JP2005218921A - Ultraviolet emitting apparatus and ultraviolet emitting method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To avoid a bad influence to be exerted on a work by alleviating the heat of reaction of an ultraviolet-curable resin. <P>SOLUTION: The subject ultraviolet emitting apparatus is provided with: one or more head parts 120 each having one or more semiconductor devices each of which can emit an ultraviolet ray as an ultraviolet ray source; a controller part 110 provided with a control part 114 capable of setting the individual ultraviolet emitting conditions of the head parts 120 and a power source part 112 for supplying a driving current to each of the semiconductor devices; and a cable part 130 provided with electrical signal wires for connecting the head parts 120 electrically to the controller part 110. The control part 114 controls the ultraviolet ray emitted from each of the semiconductor devices to be pulsed so that the calorie generated when the ultraviolet-curable resin is cured is restrained from exceeding the allowable calorie of an object being the work and ascending moreover. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultraviolet irradiation apparatus and an ultraviolet irradiation method for irradiating ultraviolet rays for curing an ultraviolet curable resin used for adhesion of small parts.

  Conventionally, in the medical field, UV curable resin is cured in fields such as sterilization, treatment, spectroscopy (luminescence) diagnosis by irradiating ultraviolet rays inside and outside the living body, observation of minerals and deep part of old burial mounds, or assembly work of electronic components An ultraviolet irradiation device is used for the purpose. Among these, the ultraviolet irradiation device for curing the ultraviolet curable resin is an ultraviolet curable resin widely used from the field of resist film formation and printing to the field of adhesion and fixing of small parts in assembly processes such as optical pickups. It is used for the purpose of irradiating ultraviolet rays. This type of ultraviolet irradiation device includes a controller that is a device body incorporating a power supply circuit and the like, a head that irradiates ultraviolet rays, and a cable that connects them. The controller incorporates a high-pressure mercury lamp, mercury xenon lamp, metal halide lamp, etc. that are UV sources, and transmits UV light to the head with an optical fiber such as quartz glass built into the cable connecting the controller and the head. Is applied to the applied adhesive portion. A conventional example of a method for bonding and fixing small parts using such an ultraviolet irradiation device is described in Patent Document 1.

  An ultraviolet curable resin or an adhesive is cured by a chemical reaction when irradiated with ultraviolet rays, but generates heat of reaction during the curing reaction. When this reaction heat is large, there is a possibility of adversely affecting the object (work) to which the resin is applied. For example, plastic deformation may occur due to heat, which may cause distortion or breakage, resulting in a defective product. In order to suppress the amount of heat at the time of curing, the amount of ultraviolet irradiation is suppressed to avoid a rapid chemical reaction so that the reaction gradually occurs. On the other hand, when the ultraviolet ray irradiation amount of the ultraviolet curable resin is too small, the reaction system is not activated and sufficient adhesive force cannot be obtained. On the other hand, when the amount of ultraviolet irradiation is too large, the reaction proceeds rapidly as described above, and heat generation increases. Therefore, it is desirable to control the amount of ultraviolet irradiation so that the reaction of the ultraviolet curable resin is sufficient and the reaction does not proceed rapidly.

However, it is difficult to adjust the light amount of the ultraviolet light source with a lamp type ultraviolet irradiation device using a conventional high pressure mercury lamp or the like, and in general, the mechanical shutter and aperture are adjusted while the lamp is always on. The method of changing the output light was adopted. This method has a problem that it is difficult to perform a high-speed operation because it involves a mechanical operation, and the mechanical load increases as the speed increases. Even if the ultraviolet irradiation is turned on / off at a high speed, the opening / closing speed of the mechanical shutter cannot follow, making it difficult to adjust the output. In addition, the wear of the apparatus becomes severe, the life is shortened, and the maintenance work is increased.
JP-A-10-209492

  The present invention has been made to solve such conventional problems. A main object of the present invention is to provide an ultraviolet irradiation apparatus and an ultraviolet irradiation method that can suppress reaction heat generated by an ultraviolet curable resin and avoid an adverse effect on a workpiece.

  In order to achieve the above object, an ultraviolet irradiation apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention is an ultraviolet irradiation apparatus that irradiates ultraviolet rays for curing an ultraviolet curable resin, and irradiates ultraviolet rays as an ultraviolet source. One or more head units 120 including one or more possible semiconductor elements, a control unit 114 capable of setting individual ultraviolet irradiation conditions for each head unit 120, and a power supply unit 112 for supplying a driving current to the semiconductor elements And a cable unit 130 including an electric signal line for electrically connecting the head unit 120 and the controller unit 110, and the amount of heat generated when the ultraviolet curable resin is cured. The control unit 114 controls the ultraviolet rays emitted from the semiconductor element in a pulsed manner so as to suppress the rise exceeding the allowable heat amount of the object. As a result, the UV curable resin is irradiated with strong ultraviolet rays during the UV pulse irradiation period to cause a sufficient reaction, and the temperature increased by the reaction heat decreases during the pulse pause period. By repeating the irradiation, it is possible to irradiate with sufficient ultraviolet rays while suppressing a rapid temperature rise. In particular, since a semiconductor element is used as an ultraviolet ray source, ON / OFF control is easy and pulse irradiation can be realized without mechanical operation such as opening and closing of a shutter, so that high-speed and stable ultraviolet irradiation can be realized. .

  In addition, the ultraviolet irradiation device according to claim 2 is the ultraviolet irradiation device according to claim 1, and further has a temperature increase gradient due to the heat tolerance of the object and the reaction heat generated when the ultraviolet curable resin is cured. Accordingly, a setting unit is provided for setting the ultraviolet irradiation pulse condition including the pulse width and the cycle of the ultraviolet irradiation so as to suppress the heat amount due to the curing of the ultraviolet curable resin from exceeding the allowable heat amount. As a result, the pulse width and period of the ultraviolet irradiation pulse are set so as to be within the allowable heat amount based on the temperature increase during the irradiation period and the temperature decrease during the pause period, while protecting the object by suppressing the temperature increase. Resin curing by reliable UV irradiation can be obtained.

  Furthermore, in the ultraviolet irradiation device according to claim 3, the ultraviolet irradiation device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the ultraviolet irradiation pulse is a substantially rectangular wave, and the ON time is necessary for the reaction of the ultraviolet curable resin. It is longer than the minimum time and shorter than the maximum time when the temperature rises due to the heat of reaction and does not exceed the allowable temperature. As a result, a sufficient UV curing resin curing reaction is obtained during the ON period of the rectangular wave UV irradiation pulse, and the temperature rise is suppressed within an allowable temperature, so that reliable and safe UV curing is realized.

  Furthermore, in the ultraviolet irradiation device according to claim 4, the ultraviolet irradiation device according to claim 3, wherein the OFF time of the ultraviolet irradiation pulse is five times or more of the ON time. As a result, the temperature increased during the ON period of the UV irradiation pulse is sufficiently decreased during the OFF period, so that reliable and safe UV curing is realized.

  Furthermore, in the ultraviolet irradiation device according to claim 5, the ultraviolet irradiation device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein an average value of a calorific value due to curing of the ultraviolet curable resin in one cycle of the ultraviolet irradiation pulse is obtained. When it falls, it shifts from pulse irradiation to continuous irradiation. If the reaction of the UV curable resin progresses to some extent and the temperature of the object changes from an upward trend to a downward trend, the temperature will not rise suddenly even if it is irradiated continuously. The reaction is accelerated within the allowable temperature, and the curing time can be shortened.

