Patent Publication Number: US-11396191-B1

Title: Compact media decorator optimized for transparent and semi-transparent media

Description:
This application claims the benefit of filing priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 and 37 C.F.R. § 1.78 of the U.S. provisional Application Serial No. 63/181,740 filed Apr. 29, 2021, for a COMPACT MEDIA DECORATOR OPTIMIZED FOR TRANSPARENT AND SEMITRANSPARENT MEDIA. All information disclosed in that prior pending provisional application is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to the printing of images on articles of manufacture. In greater particularity, the present invention relates to printing images on the exterior of transparent and semi-transparent media, such as glass bottles. The invention also relates to the controlling of ultra-violet light emitters in direct-to-object or direct-to-shape (“DTS”) printers for the pinning and curing of ink after the application of an image on the exterior of a piece of transparent media, such as 3-dimensional object like a bottle. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Several techniques are utilized to print images on manufactured goods, such as drink and cosmetics containers. These containers are made of various materials, such as plastics, glass, metals, and coated paper. The traditional method for placing images on these containers, sometimes called “imaging,” is to print a label on a plastic or paper substrate and then affix the pre-printed label onto the container exterior with adhesive. During the last 20 years many manufactures have transitioned from label printing to direct printing onto the container surface, sometime referred to as “direct-to-shape” (DTS) printing. However, while a label is a flexible medium and may be printed using traditional flexible sheet printing using methods going back over 100 years, direct printing on containers poses many challenges. One challenge is that while paper readily absorbs and retains inks and is a well understood medium for imaging, the containers themselves are made of materials that are difficult to image. Inks of special chemical blends and additives must be used, sometimes in the presence of active drying or hardening processes such as catalyst exposure or fast-curing using ultra-violet (UV) radiation. Further, container shapes are fixed, and an imaging process must take into account the irregular and varied shapes of the containers that are to be imaged. Such challenging print surfaces comprise a good-many products, such as drink cans and bottles, home care products, cups, coffee tumblers, personal care items, automotive parts, sports equipment, medical products, and electronics containers to name just a few. Also, such products have varying optical properties, ranging from purely opaque to purely transparent. Hence, choosing the proper type of DTS printing equipment largely depends on the shape, size, number of colors, and type of substrate to be imaged, as well as the level of transparency of the product media and surface type onto which to transfer the image. 
     Various techniques have been developed to achieve DTS printing. One technique, “pad printing,” allows the transfer of a two-dimensional image onto a three-dimensional surface through the use of a silicone pad, an ink cup, and an etched plate. Pad printing is ideal for difficult substrates such as products found in the medical field and promotional printing, but due to the expense of the process pad printing typically uses only 1 or 2 colors during a print job, thereby limiting the artistic expression available to three-dimensional surfaces. 
     Another technique screen printing utilizes a mesh or screen to transfer the ink to the substrate surface. The process requires creating a screen that selectively permits ink to flow through the screen using a blocking stencil. While a photographic process may be used to create the screen, and hence allows relatively good resolution of imaging, the process requires substantial set-up time and is less flexible because any update or small alteration to the image to be applied requires the creation of a new screen set which increases the time and expense for a screen process versus other DTS imaging processes. In addition, screen printing is typically restricted to only 1 or 2 colors because each color requires its own separate customized screen, thereby tending to limit artistic expression onto three-dimensional surfaces. 
     Due to the above limitations, inkjet printing has over time risen to be the preferred method for DTS printing, especially for package printing and printing on durable exterior surfaces, such as containers. Inkjet printing utilizes a digital printhead to print full color customized designs in one or multiple imaging passes and may be applied directly to the substrate surface of the object or medium. Developed in the 1970s, inkjet printers were created to reproduce a digital image directly onto a printing surface which is achieved by propelling droplets of ink directly onto a substrate medium. The ink delivery mechanism used to propel the droplets of ink is called the “printhead,” and is controlled by a connected computer system that sends signals to the printhead based upon a digital image held by the computer system. Since the digital image may be altered an infinite number of times, replication and refinement of an image applied through the printhead is easily achieved. 
     However, the design of printheads in an inkjet system varies greatly increasing the complexity of creating a DTS printer. Each head is uniquely designed for its application, and a variety of digital printer designs are available to be used to print on various substrates. Hence, various factors drive the selection of an inkjet printing system to be utilized for a DTS project, such as the type of product substrate to be printed, the volume of products to be printed, and the required manufacturing speed for the imaging of any product traversing through a manufacturing line. 
     Irrespective of the complexity of designing an inkjet printing system to meet a particular DTS target object, the benefits of inkjet printing in DTS applications have driven a preference to use inkjet systems in product manufacturing lines. The reasons for this are numerous. For example, inkjet printing requires less set-up time and allows for faster print and cure times. Inkjet printing also is configurable to allow printing on multiple items at once, whereas other printing methods are often restricted to a single print instance for each object being printed. Moreover, print jobs do not require fixed setup time and costs, such as the generation of screens or the installation of plates, and therefore digital images may be easily and inexpensively refined to meet the particular surface characteristics of a three-dimensional object, thereby maximizing the artistic expression capabilities of the printing system. 
     One great advantage of inkjet printing is the ability to change or refine graphic images quickly, sometimes almost in real-time, to adjust printing results or to reconfigure the printing system for a different three-dimensional object. Modern imaging software is template driven and allows for the importation of new or re-worked graphics instantly. Hence, the flexibility of image alteration on a job-by-job basis is a distinct advantage. 
     In addition, inkjet printers are flexible enough to be used for short and long printing production projects, thereby meeting various manufacturing demands. For example, a single machine may be used to prototype or provide a sample, low-volume job for a potential client, or that same machine may be used in the same facility to print thousands of articles in a day for high volume production run. Further, the same machine may use various types of inks to accommodate a myriad of three-dimensional object surface materials. 
     Finally, conveyor and assembly line capability allow the inkjet printing process to become highly automated which increases productivity and lowers labor costs. So-called “inline” printers can do such printing at incredibly fast production rates. Typically, the inkjet printhead remains stationary while the three-dimensional object surface is moved underneath the printhead to maximize material handling through-put rates. This type of inkjet system is ideal for barcoding and dating product packaging. Single-pass multi-color inkjet printers are similarly used to achieve higher quality imaging with more color options at slightly slower print speeds, but still at a high-rate of production. 
     One type of inkjet system is specialized to print on the surface of cylindrical containers and are called “digital cylindrical presses.” For example, The INX Group Ltd. (aka “Inx Digital” and “JetINX”) a division of Sakata INX offers a cylindrical printing solution under its CP100 and CP800 line of direct-to-shape (i.e. DTS) inkjet printing systems. These systems allow for the creation of an inkjet production line to print directly onto axially symmetrical objects. Other companies offer similar systems, such as Inkcups Now Corporation which offers its Helix line of DTS printers. These printers use a rotatable mandrel to hold an object and rotate the object next to an inkjet printhead as the printhead jets ink onto the surface of the cylindrical object. An image is captured for transfer onto an object and a printing “recipe” created, either created by the printing machine itself or created separately on personal computer and then imported into the printing machine. The “recipe” includes information necessary for the printing of the image onto an object and the recipe parameters are specific to each type of printer utilized. In these types of DTS systems, the raw, undecorated three-dimensional object is usually referred to simply as “media.” 
