Patent Publication Number: US-11383267-B2

Title: Systems and methods of UV printing on substrates

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/690,458, filed on Nov. 21, 2019, which claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/770,241, filed on Nov. 21, 2018, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE TECHNOLOGY 
     The present device, system, and methods is related to the field of printing on substrates utilizing ultraviolet (UV) light or radiation, and in particular to, the printing of patterns on substrates that can be used in connection with grill surfaces, fire pits and mantels, and other furniture. 
     BACKGROUND 
     UV-curing printing inks have been known in the art for some time. Though, it is only recently that UV-printing inks which from some aspects are adequate for industrial use have been developed, especially when referring to lowering the cost of production of household items such as tables, heaters, grills, and the like. In addition, in the last few years, UV-curing has become more useful due to advances in the technology of UV lamps and curable materials. Application of UV-curing coatings can now be processed with sheetfed, web and wide-format inkjet equipment. Even so, although UV-printing systems and methods are disclosed, less costly, more efficient systems and methods are needed which can be used on other substrates not before contemplated. 
     SUMMARY 
     Example aspects described herein relate generally to the printing or depositing of patterns and such and, more particularly, to UV printing systems, and more specifically to deposition of a liquid or solid coating, or a mixture thereof which is curable by UV light. 
     Accordingly, this disclosure details implementations for a UV light system for depositing a design or pattern on a substrate. 
     In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a method for printing or depositing a faux design on a workpiece by providing a workpiece defining at least one surface, coating the at least one surface of the workpiece with a substantially transparent achromatic color coating or a color that fully reflects and scatters all the visible wavelengths of light, exposing the workpiece to a heat source at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time, providing a robotic device configured for printing or depositing a design onto the at least one surface, the robotic device including a computing device, a printing head, a table, a memory, a processor, and at least one UV curable substance, disposing the workpiece about the table of the robotic device, configuring the robotic device according to the workpiece, selecting a design from a listing of predetermined designs configured according to the workpiece, processing the design with the processor and the computing device, instructing the robotic device to deposit the at least one UV curable substance according to the design onto the at least one surface while exposing the design to a UV light for a predetermined time, depositing the at least one UV curable substance according to the design onto the at least one surface, applying at least one layer of a substrate sealant to the at least one surface and the at least one UV curable substance, optionally applying at least one layer of a second UV curable substance onto the at least one surface, applying heat to the at least one surface and the second UV curable substance for a predetermined amount of time at a predetermined temperature, and exposing the workpiece to UV radiation emitted from a UV source for a predetermined amount of time at a predetermined temperature, such that the design is permanently affixed to the workpiece to provide a faux design. 
     In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a method of printing patterns on a substrate including providing a well buffed and clean workpiece or mantel, coating the mantel with a white colored powder and curing the powder coating by exposing the mantel to heat at about 220 degrees C. for about 30 min, placing the mantel at a designated location above a working table of a printer connected to a computing device, adjusting the height of a printing head of the printer manually according to the mantel&#39;s height and setting a starting point, selecting a design from a listing of predetermined designs stored in a memory of the computing device, processing the selected design via a processor of the computing device, communicating the selected design to the printer, providing a light source configured to provide light to the mantel where the light source is coupled to the printer and the printer includes a UV curable ink, instructing the printer to deposit the selected design onto the at least one surface, activating a UV lamp until the printer reaches a normal working power and moving the printing head to a starting point of the mantel; depositing the selected design onto the mantel and displaying the advancement of the deposition of the design onto the mantel on a display of the computing device, spraying the mantel with a substrate paint allowing the substrate paint to dry for a predetermined time, spraying a UV paint onto the mantel, exposing the mantel to an oven set at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time for volatilizing a diluent within the UV paint, and exposing the mantel to a UV curing zone having a UV light configured to irradiate UV light to the mantel, such that the selected design is permanently affixed to the mantel providing a faux appearance. 
     The details of one or more aspects of the disclosure are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the techniques described in this disclosure will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the disclosure and, together with a general description of the disclosure given above and the detailed description is given below, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure, wherein: 
         FIG. 1 . is a perspective top view of a workpiece in accordance with this disclosure prior to depositing a design thereon; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective left side view of the workpiece shown in  FIG. 1  disposed about a robotic device at a selected position in accordance with this disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective right side view of the workpiece shown in  FIG. 1  after the height of a robotic device in accordance with this disclosure was adjusted according to the workpiece; 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of a display of the robotic device showing the design while being configured for printing onto the workpiece shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of a portion of the display of the robotic device displaying the design during processing thereof and prior to depositing of the design onto the workpiece of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective left side view of the workpiece of  FIG. 1  depositing within the robotic device and a UV light source emitting a UV light prior to disposing of the design onto the workpiece of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective left side view of the workpiece of  FIG. 1  disposed within the robotic device and a UV light being emitted during depositing of the design onto the workpiece of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  includes illustrations depicting a sequence showing deposition of the design onto the workpiece of  FIG. 1 , the sequence including a front view of the display during deposition of the design onto the workpiece of  FIG. 1  accompanied by three front side views showing a sequential portion of the deposition of the design onto the workpiece of  FIG. 1  starting at the image below to the display, the front view of the display and the image below it thereof are corresponding in time; 
