Method and apparatus for ink jet printing

• US 6,726,317 B2
• Filed: 08/17/2001
• Issued: 04/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: L&P Property Management Company (Leggett & Platt Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: L&P Property Management Company (Leggett & Platt Incorporated)
• Inventors: Codos, Richard N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Meier, Stephen D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHAH, MANISH S
• Application Number:
  US09/932,427
• Publication Number:
  US 20020044188A1
• Time in Patent Office: 984 Days
• Field of Search: 347/101, 347/102, 347/106, 347/100, 347/95, 347/1, 106/31.36, 106/31.13
• US Class Current: 347/106
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/00214 using UV radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/01 Ink jet
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/4078 Printing on textile
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/0047 by ink-jet printing
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/0064 on plastics, horn, rubber, or other organic polymers
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 7/0072 using mechanical wave energy, e.g. ultrasonics; using magnetic or electric fields, e.g. electric discharge, plasma
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 7/0081 using electromagnetic radiation or waves, e.g. ultraviolet radiation, electron beams
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 7/009 using thermal means, e.g. infrared radiation, heat
• CPC Class Codes: D05B 11/00 Machines for sewing quilts or mattresses control of workpiece-holding frames, or of sewing machines, in order to obtain particular seam configuration D05B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: D06P 5/2005 Treatments with alpha, beta, gamma or other rays, e.g. stimulated rays
• CPC Class Codes: D06P 5/30 Ink jet printing

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.

Claims

1. A method of printing on textile comprising the steps of:

jetting onto a textile substrate a substance containing a UV curable component and a dye component;

then

substantially curing at least the UV curable jetted component on the substrate by exposing the UV curable component on the substrate to UV radiation;

then

activating the dye in the substance containing the substantially cured UV curable component on the substrate to dye the substrate.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the dye component is a sublimation dye;

the activating includes subliming the dye in the substance containing the substantially cured UV curable component on the substrate to dye the substrate.

2. A method of printing on textile comprising the steps of:

jetting onto a textile substrate a substance containing a UV curable component and a dye component;

then

substantially curing at least the UV curable jetted component on the substrate by exposing the UV curable component on the substrate to UV radiation;

heating the substance containing the substantially cured exposed UV component and the dye component on the substrate to dye the substrate;

the heating includes contacting the substrate with a heated surface.

13. The method of claim 2 wherein:

the dye component is a sublimation dye;

the heating includes heating the partially cured substance to sublime the dye to thereby dye the substrate.

3. A printing method useful for printing on large area substrates comprising:

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;

then

activating the dye contained in the at least partially cured substance on the substrate to dye the substrate.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein:

the printing includes jetting the substance having the dye contained therein onto the substrate.

5. A The method of claim 3 wherein:

the substance is a UV curable ink having a pigment and the dye suspended therein.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein:

the at least partial curing of the substance on the substrate includes freezing the substance on the substrate by applying the curing medium to the substance immediately upon the printing thereof to reduce the spread of the substance on the substrate.

7. The method of claim 3 wherein:

the at least partial curing of the substance on the substrate includes freezing the substance on the substrate by exposing the substance to UV light immediately upon the printing thereof onto the substrate to reduce the spread of the substance on the substrate.

8. The method of claim 3 wherein:

the activating includes contacting the substrate with a heated surface.

12. The method of claim 3 wherein:

the dye is a sublimation dye;

the activating includes subliming the sublimation dye contained in the at least partially cured substance to dye the substrate.

9. A method of printing onto a substrate comprising:

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;

then

activating the dye contained in the substantially polymerized substance to effect the dyeing of the substrate.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein:

the depositing includes the jetting of the substance onto the substrate.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein:

the dye is a sublimation dye;

the activating includes subliming the sublimation dye contained in the substantially polymerized substance to affect the dyeing of the substrate.