     The CP100 machine is a good example of an industry standard cylindrical DTS printing system. The system is a stand-alone machine that performs non-contact printing of images on generally cylindrical objects, and in particularly hollow cylindrical objects or hollow partially cylindrical objects, for example, single piece cans and bottles and two-piece cans and bottles. Each cylindrical object is hand-loaded onto the machine and secured by vacuum on a mandrel to prevent slippage, which is part of a carriage assembly that functions to linearly positioning the object beneath at least one digitally controlled inkjet printhead. The object is rotated in front of the printhead while ink is deposited onto the object to produce a desired printed design on its surface. The ink is either partially or fully cured immediately after printing by exposing the ink to an energy-emitting means, such as a UV light emitter, positioned directly beneath the object. A carriage assembly is fixedly mounted to a linear slide actuator, which is in turn fixedly mounted to a mounting frame, whereby the carriage assembly is free to traverse along the linear slide actuator. The carriage linearly advances the object in a position adjacent to the inkjet printhead such that a first portion of the object may be printed if the object length is longer than the length of the printhead. The object is rotated while the computer-controlled printheads deposit ink from a supply of ink located above the object being printed upon. Simultaneously the UV light emitter either partially or completely cures the ink. The carriage then continues to advance the object further such that the entire length of the object surface is printed upon. As may be understood, the continuous advancement of the object by the printhead may not be necessary if the printhead is longer than the image desired to be printed on the object, but this is typically not the case and the object must be advanced along a straight path underneath the printhead. The image itself comprises a digital image that is imported from a separate imaging application and loaded into a software application that is used to create the object recipe to accommodate the physical specifications of the object. A profile is loaded through an operating system present on the machine and utilized to control motion of the object held by the carriage assembly along the linear slide. A print engine running on the machine controls the delivery of ink onto the object via the inkjet printhead as the object is moved past the printhead in a digitally controlled manner. The precise deposition or expression of the ink via the inkjet heads is dependent upon the object recipe which includes the specific amount and color of ink applied to the object as it traverses the printhead. The structure and operation of standard cylindrical DTS printing systems are fairly well understood in the printing industry and disclosed in representative U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,918,641B2 and 7,967,405B2. 
     One challenge facing such DTS printing systems is the application of images to the surfaces of clear media, such as transparent glass or plastic media, or even semi-transparent objects such as frosted or color tinted media. Typical DTS systems, such as the above referenced Helix line of DTS printers position UV pinning and curing lamps below a rotating object. However, for transparent or translucent media this poses a problem. Transparent and similarly optically transparent media tends to scatter UV light and often causes UV light to impinge upon the printheads of the inkjet system. The incident UV light often causes the instant hardening of the ink on the printhead nozzles. This can cause the total or partial fouling of the inkjet head requiring either removal and cleaning of the printhead, or more often the complete replacement of the printhead. This interferes with the production time of any print job causing significant delays as the inkjet head is replaced and then recalibrated. Moreover, partial fouling may cause the degradation of image quality applied to the surface of media which may not be discovered until much later in a production run of a high quantity of printed products, thereby causing the loss of time and costly ink required to reprint the media, or even causing the total loss of processed products which in most instances cannot be reprinted and must be discarded. 
     Some have tried to reposition inkjet printing heads or the curing lamps, such as horizontally positioned lamps relative to downwardly pointing inkjet printing heads, to avoid such fouling, but such designs limit the number of objects that may be printed simultaneously and also do not address the quality issue of printed images on clear media because such repositions do not provide a consistent and controlled dosage amount of UV light to be applied to images. This causes an uncertain and inconsistent application of UV light to the applied images and reduces the overall quality of the applied images resulting in a visually unattractive printing result for a consumer, or worse an inability of the image to adhere properly to the object once applied. 
     An additional problem with clear or transparent media is the inability to properly gauge the total amount of UV light that is being applied to the surface of each object during a printing process. Currently, 3D media or object printing is achieved by first applying a reduced amount of UV light to ink applied to the surface of an object, often referred to as “pinning” the ink to the surface, which causes a partial hardening of the ink so that it adheres to the object surface while the object is rotated. This also allows for different colors to be applied to the surface as successive layers of imaging colors are applied during rotation, thereby allowing for a full range of artistic expression onto the object surface. However, each ink and even each color of a particular ink is precisely formulated to harden when exposed to UV light, with each ink varying in the amount of hardening reaction responsive to the application of the UV light. In transparent object printing, UV light easily passes through and is reflected off the various curved surfaces in the object during the printing, pinning, and curing steps. The hardening of an image onto a surface resulting from UV light exposure is additive in nature, with each exposure step increasing the total amount of hardening of the ink during a printing process. If too little total UV light is applied to the surface of an object, an image may not exhibit acceptable visual quality or may not be retained once shipped to a consumer. If too much total UV light is applied, the printed image may also not be retained, and annoyingly exfoliates during use by a consumer. Hence, manufacturers have learned that a precise amount of UV light must be applied that varies with each printed design for each type of media being printed. In fact, the size and shape of each media must be accounted for in order for an acceptable and permanent image to be properly applied to the object. 
     Unfortunately, the attractive reflective properties of clear media cause stray UV radiation to impinge onto the ink, including from within the object, and make it difficult or impossible to control let alone predict the amount of UV light that is applied to the surface of an applied image. Hence, transparent media pose an acute problem during printing because a manufacture is unable to precisely predict the amount of UV light causing hardening that will occur during any particular ink application step. This again results in less than desirable image quality and less than ideal image retention on the object once printed. 
     Therefore, what is needed is a system and process that allows for the printing of images on transparent or semi-transparent 3D objects using traditional inkjet printing processes and traditional UV emitter lamp technology without the delays and quality degradation currently experienced in the DTS printing industry. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is the object of the present invention to provide a compact 3D object printing system and method for applying images on the exterior of transparent or semi-transparent objects, such as a transparent container. The printing system includes a method for controlling the emission of ultra-violet (UV) radiation to the exterior of a 3-dimensional object for the pinning and final curing of ink applied to the exterior of the clear 3-dimensional object. A shuttling system moves undecorated articles from a loading area onto a carrier that is transferred along a rail system under a series of inkjet printing heads. UV pinning lamps are adjusted to accommodate the size of 3D media loaded into the printer area of the decorator in a coordinated procedure, and UV radiation is emitted along a tangential angle relative to the surface of the media to pin the ink to the surface of the media while reducing the amount of UV light utilized. Media are then moved under a final cure lamp to permanently fix ink onto the media surface in a manner that avoids the majority of stray UV radiation and the associated printhead fouling that hampers the current printing industry. A power scale factor calculation assists the method and apparatus to reduce the amount of UV light required, and the method optimizes the timing and use of UV lamps to reduce the total decorating time of objects. The power scale factor further allows for the proper prediction of the total amount of UV light applied to each object during printing. 
