DE20020319U1 - Irradiation arrangement - Google Patents

Description

Meissner, &Bgr;&ogr;&idigr;,&tgr;&egr;&KHgr; partner

Law firm GbR

PO Box 860624
81633 Munich

Advanced Photonics November 30, 2000

Technologies AG M/IND-061-DE/G

Bruckmühler Str. 27 MB/BO/HZ/hk

83 052 Bruckmühl-Heufeld
Federal Republic of Germany

Irradiation arrangement

Description

The invention relates to an irradiation arrangement according to the
Preamble of claim 1.

From previous patent applications of the applicant, such as
DE 197 36 462 Al, WO 99/42774 or P 10024731.8 (unpublished)
, methods for treating surfaces, processing materials and producing composite materials using electromagnetic radiation are known, the
significant active component in the near infrared range, especially

especially in the wavelength range between 0.8 μπα and 1.5 μπα,

In a number of these applications, the realization
a relatively wide irradiation zone in the interest of high productivity of the respective process with high power density
significant.

It is therefore advisable to use an elongated halogen lamp,
which have a tubular glass body with sockets at the ends
with at least one filament, with an elongated
Reflector as a radiation source for thermal processing pro-

processes are known. Parallel arrangements of several such radiation sources are also known.

For known radiation sources or irradiation devices
with elongated lamps with two bases - for example

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M/IND-061-DE/G

For example, for medical or lighting applications, the lamps have connections or bases that are arranged coaxially to the glass body at its ends; see, for example, US 4,287,554 or DE 33 178 12 A1. These publications also describe irradiation arrangements with several radiation sources that are arranged parallel to one another.

With such a radiation source, a wide and, if necessary, elongated irradiation zone with an almost constant radiation flux density across its width can be realized, which in turn creates uniform process conditions across the corresponding width of the working area.

In implementing a large number of applications of irradiation arrangements operating in the near infrared ("NIR irradiation arrangements"), the inventors have found that the provision of counter reflectors on the side of the object being processed facing away from the radiation source - in particular a flat and possibly rapidly conveyed object being processed, such as a paper web, a plastic film or an elastomer profile or similar - can bring about significant improvements in the product being treated and in the process control. Such counter reflectors are therefore used for a number of technological applications of the NIR irradiation arrangements.

When used in particular with the highest radiation flux densities (of 200 kW/m ² and more), active cooling of the counter reflectors and often also of the side reflectors has proven to be practically indispensable. Despite the high degree of reflection, these absorb so much radiation energy in the form of heat that their shape retention cannot be guaranteed during long-term use without active cooling. In addition, cooling of the counter or side reflectors enables

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M/IND-061-DE/G

also advantageously the improved dissipation of heat from the reflector gap, i.e. the processing zone.

The invention is therefore based on the object of specifying an improved irradiation arrangement of the generic type which enables efficient execution of practically important processing operations,
especially on conveyed flat material, enables and for different applications rational
can be produced.

This task is accomplished by an irradiation arrangement with the
Features of claim 1.

The invention includes the essential idea of constructing the technologically desired counter or side reflector surface in a modular manner from a plurality of solid counter or side reflector elements. It also includes the idea of providing
a (substantially continuous) cooling fluid flow channel in these reflector elements, which has an inlet and an outlet at or near their ends. The modular construction of - in particular similar - counter or side reflector elements - enables the construction of different
long or wide irradiation zones for a wide variety of
Machining processes with a minimum of design and logistics effort.

In a particularly simple and easy to combine design
the cross-sections of the reflectors and counter or side reflectors (at least in the outer contour) are essentially
flat rectangular. This cross-section is particularly easy to manufacture, transport and store and enables the
Simple arrangement of reflector elements next to each other to create a reflector, counter-reflector or side reflector field with larger dimensions lying in one plane.

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To minimize heat absorption and maximize the proportion of radiation available for the processing, the surfaces of all reflectors are designed to be highly reflective, in particular polished. For most applications, a flat design of the surfaces of the counter or side reflectors is sensible. The reflector effective surfaces of the reflector elements directly assigned to the halogen lamps, on the other hand, preferably have other cross-sectional shapes, such as the shape of an elliptical or parabolic section or a trapezoidal shape. From the current perspective, an approximate W-shape is preferred, as described in the applicant's DE 199 09 542.