  Furthermore, the ultraviolet irradiation device according to claim 6 is the ultraviolet irradiation device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the semiconductor element is an ultraviolet light emitting diode 150. Ultraviolet light-emitting diodes are small in size, have low power consumption, and are fast in response, so they can be electrically turned on and off by pulse control, compared to conventional ultraviolet irradiation devices that use lamps as ultraviolet sources. Since there is no mechanical operation such as opening and closing of the door, problems such as mechanical malfunction and deterioration can be solved, and there can be obtained an advantage that it can be used stably with high reliability.

  The ultraviolet irradiation method according to claim 7 is an ultraviolet irradiation method in which an ultraviolet curable resin is irradiated with ultraviolet rays by an ultraviolet irradiation device and cured, and ultraviolet rays are pulsed from a semiconductor element provided in a head portion of the ultraviolet irradiation device. The amount of heat generated during curing of the ultraviolet curable resin is controlled so as to suppress the heat amount from exceeding the allowable heat amount. As a result, the UV curable resin is irradiated with strong ultraviolet rays during the UV pulse irradiation period to cause a sufficient reaction, and the temperature increased by the reaction heat decreases during the pulse pause period. By repeating the irradiation, it is possible to irradiate with sufficient ultraviolet rays while suppressing a rapid temperature rise. In particular, since a semiconductor element is used as an ultraviolet ray source, ON / OFF control is easy and pulse irradiation can be realized without mechanical operation such as opening and closing of a shutter, so that high-speed and stable ultraviolet irradiation can be realized. .

  Furthermore, the ultraviolet irradiation method according to claim 8 is an ultraviolet irradiation method for curing the ultraviolet curable resin by irradiating the surface of the object with ultraviolet rays after applying the ultraviolet curable resin to the surface of the object. A step of setting an ultraviolet irradiation pulse condition including a pulse width of the ultraviolet irradiation and a pulse pause time according to a heat allowable amount of an object and a rate of temperature rise due to a reaction of the ultraviolet curable resin, and the set ultraviolet irradiation pulse A step of irradiating ultraviolet rays in a pulsed manner to the ultraviolet curable resin so as to suppress the amount of heat generated during the curing of the ultraviolet curable resin from exceeding an allowable temperature based on the conditions. As a result, the pulse width and period of the ultraviolet irradiation pulse are set so as to be within the allowable heat amount based on the temperature increase during the irradiation period and the temperature decrease during the pause period, while protecting the object by suppressing the temperature increase. Resin curing by reliable UV irradiation can be obtained.

  Furthermore, the ultraviolet irradiation method according to claim 9 is the ultraviolet irradiation method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the setting of the ultraviolet irradiation pulse condition is the allowable heat amount of the object, the type of the ultraviolet curable resin, the use It is set based on at least one of the amount, the gradient of the temperature rise when the predetermined ultraviolet ray is irradiated, the gradient of the temperature drop when the irradiation is stopped, and the reaction time of the ultraviolet curable resin. As a result, the UV irradiation pulse conditions can be set to the optimum conditions according to the type of UV curable resin used and the characteristics of the object, and the appropriate UV curable resin can be cured according to the purpose and application. be able to.

  Furthermore, an ultraviolet irradiation method according to a tenth aspect is the ultraviolet irradiation method according to any one of the seventh to ninth aspects, wherein an ultraviolet light emitting diode 150 is used as a semiconductor element as an ultraviolet ray source. Ultraviolet light-emitting diodes are small in size, have low power consumption, and are fast in response, so they can be electrically turned on and off by pulse control, compared to conventional ultraviolet irradiation devices that use lamps as ultraviolet sources. Since there is no mechanical operation such as opening and closing the door, the problem of deterioration and life can be solved, and the advantage that it can be used stably with high reliability is obtained.

  According to the ultraviolet irradiation apparatus and the ultraviolet irradiation method of the present invention, it is possible to suppress an increase in heat generated during the curing reaction of the ultraviolet curable resin, and avoid a situation in which an object is damaged by heat, thereby performing reliable ultraviolet irradiation. Realized. This is because the present invention employs pulsed ultraviolet irradiation that repeats an irradiation pattern irradiated in a short time with strong illuminance, thereby providing a pause period for ultraviolet irradiation to suppress temperature rise. By providing the rest period, the heat generated during the irradiation period is dissipated and the temperature rise is effectively suppressed. As described above, according to the present invention, the temperature rise can be effectively avoided by a simple setting without adding a complicated circuit or changing the configuration. Therefore, a temperature rise suppressing function can be realized at low cost by using an existing ultraviolet irradiation device. Is done. In particular, in order to determine the pulse period, the irradiation period, and the number of pulses so that the total temperature rise falls within the allowable heat amount according to the type of the object and the UV curable resin, the temperature rise gradient, etc. Appropriate ultraviolet irradiation capable of obtaining sufficient resin curing while reliably suppressing an increase in temperature according to conditions can be realized. In addition, this method does not use a mechanical shutter or diaphragm, unlike the conventional UV irradiation device that uses a lamp light source, and generates pulses by electrical control, enabling high-speed operation and reliability. Excellent advantages such as high performance and no mechanical deterioration.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiment described below exemplifies an ultraviolet irradiation device and an ultraviolet irradiation method for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and the present invention includes the following ultraviolet irradiation device and ultraviolet irradiation method. Not specified. Further, in this specification, for easy understanding of the scope of claims, the numbers corresponding to the members shown in the embodiments are referred to as “claims column” and “means for solving the problems”. It is added to the members shown in the column. However, the members shown in the claims are not limited to the members in the embodiments. Note that the size, positional relationship, and the like of the members shown in each drawing may be exaggerated for clarity of explanation. Furthermore, in the following description, the same name and symbol indicate the same or the same members, and detailed description thereof will be omitted as appropriate. Furthermore, each element constituting the present invention may be configured such that a plurality of elements are constituted by the same member and the plurality of elements are shared by one member, and conversely, the function of one member is constituted by a plurality of members. It can also be realized by sharing.

  FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an ultraviolet irradiation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the ultraviolet irradiation device 100 shown in this figure, the controller unit 110 and the head unit 120 are connected by a cable unit 130. The head unit 120 incorporates a UVLED 150 that is a semiconductor element as an ultraviolet ray source that emits ultraviolet rays for curing the ultraviolet curable resin. The controller unit 110 includes a power source unit 112, a control unit 114, and a storage unit 116 for driving the ultraviolet source of the head unit 120, and sends a driving signal (electric signal) of the ultraviolet source to the head unit 120 via the cable unit 130. Send.

  The ultraviolet irradiation device can switch between a setting mode for setting ultraviolet irradiation conditions and an irradiation mode for actually irradiating ultraviolet rays. The ultraviolet irradiation conditions set by the setting unit 140 (described later) in the setting mode are stored in the storage unit 116. The setting unit 140 sets a plurality of ultraviolet irradiation conditions and stores them in the storage unit 116. In the irradiation mode, the control unit 114 calls a necessary ultraviolet irradiation condition setting from the storage unit 116, and the control unit 114 supplies a driving current from the power supply unit 112 to the head unit 120 according to this setting, and controls the ultraviolet source of the head unit 120. . The ultraviolet irradiation conditions can be set independently for each head part.

  The controller unit 110 is provided with a plurality of head unit connection units 160 for connecting the head unit 120. Each head unit connection unit 160 is assigned a unique channel number, and is distinguished from other head unit connection units by the channel number. In the example of FIG. 1, four channel head unit connections 160 of channels 1 to 4 are provided, and the head unit 120 is connected to each head unit connection unit 160.