     Other features and objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description as well as a study of the appended drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A compact 3D object decorating machine incorporating the features of the various inventions is depicted in the attached drawings which form a portion of the disclosure and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of the 3D object decorating system showing the major elements of the machine; 
         FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the decorating system showing the arrangement of the printing portion of the decorating system in relation to the material handling portion of the machine; 
         FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view of the material handling portion of the machine; 
         FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of the pneumatic robot handler within the handling portion of the machine in isolation; 
         FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of the printing portion of the decorating machine; 
         FIG. 5  is an expanded front perspective view of the printing portion of the decorating machine; 
         FIG. 6  is a side elevational view of the printing portion of the decorating machine; 
         FIG. 7A  is an expanded right perspective view of the printing portion of the decorating machine showing the arrangement of the printheads and UV emitters; 
         FIG. 7B  is an expanded left perspective view of the printing portion of the decorating machine showing the arrangement of the printheads and UV emitters; 
         FIG. 7C  is an expanded front, elevational view of the printing portion of the decorating machine showing the arrangement of the printing carriage and printing tunnels; 
         FIG. 7D  is a perspective view of the printing portion of the decorating machine showing the lifting gantry and printer support assembly in isolation; 
         FIG. 7E  is a top perspective view of the printing support assembly of  FIG. 7D  shown in isolation; 
         FIG. 7F  is front perspective view of the printing support assembly of  FIG. 7D  showing the lateral and angular movement adjustment means; 
         FIG. 8  is a diagrammatic view of a final cure step in the printing process of the decorating machine; 
         FIG. 9  is a further diagrammatic view of a portion of the final cure steps during printing; 
         FIG. 10  is a further diagrammatic view of a portion of the final cure steps providing an option to minimize UV radiation scattering within the printing portion of the decorating machine; 
         FIG. 11A  is diagrammatic perspective view of the arrangement of a bank of ink printing heads in relation to an adjustable UV pinning lamp above a rotating piece of media; 
         FIG. 11B  is a diagrammatic elevational view of the arrangement of a bank of inkjet printing heads in relation to an adjustable UV pinning lamp above a rotating piece of media; 
         FIG. 12A  is a diagrammatic view of the arrangement of a bank of inkjet printing heads in relation to an adjustable UV pinning lamp above a rotating piece of media showing a substantially wedge shaped zone of UV illumination; 
         FIG. 12B  is a view showing various positional arrangements of the pinning UV lamp in relation to the media and the inkjet printing heads, and the effect of such positions to create zones of UV illumination; 
         FIG. 13A  is a diagrammatic view of a final cure UV lamp above a rotating piece of media as it moves under the UV lamp; 
         FIG. 13B  is another a diagrammatic view of a final cure UV lamp above a rotating piece of media showing curing lamp intensity variations during a final cure step; 
         FIG. 14  is a flow diagram of using a power scale factor calculation for a final cure step in the disclosed decorating machine; 
         FIG. 15  is a flow diagram of a UV pinning lamp configuration process for pinning an image onto the exterior of a 3D object in the disclosed system; and, 
         FIG. 16  is a flow diagram of a process for minimizing UV radiation reflections during final curing of an image on the exterior of a 3D object in the disclosed decorating system. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the drawings for a better understanding of the function and structure of the invention,  FIGS. 1 and 2  show perspective views of the decorating machine  10  showing the primary external components of the system. Machine  10  includes a material handling or “feed” system portion  11  and a printer system portion  12  mated to one another in a “T” configuration. An operator is positioned adjacent to the feed system  11  at a convenient location  14  from which they may load undecorated media  20  onto a loading shuttle  19  positioned in a loading area  13  and adjust the operation of the system  10  through a human machine interface (HMI) via a display terminal (not shown) held by support  24 . The shuttle  19  is supported by a pair of rails  22  and includes media support brackets  21  that are sized to support a variety of sizes of media  20  in a horizontal orientation. For the purposes of the present system, the targeted type of undecorated media is a transparent (i.e. visually clear) or semi-transparent (e.g. translucent, frosted or colored glass containers) 3D object. Each portion ( 11 , 12 ) of the machine  10  includes suitable support frames  17 , external panels  16 , and support rollers  18  through which each subsystem is supported. 
     Once loaded with undecorated media  20 , shuttle  19  may be moved by the operator from the loading area  13  to a pickup area  25  along rails  22 . Pickup area  25  is positioned such that a pneumatic robot  26  may grip and raise each undecorated media piece above the shuttle  19  and deliver it onto a printing carriage  28  for conveyance into printing portion  12 , or for removal of decorated media  30  from printing carriage  28  and delivery into product removal area  35 . The removal area may include tilted supports  34  as shown to facilitate removal of decorated product from the machine  10  by an operator. 
       FIG. 3  shows a closer view of the media handling portion of the system  10  with the printer portion  12  removed. As may be seen, pneumatic robot  26  can move either left or right to deposit media from the loading pickup area  25  to the printer carriage  28  or from the printer carriage  28  to the product removal area  35 . Printer carriage  28  is supported by a portion of printer  12  that is positioned or mated with portion  11  within a vacant section  40  of material handler  11 . As more easily seen in  FIG. 3A , pneumatic robot  26  includes a gantry subassembly  31  having a lower gripper assembly  32  depending downward via vertical supports as shown. Gripper assembly  32  includes at least two sets of gripping or grasping mandibles  27 ( a,b ) that are sized to open and close around 3D objects, such as a container like a wine bottle and the like, which are generally referred to herein as “media.” A pair of rails  33  are held by gantry  31  to allow for the slidable movement of gripper assembly  32  to slide along a media loading path  29   a  or along a media unloading path  29   b . The arrangement allows for the rapid simultaneous movement of two sets of media to and from loading and unloading areas  13  and  35 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , it may be seen that printer carriage  28  is supported by a pair of rails  41  on a lower enclosure  38  that is sized to fit into space  40  of material handler  11 . When enclosure is mated with handler  11 , the rails  41  permit printer carriage  28  to traverse from within the handler  11  and into a series of parallel printing tunnels  44  along path  43  and formed within printer section  12 . Printing occurs on each piece of undecorated media  20  within these tunnels  44 . The disclosed embodiment shows 4 tunnels, but the inventors foresee that the number of tunnels may be enlarged to increase material printing throughput to the extent that the material handling section is designed to move material across an increased number of tunnels using an enlarged gripping set. 
