# US 11,897,253 B2 · Illumination control method of LED lamp for ink-jet printer

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- Number: US 11,897,253 B2
- Document ID: US11897253B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/786,845
- Filed: 2020-12-21
- Published: 2023-02-02
- Granted: 2024-02-13
- Earliest claimed: 2019-12-25
- Assignees: Mutoh Industries Ltd.
- Applicants: Mutoh Industries Ltd.
- Inventors: Yoshiyuki Tsukui; Yoshio Asami
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11897253B2

## CPC

- B41J 11/0021: {using irradiation}
- B41J 11/00212: {Controlling the irradiation means, e.g. image-based controlling of the irradiation zone or control of the duration or intensity of the irradiation}
- B41J 11/00214: {using UV radiation}
- B41J 11/00218: {Constructional details of the irradiation means, e.g. radiation source attached to reciprocating print head assembly or shutter means provided on the radiation source}
- B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS

## Abstract

An illumination control method of LED lamps for ink-jet printers including a recording head in which ink discharge printing ranges are formed in a printing direction and an LED lamp in which light emitting diodes are arranged at a rear side of the recording head with respect to the printing direction. In an ink-jet printer in which the light-emitting diodes are divided into plural areas and the light amount for each area can be individually controlled by a controller, and among the light-emitting diodes, the light amount of the light-emitting diode that first scans a glossy printed surface is set to a light amount that does not cause ink curing. The light amount of the light-emitting diode of the area that first scans is set so the total light amount on the glossy printed surface is less than or equal to the critical exposure amount of the integrated illuminance.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A illumination control method of LED lamps for ink-jet printers, comprising:
a recording head in which a plurality of ink discharge printing ranges are formed in a printing direction and an LED lamp in which a plurality of light emitting diodes are arranged at the rear side of the recording head with respect to the printing direction, wherein in an ink-jet printer in which the light-emitting diodes are divided into plural areas and the light amount for each area can be individually controlled by a controller, and among the light-emitting diodes divided into plural areas, the light amount of the light-emitting diode that first scans a glossy printed surface is set to a light amount that does not cause ink curing, the light amount of the light-emitting diode of the area that first scans is set so that the total light amount on the glossy printed surface is less than or equal to the critical exposure amount of the integrated illuminance.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The illumination control method of LED lamps for ink-jet printers according to claim 1, wherein the LED lamps are UVLED lamps using ultraviolet light-emitting diodes.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The illumination control method of LED lamps for ink-jet printers according to claim 1, wherein the LED lamp has an illumination range that extends longer in the printing direction than the recording head, and makes curing beyond the critical exposure amount by the total amount of integrated illuminance in scanning after transportation.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The illumination control method of LED lamps for ink-jet printers according to claim 1, wherein the light amount of the light emitting diode in the area adjacent to the light emitting diode in the first area to be scanned is set below the critical exposure amount.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The illumination control method of LED lamps for ink-jet printers according to claim 1, wherein the glossy printed surface is formed with a clear ink and one or more ink layers are formed under the clear ink layer.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The illumination control method of LED lamps for ink-jet printers according to claim 1, wherein the critical exposure amount is the minimum exposure amount required to cure the UV-curable ink and is set on the basis of the curing characteristic curve of the UV-curable ink.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The illumination control method of LED lamps for ink-jet printers according to claim 1, wherein the setting of the light amount of the light-emitting diodes divided into a plurality of areas is carried out through: a first process of measuring the illuminance distribution on a printed surface of each of the divided light-emitting diodes by driving an LED lamp of a test ink-jet printer; a second process of obtaining the integrated illuminance distribution on the printed surface of each of the divided light-emitting diodes using the data measured in the first process and the integrated illuminance distribution on the printed surface of the entire LED lamps obtained by summing these; a third process of adjusting the illuminance of each of the divided light-emitting diodes on the printed surface on the basis of the integrated illuminance distribution; and a fourth process of setting the light amount of each of the divided light-emitting diode in such a way that the integrated illuminance on a gloss-printed surface is no greater than a critical amount of exposure.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The illumination control method of LED lamps for ink-jet printers according to claim 7, wherein the LED lamps are UVLED lamps using ultraviolet light-emitting diodes.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The illumination control method of UVLED lamps for ink-jet printers according to claim 8, wherein the critical exposure amount is obtained on the basis of the curing characteristic curve of the UV-curable ink.