CA1067855A - Air cooling means for uv processor - Google Patents
Air cooling means for uv processorInfo
- Publication number
- CA1067855A CA1067855A CA245,518A CA245518A CA1067855A CA 1067855 A CA1067855 A CA 1067855A CA 245518 A CA245518 A CA 245518A CA 1067855 A CA1067855 A CA 1067855A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- air
- nozzles
- cooling means
- slot
- lamp
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
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Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F26—DRYING
- F26B—DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM
- F26B3/00—Drying solid materials or objects by processes involving the application of heat
- F26B3/28—Drying solid materials or objects by processes involving the application of heat by radiation, e.g. from the sun
- F26B3/283—Drying solid materials or objects by processes involving the application of heat by radiation, e.g. from the sun in combination with convection
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
- B01J19/00—Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus
- B01J19/08—Processes employing the direct application of electric or wave energy, or particle radiation; Apparatus therefor
- B01J19/12—Processes employing the direct application of electric or wave energy, or particle radiation; Apparatus therefor employing electromagnetic waves
- B01J19/122—Incoherent waves
- B01J19/123—Ultra-violet light
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Toxicology (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Electromagnetism (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Microbiology (AREA)
- Coating Apparatus (AREA)
- Details Of Measuring And Other Instruments (AREA)
- Arrangement Of Elements, Cooling, Sealing, Or The Like Of Lighting Devices (AREA)
- Treatments Of Macromolecular Shaped Articles (AREA)
- Physical Or Chemical Processes And Apparatus (AREA)
- Printing Methods (AREA)
- Application Of Or Painting With Fluid Materials (AREA)
Abstract
Abstract of the Disclosure Air cooling means useful in conjunction with UV processors, i.e., apparatus for treating products with ultraviolet light, is adapted to impinge relatively high velocity cooling air onto the product being treated while minimizing contact of the cooling air with the lamp providing the ultraviolet light. The air cooling means comprises oppositely spaced alot-like nozzles and an exhaust channel to remove the air without con-tacting the ultraviolet lamp. In preferred embodiments, the nozzles direct the air angularly away from the ultraviolet lamp and toward a longitudinal exhaust channel positioned between and above the nozzles.
It is preferred that the UV processor have a plurality of ultraviolet lamps with air cooling means adjacent to and following each such lamp.
It is preferred that the UV processor have a plurality of ultraviolet lamps with air cooling means adjacent to and following each such lamp.
Description
~06~7855i AIR COOLING MEANS FOR UV PROCESSOR
Processes in which products are treated with ultraviolet light (UV) to effect polymerization, sterilization, etc., and in particular, the use of ultraviolet light for the curing of coatings, inks and similar materials utilize equipment which comprises one and usually several ultraviolet light lamps positioned so as to direct W
radiation onto a workpiece passed beneath the lamps, usually on a movlng conveyor or web.
Considerable heat is generated by the ultraviolet lamps and in some cases it is desirable to control the surface temperature of the workpiece and to remove the heat from the workpiece as soon as possible thereby preventing excessive buildup and penetration of the heat in the workpiece. Because wood and similar materials do not lose heat rapidly, if such buildup occurs the heat is retained for unduly long periods thereby resulting in possible deterioration of the substrate and/or the coating thereon. Heat buildup is also a problem with coatings on thin me~al substrates, which may flex due to expansion before the coating is fully cured, and with plastic substrates which may deform due to excessive heat.
Cooling air should not contact the lamp surface itself, because differential cooling of the bulb surface results with attendent deteriora-tion and premature failure of the lamp. Thus, the cooling should be localized, insofar as possible, at the surface of the workpiece.
Apparatus suggested heretofore for such purpose utilizes large volumes of air which then pass over and around the product, without provision for localizing the cooling by directing the inlet air and exhaust in the manner described herein.
The present invention provides means for removing from the surface of a workpiece being treated with ultraviolet light the heat generated by the UV lamp within a relatively short time of such treatment, by utilizing a - 1 - ' . ,,~
'~ 1i)678SS
;; narrow ~tream of hlgh velocit~ a~r whlch is removed through an exhaust channel immediately after contacting the workpiece.
The invention provides or this purpose air cooling means which comprlse3 an elonga~ed housing deflnlng an enclosed passageway lnto whlch there i9 an air inlet, air belng dlrected from said inlet lnto the pas~ageway and out through opposltely-spaced narrow slot-like nozzles extending longitudlnally along the botto~ of the housing. Theiair is directed in a narrow stream at relatively high velocity through the nozzles onto the workpiece and into an exhaust channelbetween ~he nozzles from where lt is removed through the Pxhaus~ channel before the cooling air can reach the area of the ultraviolet lamp itself. The exhaust channel extends longitudinally parallel to the slot-like nozzles a~d between the inner walls of the housing, above and between the nozzles. The nozzles perferably direct the air in an angle to the horizontal plane of the path of travel of the workpiece, toward each other and into the exhaust channel. In a W processor, the air coollng means i9 ordinarily positioned ad~acent to and following an ultraviolet lamp along the path of travel of the workpiece. Where a plurality of ultraviolet lamps is utilized, as is ordinarily the case, it is preferred that each such lamp be followed by air cooling means as de~cribed.
