JP5896008B2 - Light irradiation apparatus and photocuring material processing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a light irradiation apparatus mounted on, for example, an ink jet printer or a 3D printer, and a photocuring material processing apparatus including the light irradiation apparatus.

  Conventionally, in the printing field and the electronics industry field, for example, a protective film, an adhesive, a paint, an ink, a photoresist, a resin, and an alignment film are cured, dried, melted, and softened. Or in order to perform a modification | reformation process etc., the light irradiation apparatus which radiates | emits the light of a specific wavelength is used abundantly.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an ink jet printer using ultraviolet curable ink. The ink jet printer is equipped with a head unit for ejecting ink and a light irradiation device installed adjacent to the head unit. In such an ink jet printer, the head portion is provided with a plurality of ejection portions. Then, various inks (photo-curing materials) are ejected from these ejection portions onto the recording medium. Thereafter, light is irradiated to the ink ejected on the recording medium by a light irradiation device.

However, in the above-described ink jet printer, when used for a long time, the amount of ink ejected from the ejection unit may become unstable. One cause of this phenomenon is that light from a light irradiation device disposed adjacent to the head unit is directly or indirectly irradiated onto the discharge unit of the head unit, so that ink is discharged from the discharge unit. This is because the cured product obstructs the ejection of ink from the ejection part.
In particular, in an optical modeling apparatus typified by a 3D printer, a three-dimensional structure is formed on an irradiated surface. Therefore, when the light from a light irradiation apparatus is reflected by the obtained three-dimensional structure, the reflected light becomes easy to be irradiated to the discharge part in a head part. As a result, there is a problem that a phenomenon that the injection amount of the photocurable material from the discharge portion becomes unstable is likely to occur.

In order to solve such a problem, Patent Document 2 discloses that the light irradiation device is separated from the head portion by a distance L, and the light irradiation device is inclined so that the light from the light irradiation device is emitted. An ink jet printer that suppresses irradiation of an ejection unit in the head unit is disclosed.
However, in this inkjet printer, there is a problem that the entire apparatus becomes large because the light irradiating device is considerably separated from the head portion and inclined.

JP 2004-358769 A JP 2009-226692 A

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a light irradiation apparatus and a light irradiation apparatus that can prevent or suppress light from being irradiated to other adjacent parts and that can reduce the size of the entire apparatus. It is providing the photocuring material processing apparatus provided.

The light irradiation device of the present invention has three directions orthogonal to each other as an x direction, a y direction, and a z direction.
A long light source unit in which a plurality of light emitting elements are arranged in the x direction;
A columnar lens having a long shape extending in the x direction along the light source unit, and having a light receiving surface for receiving light from the light source unit and an output surface for emitting the received light on the circumferential surface in the longitudinal direction When,
A first holding tool and a second holding tool, and a lens holding mechanism for holding the columnar lens between the first holding tool and the second holding tool,
A light irradiation device that irradiates light to be irradiated extending in the x direction and the y direction with light from the exit surface of the columnar lens,
When a plane including the central axis of the columnar lens and extending in the x direction and the z direction is a reference plane,
The first holder is provided so as to be in contact with a peripheral surface region located on one side of the reference surface of the columnar lens, and the second holder is provided on the other side of the reference surface of the columnar lens. It is provided so as to be in contact with the surrounding surface area,
In a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the columnar lens,
The position of the central axis of the columnar lens is the position Q, and the position closest to the irradiated surface is the position T1 in the peripheral surface area of the columnar lens that the first holder contacts, and the position of the columnar lens is the first position of the columnar lens. When the position closest to the irradiated surface is the position T2 in the peripheral surface area where the holder of 2 comes into contact,
The first holder is arranged such that an angle α formed by a straight line connecting the position Q and the position T1 with respect to the reference plane S is larger than an angle β formed by a straight line connecting the position Q and the position T2 with respect to the reference plane S. It is characterized by that.

