Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
160 words
In a method of curing a photocurable coating composition by irradiating the composition with actinic radiation therein, said composition containing as the principal component an unsaturated polyester resin, an unsaturated polyurethane resin, an unsaturated acrylic resin, and an unsaturated epoxy resin and a photosensitizer, the improvement wherein the coating composition is irradiated in air in two stages; (1) the first stage, wherein the photocurable coating composition is subjected to actinic radiation with a metal halide lamp emitting wavelengths in the range of about 185 to 500 millimicrons, having a dominant wavelength or wavelengths in the range of 380 to 420 millimicrons and (2) a second stage wherein the photocurable composition is further subjected to another actinic radiation with a medium or high pressure mercury lamp emitting wavelengths in the range of 185 to 500 millimicrons having a dominant wavelength or wavelengths shorter than that in the first stage and falling in the range of from about 360 to 380 millimicrons.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
160 words
In a method of curing a photocurable coating composition by irradiating the composition with actinic radiation therein, said composition containing as the principal component an unsaturated polyester resin, an unsaturated polyurethane resin, an unsaturated acrylic resin, and an unsaturated epoxy resin and a photosensitizer, the improvement wherein the coating composition is irradiated in air in two stages; (1) the first stage, wherein the photocurable coating composition is subjected to actinic radiation with a metal halide lamp emitting wavelengths in the range of about 185 to 500 millimicrons, having a dominant wavelength or wavelengths in the range of 380 to 420 millimicrons and (2) a second stage wherein the photocurable composition is further subjected to another actinic radiation with a medium or high pressure mercury lamp emitting wavelengths in the range of 185 to 500 millimicrons having a dominant wavelength or wavelengths shorter than that in the first stage and falling in the range of from about 360 to 380 millimicrons.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
70 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the metal halide lamp used in the first stage is one containing a metal and/or a metallic compound in addition to argon and mercury, the metal and the metal of the metallic compound being a member or a combination of members selected from the group consisting of gallium, lead, aluminum, calcium, cerium, indium, potassium, lanthanum, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, niobium, scandium, strontium and thorium.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 2, wherein the metallic compound is a metal iodide or a metal bromide.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 3, wherein the metal iodide is gallium iodide.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the photocurable coating composition is irradiated in the first stage for from 0.5 second to 20 minutes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the photocurable coating composition is irradiated in the second stage for from about 0.5 second to 15 minutes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
In a method according to claim 1, wherein the photocurable coating composition is irradiated in the first stage for from 0.5 second to 20 minutes and in the second stage for from about 0.5 second to 15 minutes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
In a method according to claim 1, wherein the photocurable coating composition contains an organic solvent.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
In a method according to claim 1, wherein the photocurable coating composition contains a coloring agent.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
In a method according to claim 1, wherein the photocurable coating composition contains a polymerizable monomer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the unsaturated polyester resin is a resin produced by polycondensing a pholyalcohol and a polycarboxylic acid to produce a resin and further reacting the resin with a fatty aliphatic acid, or a mixture of the fatty aliphatic acids.