[go: up one dir, main page]

EP0993378A1 - Ink cross-linking by uv radiation - Google Patents

Ink cross-linking by uv radiation

Info

Publication number
EP0993378A1
EP0993378A1 EP98932230A EP98932230A EP0993378A1 EP 0993378 A1 EP0993378 A1 EP 0993378A1 EP 98932230 A EP98932230 A EP 98932230A EP 98932230 A EP98932230 A EP 98932230A EP 0993378 A1 EP0993378 A1 EP 0993378A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
point
ink
support
printing
ultraviolet
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP98932230A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0993378B1 (en
Inventor
Paul Morgavi
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Gemplus SA
Original Assignee
Gemplus SCA
Gemplus Card International SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Gemplus SCA, Gemplus Card International SA filed Critical Gemplus SCA
Priority to EP01117496A priority Critical patent/EP1162079B1/en
Publication of EP0993378A1 publication Critical patent/EP0993378A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0993378B1 publication Critical patent/EP0993378B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
    • B41M5/00—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein
    • B41M5/0041—Digital printing on surfaces other than ordinary paper
    • B41M5/0047—Digital printing on surfaces other than ordinary paper by ink-jet printing
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J11/00—Devices or arrangements  of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form
    • B41J11/0015—Devices or arrangements  of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form for treating before, during or after printing or for uniform coating or laminating the copy material before or after printing
    • B41J11/002—Curing or drying the ink on the copy materials, e.g. by heating or irradiating
    • B41J11/0021—Curing or drying the ink on the copy materials, e.g. by heating or irradiating using irradiation
    • B41J11/00214—Curing or drying the ink on the copy materials, e.g. by heating or irradiating using irradiation using UV radiation
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
    • B41M5/00—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein
    • B41M5/0041—Digital printing on surfaces other than ordinary paper
    • B41M5/0064—Digital printing on surfaces other than ordinary paper on plastics, horn, rubber, or other organic polymers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
    • B41M7/00—After-treatment of prints, e.g. heating, irradiating, setting of the ink, protection of the printed stock
    • B41M7/0081—After-treatment of prints, e.g. heating, irradiating, setting of the ink, protection of the printed stock using electromagnetic radiation or waves, e.g. ultraviolet radiation, electron beams
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
    • B41M5/00—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein
    • B41M5/0041—Digital printing on surfaces other than ordinary paper
    • B41M5/0076—Digital printing on surfaces other than ordinary paper on wooden surfaces, leather, linoleum, skin, or flowers

