Method and apparatus for curing inks printed on fibrous absorbent article components

A method for printing, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a substrate extending in a machine direction, the substrate comprising a first surface and an opposing second surface and defining a width in a cross direction;
• depositing energy curable ink onto the substrate;
• advancing the substrate in the machine direction between a light source and a mirror;
• directing ultraviolet light from the light source toward the first surface of the substrate, wherein a portion of the ultraviolet light travels through substrate and away from the second surface of the substrate to the mirror, wherein the mirror reflects ultraviolet light traveling from the second surface of the substrate back toward the second surface of the substrate;
• curing a first portion of the energy curable ink with ultraviolet light traveling from the light source toward the first surface of the substrate;
• and
• curing a second portion of the energy curable ink with ultraviolet light reflected from the mirror.

An apparatus for printing a substrate extending in a machine direction, the substrate comprising a first surface and an opposing second surface and defining a width in a cross direction, the apparatus comprising:

• a supply of energy curable ink;
• a printing station positioned to deposit energy curable ink from the supply onto the first surface of the substrate;
• and
• a curing apparatus for curing the energy curable ink on the substrate, the curing apparatus comprising:
• a light source positioned to direct ultraviolet light toward the first surface of the substrate at a location downstream in the machine direction from the printing station, wherein the ultraviolet light source comprises a wavelength, and a mirror positioned to reflect ultraviolet light from the light source that travels through substrate and away from the second surface of the substrate back toward the second surface of the substrate.