         FIG. 9  includes illustrations showing a perspective front side view of the workpiece of  FIG. 1  and a front view of the display at a corresponding time after deposition of the design onto the workpiece of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective top side view of the workpiece of  FIG. 1  during spraying of a substrate paint onto the workpiece; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective right side view of the workpiece of  FIG. 1  during spraying of a UV paint onto the workpiece; 
         FIG. 12  is a sequence of illustrations showing perspective views during exposure of the workpiece of  FIG. 1  to heat, the top and middle figures are corresponding in time; 
         FIG. 13  are perspective views depicting a sequence showing exposure of the workpiece of  FIG. 1  to a UV light; 
         FIG. 14  is a front view of the workpiece of  FIG. 1  including the design after the UV exposure; 
         FIGS. 15 and 16  are diagrams showing steps associated with exemplary processes for depositing a design onto the workpiece of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 17  is a diagram showing a configuration of an assembly line associated with deposition of a design onto the workpiece of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In reference to  FIGS. 1-16 , the present disclosure relates to printing, additive manufacturing, and deposition of a design (such as a faux design) onto a workpiece. The design is associated with UV curable coatings (which may include UV curable substances) and patterns, such as camouflage patterns, symbols and shapes patterns, a wood finish pattern, a stone or rock look pattern, and line patterns, ceramic tile patterns, concrete patterns, and all other patterns that can be designated by computer which are cured or dried onto a workpiece or a portion thereof under the action of UV radiation. Specifically, the present disclosure relates to depositing a UV coating or a coating including a UV curable element according to a predetermined design onto a workpiece  100  such that the workpiece can have an aesthetically attractive, faux look. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1-3 , a workpiece  100  is presented including at least one surface  110 , and defining a body  120 . In embodiments, the workpiece  100  may be a workpiece (or a portion thereof) selected from a table, floor vinyl, floor tile, fire pit, house decoration insert, mantel, or the like. The workpiece  100  may be configured using materials such as resin, metal, glass, and ceramic and alloys, and after disposing a design replicating the look or appearance of materials like wood, marble, grouted tile patterns, concrete, quartz, and granite. Moreover, the workpiece  100  may be manufactured via well-known manufacturing methods such as additive manufacturing, molding, machining, or the like. In embodiments, the workpiece  100  is configured as a mantel made out of wood or metal and the body  120  of the workpiece  100  is configured into a cylindrical shape (as shown in exemplary embodiments depicted in  FIGS. 1-14 ). In other words, the body  120  is configured similarly to a disk including a body perimeter  121  configured to wrap around the body  120  which is configured to receive a UV coating. In alternative embodiments, the workpiece  100  may be any other shape required for the finished product, including square, rectangle, oval, triangle, etc. 
     Prior to receiving a UV curable coating  200 , the at least one surface  110  may be buffed and/or coated with an initial coating including a substantially transparent achromatic color or a color that fully reflects and scatters all the visible wavelengths of light. For example, the at least one surface  110  can include at least one layer of a coating  130  of a white coating  111 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . The application of the at least one layer of coating  130  onto the workpiece  100  may be via spraying, spreading, brushing or other suitable methods. In embodiments, more than at least one layer of coating  130  may be required. For a workpiece  100  manufactured via molding, the coating  130  may be applied to a mold (not shown) before or during the forming of the molded workpiece  100 . For example, if the molded workpiece  100  is made out of a resin (not shown) configured to take the shape of the mold (not shown), the coating  130  maybe applied to the mold (not shown) prior to filling the mold with the resin material. Specifically, a surface (not shown) of the mold (not shown) configured to engage the resin (not shown) is configured to receive the coating  130 . It is understood that selected workpieces  100  may not need a coating  130  before receiving the UV curable coating  200 . For a workpiece  100  including the coating  130 , after the coating  130  is disposed on the workpiece  100  the coating  130  along with workpiece  100  may be exposed to heat to enhance or enable adhesion of the coating  130  onto the workpiece  100 . For example, the coating  130  and the workpieces  100  may be inserted in an oven set at a predetermined temperature, from about e.g. 200 to about 250 degrees Celsius, for a predetermined period of time, from about 20 to about 50 minutes). In selected embodiments, the coating  130  may be applied in layers of from approximately 0.001 to approximately 0.1 inches in thickness. In examples, the coating  130  may be commercially available (from Fujian Wanan) and may include components such as an epoxy ethyl methyl, a thermoplastic such as low density polyethylene (LDPE), mercapatobenzothiazole zinc salts, and the like in selected ratios, for example, but not limited to the following ratios: 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Components 
                 CSA# 
                 Content 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
                 Epoxy ethyl methyl 
                 2451-62-9 
                 ≥5-&lt;6 
               