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the field of printing based on photosensitive inks, that is to say inks that can be dried or polymerized by light radiation, in particular by ultraviolet radiation.
  • Printing on substrates such as plastic materials which do not absorb traditional water, alcohol or oil-based inks has been made possible by the development of solvent-based inks adapted to the material and concurrently with polymer inks capable of solidifying and adhering to the material.
  • a crippling drawback of solvent-based inks is the harmfulness of the solvents used, of the acetone type. Printing with such inks requires complex devices collecting the rejected solvents and important processing precautions.
  • Polymer inks do not have these disadvantages of use and are particularly suitable for point-to-point printing, in particular by inkjet.
  • these inks have a fluidity which makes it possible to mechanically deposit, in particular according to an offset process, drops of ink of very fine dimension or to spray drops point by point on a support.
  • the final fixing of the polymer inks is carried out during a so-called ink crosslinking step which follows the deposition of the ink drops.
  • Crosslinking consists of polymerizing or crystallizing the ink, the polymers constituting the ink bonding together to form longer polymer chains and attaching to the support.
  • a crosslinking step therefore makes it possible to solidify the ink and to fix it to the support.
  • the supports made of plastic such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene (PE), poly-ethyl-tetraethylene (PET), polycarbonates (PC), 1 acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) and other organic polymers are quite naturally suitable for printing by polymer ink, the polymers of the ink and the polymers of the support fixing themselves firmly together during crosslinking.
  • Crosslinking is obtained by exposure of the inked support under ultraviolet radiation.
  • ink crosslinkable by ultraviolet radiation abbreviated to UV ink.
  • the energy of ultraviolet photons allows polymerization of the polymer chains between them.
  • the support must be exposed under a power of ultraviolet radiation and for a sufficient time, so that the ink fixes well to the support and hardens completely.
  • Figures 1 and 2 schematically show known printing techniques based on crosslinkable UV ink.
  • Figure 1 shows a polychrome offset printing of a support.
  • the support 10 advances between a drive cylinder 15 and rollers 11, 12, 13 and 14 for contact printing.
  • Each roll 11 or 12 or 13 or 14 contains a frame of the image to be printed.
  • the screen weights of each roll are inked with black or colored ink, especially cyan, magenta or yellow. Several color screens are thus deposited on the support to constitute a final polychromy image.
  • the inking step is followed by a crosslinking step by continuous exposure 19 of the support 10 under an ultraviolet lamp 18.
  • the offset printing can be monochrome by providing a single black or colored inking roller .
  • FIG. 2 schematically shows a polychrome inkjet printing process.
  • Several tanks 21, 22, 23 and 24 containing the black polymer inks and of different colors supply at least one nozzle for ejecting ink drops, each tank preferably having its own line of ejection nozzles, the line of impression being transverse to the direction of movement of the support.
  • the ink drops are deposited point by point on the support, a device for moving the support and computer programming of the image to be printed controlling the ejection of the drops by each nozzle of the line with a possible drop volume control ejected.
  • the computer system defines the spatial locations of the points to be inked and controls the ejection or non-ejection of the drops according to this location.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates an alternative printing in which each inking step is followed by a crosslinking step in order to dry each ink before a subsequent inking of a different color.
  • the printing device of FIG. 2 therefore comprises in this example four ultraviolet lamps 25, 26, 27 and 23 for drying each ink individually. To increase the printing rates, it has been proposed to increase the power of ultraviolet lamps thereby reducing the exposure time of the support, the support always receiving sufficient energy to dry and fix the ink.
  • a disadvantage of known printing devices with ink crosslinkable by ultraviolet radiation is therefore the high heat generation at the crosslinking stages.
  • Another drawback is the premature aging of the supports and their yellowing under the effect of crosslinking ultraviolet radiation.
  • An object of the invention is to provide an ink crosslinking process allowing printing at high speed, without the above-mentioned drawbacks.
  • a particular object of the invention is to avoid yellowing of the support in order to allow lasting quality printing.
  • the crosslinking is effected by an ultraviolet laser beam concentrated on the drops of ink deposited on the surface of the support, the white surfaces of the support not being scanned by the laser beam.
  • the invention is achieved by providing a method of crosslinking photosensitive ink comprising a step of inking points of a support and a particular step consisting in applying an ultraviolet beam concentrated on the inked points, excluding non-metallic surfaces. inked from the support.
  • the inking step preferably consists in depositing point by point on a printing medium drops of polymerizable ink, the ink being polymerizable by ultraviolet radiation.
  • the invention is preferably carried out by applying an ultraviolet laser beam.
  • a first embodiment of the invention provides that the application of the ultraviolet beam is carried out by point-by-point scanning of the support.
  • a second embodiment of the invention provides that the application of the ultraviolet beam is carried out via an optical fiber or a network of optical fibers.
  • provision is made to interrupt the ultraviolet beam when it is directed towards the non-inked surfaces of the support, an embodiment of the invention possibly comprising continuous scanning of the support.
  • it is planned to modulate in power the ultraviolet beam concentrated on the inked points.
  • the invention is particularly applicable to printing and crosslinking ink on a plastic support.
  • the ink crosslinking method according to the invention is particularly applicable to a point-to-point inkjet printing process and / or a polychromatic printing process.
  • FIG. 1 previously described, represents a printing and a crosslinking of UV ink according to a known method
  • Figure 2 previously described, represents a printing and a crosslinking of UV ink according to another known method
  • Figure 3 shows a method of crosslinking photosensitive ink according to the invention
  • FIG. 4 represents a first embodiment of the photosensitive ink crosslinking method according to the invention
  • FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the photosensitive ink crosslinking method according to the invention.
  • the invention is advantageously intended to be implemented following conventional printing steps.
  • FIG. 3 an inking of the surface of a support 38, the inking being able in particular to be carried out by mechanical contact in press or by spraying 37 with drops 36 of ink, in particular during point-to-point inkjet printing.
  • the method according to the invention thus comprises a preliminary step of inking the support, the inking being carried out with a photosensitive ink of the type ink crosslinkable by ultraviolet radiation.
  • the inking is carried out according to the invention by depositing drops of ink polymerizable by ultraviolet radiation point by point on a printing medium.
  • the support 33 includes inked surfaces and non-inked surfaces 30, the inked surfaces being made up of inked points 31 arranged contiguously or in isolation.
  • FIG. 3 thus shows an optical device 33 34 schematically provided with a source of ultraviolet rays 33 and a beam concentrator 34, for concentrating the ultraviolet rays on an inked point 31.
  • An advantage of the method according to the invention is that the light power of the source 33 of ultraviolet rays is concentrated on the only point 31 whose crosslinking is then very rapid. Consequently, it is possible to provide for a very rapid scanning of the inked points, by applying the beam concentrated on each point for a period of time corresponding to the energy which the drop of ink must receive in order to be completely crosslinked.
  • the method provides according to the invention not to apply an ultraviolet beam on the non-inked surfaces.
  • Another advantage is that the light energy applied is less compared to the methods of exposure to ultraviolet lamps, no radiation power being unnecessarily dispensed on non-inked surfaces.
  • Such an arrangement is easily achieved by providing that the beam 32 is concentrated on an area substantially equal to the area of a drop of ink.
  • Means for scanning the support and distributing the beam will be detailed below in two preferred embodiments of the device implementing the method according to the invention.
  • FIG. 4 thus illustrates a laser 43 emitting a coherent beam 42 of ultraviolet radiation.
  • the beam 42 ' is deflected to focus on an inked point 41' to be crosslinked.
  • An advantage of the laser is that the beam 42 'of emitted rays can easily have very small dimensions while remaining substantially parallel.
  • the beam 42 can thus be concentrated on a surface as microscopic as the surface of offset printing dots in polychromy such as the dots 51a, 51b, 51c and 52a to 55c shown in enlarged view in FIG. 4.
  • an ultraviolet laser can have a very intense light power, which allows very rapid exposure of each point to be crosslinked.
  • crosslinking time of a support comprising few inked points is thus advantageously reduced compared to known methods.
  • the exposure time of a drop under the continuous beam or the number of laser pulses applied to the drop is determined so that the drop receives the crosslinking light energy.
  • the application of the ultraviolet beam is carried out by point-by-point scanning of the support.
  • FIG. 4 thus illustrates a scanning device 46 comprising a motor orienting a mirror 46 for deflecting the laser beam 43 towards each point of the support.
  • the device 45, 46 for deflecting the beam 42 ensures a transverse scanning of the support 43 by the beam 42 ', 42 ", 42"' so as to crosslink all the points 41 ', 41 ", 41 “'of a transverse line of the support 48.
  • the support is then moved in a longitudinal direction to crosslink a next line of points.
  • the scanning device 45, 46 is coupled to a point-to-point printing computer system, indicating to the scanning device the exact location of each inked point of the text or image being printed.
  • the scanning device can in particular receive a command similar to the command for positioning a print head point by point.
  • the scanning provided by the first embodiment can be carried out continuously or discretely, according to two variants.
  • the deflection angle of the ultraviolet beam 42 varies continuously, the beam 42 'being deflected progressively along the transverse line of the support.
  • a component 44 for cutting the beam 42 shown diagrammatically on the Figure 4, thus prevents the beam 42 'from being concentrated on non-inked points.
  • This cut-off component is advantageously coupled to the computerized point-to-point printing system which triggers its closure when the deflected beam 42 ′ is directed towards non-inked surfaces 40.
  • the cut-off component 44 must have a very short reaction time.
  • Component 44 is for example a "Q-switch" device as used in optronics. Other means of interrupting the beam 42 are within the reach of those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.
  • the beam interruption means can be an integral part of the laser 43.
  • the laser delivers on command pulses of ultraviolet radiation when the device scanning 45, 46 targets an inked point 41 'and does not deliver a pulse when the scanning device 45, 46 targets an non-inked point 40.
  • the scanning device 45, 46 is programmed to deflect the beam 42 'towards an inked point 41' and pass directly to another angle of deflection, the beam 42 '' moving towards another inked point 41 ' '.
  • the scanning command of the device 46 is then discontinuous and the position of the mirror 45 passes without transition from an angular value to another discrete angular value.
  • a second embodiment of the method according to the invention provides another mode of application of the ultraviolet beam on the points of the support, location of the scanning step.
  • the second embodiment comprises, as illustrated in FIG. 5, a linear strip 70 of optical fibers 71 to 77 parallel, the outlet of which is arranged facing the surface of the support to be crosslinked. Equivalently, a two-dimensional network of optical fibers with parallel outputs can be provided.
  • the laser beam 82 83 is injected at the input of the optical fibers 71 to 77.
  • the fibers 71 to 77 advantageously have their inputs assembled so that that the incoming laser radiation is distributed almost equally between all the fibers.
  • the initial laser beam 82 is divided into a multitude of parallel rays, each ray being directed and concentrated towards an inked point of the support 63.
  • the optical fibers used are quartz or glass transmitting ultraviolet radiation, an ordinary glass optical fiber does not transmit wavelengths beyond purple.
  • the beam distribution device 70 also comprises means for interrupting the ultraviolet beam, each optical fiber 71 being provided for example with a ray cutting component to avoid exposing an un-inked point 60 of the support 68
  • This second embodiment is particularly suitable for printing methods comprising a dithering of dots.
  • the second embodiment advantageously applies to ink jet printing methods which allow printing line by line, a line of dots being inked instantly.
  • An in-line inkjet device generally includes a linear array 100 of ink drop generators. A series of drops of ink 101, 102, 103 is emitted simultaneously in the direction of the points of the support which it is desired to ink. Such devices are used in particular in polychrome offset printing by having several generator strips 100, 110, 120 supplied by reservoirs 109, 119, 129 of inks of different colors. All the nuances of colors and tint are obtained by modulating the volume of the drops of inks, and by using inks corresponding to the fundamental colors and possibly to black. As detailed in FIG. 4, each colored point 51 is formed for example of three or four elementary points 51a, 51b, 51c inked in fundamental colors or in black.
  • the inked dots of different colors can be crosslinked according to the invention by applying a laser beam to each colored point.
  • the elementary points generally microscopic, are very close and may possibly overlap.
  • the polychromy effect is obtained, during offset printing, by modulating the dimensions of each microscopic elementary point to reconstitute all the possible colors. According to a variant, by modulating the overlap and the dimension of each point, one also obtains a polychromy effect.
  • the laser beam interrupting means are then replaced by means for modulating the intensity of the beam.
  • Such a means is made for example an optical modulator of the orientable diffraction plate type.
  • the possibility of modulating the ultraviolet beam in power makes it possible to adapt the crosslinking step to the inks used and to the printing speed of the support.
  • the crosslinking method can be applied only once after all the steps of color inking as illustrated in FIG. 5.
  • the beam distributor device 70 then comprises a tight network of optical fibers, the fibers being distributed spatially according to the maximum frame of dots. ink that can be formed in printing.
  • crosslinking according to the invention can be carried out after each inking of a color during a full color printing.
  • the printing installation can then include several crosslinking devices arranged at the output of each monochromatic inking device.
  • the method according to the invention advantageously makes it possible to provide a total or partial gelation of the inks during the crosslinking between each inking step, the partial gelation being obtained for example by modulating the power of the ultraviolet laser beam.
  • the essential advantage of the crosslinking method according to the invention is, as indicated above, to eliminate the drawback inherent in ultraviolet radiation, namely the bleaching or yellowing action on the polymers constituting the support.
  • the method according to the invention extends to the crosslinking of photosensitive ink on any type of printing medium such as paper, cardboard, wood to advantageously replace printing with ink based on water or solvents while avoiding any browning of the medium .
  • the crosslinking method according to the invention advantageously contributes to increasing the rates of the printing device in which it is integrated.
  • the method according to the invention thus makes it possible advantageously to obtain a crosslinking speed greater than the ink jet inking speeds, so that the printing rate is no longer limited by the crosslinking step.
  • the description of the invention is based on ultraviolet radiation, the invention is not limited to a precise spectrum of light, but can be applied with any type of light radiation suitable for the polymerization and drying of photosensitive inks.
  • crosslinking process can be used with photosensitive paints, the same constituents and the same pigments being used in polymeric inking and in polymeric paint.

Landscapes

  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Toxicology (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Ink Jet (AREA)
  • Ink Jet Recording Methods And Recording Media Thereof (AREA)
  • Printing Methods (AREA)
  • Inks, Pencil-Leads, Or Crayons (AREA)
  • Electrochromic Elements, Electrophoresis, Or Variable Reflection Or Absorption Elements (AREA)
  • Photosensitive Polymer And Photoresist Processing (AREA)
  • Heating, Cooling, Or Curing Plastics Or The Like In General (AREA)
  • Physical Or Chemical Processes And Apparatus (AREA)

Abstract

The ink drop fixing method has a preliminary stage of applying an ultraviolet beam (32) concentrated on the ink drops (31) on the surface, avoiding exposure of the plastic support (30) for the printing. The ink drops are deposited point-by-point on the surface. The ink is made of a material that is polymerisable under ultra-violet radiation. The ultra-violet radiation is provided by an ultra-violet laser (43), which is swept point-by-point across the printed surface. The ultra-violet beam is directed by an optic fibre (71) of a network (70) of optic fibres. The beam is interrupted when it is directed toward the un-inked surface.

