Abstract: A rotatably indexable and stackable apparatus and method for UV curing an elongated member or at least one UV-curable ink, coating or adhesive applied thereon is further disclosed, comprising at least one UV-LED mounted on one side of the elongated member, and an elliptically-shaped reflector positioned on the other side of the elongated member opposite the at least one UV-LED.

Abstract: A UV curing apparatus and method is provided for enhancing the distribution and application of UV light to UV photo initiators in a UV curable ink, coating or adhesive. The UV curing apparatus and method comprises UV LED assemblies in a first row with the UV LED assemblies spaced from adjacent UV LED assemblies. At least one second row of a plurality of UV LED assemblies are provided next to the first row but with the UV LED assemblies of the second row positioned adjacent the spaces between adjacent UV LED assemblies in the first row thereby to stagger the second row of UV LED assemblies from the UV LED assemblies in the first row. Desirably, the rows of staggered UV LED assemblies are mounted on a panel. UV curable products, articles or other objects containing UV photo initiators that are in or on a web can be conveyed or otherwise moved past the rows of UV LED assemblies for effective UV curing.

Abstract: A special method is provided for more uniformly and quickly curing products with a scratch-resistant UV curable coating or UV curable printing thereon, such as for CDs, DVDs, golf balls, golf tees, eye glass lenses, contact lenses, string instruments, decorative labels, peelable labels, peelable stamps, doors, countertops, etc. The method can also be operated with one or more special UV curing apparatus equipped with a controller, temperature sensors, and heat dissipators.

Abstract: A UV curing apparatus and method is provided for efficiently decreasing the curing time for the curing of a UV curable product, article or other object having a UV curable coating, ink or adhesive by at least one array of UV LED chips on a substrate. Advantageously, the UV LED chips are driven at a current ranging from 2 to 4 times higher than the normal operating current for the UV LED chips to cause the UV LED chips to emit UV light at a much greater intensity than when the UV LED chips are driven at their normal operating current. For enhanced results, the UV LED chips are cooled during operation of the apparatus and system, so that the UV LED chips can be driven at a higher current for a longer period of time.

Abstract: A thin film calorimeter test station can be coupled to a controller in a thin film calorimeter. The thin film calorimeter can comprise a base substrate, a heat flux sensing device mounted on the base substrate, a mask having a hole with a predetermined area positionable above the heat flux sensing device, and a thickness control device for establishing a repeatable precise thickness layer of UV curable sample test material between the mask and the heat flux sensing device. The thin film calorimeter is used to determine several factors of UV curability. A double test platform test station can be provided so that tests at an active test platform and a dummy platform can be performed simultaneously using the same UV light source. Also, the base substrate can be thermally conductive and be mounted on a thermoelectric heater and cooler for controlling the temperature of the test.

Abstract: A special method is provided for more uniformly and quickly curing products with a scratch-resistant UV curable coating or UV curable printing thereon with high intensity UV light, such as for wires, cables, tubes, tubing, hoses, pipes, CDs, DVDs, golf balls, golf tees, eye glass lenses, contact lenses, string instruments, decorative labels, peelable labels, peelable stamps, doors, countertops, etc. The method can also be operated with one or more special UV curing apparatus equipped with a controller and one or more super high power UV-LED modules.

Abstract: An improved rotary UV curing method and apparatus is provided to more effectively polymerize and cure an UV curable product, article, ink coating or adhesive in or on a disk. Advantageously, the improved rotary UV curing method and apparatus has a special arrangement that provides for rotational movement between an array of UV-LED chips mounted on a panel and a UV curable disk or other UV curable product, article, ink, such as a UV curable coating or adhesive, to better cure the UV photo initiators disk and product. One or more shields can also be provided to protect the UV LED chips from splatter or other objects which could otherwise damage or decrease the light emission, intensity and effectiveness of the UV LED chips.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for printing a product, article or other object at a printing station and for enhancing the application of UV light to UV photo initiators in a UV curable ink being applied to a product, article or other object at the printing station, comprising the steps for: printing a UV-curable ink with a printing head of a printer on a substrate, product, article or other object at a printing station; providing a primary light source of UV light preferably comprising at least one set of UV-LED arrays of UV-LED chips adjacent the printing head; and partially curing the ink dots by emitting light on the ink dots from the primary light source to set and partially polymerize, coalesce, coagulate and/or gel the ink dots so as to substantially inhibit the growth of the ink dots and prevent, running or smudging of the ink dots. The curing of the ink dots are completed by emitting light on the ink dots from a secondary light source, such as from one or more fluorescent lamps.

