High throughput UV curing systems and methods of curing a plurality of articles
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
G01N-023/00
H01J-037/20
출원번호
US-0528718
(2012-06-20)
등록번호
US-8729498
(2014-05-20)
발명자
/ 주소
Fleischhacker, Kevin A.
Anderson, Jonathan D.
Toma, Mark P.
출원인 / 주소
Harland Medical Systems, Inc.
대리인 / 주소
Christensen, Douglas J.
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
1인용 특허 :
5
초록▼
High throughput UV curing systems for mass curing of a plurality of articles without compromising product quality. The systems comprise a plurality of UV banks, each bank comprising a plurality of fluorescent UV lamps, thereby creating a consistent blanket of UV energy. A plurality of coated article
High throughput UV curing systems for mass curing of a plurality of articles without compromising product quality. The systems comprise a plurality of UV banks, each bank comprising a plurality of fluorescent UV lamps, thereby creating a consistent blanket of UV energy. A plurality of coated articles are positioned between pairs of banks such that the UV exposure or dosage is evenly distributed for each article. The fluorescent UV lamps use proportionally lower energy per unit and generate less heat than standard UV lamps, while sufficiently curing the coating on each article. Throughput is increased compared to currently available systems because the systems are easier to maintain requiring less downtime, can cure significantly more articles per cycle, and reduce the number of rejected products.
대표청구항▼
1. A fluorescent UV curing system comprising: a first light bank comprising a first plurality of fluorescent UV bulbs extending substantially parallel to one another and arranged side-by-side, the first light bank presenting a height, a length, and a width defined as extending between a first plane
1. A fluorescent UV curing system comprising: a first light bank comprising a first plurality of fluorescent UV bulbs extending substantially parallel to one another and arranged side-by-side, the first light bank presenting a height, a length, and a width defined as extending between a first plane defined as the outermost extending portions of bulbs on a first side of the first light bank, to a second plane defined by the outermost extending portions of the bulbs on a second side of the first light bank,wherein the first plurality of fluorescent UV bulbs emits a first zone of substantially uniform curing energy at a first distance spaced from the first plane, and along at least a portion of the height and the length of the first light bank; further comprising: a second light bank comprising a second plurality of fluorescent UV bulbs extending substantially parallel to one another and arranged side-by-side, the second light bank presenting a height, a length, and a width defined as extending between a first plane defined as the outermost extending portions of bulbs on a first side of the second light bank, to a second plane defined by the outermost extending portions of the bulbs on a second side of the second light bank,wherein the second light bank is positioned substantially parallel to and spaced from the first light bank,wherein the second plurality of fluorescent UV bulbs emits a second zone of substantially uniform curing energy at a second distance spaced from the first plane of the second light bank, and along at least a portion of the height and the length of the second light bank; and wherein the first zone of substantially uniform curing energy and the second zone of substantially uniform curing energy define a curing zone. 2. The curing system of claim 1, further comprising a housing including a front panel, a back panel, a top panel, a bottom panel, and two side panels, wherein the first bank is coupled to and extends between the two side panels adjacent the front panel, and wherein the second bank is coupled to and extends between the two side panels adjacent to the back panel. 3. The curing system of claim 2, wherein at least one of the top panel and a side panel includes structure defining an opening adapted for removably receiving a plurality of coated articles, such that the articles extend within the housing between the first and second light banks. 4. The curing system of claim 3, wherein the front panel is hingedly coupled to one of the side panels such that the front panel is selectively shifted from an open position in which access to an interior of the housing is allowed, and a closed position in which the first and second banks are sealed within the housing. 5. A method of curing articles, the method comprising: providing a first light bank comprising a first plurality of fluorescent UV bulbs extending substantially parallel to and arranged side-by-side to one another;providing a second light bank comprising a second plurality of fluorescent UV bulbs extending substantially parallel to and arranged side-by-side to one another, wherein the second light bank is positioned substantially parallel to and spaced from the first light bank;positioning a first plurality of elongate articles having UV curable film coatings in between the first light bank and the second light bank; andcuring the UV curable film coatings by powering on the first light bank and the second light bank. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first and second pluralities of fluorescent UV bulbs are positioned substantially perpendicular to the first plurality of elongate articles. 7. The method of claim 5, wherein the first and second pluralities of fluorescent UV bulbs are positioned substantially parallel to the first plurality of elongate articles. 8. The method of claim 5, wherein the first plurality of fluorescent UV bulbs emits a first zone of substantially uniform curing energy at a first surface or side of the elongate articles positioned proximate the first light bank, and wherein the second plurality of fluorescent UV bulbs emits a second zone of substantially uniform curing energy at a second surface or side of the elongate articles positioned proximate the second light bank. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first and second zones of substantially uniform curing energy extends an entirety of a length of each of the elongate articles having the UV curable coating thereon. 10. The method of claim 5, further comprising: providing a third light bank comprising a third plurality of fluorescent UV bulbs extending substantially parallel to and arranged side-by-side to one another in a third plane, wherein the third light bank is positioned substantially parallel to and spaced from the second light bank; andpositioning a second plurality of elongate articles having UV curable film coatings in between the second light bank and the third light bank; andcuring the UV curable film coatings of the second plurality of elongate articles by powering on the third light bank. 11. The method of claim 5, wherein, or combinations thereof, and wherein the UV curable film coatings comprise a photoinitiator adapted to absorb UV energy at wavelengths emitted from the first light bank and second light bank. 12. The method of claim 5, wherein positioning the first plurality of elongate articles between the first light bank and the second light bank comprises removably placing the first plurality of elongate articles between the first and second light banks for a period of time. 13. The method of claim 5, wherein positioning the first plurality of elongate articles between the first light bank and the second light bank comprises keeping the first plurality of elongate articles stationary, while moving the first and second light banks into position relative to the first plurality of elongate articles for a period of time. 14. A fluorescent UV curing system comprising: a support structure holding a plurality of fluorescent UV light banks, each light bank comprising a framework supporting a plurality of elongate linear fluorescent UV bulbs, the bulbs of each light bank extending substantially parallel to one another and arranged side-by-side, each light bank presenting a height, a length, a first side, a second side, at least one of said first and second side being a UV projecting side having the plurality of UV bulbs exposed for projecting UV light energy from said at least one side, wherein each UV projecting side has an optimal curing zone spaced from the respective light bank,wherein the plurality of UV light banks are arranged in an aligned row wherein said UV curing system has at least one pair of adjacent parallel UV light banks, and wherein for each adjacent pair, respective UV projecting sides are facing each other, and wherein the optimal curing zone of respective UV projecting sides are overlapping each other defining a curing region that receives UV from each of the respective UV projecting sides;the support structure providing access and the system defining a receiving region for insertion and receiving of a device carrier whereby devices held by the device carrier are positioned within the curing region. 15. The curing system of claim 14, wherein the system comprises “x” number of light banks, x being at least 2, and “x−1” number of curing zones, whereby when x is greater than 2, the light banks comprise end light banks and at least one intermediate light bank, each intermediate light bank having two UV projecting sides. 16. The curing system of claim 14, wherein a length of each bulb of the plurality of elongate fluorescent UV bulbs of a light bank extends substantially parallel to the length of the light bank such that the length of the light bank is equal to or greater than the length of the bulb. 17. The curing system of claim 14, wherein the distance of the spacing of adjacent light banks is in a range from about three to about six inches. 18. The curing system of claim 14, wherein the distance of the optimal curing zone is in a range from about 0.5 to about four inches from the light bank on the UV projecting side. 19. The curing system of claim 14, wherein at least one of the top panel and a side panel includes structure defining an opening adapted for removably receiving a plurality of coated articles, such that each of the articles extend within the housing, and between adjacent light banks within a curing zone.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.