In the light irradiation apparatus of this invention, it is preferable that the center of the light emission surface of the said light emitting element in the said light source part is arrange | positioned in the other side rather than the said reference plane.
Further, on the other side of the reference surface of the columnar lens, a reflecting mirror that receives light from the light source unit and reflects the light to one side of the reference surface via the columnar lens is a longitudinal direction of the columnar lens. It is preferable that it is provided along.
Moreover, it is preferable that the first holder is in contact with an end portion in a longitudinal direction of the columnar lens.
Each of the first holding tool and the second holding tool includes a holding part that contacts the columnar lens, and a supported part that is connected to the holding part and extends in the x direction. It is preferable to have a cantilever structure supported at one end of the supported portion.

A photocuring material processing apparatus of the present invention comprises a head unit having a discharge unit for discharging a photocuring material, and the light irradiation device provided adjacent to the head unit,
The light irradiation device is arranged so that light from an emission surface of the columnar lens is irradiated to a position separated from the head portion.

  According to the light irradiation device of the present invention, light is emitted from the exit surface of the columnar lens in the direction from the other side of the reference surface to one side, and is directed from the other side of the reference surface to the one side by the second holder. All or most of the light other than the traveling light is blocked. For this reason, it is possible to prevent or suppress light from being irradiated to other parts adjacent to the other side of the reference surface. In addition, since it is not necessary to dispose the light irradiation device separately from other adjacent parts, the overall size of the device can be reduced.

It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the light irradiation apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing for description which shows the structure inside the light irradiation apparatus shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which looked at the light source part, the columnar lens, and the heat sink from the y direction. It is sectional drawing for description which expands and shows a lens holding mechanism. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure inside the light irradiation apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is AA sectional drawing of the light irradiation apparatus shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure inside the light irradiation apparatus which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure inside the light irradiation apparatus which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the outline of a structure in an example of the photocuring material processing apparatus of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the modification of a lens holding mechanism. It is a graph which shows the illumination intensity distribution in the y direction by the light irradiation apparatus which concerns on Examples 1-2 and the comparative example 1. FIG.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the light irradiation apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing the configuration inside the housing of the light irradiation apparatus shown in FIG. . In the figure, an x direction, a y direction, and a z direction indicated by arrows are three directions orthogonal to each other.
The housing 2 of the light irradiation device 1 has a top surface that is a plane extending in the x direction (direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 2) and the y direction, and two of the four side surfaces facing each other are in the x direction and the z direction. A plane extending in the direction and other two side surfaces facing each other are a plane extending in the y direction and the z direction. An opening that exposes an irradiation surface of a columnar lens 30 described later is formed on the lower surface of the housing 2.

  A long light source unit 20 extending in the x direction is provided inside the housing 2. A columnar lens 30 having a long shape extending along the light source unit 20 is provided obliquely below the light source unit 20. A heat sink 40 made of, for example, aluminum is provided on the upper surface of the light source unit 20. As shown in FIG. 3, the heat sink 40 is formed with a plurality of fins 41 that protrude upward. A cooling fan (not shown) is provided above the heat sink 40. A lens holding mechanism 10 that holds the columnar lens 30 is provided on the lower surface of the heat sink 40.

  The light source unit 20 includes a long rectangular substrate 21. The substrate 21 is arranged in a posture extending in the x direction along a plane extending in the x direction and the y direction. On the surface of the substrate 21 (the lower surface in FIG. 2), a plurality of rectangular plate-like light emitting elements 25 are arranged in the x direction along the surface of the substrate 21, that is, a plane extending in the x direction and the y direction. Has been. Each of the light emitting elements 25 is provided with a hemispherical sealing lens 22 that covers the light emitting surface of the light emitting element 25 so as to protrude from the surface of the substrate 21. And the light source part 20 is arrange | positioned with the attitude | position in which the light emission surface of each light emitting element 25 faces below.

In the light source unit 20, as a material constituting the substrate 21, a ceramic material such as aluminum nitride or alumina ceramic, a composite resin material such as glass fiber reinforced epoxy resin, or the like can be used.
Moreover, as a material which comprises the sealing lens 22, glass materials, such as quartz glass and borosilicate glass, or translucent resin materials, such as a silicone resin, an acrylic resin, and an epoxy resin, etc. can be used.
Further, as the light emitting element 25, a light emitting diode that emits required light such as ultraviolet rays can be used.