  Each head unit 120 receives a driving current from the controller unit, operates an ultraviolet ray source, and irradiates the ultraviolet ray U to the outside. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the head unit 120 is provided with an identification unit 121 capable of displaying identification information for identifying each head unit 120 for each channel. The identification information displays information on the channel number, so that the user understands the channel number assigned to each head unit, thereby distinguishing the plurality of head units from each other. The identification information can be displayed not only by directly displaying the channel number but also by using a plurality of lighting combinations or lighting patterns. Therefore, the display here includes not only display of numbers and character information but also information display by lighting. The lighting includes a continuous lighting display and a lighting display with blinking and strength.

  When identifying the head unit 120, the setting unit 140 of the controller unit 110 instructs the ultraviolet irradiation device to execute the identification operation. When the identification operation is instructed, the control unit 114 of the controller unit 110 generates an identification signal and sends it to the head unit 120 side. Upon receiving the identification signal, the head unit 120 displays identification information on the identification unit 121. The user can recognize the channel number by looking at the identification information displayed on the identification unit 121 of the head unit 120, and can distinguish the head unit 120 based on the channel number. The identification unit 121 is a member that performs display for indicating identification information, and includes a lighting unit. The lighting part is composed of a light emitting element, and for example, a light bulb or a semiconductor light emitting element can be used. An LED is preferably used.

(UV source)
A semiconductor light emitting device such as a light emitting diode (LED) or a semiconductor laser (LD) can be used as the semiconductor device which is an ultraviolet ray source. These semiconductor elements have excellent features such as small size, high efficiency, low calorific value, long life and resistance to mechanical vibration compared to mercury xenon lamps and the like, and can be used ideally. In this embodiment, an ultraviolet light emitting diode (UVLED) that directly irradiates ultraviolet light is used as a semiconductor element. In the UVLED, for example, a nitride compound semiconductor represented by the general formula In _x Al _y Ga _1-xy N (0 ≦ x, 0 ≦ y, x + y ≦ 1) is used for the active layer (light emitting layer). Things are available. In addition, a double hetero structure, a single quantum well structure (SQW), a multiple quantum well structure (MQW), or the like can be appropriately employed for the light emitting layer. Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to the UVLED that directly irradiates ultraviolet rays, and a configuration that converts the irradiation light of the LEDs into ultraviolet light by using, for example, a wavelength conversion element or the like can be appropriately employed. The UVLED is turned on only when necessary, in other words, it is not always turned on, thereby suppressing power consumption and extending the life of the UVLED. However, as in the case of a conventional high-pressure mercury lamp or the like, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which the UV LED is always turned on and the shutter is mechanically operated to turn on / off the ultraviolet output. As the wavelength of ultraviolet light output from the semiconductor element, near ultraviolet light having a wavelength of about 300 to 400 nm, for example, a wavelength of about 380 nm can be used, and the wavelength is determined according to the ultraviolet curable resin used.

(UV curable resin)
As the ultraviolet curable resin, any resin that cures when irradiated with ultraviolet rays can be used. For example, an epoxy resin including an alicyclic epoxy resin and a glycidyl group-containing epoxy resin, an ultraviolet-activated cationic polymerization catalyst, or a cationic polymerization inhibitor. Including resins can be used. After applying such an ultraviolet curable resin composition to the surface of the object, ultraviolet rays are irradiated to form a cured film of the ultraviolet curable resin composition.

(Cable section 130)
As the cable unit 130, a wire harness in which a power line and a signal line are bundled is used. Since this cable part 130 is a simple electric signal line that does not include an optical path such as an optical fiber, the cable part 130 is not subject to the restriction of the total length due to the limitation of the bending angle or the light attenuation, and is used in the conventional ultraviolet irradiation device. It can be made thinner and lighter than the flexible cable that has been used, has high flexibility and is extremely easy to handle. Moreover, there is no restriction on the total length, and the length can be increased. For this reason, when different ultraviolet irradiation conditions are set and used for a plurality of head units 120, the cable can be extended and connected to one ultraviolet irradiation device, so that the system design and arrangement can be flexibly supported.

(Head 120)
Next, the external appearance of the head part 120 is shown in FIGS. 2A is a front view of the head unit 120, and FIG. 2B is a partial cross-sectional view showing the internal structure. 3 to 5 are exploded views of the head unit 120, FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view seen from above, FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view seen from the lower side opposite to FIG. 3, and FIG. The perspective view which shows the state which connected 4 connection connectors 1231 and 1244, respectively is shown, respectively. The head portion 120 shown in these drawings includes a head main body portion 122 having a cable portion 130 connected to the proximal end side, a cooling block 124 detachably coupled to the distal end side thereof, and a detachably coupled to the distal end side thereof. An interchangeable lens holder 126 is provided. The head main body 122 has a size that can be gripped by a user, and includes a hollow box-shaped case in which case members 1221 and 1222 that are divided vertically and a base end member 1223 are combined as shown in FIG. A substrate 1224 is accommodated in the housing. A cable connector 1225 to which the cable portion 130 is connected is attached to the base end member 1223, and the cable portion 130 and the substrate 1224 are electrically connected via the cable connector 1225. The substrate 1224 includes electronic components for controlling the drive by supplying the drive current received from the cable unit 130 to the UVLED 150. On the substrate 1224, an indicator LED 1226 is mounted as an indicator for displaying the ON / OFF state of ultraviolet irradiation. In the example of FIG. 3, two indicator LEDs 1226 are arranged to increase the amount of light. However, it goes without saying that one LED may be used by using a light quantity required for the indicator or a high-brightness LED. Moreover, it can also be set as 3 or more LED. Various electronic components for receiving a drive signal generated by the control unit 114 of the controller unit 110 and supplying a drive current to the UVLED 150, a memory unit 1227, an adjustment circuit 1228, and the like are mounted on the substrate 1224. . The memory unit 1227 stores the operating time of the head unit 120 and is used for recording the initial characteristics of the UVLED 150, and an EEPROM which is a nonvolatile memory can be suitably used. The lens holder 126 houses one or a plurality of optical system lenses 1261 for condensing ultraviolet rays emitted from the UVLED 150. In the example of FIG. 2, the first lens 1261A and the second lens 1261B are fixed inside the lens holder 126 with a spacer and a lens fixing cap with two lenses. Although a single lens can be used, the lens size tends to increase with a single lens because of the refractive index. Therefore, in this embodiment, the size of the lens itself is reduced by using two optical system lenses 1261 and irradiating ultraviolet rays from the UV LED 150 to the outside with the first lens 1261A and the second lens 1261B. As a result, the lens holder 126 and the head unit 120 can be reduced in size.