Descr~ti~n of the Drawings In the drawings:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a W processor with a cutaway ~ec~lon ~howing lamps and air coolers in the interior of the processor.
Fig. 2 is a perspective vlew of an air cooler with cutaway section showing details of the interlor construction.
Fig. 3 is an end elevational vlew of the air cooler, shown with the end of the houslng removed, and Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the alr cooler as shown in F~g. 2 ~;7~35~;i cut along Section IV-IV of Flg. 3.
~ In Fig. 1, UY processor lO compri6es a sub tantially enclosed chamber 11 having inlet and outlet openings defining a path of travel along a horlzontalplane for a workpiece 12 to be treated therein. The workplece i5 commonly pas~ed ~hrough on a con~eyor or web which may be continuous or inter~ittent and which may be driven b~ suita61e conventlonal means ~not shown). The workplece passes under ultraviolet lamp assemblies 14 and 14a, each comprislng an ultra-violet lamp 16 and a reflector 18 and shutters 20; the reflector and shut~ers being opeional but preferred. The reflector and shut~ers may be cooled with air, water or the like if deslred. Air coolers 22 and 22a are each ad~acent to a lamp and each comprises an elongated housing 23 having at the bottom edge of the housing oppositely spaced slot-nozzles 26. These slot-nozzles are narrow (compared to their length) and extend longitudinally along the bottom of each side of the housing. Between the slot-nozzles and extending parallel to and above them is exhaust channel 28, through which air is exhausted after impingingon the workpiece. Air enters the air cooler through air manifold 30 and inlet 32 and is removed from the UV processor through passageway 34, which lies between housing 11 and the ends and top of the coolers and lam~pæ, and exhaust duct 36 which is connected to any suitable exhausting fan (not shown).
Fig. 2 shows the air cooler 22 in more detail, the air cooler having housing 23 defining an interior passageway 24 through which air entering from inlet 32 pa~ses into and along the housing. In order to reduce turbulance of the air enterlng the cooler and to asslst ln dlstributing the air more evenly along the housing before it pa~ses ~hrough ~lot-nozzles 26, it i8 desirable to ~?r prov~de distributing means along the passageway~ One convenient ~uch di~trl-buting means i9 mesh-like member 38 which is disposed acro3s the passageway between-air lnlet 32 and slot~like nozzles 26. After passing through distributing means 38, the'air passes through air orifices 40 ln plate 41 and into slot-like 1~ti7~SS
nozzles 26. The relatively narrow ælot-nRzzles direct ~he ai~ in a relatively narrow stream, preferably at an angle to the path of travel of the ~orkplece andtoward each other and into exhaust channel 28, The exhaust channel i8 adapted to remove the air from each of the ends thereof. To assist in thls the exhaust channel pre~erably con~alns means for directlng the air toward the ends, therebyto assist ln exhaus~lng the alr more quickly, such as baffle members 42 which extend longitudinally along the channel and across the channel ln a horizontal plane and are sloped from near the bottom center of the channel to each top end.Fig. 3 shows the air cooler in an end view with the end of the housing removed. The alr cooler ls shown with housing 23 defining passageway 24 into which air enters from air inlet 32 through distributing means 38 and air orifices 40 in plate member 41 and down into air ducts 44. These air ducts~ formed by theouter wall of housing 23 and the wall of exhaust channel 28, are longitudinally elongated but are relatively narro~ ln width, compared to their other dimension~.
From these ducts air passes through slot nozzles 26 onto the workpiece and thereafter into exhau t channel 28, where baffle members 42 assist in dlrecting the air toward the ends and away from the apparatus.
Flg. 4 f~rther show~ the &ir cooler in a side view cut along section IV-IV of Fig. 3. As shown, air cooler 22 comprises housing 23 into which air enters from inlet 32 into passageway 24 and through distributing means 38 and plate 41 ~having air orifices therein) into and out of 810t no~zles 26. The positions of baffles 42 and exhaust channel 28 are al~o shown.
` ~67~5 .
The apparatus can be of any suitable size or shape, with inlet and outlet openings which establish the path of travel for the workpiece to be treated. The lamps and air coolers are posi-tioned within the UV processor so that at least a portion of the path of travel lies beneath them. While as few as one lamp and one air cooler can be utilized in a UV processor, ordinarily a plurality of lamps, e.g., 2 to 12 or more, are utilized and it is preferred that an air cooler follow each lamp. If desired, one or several air coolers ; can be interspersed among a plurality of lamps.
The processor housing is any suitable material such as steel or a similar metal. The air cooler can also be made of any suitable material with galvanized steel most commonly utilizedO The size and shape of the air cooler depends upon the size and shape of the air cooler depends upon the size and shape oE the UV processor in which it is to be employed. Preferably, the air cooler extends substantially or entirely across the path of travel of the workpiece to be treated so as to impinge air onto the entire workpiece as it passes beneath.