For a variety of practical applications, the counter reflectors are preferably arranged in the strict sense opposite the lamps and their reflectors, i.e. in a plane parallel to the plane spanned by the center axes of the halogen lamps. The side reflectors are typically arranged in a plane that is essentially perpendicular to the plane spanned by the center axes of the halogen lamps. For special applications, however, it is certainly possible to consider an inclined position of the side reflectors, for example for irradiating inclined side or top surfaces of products to be treated.

By combining the (main) reflectors assigned to the halogen lamps with both counter reflectors and side reflectors, a radiation box can be formed that is largely closed around the circumference and is largely protected against heat build-up in the interior by the active cooling of some or all of the boundary surfaces.

In a particularly flexible and efficient design of the irradiation arrangement, cooling fluid distributors are provided at the ends of the respective reflectors, running essentially perpendicular to them, which can be connected via corresponding

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or outlets a single cooling fluid connection with the cooling fluid flow channels
in the individual reflector elements. These preferably have a rectangular, especially
square cross-section and are in the assembled state of the
Irradiation arrangement is preferably firmly connected to the reflectors and counter or side reflectors by screwing or clamping. They thus simultaneously form the
Support beams for the respective reflector fields or in the case of a
largely closed radiation box and a supporting frame thereof.

The arrangement of the openings of the cooling fluid flow channel provided in the cooling fluid distributors are preferably adapted to the widths of the reflector elements and the arrangement of the flow channels in these so that when connecting lined-up reflector elements to the cooling fluid distributors
the inlets and outlets of both components
are aligned with each other so that the respective flow channels
communicate directly with each other without additional connecting elements. Sealing is achieved in an efficient and cost-effective manner using simple O-rings.

The realization of radiation fields of different lengths is carried out
by cutting the cooling fluid distributors to the appropriate length,

just as the realization of radiation fields of different widths is achieved by cutting the reflector elements to the appropriate length.
The openings of the cooling fluid flow channels on the
The front sides of the respective elements are closed with plugs.

Advantages and benefits of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims and the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the figures.
show this:

Meissner, BoLTE & Partner M/IND-061-DE/G

Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view

an NIR irradiation arrangement according to a first embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 2 a schematic perspective view

an NIR irradiation arrangement according to a second embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 3 is a partially sectioned side view of a

of a main reflector field consisting of two reflectors according to an embodiment of the invention and

Fig.4A and 4B two partially sectioned side views

(in transverse and longitudinal directions) of a counter-reflector field consisting of two counter-reflectors according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 1 shows in a schematic perspective view the essential elements of an NIR irradiation arrangement 1, which is particularly suitable for the thermal processing of a relatively voluminous object to be processed (workpiece). It comprises an emitter arrangement 2 made up of a total of nine elongated tubular halogen filament lamps 3, which are operated for the primary emission of infrared radiation in the range between 0.8 pm and 1.5 pm wavelength, and a main reflector field 4 assigned to these, which is made up of three identical reflectors 5. The NIR irradiation arrangement 1 also comprises a counter reflector field 6 arranged opposite the main reflector field and parallel to it, made up of three identical counter reflectors 7.

On the backs of the reflectors 5 and counter reflectors 7 there are two cooling water distribution bars 8 with square

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cal cross-section, each of which has a water connection 9. These cooling water distributor bars 8 are provided with a cooling water channel in a manner shown in Fig. 3 to 4B and described in more detail below, and have cooling water inlets and outlets which are connected to corresponding inlets and outlets of cooling water channels arranged in the reflector elements. They serve as distributors for water cooling of the individual reflector elements of the reflector fields 4 and 6.

Fig. 2 shows a further NIR irradiation arrangement 21, which has a narrower processing space and is therefore particularly suitable for thermally processing a flat or at least relatively flat object to be processed using NIR radiation. Insofar as this arrangement comprises components that largely correspond to Fig. 1, reference numbers based on Fig. 1 are used and a more detailed description is omitted below.

Such similarities exist in particular with regard to the presence of an NIR radiator arrangement 22 made up of nine halogen filament lamps 23 in front of a main reflector field 24 made up of three reflectors 25, opposite which a counter reflector field 26 made up of three counter reflectors 27 is located parallel. Furthermore, here too, two cooling water distribution bars 28 are assigned to the main and counter reflector fields 24, 26, i.e. they are screwed onto the backs of the corresponding reflector elements. However, here the water connections 29 are not located on the front sides, but on the backs of the cooling water distribution bars 28.

The NIR irradiation arrangement 21 according to Fig. 2 differs from the simpler arrangement according to Fig. 1 by the additional presence of a side reflector 30 on the top and bottom of the arrangement, whereby a closed beam (except for narrow ventilation slots 31a, 31b) is created.

