METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRINTING ON RIGID PANELS AND CONTOURED OR TEXTURED SURFACES

摘要

Ink jet printing is provided onto rigid panels (15) which may have contoured surface (16). Panels (15) are printed using ultraviolet light curable ink and maybe more completely cure and dry the ink to remove by using heating step. Printhead to panel spacing is adjustable to maintain a predetermined constant distance from the printing element to the surface of the panel. Each of printheads (130a, 130d) independently moveable to control the spacing of the printheads from the substrate. Sensors (138) measure the distance from the printhead to the surface of the substrate. UV curing heads may be located on the print headcarriage (129). Cold UV sources may be used to prevent heat deformation of flat or contoured substrates, thereby making spot curing on heat-sensitive substrates.