; The details of construction of the air cooler as illustrated are not critical. However, it is important that the slot-like nozzles be combined with exhaust means so as to direct and impinge a relatively narrow stream of air at relatively high velocity onto the workpiece.
. . :, , .
This is ordinarily accomplished by utilizing oppositely spaced narrow slot-like nozzles extending longitudinally along-the bottom of each side wall of the air cooler housing. The slot-like nozzles are relatively narrow in width compared to their length; for example, in an air cooler 48 inches in length the nozzles are ordinarily each 0.01 to O.I inch in width. Means for varying the width of the nozzle opening may be included, if desired. In a UV processor, the air cooler is positioned so that the bottom of the nozzles is close enough to the surface of the workpiece so ~0678~S
as to impinge the air directly onto the surface. The distance varies with different types of workpieces3 but it is usually desired that the end of the nozzle be about 1 to 2 inches from the surface. If desired, means for varying this distance can be provided ? either by changing the position of the whole air cooler or by varying the configuration of the slot-like nozzle.
The air cooler also comprises exhaust means for removing air from the path of travel in a direction-away from the ultraviolet lamp.
To assist in this, the nozzles are preferably directed toward each other, usually at about a 60 angle to the bath of travel of the workpiece, with the exhaust means comprising a longitudinal channel positioned between and above the slot-like nozzles. With this arrangement, the air impinges onto the workpiece and is immediately carried up into the exhaust channel, where baffles can be used if desired to direct air toward the ends of the channel where it can be removed through passageways between the ~nds of the coolers and lamp assemblies and the housing of the W processor. The air is removed from the UV processor using one or more ducts which can be positioned in any suitable part of the UV processor, such as in the top of the housing, and a suitable exhaust fan. The baffles in the exhaust channel are preferably sloped members extending more or less horizontally across the channel and from near the bottom center of the channel to the top or near the top of the ends thereof; such baffles can be placed at any suitable angle, depending upon the length and shape of the air cooler, so as to assist in directing the air in the manner desired. However, other baffle shapes and arrangements can be employed to achieve this purpose, such as curved extensions or attachments placed on the walls of the channel.
The slot-like nozzles are ordinarily narrowed extensions of the air ducts on either side of the air cooler with the inner wall of the air duct defining the exhaust channel. These air ducts extending to the nozzles are preferably relatively narrow compared to their length, thus serving ~6'7~55 to straighten and direct the flow of air to the nozzles, but they other-wise need not be of any particular size or shape. For example, they may be tapered. In the air cooler as illustrated, air enters the air ducts through air orifices in the plate extending across the passageway, The use of a plate member in such an arrangement is not necessary but serves to stiffen and strengthen the air cooler.
Also optionally included is distribution means in the passage-way through which air entering the air cooler passes, to reduce turbulence in the air flow and to distribute the air as evenly as possible longi-tudinally along the ducts. The distribution means i8 conveniently a mesh- -like material and is usually an expanded metal grid which can be made of metal, plastic, or other materials.
The air inlet into the air cooler need only be of a size suffi-cient to permit the entry of enough air to achieve the desired alr flow;
its size, shape and the place it enters the cooler are not critical.
The other components of the UV processor can be of any type which provide the desired functions. The ultraviolet lamps employed can be any of the commercially available lamps which emit light in the ultra-violet region and preferably are lamps which emit in the range of 2,000 to 4,000 angstroms, such as high or low pressure mercury vapor lamps or metal halide vapor lamps.
Commonly used along with the lamp is a reflector made of an ultraviolet light reElective material such as bright aluminum sheet.
A number of other components can be provided in the UV processor if desired. For example, there can be provided means for cooling the reflector, shutter and other parts, and means for ad~usting the positions of the lamp assemblies and the air coolers relative to each other and to the path of travel. Also, various types of inlet and outlet opening designs can be employed, and dampers or other means for varying the dis-tribution of air among several air coolers can be provided. Means for controlling the humidity of the cooling air can also be provided.
~067~355 The apparatus of the invention can be used with any workpiece which one desires to treat with ultraviolet light. However, the advan-tages achieved by the air cooling means to which the invention is directed are particularly important with workpieces comprising a substrate having thereon a coating, which may be a protective or decorative coating, ink, or the like, which is to be dried and/or cured using UV light. In such embodiment$ the air coolers of the invention provide not only efficient cooling at the time and place it is most needed, i.e., on the surface immediately after exposure to the lamp, but also a wiping and leveling action on the coating itself which assists in providing a final coating of the desired properties.
Various ultraviolet light curable coatings, inks and the like, are known in the art and these can be ut:ilized with the apparatus of the invention. These ultraviolet light curable compositions ordinarily contain at least one polymer, oligomer or monomer which is photosensitive, i e., reacts in the presence of ultraviolet light.