Description

RETICULATION D'ENCRE U.V. U.V. INK CROSSLINKING
La présente invention concerne le domaine de l'impression à base d'encres photosensibles, c'est-à- dire d'encres séchables ou polymerisables par rayonnement de lumière, notamment par rayonnement ultraviolet.The present invention relates to the field of printing based on photosensitive inks, that is to say inks that can be dried or polymerized by light radiation, in particular by ultraviolet radiation.
L'impression sur des supports tels que les matériaux plastiques n'absorbant pas les encres traditionnelles à base d'eau, d'alcool ou d'huile, a été permise par la mise au point d'encres à base de solvants adaptés au matériau et concurremment d'encres polymères capables de se solidifier et d'adhérer au matériau.Printing on substrates such as plastic materials which do not absorb traditional water, alcohol or oil-based inks has been made possible by the development of solvent-based inks adapted to the material and concurrently with polymer inks capable of solidifying and adhering to the material.
Un inconvénient rédhibitoire des encres à base de solvant est la nocivité des solvants employés, du type acétone. L'impression avec de telles encres nécessite de complexes dispositifs collectant les solvants rejetés et d'importantes précautions de mise en oeuvre.A crippling drawback of solvent-based inks is the harmfulness of the solvents used, of the acetone type. Printing with such inks requires complex devices collecting the rejected solvents and important processing precautions.
Les encres polymères n'ont pas ces inconvénients d'emploi et se prêtent particulièrement bien à une impression point par point, notamment par jet d'encre.Polymer inks do not have these disadvantages of use and are particularly suitable for point-to-point printing, in particular by inkjet.
En phase liquide, ces encres ont une fluidité qui permet de déposer mécaniquement, notamment selon un procédé offset, des gouttes d'encre de dimension très fine ou de projeter des gouttes point par point sur un support.In the liquid phase, these inks have a fluidity which makes it possible to mechanically deposit, in particular according to an offset process, drops of ink of very fine dimension or to spray drops point by point on a support.
La fixation définitive des encres polymères est effectuée pendant une étape dite de réticulation d'encre qui suit le dépôt des gouttes d'encre.The final fixing of the polymer inks is carried out during a so-called ink crosslinking step which follows the deposition of the ink drops.
La réticulation consiste à polymériser ou à cristalliser l'encre, les polymères constituant l'encre se liant entre eux pour former des chaînes polymériques plus longues et se fixer au support. Une étape de réticulation permet donc de solidifier l'encre et de la fixer au support. Les supports constitués de matière plastique, tels que le chlorure de polyvinyle (PVC) , le polyéthylène (PE) , le poly-éthyl-tétraéthylène (PET) , les polycarbonates (PC), 1 ' acrylonitrile-butadiène-styrène (ABS) et autres polymères organiques conviennent tout naturellement à une impression par encre polymère, les polymères de l'encre et les polymères du support se fixant solidement entre eux lors de la réticulation.Crosslinking consists of polymerizing or crystallizing the ink, the polymers constituting the ink bonding together to form longer polymer chains and attaching to the support. A crosslinking step therefore makes it possible to solidify the ink and to fix it to the support. The supports made of plastic, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene (PE), poly-ethyl-tetraethylene (PET), polycarbonates (PC), 1 acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) and other organic polymers are quite naturally suitable for printing by polymer ink, the polymers of the ink and the polymers of the support fixing themselves firmly together during crosslinking.
La réticulation est obtenue par exposition du support encré sous un rayonnement ultraviolet. On parlera donc par la suite d'encre reticulable par rayonnement ultraviolet, en abrégé encre UV. L'énergie des photons ultraviolet permet la polymérisation des chaînes polymériques entre elles. Toutefois le support doit être exposé sous une puissance de rayonnement ultraviolet et pendant un temps suffisants, pour que l'encre se fixe bien au support et durcisse complètemen .Crosslinking is obtained by exposure of the inked support under ultraviolet radiation. We will therefore speak thereafter of ink crosslinkable by ultraviolet radiation, abbreviated to UV ink. The energy of ultraviolet photons allows polymerization of the polymer chains between them. However, the support must be exposed under a power of ultraviolet radiation and for a sufficient time, so that the ink fixes well to the support and hardens completely.
Les figures 1 et 2 schématisent des techniques connues d'impression à base d'encre UV reticulable. La figure 1 schématise une impression offset polychrome d'un support. Le support 10 avance entre un cylindre d'entraînement 15 et des rouleaux 11, 12, 13 et 14 d'impression par contact. Chaque rouleau 11 ou 12 ou 13 ou 14 contient une trame de l'image à imprimer. Les creux des trames de chaque rouleau sont encrés avec une encre noire ou de couleur, notamment cyan, magenta ou jaune. Plusieurs trames de couleur sont ainsi déposées sur le support pour constituer une image finale en polychromie. L'étape d'encrage est suivie d'une étape de réticulation par exposition continue 19 du support 10 sous une lampe à ultraviolet 18. Bien entendu l'impression offset peut être monochrome en prévoyant un seul rouleau d'encrage noir ou bien de couleur.Figures 1 and 2 schematically show known printing techniques based on crosslinkable UV ink. Figure 1 shows a polychrome offset printing of a support. The support 10 advances between a drive cylinder 15 and rollers 11, 12, 13 and 14 for contact printing. Each roll 11 or 12 or 13 or 14 contains a frame of the image to be printed. The screen weights of each roll are inked with black or colored ink, especially cyan, magenta or yellow. Several color screens are thus deposited on the support to constitute a final polychromy image. The inking step is followed by a crosslinking step by continuous exposure 19 of the support 10 under an ultraviolet lamp 18. Of course the offset printing can be monochrome by providing a single black or colored inking roller .
La figure 2 schématise un procédé d'impression polychrome par jet d'encre. Plusieurs réservoirs 21, 22, 23 et 24 contenant les encres polymères noire et de différentes couleurs alimentent au moins une buse d'éjection de gouttes d'encre, chaque réservoir ayant de préférence sa propre ligne de buses d'éjection, la ligne d'impression étant transversale à la direction de déplacement du support. Les gouttes d'encre se déposent point par point sur le support, un dispositif de déplacement du support et de programmation informatique de l'image à imprimer commandant l'éjection des gouttes par chaque buse de la ligne avec un contrôle éventuel de volume de goutte éjectée. Le système informatique définit les localisations spatiales des points à encrer et commande l'éjection ou la non-éjection des gouttes selon cette localisation. L'encrage du support 20 est suivi d'une étape de réticulation, toujours par exposition continue, le support avançant sous une lampe à ultraviolet. La figure 2 illustre une alternative d'impression dans laquelle chaque étape d'encrage est suivie d'une étape de réticulation afin de sécher chaque encre avant un encrage ultérieur de couleur différente. Le dispositif d'impression de la figure 2 comporte donc dans cette exemple quatre lampes à ultraviolet 25, 26, 27 et 23 pour sécher chaque encre individuellement . Pour augmenter les cadences d'impression, il a été proposé d'augmenter la puissance des lampes à ultraviolet en diminuant ainsi le temps d'exposition du support, le support recevant toujours une énergie suffisante pour sécher et fixer l'encre.Figure 2 schematically shows a polychrome inkjet printing process. Several tanks 21, 22, 23 and 24 containing the black polymer inks and of different colors supply at least one nozzle for ejecting ink drops, each tank preferably having its own line of ejection nozzles, the line of impression being transverse to the direction of movement of the support. The ink drops are deposited point by point on the support, a device for moving the support and computer programming of the image to be printed controlling the ejection of the drops by each nozzle of the line with a possible drop volume control ejected. The computer system defines the spatial locations of the points to be inked and controls the ejection or non-ejection of the drops according to this location. The inking of the support 20 is followed by a crosslinking step, always by continuous exposure, the support advancing under an ultraviolet lamp. FIG. 2 illustrates an alternative printing in which each inking step is followed by a crosslinking step in order to dry each ink before a subsequent inking of a different color. The printing device of FIG. 2 therefore comprises in this example four ultraviolet lamps 25, 26, 27 and 23 for drying each ink individually. To increase the printing rates, it has been proposed to increase the power of ultraviolet lamps thereby reducing the exposure time of the support, the support always receiving sufficient energy to dry and fix the ink.
Toutefois les lampes à ultraviolet dégagent beaucoup de chaleur. Les dispositifs d'impression à encre polymérisable doivent donc comporter un système de refroidissement coûteux et encombrant. L'adoption de lampes UV dites froides, conçues pour émettre moins de rayonnement infra-rouge donc moins de chaleur, ne dispense pas de prévoir un refroidissement lorsqu'on désire des cadenc s d'impression élevées.However, ultraviolet lamps give off a lot of heat. Printing devices with polymerizable ink must therefore include an expensive and bulky cooling system. The adoption of so-called cold UV lamps, designed to emit less infrared radiation and therefore less heat, does not exempt from providing cooling when high printing rates are desired.
Un inconvénient des dispositifs d'impression connus à encre reticulable par rayonnement ultraviolet est donc le dégagement de chaleur élevé aux étapes de réticulation.A disadvantage of known printing devices with ink crosslinkable by ultraviolet radiation is therefore the high heat generation at the crosslinking stages.
Un autre inconvénient est le vieillissement prématuré des supports et leur jaunissement sous l'effet des rayonnements ultraviolets de réticulation.Another drawback is the premature aging of the supports and their yellowing under the effect of crosslinking ultraviolet radiation.
