source. This white paint is comprised of acrylate monomers and oligomers, photoinitiator, dispersed pigment and additives. Mixtures of acrylate monomers and oligomers are found in concentrations of 30 to 70% by weight, more ideally 40-60% by weight. Mixtures of photoinitiators chosen to react under an LED light source are found in concentrations of 3-15% by weight, more ideally 5-10% by weight. The dispersed pigment is comprised of monomers, oligomers, dispersants and titanium dioxide pigment. The titanium dioxide pigment is found in concentrations of 10-40% by weight, more ideally 15-30% by weight.
    [00068] In this example, the printer uses printheads to deposit the LED-curable white ink on a transparent or colored substrate. With the deposit, the actuation of the printer roll moves the substrate with the deposited ink to a region of nitrogen application. The application of nitrogen displaces the composition of the ambient atmosphere, replacing the space above the white paint deposited by an atmosphere of controlled oxygen. The substrate and the altered atmosphere continue to move to the LED curing region, where the LED lamp cures the white deposit. The roller continues to the color region of the overprint, where the printheads deposit additional colors in the cured white ink. The roller continues to travel to a mercury vapor lamp to cure additional colors.
    [00069] Figures 4A, 4B and 4C are examples of impressions generated with white ink cured in atmospheres with various concentrations of oxygen.
    [00070] Figure 4A is a page printed using a single pass UV curable white inkjet ink that was formulated for curing under an LED light source. Without using an inert atmosphere when the inks are cured, the surface of the cured ink will have a matte finish. In addition to being matte, the surface of the cured paint is smoother and can disfigure when scratched. Weak curing of the surface does not produce a suitable surface for overprinting, as the dot sizes of the overlapping ink are not sufficient to obtain the solid color fill and the images appear distorted as shown in figure 4A. The typical oxygen concentration in a standard atmosphere is around 21%.
    [00071] Figure 4B is a page printed by applying the high purity nitrogen source over the printed white ink. The oxygen concentration in this example ranges from 3-0% and more ideally from 1% -0%. The atmosphere when the ink deposit passes under the curing unit alters the curing of the surface and produces a rigid glassy cured surface. White inks cured in this way have good scratch resistance and are not easily disfigured. The inks deposited on this white layer show sufficient dot gain and good quality, but do not exhibit good adhesion between layers between the lower layer (in this case white) and the overlapping upper layer of the colored ink. The highest quality of colored ink printed on a white cured under high nitrogen purity can be seen below.
    [00072] Figure 4C is a page printed by applying a medium level of oxygen over the printed white ink. The oxygen concentration in this example ranges from 10-3% and more ideally from 3-4%. The atmosphere when the ink deposit passes under the curing alters the curing of the surface and allows a glassy cured surface. White inks cured in this way have good scratch resistance and are not easily disfigured. Unlike the white layer cured under the lowest oxygen level, the samples also exhibit good adhesion between layers between the cured bottom layer (white) and the cured overlay layer (colored paint). The superior quality of the colored ink printed on a white cured under high purity nitrogen is displayed in the same way as the example of printing with high purity nitrogen 4B.
    权利要求:
    Claims (10)
    [0001]
    1. A printing apparatus, comprising: a gas source (301) operable to provide oxygen and to provide a non-reactive gas for an inert gas; a controller (304) operable to control an oxygen level and a level of said non-reactive gas to vary a composition of said inert gas from said gas source; and a printer (305) comprising: a sequential inline printing assembly comprising: a base layer printhead (103); an inert gas applicator (195); a curing region (194) configured to provide illumination; and an upper layer printhead; and a conveyor system for transporting a substrate through said sequential inline printing assembly so that said substrate is sequentially treated with a base coat ink, an inert gas atmosphere, curing illumination of said curing region, and a top coat paint; characterized by the fact that said gas source is coupled in fluid communication with said inert gas applicator, wherein said inert gas is delivered to said set of printing in sequential line through said inert gas applicator; and wherein said controller (304) is configured to vary said level of said oxygen and said level of said non-reactive gas in said composition of said inert gas, to deliver said oxygen in a controlled manner through said gas applicator inert (195) in a strip that simultaneously provides, in a given print job, sufficient spreading of said top layer ink, as well as interlayer adhesion between said base layer ink and said top layer ink; and wherein at least one impression attribute is changed by changing the chemical levels in said inert gas.