Virtually any substrate can be used with such coatings, including wood and wood products, glass, metals and plastics o~ various types. The apparatus of the invention is particularly useful with substrates which are adversely affected by continued exposure to heat, such as wood, fiber-board, particleboard and various plastics, as well as certain metal sub-strates, such as metal sheets which may bend or warp due to differential thermal expansion.
The apparatus as described can be operated in various ways depending upon the type of product being treated and its characteristics.
Ordinarily, when coated substrates are treated, sufficient air is utilized to achieve an air flow having a nominal velocity at the nozzles of the air cooler of from about 5,000 to about 13,000 feet per minute. At such velocities, the volume of air needed depends, of course, upon the size of the air cooler. For example, using a ~V processor containing 12 water ~i~67~355 cooled lamp assemblies, each having an ultraviolet lamp 50 inches long and rated at a nominal linear power density of 200 watts/inch, and each followed by an air cooler as described, each air cooler belng 50 inches long, 6-1/2 inches wide and 9-1/2 inches high with nozzles each 1/16 inch wide, the total volume of air passing through the air maniold into the air coolers is 600 to 700 cubic feet per minute.
While the invention has been described in connection with the use of air as the cooling medium, it should be understood that other gases can be used in an equivalent manner~ For example, an inert gas, such as nitrogen, can be employed where one wishes to provide and maintain an inert atmosphere in the ~V processor.
Processes in which products are treated with ultraviolet light (UV) to effect polymerization, sterilization, etc., and in particular, the use of ultraviolet light for the curing of coatings, inks and similar materials utilize equipment which comprises one and usually several ultraviolet light lamps positioned so as to direct W
radiation onto a workpiece passed beneath the lamps, usually on a movlng conveyor or web.
Considerable heat is generated by the ultraviolet lamps and in some cases it is desirable to control the surface temperature of the workpiece and to remove the heat from the workpiece as soon as possible thereby preventing excessive buildup and penetration of the heat in the workpiece. Because wood and similar materials do not lose heat rapidly, if such buildup occurs the heat is retained for unduly long periods thereby resulting in possible deterioration of the substrate and/or the coating thereon. Heat buildup is also a problem with coatings on thin me~al substrates, which may flex due to expansion before the coating is fully cured, and with plastic substrates which may deform due to excessive heat.
Cooling air should not contact the lamp surface itself, because differential cooling of the bulb surface results with attendent deteriora-tion and premature failure of the lamp. Thus, the cooling should be localized, insofar as possible, at the surface of the workpiece.
Apparatus suggested heretofore for such purpose utilizes large volumes of air which then pass over and around the product, without provision for localizing the cooling by directing the inlet air and exhaust in the manner described herein.
The present invention provides means for removing from the surface of a workpiece being treated with ultraviolet light the heat generated by the UV lamp within a relatively short time of such treatment, by utilizing a - 1 - ' . ,,~
'~ 1i)678SS
;; narrow ~tream of hlgh velocit~ a~r whlch is removed through an exhaust channel immediately after contacting the workpiece.
The invention provides or this purpose air cooling means which comprlse3 an elonga~ed housing deflnlng an enclosed passageway lnto whlch there i9 an air inlet, air belng dlrected from said inlet lnto the pas~ageway and out through opposltely-spaced narrow slot-like nozzles extending longitudlnally along the botto~ of the housing. Theiair is directed in a narrow stream at relatively high velocity through the nozzles onto the workpiece and into an exhaust channelbetween ~he nozzles from where lt is removed through the Pxhaus~ channel before the cooling air can reach the area of the ultraviolet lamp itself. The exhaust channel extends longitudinally parallel to the slot-like nozzles a~d between the inner walls of the housing, above and between the nozzles. The nozzles perferably direct the air in an angle to the horizontal plane of the path of travel of the workpiece, toward each other and into the exhaust channel. In a W processor, the air coollng means i9 ordinarily positioned ad~acent to and following an ultraviolet lamp along the path of travel of the workpiece. Where a plurality of ultraviolet lamps is utilized, as is ordinarily the case, it is preferred that each such lamp be followed by air cooling means as de~cribed.
Descr~ti~n of the Drawings In the drawings:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a W processor with a cutaway ~ec~lon ~howing lamps and air coolers in the interior of the processor.
Fig. 2 is a perspective vlew of an air cooler with cutaway section showing details of the interlor construction.
Fig. 3 is an end elevational vlew of the air cooler, shown with the end of the houslng removed, and Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the alr cooler as shown in F~g. 2 ~;7~35~;i cut along Section IV-IV of Flg. 3.