     Printer  12  includes a lower front enclosure section  38  that is connected to a taller section  39  that holds various printer support subsystems. Lower enclosure section  38  houses a standard personal computer or PC  50  that is connected through cables with display terminal (not shown) held by a display terminal support  24  for control of the system  10  via an HMI by an operator. A suitable PC for system  10  is a 2.9 GHz Intel Core i7, with 16 GB RAM and an Intel UHD graphics processor  630 , and running Windows 10 (HP part No. 2X3K4UT #ABA). Section  39  includes an ink delivery subsystem  45  connected and controlled by the personal computer  50  for delivering ink to a series of inkj et printer heads within printer image deposition and curing area  55 . A suitable print engine and ink recirculation system for system  10  is the available from INX International Ink Co. under part Nos. 99-14080 (Head Drive Mother Board) and 99-14081 (Gen 4 Printhead Control Board) as part of their JetINX™ printhead drive electronics component and ink delivery system offerings. As will be further discussed, tunnels  44  are sized to allow the passage of media  20  underneath section  55  and include a plurality of inkjet heads and UV lamps that are positioned within close proximity to the surface of each piece of media  20  once positioned within each tunnel  44 . Suitable printheads for printer portion  12  are the Gen 4 Print Heads offered by Ricoh Company, Ltd. under part No. N220792N. Suitable UV lamps for both final curing and ink pinning are available from Phoseon Technology under its FireEdge FE400 LED curing line of products (Part No. FE400 80X10 8W). 
       FIG. 6  shows the tunnel area  44  above which a printhead and cure lamp support assembly  60 , including a support gantry  56 , are positioned to allow for adjustment of the relative positions of the printheads and cure lamps so that various sizes of media may be accommodated by the printer  12 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7A-7E  it may be seen the tiltable arrangement of the pinning UV lamps  58  in relation to the printheads  57  and final cure UV lamps  59 . Gantry  56  may be raised and lowed in response to operator inputs that set heights in relation to each media size, thereby raising and lowering the printheads  57  and final cure lamps  59  which are affixed and supported by support assembly  60 . Pinning lamps  58  are also supported by support assembly  60 , but are able to be tilted via connected motorized racks  61  as well as move laterally relative to the center of each media piece. An operator enters via a human machine interface (HMI) geometries for the media piece to be utilized in a printing job, such as for example the length, diameter, and conical slope (if any) of the surface of the media piece, and a PC actuates movement of the gantry  56  and motorized racks  61  to accommodate the media size. A suitable PC/HMI system for the herein described operator control may be found in U.S. Ser. No. 10/710,378B, at Col. 11, line 19 through Col. 13, line 15, and FIGS. 12-13 (commonly owned by the Applicant), all of which is hereby incorporated by reference. Actual movement distances are self-generated via PC  50  and communicated electrically to a control board that issues movement commands to motors controlling the racks  61  and gantry height  77 . A suitable motion control board system for the above may be found in U.S. Ser. No. 10/710,378B, at Col. 13, line 16 through Col. 14, line 47, and FIG. 13 (commonly owned by the Applicant), all of which is hereby incorporated by reference. Printer support assembly  60  moves vertically (up and down) along path  77 , and UV pinning lamps  58  move laterally along path  78  and along angular path  79 . Motor  63  drives a primary lifting shaft  65  via gearing assembly  64  that in turn drives three passive vertical lifting drive shafts  68 . A quadrilateral gearing assembly  66  having a fixed support frame  69  fixed to gantry  56  and four corner gearing assemblies  67  connects and supports each drive shaft  68  so that when actuated rotational motor movement is converted into a coordinated level lifting motion of printing support frame  62 . Frame  62  includes a plurality of slots  70  to fixedly hold printheads above each tunnel  44  and a fixed rearward placed slot  71  for a UV curing lamp. 
     Movement of each pinning lamp  58  is achieved via a coordinated assembly of extendable plates and pivotal support bars and brackets  75 . Pinning UV lamps  58  are supported by a parallel series of transverse support bars  52  that adjustably hold lamps in pre-formed slots and held in place with retaining screws. Each support bar  52  is supported at its ends by brackets  53  and  54  which in turn are supported by connecting plates  61  so that pinning lamps  58  are slidably suspended above each piece of media across and above each tunnel  44 . End plates  61  are slidable held in slots formed in frame  62  so that as left most plates  61  are moved by gear  47  through gearing assembly  74 , the pair of brackets  53  and  54  are moved right or left, depending upon the rotational direction of drive shaft  73  driven by servo motor  72 . Brackets  53  and  54  are connected to support bars  52  via rotatable studs or fasteners  46  so that as the lateral position of brackets  53  and  54  are changed, bars  52  are correspondingly moved laterally. When actuated, servo motor  72  thereby precisely controls the lateral position of the UV lamps  58  relative to an underlying piece of media  20  positioned within tunnels  44 . The lateral position of brackets  53  and  54  are also adjustable relative to one another so that as bracket  53  is advanced to the right or left relative to lower bracket  54 , bars  52  are tilted about a rotational axis corresponding with the center of the lower positioned rotatable studs  46   a . Therefore, changing the lateral relative positions of brackets  53  and  54  alters the angle  79  of each UV emitter  58  identically with every other UV emitter  58 . A spring-loaded set pin  49  locks the relative lateral position of each bracket  53  and  54  relative to one another, and upon pulling pin  49  out slightly the two brackets may be altered relative to one another to change angle  79  as desired. A series of pin indentations or holes within right most plate  61  allow for the selection and locking of one or more pre-set angles for emitters  58  by grasping and manipulating pin  49  and rotating the UV emitters to a desired angle. The lateral position is attained by actuating motor  72  by an operator and, in the present embodiment, the angle of the UV lamps  58  is adjusted by manipulating pin  49  to allow movement and locking of emitters  58  into a desired angle relative to the adjacent printheads  57  and underlying media  20 . 
     Importantly, the above described selectable positioning of UV lamps  58  in relation to the position of the media  20  and printheads  57  minimizes the potential for UV exposure to each printhead, either directly or via transparent media reflections, as will be further discussed. As may also be noticed, the final cure UV lamp  59  is positioned well behind each bank of inkjet printing heads  57 , but the UV pinning lamps  58  are positioned adjacent to each bank of printheads  57  and pointed downward and away from the bottom ink expression area (i.e. the printhead nozzle) of each printhead. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 6 , printing carriage  28  is moved along path  43  and into tunnels  44 . As each piece of media moves into its own respective tunnel, the media is rotated, and the surface of the media is moved axially under each printhead  57  in a coordinated fashion. As a piece of media traverses under a print head the lateral position and rotation speed of the media is precisely controlled via spindles  42  and a drive motor causing movement of printing carriage  28  via a screw shaft  48  (not shown). In addition to being rotationally controllable, spindles  42  are self-stripping and are locked against each piece of media via air cylinders at one end, but having a spring-loaded configuration thereby clamping each piece of media within the print carriage  28  at the center of each individual media spindle. 
     As may be understood, the disclosed embodiment shows a material handling system  11  mated to printer  12  so that the disclosed configuration allows for the automation of material handling. However, printer portion  12  may be utilized separately without the automation system  11  in which case an operator would simply load each piece of media  20  directly onto printer carriage  28  by manually manipulating the spindle ends to insert a piece of media  20  for decorating within each spindle and removing a decorated piece of media  30  when complete. 
     For the purposes of discussions on the operation of the herein described printing and ink partial curing and final curing steps, a suitable ink delivery and print engine subsystem  45  may be found in U.S. Ser. No. 10/710,378B, at Col. 6, lines 12-47; Col. 7, lines 6-12; Col. 12, line 33 through Col. 13, line 26; and  FIG. 4  (commonly owned by the Applicant), all of which is hereby incorporated by reference. Referring to  FIG. 8  along with Table 1 below, a power scale factor formula is presented that allows for the calculation of the minimum amount of power such that a final acceptable UV cure dosage amount may be applied to the partially cured ink present on the surface of the (now) decorated media  30 . As an article having a partially cured or “pinned” image  96  traverses further within a respective tunnel  44  along path  43 , it enters into an illumination zone  91  concordant with the length ( 91   a ) of UV cure lamp  59  as the object  20  continues to rotate  97  at a known speed. Each lamp has a known width  88  and a known power density as set by its manufacture. Also, each type of ink deposited onto the surface of the object  20  also has a specified amount of UV energy necessary to optimally cure the ink, which is either supplied by the manufacture of the ink or can be obtained relatively easily by empirical testing. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 
                   