               
                   
                 LDPE 
                 9002-88-4 
                 ≥1.2-&lt;2.9 
               
               
                   
                 Mercaptobenzothiazole zinc slat 
                 155-04-4 
                  ≥0.1-&lt;0.18 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     With reference to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , after the application of the coating  130 , a UV curable coating  200  is deposited onto the workpiece  100  above the at least one layer of coating  130  according to design  800 . The design  800  is described in further detail hereinbelow.  FIG. 4  shows a display illustrating a computer program (below noted as computer program  302 ) exhibiting a schematic image of the workpiece  100  with the UV curable coating  200  deposited onto the at least one layer of coated surface prior to depositing the UV curable coating  200  onto the workpiece  100 .  FIG. 5  shows the processing of the schematic image associated with the workpiece  100  and the UV curable coating  200  depositing of the UV curable coating  200  onto the workpiece  100 . The UV curable coating  200  may be selected from a UV curable paint or a UV curable inks, a surface sealant, an adhesive, a strainer, a polymer, an acrylate, a paint, a pigment, or other suitable coating. In embodiments, the at least one surface  110  may be further configured to receive other non-UV curable coatings or a combination of the UV curable coating  200  and a non-UV curable coating. In embodiments, the UV curable coating  200  may be an Inkjet ink including coatings listed in the table hereinbelow: 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Components 
                 CAS# 
                 Weight % 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
                 pigment 
                 Proprietary 
                  1.0-6.0% 
               
               
                   
                 polyester Acrylate 
                 Proprietary 
                  5.0-20.0% 
               
               
                   
                 DPGDA 
                 57472-68-1 
                 10.0-30.0% 
               
               
                   
                 Acrylate Monomers 
                 Proprietary 
                 10.0-30.0% 
               
               
                   
                 Photo-polymerization initiators 
                 Proprietary 
                  1.0-15.0% 
               
               
                   
                 surfactant 
                 \ 
                  0.5-2.0% 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     In selected embodiments, the UV curable coating  200  may be an Inkjet ink including the following physical and chemical properties: 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
                 BOILING POINT 
                 N.A 
               
               
                   
                 SPECIFIC GRAVITY (H 2 O = 1) 
                 &gt;1 
               
               
                   
                 RELATIVE VAPOR DENSITY (Air = 1) 
                 &gt;1 
               
               
                   
                 RELATIVE EVAPORATION RATE (BUTYL 
                 &gt;1 
               
               
                   
                 ACETATE = 1) 
               
               
                   
                 PHYSICAL STATE 
                 Liquid 
               
               
                   
                 ODOR 
                 Mild 
               
               
                   
