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US 5,407,708 AGranted
Method and apparatus for applying radiation curable inks in a flexographic printing system
AssigneeW.R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
InventorsJoseph Lovin, Lee W. Keller
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method for the printing of substrates for use in food packaging and, more particularly, a flexographic printing system and method for applying and curing radiation cured inks to a flexible, heat shrinking web employing a combination of UV radiation and EB radiation.
Claims13
A system for applying and curing radiation curable inks to a substrate at successive printing stations, said system comprising:
- a first print station having means for applying a first coating of a radiation curable ink to a substrate;
- UV radiation means downstream of said first print station for partially curing the first coating of ink on the substrate so as to prevent pick-off and smearing at a subsequent print station;
- a second print station downstream of said UV radiation means for applying a second coating of a radiation curable ink to the substrate;
- and
- electron beam radiation means downstream of said second print station for finally curing the first coating of ink and the second coating of ink.
2 more elements
A method for applying and curing radiation curable inks to a substrate at successive printing stations, said method comprising:
- providing a substrate;
- applying a first coating of the radiation curable ink to a substrate;
- irradiating the coated substrate with low level UV radiation for partially curing the first coating of ink on the substrate so as to prevent pick-off and smearing of the first ink coating upon application of a second ink coating to the substrate;
- thereafter applying a second coating of a radiation curable ink to the substrate;
- and
- further irradiating the coated substrate with electron beam radiation for finally curing the first coating and the second coating wherein the ink is adhered to the substrate.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.