~ In Fig. 1, UY processor lO compri6es a sub tantially enclosed chamber 11 having inlet and outlet openings defining a path of travel along a horlzontalplane for a workpiece 12 to be treated therein. The workplece i5 commonly pas~ed ~hrough on a con~eyor or web which may be continuous or inter~ittent and which may be driven b~ suita61e conventlonal means ~not shown). The workplece passes under ultraviolet lamp assemblies 14 and 14a, each comprislng an ultra-violet lamp 16 and a reflector 18 and shutters 20; the reflector and shut~ers being opeional but preferred. The reflector and shut~ers may be cooled with air, water or the like if deslred. Air coolers 22 and 22a are each ad~acent to a lamp and each comprises an elongated housing 23 having at the bottom edge of the housing oppositely spaced slot-nozzles 26. These slot-nozzles are narrow (compared to their length) and extend longitudinally along the bottom of each side of the housing. Between the slot-nozzles and extending parallel to and above them is exhaust channel 28, through which air is exhausted after impingingon the workpiece. Air enters the air cooler through air manifold 30 and inlet 32 and is removed from the UV processor through passageway 34, which lies between housing 11 and the ends and top of the coolers and lam~pæ, and exhaust duct 36 which is connected to any suitable exhausting fan (not shown).
Fig. 2 shows the air cooler 22 in more detail, the air cooler having housing 23 defining an interior passageway 24 through which air entering from inlet 32 pa~ses into and along the housing. In order to reduce turbulance of the air enterlng the cooler and to asslst ln dlstributing the air more evenly along the housing before it pa~ses ~hrough ~lot-nozzles 26, it i8 desirable to ~?r prov~de distributing means along the passageway~ One convenient ~uch di~trl-buting means i9 mesh-like member 38 which is disposed acro3s the passageway between-air lnlet 32 and slot~like nozzles 26. After passing through distributing means 38, the'air passes through air orifices 40 ln plate 41 and into slot-like 1~ti7~SS
nozzles 26. The relatively narrow ælot-nRzzles direct ~he ai~ in a relatively narrow stream, preferably at an angle to the path of travel of the ~orkplece andtoward each other and into exhaust channel 28, The exhaust channel i8 adapted to remove the air from each of the ends thereof. To assist in thls the exhaust channel pre~erably con~alns means for directlng the air toward the ends, therebyto assist ln exhaus~lng the alr more quickly, such as baffle members 42 which extend longitudinally along the channel and across the channel ln a horizontal plane and are sloped from near the bottom center of the channel to each top end.Fig. 3 shows the air cooler in an end view with the end of the housing removed. The alr cooler ls shown with housing 23 defining passageway 24 into which air enters from air inlet 32 through distributing means 38 and air orifices 40 in plate member 41 and down into air ducts 44. These air ducts~ formed by theouter wall of housing 23 and the wall of exhaust channel 28, are longitudinally elongated but are relatively narro~ ln width, compared to their other dimension~.
From these ducts air passes through slot nozzles 26 onto the workpiece and thereafter into exhau t channel 28, where baffle members 42 assist in dlrecting the air toward the ends and away from the apparatus.
Flg. 4 f~rther show~ the &ir cooler in a side view cut along section IV-IV of Fig. 3. As shown, air cooler 22 comprises housing 23 into which air enters from inlet 32 into passageway 24 and through distributing means 38 and plate 41 ~having air orifices therein) into and out of 810t no~zles 26. The positions of baffles 42 and exhaust channel 28 are al~o shown.
` ~67~5 .
The apparatus can be of any suitable size or shape, with inlet and outlet openings which establish the path of travel for the workpiece to be treated. The lamps and air coolers are posi-tioned within the UV processor so that at least a portion of the path of travel lies beneath them. While as few as one lamp and one air cooler can be utilized in a UV processor, ordinarily a plurality of lamps, e.g., 2 to 12 or more, are utilized and it is preferred that an air cooler follow each lamp. If desired, one or several air coolers ; can be interspersed among a plurality of lamps.
The processor housing is any suitable material such as steel or a similar metal. The air cooler can also be made of any suitable material with galvanized steel most commonly utilizedO The size and shape of the air cooler depends upon the size and shape of the air cooler depends upon the size and shape oE the UV processor in which it is to be employed. Preferably, the air cooler extends substantially or entirely across the path of travel of the workpiece to be treated so as to impinge air onto the entire workpiece as it passes beneath.
; The details of construction of the air cooler as illustrated are not critical. However, it is important that the slot-like nozzles be combined with exhaust means so as to direct and impinge a relatively narrow stream of air at relatively high velocity onto the workpiece.
. . :, , .
This is ordinarily accomplished by utilizing oppositely spaced narrow slot-like nozzles extending longitudinally along-the bottom of each side wall of the air cooler housing. The slot-like nozzles are relatively narrow in width compared to their length; for example, in an air cooler 48 inches in length the nozzles are ordinarily each 0.01 to O.I inch in width. Means for varying the width of the nozzle opening may be included, if desired. In a UV processor, the air cooler is positioned so that the bottom of the nozzles is close enough to the surface of the workpiece so ~0678~S
as to impinge the air directly onto the surface. The distance varies with different types of workpieces3 but it is usually desired that the end of the nozzle be about 1 to 2 inches from the surface. If desired, means for varying this distance can be provided ? either by changing the position of the whole air cooler or by varying the configuration of the slot-like nozzle.
The air cooler also comprises exhaust means for removing air from the path of travel in a direction-away from the ultraviolet lamp.
