Method and apparatus for printing on rigid panels and other contoured or textured surfaces
US6523921B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 30, 2001 |
| Grant date | Feb 25, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 30, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41J11/0022
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Ink jet printing is provided onto rigid panels such as office partitions, which have surfaces that are contoured, textured or made of another three-dimensional material, or are otherwise differently spaced from the plane of the panel such that the distance between a printing element and the point on the surface on which ink is to be deposited is not always the same or exactly predictable. Preferably, three dimensional covered panels are printed using ink jet printing, preferably using ultraviolet (UV) light curable ink, which is first, at least partially cured with UV light and then subjected to heating to more completely cure and dry the ink to remove, by evaporation, further curing or otherwise, the uncured monomers. The panel surface may be contoured by quilting or molding processes. Print head to panel spacing is adjustable to maintain a predetermined constant distance from the printing element to the surface of the panel where the ink is to be applied. Each of a plurality of print heads is provided and independently moveable to control the spacing of the print heads from the substrate surface. Sensors on the print head carriage measure the shape, or vertical position of the pr…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.