Ultraviolet curing system and bulb
US6759664B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 20, 2000 |
| Grant date | Jul 6, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 7, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB29C2035/0827
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The present invention is an apparatus for curing an article that is passing through the apparatus, wherein the article is being cured by ultraviolet radiation curing. The present invention most commonly applies to the field of fiber optics, and the manufacture of optical fibers and fiber optic cables or ribbons. The present invention comprises a hollow tubular UV light emitting device (bulb) and a UV transparent tube where the bulb is disposed around the tube creating a space between the tube and the bulb. The article to be cured passes through the center of the tube along with an inert gas, where the inert gas is either cooled or heated depending on the application of the apparatus. A UV transparent cooling medium is passed through the space between the tube and the bulb to provide cooling for the apparatus, preventing heat damage from the bulb. Shielding coatings are employed on either the surface of the tube or the inner surface of the bulb to prevent harmful and unwanted radiation from the bulb from reaching the article to be cured. Further, a dichroic reflector is employed outside of the bulb to reflect UV radiation back into the bulb while allowing other radiation emitted by …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.