To assist in this, the nozzles are preferably directed toward each other, usually at about a 60 angle to the bath of travel of the workpiece, with the exhaust means comprising a longitudinal channel positioned between and above the slot-like nozzles. With this arrangement, the air impinges onto the workpiece and is immediately carried up into the exhaust channel, where baffles can be used if desired to direct air toward the ends of the channel where it can be removed through passageways between the ~nds of the coolers and lamp assemblies and the housing of the W processor. The air is removed from the UV processor using one or more ducts which can be positioned in any suitable part of the UV processor, such as in the top of the housing, and a suitable exhaust fan. The baffles in the exhaust channel are preferably sloped members extending more or less horizontally across the channel and from near the bottom center of the channel to the top or near the top of the ends thereof; such baffles can be placed at any suitable angle, depending upon the length and shape of the air cooler, so as to assist in directing the air in the manner desired. However, other baffle shapes and arrangements can be employed to achieve this purpose, such as curved extensions or attachments placed on the walls of the channel.
The slot-like nozzles are ordinarily narrowed extensions of the air ducts on either side of the air cooler with the inner wall of the air duct defining the exhaust channel. These air ducts extending to the nozzles are preferably relatively narrow compared to their length, thus serving ~6'7~55 to straighten and direct the flow of air to the nozzles, but they other-wise need not be of any particular size or shape. For example, they may be tapered. In the air cooler as illustrated, air enters the air ducts through air orifices in the plate extending across the passageway, The use of a plate member in such an arrangement is not necessary but serves to stiffen and strengthen the air cooler.
Also optionally included is distribution means in the passage-way through which air entering the air cooler passes, to reduce turbulence in the air flow and to distribute the air as evenly as possible longi-tudinally along the ducts. The distribution means i8 conveniently a mesh- -like material and is usually an expanded metal grid which can be made of metal, plastic, or other materials.
The air inlet into the air cooler need only be of a size suffi-cient to permit the entry of enough air to achieve the desired alr flow;
its size, shape and the place it enters the cooler are not critical.
The other components of the UV processor can be of any type which provide the desired functions. The ultraviolet lamps employed can be any of the commercially available lamps which emit light in the ultra-violet region and preferably are lamps which emit in the range of 2,000 to 4,000 angstroms, such as high or low pressure mercury vapor lamps or metal halide vapor lamps.
Commonly used along with the lamp is a reflector made of an ultraviolet light reElective material such as bright aluminum sheet.
A number of other components can be provided in the UV processor if desired. For example, there can be provided means for cooling the reflector, shutter and other parts, and means for ad~usting the positions of the lamp assemblies and the air coolers relative to each other and to the path of travel. Also, various types of inlet and outlet opening designs can be employed, and dampers or other means for varying the dis-tribution of air among several air coolers can be provided. Means for controlling the humidity of the cooling air can also be provided.
~067~355 The apparatus of the invention can be used with any workpiece which one desires to treat with ultraviolet light. However, the advan-tages achieved by the air cooling means to which the invention is directed are particularly important with workpieces comprising a substrate having thereon a coating, which may be a protective or decorative coating, ink, or the like, which is to be dried and/or cured using UV light. In such embodiment$ the air coolers of the invention provide not only efficient cooling at the time and place it is most needed, i.e., on the surface immediately after exposure to the lamp, but also a wiping and leveling action on the coating itself which assists in providing a final coating of the desired properties.
Various ultraviolet light curable coatings, inks and the like, are known in the art and these can be ut:ilized with the apparatus of the invention. These ultraviolet light curable compositions ordinarily contain at least one polymer, oligomer or monomer which is photosensitive, i e., reacts in the presence of ultraviolet light.
Virtually any substrate can be used with such coatings, including wood and wood products, glass, metals and plastics o~ various types. The apparatus of the invention is particularly useful with substrates which are adversely affected by continued exposure to heat, such as wood, fiber-board, particleboard and various plastics, as well as certain metal sub-strates, such as metal sheets which may bend or warp due to differential thermal expansion.
The apparatus as described can be operated in various ways depending upon the type of product being treated and its characteristics.
Ordinarily, when coated substrates are treated, sufficient air is utilized to achieve an air flow having a nominal velocity at the nozzles of the air cooler of from about 5,000 to about 13,000 feet per minute. At such velocities, the volume of air needed depends, of course, upon the size of the air cooler. For example, using a ~V processor containing 12 water ~i~67~355 cooled lamp assemblies, each having an ultraviolet lamp 50 inches long and rated at a nominal linear power density of 200 watts/inch, and each followed by an air cooler as described, each air cooler belng 50 inches long, 6-1/2 inches wide and 9-1/2 inches high with nozzles each 1/16 inch wide, the total volume of air passing through the air maniold into the air coolers is 600 to 700 cubic feet per minute.
While the invention has been described in connection with the use of air as the cooling medium, it should be understood that other gases can be used in an equivalent manner~ For example, an inert gas, such as nitrogen, can be employed where one wishes to provide and maintain an inert atmosphere in the ~V processor.
