ZONED ULTRAVIOLET CURING SYSTEM FOR PRINTING PRESS

摘要

A zoned UV curing system (10) for drying UV inks and coatings in printing presses. A plurality of linear UV lamps (44-49) are spaced apart laterally across the travel path (60) of substrates (5) in a press. The axis of each lamp is aligned generally with the travel path (60), but may be slanted slightly so that every point on the travel path passes directly under at lea st one lamp. Power supply (110) and control means allow selection of which lamp s are powered, so that unneeded lamps may be turned off to save power. The pow er level of each lamp is variable. One transverse UV lamp (44) may be placed upstream to initiate curing before substrates pass the zoned system. An IR heater (36) may be placed upstream to preheat UV ink and coatings to enhance curing and to smooth coatings.