The columnar lens 30 in this example has a circular cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The columnar lens 30 has a light receiving surface 31 that receives light from the light source unit 20 in a region facing the light source unit 20 on the circumferential surface in the longitudinal direction (x direction), and the light receiving surface 31 on the circumferential surface. The opposite area has an emission surface 32 for emitting the received light. In the illustrated columnar lens 30, a region exposed upward from a first holder 11 and a second holder 15, which will be described later, serves as a light receiving surface 31, and from the first holder 11 and the second holder 15. A region exposed downward is an emission surface 32. The columnar lens 30 is arranged such that the emission surface 32 faces the irradiated surface W extending in the x direction and the y direction.
As a material constituting the columnar lens 30, a glass material such as quartz glass or borosilicate glass can be used.

  The lens holding mechanism 10 includes a first holding tool 11 and a second holding tool 15. When a plane including the central axis of the columnar lens 30 and extending in the x direction and the z direction is a reference plane S, the first holder 11 is located on one side (right side in FIG. 2) of the reference plane S in the columnar lens 30. It is provided so as to be in contact with the peripheral surface area. On the other hand, the second holder 15 is provided so as to be in contact with a peripheral surface region located on the other side (left side in FIG. 2) of the reference surface S in the columnar lens 30.

  As shown in FIG. 4, each of the first holder 11 and the second holder 15 is opposed to the columnar lens 30 extending in the x direction (direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 4) along the columnar lens 30. It has the clamping parts 12 and 16 which contact | connect. Supported parts 13 and 17 extending in the x direction are connected to the holding parts 12 and 16, respectively. Each of the first holder 11 and the second holder 15 has a cantilever structure supported by the heat sink 40 at one end of the supported portions 13 and 17. In the illustrated example, the supported portions 13 and 17 of the first holder 11 and the second holder 15 are fixed at one end by bolts 19a and 19b.

  In addition, grooves 14, extending in the x direction, are provided on the surfaces (hereinafter referred to as “contact surfaces”) in contact with the columnar lenses 30 in the sandwiching portions 12, 16 of the first holder 11 and the second holder 15. 18 is formed. In the clamping part 12 of the first holder 11, the thickness d1 in the direction away from the center position of the groove 14 to the irradiated surface is greater than the thickness d2 in the direction approaching the irradiated surface from the center position of the bottom of the groove 14. Is also considered to be large. On the other hand, in the clamping part 16 of the second holder 15, the thickness d3 in the direction away from the center position of the bottom of the groove 18 to the irradiated surface is the thickness in the direction approaching the irradiated surface from the central position of the groove 18. It is supposed to be smaller than d4.

  The second holder 15 is arranged to block light other than light traveling from the other side of the reference surface S toward one side of the reference surface S among the light from the light source unit 20. Specifically, the light source unit 20 is arranged such that a plane F including the center P of the light emitting surface of the light emitting element 25 and extending in the x direction and the z direction is located on a plane separated from the reference plane S to the other side. ing. In the cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (x direction) of the columnar lens 30 (hereinafter, also referred to as “yz cross section”), the irradiated surface in the peripheral surface area where the second holder 15 of the columnar lens 30 contacts. When the position closest to the surface W is defined as a position T2, the second holder 15 is disposed so that the position T2 is positioned on the plane F or a plane closer to the reference plane S than the plane F. Thereby, of the light emitted from the light source unit 20, the light traveling along the plane F and the light traveling in the direction away from the reference surface S are shielded by the second holder 15.

In the above, the separation distance between the plane F and the reference plane S is appropriately set according to the shapes and dimensions of the columnar lens 30 and the second holder 15, but from the central axis Q of the columnar lens 30 in the y direction. It is preferably 0.3 to 1.5 times the distance to the peripheral surface on the other side (the radius of the columnar lens 30 in the illustrated example).
In addition, an angle formed by a straight line connecting the center P of the light emitting surface of the light emitting element 25 with respect to the reference surface S and the center axis Q of the columnar lens 30 is, for example, 10 to 60 °.
Further, the contact surfaces of the first holding tool 11 and the second holding tool 15 do not need to contact the columnar lens 30 over the entire surface. For example, in the yz cross section, the contact surfaces may contact each other at two or more points, for example. Good.

