Optical Element Deflecting Light in Container Printing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current devices for printing containers with light-reactive media face inefficiencies in hardening due to divergent radiation characteristics of LED lamps, leading to reduced light output and potential clogging of print nozzles, especially when printing smaller containers.
Innovation Solution
A device with a curing station equipped with a light source and optical elements that deflect and parallelize light to ensure more targeted and efficient curing of light-reactive media, using UV light sources and lasers with adjustable wavelengths, and optical elements like free-form lenses and mirrors to optimize light distribution and reduce stray light.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If LED lamps with divergent radiation characteristics are used for UV pinning, then the light source can be compact and energy-efficient, but the light output is greatly reduced as distance increases and scattered light causes power losses and insufficient hardening
Solution Approach 1:
An optical element is introduced as an intermediary between the LED light source and the container printing to deflect and redirect scattered light rays onto the printing surface. This mediator captures divergent light paths and redirects them to the target area, reducing light loss and improving hardening quality without requiring a complete system redesign
Solution Approach 2:
The optical element changes the directional parameters of light propagation by deflecting scattered rays at specific angles. By modifying the light path parameters through controlled deflection, the system achieves better light distribution and hardening effectiveness while maintaining the compact LED source configuration
2Manufacturing precision
If UV light is used to harden light-reactive media, then the crosslinking and hardening of printing ink can be controlled, but UV light can fall directly or indirectly on print nozzles causing them to become clogged due to hardening of printing ink
Solution Approach 1:
The optical element acts as a selective mediator that directs UV light onto the container printing while blocking or deflecting light paths that would reach the print nozzles. This spatial filtering protects the nozzles from UV exposure and ink hardening, ensuring continuous operation without clogging
Solution Approach 2:
The deflection system creates localized UV irradiation zones that are precisely positioned over the container printing area. By controlling where UV light is delivered (local quality), the system enables crosslinking control on the printing surface while excluding sensitive areas like print nozzles from UV exposure
3Device complexity
If LED arrays or LED strips are used for UV pinning, then the light source can be compact and controllable, but the radiation angle of up to 120° or more causes light output to be greatly reduced and scattered light to occur
Solution Approach 1:
The optical element serves as a light management intermediary that intercepts scattered radiation from the LED array and redirects it toward the target. This approach maintains the simple, compact LED source configuration while the optical mediator recovers otherwise lost light energy, reducing overall energy loss without increasing device complexity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enhances the quality and speed of the printing process by improving ink hardening, reducing curing time, and minimizing the risk of print nozzle clogging, while allowing for more precise control over the crosslinking behavior of light-reactive media.
Implementation Method 1
at least one optical element for deflecting and/or parallelizing the light generated by the light source, which directs the light at least partially onto the light-reactive container imprints and/or container coatings
Implementation Method 2
at least one optical element for deflecting and/or parallelizing the light generated by the light source
Implementation Method 3
UV light, for example, can be used to harden light-reactive media, as described, for example, in DE102006001223A1, DE69833974T2 or DE102009053431A1. Initial curing may be necessary, for example, to control the crosslinking of ink on a substrate surface
Data Source
Figure 1~5
Figure 6~7
Figure 8a~8b
AI summary
The invention relates to a device for printing containers with photosensitive media, comprising at least one printing station (101), at least one curing station downstream of the printing station for curing the photosensitive container printing (103), comprising at least one light source (100), and a conveying device for transporting the containers, characterized in that the curing station has at least one optical element (106) for deflecting the light generated by the light source, which can deflect and/or parallelize the light at least partially onto the photosensitive container printing of a container printed by the printing station at or near the printing station.