Abstract: A thin film calorimeter test station can be coupled to a controller in a thin film calorimeter. The thin film calorimeter can comprise a base substrate, a heat flux sensing device mounted on the base substrate, a mask having a hole with a predetermined area positionable above the heat flux sensing device, and a thickness control device for establishing a repeatable precise thickness layer of UV curable sample test material between the mask and the heat flux sensing device. The thin film calorimeter is used to determine several factors of UV curability. A double test platform test station can be provided so that tests at an active test platform and a dummy platform can be performed simultaneously using the same UV light source. Also, the base substrate can be thermally conductive and be mounted on a thermoelectric heater and cooler for controlling the temperature of the test.

Abstract: A UV curing apparatus and method is provided for enhancing the distribution and application of UV light to UV photo initiators in a UV curable ink, coating or adhesive. The UV curing apparatus and method comprises UV LED assemblies in a first row with the UV LED assemblies spaced from adjacent UV LED assemblies. At least one second row of a plurality of UV LED assemblies are provided next to the first row but with the UV LED assemblies of the second row positioned adjacent the spaces between adjacent UV LED assemblies in the first row thereby to stagger the second row of UV LED assemblies from the UV LED assemblies in the first row. Desirably, the rows of staggered UV LED assemblies are mounted on a panel. UV curable products, articles or other objects containing UV photo initiators that are in or on a web can be conveyed or otherwise moved past the rows of UV LED assemblies for effective UV curing.

Abstract: A UV curing apparatus and method is provided for enhancing UV curing of inks, coatings and adhesives having UV photo initiators therein by subjecting the UV curable inks, coatings or adhesives to UV light at different wavelengths. Preferably, the UV LED assemblies are alternated in rows and emit light at a wavelength between 180 nm and 420 nm. A row of UV-LED assemblies which emit light in the visible spectrum can be included so a user can visually see if the apparatus is working. A cooling system can be provided for maintaining the UV-LED assemblies at a desired temperature to maintain light intensity and the UV LED assemblies are placed at a distance from the UV curable product which will provide a uniform pattern of light diverging from the UV-LED chips of at least 50% the power output of the UV-LED chips at a viewing cone angle of 2?1/2 degrees. Still further the apparatus can be combined with an ink, coating or adhesive having photo initiators that are activated by light at more than one wavelength.

Abstract: A UV curing apparatus and method is provided for enhancing the distribution and application of UV light to UV photo initiators in a UV curable ink, coating or adhesive. The UV curing apparatus and method comprises UV LED assemblies in a first row with the UV LED assemblies spaced from adjacent UV LED assemblies. At least one second row of a plurality of UV LED assemblies are provided next to the first row but with the UV LED assemblies of the second row positioned adjacent the spaces between adjacent UV LED assemblies in the first row thereby to stagger the second row of UV LED assemblies from the UV LED assemblies in the first row. Desirably, the rows of staggered UV LED assemblies are mounted on a panel. UV curable products, articles or other objects containing UV photo initiators that are in or on a web can be conveyed or otherwise moved past the rows of UV LED assemblies for effective UV curing.