  Further, in the first holder 11, in the yz section, an angle α formed by a straight line connecting the position Q and the position T1 with respect to the reference plane S is larger than an angle β formed by a straight line connecting the position Q and the position T2 with respect to the reference plane S. It is arranged to be. Here, the position Q is the position of the central axis of the columnar lens 30, and the position T1 is the position closest to the irradiated surface W in the peripheral surface area where the first holder 11 contacts the columnar lens 30. The position T2 is the position closest to the irradiated surface W in the peripheral surface area where the second holder 15 in the columnar lens 30 contacts.

In the first holding tool 11 and the second holding tool 15 in the illustrated example, the thicknesses of the sandwiching portions 12 and 16 in the z direction are the same, and the supported portion 13 of the first holding tool 11 is in the z direction. The size is smaller than the size in the z direction of the supported portion 17 of the second holder 15. For this reason, the clamping part 12 of the 1st holder 11 is arrange | positioned in the position spaced apart from the to-be-irradiated surface W in the z direction rather than the clamping part 16 of the 2nd holder 15. FIG. Thereby, the 1st holder 11 is arrange | positioned so that the angle | corner α which the angle | corner made may become larger than the angle | corner β which the formed.
In the above, the angle α formed is preferably 70 to 90 °. Further, the difference between the formed angle α and the formed angle β is preferably 25 to 80 °.

  According to such a light irradiation device 1, the first holder 11 is arranged so that the angle α formed is larger than the angle β formed, so that the reference surface S is separated from the emission surface 32 of the columnar lens 30. Light is emitted in the direction from the other side to the one side, and all or most of the light other than the light traveling from the other side of the reference surface S to the one side is blocked by the second holder 15. Therefore, it is possible to prevent or suppress light from being irradiated to other parts adjacent to the other side of the reference surface S. Moreover, since it is not necessary to dispose the light irradiation device 1 separately from other adjacent parts, the overall size of the device can be reduced.

  Moreover, since the quantity of the light shielded by the first holder 11 among the light emitted from the light source unit 20 can be reduced, it is possible to improve the light utilization efficiency.

In addition, since the first holding tool 11 and the second holding tool 15 have a cantilever structure supported at one end of the supported portions 13 and 17, the first holding tool 12 and the second holding tool 16 are provided. The columnar lens 30 is held at each free end. For this reason, the bending amount of the supported parts 13 and 17 can be adjusted. Accordingly, even if the center axis of the columnar lens 30 is displaced, this can be easily adjusted.
More specifically, the positions of the end portions of the first holding tool 11 and the second holding tool 15 are adjusted by the members fixing the heat holding member 40 to the heat sink 40, for example, the rotational speed of the bolts 19a and 19b, the tightening degree, and the like. be able to. Therefore, the position of the columnar lens 30 can be adjusted by adjusting the positions of the end portions of the first holder 11 and the second holder 15.
Further, by sandwiching the columnar lens 30 on the upper side and the lower side of the groove 18 provided in the clamping unit 16 and holding the columnar lens 30 on one side two tangents, the positional deviation of the central axis of the columnar lens 30 can be further suppressed.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an internal configuration of the light irradiation apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of the light irradiation apparatus shown in FIG. In the lens holding mechanism 10 of this light irradiation device, the first holder 11 is constituted by two holding members 11a and 11b that hold the columnar lens 30 at both ends in the longitudinal direction (x direction). One holding member 11a includes a sandwiching portion 12a that is in contact with one end of the columnar lens 30, and a supported portion 13a that is coupled to the sandwiching portion 12a. The other holding member 11b includes a sandwiching portion 12b that contacts the other end portion of the columnar lens 30, and a supported portion 13b that is coupled to the sandwiching portion 12b. A groove (not shown) extending in the x direction is formed on the contact surface of the holding portion 12a of one holding member 11a. A groove 14b extending in the x direction is formed on the contact surface of the holding portion 12b of the other holding member 11b. The supported portions 13a and 13b are fixed to the heat sink 40 by bolts 19c and 19d. The other structure in this light irradiation apparatus is the same as that of the light irradiation apparatus shown in FIG.1 and FIG.2.