Un but de l'invention est de réaliser un procédé de réticulation d'encre permettant l'impression à cadence élevée, sans les inconvénients précités.An object of the invention is to provide an ink crosslinking process allowing printing at high speed, without the above-mentioned drawbacks.
Un but particulier de l'invention est d'éviter le jaunissement du support afin de permettre une impression durable de qualité.A particular object of the invention is to avoid yellowing of the support in order to allow lasting quality printing.
Succinctement ces buts sont atteints, selon l'invention, en prévoyant que la réticulation est opérée par un faisceau de laser ultraviolet concentré sur les gouttes d'encre déposées à la surface du support, les surfaces blanches du support n'étant pas balayées par le faisceau laser. L'invention est réalisée en prévoyant un procédé de réticulation d'encre photosensible comportant une étape d'encrage de points d'un support et une étape particulière consistant à appliquer un faisceau ultraviolet concentré sur les points encrés, à l'exclusion des surfaces non encrées du support.Briefly, these objects are achieved, according to the invention, by providing that the crosslinking is effected by an ultraviolet laser beam concentrated on the drops of ink deposited on the surface of the support, the white surfaces of the support not being scanned by the laser beam. The invention is achieved by providing a method of crosslinking photosensitive ink comprising a step of inking points of a support and a particular step consisting in applying an ultraviolet beam concentrated on the inked points, excluding non-metallic surfaces. inked from the support.
L'étape d'encrage consiste de préférence à déposer point par point sur un support d'impression des gouttes d'encre polymérisable, l'encre étant polymérisable par rayonnement ultraviolet.The inking step preferably consists in depositing point by point on a printing medium drops of polymerizable ink, the ink being polymerizable by ultraviolet radiation.
L'invention est réalisée de préférence par application d'un faisceau de laser ultraviolet.The invention is preferably carried out by applying an ultraviolet laser beam.
Un premier mode de réalisation de l'invention prévoit que l'application du faisceau ultraviolet est effectué par balayage point par point du support.A first embodiment of the invention provides that the application of the ultraviolet beam is carried out by point-by-point scanning of the support.
Un second mode de réalisation de l'invention prévoit que l'application du faisceau ultraviolet est effectuée par l'intermédiaire d'une fibre optique ou d'un réseau de fibres optiques. Selon une caractéristique préférée de l'invention, il est prévu d'interrompre le faisceau ultraviolet lorsqu'il se dirige vers les surfaces non encrées du support, une réalisation de l'invention pouvant comporter un balayage continu du support. Selon une caractéristique alternative, il est prévu de moduler en puissance le faisceau ultraviolet concentré sur les points encrés.A second embodiment of the invention provides that the application of the ultraviolet beam is carried out via an optical fiber or a network of optical fibers. According to a preferred characteristic of the invention, provision is made to interrupt the ultraviolet beam when it is directed towards the non-inked surfaces of the support, an embodiment of the invention possibly comprising continuous scanning of the support. According to an alternative characteristic, it is planned to modulate in power the ultraviolet beam concentrated on the inked points.
L'invention s'applique particulièrement à l'impression et à la réticulation d'encre sur un support en matière plastique.The invention is particularly applicable to printing and crosslinking ink on a plastic support.
De façon avantageuse, le procédé de réticulation d'encre selon l'invention s'applique particulièrement à un procédé d'impression point par point par jet d'encre et/ou à un procédé d'impression polychromatique .Advantageously, the ink crosslinking method according to the invention is particularly applicable to a point-to-point inkjet printing process and / or a polychromatic printing process.
D'autres caractéristiques, buts et avantages de l'invention apparaîtront à la lecture de la description qui va suivre, en regard des dessins annexés, donnés à titre d'exemples non-limitatifs et sur lesquels : la figure 1, précédemment décrite, représente une impression et une réticulation d'encre UV selon un procédé connu, - la figure 2, précédemment décrite, représente une impression et une réticulation d'encre UV selon un autre procédé connu, la figure 3 représente un procédé de réticulation d'encre photosensible selon l'invention, - la figure 4 représente un premier mode de réalisation du procédé de réticulation d'encre photosensible selon l'invention, etOther characteristics, objects and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the description which follows, with reference to the appended drawings, given by way of non-limiting examples and in which: FIG. 1, previously described, represents a printing and a crosslinking of UV ink according to a known method, - Figure 2, previously described, represents a printing and a crosslinking of UV ink according to another known method, Figure 3 shows a method of crosslinking photosensitive ink according to the invention, FIG. 4 represents a first embodiment of the photosensitive ink crosslinking method according to the invention, and
- la figure 5 représente un second mode de réalisation du procédé de réticulation d'encre photosensible selon l'invention.- Figure 5 shows a second embodiment of the photosensitive ink crosslinking method according to the invention.
L'invention est avantageusement destinée à être mise en oeuvre à la suite d'étapes classiques d' impression.The invention is advantageously intended to be implemented following conventional printing steps.
Divers procédés d'impressions connus fournissent, comme illustré en figure 3, un encrage de la surface d'un support 38, l'encrage pouvant notamment être effectué par contact mécanique sous presse ou par projection 37 de gouttes 36 d'encre, notamment lors d'une impression à jet d'encre point par point. Le procédé selon l'invention comporte ainsi une étape préliminaire d'encrage du support, l'encrage étant effectué avec une encre photosensible du type encre reticulable par rayonnement ultraviolet. De préférence l'encrage est effectué selon l'invention en déposant des gouttes d'encre polymérisable par rayonnement ultraviolet point par point sur un support d'impression.Various known printing methods provide, as illustrated in FIG. 3, an inking of the surface of a support 38, the inking being able in particular to be carried out by mechanical contact in press or by spraying 37 with drops 36 of ink, in particular during point-to-point inkjet printing. The method according to the invention thus comprises a preliminary step of inking the support, the inking being carried out with a photosensitive ink of the type ink crosslinkable by ultraviolet radiation. Preferably, the inking is carried out according to the invention by depositing drops of ink polymerizable by ultraviolet radiation point by point on a printing medium.
A l'issue de l'impression ou plus précisément de cette étape d'encrage, le support 33 comporte des surfaces encrées et des surfaces 30 non-encrées, les surfaces encrées étant constituées de points 31 encrés disposés de façon contigϋe ou isolement.At the end of the printing or more precisely of this inking step, the support 33 includes inked surfaces and non-inked surfaces 30, the inked surfaces being made up of inked points 31 arranged contiguously or in isolation.
Quelle que soit la connexité des surfaces encrées, le procédé selon l'invention prévoit d'appliquer un faisceau ultraviolet concentré sur les points encrés, à l'exclusion des surfaces non encrées du support. La figure 3 montre ainsi un dispositif optique 33 34 doté schématiquement d'une source de rayons ultraviolets 33 et d'un concentrateur 34 de faisceau, pour concentrer les rayons ultraviolets sur un point 31 encré. Un avantage du procédé selon l'invention est que la puissance lumineuse de la source 33 de rayons ultraviolets est concentrée sur le seul point 31 dont la réticulation est alors très rapide. Par conséquent, on peut prévoir un balayage très rapide des points encrés, en appliquant le faisceau concentré sur chaque point pendant un laps de temps correspondant à l'énergie que doit recevoir la goutte d'encre pour être totalement réticulée.Whatever the connectedness of the inked surfaces, the method according to the invention provides for applying an ultraviolet beam concentrated on the inked points, to the exclusion of the non-inked surfaces of the support. FIG. 3 thus shows an optical device 33 34 schematically provided with a source of ultraviolet rays 33 and a beam concentrator 34, for concentrating the ultraviolet rays on an inked point 31. An advantage of the method according to the invention is that the light power of the source 33 of ultraviolet rays is concentrated on the only point 31 whose crosslinking is then very rapid. Consequently, it is possible to provide for a very rapid scanning of the inked points, by applying the beam concentrated on each point for a period of time corresponding to the energy which the drop of ink must receive in order to be completely crosslinked.
Le procédé prévoit selon l'invention de ne pas appliquer de faisceau ultraviolet sur les surfaces non- encrées. Un avantage d'une telle disposition est que le vieillissement et le jaunissement du support est évité, notamment sur les surfaces non-encrées.The method provides according to the invention not to apply an ultraviolet beam on the non-inked surfaces. An advantage of such an arrangement is that aging and yellowing of the support is avoided, especially on non-inked surfaces.
Un autre avantage est que l'énergie lumineuse appliquée est moindre par rapport aux procédés d'exposition à des lampes à ultraviolet, aucune puissance de rayonnement n'étant dispensée inutilement sur les surfaces non-encrées.Another advantage is that the light energy applied is less compared to the methods of exposure to ultraviolet lamps, no radiation power being unnecessarily dispensed on non-inked surfaces.
Une telle disposition se réalise aisément en prévoyant que le faisceau 32 est concentré sur une surface sensiblement égale à la surface d'une goutte d'encre. Des moyens de balayage du support et de répartition du faisceau seront détaillés ci-après dans deux modes de réalisation préférés de dispositif mettant en oeuvre le procédé selon l'invention.Such an arrangement is easily achieved by providing that the beam 32 is concentrated on an area substantially equal to the area of a drop of ink. Means for scanning the support and distributing the beam will be detailed below in two preferred embodiments of the device implementing the method according to the invention.