Abstract: A special method is provided for more uniformly and quickly curing products with a scratch-resistant UV curable coating or UV curable printing thereon with high intensity UV light, such as for wires, cables, tubes, tubing, hoses, pipes, CDs, DVDs, golf balls, golf tees, eye glass lenses, contact lenses, string instruments, decorative labels, peelable labels, peelable stamps, doors, countertops, etc. The method can also be operated with one or more special UV curing apparatus equipped with a controller and one or more super high power UV-LED modules.

Abstract: A special method is provided for more uniformly and quickly curing products with a scratch-resistant UV curable coating or UV curable printing thereon, such as for CDs, DVDs, golf balls, golf tees, eye glass lenses, contact lenses, string instruments, decorative labels, peelable labels, peelable stamps, doors, countertops, etc. The method can also be operated with one or more special UV curing apparatus equipped with a controller, temperature sensors, and heat dissipators.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for printing a product, article or other object at a printing station and for enhancing the application of UV light to UV photo initiators in a UV curable ink being applied to a product, article or other object at the printing station, comprising the steps for: printing a UV-curable ink with a printing head of a printer on a substrate, product, article or other object at a printing station; providing a primary light source of UV light preferably comprising at least one set of UV-LED arrays of UV-LED chips adjacent the printing head; and partially curing the ink dots by emitting light on the ink dots from the primary light source to set and partially polymerize, coalesce, coagulate and/or gel the ink dots so as to substantially inhibit the growth of the ink dots and prevent, running or smudging of the ink dots. The curing of the ink dots are completed by emitting light on the ink dots from a secondary light source, such as from one or more fluorescent lamps.

Abstract: A UV curing apparatus and method is provided for efficiently decreasing the curing time for the curing of a UV curable product, article or other object having a UV curable coating, ink or adhesive by at least one array of UV LED chips on a substrate. Advantageously, the UV LED chips are driven at a current ranging from 2 to 4 times higher than the normal operating current for the UV LED chips to cause the UV LED chips to emit UV light at a much greater intensity than when the UV LED chips are driven at their normal operating current. For enhanced results, the UV LED chips are cooled during operation of the apparatus and system, so that the UV LED chips can be driven at a higher current for a longer period of time.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for printing a product, article or other object at a printing station and for enhancing the application of UV light at a curing station to UV photo initiators in a UV curable ink applied to a product, article or other object at the printing station, comprising the steps of, or mechanisms for: printing a UV-curable ink with a printing head on a product, article or other object at a printing station; providing sets of or including sets of UV-LED arrays of UV-LED chips at a curing station, and causing relative movement between the sets of UV-LED arrays and the printed product, article or other object.

Abstract: A UV curing apparatus and method is provided for enhancing UV curing of inks, coatings and adhesives having UV photo initiators therein by subjecting the UV curable inks, coatings or adhesives to UV light at different wavelengths. Preferably, the UV LED assemblies are alternated in rows and emit light at a wavelength between 180 nm and 420 nm. A row of UV-LED assemblies which emit light in the visible spectrum can be included so a user can visually see if the apparatus is working. A cooling system can be provided for maintaining the UV-LED assemblies at a desired temperature to maintain light intensity and the UV LED assemblies are placed at a distance from the UV curable product which will provide a uniform pattern of light diverging from the UV-LED chips of at least 50% the power output of the UV-LED chips at a viewing cone angle of 2&thgr;1/2. Still further the apparatus can be combined with an ink, coating or adhesive having photo initiators that are activated by light at more than one wavelength.

Abstract: An irradiator includes an elongated housing having an interior recess opening outwardly along a longitudinal length of the housing. A plurality of generally planar relatively thin ribs are supported within the recess substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the housing and define laterally spaced substantially symmetrical contour surfaces operative to support reflector members. The ribs are readily interchangeable to support reflector members so as to establish generally parabolic, semi-circular or elliptical reflector profiles. A pair of lamp holder assemblies are supported within the housing recess for supporting a source of light energy, such as an elongated ultraviolet light bulb, intermediate the contour surfaces to enable focused or nonfocused irradiation of energy. In one embodiment, shutters as provided to substantially preclude irradiation when in closed positions.