According to such a light irradiation apparatus, the same effect as the light irradiation apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 can be obtained.
In addition, since the first holder 11 is configured to contact at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the columnar lens 30, light that is shielded by the first holder 11 among light emitted from the light source unit 20. The amount of can be reduced. Therefore, it is possible to improve the light use efficiency.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an internal configuration of the light irradiation apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In the light source unit 20 of the light irradiation device, each of the sealing lenses 22 provided in each of the light emitting elements 25 is positioned in a plane in which the central axis L is translated from the plane F to the reference plane S side. It is formed as follows. That is, the central axis L of each sealing lens 22 is separated to the reference plane S side so that the position differs from the plane F related to the corresponding light emitting element 25. The other structure in this light irradiation apparatus is the same as that of the light irradiation apparatus shown in FIG.1 and FIG.2.
The separation distance between the central axis L of the sealing lens 22 and the plane F is appropriately set according to the dimensions of the light emitting element 25 and the sealing lens 22, but 0.3 to 0.7 of the radius of the sealing lens 22. It is preferable that it is double.

According to such a light irradiation apparatus, the same effect as the light irradiation apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 can be obtained.
Further, in this light irradiation apparatus, the central axis L of the sealing lens 22 is located in a plane closer to the reference plane S than the plane F. Therefore, a part of the light traveling from the light emitting element 25 along the plane F and the light traveling in the direction away from the reference plane S with respect to the plane F approaches the reference plane S from the plane F on the surface of the sealing lens 22. Refracts in the direction of Thereby, the amount of light shielded by the second holder 15 among the light emitted from the light source unit 20 can be reduced. Therefore, it is possible to improve the light use efficiency.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an internal configuration of the light irradiation apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In this light irradiation device, a reflecting mirror 35 extending in the x direction (direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 8) is provided along the longitudinal direction of the columnar lens 30 on the other side of the reference plane S in the columnar lens 30. Yes. In the reflecting mirror 35, the reflecting surface 35 a is disposed so as to face the columnar lens 30 so that it receives the light from the light source unit 20 and reflects it to one side of the reference surface S via the columnar lens 30.
Specifically, on the surface of the second holder 15 facing the light source unit 20, a columnar support base 36 extending in the x direction and having a substantially trapezoidal cross section is provided in the longitudinal direction of the second holder 15. Are arranged along. A surface of the support base 36 facing the columnar lens 30 is a support surface 36 a that supports the reflecting mirror 35. The support surface 36 a is formed in an inclined state with respect to the reference surface S so as to approach the reference surface S as it goes from the light source unit 20 side toward the clamping unit 16 side of the second holding unit 15. The reflecting mirror 35 is supported in a state where the back surface thereof is in contact with the support surface 36 a of the support base 36. Thereby, the reflecting surface 35a of the reflecting mirror 35 is inclined with respect to the reference surface S so as to approach the reference surface S from the light source unit 20 side toward the clamping unit 16 side of the second holding unit 15. It is arranged so as to face the columnar lens 30. In the illustrated example, the reflecting mirror 35 is disposed in a state where one side edge extending in the x direction on the reflecting surface 35 a is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the columnar lens 30.
As the reflecting mirror 35, a mirror in which a metal multilayer film is formed on the surface of a substrate made of aluminum by vapor deposition or the like can be used.
The other structure in this light irradiation apparatus is the same as that of the light irradiation apparatus shown in FIG.1 and FIG.2.

According to such a light irradiation apparatus, the same effect as the light irradiation apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 can be obtained.
Further, in this light irradiation device, light traveling in a direction away from the reference surface S with respect to the plane F from the light emitting element 25 is reflected by the reflecting mirror 35 to one side of the reference surface S via the columnar lens 30. To do. Thereby, the amount of light shielded by the second holder 15 among the light emitted from the light source unit 20 can be reduced. Therefore, it is possible to improve the light use efficiency.
Moreover, since it can suppress that the light radiated | emitted from the light source part 20 is irradiated to the 2nd holder 15, it suppresses that the temperature inside a light irradiation apparatus rises with the light from the light source part 20. can do.

  FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of a configuration in an example of the photocuring material processing apparatus of the present invention. This photocuring material processing apparatus is configured as an ink jet printer, and has a rectangular parallelepiped shape including a plurality of ejection units (not shown) that eject ultraviolet curable ink, which is a photocuring material, onto a recording medium M. A head unit 50 is provided. A light irradiation device 1 for irradiating the photocurable material discharged onto the recording medium M with ultraviolet rays is disposed adjacent to the head unit 50 on each side of the head unit 50. This light irradiation apparatus 1 has the configuration shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Further, with reference to FIG. 2, each of the light irradiation devices 1 is arranged so that light from the emission surface 32 of the columnar lens 30 is irradiated to a position away from the head unit 50. Specifically, each of the light irradiation devices 1 is arranged in a posture in which a side surface located on the other side of the reference surface S (see FIG. 2) in the housing 2 is close to the head unit 50. Each of the head unit 50 and the light irradiation device 1 is supported by a guide rail 55 extending in the y direction so as to be movable in the y direction.

  In this photocuring material processing apparatus, the recording medium M is intermittently conveyed in the x direction by an appropriate conveying means (not shown). Then, while moving the head unit 50 in the y direction, ink is ejected from the ejection unit of the head unit 50 toward the conveyed recording medium M. Thereby, ink adheres to the recording medium M. Thereafter, the ink attached to the recording medium M is irradiated with light by the light irradiation device 1, whereby the ink is cured and fixed to the recording medium M.

  According to such a photo-curing material processing apparatus, light from the exit surface 32 of the columnar lens 30 in each of the light irradiation devices 1 is irradiated to a position separated from the head unit 50, so that the discharge unit of the head unit 50 is irradiated with the light. Irradiation with light can be prevented or suppressed. In addition, since it is not necessary to dispose each of the light irradiation devices 1 separately from the head unit 50, the entire photocuring material processing device can be reduced in size.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and the following various modifications can be added.
(1) The columnar lens 30 is not limited to a circular cross section, and various shapes can be used. However, the columnar lens 30 is preferably one in which light is refracted in the direction away from the plane F on the light receiving surface 31 and the emitting surface 32.
(2) The light source unit 20 includes two substrates 21 extending in the x direction, and a plurality of light emitting elements 25 are arranged in the x direction along the surface of the substrate 21 on each surface of the substrates 21. It may be arranged in an open state.
(3) Specific forms of the first holder 11 and the second holder 15 are not limited to those shown in FIG. 4, and may be those shown in FIG. 10, for example. In the first holding tool 11 and the second holding tool 15 shown in FIG. 10, the holding portions 12 and 16 have asymmetric shapes. Specifically, the sandwiching portion 12 of the first holder 11 has a thickness D1 in the z direction smaller than the thickness D2 in the z direction of the sandwiching portion 16 of the second holder 15. Further, a groove extending in the x direction (a direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 10) is formed at the center position in the z direction on the contact surfaces of the holding portions 12 and 16 of the first holding tool 11 and the second holding tool 15. 14 and 18 are formed.

<Example 1>
Except that the sealing lens was formed according to the configuration shown in FIG. 4, a light irradiation device having the following specifications was produced according to the configuration shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
The substrate in the light source unit is made of aluminum nitride and has dimensions of 105 mm × 20 mm × 1.0 mm. The light emitting element is a light emitting diode having a peak wavelength of 395 nm, an output of 700 mW, and a size of 1.0 mm × 1.0 mm × 0.1 mm. The number of light emitting elements is 25, and the arrangement pitch is 4.0 mm. The sealing lens is made of silicone resin and has a radius of 1.1 mm, and is formed so that the distance between the central axis L and the first plane F is 0.5 mm.
The columnar lens is made of quartz glass, has a total length of 110 mm, and a diameter of 10 mm.
The first holder and the second holder are made of aluminum, the total length is 108 mm, and the thickness in the z direction of each clamping portion is 4 mm. A groove having a semicircular cross section is formed on the contact surface of each clamping portion, and the radius thereof is 0.5 mm. In the first holder, the thickness (d1) in the direction away from the central position of the groove to the irradiated surface is 3 mm, and the thickness (d2) in the direction of approaching the irradiated surface from the central position of the bottom of the groove is 1 mm. . In the second holder, the thickness (d3) in the direction away from the central position of the groove to the irradiated surface is 1 mm, and the thickness (d4) in the direction approaching the irradiated surface from the central position of the bottom of the groove is 3 mm. .