                 SOLUBILITY IN WATER 
                 Insoluble 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Turning now to  FIGS. 6-9 , the UV curable coating  200  can be deposited onto the workpiece  100  via electrical or a non-electrical device. The non-electrical device may be selected from a pen, a pencil, a brush, a chisel, or a user&#39;s hand. The electrical devices may be selected from hand-held devices or non-hand-held devices. The hand-held are devices generally powered by electricity (or systems storing energy) and are configured to fit in a human hand, for example, a rotary tool, perforating or punching tools, toner/ink disposing apparatus (such as tattoo-machines, or hand-held printers), a 3D-pen, or the like. The non-hand-held devices are powered by electricity and are generally more complex devices such as robotic devices, for example, 3D printers, CNC mills, CNC printers or the like. As seen in  FIGS. 6-9  (or  FIGS. 2 and 3 ), a robotic device  300  may be configured to deposit the UV curable coating  200  onto the workpiece  100 . The robotic device  300  includes a computing device  310 , a bed  320 , a printing head  330 , a moving rail  340 , at least one memory (not shown), and at least one processor (not shown). The bed  320  includes a working space  321 , a plane  322  ( FIG. 3 ), and a coordinate system  323  including directions X, Y and Z, and may be stationary. Alternatively, the bed  320  may be configured to move with reference to the printing head  330  or the computing device  310 . In embodiments, the working space  321  includes an initial reference point  321   a . The initial reference point  321   a  or point  321   a  may be a point disposed adjacent to the working piece  100  or disposed about the coordinate system  323  and above the plane  322 . Alternatively, the initial reference point  321   a  may be a point disposed along the body perimeter  121 . As shown in an exemplary embodiment depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the initial reference point  321   a  is disposed adjacent to the at least one surface  110 . In selected embodiments, the initial reference point  321   a  is the central point of the coordinate system  323  and the two may be defined by the use of the computing device  310  relative to the position of the workpiece  100 . The computing device  310  is configured to communicate with the printing head  330  and includes a display  331 . The computing device  310  of the robotic device  300  is configured to include at least one memory (not shown) and at least one processor (not shown). The printing head  330  is configured to communicate with the computing device  310  and is operably connected to the moving rail  340 . Generally the printing head  330  is configured to move along the moving rail  340  ( FIGS. 6 and 7 ) and in selected embodiments it may be configured to move along the Z direction of the coordinate system  323 . The moving rail  340  is operably connected to the bed  320  and is configured to move along one direction about the bed  320 , in embodiments, along the Y direction of the coordinate system  323 . In embodiments, the bed  320  may be further configured to receive more than one workpiece  100 . 
     Specifically, with reference to  FIG. 6  (or  FIGS. 2 and 3 ), the printing head  330  is generally configured to deposit the UV curable coating  200  and other types of coating (e.g. ink, paint) onto the workpiece  100  according. For example, the printing head  330  maybe a Seiko printhead configured to carry and deposit a UV curable coating  200  such as UV curable inkjet ink for the Seiko printhead. Moreover, the printing head  330  may be further configured to include at least one cartridge  331  configured to the store the UV curable coating  200 . In embodiments, the printing head  330  may be configured to connect to at least one UV light source  330 . Alternatively, the UV light source  330  may be coupled to a selected portion of the device  300  instead of the printing head  330 . 
     In general, the UV light source  330  is configured to emit a UV light onto the workpiece  100  during deposition of the UV curable coating  200  ( FIGS. 7-8 ). The UV light source  330  may include a UV bulb (not shown) or a UV radiation source with a working power of about 300 watts to about 600 watts (e.g. a medium pressure mercury lamp). In embodiments, the UV light source  330  may be configured to generate a specific wavelength to cure inks or coatings (such as UV coatings), thus, wattage may vary depending on a desired wavelength. The UV lamp  330  may include a configuration of about 140 mm to about 180 mm in size. In embodiments, the UV lamp  330  may be made of quartz and a UV inner gas (not shown) composition may comprise argon. Alternatively, iron and gallium may be added to the UV inner gas composition to achieve a predetermined wavelength. In embodiments, a medium pressure fluorescent arc lamp may be utilized in order to provide ultraviolet radiation. The UV lamp  330  may be in communication with the robotic device  300  or can be manipulated manually. The UV lamp  330  may be configured to emit UV radiation (or UV light) according to a selected process. For example, robotic device  300  may be configured to emit a blinking UV light which may slow down the curing reaction of the coatings deposited onto the working piece  100 . In embodiments, the robotic device  300  may be further configured to depose one or more design  800  (or an alternative design (not shown)) onto more that one workpiece  100 . 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 10-14 , after depositing the UV curable coating  200  according to the preselected design  800  onto the at least one surface  110  of the workpiece  100  ( FIG. 9 ) at least one layer of a substrate sealant  400  (alternatively it may be white coating  111 ) is deposited onto the at least one surface  110 . The substrate sealant  400  may be deposited onto the at least one surface  110  via a spraying gun  410  or other suitable device configured for applying at least one layer of the UV curable coating  200  onto the at least one surface ( FIG. 10 ). In embodiments, the sealing paint thickness may be from about 0.001 inches to about 1 inch. For example, the substrate sealant  400  is a sealing paint  400  which may include about 60% of an acrylic resin, about 7% of a curing agent, and about 33% of a butyl ester (commercially available by Bayer AG). 
     Furthermore, an additional layer of UV curable coating  500  is applied to the at least one surface  110  via a spraying gun  410 ′ ( FIG. 5 ). The UV curable coating  500  can be similar or substantially similar to the UV curable coating  200 . The UV curable paint  300  may be deposited as a coat of a thickness from about 0.001 inches to about 1 inch depending on the application. In embodiments, a square meter area of the at least one surface  110  may include about 75 grams to 150 grams of the UV curable coating  500  or UV curable paint  500 . In embodiments, the UV curable paint  500  may be translucent, transparent, or opaque. In one example, the UV curable paint  500  may have the following components by weight (commercially available by Guangdong Shenzhen Industrial Co.): 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Components 
                 Item# 
                 weight 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 UV curable resin 
                 EM265 
                 62.80% 
               
