Method and apparatus for ink jet printing
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of printing on fabric comprising the steps of:
- jetting an ink composition containing a UV curable ink component and a dye component onto a fabric;
then substantially curing at least the UV curable jetted ink component on the fabric by exposing the UV curable ink component to UV light, the curing resulting in a substantially cured UV ink component on the fabric containing uncured monomers of the UV curable ink and the dye component;
then heating the fabric having the substantially cured UV cured ink component thereon and thereby reducing the level of the uncured monomers of the UV curable ink component on the fabric and effecting the dyeing of the fabric with the dye component.
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Abstract
Ink jet printing is provided using ultraviolet (UV) light or other curable composition or stable or other printable substance having a dye-component therein. The ink is jetted onto a substrate, the composition is cured, then heated to set the dye. Sublimation dye-based UV ink printing onto polyester is preferred.
74 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method of printing on fabric comprising the steps of:
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jetting an ink composition containing a UV curable ink component and a dye component onto a fabric;
thensubstantially curing at least the UV curable jetted ink component on the fabric by exposing the UV curable ink component to UV light, the curing resulting in a substantially cured UV ink component on the fabric containing uncured monomers of the UV curable ink and the dye component;
thenheating the fabric having the substantially cured UV cured ink component thereon and thereby reducing the level of the uncured monomers of the UV curable ink component on the fabric and effecting the dyeing of the fabric with the dye component.
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2. A method of printing on textile comprising the steps of:
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jetting onto a textile substrate a substance containing a UV curable component and a dye component;
thensubstantially curing at least the UV curable jetted component on the substrate by exposing the UV curable component on the substrate to UV radiation. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A printing method useful for printing on large area substrates comprising:
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printing onto a substrate a dye contained in a substance that is stable until contacted with a curing medium;
at least partially curing of the substance on the substrate by applying the curing medium thereto;
thenheating the dye containing the at least partially cured substance on the substrate to dye the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20)
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14. A method of printing onto a substrate comprising:
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depositing a polymerizable substance containing a dye onto a substrate;
polymerizing the substance by initiating a polymerizing reaction in the substance and maintaining the reaction until the substance is substantially polymerized;
thenheating the substantially polymerized substance and the dye contained therein while on the substrate to effect the dyeing of the substrate.
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19. An ink jet printing method comprising:
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jetting onto a substrate a curable liquid having a dye component contained therein;
thensubstantially curing the liquid on the substrate;
thenheating the substantially cured liquid on the substrate so as to effect the dyeing of the substrate.
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21. An ink jet printing method comprising:
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jetting onto a substrate a curable liquid polymer having dye suspended therein;
thensubstantially curing the liquid polymer on the substrate to fix the position of the suspended dye on the substrate;
thenheating the substantially cured liquid polymer on the substrate to activate the dye and thereby effect the dyeing of the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 25)
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24. An ink jet printing apparatus comprising the steps of:
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means for jetting onto a substrate a substance containing a curable component and a dye component;
means substantially curing at least the curable jetted component on the substrate by exposing the curable component on the substrate to a curing medium.
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Specification