                     
                       
                         
                           Power 
                           ⁢ 
                           
                               
                           
                           ⁢ 
                           Scale 
                           ⁢ 
                           
                               
                           
                           ⁢ 
                           Factor 
                         
                         = 
                         
                           
                             
                               
                                 
                                   
                                     ( 
                                     
                                       Rotational 
                                       ⁢ 
                                       
                                           
                                       
                                       ⁢ 
                                       Speed 
                                       ⁢ 
                                       
                                           
                                       
                                       ⁢ 
                                       of 
                                       ⁢ 
                                       
                                           
                                       
                                       ⁢ 
                                       Media 
                                     
                                     ) 
                                   
                                   × 
                                 
                               
                             
                             
                               
                                 
                                   
                                     ( 
                                     
                                       Step 
                                       ⁢ 
                                       
                                           
                                       
                                       ⁢ 
                                       Distance 
                                       ⁢ 
                                       
                                           
                                       
                                       ⁢ 
                                       per 
                                       ⁢ 
                                       
                                           
                                       
                                       ⁢ 
                                       Media 
                                       ⁢ 
                                       
                                           
                                       
                                       ⁢ 
                                       Revolution 
                                     
                                     ) 
                                   
                                   × 
                                 
                               
                             
                             
                               
                                 
                                   
                                     ( 
                                     
                                       Media 
                                       ⁢ 
                                       
                                           
                                       
                                       ⁢ 
                                       Perimeter 
                                     
                                     ) 
                                   
                                   × 
                                   
                                     ( 
                                     
                                       Dose 
                                       ⁢ 
                                       
                                           
                                       
                                       ⁢ 
                                       density 
                                     
                                     ) 
                                   
                                 
                               
                             
                           
                           
                             
                               
                                 
                                   
                                     ( 
                                     
                                       Distance 
                                       ⁢ 
                                       
                                           
                                       
                                       ⁢ 
                                       of 
                                       ⁢ 
                                       
                                           
                                       
                                       ⁢ 
                                       Exposure 
                                     
                                     ) 
                                   
                                   × 
                                 
                               
                             
                             
                               
                                 
                                   
                                     ( 
                                     
                                       Power 
                                       ⁢ 
                                       
                                           
                                       
                                       ⁢ 
                                       Density 
                                       ⁢ 
                                       
                                           
                                       
                                       ⁢ 
                                       of 
                                       ⁢ 
                                       
                                           
                                       
                                       ⁢ 
                                       UV 
                                       ⁢ 
                                       
                                           
                                       
                                       ⁢ 
                                       Lamp 
                                     
                                     ) 
                                   
                                   × 
                                   
                                     ( 
                                     
                                       Lamp 
                                       ⁢ 
                                       
                                           
                                       
                                       ⁢ 
                                       Width 
                                     
                                     ) 
                                   
                                 
                               
                             
                           
                         
                       
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Where: 
               
               
                 Rotational Speed = Revolutions per Second 
               
               
                 Step Distance = mm per revolution 
               
               
                 Media Perimeter (i.e. Object Circumference at Image Printing Location on Object Surface) = π × D in mm 
               
               
                 Dose Density = m Joules per cm 2   
               
               
                 Distance of Exposure = The Lesser of Image Height or Lamp Length in mm 
               
               
                 Power Density = mW per cm 2   
               
            
           
         
       
     
      The Power Scale Factor or “PSF” in Table 1 is a dimensionless value and often is simply a scaling factor or a percentage of the maximum power density. Given the amount of energy required to cure the deposited ink and given the known amount of UV energy emitted by lamp  59 , a power scale factor or PSF may be calculated using empirical UV dosage results so that the PSF may be utilized for future print jobs. This allows for the variation of various factors during printing to obtain optimal image quality on the exterior of the object  20 . For example, if 20% of total dosage during pinning of an image  96  is applied, the lateral speed along path  43  and rotational speed  97  may be varied to accommodate a particular beam strength emitted from lamp  59  to achieve the remaining optimal dosage of 80%. Lamp width  88  is typically small (e.g. 20 mm) relative to the circumference of an object  20  such that redundant image exposure may be ignored. Further, each lamp  59  may include a collimator to reduce the fanning or scattering of illumination zone  91  prior to impinging upon the surface of object  20 . 
     An example PSF calculation is shown below. 
     Given a color ink curing dose density of 146 mJ/cm 2  an example calculated PSF would be: 
     
       
         
           
             PSF 
             = 
             
               
                 
                   
                     ( 
                     
                       8 
                       ⁢ 
                       
                           
                       
                       ⁢ 
                       
                         
                           rev 
                           . 
                         