               
                   
                 ethyl ester 
                 / 
                 26.90% 
               
               
                   
                 photoinitiator 
                 400# 
                 1.30% 
               
               
                   
                 Ultraviolet light absorber 
                 / 
                 0.90% 
               
               
                   
                 matte powder 
                 E-1011 
                 5.40% 
               
               
                   
                 flatting agent 
                 BYK-333 
                 2.70% 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Finally, the at least one surface  110  of the workpiece  100  is exposed to heat and then to a UV light (or UV radiation), each exposure for a predetermined amount of time at a predetermined temperature. For example, the at least one surface  110  is exposed to the heat emitted by a heating device  600  ( FIG. 12 ). The heating device  600  may be an oven  600  including a heat source  610 , a heating chamber  620 , and a conveyor belt  630 . The heat source  610  is generally disposed above the conveyor belt  630  and the conveyor belt  630  is disposed near the heating chamber  620 . The heat source  610  is configured to drive heat into the heating chamber  620 . The heating chamber  620  is configured to receive the workpiece  100  (or a plurality of workpieces  100 ) therethrough. As shown in  FIG. 12 , the workpiece  100  and a workpiece  100 ′ are disposed onto the conveyor belt  630  while the conveyor belt  630  is transporting the workpiece  100 ′ and the workpiece  100  into the heating chamber  620 . The heating device  600  may be set to a temperature between about 50 to about 100 degrees Celcius and may be configured to apply heat onto the workpiece  100  for a time between about 10 to about 30 minutes. 
     With reference to  FIG. 13 , the at least one surface  110  is further exposed to a second UV light irradiated by a UV machine  700 . The UV machine  700  includes a UV light source (not shown) or a UV lamp (not shown), a UV irradiation zone  710 , and a conveyor  730 . The conveyor belt  730  is configured to transport the workpiece into the UV irritation zone  710 . The UV irradiation zone  710  is configured to receive the workpiece  100  (or a plurality of workpieces  100 ) therethrough. As shown in  FIG. 12 , the workpiece  100  is disposed onto the conveyor belt  730  while the conveyor belt  730  is transporting the workpiece  100  into the UV irradiation zone  710 . The UV machine  700  may be set to an intensity of about 500 watts to about 700 watts, in embodiments about 600 watts, UV radiation during a predetermined time period of about 10 to about 30 minutes, in embodiments about 15 to about 25 minutes. For selected embodiments, the UV machine  700  may be included in an assembly line (e.g. assembly line  900 — FIG. 17 ) further disposed adjacent to the heating device  600 . Thus, it may be desired to have the conveyor belt  630  aligned or connected with the conveyor belt  730 . 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 15-17  (in view of  FIGS. 1-14 ), exemplary methods and configurations to carry the methods for depositing a UV curable coating  200  and/or design  800  onto workpiece  100  are provided. As noted above, the workpiece  100  or a portion thereof such as the at least one surface  110  is configured to receive a plurality of coatings according, more specifically, a UV curable coating  200  and the design  800 . As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the at least one surface  110  is configured to receive a UV curable coating  200 , specifically, the at least one surface  110  may be buffed and coated with a substantially transparent achromatic color coating  111  (shown as a white substance in  FIGS. 1-3 ). The quantity of coating  111  disposed onto the at least one surface  110  may be selected relative to the dimensions of the surface to be treated (e.g about 50 grams to 100 about grams). After configuring the workpiece  100  to receive the UV curable coating  200 , the workpiece  100  is disposed onto the working space  321  between the bed  320  and the moving rail  340 . Moreover, the robotic device  300  is configured to define a location of the workpiece  100  relative to the working space  321  and further define a starting point or point  321   a  for the printing head  330  to begin depositing the design  800  onto the at least one surface  110 . In  FIG. 3 , the printing head  330  is configured at a predetermined working height “WH” according to a predetermined distance or thickness “T” of the workpiece  100 , the working height “WH” may be the distance between the printing head  330  and at least one surface  110  of the workpiece  100 . The printing head  330  of the robotic device  300  is configured