Claims (9)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. In an apparatus for treating a workpiece with ultraviolet light, said apparatus comprising a substantially enclosed chamber having inlet and outlet openings defining a path of travel for said workpiece and at least one ultraviolet lamp positioned over at least a portion of said path of travel, the improvement comprising air-cooling means positioned within said chamber and adapted to impinge air onto said workpiece but not onto said lamp, said air-cooling means comprising an elongated housing defining an enclosed passageway through which air entering said housing is directed through narrow slot-like nozzles onto the path of travel of said workpiece;
said slot-like nozzles being spaced oppositely and longi-tudinally along the bottom of each side wall of said housing;
said air-cooling means further comprising exhaust means comprising a longitudinal channel positioned between and above said slot-like nozzles.
said slot-like nozzles being spaced oppositely and longi-tudinally along the bottom of each side wall of said housing;
said air-cooling means further comprising exhaust means comprising a longitudinal channel positioned between and above said slot-like nozzles.
2. The improvement of Claim 1 wherein said slot-like nozzles are adapted to direct air angularly to said path of travel and in a direction toward each other and away from the ultraviolet lamp adjacent thereto.
3. The improvement of Claim 1 in which said ultraviolet lamp is in a lamp assembly including a movable shutter which in closed position prevents radiation from said lamp from reaching the path of travel of the workpiece and which in open position permits said radiation to reach said path of travel.
4. The improvement of Claim 1 in which said apparatus includes a plurality of ultraviolet lamps and a plurality of air-cooling means, each of said air-cooling means being adjacent to and immediately following an ultraviolet lamp along said path of travel.
5, The improvement of Claim 1 in which the enclosed passageway in said air-cooling means includes an inlet for air to enter said passage-way and positioned between said inlet and said slot-like nozzles there is disposed a mesh-like member for reducing the turbulence of and distributing the air entering said passageway.
6. Air-cooling means for use in apparatus for treating products with ultraviolet light, said air-cooling means comprising an elongated housing defining an enclosed passageway;
an air inlet into said passageway;
oppositely spaced narrow slot-like nozzles extending longitudinally along the bottom of said housing; and an exhaust channel between the walls of said housing and extending above and between said slot-like nozzles.
an air inlet into said passageway;
oppositely spaced narrow slot-like nozzles extending longitudinally along the bottom of said housing; and an exhaust channel between the walls of said housing and extending above and between said slot-like nozzles.
7. The air-cooling means of Claim 6 wherein said slot-like nozzles are adapted to direct air in an angle inclined toward each other and toward said exhaust channel.
8. The air-cooling means of Claim 6 further comprising mesh-like distributing means disposed across said passageway and between said inlet and said slot-like nozzles.
9. The air-cooling means of Claim 6 in which said exhaust channel includes baffle members for directing air toward the ends thereof thereby to assist in exhausting said air more quickly.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US05/566,573 US3994073A (en) | 1975-04-08 | 1975-04-08 | Air cooling means for UV processor |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1067855A true CA1067855A (en) | 1979-12-11 |
Family
ID=24263460
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA245,518A Expired CA1067855A (en) | 1975-04-08 | 1976-02-11 | Air cooling means for uv processor |
Country Status (9)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US3994073A (en) |
| JP (1) | JPS51128854A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1067855A (en) |
| CH (1) | CH614279A5 (en) |
| DE (1) | DE2614663C3 (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2306733A1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB1541584A (en) |
| IT (1) | IT1062157B (en) |
| SE (1) | SE7601803L (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5298758A (en) * | 1991-04-30 | 1994-03-29 | Dentsply Research & Development Corp. | Denture curing apparatus and method |
Families Citing this family (24)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4087237A (en) * | 1976-05-10 | 1978-05-02 | Phillips Petroleum Company | Method and apparatus for heating an elongated article |