                         / 
                         
                           sec 
                           . 
                         
                       
                     
                     ) 
                   
                   × 
                   
                     ( 
                     
                       5 
                       ⁢ 
                       
                           
                       
                       ⁢ 
                       
                         mm 
                         / 
                         
                           rev 
                           . 
                         
                       
                     
                     ) 
                   
                   × 
                   
                     ( 
                     
                       238.7 
                       ⁢ 
                       
                           
                       
                       ⁢ 
                       mm 
                     
                     ) 
                   
                   × 
                   
                     ( 
                     
                       146 
                       ⁢ 
                       
                           
                       
                       ⁢ 
                       
                         mJ 
                         / 
                         
                           cm 
                           2 
                         
                       
                     
                     ) 
                   
                 
                 
                   
                     ( 
                     
                       40 
                       ⁢ 
                       
                           
                       
                       ⁢ 
                       mm 
                       ⁢ 
                       
                           
                       
                       ⁢ 
                       Lamp 
                       ⁢ 
                       
                           
                       
                       ⁢ 
                       Length 
                     
                     ) 
                   
                   × 
                   
                     ( 
                     
                       8000 
                       ⁢ 
                       
                           
                       
                       ⁢ 
                       
                         mW 
                         / 
                         
                           cm 
                           2 
                         
                       
                     
                     ) 
                   
                   × 
                   
                     ( 
                     
                       20 
                       ⁢ 
                       
                           
                       
                       ⁢ 
                       mm 
                     
                     ) 
                   
                 
               
               = 
               
                 .218 
                 ⁢ 
                 
                     
                 
                 ⁢ 
                 or 
                 ⁢ 
                 
                     
                 
                 ⁢ 
                 22 
                 ⁢ 
                 % 
               
             
           
         
       
     
       FIG. 9  shows an altered final cure step  101  to reduce the amount of UV radiation utilized in a final cure step. As object  20  moves under lamp  59 , the trailing edge of image  102  (i.e. the last part of an image that must be cured as the object moves from left to right and under the cure lamp within tunnel  44 ) moves under lamp  59  and at some distance  103  becomes fully cured. The remaining distance under lamp  59  thereby becomes superfluous for the purpose of curing. Therefore, lamp intensity may be increased during a last portion of lateral travel  103  to finish full curing of the image  96  and then lateral movement stopped rather than moving the object the full length of the image underneath lamp  59 . This procedure thereby reduces the time of printing while also reducing the amount of duration of any potentially scattered light within tunnel  44 . As can be appreciated, a full number of turns under the emitter must be realized in order that all parts of image  96  receive the same minimum amount of UV radiation so that full curing is achieved. Table 2 below shows a formula for calculating the minimum number of turns required in order to achieve full curing. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 
                   
                     
                       
                         
                           
                             No 
                             . 
                             
                                 
                             
                             ⁢ 
                             of 
                           
                           ⁢ 
                           
                               
                           
                           ⁢ 
                           Turns 
                         
                         = 
                         
                             
                           
                             
                               
                                 
                                   
                                     
                                       
                                         ( 
                                         
                                           Rotational 
                                           ⁢ 
                                           
                                               
                                           
                                           ⁢ 
                                           Speed 
                                           ⁢ 
                                           
                                               
                                           
                                           ⁢ 
                                           of 
                                           ⁢ 
                                           
                                               
                                           
                                           ⁢ 
                                           Media 
                                         
                                         ) 
                                       
                                       ⁢ 
                                       
                                           
                                       
                                       ⁢ 
                                       
                                           
                                         
                                             
                                           × 
                                         
                                       
                                     
                                   
                                 
                                 
                                   
                                     
                                       
                                         ( 
                                         
                                           Perimeter 
                                           ⁢ 
                                           
                                               
                                           
                                           ⁢ 
                                           of 
                                           ⁢ 
                                           
                                             
                                                 
                                             
                                             ⁢ 
                                             
                                                 
                                             
                                           
                                           ⁢ 
                                           Media 
                                         
                                         ) 
                                       
                                       × 
                                       
                                         ( 
                                         
                                           Dose 
                                           ⁢ 
                                           
                                               
                                           
                                           ⁢ 
                                           density 
                                         
                                         ) 
                                       
                                     
                                   
                                 
                               
                                 
                             
                             
                               
                                 ( 
                                 
                                   Lamp 
                                   ⁢ 
                                   
                                       
                                   
                                   ⁢ 
                                   Width 
                                 
                                 ) 
                               
                               × 
                               
                                 ( 
                                 
                                   Power 
                                   ⁢ 
                                   
                                       
                                   
                                   ⁢ 
                                   Density 
                                   ⁢ 
                                   
                                       
                                   
                                   ⁢ 
                                   of 
                                   ⁢ 
                                   
                                       
                                   
                                   ⁢ 
                                   UV 
                                   ⁢ 
                                   
                                       
                                   
                                   ⁢ 
                                   Lamp 
                                 
                                 ) 
                               
                             
                           
                         
                       
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     An example calculation is shown below calculating the minimum number of turns required for the specified equation values per Table 2. Given a 3D media having a circumference of 238.7 mm at the image location on the media, the following calculation leads to a minimum number of two (2) full turns to achieve full curing of image  96 . 
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 No 
                 . 
                 
                     
                 
                 ⁢ 
                 of 
               
               ⁢ 
               
                   
               
               ⁢ 
               Turns 
             
             = 
             
               
                 
                   
                     ( 
                     
                       8 
                       ⁢ 
                       
                           
                       
                       ⁢ 
                       
                         
                           rev 
                           . 
                         
                         / 
                         
                           sec 
                           . 
                         
