Patent ID: 8105659
Filing Date: 2012-01-31
Classification: B41M,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of controlling gloss of an image, comprising: forming an image over a substrate by applying a colored composition over one or more portions of the substrate; applying an overcoat composition over one or more portions of the formed image, wherein the overcoat composition is colorless, and is comprised of at least one gellant, at least one curable monomer, at least one curable wax and optionally at least one photoinitiator, the applying being done at a temperature of 50° C. to 120° C.; cooling the applied overcoat composition to a temperature below a gel point of the at least one gellant to achieve a gel state; and curing the overcoat composition in a single step following the cooling by applying radiation to the overcoat composition and, during the curing, controlling an amount of oxygen present in an atmosphere around the overcoat composition, wherein the amount of oxygen present in the atmosphere around the overcoat composition is controlled by pre-selecting the amount of oxygen to be present in the atmosphere around the overcoat composition based upon a desired gloss to be exhibited by the image, and then setting the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere by either increasing the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere of a chamber or housing where the curing is conducted to correspond to the pre-selected amount by introducing into the chamber or housing oxygen from a gas cylinder or generated by molecular sieve or membrane concentrator, or decreasing the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere of the chamber or housing where the curing is conducted to correspond to the pre-selected amount by introducing into the chamber or housing nitrogen, carbon dioxide, argon or helium from a gas cylinder or generated by molecular sieve or membrane concentrator.