Abstract: A method is disclosed to provide a DTS machine that is simple to operate and can through human operator control provide economic and competitive throughput speeds as compared to more complex DTS machines utilizing multiple printing tunnels and material handlers. The present method repositions a print carriage and a reconfigures an inkjet printhead bank to accommodate different sizes and shapes of media. The allows for the printing of a single piece of media in a single each printing event, but maintains a printing throughput similar to DTS machines having the capability to print media in parallel printing events. Media is moved from a media loading area on the machine by a single operator into a printing tunnel and then the operator adjusts the angle of the media relative to a reconfigurable array of ink-heads to meet inkjet expression distance requirements.

Abstract: A system is disclosed to provide a DTS machine that is simple to operate and can through human operator control provide economic and competitive throughput speeds as compared to more complex DTS machines utilizing multiple printing tunnels and material handlers. The present invention utilizes a repositionable print carriage and a re-configurable inkjet printhead bank. The printing carriage is vertically positionable and tiltable, and includes a resizable spindle so that varying geometries of print media may be accommodated. The printer prints a single piece of media at each printing event, but maintains a printing throughput similar to DTS machines having the capability to print media in parallel printing events. Media is moved from a media loading area on the machine by a single operator into a printing tunnel and then the operator adjusts the angle of the media relative to a reconfigurable array of ink-heads to meet inkjet expression distance requirements.

Abstract: A method is disclosed to provide a DTS machine that is simple to operate and can through human operator control provide economic and competitive throughput speeds as compared to more complex DTS machines utilizing multiple printing tunnels and material handlers. The present method repositions a print carriage and a reconfigures an inkjet printhead bank to accommodate different sizes and shapes of media. The allows for the printing of a single piece of media in a single each printing event, but maintains a printing throughput similar to DTS machines having the capability to print media in parallel printing events. Media is moved from a media loading area on the machine by a single operator into a printing tunnel and then the operator adjusts the angle of the media relative to a reconfigurable array of ink-heads to meet inkjet expression distance requirements.

Abstract: A system is disclosed that provides a compact printing system for applying images on the exterior of a clear or semi-transparent 3-dimensional object, such as for example a clear container like a wine bottle. The printing system includes a shuttle system for transporting a grouped parallel series of blank 3D media simultaneously into a printer portion of the system for parallel printing of media. The printer includes a series of printing tunnels that control a novel arrangement of print heads, pinning lamps, and a final cure lamp that minimizes or eliminates the chances for stray UV light to potentially impinge upon and foul inkjet printing heads used to express ink onto the surface of the 3D media. The arrangement allows for a higher degree of throughput of 3D media while avoiding the prior problems of the fouling of printheads during the printing of images on transparent or translucent media.

Abstract: A process is disclosed to precisely control the total amount of UV energy applied to images printed onto the exterior of a 3D object, such as a container like a wine bottle. The process includes establishing a UV dosage energy value to optimally cure an applied layer of ink expressed via an inkjet printing head onto the surface of the object, doing a partial cure of a printed ink layer, using a formula to calculate a power scale factor for the printed 3D object, and then based on the power scale factor tailoring a final cure step by controlling the amount of UV energy applied to the object to obtain an optimum cure result on the 3D object. The process allows for the control of a number of variables in the printing system to consistently apply an optimal amount of UV energy to the printed images.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for reducing the scatter of UV light during a final curing operation in the three-dimensional printing on the surface of transparent and semi-transparent media. The method precisely controls the movement of media during a final cure step in the printing of an expressed inkjet image on the surface of transparent media. The method also controls a number of factors during final curing operation such as the lateral movement of media under a final cure lamp, the number of rotations that media undergoes during final curing, the timely modulation of UV lamp power during final curing, and the selection of UV emitter segments positioned away from a inkjet print head to reduce the amount of potential UV radiation from impinging upon one or more of the adjacent printing heads.

Abstract: A printing and partial curing process for 3D objects that avoids print fouling due to scattered UV light. The process uses the steps of expressing an image from an inkjet printing head onto the surface of a rotating piece of transparent media, rotating the media surface along a single rotational axis away from the inkjet printing head to allow full wetting of an expressed image onto the media surface, and further rotating the media surface so that the expressed image enters a shaped ultraviolet illumination beam field that causes the partial curing of the image so that said image is held in place on the surface during continued rotation as additional ink is applied to the surface. The partial curing or “pinning” lamp is precisely positioned so that ultraviolet beam field avoids impinging on the inkjet print heads so that fouling does not occur.