(UVLED150 adjustment work)
A semiconductor element such as the UVLED 150 has good linearity of output with respect to the drive current, but the output tends to decrease with use time. Therefore, accurate output control can be maintained by adjusting the drive current in consideration of output fluctuation due to deterioration with time. The drive current is adjusted for each head unit 120 by an adjustment circuit 1228 such as a semi-fixed resistor (current adjustment trimmer) as shown in FIG. In the example of FIG. 2B, the semi-fixed resistor constituting the adjustment circuit 1228 is configured to be mounted on a substrate in the head unit 120 and cannot be adjusted from the outside. The situation where the drive current is changed is avoided. However, it is also possible to employ a configuration that allows adjustment of the drive current from the outside. For example, the resistance value can be adjusted with a specially shaped tool, or a small hole is opened in the case of the head portion 120 so that the resistance value can be adjusted from the hole. Alternatively, the controller portion 110 or the head portion can be adjusted. For example, a method of allowing the adjustment function of the adjustment circuit 1228 to be called by a specific operation, such as a long press of an individual setting switch provided at 120, can be employed. In order to perform such adjustment of the drive current periodically, every time the usage time of each head unit 120 reaches a certain time, a report is made to the user to prompt the user to adjust the drive current. The memory unit 1227 provided in each head unit 120 updates and stores the integrated value of the driving time of the UVLED 150, that is, the driving integrated time. The control unit 114 of the controller unit 110 controls driving of the UVLED 150 of the head unit 120 via a D / A converter, a drive circuit, and the like, and writes an integrated value of the driving time in the memory unit 1227 of the head unit 120. This writing (update storage) is performed every predetermined time (for example, every minute). Then, when the drive integration time read from the memory unit 1227 reaches a predetermined adjustment time, the control unit 114 outputs a notification so that the UVLED 150 is adjusted. As the notification output, for example, blinking display of LED, buzzer sound, etc. are used. Alternatively, when the controller unit 110 is provided with a display capable of displaying a message, a message prompting the adjustment work of the UVLED 150 may be displayed using the display. The user grasps that the time required for adjustment work has been reached based on the notification output, and performs current correction using the adjustment circuit 1228 as described above. For example, in consideration of a decrease in output with respect to a reference drive current, adjustment is made so that the drive current increases. Further, when the drive integration time reaches the lifetime of the UVLED 150, a notification output that prompts replacement of the UVLED 150 may be performed. Further, the memory unit 1227 stores data relating to the initial characteristics of the UVLED 150 and can be used for adjusting the drive current. In general, there is an individual difference (variation) in the initial luminance of the UVLED 150, and therefore an initial luminance adjustment circuit 1228 is usually required in the drive circuit on the head portion 120 side of the UVLED 150. For the initial luminance adjustment circuit, a semi-fixed resistor or the like is used, and for example, the adjustment circuit 1228 shown in FIG. Then, it is necessary to perform initial adjustment by an initial luminance adjustment circuit in each head unit 120 so that the ultraviolet irradiation power becomes a predetermined value for each head unit 120.

  In the ultraviolet irradiation apparatus according to the above-described embodiment, the initial luminance adjustment as described above is performed by storing the initial characteristic data regarding the initial luminance measured in advance of the UVLED 150 mounted on each head unit 120 in the memory unit 1227. The circuit and the initial adjustment work using this are unnecessary. That is, the control unit 114 reads the initial characteristic data from the memory unit 1227 and determines an appropriate basic drive current (more precisely, a digital value corresponding to the initial characteristic data) according to the initial characteristic data. The digital value corresponding to the drive current output from the control unit 114 is converted into an analog voltage by the D / A converter and is given to the drive circuit. The drive circuit drives the UVLED 150 of the head unit 120 with a drive current corresponding to the applied analog voltage. In addition, since this drive current can be increased / decreased adjusted by the setting part 140, this can adjust an ultraviolet irradiation output. As described above, by providing the memory unit 1227 on the head unit 120 side, accurate adjustment according to the characteristics of the UVLED 150 provided in the head unit 120 can be realized. For example, when the channel of the controller-side head connection unit 160 that is one form of the head connection unit of the controller unit 110 to which the head unit 120 is connected is uniquely fixed, the above-mentioned memory unit may be provided on the controller unit 110 side. Such adjustment is possible. This is because the memory unit on the controller unit 110 side can store drive integration time and initial characteristic data for each channel. However, when the channel to which the head unit 120 is connected is changed, the above method cannot be used, and the user side always stores the connection destination UV irradiation device and its channel number for each head unit 120 by some means. It takes a lot of time and is not easy to use. Therefore, by providing the memory unit 1227 on the head unit 120 side as described above, even if the head unit 120 is connected to any channel number of any ultraviolet irradiation device, accurate driving according to the characteristics of the head unit 120 is performed. Current adjustment is realized and usability is improved.

  Since the UVLED 150 that emits ultraviolet rays tends to generate more heat than an LED that emits normal visible light, it is preferable to provide a heat dissipation mechanism in the head unit 120 so that it can be used stably for a long period of time. After fixing the cooling block 124 and the lens holder 126, the upper case member 1221 and the lower case member 1222 constituting the head main body portion 122 are aligned with each other so that the distal end portion sandwiches the proximal-side protruding portion 1243 of the cooling block 124. Each is fixed to the cooling block 124 with a fixing screw 1229. Further, the base end member 213 is fixed to the base end surfaces of the upper case member 1221 and the lower case member 1222 using a fixing screw 1230. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the cooling block 124 including the cable connector 1225 and the UVLED 150 is electrically connected to the substrate via connection connectors 1231 and 1244, respectively. As a result, the UVLED 150 receives power supply from the controller unit 110 via the cable unit 130 and is driven and controlled. Thus, it has the advantage that it is easy to disassemble each part and to perform maintenance work, such as replacement and repair, by connecting each block that requires electrical connection via a connection connector. In particular, the head unit 120 shown in the figure has a structure in which a head main body unit 122, a cooling block 124, and a lens holder 126 are coupled in order, so that the head unit 120 can be easily divided for each unit and has excellent maintainability. Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the lower case member 1222 has a through hole 1232 that is a screw hole for fixing the head portion 120 to a holder or the like. As shown in FIG. 3, the lower case member 1221 has a protective plate 1245 so that the tip of the screw does not damage the substrate 1224 or the mounted component on the substrate when the head unit 120 is fixed by screwing screws or the like. It is fixed and blocks between the through hole 1232 and the substrate 1224.

(Controller unit 110)
FIG. 6 shows a front view of the controller unit 110. In this example, a four-channel controller unit 110 to which four head units 120 can be connected is shown. The number of head units 120 that can be connected is determined by the number of channels, but it goes without saying that the number of channels can be 3 or less, or 5 or more. The controller unit 110 shown in this figure is provided with a display unit 142 and an operation panel 144 as a setting unit 140 for individually setting the ultraviolet irradiation conditions of the UVLED 150 on the front panel. In FIG. 6, the display unit 142 is arranged at the upper part of the front panel, and the operation panel 144 is arranged therebelow.

(Operation panel 144)
The operation panel 144 constituting the setting unit 140 is provided with <,>, ∧, ∨ switches 144A, 144B, 144C, and 144D, an escape switch 144E, and an enter switch 144F, which are selection switches for up, down, left, and right. The user operates these switches and sets the ultraviolet irradiation conditions of the UVLED 150 according to a predetermined procedure. Note that the operation panel 144 is not limited to this example, and various input devices such as a cross key, a numeric keypad, and a jog dial can be used. The operation panel may be a touch panel integrated with the display unit. Various switches provided on the operation panel 144 can be used in common for the operation of each head unit 120, and can be set by switching the channel to which each head unit 120 is connected. The switches of the setting unit 140 need not be fixed on the controller unit 110, and may be provided as members separate from the controller unit 110. For example, a configuration in which switches are provided in a setting unit separate from the controller unit 110, such as a console, a remote controller, and a foot switch, and these are connected to the controller unit 110 by wire or wirelessly and operated is also within the scope of the present invention. . Further, as will be described later, settings and operations may be performed from an external connection device connected to the ultraviolet irradiation device. Further, in this specification, the setting unit includes an aspect that is used other than at the time of setting the ultraviolet irradiation condition. For example, the setting unit includes an irradiation switch that is used when the ultraviolet irradiation device is operated. For example, when a foot switch is connected as the irradiation switch to the controller unit 110, an ON / OFF input delay can be set to prevent chattering due to disturbance. The on-timing (delay setting) and off-timing (delay setting) of ultraviolet rays can be set individually or collectively using the setting unit.

