Reflective method and apparatus for curing ink

A method of curing ink on an exterior surface of an article having upper, lower and side exterior surfaces by exposing the article to curing light comprising the steps of:

• providing at least one source of light radiation;
• providing a housing having an entrance wall normal to the path of article travel with a reflective interior surrounding the source of light radiation to reflect light forwardly and having a surrounding interior wall to reflect light toward the conveyor and an exit wall normal to the conveyor path to reflect light rearwardly, thus defining an enclosed path for an article passing therethrough;
• positioning the article on said enclosed path so as to expose exterior surfaces on the article to said housing reflective interior;
• and
• scattering and reflecting light from the light source forwardly and rearwardly as well as substantially circumferentially to provide indirect light from and about the circumference of the article and onto substantially and entire exposed, exterior surfaces on the article to cure the ink on the exposed surfaces.

An ultraviolet curing apparatus for curing ink on upright articles being conveyed through a curing chamber, said apparatus comprising:

• a conveyor for conveying articles resting on the conveyor through the curing chamber with the articles having a leading side in the direction of conveyor travel and a trailing side with lateral sides between the leading and trailing sides,
• a reflector between said ultraviolet light source and the articles for reflecting light emanating from a light source to prevent direct light radiation of the articles from the ultraviolet light source,
• an overhead spectral reflective surface in the curing chamber for reflecting light down onto the top of the articles,
• front and rear reflective surfaces in the curing chamber for reflecting ultraviolet light forwardly and rearwardly onto the front and trailing sides of the article, and
• lateral side spectral reflective surfaces in the curing chamber for reflecting ultraviolet light substantially circumferentially from the ultraviolet light source onto the lateral sides of the article.

An ultraviolet curing apparatus for curing ink on the exterior exposed surface of an article, the apparatus comprising:

• at least one source of ultraviolet radiation;
• a housing surrounding the source of ultraviolet radiation and defining an enclosed path for an article therethrough;
• a conveyor transporting the article along the enclosed path so as to expose at least a portion of the article within the interior of the housing;
• and
• a wrap-around reflector in said housing having light reflecting and light scattering surfaces thereon for scattering the light forwardly and rearwardly from entrance and exit end walls and about the exposed surface with a substantial uniform intensity, said wrap-around reflecting surface having a highly spectral dimpled surface to scatter and reflect light at various angles.