The light source unit, the columnar lens, and the lens holding mechanism are arranged in a positional relationship that satisfies the following conditions.
The separation distance between the plane F and the reference plane S is 5 mm. The angle formed by the straight line connecting the center P of the light emitting surface of the light emitting element with respect to the reference surface S and the center axis Q of the columnar lens is 45 °.
The second holder is disposed so that the position T2 is located on the plane F.
An angle α formed by a straight line connecting the position Q and the position T1 with respect to the reference plane S is 85 °, and an angle β formed by a straight line connecting the position Q and the position T2 with respect to the reference plane S is 50 °.

<Example 2>
A light irradiation device having the same specifications as in Example 1 was produced except that a reflecting mirror was provided according to the configuration shown in FIG.
The reflecting mirror in this light irradiation apparatus is formed by forming a metal multilayer film on the surface of a substrate made of aluminum by vapor deposition or the like. The size of the reflecting mirror is 108 mm × 3.5 mm × 0.5 mm. The reflecting mirror is arranged so that the angle of inclination of the reflecting surface with respect to the reference surface S is 12.5 ° in a state where one side edge extending in the x direction on the reflecting surface is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the columnar lens. .

<Comparative example 1>
A light irradiation apparatus having the same specifications as in Example 1 was produced, except that the first holder was changed to a form symmetrical to the second holder with respect to the reference plane S.

[Test 1]
With the light irradiation apparatus according to Examples 1 and 2 and Comparative Example 1, light was irradiated to the irradiated surface extending in the x direction and the y direction, which was separated from the columnar lens by 5 mm in the z direction. And the illuminance distribution in the y direction of the irradiated surface was measured. The results are shown in FIG.
In FIG. 11, the vertical axis represents relative illuminance where the illuminance peak value by the light irradiation apparatus according to Comparative Example 1 is 1. The horizontal axis is the distance in the y direction from the reference line where the irradiated surface and the reference surface S intersect, and the direction away from the reference surface S to one side thereof is a positive value. The direction away from the side is shown as a negative value.

As is clear from the results shown in FIG. 11, according to the light irradiation apparatuses according to Examples 1 and 2, the illumination direction has an illuminance peak at a position 15 mm away from the reference surface S on the one side in the y direction. An irradiated area is formed. In addition, it was confirmed that the illuminance of the region on the other side of the reference surface S was substantially zero in the y direction of the irradiated surface.
From the above, according to the light irradiation device according to the first and second embodiments, it is possible to prevent or suppress light from being directly or indirectly irradiated to other portions adjacent to the other side of the reference surface S. it can.

Moreover, according to the light irradiation apparatus which concerns on Example 2, compared with the light irradiation apparatus which concerns on the comparative example 1, in the y direction of a to-be-irradiated surface, it is high illumination intensity in the illumination area spaced apart from the reference plane S to the one side It was confirmed that
Moreover, the value of the maximum illuminance by the light irradiation apparatus according to Example 1 is 1.1 times the value of the maximum illuminance by the light irradiation apparatus according to Comparative Example 1, and the maximum illuminance value by the light irradiation apparatus according to Example 2 is The value was 1.26 times the value of the integrated light amount by the light irradiation apparatus according to Comparative Example 1.