                       
                     
                     ) 
                   
                   × 
                   
                     ( 
                     
                       238.7 
                       ⁢ 
                       
                           
                       
                       ⁢ 
                       mm 
                     
                     ) 
                   
                   × 
                   
                     ( 
                     
                       146 
                       ⁢ 
                       
                           
                       
                       ⁢ 
                       
                         mJ 
                         / 
                         
                           cm 
                           2 
                         
                       
                     
                     ) 
                   
                 
                 
                   
                     ( 
                     
                       20 
                       ⁢ 
                       
                           
                       
                       ⁢ 
                       mm 
                       ⁢ 
                       
                           
                       
                       ⁢ 
                       Lamp 
                       ⁢ 
                       
                           
                       
                       ⁢ 
                       Length 
                     
                     ) 
                   
                   × 
                   
                     ( 
                     
                       8000 
                       ⁢ 
                       
                           
                       
                       ⁢ 
                       
                         mW 
                         / 
                         
                           cm 
                           2 
                         
                       
                     
                     ) 
                   
                 
               
               = 
               
                 1.74 
                 = 
                 2 
               
             
           
         
       
     
       FIG. 10  provides a further final cure option  110  for clear media. Lamp  59  includes left and right lighting segments  111 , 112 . For clear media, left segment  111  is deactivated and only right segment  112  utilized for curing of ink on image  96 , thereby removing the UV illumination field portion between location  114  and  115 . This re-positions the UV source of light in tunnel  44  to the right and moving a potential source of scattered stray UV light away from ink heads  57 . This option is selected through an operator inputted action via the HMI prior to the start of any print job. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 11A-11B, and 12 , it may be seen the positioning of pinning lamps relative to the printheads  57  within each tunnel  44 . The adjustment of the pinning lamp position  78  is accomplished as discussed above with respect to  FIGS. 7A-7F  and may be controlled through an HMI presented to an operator through a display held by display mounting  24 . The HMI displays the settings required for any selected piece of media and the operator makes whatever adjustments to the printer  12  that are required, including for example the lateral position of the pinning lamps, the tilt or angle of the pinning lamps in relation to the adjacent print heads, and the height of the frame member  62  over the media responsive to the diameter of the media. UV light emitted from lamp  58  is angled such that the right most edge  124  of illumination zone  91  preferably coincides with the tangential edge  123  of object  20  as it rotates  97  in a counterclockwise direction. The alignment of the right most zone edge  124  with the object edge  123  allows for the maximum emitted amount of UV light to be received on the rotating surface of the media  20  within the illumination zone  91 . Further, zone  91  is optionally refined to align the emitted UV light rays with a collimator placed on lamp  58  to further reduce scattering. As shown, wet ink  119  is jetted or expressed by printhead bank  57  onto the surface of object  20  as the object rotates counter-clockwise. The wet ink  119  is then exposed to UV light when it reaches illumination zone  91  and partially hardens into a gel  121  so that the applied ink does not shift on the surface of the media  20  during further printing. This arrangement allows for the wet ink to fully spread or “wet” the surface of object  20  prior to exposure to UV radiation in zone  91 . As the media rotates the slight rotational delay prior to exposure in zone  91  is important because it allows for a better artistic expression of the applied image. For example, the rotational delay allows for a more glossy, desirable image  96  to be applied to the object  20  when fully cured. Referring to  FIG. 12A , clear media will expose ink to UV radiation below the potential tangency point  123  when the UV radiation passes through the clear media material, but given the rotational delay until exposure the point of UV impingement is sufficiently delayed to allow for full wetting of ink on the surface of a clear media object  20  to occur. Further, the downward UV light ray angle minimizes or even eliminates reflections on clear media so that printhead impingement does not occur. For translucent media, ink is exposed at the point of tangency  123  on the media with light scattering away from the ink heads  57  to avoid impingement. Critically, the downward angle of lamp  58  avoids UV light from impinging onto the nozzles of ink heads  57  on either type of media, thereby avoiding the fouling and deactivation of ink heads  57  during a print job when clear or semi-transparent media are being decorated. As shown, angle  120  of lamp  58  and the lateral position  116  along path  122  of lamp  58  may be adjusted in response to a geometry file associated with the dimensions of object  20  in order to optimize the positioning of lamp  58  so that the right most edge  124  of illumination zone  91  coincides with the tangency point  123 . This maximizes the amount of pinning UV radiation applied to the widest possible portion of media  20  without exposing ink heads  57  to UV light, even when clear media are being printed upon with the associated potential reflections of UV light. 
     Referring to  FIG. 12B , it may be seen various positional embodiments 200 of UV lamp  58  and the effect of such positional changes on the UV illumination of rotating media  20 . Inkjet print heads  57  express ink onto the surface of media  20  in a wet condition 119 as media  20  rotates counterclockwise  97 . During rotation, the surface of media  20  rotates into various angular zones demarked by angles of 0 degrees  205 , 90 degrees  209 , 180 degrees  207 , and 270 degrees  208 , thereby creating four angular quadrants of 90 degrees each. A preferred illumination area  214  may also be seen consisting of plus or minus 45 degrees ( 212 ,  213 ) from angular point 270 degrees  208 . 
     In relation to inkjet printing heads  57 , UV pinning lamp  58  may be moved into various lateral and angular positions  215  thereby altering the position of illumination field  91  issuing from lamp  58 . As previously described, inkjet heads  57  and UV lamps  58  are supported by frame member  62  but also extend just below the lower surface  201  of frame member  62  so as to interact with each piece of media  62  when inside tunnels  44  during a printing operation. Lamp  58  may be adjusted to move laterally away from printheads  57  along line  203  to various a user selected distances  204 ( a - c ) as measured from the edge of printheads  57  to a center pivot point  202  for lamp  58 . Pivot point  202  corresponds with retaining grommet  46   a  (see  FIG. 7F ) to allow lamp  58  to be rotated into various user selected angles  206 ( a - c ) as measured from a line bisecting lamp  58  and intersecting pivot point  202 , thereby forming an angle  206  with line  203 . Line  203  is parallel with lower surface  201  and also intersects pivot point  202  as shown. Angles thus formed may range preferably from approximately 70 degrees  206   a,  95 degrees  206   b , or 120 degrees  206   c . As will be understood, by varying the lateral and angular position of lamp  58 , a UV illumination zone or field having various coverage areas  91 ( a - c ) relative to media  20  may be created. Each field has a right most illumination edge  124 ( a - c ) that varies with angle and lateral position such that intersection with ink layer  119  on the surface of media  20  creates a tangency point  211 ( a - c ) at the intersection location. Each tangency point varies in relation to the lamp position, but is preferably located within preferred angular zone  214  that maximizes the amount of power impinging upon the ink  119  during rotation while minimizing any potential for reflectivity of UV light to intersect the nozzles on printheads  57 . For example, for the media size depicted in  FIG. 12B , a preferred position of lateral distance  204   b  is combined with an angular position of  206   b  to produce an illumination field of  91   b . UV light will therefore partially harden ink  119  as is passes through field  91   b , including tangency point  211   b  and keeping wet ink  119  within zones  212  and  213  until gelled. By adjusting the lateral and angular position of lamp  58 , a large range of media sizes and various types of inks may be accommodated within printer  12  without fouling the ink nozzles of the printheads  57  during printing. 
       FIGS. 13A-13B  show the application of exposure control so as to minimize reflections of UV light during final cure by modulating different banks of emitters in lamp  59  or by modulating the power level of all emitters in lamp  59  ( FIG. 13B ).  FIG. 13A  shows the traditional method in which the entire 3D object is moved under a curing lamp for the entire length of the object resulting in the gross scattering of UV radiation  126 , likely in a direction toward a printhead  57 . The same traditional approach shown in  FIG. 13A  applies with a UV curing lamp emitter positioned underneath the object, which is the most common industry position standard for final curing of ink on 3D objects.  FIG. 13B  shows the improved, modulated approach. Two levels of intensity are used for lamp  59 . While an image is being printed and pinned onto the surface of object  20 , the entire object is moving into illumination zone  91 . As image leading edge  132  enters the start of the illumination zone  131 , intensity of lamp  59  is set at a value less than full value, for example 50% of full illumination strength, but modulated to an intensity value responsive to a final UV exposure value calculated in accordance with the PSF value to achieve complete curing. Object  20  continues to move forward into the illumination zone  91  along path  43 . Once image  96  has been fully printed and pinned, the intensity of lamp  59  is increased to full power, or other second higher power depending about size and length of the image and lamp intensity, and again in accordance with the PSF value. The object continues through the illumination zone  91  until the left trailing edge  133  of image  96  attains a fully cured state. Since final cure lamp  59  does not use a full power level until after image  96  is fully printed, the total amount of UV light emitted by the cure lamp  59  is greatly reduced thereby reducing the amount of stray UV light at a high-power level being potentially scattered around the printing tunnel  44  during final curing of the media  20 . Since many types of transparent or translucent media include concave and convex surfaces, like for example a smooth, curved neck surface, this UV power reduction process minimizes the potential for a concentrated beam of UV light impinging upon a print head, or if it does it would do so at a reduced UV effect. 
       FIG. 14  shows a process  140  for using the PSF formula shown in Table 1 to control values in the printing process for the system  10 . The process starts  141  by calculating a PSF by using empirical observations  142 . Using the PSF value, an optimal pinning lamp dosage value is determined  143  for the transparent media  20  upon which an image is to be applied. The value calculated in step  143  is then subtracted from the total optimal UV dosage amount required to fully cure the image onto the surface of the media  144 . The PSF is further used to determine the final cure step parameters  146  which are then used to implement a final cure in the print job for a piece of media  147 , which ends the printing of a piece of media  148 . For example, an optimal media rotational speed for the printing of a piece of media in the printer can be calculated as follows: 
     Rotational speed=(PSF×Distance of Exposure×Power Density of lamp×Lamp Width)/(Step Distance per Rev×Perimeter of Media×Dose Density) 
     Therefore:
         Rotational speed=(0.25×40 mm×8000 mW/cm2×20 mm)/(5 mm/Rev×238.7 mm×146 mJ/cm2)=9.1 Rev/s or less to produce a satisfactory full cure.       