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The side reflectors 30 are also attached to cooling water distribution bars 38, which - in accordance with the geometry of the NIR irradiation arrangement - are significantly shorter than the distribution bars assigned to the main and counter reflector fields and have water connections 29 on their front sides. All cooling water distribution bars 29, 38 form - as Fig. 2 clearly shows - two rectangular frames in which all reflector elements are held stable.

The effective surfaces of the reflectors 5 and 25 from Fig. 1 and 2 have an approximately W-shaped cross-sectional shape, while the surfaces of the counter reflectors 7 and 27 and the side reflectors 30 are flat. All reflector elements are extruded from an aluminum alloy and have polished reflection surfaces.

In Fig. 3 to 4B, the internal structure of the reflector elements and the cooling water distributor bars as well as their connection to one another according to a preferred embodiment of the invention are shown in more detail. The reference numbers for the individual components are chosen based on Fig. 1 and 2.

Fig. 3 shows a main reflector field 34 with two reflectors 35 each for accommodating six (i.e. a total of twelve) elongated halogen lamps. Each of the reflectors 35 has six reflection areas 35a with a cross-section that is approximately W-shaped and five elongated cooling water channels 35b with a cross-section that are circular, each of which is arranged behind the boundary area between two reflection areas 35a. The cooling water channels 35b are connected to one another in a meandering shape, and the two outer channel sections are each designed with an enlarged diameter. These each have an inlet or outlet 35c that opens onto the rear.

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Two cooling water distributor bars (as shown in Fig. 1 or 2) are arranged on the rear of the reflectors 35, the rear of which is flat and whose outer contour has an almost rectangular cross-section. One of these can be seen in Fig. 3. The cooling water distributor bar has a straight, continuous distributor cooling water channel 38a and two distributor inlets and outlets 38b, which are arranged in such a way that they are aligned with the inlets/outlets 35c of the reflectors when the distributor bar 38 is mounted on the reflectors 35. Since they also have the same diameter as the reflectors, sealing using O-rings 38c is possible in a simple manner.

When the entire reflector field is installed, one of the ends of the distributor cooling water channel 38a will form a cooling water inlet or outlet for the main reflector field, while the other will be closed with a plug (shown in Fig. 1 and 2, but not provided with its own reference number). In an analogous manner, a lateral closure of the cooling water channels 35b formed continuously in the extruded reflector profiles is carried out.

Fig. 4A and 4B show a counter-reflector field 46 made up of two counter-reflectors 47 with a cooling water distributor bar 42 placed on top. Analogous to the structure of the cooling water distributor bar 38 from Fig. 3, the cooling water distributor bar 48 also has a straight continuous distributor cooling water channel 48a, which is shown in Fig. 4A in a state closed on both sides by closure plugs 48d.

The counter reflectors 47 each have a highly polished flat reflection surface 47a and two cooling water channels 47b, each of which has two inlets/outlets 47c on the back. The dimensions of the counter reflectors 47 and the arrangement of the cooling water channels 47b and the inlets/outlets 47c in them are

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type to the design of the cooling water distribution bars 48 - in particular the arrangement of the inlets/outlets 48b in these - so that when the arrangement is assembled, the inlets and outlets of both components are aligned with one another and can in turn be sealed against one another by O-rings 48c. The continuous cooling water channels 47b are closed by sealing plugs 49 (as already mentioned above with regard to the reflectors of the main reflector field). Cooling water supplied or drained via the cooling water distribution bars 48 flows from the distributor cooling water channel 48a of one distributor via its outlet 48b and the adjacent inlet 47c into the cooling water channel 47b of the counter reflector. From there it flows via its outlet and the adjacent inlet in the other distributor bar into its distributor cooling water channel and is discharged from there (commonly for several reflector elements).

In order to arrange the counter reflectors in a continuous row to form larger counter reflector fields, dovetail grooves 47d are provided on their side surfaces for inserting corresponding connector profiles (not shown). In Fig. 4B it can be seen that the connection between the counter reflectors 47 and the cooling water distributor bars 48 is made by screw bolts 50 which are inserted into correspondingly designed mounting holes 48e in the distributor bars 48 and 47e of the counter reflectors.

The implementation of the invention is not limited to these examples and the aspects highlighted above, but is also possible in a variety of modifications within the scope of the claims, which are within the scope of professional practice.