[Test 2]
The following tests were performed on the light irradiation apparatuses according to Examples 1 and 2 and Comparative Example 1.
While changing the positional relationship between the light irradiation device and the irradiated surface that is 5 mm away from the light irradiation device and extends in the x direction and the y direction, the light irradiation device is relatively changed in the y direction at a speed of 100 mm / sec. The irradiated surface was irradiated with light from. And the integrated light quantity in the to-be-irradiated surface by each light irradiation apparatus was measured.
As a result, the value of the integrated light amount by the light irradiation apparatus according to Example 1 is 1.156 times the value of the integrated light quantity by the light irradiation apparatus according to Comparative Example 1, and the integrated light amount by the light irradiation apparatus according to Example 2 is obtained. The value was 1.51 times the value of the integrated light quantity by the light irradiation apparatus according to Comparative Example 1.
From the above, the light irradiation apparatus according to Example 1 has higher light use efficiency than the light irradiation apparatus according to Comparative Example 1, and the light irradiation apparatus according to Example 2 is implemented. It was confirmed that the light use efficiency was higher than that of the light irradiation apparatus according to Example 1.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Light irradiation apparatus 2 Housing | casing 10 Lens holding mechanism 11 1st holder 11a, 11b Holding member 12, 12a, 12b Holding part 13, 13a, 13b Supported part 14, 14b Groove 15 Second holder 16 Holding part 17 Supported portion 18 Grooves 19a, 19b, 19c, 19d Bolt 20 Light source portion 21 Substrate 22 Sealing lens 25 Light emitting element 30 Columnar lens 31 Light receiving surface 32 Output surface 35 Reflective mirror 35a Reflective surface 36 Support base 36a Support surface 40 Heat sink 41 Fin 50 Head portion 55 Guide rail F Plane L Center axis M of sealing lens Recording medium P Center of light emitting surface of light emitting element Q Center axis of columnar lens S Reference surface W Irradiated surface

Claims (6)

When three directions orthogonal to each other are defined as an x direction, a y direction, and a z direction,
A long light source unit in which a plurality of light emitting elements are arranged in the x direction;
A columnar lens having a long shape extending in the x direction along the light source unit, and having a light receiving surface for receiving light from the light source unit and an output surface for emitting the received light on the circumferential surface in the longitudinal direction When,
A first holding tool and a second holding tool, and a lens holding mechanism for holding the columnar lens between the first holding tool and the second holding tool,
A light irradiation device that irradiates light to be irradiated extending in the x direction and the y direction with light from the exit surface of the columnar lens,
When a plane including the central axis of the columnar lens and extending in the x direction and the z direction is a reference plane,
The first holder is provided so as to be in contact with a peripheral surface region located on one side of the reference surface of the columnar lens, and the second holder is provided on the other side of the reference surface of the columnar lens. It is provided so as to be in contact with the surrounding surface area,
In a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the columnar lens,
The position of the central axis of the columnar lens is the position Q, and the position closest to the irradiated surface is the position T1 in the peripheral surface area of the columnar lens that the first holder contacts, and the position of the columnar lens is the first position of the columnar lens. When the position closest to the irradiated surface is the position T2 in the peripheral surface area where the holder of 2 comes into contact,
The first holder is arranged such that an angle α formed by a straight line connecting the position Q and the position T1 with respect to the reference plane S is larger than an angle β formed by a straight line connecting the position Q and the position T2 with respect to the reference plane S. The light irradiation apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned.   The light irradiation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a center of a light emitting surface of the light emitting element in the light source unit is disposed on the other side of the reference surface.   On the other side of the reference surface of the columnar lens, a reflecting mirror that receives light from the light source unit and reflects the light to one side of the reference surface via the columnar lens extends along the longitudinal direction of the columnar lens. The light irradiation apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the light irradiation apparatus is provided.   The light irradiation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first holder is in contact with an end portion in a longitudinal direction of the columnar lens.   Each of the first holding tool and the second holding tool includes a holding part that contacts the columnar lens, and a supported part that is connected to the holding part and extends in the x direction. The light irradiation device according to claim 1, further comprising a cantilever structure supported at one end of the support portion. A head unit including a discharge unit that discharges a photocurable material, and the light irradiation device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 provided adjacent to the head unit,
The light irradiating apparatus is disposed so that light from an emission surface of the columnar lens is irradiated to a position separated from the head portion.

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