(Display unit 142)
The display unit 142 constituting the setting unit 140 includes a 7-segment display using LEDs and a liquid crystal display. The user performs a setting operation while displaying and confirming the ultraviolet irradiation conditions such as the output of ultraviolet rays and the irradiation time set on the operation panel 144 on the display unit 142. The display unit 142 switches and displays the setting conditions of each head unit 120 on one screen. Further, as will be described later, a plurality of display units can be provided for each head unit 120 individually. The ultraviolet output is set and displayed by a relative intensity value, for example, a drive duty factor of the UVLED 150, but may be displayed by an absolute output value (mW or the like). Note that the display unit 142 can be configured by a liquid crystal or an organic EL to enable graphical display such as icon display. Further, color display may be possible. In addition, a channel display lamp 145 is provided for each channel below the display unit 142. Thereby, the channel currently selected and displayed on the display unit 142 can be distinguished. In the illustrated example, four channel display lamps 145 of 1 to 4 channels are provided. Further, an ultraviolet irradiation lamp 146 is disposed adjacent to these channel display lamps 145. The ultraviolet irradiation lamp 146 functions as a pilot lamp indicating that the ultraviolet rays are emitted (emission) from any of the head units 120, and is configured by, for example, an LED. That is, when the LED of the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 146 is lit, the user is notified that ultraviolet rays are being irradiated. A power switch 147 and a batch irradiation switch 148 are provided below the operation panel 144. The power switch 147 is a switch for turning on / off the power of the ultraviolet irradiation device. For example, by adopting a key switch as the power switch 147, it is possible to avoid a situation where the switch is unexpectedly turned on.

(Batch irradiation switch 148)
When the batch irradiation switch 148 is pressed, ultraviolet rays can be independently emitted from all the head units 120 in accordance with the respective ultraviolet irradiation conditions set in advance for each head unit 120 by the setting unit 140.

(Controller side head connection section 160)
Furthermore, a controller-side head connection unit 160, an individual irradiation lamp 170, and an individual irradiation switch 180 are provided for each head unit 120 at the lower portion of the front panel. In FIG. 6, the controller-side head connection unit 160 arranged vertically on the left side is a connector for connecting the cable of the head unit 120 and constitutes the head connection unit. As described above, the controller unit 110 in FIG. 6 is provided with the 4-channel controller-side head connection unit 160 so that the four head units 120 can be connected. Of course, it is not necessary to use all the channels, and it is needless to say that only any of these channels can be used according to the use conditions.

(Individual irradiation lamp 170)
In addition, an individual irradiation lamp 170 is disposed adjacent to the right side of each controller-side head connection unit 160. The individual irradiation lamp 170 is a lamp for indicating that ultraviolet rays are irradiated from the UVLED 150 of the head unit 120 connected to each channel. Thereby, the user can confirm which head unit 120 is currently irradiated with ultraviolet rays. An LED or the like can also be used for the individual irradiation lamp 170. When the batch irradiation switch 148 is pressed, all the individual irradiation lamps 170 are turned on.

(Individual irradiation switch 180)
Furthermore, an individual irradiation switch 180 is arranged on the right side of the individual irradiation lamp 170. The individual irradiation switch 180 is a switch for individually turning on / off the ultraviolet output of the head unit 120 connected to each channel. By providing the individual irradiation switch 180 for each channel, the ultraviolet output of the head unit 120 connected to each channel can be individually operated. In particular, by providing the dedicated switch, each operation can be performed with a small number of operations (for example, only by pressing a button). Since the output of the head unit 120 can be turned ON / OFF, an ultraviolet irradiation device can be used more conveniently. However, it is also possible to configure the operation panel 144 to turn on / off each channel without providing an individual irradiation switch.

  As described above, the layout arrangement of the setting unit 140 has been described based on FIG. 6, but it goes without saying that these arrangements can be arbitrarily changed. For example, in the example of FIG. 6, a plurality of channels are arranged vertically, and the controller-side head connection unit 160, individual irradiation lamp 170, and individual irradiation switch 180 are arranged for each channel in the horizontal direction. As an alternative, a channel can be arranged in the horizontal direction, and a controller-side head connecting portion, an individual irradiation lamp, an individual irradiation switch, and the like can be arranged in each vertical direction. In the above-described embodiment, the irradiation lamp and the irradiation switch are provided separately. However, if a switch with a backlight that lights in the on state is used, these can be integrated into one member.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the controller unit 110 includes a power supply unit 112 and a control unit 114. The commercial power supplied from the AC inlet is supplied to the power supply unit 112 via the line filter, the fuse and the power switch 147, and the direct current stabilization voltage generated by the power supply unit 112 is supplied to the control unit 114. The control unit 114 can be realized by a gate array such as a microprocessor (MPU), LSI, FPGA, or ASIC. The control unit 114 includes a memory, and controls the intensity of near-ultraviolet rays from each head unit 120, irradiation timing, and the like according to a program stored in advance and a user's setting operation. A terminal block board and a communication connector are connected to the control unit 114, and an external control device such as a computer or a PLC (programmable logic controller) can be connected to the controller unit 110 using these interfaces. . As will be described later, the externally connected device can be used for setting ultraviolet irradiation conditions and for ON / OFF operation of the ultraviolet irradiation apparatus. That is, the setting unit 140 provided in the controller unit 110 of the ultraviolet irradiation device can be used for setting and operation, and the ultraviolet irradiation device can be turned on / off by a trigger input from an external device. In addition, four controller-side head connection units 160 are connected to the control unit 114, and each head unit 120 is connected to the control unit 114 of the controller unit 110 via these controller-side head connection units 160. And the control part 114 gives the electric signal for drive control of UVLED150 of each head part 120 to each head part 120, and controls the intensity | strength of near ultraviolet rays from each head part 120, and irradiation timing. Further, a front panel substrate is connected to the control unit 114. A display panel and various switches constituting the display unit 142 and the setting unit 140 provided on the front panel of the controller unit 110 are mounted on the front panel substrate. The user can individually set the intensity of near ultraviolet rays, the irradiation timing, and the like of the four head units 120 using the display unit 142 and the setting unit 140.

  As described above, the ultraviolet irradiation apparatus according to the present embodiment can be switched between the setting mode for setting the ultraviolet irradiation condition and the irradiation mode for irradiating ultraviolet light by the control unit. For switching between the setting mode and the irradiation mode, a dedicated changeover switch can be provided, or a combination of specific switches or a long press can be used. In the present embodiment, the setting mode and the irradiation mode are switched between each other by long pressing (for example, 3 seconds or more) of the escape switch 144E in the operation panel 144 shown in FIG.

  Details of the irradiation mode will be described below. First, in the present embodiment, in the irradiation mode of the ultraviolet irradiation device, a collective irradiation mode for irradiating ultraviolet rays from all the head units 120 and an individual irradiation mode for irradiating ultraviolet rays from one head unit 120 are provided. Yes. As described above, when the batch irradiation switch 148 is operated, the batch irradiation mode is executed, and when the individual irradiation switch 180 is operated, the individual irradiation mode is executed. Further, each irradiation mode can be distinguished into an automatic mode and a manual mode. The automatic mode is a mode in which the irradiation output and the irradiation time can be changed in accordance with preset ultraviolet irradiation conditions. That is, when the irradiation start command is received in the automatic mode, irradiation is started with the irradiation pattern registered for each head unit 120 in advance, and ultraviolet irradiation is automatically stopped after completion. On the other hand, the manual mode is a mode for switching ON / OFF of ultraviolet irradiation at a designated timing. That is, when an irradiation start command is received, irradiation is continued at a constant output until an irradiation stop command is received. Output is started when the irradiation switch is turned on, and is finished when the irradiation switch is turned off. As will be described later, the ultraviolet output value can be changed even in the manual mode. The ultraviolet irradiation start and stop commands in the irradiation mode are realized by the trigger input from the irradiation switch or terminal block 164 provided in the controller unit 110 as described above. In the present embodiment, the irradiation mode is executed when the irradiation switch is pressed once, and is interrupted or stopped when the irradiation switch is pressed again. In the case of interruption, the irradiation mode is resumed by maintaining the pause state and pressing the switch again.