L'invention est réalisée en mettant en oeuvre un laser ultraviolet, bien qu'on puisse envisager une source intense d'ultraviolet de type lampe à arc ou lampe à cathode tournante. La figure 4 illustre ainsi un laser 43 émettant un faisceau 42 cohérent de rayonnement ultraviolet. Le faisceau 42' est dévié pour se concentrer sur un point 41' encré à réticuler.The invention is achieved by using an ultraviolet laser, although an intense source of ultraviolet type of arc lamp or rotating cathode lamp can be envisaged. FIG. 4 thus illustrates a laser 43 emitting a coherent beam 42 of ultraviolet radiation. The beam 42 'is deflected to focus on an inked point 41' to be crosslinked.
Un avantage du laser est que le faisceau 42' de rayons émis peut avoir facilement des dimensions très réduites en restant sensiblement parallèle. Le faisceau 42 peut ainsi être concentré sur une surface aussi microscopique que la surface de points d'impression offset en polychromie tels que les points 51a, 51b, 51c et 52a à 55c représentés en vue agrandie sur la figure 4. De plus un laser ultraviolet peut avoir une puissance lumineuse très intense, ce qui autorise une exposition très rapide de chaque point à réticuler.An advantage of the laser is that the beam 42 'of emitted rays can easily have very small dimensions while remaining substantially parallel. The beam 42 can thus be concentrated on a surface as microscopic as the surface of offset printing dots in polychromy such as the dots 51a, 51b, 51c and 52a to 55c shown in enlarged view in FIG. 4. In addition, an ultraviolet laser can have a very intense light power, which allows very rapid exposure of each point to be crosslinked.
Le temps de réticulation d'un support comportant peu de points encrés est ainsi avantageusement réduit par rapport aux procédés connus.The crosslinking time of a support comprising few inked points is thus advantageously reduced compared to known methods.
On peut choisir un dispositif 43 d'émission laser émettant un faisceau en continu ou par impulsion. Le temps d'exposition d'une goutte sous le faisceau continu ou le nombre d'impulsions de laser appliquées à la goutte est déterminée de sorte que la goutte reçoive l'énergie lumineuse de réticulation.One can choose a laser emission device 43 emitting a beam continuously or by pulse. The exposure time of a drop under the continuous beam or the number of laser pulses applied to the drop is determined so that the drop receives the crosslinking light energy.
Selon un premier mode de réalisation du procédé selon l'invention, l'application du faisceau ultraviolet est effectuée par balayage point par point du support.According to a first embodiment of the method according to the invention, the application of the ultraviolet beam is carried out by point-by-point scanning of the support.
La figure 4 illustre ainsi un dispositif de balayage 46 comportant un moteur orientant un miroir 46 pour défléchir le faisceau laser 43 vers chaque point du support.FIG. 4 thus illustrates a scanning device 46 comprising a motor orienting a mirror 46 for deflecting the laser beam 43 towards each point of the support.
Selon la disposition illustrée figure 4, le dispositif 45, 46 de déflexion du faisceau 42 assure un balayage transversal du support 43 par le faisceau 42 ',42", 42"' de façon à réticuler tous les points 41', 41", 41"' d'une ligne transversale du support 48. Le support est déplacé ensuite dans un sens longitudinal pour réticuler une ligne suivante de points.According to the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 4, the device 45, 46 for deflecting the beam 42 ensures a transverse scanning of the support 43 by the beam 42 ', 42 ", 42"' so as to crosslink all the points 41 ', 41 ", 41 "'of a transverse line of the support 48. The support is then moved in a longitudinal direction to crosslink a next line of points.
De préférence, le dispositif 45, 46 de balayage est couplé à un système informatique d'impression point par point, indiquant au dispositif de balayage la localisation exacte de chaque point encré du texte ou de l'image en impression. Le dispositif de balayage peut notamment recevoir une commande similaire à la commande de positionnement d'une tête d'impression point par point.Preferably, the scanning device 45, 46 is coupled to a point-to-point printing computer system, indicating to the scanning device the exact location of each inked point of the text or image being printed. The scanning device can in particular receive a command similar to the command for positioning a print head point by point.
Le balayage prévu par le premier mode de réalisation peut être effectué de façon continue ou discrète, selon deux variantes.The scanning provided by the first embodiment can be carried out continuously or discretely, according to two variants.
Dans la première variante, l'angle de déflexion du faisceau ultraviolet 42 varie continûment, le faisceau 42' étant défléchi progressivement tout le long de la ligne transversale du support.In the first variant, the deflection angle of the ultraviolet beam 42 varies continuously, the beam 42 'being deflected progressively along the transverse line of the support.
Pour éviter d'appliquer le faisceau sur des surfaces 40 "blanches", il est prévu d'interrompre le faisceau 42 lorsqu'il est défléchi en direction des surfaces non-encrées 40. Un composant 44 de coupure du faisceau 42, schématisé sur la figure 4, empêche ainsi de concentrer le faisceau 42' sur des points non-encrés. Ce composant de coupure est avantageusement couplé au système informatique d'impression point par point qui déclenche son obturation lorsque le faisceau défléchi 42' se dirigerait vers des surfaces 40 non-encrées.To avoid applying the beam on "white" surfaces 40, it is planned to interrupt the beam 42 when it is deflected towards the non-inked surfaces 40. A component 44 for cutting the beam 42, shown diagrammatically on the Figure 4, thus prevents the beam 42 'from being concentrated on non-inked points. This cut-off component is advantageously coupled to the computerized point-to-point printing system which triggers its closure when the deflected beam 42 ′ is directed towards non-inked surfaces 40.
Pour une réticulation très rapide, le composant 44 de coupure doit avoir un temps de réaction très court. Le composant 44 est par exemple un dispositif "Q- switch" tel que utilisé en optronique. D'autres moyens d'interruption du faisceau 42 sont à la portée de l'homme du métier sans sortir du cadre de la présente invention.For very rapid crosslinking, the cut-off component 44 must have a very short reaction time. Component 44 is for example a "Q-switch" device as used in optronics. Other means of interrupting the beam 42 are within the reach of those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.
On notera en outre que les moyens d'interruption du faisceau peuvent faire partie intégrante du laser 43. Ainsi, le laser délivre sur commande des impulsions de rayonnement ultraviolet lorsque le dispositif de balayage 45, 46 vise un point encré 41' et ne délivre pas d'impulsion lorsque le dispositif de balayage 45,46 vise un point non-encré 40.It will also be noted that the beam interruption means can be an integral part of the laser 43. Thus, the laser delivers on command pulses of ultraviolet radiation when the device scanning 45, 46 targets an inked point 41 'and does not deliver a pulse when the scanning device 45, 46 targets an non-inked point 40.
Dans la seconde variante, le dispositif de balayage 45, 46 est programmé pour défléchir le faisceau 42' vers un point encré 41' et passer directement à un autre angle de déflexion, le faisceau 42'' se dirigeant vers un autre point encré 41''. La commande de balayage du dispositif 46 est alors discontinue et la position du miroir 45 passe sans transition d'une valeur angulaire à une autre valeur angulaire discrète.In the second variant, the scanning device 45, 46 is programmed to deflect the beam 42 'towards an inked point 41' and pass directly to another angle of deflection, the beam 42 '' moving towards another inked point 41 ' '. The scanning command of the device 46 is then discontinuous and the position of the mirror 45 passes without transition from an angular value to another discrete angular value.
Il est prévu de corriger l'étalement du faisceau lorsque le faisceau 42"' tombe sous un angle faible sur le support, c'est-à-dire lorsque la déflexion du faisceau est importante. Cette correction est obtenue en prévoyant une optique de correction dite à champ plat qui réduit l'étalement du faisceau dans de telles conditions et le focalise de façon ponctuelle. Un second mode de réalisation du procédé selon l'invention prévoit un autre mode d'application du faisceau ultraviolet sur les points du support, au lieu de l'étape de balayage.It is planned to correct the spread of the beam when the beam 42 "'falls at a slight angle on the support, that is to say when the deflection of the beam is high. This correction is obtained by providing a correction optic so-called flat field which reduces the spreading of the beam under such conditions and focuses it in a punctual manner. A second embodiment of the method according to the invention provides another mode of application of the ultraviolet beam on the points of the support, location of the scanning step.
Le second mode de réalisation comporte comme illustré figure 5, une barrette 70 linéaire de fibres optiques 71 à 77 parallèles, dont la sortie est disposée en regard de la surface du support à réticuler. De façon équivalente, un réseau à deux dimensions de fibres optiques à sorties parallèles peut être prévu. Le faisceau 82 de laser 83 est injecté en entrée des fibres optiques 71 à 77. Les fibres 71 à 77 ont avantageusement leurs entrées rassemblées de sorte que le rayonnement laser entrant se repartit sensiblement également entre toutes les fibres.The second embodiment comprises, as illustrated in FIG. 5, a linear strip 70 of optical fibers 71 to 77 parallel, the outlet of which is arranged facing the surface of the support to be crosslinked. Equivalently, a two-dimensional network of optical fibers with parallel outputs can be provided. The laser beam 82 83 is injected at the input of the optical fibers 71 to 77. The fibers 71 to 77 advantageously have their inputs assembled so that that the incoming laser radiation is distributed almost equally between all the fibers.
Ainsi le faisceau 82 laser initial est divisé en une multitude de rayons parallèles, chaque rayon étant dirigé et concentré vers un point encré du support 63.Thus the initial laser beam 82 is divided into a multitude of parallel rays, each ray being directed and concentrated towards an inked point of the support 63.
