US 6,717,161 B1Granted

Apparatus and method providing substantially uniform irradiation of surfaces of elongated objects with a high level of irradiance

AssigneeFusion UV Systems, Inc.

InventorsMiodrag Cekic, Boris Geller

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

Apparatus for providing substantially two-dimensionally uniform irradiation of elongated three-dimensional objects while the objects are rotating and moving across the irradiator, with a high level of irradiance and with a substantially constant radiation dose on surfaces of the objects during each phase of the rotation and movement. At least one source of radiation produces radiation to irradiate the surfaces of the objects. Each of the sources of radiation is within a respective elongated elliptical reflecting trough and is spaced from the focal axis of the respective trough. Each trough terminates in an opening defining a rectangular plane substantially perpendicular to the major axis of the ellipse of the respective trough and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the respective radiation source. Reflectors extend from the trough substantially to the path of the objects.

Claims16

Dependent claims

An apparatus for providing substantially two-dimensionally uniform irradiation of elongated three-dimensional objects with a high level of irradiance, said apparatus comprising:

a source of radiation for producing radiation to irradiate the surface of an elongated three-dimensional object;
an elongated elliptical reflecting trough for reflecting light from said source of radiation and concentrating the reflected light on the surface of the object, the transverse cross-section of said trough being a portion of an ellipse having a major axis and a minor axis, said trough having a focal axis within the trough, said source of radiation being within said trough, on the major axis and spaced from the focal axis of said trough, said trough terminating in an opening defining a rectangular plane substantially perpendicular to the major axis of the ellipse of said trough and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said source of radiation, said trough opening having upper and lower edges and right and left side edges;
a substantially flat upper elliptical reflector connected to the upper edge of said trough and having a forward edge;
a substantially flat lower elliptical reflector connected to the lower edge of said trough and having a forward edge;
a substantially flat upper middle reflector extending from the forward edge of said upper elliptical reflector;
a substantially flat lower middle reflector extending from the forward edge of said lower elliptical reflector;
a substantially flat right side middle reflector extending from the right side edge of said trough;
a substantially flat left side middle reflector extending from the left side edge of said trough;
a substantially flat upper outer reflector extending from said upper middle reflector;
a substantially flat lower outer reflector extending from said lower middle reflector;
a substantially flat right side outer reflector extending from said right side middle reflector;
and
a substantially flat left side outer reflector extending from said left side middle reflector.

10 more elements

An apparatus for substantially two-dimensionally uniform irradiation of elongated three-dimensional objects with high level of irradiance, said apparatus comprising:

first and second substantially identical elongated reflecting troughs, each trough extending longitudinally from a first end to a second end, the transverse cross-section of each trough being a portion of ellipse having a major axis and a minor axis, each trough having a focal axis within the trough and having first and second side edges, said first and second troughs being positioned with the major axes of their ellipses intersecting at an angle θ, where 0°≦θ≦90°,
substantially flat first and second upper elliptical reflectors connected to the first ends of said first and second troughs respectively;
substantially flat first and second lower elliptical reflectors connected to the second ends of said first and second troughs respectively;
a first radiation source having a longitudinal axis extending substantially parallel to the first focal axis of said first trough, said first radiation source being within said first trough and spaced from the first focal axis of said first trough;
a second, substantially identical radiation source having a longitudinal axis extending substantially parallel to the first focal axis of said second trough, said second radiation source being within said second reflecting trough and spaced from the first focal axis of the second trough;
a substantially flat upper middle reflector extending from the first and second upper elliptical reflectors;
a substantially flat lower middle reflector extending from the first and second lower elliptical reflectors;
a substantially flat upper outer reflector extending from said upper middle reflector;
a substantially flat lower outer reflector extending from said lower middle reflector;
a substantially flat right side outer reflector extending from the right side edge of said first trough;
and
a substantially flat left side outer reflector extending from the left side edge of said second trough.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.