Curing apparatus

A curing apparatus utilizing ultraviolet radiation for curing a coating over the surface of a line-shaped medium, comprising:

• a pair of reflecting mirrors, each having an elliptical mirror surface, which are symmetrical with respect to a plane including first and second focal axes of said reflecting mirrors;
• a source for producing ultraviolet radiation, said source having a tube disposed along a first focal axis of said pair of reflecting mirrors for emitting ultraviolet radiation, the diameter of said tube being within a range from 12 mm to 24 mm and the light emission length of said tube being equal to or longer than 15 cm;
• and
• a hollow tube for transmitting ultraviolet radiation which is disposed along a second focal axis of said pair of reflecting mirrors and through which said line shaped medium is passed in the axial direction of said hollow tube.

A curing apparatus utilizing ultraviolet radiation for curing a coating over the surface of a line-shaped medium, comprising:

• a pair of reflecting mirrors, each having an elliptical mirror surface, and the ratio between the major and minor axes of said elliptical mirror surfaces of said pair of reflecting mirrors being within a range from 1.02 to 1.35, and said elliptical mirror surfaces are symmetrical with respect to a plane including first and second focal axes of said reflecting mirrors;
• a source for producing ultraviolet radiation, said source having a tube disposed along a first focal axis of said pair of reflecting mirrors for emitting ultraviolet radiation, the diameter of said tube being within a range from 12 mm to 24 mm and the light emission length of said tube being equal to or longer than 15 cm;
• and
• a hollow tube which is disposed along a second focal axis of said pair of reflecting mirrors and through which said line shaped medium is passed in the axial direction of said hollow tube said hollow tube allowing the transmission of ultraviolet ray.