UV cured flat bed printing technology

UV Cured Printing technology

MyChoice@Firebridge  has chosen Ink Jet printing using Latest technology with UV Cured pigmented inks.
Such inks provide good adhesion to most materials, and ensure long life in exterior and interior use.

A real benefit is use of inks with NO solvent so 100% of ink applied is UV cured to form the image.

The printer format is known as flat bed. Here a vacuum table is used to hold media flat during printing.
The bed is 900 x 1200 mm in size allowing materials up to 100 mm thick to be placed on bed for printing.

This was chosen to ensure many products we make using laser engraving and cutting can be extended with printing options.
The result is expanded service including colour images printed and cured, in combination with laser engraving and cutting.

Our equipment uses inkjet heads well established by Konica Minolta.

the KM512 series heads ensure excellent delivery of ink in 7 colour including white.

C ( Cyan ) M ( Magenta ) Y ( Yellow ) LC ( Light Cyan ) LM ( Light Magenta ) W ( White )

White ink can be applied first or as last ink enabling opaque images on clear and mirror reflective materials.

Machine specs

YISHAN Digital Technology Co., Ltd.
Model YS9007-GP
Print head technology:    Drop on demand piezo ink jet; 7-color print
Print head:    7 pieces Konica512/14pl print heads
Accuracy (maximum):     960*1440dpi
Weight    500 + Kg
Machine dimensions    1.90m x 2.30 m x 1.22 m
Print dimensions (maximum):    1.22m X 0.9m x ( 80mm max thickness )
Print speed (maximum ):    25/4pass(sq.m/hr) 
Media types :    KT Board, Tile, glass, wooden board, PVC, etc.
Shade of Color :    16,700,000
Ink:    UV Ink pigment based Toyo Inks
File format:     TIFF or JPG or BMT
Voltage:    Single-phase AC 220v 10%,50HZ
Maximum power:    4.5kW

Technology overview

About Inkjet

Inkjet technology makes use of tiny ink droplets to facilitate direct printing without the device coming into contact with the printed surface. Because this technology enables non-contact printing, it can be applied to all kinds of media and is now being introduced for use in a wide range of fields ranging from general purpose to industrial. The simple structure that combines the inkjet printhead with the scanning mechanism offers the merit of keeping device costs down. In addition, since they require no plates, inkjet printers offer the advantage of major savings in printing set up time compared to conventional printing systems that require a fixed printing block or plate, etc. (e.g. screen printing).

Scan printing and Single-pass printing

There are two types of inkjet printing systems: scan printing and single-pass printing.  In scan printing, the printhead carriage reciprocates in the sub-scanning direction (laterally in respect of the print media), making several passes to complete the image printing process.  In single-pass printing, the printhead carriage remains in a fixed position and completes image printing in a single pass while the print material is conveyed underneath.  Due to their high-speed printing capability, single-pass systems are coming into use in the field of industrial printing where high productivity is required.

Printhead Technology

3-cycle Drive Printhead

Konica Minolta’s on-demand piezo printhead makes use of 3-cycle drive technology that offers energy-conserving benefits. This technology divides nozzles into three groups for timed ink-ejection control. Because this approach features a structure that allows high nozzle density, it is effective in the development of high-image quality inkjet printheads. 

Konica Minolta Printhead Structure
Printhead Structure (Nozzle surface)

3-cycle drive head principle

Firstly, ink is ejected from channel-A to form part of the image.
Next, after ejection from channel-A, ink is ejected from channel-B to form the image.
After ejection from channel-B, ink is ejected from channel-C to complete the image.

Reduction of Power Consumption to Approximately 50%

Compared to the previous KM512 Series, the KM1024 Series, which was launched onto the market last year, features a far more compact construction to realize a reduction in power consumption of approximately 50%. Development of a new architecture has made it possible to shorten the ink channel length and reduce capacity, resulting in a major reduction in power consumption. Energy conservation, a merit of the piezzo system, has been further enhanced.


Comparison of new (right) and existing (left) architectures

High Durability for Industrial Applications

Industrial applications require the use of all kinds of inks. Durable components and optimum materials have been selected to meet the needs of all kinds of inks from low-viscosity types such as water based inks to high-viscosity types such as UV cured inks.

Precision Processing and Assembly Technology

Precision processing technology (e.g. laser processing, dicing processing and material processing), one of Konica Minolta’s core technologies, makes precision processing and assembly of the main components and materials for the printhead possible. In addition, our outstanding fully-automatic all-nozzle ejection performance inspection technology makes it possible to realize mass-production of high-quality products and establish a production system capable of speedy supply.

Share mode Piezo Inkjet Printhead

Konica Minolta inkjet heads are able to handle a wide range of inks to meet the requirements of various industrial applications. The principle of shear mode piezo actuation with shared wall structure allows lower power consumption as well as a high-density nozzle array.

On-demand dot size modulation, sometimes referred to as grey-scale mode, enables the printing of high quality images and functions to increase productivity. All the development work is based on advanced computer simulation techniques that can precisely predict the droplet formation process resulting from differential ink characteristics.

The principle of ink ejection

Micro scale channels made from piezo electric material are made to contract by the application of an electric charge. As the channels contract, ink contained in the channel is forced out through the nozzle as a droplet. As the channel returns its original state, capillary action causes ink to flow into the channel making it ready to produce the next drop.

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Orange indicates pressurized state. Blue indicates depressurized state.

For further technical information see Konica Minolta papers

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