UV curing method and apparatus

An apparatus for enhancing the application of UV light to UV photo initiators in a UV curable product, article, ink, coating, adhesive or other object, comprising:

• a plurality of UV LED assemblies that emit light at wavelengths between 180 nm and 420 nm arranged in a row on a panel;
• the UV LED assemblies in the row being arranged so that adjacent UV LED assemblies emit UV light at different wavelengths;
• and,
• a panel moving device for moving the panel relative to a UV curable product to distribute the UV light at different wavelengths across the UV curable product.

A method for enhancing the application of UV light to UV photo initiators in a UV curable product, article, ink, coating, adhesive or other object, comprising the steps of:

• positioning a plurality of UV LED chips on a substrate;
• mounting a heat sink on the substrate;
• positioning a variable speed fan adjacent the heat sink;
• causing relative movement between the substrate and a UV curable product, article, ink, coating, adhesive or other object to illuminate the UV curable product, article, ink, coating, adhesive or other object with UV light to cure the product, article, ink, coating, adhesive or other object;
• sensing one of light intensity from the UV-LED chips or temperature of the heat sink;
• and,
• controlling the temperature of the heat sink to control the light intensity from the UV-LED chips by controlling the cooling air blown by the fan toward the heat sink by controlling the speed of the fan in response to one of the light intensity sensed or the temperature of the heat sink sensed, thereby to maintain the UV-LED chips at a generally constant temperature which results in a generally constant light output from the UV-LED chips.

An apparatus for enhancing the application of UV light to UV photo initiators in a UV curable product, article, ink, coating, adhesive or other object, comprising:

• a plurality of UV LED chips mounted on a substrate;
• a heat sink mounted on said substrate;
• a variable speed fan mounted adjacent said heat sink;
• a moving mechanism for causing relative movement between said substrate and the UV curable product, article, ink, coating, adhesive or other object to illuminate the UV curable product, article, ink, coating, adhesive or other object with UV light to cure the UV curable product, article, ink, coating, adhesive or other object;
• a light sensor positioned to sense light from said UV-LED chips,
• a control circuit coupled to said light sensor and to said fan for controlling the temperature of said heat sink to control the light intensity from said UV-LED chips by regulating the cooling air blown by said fan toward said heat sink by varying or adjusting the speed of said fan in response to the light intensity sensed.

An apparatus for enhancing the application of UV light to UV photo initiators in a UV curable product, article, ink, coating, adhesive or other object, comprising:

• a plurality of UV LED chips mounted on a substrate;
• a heat sink mounted on said substrate;
• a variable speed fan mounted adjacent said heat sink;
• a moving mechanism for causing relative movement between said substrate and the UV curable product, article, ink, coating, adhesive or other object to illuminate the UV curable product, article, ink, coating, adhesive or other object with UV light to cure the UV curable product, article, ink, coating, adhesive or other object;
• a temperature sensor mounted on said heat sink;
• a control circuit coupled to said temperature sensor and to said fan for controlling the temperature of said heat sink to control the light intensity from said UV-LED chips by regulating the cooling air blown by said fan toward said heat sink by varying or adjusting the speed of said fan in response to the temperature sensed.

A printing and curing station for printing a UV curable ink on a product, article, or other object and for applying UV light to UV photo initiators in the UV curable ink on the product, article, or other object, comprising:

• a printing station;
• a support
• a first moving mechanism for moving the printed product, article, or other object onto said support;
• an assembly of UV-LED arrays containing a plurality of UV-LED chips mounted over the support;
• and a second moving mechanism for causing relative movement between the assembly of UV-LED arrays and the support.