to communicate with the computing device  330 ; the computing device  330  being configured to store the design  800 . A user can visualize the design  800  (or a list of designs from which a design  800  can be chosen from) on the display  331  ( FIG. 4 ) and further modify the design  800  if needed. After selecting the design  800 , the design  800  is processed at the computing device  330  ( FIG. 5 ). The robotic device  300  is instructed to deposit the design  800  onto the at least one surface  110  of the workpiece  100 . In embodiments, the robotic device  300  may only begin depositing the design  800  and begin a photochemical process where a UV light source  330  is used to cure the UV curable coating  200  after the robotic device  300  reaches a normal working power (selected depending on the conditions of the machine, design, material) and/or when the UV lamp is lit for about 2 to about 7 minutes, in embodiments after about 3 minutes (time subject to change according to a particular substrate). For configurations where the robotic device  300  is part of an assembly line, the robotic device  300  may only be required to reach the normal working power prior to depositing the UV curable coating  200  onto a first workpiece  300 . Some may describe or encompass the deposition of the design  800  and the UV curable coating  200  in a printing process where the design  800  is printed onto the at least one surface  110  which starts after the printing head  330  moves to a start location as seen in  FIG. 6 . The printing process can be computer-controlled, as shown in  FIG. 8 , wherein the printing process may be controlled by the robotic device  300 . The robotic device  300  (or computer software  302  stored in the robotic device  300 ) may include an indicator  301  configured to aid visualization of the printing process. The indicator  301  may be associated with the movement of the printing head  330 . In selected embodiments, the computer software  302  may be any printing software known in the art (such as PrintExp.exe and/or UltraPrint.exe). 
     After deposition of the design  800  and/or the UV coating coating  200  onto the at least one surface  110 , the at least one surface  110  or a portion thereof may be covered with at least one layer of the coating sealant  400  ( FIG. 10 ) discussed hereinabove, followed by application of at least one layer of the UV curable coating  500  ( FIG. 11 ). Additional layers of the coating sealant  400  or the UV curable paint  500  may be applied to the at least one surface  110  until reaching a desired appearance or texture. 
     After a desired amount or layers of UV curable coating  500  is sprayed onto the at least one surface  110 , the at least one surface  110  is exposed to heat emitted via a heating device such as the heating device  600 . At the heating device  600 , the workpiece  110  is disposed onto the conveyor belt  630  and passed through the heating device heating chamber  620  which is configured to bake or cure the UV curable paint  500  (and/or coatings deposited below said layer), so as to volatilize any diluents. 
     Additionally, after the workpiece  100  leaves the heating device  600 , the workpiece  100  is exposed to UV light via the UV machine  700 . At the UV machine  700  the workpiece  100  passes through the UV irradiation zone  710  or UV curing zone  710 . The UV machine  700  may include a UV lamp (not shown) having a working power of about 600 watts. In embodiments, the UV machine  700  may be configured to emit a blinking UV light which may slowdown the curing reaction of the coatings deposited onto the working piece  100 . Ultimately the workpiece  100  is removed from the UV machine  700  with the design  800  shown thereon. 
     The embodiments disclosed herein are examples of the disclosure and may be embodied in various forms. For instance, although certain embodiments herein are described as separate embodiments, each of the embodiments herein may be combined with one or more of the other embodiments herein. Specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present disclosure in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Like reference numerals may refer to similar or identical elements throughout the description of the figures. 
     It should be understood that the foregoing description is only illustrative of the present disclosure. Various alternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the disclosure. Accordingly, the present disclosure is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variances. The embodiments described with reference to the attached drawing figures are presented only to demonstrate certain examples of the disclosure. Other elements, steps, methods, and techniques that are insubstantially different from those described above and/or in the appended claims are also intended to be within the scope of the disclosure.