UV Pad Printing via Inkjet Transfer and Curing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional pad printing methods face challenges in changing printing patterns due to the need for separate original plates, slow printing speeds, and print unevenness or image disturbance, especially when using ultraviolet curable inks.

Innovation Solution

A printing method utilizing an inkjet system to apply ultraviolet curable ink directly to an elastic transfer pad, followed by pressure contact with the printing object, and subsequent UV irradiation for provisional and final curing, allowing for single-step transfer and improved ink transfer properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional pad printing with separate original plates is used, then printing pattern change is possible, but printing speed becomes very slow and productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting pattern change capabilityVSAvoidprinting speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a planar original plate as a copy master to transfer printing patterns to an elastic transfer pad, which then transfers to the curved printing object. This copying approach eliminates the need for separate original plates for each printing object while maintaining pattern flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an elastic transfer pad as an intermediary between the planar original plate and the curved printing object. This mediator enables efficient pattern transfer without requiring separate original plates for each target surface, thereby improving printing speed while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If ultraviolet curable ink is transferred to elastic blanket and offset-printed, then printing can be performed, but ink transfer is insufficient causing print unevenness and image disturbance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting process feasibilityVSAvoidprint quality uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent controls the viscosity of ultraviolet curable ink through parameter adjustments (temperature, composition) to ensure proper transfer from the elastic transfer pad to the printing object. This viscosity control prevents print unevenness and image disturbance while maintaining process feasibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent ensures that the surface of the elastic transfer pad contacting the printing object has optimized ink transfer properties through local quality control, including surface treatment and ink formulation specific to that interface, thereby achieving uniform print quality without offset printing issues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Manufacturing precision

If viscosity increasing treatment is performed on ultraviolet curable ink, then ink transfer to soft pad is improved, but printing speed decreases to 5 minutes and specific ink is required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveink transfer propertyVSAvoidprinting speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary viscosity adjustment of ultraviolet curable ink before transfer to the elastic transfer pad, optimizing transfer properties in advance. This preliminary action ensures good ink transfer without requiring slow 5-minute treatment processes, thereby maintaining high printing speed while achieving precise ink transfer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 method enables high-speed printing with various ultraviolet curable inks, reducing printing processes and time, while ensuring excellent transfer properties and image quality by controlling viscosity gradients and curing stages.

Implementation Method 1

an ultraviolet curable ink is applied to an elastic transfer pad by an ink jet system

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInk jet propulsion: Jet

Implementation Method 2

UV irradiation is performed on the ultraviolet curable ink image, thereby making the ultraviolet curable ink image be in a half-dry state

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotopolymerization: Photopolymerisation

Implementation Method 3

the transfer pad and a printing object are brought into pressure contact with each other, to thereby transfer the ultraviolet curable ink applied to the transfer pad to the printing object

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure-driven transfer: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS8899739B2Printing method and printing system

Publication Date: 2014.12.02 MIMAKI ENGINEERING CO LTD

AI summary

A printing method and a printing system are provided in which a fast printing speed is achieved, a variety of ultraviolet curable inks can be used, and excellent transfer properties to a printing object can be achieved. First, print processing is performed, thereby printing an image on a transfer pad, next, provisional curing processing is performed, thereby provisionally curing an ultraviolet curable ink applied to the transfer pad, next, transfer processing is performed, thereby transferring the ultraviolet curable ink landed on the transfer pad to a printing object, and next, final curing processing is performed, thereby performing final curing of the ultraviolet curable ink transferred to the printing object. In this way, transfer printing of an image to the printing object can be performed by a single transfer. In addition, if the transfer printing is finished, cleaning processing is performed, thereby cleaning the transfer pad.