Les fibres optiques utilisées sont en quartz ou en verre transmettant les rayonnement ultraviolet, une fibre optique en verre ordinaire ne transmettant pas les longueurs d'ondes au-delà du violet. Le dispositif 70 de répartition du faisceau 82 comporte en outre des moyens d'interruption de faisceau ultraviolet, chaque fibre optique 71 étant dote par exemple d'un composant de coupure du rayon pour éviter d'exposer un point non-encré 60 du support 68. Ce second mode de réalisation convient tout particulièrement aux procédés d'impression comportant un tramage de points. En adaptant le pas d'écarte ent des sorties de fibres de la barrette 70 linéaire au pas de tramage de l'impression, on obtient une série de rayons lasers concentrés sur les coordonnées précises des points de la trame d'impression.The optical fibers used are quartz or glass transmitting ultraviolet radiation, an ordinary glass optical fiber does not transmit wavelengths beyond purple. The beam distribution device 70 also comprises means for interrupting the ultraviolet beam, each optical fiber 71 being provided for example with a ray cutting component to avoid exposing an un-inked point 60 of the support 68 This second embodiment is particularly suitable for printing methods comprising a dithering of dots. By adapting the spacing pitch ent of the fiber outputs of the linear bar 70 to the dithering pitch of the printing, a series of laser rays is obtained concentrated on the precise coordinates of the points of the printing frame.
Comme illustré figure 5, le second mode de réalisation s'applique avantageusement aux procédés d'impression par jet d'encre qui permettent une impression ligne par ligne, une ligne de points étant encrés instantanément.As illustrated in FIG. 5, the second embodiment advantageously applies to ink jet printing methods which allow printing line by line, a line of dots being inked instantly.
Un dispositif utilisant un jet d'encre en ligne comporte généralement une barrette 100 linéaire de générateurs de gouttes d'encre. Une série de gouttes d'encres 101, 102, 103 est émise simultanément en direction des points du support que l'on veut encrer. De tels dispositifs sont notamment utilisés en impression offset polychrome en disposant plusieurs barrettes 100,110,120 génératrices alimentées par des réservoirs 109, 119, 129 d'encres de couleurs différentes. Toutes les nuances de couleurs et de teinte sont obtenues en modulant le volume des gouttes d'encres, et en utilisant des encres correspondant aux couleurs fondamentales et éventuellement au noir. Comme détaillée sur la figure 4, chaque point 51 coloré est formé par exemple de trois ou quatre points élémentaires 51a, 51b, 51c encrés de couleurs fondamentale ou en noir.An in-line inkjet device generally includes a linear array 100 of ink drop generators. A series of drops of ink 101, 102, 103 is emitted simultaneously in the direction of the points of the support which it is desired to ink. Such devices are used in particular in polychrome offset printing by having several generator strips 100, 110, 120 supplied by reservoirs 109, 119, 129 of inks of different colors. All the nuances of colors and tint are obtained by modulating the volume of the drops of inks, and by using inks corresponding to the fundamental colors and possibly to black. As detailed in FIG. 4, each colored point 51 is formed for example of three or four elementary points 51a, 51b, 51c inked in fundamental colors or in black.
Les points encrés de différentes couleurs peuvent être réticulés selon l'invention en appliquant un rayon laser sur chaque point coloré.The inked dots of different colors can be crosslinked according to the invention by applying a laser beam to each colored point.
Les points élémentaires, généralement microscopiques, sont très proches et peuvent éventuellement se chevaucher.The elementary points, generally microscopic, are very close and may possibly overlap.
L'effet de polychromie est obtenu, lors de l'impression offset, en modulant les dimensions de chaque point élémentaire microscopique pour reconstituer toutes les couleurs possibles. Selon une variante, en modulant le chevauchement et la dimension de chaque point, on obtient aussi un effet de polychromie.The polychromy effect is obtained, during offset printing, by modulating the dimensions of each microscopic elementary point to reconstitute all the possible colors. According to a variant, by modulating the overlap and the dimension of each point, one also obtains a polychromy effect.
De façon avantageuse, il est prévu selon l'invention de moduler le faisceau concentré appliqué sur de tels points encrés pour que chaque point reçoive l'énergie suffisant à la réticulation du volume d'encre du point. Les moyens d'interruption de faisceau laser sont alors remplacés par des moyens de modulation de l'intensité du faisceau. Un tel moyen est constitué par exemple d'un modulateur optique de type lame de diffraction orientable.Advantageously, provision is made according to the invention to modulate the concentrated beam applied to such inked points so that each point receives sufficient energy to crosslink the ink volume of the point. The laser beam interrupting means are then replaced by means for modulating the intensity of the beam. Such a means is made for example an optical modulator of the orientable diffraction plate type.
De façon générale, la possibilité de moduler en puissance le faisceau ultraviolet permet d'adapter l'étape de réticulation aux encres employées et à la vitesse d'impression du support.In general, the possibility of modulating the ultraviolet beam in power makes it possible to adapt the crosslinking step to the inks used and to the printing speed of the support.
Le procédé de réticulation peut être appliqué une seule fois après toutes les étapes d'encrages de couleurs comme illustré figure 5. Le dispositif 70 répartiteur du faisceau comporte alors un réseau serré de fibres optiques, les fibres étant reparties spatialement selon la trame maximale de points encrés que l'on peut former à l'impression.The crosslinking method can be applied only once after all the steps of color inking as illustrated in FIG. 5. The beam distributor device 70 then comprises a tight network of optical fibers, the fibers being distributed spatially according to the maximum frame of dots. ink that can be formed in printing.
De façon alternative, on peut procéder à une réticulation selon l'invention après chaque encrage d'une couleur lors d'une impression polychrome.Alternatively, crosslinking according to the invention can be carried out after each inking of a color during a full color printing.
L'installation d'impression peut alors comporter plusieurs dispositifs de réticulation disposés en sortie de chaque dispositif d'encrage monochromatique. Le procédé selon l'invention permet avantageusement de prévoir une gélification totale ou partielle des encres lors de la réticulation entre chaque étape d'encrage, la gélification partielle étant obtenue par exemple en modulant la puissance du faisceau laser ultraviolet.The printing installation can then include several crosslinking devices arranged at the output of each monochromatic inking device. The method according to the invention advantageously makes it possible to provide a total or partial gelation of the inks during the crosslinking between each inking step, the partial gelation being obtained for example by modulating the power of the ultraviolet laser beam.
L'avantage essentiel du procédé de réticulation selon l'invention est, comme signalé auparavant, d'éliminer l'inconvénient inhérent aux radiations ultraviolettes, à savoir l'action décolorante ou jaunissante sur les polymères constituant le support.The essential advantage of the crosslinking method according to the invention is, as indicated above, to eliminate the drawback inherent in ultraviolet radiation, namely the bleaching or yellowing action on the polymers constituting the support.
Prévu initialement pour s'appliquer aux supports en matière plastique, le procédé selon l'invention s'étend à la réticulation d'encre photosensible sur tout type de support d'impression comme le papier, le carton, le bois pour remplacer avantageusement l'impression à encre à base d'eau ou de solvants tout en évitant tout brunissement du support.Initially intended to apply to plastic supports, the method according to the invention extends to the crosslinking of photosensitive ink on any type of printing medium such as paper, cardboard, wood to advantageously replace printing with ink based on water or solvents while avoiding any browning of the medium .
Enfin, l'utilisation rationnelle de la puissance lumineuse de réticulation selon l'invention et les fortes intensités lumineuses que l'on peut obtenir avec un laser ont l'avantage d'augmenter la rapidité de l'étape de réticulation par rapport aux lampes UV d'insolation traditionnelles.Finally, the rational use of the crosslinking light power according to the invention and the high light intensities which can be obtained with a laser have the advantage of increasing the speed of the crosslinking step compared to UV lamps. traditional sunstroke.
Consécutivement le procédé de réticulation selon l'invention contribue avantageusement à augmenter les cadences du dispositif d'impression où il est intégré. Le procédé selon l'invention permet ainsi d'obtenir avantageusement une vitesse de réticulation supérieure aux vitesses d'encrage par jet d'encre, si bien que la cadence d'impression n'est plus limitée par l'étape de réticulation. Bien que l'exposé de l'invention soit basé sur les rayonnements ultraviolets, l'invention n'est pas limitée à un spectre précis de lumière, mais peut être appliquée avec tout type de rayonnement lumineux adapté à la polymérisation et au séchage d'encres photosensibles.Subsequently, the crosslinking method according to the invention advantageously contributes to increasing the rates of the printing device in which it is integrated. The method according to the invention thus makes it possible advantageously to obtain a crosslinking speed greater than the ink jet inking speeds, so that the printing rate is no longer limited by the crosslinking step. Although the description of the invention is based on ultraviolet radiation, the invention is not limited to a precise spectrum of light, but can be applied with any type of light radiation suitable for the polymerization and drying of photosensitive inks.
De plus, le procédé de réticulation peut être utilisé avec des peintures photosensibles, les mêmes constituants et les mêmes pigments étant utilisés en encrage polymérique et en peinture polymérique. D'autres avantages, application et développement de l'invention apparaîtront à l'homme du métier sans sortir du cadre de l'invention définie dans les revendications ci-après. In addition, the crosslinking process can be used with photosensitive paints, the same constituents and the same pigments being used in polymeric inking and in polymeric paint. Other advantages, application and development of the invention will appear to a person skilled in the art without depart from the scope of the invention defined in the claims below.