  The ultraviolet irradiation device can store a plurality of ultraviolet irradiation conditions set by the setting unit 140 in the storage unit 116. Further, the operation mode can be stored for each ultraviolet irradiation condition setting. In the manual mode, the ultraviolet output value can be stored for each head unit 120. Accordingly, in the individual manual irradiation mode, it is possible to irradiate each of the plurality of head units 120 with different ultraviolet power outputs. Further, in the collective manual irradiation mode, different heads 120 can simultaneously start different ultraviolet outputs, and can simultaneously end irradiation. Moreover, since irradiation permission / non-permission can be set for each head unit 120, even if the head unit 120 is connected to the ultraviolet irradiation device, irradiation can be performed only from the desired head unit 120. In the conventional ultraviolet irradiation device, all the heads connected to the same device are output with the same output and timing, so as long as the head is connected to the device, output is always generated along with the output of other heads, and irradiation is performed. Could not stop. On the other hand, in this embodiment, since each head unit 120 is independent, there is an advantage that permission / non-permission of ultraviolet irradiation can be easily set.

  Also in the automatic mode, the irradiation pattern can be stored for each head. Therefore, in the batch automatic irradiation mode, irradiation can be started simultaneously with different irradiation patterns by the plurality of head units 120, and irradiation can be ended at different timings. As described above, such an operation cannot be realized by the conventional ultraviolet irradiation apparatus. In particular, it was impossible to stop at different irradiation patterns and different timings for each head. However, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to output each head unit 120 independently with different outputs and timings, and extremely high flexibility. High UV irradiation is realized. As described above, since irradiation permission / non-permission can be set for each head unit 120, even if the head unit 120 is connected to the ultraviolet irradiation device, irradiation can be performed only from the desired head unit 120. Furthermore, if an irradiation start command can be input for each head unit, ultraviolet irradiation can be started at a different timing for each head unit. For example, it is only necessary to provide as many individual irradiation switches as the number of head units, or to prepare terminal block trigger inputs for the number of head units.

  To summarize the operation modes described above, in the batch automatic irradiation mode, ultraviolet irradiation is performed on all the head units 120 under ultraviolet irradiation conditions such as ultraviolet output and irradiation time preset for each head unit 120. When the batch irradiation switch is pressed, ultraviolet irradiation is started from each head unit 120, and ultraviolet irradiation is performed independently at various different outputs and times. Note that the end of ultraviolet irradiation differs for each head unit 120 according to each setting, and automatically ends for each head unit 120 when the setting is completed. In the collective manual irradiation mode, when executed, all the head units 120 output ultraviolet rays at a constant value. When the batch irradiation switch is pressed, ultraviolet irradiation is started from each head unit 120, and when the batch irradiation switch is pressed again, ultraviolet irradiation of each head unit 120 is stopped. Even in this case, the ultraviolet output value can be changed for each head. Further, when the individual manual irradiation mode is executed in each head unit 120, ultraviolet light is output from the head unit 120 at a constant value. Even in this case, the ultraviolet output value for each head can be changed.

  The individual automatic irradiation mode is a mode in which ultraviolet irradiation conditions are set for each head unit 120. The function corresponding to the individual automatic irradiation mode can be substantially realized by using the collective automatic irradiation mode even if not provided. That is, by irradiating only specific UVLEDs and not irradiating other UVLEDs, by setting the ultraviolet irradiation conditions such as the irradiation time and output of the specific UVLEDs, the UVLEDs are executed when the batch automatic irradiation mode is executed. Only can automatically perform UV irradiation with a set pattern. However, in this case, only specific UVLEDs can be irradiated with ultraviolet rays, and in order for other UVLEDs to perform operations corresponding to the individual automatic irradiation modes, it is necessary to be able to execute a plurality of batch automatic irradiation modes in parallel. There is. On the other hand, it is possible to set the batch automatic irradiation mode so as to operate a plurality of UVLEDs. However, when the operation timing for each UVLED changes, it becomes difficult to cope with it. On the other hand, since it may be more convenient for some users to set and execute automatic irradiation for each head unit, an individual automatic irradiation mode can be provided separately.

  In addition to the configuration in which the setting unit is shared as in the above embodiment, an individual setting switch and an individual display unit can be provided for each head unit. Further, the individual setting switch and the individual irradiation switch for adjusting the ultraviolet output of each head unit can be provided in the head unit instead of the controller unit. Furthermore, the head part of the ultraviolet irradiation device has a mode in which the cable part and the ultraviolet irradiation direction are substantially linear along the longitudinal direction (straight type), and the ultraviolet irradiation direction from the UVLED is the longitudinal direction of the head part. It is good also as an angle type type comprised so that it may intersect at right angles. In this configuration, a space such as above the head portion can be widely used, and it is excellent in visibility when observing an object and an irradiation place of ultraviolet irradiation from above through the head portion. In the embodiment described above, each head unit includes one UVLED as shown in FIG. 3 and the like, but a plurality of semiconductor elements can be provided in the head unit. By using a plurality of semiconductor elements, it becomes possible to adjust the irradiation amount of ultraviolet rays as necessary, and the amount of ultraviolet rays can be increased if a plurality of UVLEDs are simultaneously turned on and used. In addition, by turning on only specific UVLEDs among other UVLEDs, turning off other UVLEDs, and alternately switching the operating UVLEDs, long life of each element is avoided by avoiding continuous use of specific UVLEDs. The replacement time of the UVLED can be extended. Furthermore, not only when a plurality of UVLEDs having the same characteristics are provided, UVLEDs having different characteristics may be provided in the same head portion. For example, by switching and using UVLEDs having different wavelengths, the wavelength of ultraviolet rays that can be irradiated from the same head unit can be changed. When UVLEDs having different characteristics are used, a drive current or the like corresponding to each UVLED is set in advance on the head unit side. Furthermore, it goes without saying that UVLEDs having different characteristics between the head portions can be provided in each head portion. In the case where a plurality of semiconductor elements are provided in the head portion, it is necessary to distinguish the elements to be turned on from others, and therefore, element identification information such as an individual ID number is assigned to each semiconductor element. When setting the ultraviolet irradiation condition, element identification information indicating which element is turned on is also set. When a plurality of semiconductor elements are turned on, the settings may be copied so that the same settings can be easily made on the semiconductor elements.

  In each of the above embodiments, the setting of the ultraviolet irradiation condition is performed by the setting unit of the controller unit. However, the setting of ultraviolet irradiation conditions can also be performed by a device externally connected to the ultraviolet irradiation apparatus. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the controller unit 710 of the ultraviolet irradiation device 700 is connected to an external connection device 7101 such as a computer or PLC, and the ultraviolet irradiation conditions set on the external connection device 7101 side are transferred to the controller unit 710. Set with. The ultraviolet irradiation device 700 includes an interface for connecting to the external connection device 7101. The interface is connected to the control unit 714 of the controller unit 710, and the control unit 714 exchanges electrical signals with the external connection device 7101 and performs data communication. The connection between the external connection device 7101 and the ultraviolet irradiation device 700 is via a serial connection such as RS-232x, RS-422, USB or IEEE1394, a parallel connection, or a network such as 10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-T. Can be connected electrically to communicate. The connection is not limited to a physical connection using a wire, but may be a wireless connection using a wireless LAN such as IEEE802.11x or OFDM, a radio wave such as Bluetooth, infrared light, optical communication, or the like. Furthermore, setting information can be stored and read via a recording medium. As the recording medium, a memory card, magnetic disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, semiconductor memory, or the like can be used.