    [0002]
    2. Printing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said source of inert gas of controlled purity comprises: a source of pressurized nitrogen gas (301) to provide said nitrogen; a source of pressurized air (302) to provide air including said oxygen; a three-way connector (303) comprising a first input coupled in fluid communication with said source of pressurized nitrogen gas of high purity, a second input coupled in fluid communication with said source of pressurized air, and an output coupled in fluid communication with said inert gas applicator; and an air flow valve (304) coupled between said pressurized air source and said three-way connector, wherein said air flow valve is operable to control air flow to said three-way connector, thereby controlling the level of said oxygen and said nitrogen released from said outlet.
    [0003]
    3. Printing device according to claim 2, characterized by the fact that it still comprises: a computer coupled with said airflow valve, said computer comprising a processor, a memory, a user input, and a user interface, in which said computer is configured to accept instructions from a user via said user interface and to control the air flow to said three-way connector.
    [0004]
    4. Printing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said non-reactive gas comprises nitrogen, and wherein said source of inert gas comprises: a source of pressurized air (398) to supply air having a chemical composition, wherein said chemical composition includes said nitrogen and said oxygen; a nitrogen generator (397) having an air inlet coupled in fluid communication with said pressurized air source and an outlet in fluid communication with said at least one inert gas applicator, wherein said nitrogen generator is configured to increase the level of nitrogen in said chemical composition to form said inert gas; and an air flow valve coupled between said pressurized air source and said inert gas applicator, wherein said air flow valve controls the flow of said inert gas to said inert gas applicator.
    [0005]
    5. A printing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one base layer inkjet printhead comprises a white inkjet printhead.
    [0006]
    6. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said upper layer printhead comprises a plurality of printheads, wherein at least one of said plurality of printheads is configured to dispense a clear sublayer.
    [0007]
    A printing apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that said upper layer printhead comprises a plurality of printheads, wherein at least one of said plurality of printheads is configured to dispense a color from a standardized ink set.
    [0008]
    8. Printing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said curing region comprises a plurality of light-emitting diodes (104).
    [0009]
    9. Printing apparatus, according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said varied level of said oxygen is further configured to alter the dot gain of said top layer ink.
    [0010]
    10. Printing apparatus, according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said varied level of said oxygen is further configured to alter the disfigurement resistance of any one of said base layer ink and said upper layer ink .
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    US11173726B2|2021-11-16|Inkjet printing apparatus, inkjet printing method
    JP2003220699A|2003-08-05|Image forming method and printing original plate
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    同族专利:
    公开号 | 公开日
    KR101527846B1|2015-06-10|
    BR112013015256A2|2016-09-13|
    WO2012083028A4|2012-07-26|
    EP2652173A4|2018-02-14|
    AU2011343743A1|2013-07-04|
    US20120154473A1|2012-06-21|
    EP2652173A1|2013-10-23|
    KR20130103790A|2013-09-24|
    CN103370444A|2013-10-23|
    US9487010B2|2016-11-08|
    AU2011343743B2|2016-08-11|
    EP2652173B1|2019-08-14|
    WO2012083028A1|2012-06-21|
    RU2013132540A|2015-01-20|
    CN103370444B|2016-04-20|
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    法律状态:
    2018-04-03| B06F| Objections, documents and/or translations needed after an examination request according [chapter 6.6 patent gazette]|
    2019-06-11| B06T| Formal requirements before examination [chapter 6.20 patent gazette]|
    2020-06-30| B09A| Decision: intention to grant [chapter 9.1 patent gazette]|
    2020-09-29| B16A| Patent or certificate of addition of invention granted [chapter 16.1 patent gazette]|Free format text: PRAZO DE VALIDADE: 20 (VINTE) ANOS CONTADOS A PARTIR DE 15/12/2011, OBSERVADAS AS CONDICOES LEGAIS. |
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    US12/968,730|US9487010B2|2010-12-15|2010-12-15|InkJet printer with controlled oxygen levels|
    US12/968,730|2010-12-15|
    PCT/US2011/065180|WO2012083028A1|2010-12-15|2011-12-15|Inkjet printer with controlled oxygen levels|
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