Claims

REVENDICATIONS
1. Procédé de réticulation d'encre photosensible comportant une étape (35) d'encrage de points (31) d'un support (38) caractérisé en ce que le procédé comporte une étape ultérieure consistant à appliquer un faisceau (32) ultraviolet concentré sur les points (31) encrés, à l'exclusion de surfaces (30) non-encrées du support.1. A method of crosslinking photosensitive ink comprising a step (35) of inking dots (31) of a support (38) characterized in that the method comprises a subsequent step consisting in applying a concentrated ultraviolet beam (32) on the inked dots (31), excluding non-inked surfaces (30) of the support.
2. Procédé selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que l'étape d'encrage consiste à déposer point (37) par point (31) sur un support (38) d'impression des gouttes (36) d'encre polymérisable, l'encre étant polymérisable par rayonnement ultraviolet.2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the inking step consists of depositing point (37) by point (31) on a support (38) for printing drops (36) of polymerizable ink, l ink being polymerizable by ultraviolet radiation.
3. Procédé selon la revendication 1 ou 2 , caractérisé par l'application d'un faisceau (42) de laser (43) ultraviolet. 3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the application of a beam (42) of laser (43) ultraviolet.
4. Procédé selon l'une des revendications 1 à 3, caractérisé en ce que l'application du faisceau (42) ultraviolet est effectuée par balayage ( 42 ' , 42 " , 42" ' ) point (41') par point (41", 41"') du support (48).4. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the application of the ultraviolet beam (42) is carried out by scanning (42 ', 42 ", 42"') point (41 ') by point (41 ", 41" ') of the support (48).
5. Procédé selon l'une des revendications 1 à 4, caractérisé en ce que l'application du faisceau ultraviolet est effectuée par l'intermédiaire d'une fibre optique (71) ou d'un réseau (70) de fibres (71- 77) optiques.5. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the application of the ultraviolet beam is carried out via an optical fiber (71) or a network (70) of fibers (71- 77) optical.
6. Procédé selon l'une des revendications 1 à 5, caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte une étape consistant à interrompre (44) le faisceau (42) ultraviolet lorsqu'il se dirige vers des surfaces (40) non-encrées du support (48) . 6. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises a step consisting in interrupting (44) the ultraviolet beam (42) when it is directed towards non-inked surfaces (40) of the support. (48).
7. Procédé selon l'une des revendications 1 à 6, caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte une étape consistant à moduler en puissance le faisceau ultraviolet concentré sur les points encrés. 7. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it comprises a step consisting in modulating in power the ultraviolet beam concentrated on the inked points.
8. Procédé selon l'une des revendications 1 à 7, caractérisé en ce que le support (33,48,68) est en matière plastique.8. Method according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the support (33,48,68) is made of plastic.
9. Procédé selon l'une des revendications 1 à 8, caractérisé en ce qu'il (70) s'insère dans un procédé (100) d'impression point par point par jet d'encre.9. Method according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it (70) fits into a method (100) of point-by-point printing by ink jet.
10. Procédé d'impression polychromatique (100,110,120) avec des encres photosensibles de couleurs différentes, caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte au moins une application (70) du procédé de réticulation selon l'une des revendications 1 à 9. 10. A polychromatic printing method (100,110,120) with photosensitive inks of different colors, characterized in that it comprises at least one application (70) of the crosslinking method according to one of claims 1 to 9.
EP98932230A 1997-06-23 1998-06-18 Ink cross-linking by uv radiation Expired - Lifetime EP0993378B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP01117496A EP1162079B1 (en) 1997-06-23 1998-06-18 Device for the cross-linking of ink by UV radiation

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR9708176A FR2764844B1 (en) 1997-06-23 1997-06-23 U.V. INK CROSSLINKING
FR9708176 1997-06-23
PCT/FR1998/001281 WO1998058806A1 (en) 1997-06-23 1998-06-18 Ink cross-linking by uv radiation

Related Child Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP01117496A Division EP1162079B1 (en) 1997-06-23 1998-06-18 Device for the cross-linking of ink by UV radiation
EP01117496.8 Division-Into 2001-07-20

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0993378A1 true EP0993378A1 (en) 2000-04-19
EP0993378B1 EP0993378B1 (en) 2001-09-26

Family

ID=9508605

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP98932230A Expired - Lifetime EP0993378B1 (en) 1997-06-23 1998-06-18 Ink cross-linking by uv radiation
EP01117496A Expired - Lifetime EP1162079B1 (en) 1997-06-23 1998-06-18 Device for the cross-linking of ink by UV radiation

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP01117496A Expired - Lifetime EP1162079B1 (en) 1997-06-23 1998-06-18 Device for the cross-linking of ink by UV radiation

Country Status (10)

Country Link
US (1) US6562413B1 (en)
EP (2) EP0993378B1 (en)
JP (1) JP4125796B2 (en)
CN (1) CN1178799C (en)
AT (2) ATE206090T1 (en)
CA (1) CA2293551C (en)
DE (2) DE69801823T2 (en)
ES (2) ES2165688T3 (en)
FR (1) FR2764844B1 (en)
WO (1) WO1998058806A1 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2067620A2 (en) 2007-12-07 2009-06-10 Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG Method for drying a multicolour printed material

Families Citing this family (42)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2790421A1 (en) 1999-03-01 2000-09-08 Gemplus Card Int GRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINE FOR CARD-TYPE STORAGE MEDIUM, GRAPHIC PRINTING METHOD OF SAID STORAGE MEDIA AND STORAGE MEDIUM
JP2003506886A (en) * 1999-05-27 2003-02-18 パターニング テクノロジーズ リミテッド Method of forming masking pattern on surface
DE19954366A1 (en) * 1999-11-11 2001-05-17 Basf Ag Process for labeling plastic surfaces
IL154636A (en) * 2000-08-30 2005-11-20 L & P Property Management Co Method and apparatus for printing on rigid panels and other contoured or textured surfaces
US6523921B2 (en) * 2000-08-30 2003-02-25 L&P Property Management Method and apparatus for printing on rigid panels and other contoured or textured surfaces
US6755518B2 (en) * 2001-08-30 2004-06-29 L&P Property Management Company Method and apparatus for ink jet printing on rigid panels
FR2827807B1 (en) * 2001-07-27 2003-10-10 Leroux Gilles Sa MODULAR CARD COLOR GRAPHIC PRINTING DEVICE
NL1020370C2 (en) * 2002-04-11 2003-10-14 Testprint Bv Test print device and method for making test prints as well as irradiation assembly.
JP4506070B2 (en) * 2002-11-01 2010-07-21 コニカミノルタホールディングス株式会社 Method for forming antiglare layer, method for producing antiglare film, and ink jet device for forming antiglare layer
JP2006506511A (en) 2002-11-15 2006-02-23 マーケム コーポレイション Radiation curable ink
US7152970B2 (en) * 2003-03-12 2006-12-26 Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc. Image forming apparatus having a plurality of printing heads
US7338154B2 (en) * 2003-03-25 2008-03-04 Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc. Image recording apparatus
JP4556444B2 (en) * 2003-03-27 2010-10-06 コニカミノルタホールディングス株式会社 Image recording device
FR2853278B1 (en) * 2003-04-04 2006-02-10 Es Technology METHOD AND DEVICE FOR COLORING SUPPORTS
US7458673B2 (en) * 2003-10-29 2008-12-02 Konica Minolta Medical & Graphic Inc. Ink jet recording apparatus
JP3987970B2 (en) * 2004-01-30 2007-10-10 富士フイルム株式会社 Inkjet recording device
CN1939095B (en) * 2004-12-14 2010-12-08 株式会社爱发科 Coating device, method of forming thin film of organic material, organic EL panel manufacturing device
US7522281B2 (en) * 2004-12-20 2009-04-21 Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Ag Apparatus and method for detecting moisture in a printing plate exposer
JP4232753B2 (en) * 2005-03-28 2009-03-04 セイコーエプソン株式会社 Droplet discharge device
US7433627B2 (en) * 2005-06-28 2008-10-07 Xerox Corporation Addressable irradiation of images
JP4081508B2 (en) * 2005-12-01 2008-04-30 松下電器産業株式会社 Manufacturing method and manufacturing apparatus of three-dimensional structure
EP1806232B1 (en) * 2005-12-22 2008-02-20 Tapematic S.P.A. Apparatus and process for ink-jet printing
JP2009208463A (en) * 2008-02-06 2009-09-17 Ryobi Ltd Printing method of printing machine, and printing machine
CN102765251A (en) * 2011-05-03 2012-11-07 郑进 Printing and duplicating equipment capable of generating duplication prevention bearing medium
DE102011109083A1 (en) 2011-08-01 2013-02-07 Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft Method for imaging or marking of objects, involves forming object with one or multiple radiation curable color, where color is hardened by application of radiation on area of object provided with color
US8840236B2 (en) * 2011-10-28 2014-09-23 Xerox Corporation Digital curing methods and systems for energy efficient package printing using radiaiton curable inks
DE102012209085A1 (en) 2012-05-30 2013-12-05 Krones Ag Light deflection with container printing
DE102012023389A1 (en) 2012-06-15 2013-12-19 Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Ag Method for cleaning intermediate carrier of indirect inkjet printing device, involves subjecting intermediate carrier to cleaning procedure, in which surface areas of carrier, which do not carry transferred ink portion, are covered with ink
CN107856411B (en) 2012-06-15 2019-10-01 海德堡印刷机械股份公司 Method for indirect application of printing liquids to printing substrates
EP2832549A1 (en) 2013-07-31 2015-02-04 Gemalto SA Device for drying drops of ink and dot-by-dot inkjet printer comprising such a device
EP3083213B1 (en) * 2013-12-20 2020-11-04 Luxexcel Holding B.V. Method for printing a three-dimensional light guiding structure by curing droplets of a printing material by light irradiation
DE102014007131A1 (en) * 2014-05-16 2015-11-19 Durst Phototechnik Digital Technology Gmbh Method for reducing banding effects
CN104085191B (en) * 2014-07-19 2016-03-23 刘小欣 The ink jet printing equipment of a kind of method that ink jet prints on plastics and application the method
JP6589999B2 (en) 2016-02-05 2019-10-16 株式会社リコー Image recording apparatus and image recording method
CN108602356B (en) * 2016-02-05 2020-05-29 株式会社理光 Image recording apparatus and image recording method
CN106626809A (en) * 2016-12-20 2017-05-10 李星 Printing ink curing device and carriage unit mechanism of ink-jet printer
FR3061676B1 (en) * 2017-01-12 2019-06-14 Reydel Automotive B.V. PRINTING AND DRYING INSTALLATION AND PRINTING AND DRYING METHOD
FR3091187B1 (en) * 2018-12-31 2023-04-07 Gerflor PROCESS FOR VARNISHING A FLOOR OR WALL COVERING
JP7336316B2 (en) * 2019-08-30 2023-08-31 理想科学工業株式会社 printer
WO2021127368A1 (en) * 2019-12-20 2021-06-24 Coral Labs, Inc. Apparatus and methods for manicures
DE102020130533A1 (en) 2020-11-19 2022-05-19 Krones Ag Method and device for labeling containers
US11624147B1 (en) 2022-06-21 2023-04-11 Createme Technologies Llc. Drying and curing heating systems