  In the conventional ultraviolet irradiation device, the output is changed by passing a mechanical shutter to a high-pressure mercury lamp or the like used as an ultraviolet ray source, so that the minimum resolution of the ultraviolet output becomes coarse and becomes a discrete change for fine adjustment. It was impossible to change the output along the waveform pattern. On the other hand, according to the present embodiment using a semiconductor element having a high linearity with respect to the drive current, an almost continuous output change is realized by adjusting the input current. Since the output can be changed with good linearity according to the drive current, it is possible to deal with various irradiation patterns. Furthermore, the control by ON / OFF of the semiconductor element has a high reaction speed and can be operated at high speed, and since it does not involve a mechanical operation, it can be used stably with high reliability. Compared with the conventional method of generating plasma by pulses in a conventional UV irradiation device using a xenon lamp, etc., it does not require a large current or complicated drive circuit, and can be realized easily and inexpensively with a simple circuit. Excellent features such as easy maintenance are realized. Further, the conventional high-frequency lighting circuit that generates a high frequency has problems such as requiring measures for insulation against high voltages and complicated circuit configuration, resulting in an increase in the size of the device. Miniaturization is also possible, and the head portion can be suitably used as a handy type that can be held by the user.

(Setting of UV irradiation pulse conditions)
The ultraviolet curable resin undergoes a curing reaction only during irradiation with ultraviolet rays, and generates heat during the curing reaction. The heat generated by the curing reaction may have an adverse effect depending on the object to which the ultraviolet curable resin is applied. In order to avoid rapid reaction and high temperature, it is conceivable to reduce the amount of UV irradiation, but if the amount of irradiation is small, the UV rays will not reach the inside of the UV curable resin sufficiently. The reaction may become insufficient. Therefore, in the embodiment of the present invention, control is performed so as to repeat irradiation in which ultraviolet irradiation is performed in a pulsed manner with a strong illuminance for a short time. As a result, it is possible to cure the interior with strong illuminance, stop the irradiation in a short time, stop the generation of reaction heat, promote heat dissipation, and suppress the temperature rise. In order to realize this, the semiconductor element which is the ultraviolet ray source is ON / OFF controlled by the control unit of the controller unit. For the ON / OFF control, PWM control for changing the pulse width, a method for changing the number of pulses having a constant width generated within one cycle, a method for changing the cycle or amplitude, or the like can be used as appropriate. As the pulse, a rectangular wave, a sine wave, a triangular wave, or the like can be used as appropriate, but a rectangular wave that can be easily generated by switching is preferably used.

  The control unit includes a setting unit that sets a pulse pattern for pulse driving the UVLED. The setting unit includes the heat tolerance of the object, the type of the ultraviolet curable resin, the gradient of the temperature increase when the predetermined ultraviolet ray is irradiated, the gradient of the temperature decrease when the irradiation is stopped, and the reaction of the ultraviolet curable resin. Based on the time or the like, the pulse ON period and one cycle are designated.

  Specifically, the irradiation period, that is, the ON time in one cycle is set longer than the minimum time required for the reaction of the ultraviolet curable resin. The minimum time mainly varies depending on the type of ultraviolet curable resin used. On the other hand, the ON time is shorter than the maximum time during which the allowable temperature is not exceeded due to the temperature rise due to the reaction heat. Here, the allowable temperature is the maximum temperature allowed for the object (workpiece) to which the ultraviolet curable resin is applied, and varies depending on the material and characteristics of the object. Therefore, an optimum value is set according to the conditions used.

  Further, the UV irradiation rest period, that is, the OFF time, is a time during which the UV curable resin dissipates heat to a temperature that does not exceed the allowable temperature of the object even if the temperature rises during the ON time of the next cycle. That is, it is determined according to the time required for heat dissipation. The time is preferably about 5 times the ON time, and more preferably 10 times or more.

Next, as Example 1, the graph of FIG. 8 shows the results of measuring the temperature change when the ultraviolet curable resin was irradiated with ultraviolet rays using the ultraviolet irradiation device of FIG. The UV curable resin used in Example 1 is a three-bond adhesive 3030. A hole having a diameter φ = 6 mm is formed in an aluminum plate having a thickness t = 2 mm, and the adhesive is filled in the hole. Using an ultraviolet irradiation device manufactured by Keyence, ultraviolet rays were irradiated at 60% of the maximum illuminance, the ON time 0.3 s, the OFF time 4 s, and the number of irradiation pulses 8 times, and the temperature of the object was measured with a radiation thermometer. Further, as Comparative Example 1, the temperature change was measured when the ultraviolet ray intensity was continuously irradiated with 60% illuminance as described above. The illuminance 60% is a ratio with respect to the maximum output, and the actual output value varies depending on the distance from the workpiece. For example, when the distance from the head part to the workpiece is 20 mm, the distance is about 100 mW / cm ² . In this example, the allowable temperature of the workpiece is assumed to be 60 ° C. in consideration of deformation due to thermal expansion. As is clear from FIG. 8, when the ultraviolet rays are continuously irradiated, the adhesive reacts at a stretch and the temperature rises rapidly and exceeds 100 ° C. On the other hand, in the example of pulse irradiation, the temperature rise was suppressed to 60 ° C. or less, which is an allowable temperature, and it was confirmed that it was effective in suppressing the temperature rise of the object.

  In Example 1, the irradiation is switched to continuous irradiation after 8 pulses. As shown in FIG. 8, at the stage of switching to continuous irradiation, the reaction of the ultraviolet curable resin has already progressed to some extent, and the temperature tends to decrease overall. In this way, at the stage where the reaction is convergent, the temperature does not continue to rise even if continuous irradiation is performed. For this reason, by switching to continuous irradiation, the remaining reaction can be promoted within an allowable temperature and cured at an early stage. However, it goes without saying that ultraviolet irradiation may be continued as pulse irradiation without switching to continuous irradiation.

  The timing at which the ultraviolet irradiation is switched from the pulse irradiation to the continuous irradiation is a stage where the reaction has progressed to such an extent that the temperature falls below the allowable temperature even when the ultraviolet irradiation is switched to the continuous irradiation. To determine this switching timing, for example, the temperature rise due to pulse irradiation is measured in advance with a radiation thermometer or the like, and the average value of the heat generation amount due to curing of the UV curable resin in one cycle of the UV irradiation pulse decreases from the upward trend. When a transition is made, or when the cumulative amount of ultraviolet irradiation is calculated by the control unit or the like and the predetermined cumulative amount is reached, or when the predetermined number of pulses is reached by counting the number of ultraviolet irradiation pulses, etc. can be used. .