| US4135098A (en) * | 1976-11-05 | 1979-01-16 | Union Carbide Corporation | Method and apparatus for curing coating materials |
| JPS53123473A (en) * | 1977-04-04 | 1978-10-27 | Sanpo Jiyushi Kougiyou Kk | Production of polished sheet |
| FR2501589B1 (en) * | 1981-03-16 | 1987-03-20 | Svecia Silkscreen Maskiner Ab | ULTRAVIOLET AND AIR DRYER FOR DRYING A PRINTING INK ON A THERMOSENSITIVE SUPPORT MATERIAL |
| JPS616899Y2 (en) * | 1981-04-27 | 1986-03-03 | ||
| US4535548A (en) * | 1982-10-25 | 1985-08-20 | Discovision Associates | Method and means for drying coatings on heat sensitive materials |
| US4773167A (en) * | 1986-05-19 | 1988-09-27 | Amjo Infra Red Dryers, Inc. | Heater |
| US4716658A (en) * | 1986-12-11 | 1988-01-05 | Amjo Infra Red Dryers, Inc. | Heat lamp assembly |
| SE459011B (en) * | 1987-12-17 | 1989-05-29 | Infraroedteknik Ab | DEVICE FOR HEAT TREATMENT OF A SUBSTANCE, IN PARTICULAR INFRASTRUCTURE RADIATION OF A CONTINUOUS PAPER PATH IN A PAPER MACHINE |
| DE3929302C2 (en) * | 1989-09-04 | 1995-04-27 | Isimat Siebdruckmaschinenfabri | Continuous dryer |
| US5921002A (en) * | 1993-09-24 | 1999-07-13 | Optimum Air Corporation | Radiation curing system |
| US6185840B1 (en) | 1995-05-04 | 2001-02-13 | Noelle Gmbh | Method and apparatus for hardening a layer on a substrate |
| US5958336A (en) * | 1996-04-26 | 1999-09-28 | Duarte; Raul | Surface sterilization device |
| US6170427B1 (en) | 1997-01-15 | 2001-01-09 | Optimum Air Corporation | Radiation curing system |
| FR2771161B1 (en) * | 1997-11-14 | 2000-01-14 | Solaronics | CONVECTO-RADIATIVE SYSTEM FOR HEAT TREATMENT OF A CONTINUOUS BAND |
| US6058621A (en) * | 1998-06-05 | 2000-05-09 | Eastman Kodak Company | Apparatus and method for drying photosensitive material using radiant heat and air flow passages |
| US6565927B1 (en) * | 1999-04-07 | 2003-05-20 | Board Of Trustees Of Michigan State University | Method for treatment of surfaces with ultraviolet light |
| JP3591393B2 (en) * | 1999-11-02 | 2004-11-17 | ウシオ電機株式会社 | Dielectric barrier discharge lamp device |
| US6808741B1 (en) * | 2001-10-26 | 2004-10-26 | Seagate Technology Llc | In-line, pass-by method for vapor lubrication |
| US6655040B2 (en) | 2002-01-04 | 2003-12-02 | The Diagnostics Group, Inc. | Combination ultraviolet curing and infrared drying system |
| DE102004015700A1 (en) * | 2004-03-29 | 2005-11-03 | Platsch Gmbh & Co.Kg | Flat UV light source |
| JP6509588B2 (en) * | 2015-03-03 | 2019-05-08 | 日本ボールドウィン株式会社 | Film surface treatment equipment |
| CN110736294A (en) * | 2019-09-20 | 2020-01-31 | 滁州市友邦涂装有限公司 | refrigerator middle beam and spraying process thereof |
| WO2021179089A1 (en) * | 2020-03-12 | 2021-09-16 | Ayotte Techno-Gaz Inc. | System and process for curing a wet coating applied to a substrate |
Family Cites Families (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2473629A (en) * | 1944-11-16 | 1949-06-21 | Bernard R Andrews | Drying apparatus |
| DE1239988B (en) * | 1960-10-01 | 1967-05-03 | Vits Ges Mit Beschraenkter Haf | Method and device for the contact-free holding of a material web between rows of nozzles |
| US3398466A (en) * | 1966-12-22 | 1968-08-27 | Wolverine Corp | Slot apparatus for high velocity gas treatment of moving webs |
| GB1397077A (en) * | 1971-07-16 | 1975-06-11 | Hanovia Lamps Ltd | Ink drying reflector system |
-
1975
- 1975-04-08 US US05/566,573 patent/US3994073A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1976
- 1976-02-11 CA CA245,518A patent/CA1067855A/en not_active Expired
- 1976-02-17 SE SE7601803A patent/SE7601803L/en unknown
- 1976-03-09 IT IT67572/76A patent/IT1062157B/en active
- 1976-03-11 CH CH304476A patent/CH614279A5/xx not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1976-04-05 DE DE2614663A patent/DE2614663C3/en not_active Expired
- 1976-04-07 GB GB14021/76A patent/GB1541584A/en not_active Expired
- 1976-04-07 FR FR7610146A patent/FR2306733A1/en active Granted
- 1976-04-08 JP JP4015976A patent/JPS51128854A/en active Granted
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5298758A (en) * | 1991-04-30 | 1994-03-29 | Dentsply Research & Development Corp. | Denture curing apparatus and method |
| US5477054A (en) * | 1991-04-30 | 1995-12-19 | Dentsply Research & Development Corp. | Denture curing apparatus and method |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| IT1062157B (en) | 1983-06-30 |
| JPS5439237B2 (en) | 1979-11-27 |
| DE2614663C3 (en) | 1980-04-17 |
| US3994073A (en) | 1976-11-30 |
| JPS51128854A (en) | 1976-11-10 |
| FR2306733B1 (en) | 1978-05-05 |
| CH614279A5 (en) | 1979-11-15 |
| SE7601803L (en) | 1976-10-09 |
| FR2306733A1 (en) | 1976-11-05 |
| DE2614663B2 (en) | 1978-03-30 |
| DE2614663A1 (en) | 1976-10-14 |
| GB1541584A (en) | 1979-03-07 |
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