       FIG. 15  shows the process steps for adjusting the machine  10  for use on a particular 3D media shape in order to realize the reduced printhead fouling characteristics of the herein described system in a print job. Process  150  starts  151  by obtaining the 3D object geometries  152  by either taking manual measurements of the object and inputting those values into the system HMI or by reading into the system a geometry file that specifies the geometry values representing the object from a recipe file provided for the object and its assigned image to be applied. Responsive to the geometries for the object, the height of the printheads  57  held in slots  70  is adjusted  153  up or down along path  77  via commands issued to motor  63  to raise of lower printer support assembly  60 . The distance is adjusted  153  so that the printheads are optimally spaced  117  from the surface of the media to obtain the best image quality on the surface of the 3D object. Responsive to the diameter of the object, the lateral position  78  and angle  79  of the UV pinning lamp  58  is adjusted  154  relative to the central rotational axis of the media  20  in order to position the pinning lamp illumination zone edge to be coincident with the tangency  123  of the rotating 3D object surface (see  FIG. 12 ). Using the formula for the PSF shown in Table 1, the required duration and illumination power for the pinning lamps  58  is calculated and set  155  to control the rotation rate of the media, the lateral advancement  43  and travel speed of printing carriage  28  in system  10 . The ink representing an image  96  is applied and rotates into the illumination zone  91  to become gelled or “pinned” onto the surface of the object  156 . This process of repeatedly applying and pinning an image onto an object surface is repeated until the print job is complete  157  and stopped  158 . 
       FIG. 16  shows process steps for adjusting the functionality of a final cure lamp to reduce the potential for printhead fouling  170 . Some cure lamps  59  utilize one or more parallel segments of LED (light emitting diodes) on their illumination surface of the lamp. For those types of lamps, the printing process of system  10  starts  171  by checking to see if the final cure lamp incorporates selectable LED segments  172 . If it does, segments closest to the ink printhead are deactivated  174  in each lamp  59 . If the lamp does not include selectable segments, step  174  is skipped. Then, the distance for the trailing edge of the pinned image  96  to travel under the final cure lamp when the lamp is set at full power to fully and optimally cure is determined  176 . The number of whole rotations of the 3D media to meet the minimum cure distance from step  176  is calculated  177  using the formula shown in Table 2. The values calculated in steps  176  and  177  are then used to implement the final cure set in the system  179 . For example, assuming a non-de-activatable LED final cure lamp of 80 mm (versus a segment selectable lamp having two 40 mm segments), a calculated PSF equals [(8 rev/s×5 mm/rev×238.7 mm×143 mJ/cm 2 )/(800 mm lamp length×8000 mW/cm 2 ×20 mm)=0.11 or 11%]. Therefore, the number of turns required equals [(8 rev/s×238.7 mm×146 mJ/cm 2 )/(20 mm×8000 mW/cm 2 )=1.74 turns], which would be rounded to the next higher integer of two (2) turns to ensure even image coverage. If an operator utilizes a less powerful lamp, for example 4000 mW/cm 2 , the PSF would then double to 0.21 and the number of turns would increase from two (2) to four (4) turns. 
     While I have shown my invention in one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.