  Moreover, as Example 2, the graph of FIG. 9 shows the results of measuring the temperature change with a radiation thermometer when different ultraviolet irradiation conditions are applied to different ultraviolet curable resins. In this example, a three-bond adhesive 3042B was used as an ultraviolet curable resin, and a polycarbonate plate having a thickness t = 2 mm was punched and filled with a hole having a diameter φ = 3 mm. The same ultraviolet irradiation apparatus as that used in Example 1 was used. The ultraviolet irradiation pattern was 100% illuminance with an ON time of 0.6 s and an OFF time of 6 s, and pulse irradiation was continued without shifting to continuous irradiation. Further, as Comparative Example 2, continuous irradiation was performed with the ultraviolet intensity kept constant at the maximum output of 100% illuminance as described above. Also in this example, the allowable temperature of the workpiece is assumed to be 60 ° C. As is clear from FIG. 9, when the ultraviolet rays are continuously irradiated, the adhesive reacts at once and the temperature rapidly rises to near 100 ° C., and then shows a gentle decrease. On the other hand, in the example of pulse irradiation, it was maintained at a temperature of 60 ° C. or less, which is an allowable temperature, and it was confirmed that it was effective in suppressing the temperature rise of the object. Furthermore, in all of the above examples, the temperature curves coincide with each other over time and show a constant temperature, indicating that the reaction has converged. It was also confirmed that the adhesive after UV irradiation was completely cured.

  As described above, since the temperature rise of the object can be suppressed by the ultraviolet irradiation according to the present embodiment, the ultraviolet irradiation is appropriately controlled even for the object having the property of being deteriorated by heat, and the ultraviolet curable type is safely used. The resin can be cured. In actual irradiation, depending on the type and amount of UV curable resin to be used, the heat tolerance and allowable temperature of the substrate and parts, the required time to complete curing and adhesion, etc., the pulse width and period, Adjust the amplitude etc. to the optimum value. Preferably, the actual workpiece is irradiated with ultraviolet rays in advance to measure the temperature change as in the above-described embodiment, and after finding the optimum conditions individually, the ultraviolet irradiation conditions are determined.

  The ultraviolet irradiation apparatus and the ultraviolet irradiation method of the present invention can be suitably used for bonding with an ultraviolet curable resin in an assembly operation of an electronic component such as a pickup. It can also be used for applications such as semiconductor steppers, optical cleaning devices, and optical drying devices.

It is a block diagram which shows the ultraviolet irradiation device which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is the front view and sectional drawing which show the detail of the head part of the ultraviolet irradiation device which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is the disassembled perspective view which looked at the head part of FIG. 2 from upper direction. It is the disassembled perspective view which looked at the head part of FIG. 2 from the downward direction. It is a perspective view which shows the state which connected each connector of FIG. It is a front view which shows the example of arrangement | positioning of the display part and setting part which were provided in the front panel of the controller part. It is a block diagram which shows the state which connected the external connection apparatus to the ultraviolet irradiation device of FIG. 4 is a graph showing a temperature change when an ultraviolet curable resin is irradiated with ultraviolet rays under the conditions of Example 1. FIG. 6 is a graph showing a change in temperature when an ultraviolet curable resin is irradiated with ultraviolet rays under the conditions of Example 2. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100, 700 ... Ultraviolet irradiation apparatus 110, 710 ... Controller part 112 ... Power supply part 114, 714 ... Control part 116 ... Memory | storage part 120 ... Head part 121 ... Identification part 122 ... Head main-body part 1221 ... Upper case member 1222 ... Lower case member 1223 ... Base end member 1224 ... Board 1225 ... Cable connector 1226 ... Indicator LED
1227: Memory unit 1228 ... Adjustment circuit 1229 ... Fixing screw 1230 ... Fixing screw 1231 ... Connection connector 1232 ... Through hole 124 ... Cooling block 1244 ... Connection connector 1245 ... Protection plate 126 ... Lens holder 1261 ... Optical system lens 1261A ... First Lens 1261B ... First lens 130 ... Cable unit 140 ... Setting unit 142 ... Display unit 144, 244 ... Operation panel 144A, 144B, 144C, 144D ... <,>, ∧, ∨ switch 144E ... Escape switch 144F ... Enter switch 145 ... Channel display lamp 146 ... UV irradiation lamp 147 ... Power switch 148 ... Batch irradiation switch 150 ... UVLED
160 ... head part connection part 170 ... individual irradiation lamp 180 ... individual irradiation switch 7101 ... external connection device U ... ultraviolet light

Claims (10)

An ultraviolet irradiation device for irradiating ultraviolet rays for curing an ultraviolet curable resin,
One or more heads (120) including one or more semiconductor elements capable of irradiating ultraviolet rays as an ultraviolet ray source;
A controller unit (110) including a control unit (114) capable of setting individual ultraviolet irradiation conditions for each head unit (120), and a power supply unit (112) for supplying a driving current to the semiconductor element,
A cable part (130) comprising an electric signal line for electrically connecting the head part (120) and the controller part (110);
With
The control unit (114) controls the ultraviolet rays emitted from the semiconductor element in a pulsed manner so as to suppress the amount of heat generated during curing of the ultraviolet curable resin from exceeding the allowable heat amount of the object. Ultraviolet irradiation device characterized by. The ultraviolet irradiation device according to claim 1, further comprising:
In order to prevent the amount of heat due to curing of the UV curable resin from rising beyond the heat tolerance, depending on the heat tolerance of the object and the gradient of temperature rise due to reaction heat generated during curing of the UV curable resin An ultraviolet irradiation apparatus comprising a setting unit for setting ultraviolet irradiation pulse conditions including a pulse width and a period of ultraviolet irradiation. The ultraviolet irradiation device according to claim 1 or 2,
The UV irradiation pulse is a substantially rectangular wave, and its ON time is longer than the minimum time required for the reaction of the UV curable resin, and shorter than the maximum time that does not exceed the allowable temperature due to temperature rise due to reaction heat. An ultraviolet irradiation device. The ultraviolet irradiation device according to claim 3,
An ultraviolet irradiation apparatus characterized in that the OFF time of the ultraviolet irradiation pulse is at least five times the ON time. The ultraviolet irradiation device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
An ultraviolet irradiation apparatus characterized in that, when the average value of the heat generation amount due to curing of the ultraviolet curable resin in one cycle of the ultraviolet irradiation pulse is lowered, the pulse irradiation is shifted to continuous irradiation. The ultraviolet irradiation device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
An ultraviolet irradiation apparatus, wherein the semiconductor element is an ultraviolet light emitting diode (150). An ultraviolet irradiation method of irradiating an ultraviolet curable resin with an ultraviolet irradiation device to cure the ultraviolet curable resin,
Ultraviolet irradiation is controlled so that the amount of heat generated at the time of curing of the UV curable resin is suppressed from rising beyond the allowable heat amount by irradiating UV light from the semiconductor element provided in the head part of the UV irradiation device. The ultraviolet irradiation method characterized by performing. An ultraviolet irradiation method for curing an ultraviolet curable resin by irradiating the surface of an object with ultraviolet rays after applying the ultraviolet curable resin to the surface of the object,
Setting the ultraviolet irradiation pulse condition including the pulse width of the ultraviolet irradiation and the pulse pause time according to the heat tolerance of the object and the rate of temperature rise due to the reaction of the ultraviolet curable resin;
A step of irradiating the ultraviolet curable resin in a pulsed manner so as to suppress the amount of heat generated when the ultraviolet curable resin is cured from exceeding the allowable temperature based on the set ultraviolet irradiation pulse condition. When,
The ultraviolet irradiation method characterized by having. The ultraviolet irradiation method according to claim 7 or 8,
The UV irradiation pulse condition settings are the heat tolerance of the object, the type of UV curable resin, the amount used, the gradient of temperature rise when irradiated with the specified ultraviolet ray, the gradient of temperature decrease when irradiation is stopped, and the ultraviolet ray An ultraviolet irradiation method characterized by being set based on at least one of reaction times of a curable resin. The ultraviolet irradiation method according to any one of claims 7 to 9,
An ultraviolet irradiation method using an ultraviolet light emitting diode (150) in a semiconductor element as an ultraviolet ray source.