Family Cites Families (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4271347A (en) * 1978-10-18 1981-06-02 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Treasury Method and apparatus for accelerating chemical reactions using a spread beam deflector with single or multiple reflectors
US4813351A (en) * 1987-09-18 1989-03-21 Preco Industries, Inc. Multiple color screen printing and curing apparatus
JP3207873B2 (en) * 1991-07-17 2001-09-10 キヤノン株式会社 Method for producing multi-valued recorded matter and apparatus for producing multi-valued recorded matter
CA2078361A1 (en) * 1991-09-17 1993-03-18 Seiji Arimatsu Method for directly making printing plates using ink-jet system
DE4318735A1 (en) * 1993-06-05 1994-12-08 Kammann Maschf Werner UV radiator for the irradiation of printing inks on objects and method for drying objects provided with printing ink
IL106899A (en) * 1993-09-03 1995-08-31 Adler Uri Method and apparatus for the production of photopolymeric printing plates
JPH07214763A (en) * 1994-01-31 1995-08-15 Shimadzu Corp Ink jet printer and ink
US5985376A (en) * 1995-05-01 1999-11-16 Revlon Consumer Products Corporation Apparatus and method for screen printing radiation curable compositions
GB9608936D0 (en) * 1995-08-02 1996-07-03 Coates Brothers Plc Printing
EP0876257A4 (en) * 1996-01-26 1999-04-28 Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PRINTING IMAGES ON PACKAGING MATERIAL
FR2749673B1 (en) 1996-06-11 1998-07-31 Gemplus Card Int METHOD FOR PRINTING A LAYER OF A PORTABLE SUPPORT BODY, PARTICULARLY A MEMORY CARD, AND SUPPORT BODY PRINTED ACCORDING TO SUCH A METHOD
US6092890A (en) * 1997-09-19 2000-07-25 Eastman Kodak Company Producing durable ink images
US6164757A (en) * 1997-10-30 2000-12-26 Eastman Kodak Company Apparatus for printing proof image and producing lithographic plate
NL1008572C2 (en) * 1998-03-12 1999-09-14 Oce Tech Bv Inkjet printing device and method for image-wise applying hotmelt ink as well as hotmelt ink and a combination of hotmelt ink suitable for use in such a device and method.
US6312123B1 (en) * 1998-05-01 2001-11-06 L&P Property Management Company Method and apparatus for UV ink jet printing on fabric and combination printing and quilting thereby
US6322208B1 (en) * 1998-08-12 2001-11-27 Eastman Kodak Company Treatment for improving properties of ink images
US6350496B1 (en) * 2000-10-13 2002-02-26 Ronan Engineering Company Method for producing permanent drawings and markings on plastic tiles or tiles made of polycarbonate

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO9858806A1 *

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2067620A2 (en) 2007-12-07 2009-06-10 Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG Method for drying a multicolour printed material
US8699921B2 (en) 2007-12-07 2014-04-15 Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Ag Method for drying printed material

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ES2165688T3 (en) 2002-03-16
FR2764844A1 (en) 1998-12-24
EP1162079A3 (en) 2002-11-13
ATE206090T1 (en) 2001-10-15
EP1162079B1 (en) 2006-03-29
CA2293551C (en) 2005-11-08
JP4125796B2 (en) 2008-07-30
CN1178799C (en) 2004-12-08
DE69801823D1 (en) 2001-10-31
DE69833974D1 (en) 2006-05-18
CN1260753A (en) 2000-07-19
EP0993378B1 (en) 2001-09-26
WO1998058806A1 (en) 1998-12-30
US6562413B1 (en) 2003-05-13
DE69801823T2 (en) 2002-06-13
CA2293551A1 (en) 1998-12-30
ES2262582T3 (en) 2006-12-01
JP2002504873A (en) 2002-02-12
ATE321671T1 (en) 2006-04-15
EP1162079A2 (en) 2001-12-12
FR2764844B1 (en) 1999-08-06
DE69833974T2 (en) 2007-01-11

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP1162079B1 (en) Device for the cross-linking of ink by UV radiation
US6561640B1 (en) Systems and methods of printing with ultraviolet photosensitive resin-containing materials using light emitting devices
US6536889B1 (en) Systems and methods for ejecting or depositing substances containing multiple photointiators
US8840236B2 (en) Digital curing methods and systems for energy efficient package printing using radiaiton curable inks
US20030227527A1 (en) Systems and methods for curing a fluid
US20090128615A1 (en) Printing system
US20200298440A1 (en) Method for forming flying object using optical vortex laser, and image forming method and apparatus
FR2760683A1 (en) PRINTING MACHINE COMPRISING AN IMAGE FORMING DEVICE
US6078713A (en) Beam delivery system for curing of photo initiated inks
KR101894656B1 (en) Method and device for transferring a printing material to a substrate by means of laser radiation
FR2824644A1 (en) METHOD AND DEVICE FOR INSOLATING PRINTING FORMS
FR3119562A1 (en) Method for printing an object to be printed, and printer suitable for implementing the method.
RU2176600C2 (en) Method for printing and printer
US5821980A (en) Device and method for producing a screen printing stencil having improved image sharpness
RU2160186C2 (en) Method for printing and device which implements said method
JP7532936B2 (en) Light irradiation method, device for attaching light absorbing material, flying object generating method and device, image forming method, and method for manufacturing three-dimensional object
RU2000102208A (en) METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PRINTING
WO2022113607A1 (en) Flying body generating method and flying body generating apparatus, image forming apparatus, and three-dimensional object producing apparatus
EP1464507A1 (en) Method and device for colour marking of supports
EP2832549A1 (en) Device for drying drops of ink and dot-by-dot inkjet printer comprising such a device
EP3898062B1 (en) Method for laser treatment of surfaces
JP2023037734A (en) Light irradiation method and light irradiation device, and image formation method and method for manufacturing solid molded article
FR2633561A1 (en) LASER PRINTERS AND METHODS FOR PRINTING HIGH-RATE CHARACTERS
FR2504824A1 (en) Laser beam irradiating unit for fixing colours - has parallel beams directed on to moving surface carrying objects to be irradiated and modulated as function of absorption parameter
EP0892295A1 (en) Method of manufacturing fiber optic ribbon cables

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20000124

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE DE ES FI GB IT NL SE

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20000928

RAP1 Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred)

Owner name: GEMPLUS

GRAG Despatch of communication of intention to grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS AGRA

GRAH Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA

GRAG Despatch of communication of intention to grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS AGRA

GRAH Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): AT BE DE ES FI GB IT NL SE

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20010926

Ref country code: FI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20010926

Ref country code: AT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20010926

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 206090

Country of ref document: AT

Date of ref document: 20011015

Kind code of ref document: T

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 69801823

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 20011031

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20011226

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: IF02

GBT Gb: translation of ep patent filed (gb section 77(6)(a)/1977)

Effective date: 20020110

NLV1 Nl: lapsed or annulled due to failure to fulfill the requirements of art. 29p and 29m of the patents act
REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FG2A

Ref document number: 2165688

Country of ref document: ES

Kind code of ref document: T3

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: BE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20020630

PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed
BERE Be: lapsed

Owner name: *GEMPLUS

Effective date: 20020630

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: S117

Free format text: REQUEST FILED; REQUEST FOR CORRECTION UNDER SECTION 117 FILED ON 26 APRIL 2010

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: 732E

Free format text: REGISTERED BETWEEN 20110616 AND 20110622

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R082

Ref document number: 69801823

Country of ref document: DE

Representative=s name: HOFFMANN - EITLE, DE

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R082

Ref document number: 69801823

Country of ref document: DE

Representative=s name: HOFFMANN - EITLE PATENT- UND RECHTSANWAELTE PA, DE

Effective date: 20120629

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R081

Ref document number: 69801823

Country of ref document: DE

Owner name: GEMALTO SA, FR

Free format text: FORMER OWNER: GEMPLUS, GEMENOS, FR

Effective date: 20120629

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: ES

Payment date: 20120614

Year of fee payment: 15

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20130523

Year of fee payment: 16

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20130527

Year of fee payment: 16

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Payment date: 20130527

Year of fee payment: 16

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R119

Ref document number: 69801823

Country of ref document: DE

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20140618

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R119

Ref document number: 69801823

Country of ref document: DE

Effective date: 20150101

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20150101

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20140618

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20140618

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FD2A

Effective date: 20150729

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: ES

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20140619