List of reference symbols

Meissner, Bolte & Partner

M/IND-061-DE/G

1; 21

2; 22

3; 23

4; 24; 5; 25;

6; 26;

7; 27;

8; 28; 38, 9; 29 30

31a

31b

35a; 47a 35b; 47b 35c; 47c

38a; 48a

38b; 48b

38c; 48c 47d
47e, 48e

4 8d; 4 9

48 - 11 -

NIR irradiation arrangement Emitter arrangement Halogen filament lamp Main reflector field Reflector

Counter reflector field Counter reflector Cooling water distributor bar Water connection Side reflector Ventilation slot Vent slot Reflection area Cooling water channel inlet/outlet Distributor cooling water channel Distributor inlet or outlet O-ring

Dovetail groove Mounting hole Plug Screw bolt

Claims (9)

1. Irradiation arrangement ( 1 ; 21 ), in particular for thermal processing processes, with a plurality of radiation sources for electromagnetic radiation arranged essentially next to one another and parallel to one another, the essential active component of which is in the near infrared range, in particular in the wavelength range between 0.8 µm and 1.5 µm, each with at least one elongated halogen lamp ( 3 ; 23 ) which has a tubular glass body provided with connections at the ends and with at least one incandescent filament, and each with an elongated, solid reflector ( 5 ; 25 ; 35 ) in which at least one cooling fluid flow channel ( 35b ) with an inlet and an outlet ( 35c ) is formed at or near the end of the reflector, characterized by a plurality of solid counter-reflectors arranged opposite the reflectors or to the side of them with respect to the halogen lamp and an object to be processed. and/or side reflectors ( 7 ; 27 ; 30 ; 47 ), each of which has formed therein at least one cooling fluid flow channel ( 47b ) with an inlet and an outlet ( 47c ) at or near its ends. 2. Irradiation arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the cross section of the outer contour of the reflectors ( 5 ; 25 ; 35 ) and counter or side reflectors ( 7 ; 27 ; 30 ; 47 ) is essentially flat rectangular and the reflectors and/or counter or side reflectors are arranged next to one another without gaps, in particular to form a closed main reflector field ( 4 ; 24 ; 34 ) and/or counter or side reflector field ( 6 ; 26 ; 46 ). 3. Irradiation arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the surfaces ( 47a ) of the counter or side reflectors ( 47 ) facing the halogen lamps ( 3 ; 23 ) and the object to be processed are essentially flat and highly reflective, in particular polished. 4. Irradiation arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the counter reflectors ( 7 ; 27 ; 30 ; 47 ) are arranged in a plane which is parallel to the plane spanned by the center axes of the halogen lamps ( 3 ; 23 ). 5. Irradiation arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that several side reflectors are arranged in a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the plane spanned by the center axes of the halogen lamps. 6. Irradiation arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the reflectors ( 5 ; 25 ; 35 ) together with a first plurality of counter reflectors ( 7 ; 27 ; 47 ) and a second plurality of side reflectors ( 30 ) form an actively cooled radiation box which is substantially closed on the circumference. 7. Irradiation arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by two elongated cooling fluid distributors ( 8 ; 28 ; 38 ; 48 ) each running at or near the ends of the reflectors ( 5 ; 25 ; 35 ) and counter or side reflectors ( 7 ; 27 ; 30 ; 47 ) substantially perpendicular to their longitudinal extension, which have a cooling fluid connection ( 9 ; 29 ) at or near one end and a plurality of cooling fluid inlets and outlets ( 38b ; 48b ) distributed over their longitudinal extension, which are connected to the inlets and outlets ( 35c ; 47c ) of the reflectors ( 35 ) and counter or side reflectors ( 47 ), respectively. 8. Irradiation arrangement according to claim 7, characterized in that the cross sections of all the cooling fluid distributors ( 8 ; 28 ; 38 ; 48 ) assigned to the reflectors ( 5 ; 25 ; 35 ) and counter or side reflectors ( 7 ; 27 ; 30 ; 47 ) are identically rectangular, in particular square, and the reflectors and counter or side reflectors are fixed to the cooling fluid distributors, in particular screwed or clamped to them, in such a way that the cooling fluid distributors form support beams for the reflectors and counter or side reflectors. 9. Irradiation arrangement according to claim 6 or 7 and 8, characterized in that the cooling fluid distributors ( 8 ; 28 ; 38 ; 48 ) of the reflectors, counter and side reflectors together span a support frame of the radiation box.