JPS61174942A - Ultraviolet rays irradiation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To irradiate uniformly ultraviolet rays on the surrounding surface of a material to be irradiated by providing both a conductive wire antenna wherein one part is inserted into a cavity part and a microwave feed source feeding the microwave to a light emission part via the antenna. CONSTITUTION:The ultraviolet rays-curing paint is coated on the surface of a yarn-shaped quartz glass 8a being the material to be irradiated by a coating part A and it is wound on the drum 10a of a conveyance means. Thereby it is conveyed through the aperture part 1b of a side faced to the aperture part 1a of a rectangular waveguide 1, the aperture part 1a, a conductive antenna 5a, an irradiation part 4c other than the part surrounding the antenna 5a of an electrode-free light emission tube 4 and the notched part 7a of a metallic cover 7 and passed. Since the ultraviolet beam is irradiated cylindrically and uniformly on the ultraviolet rays-curing paint coated on the quartz glass 8a, the cover of an even ultraviolet rays-cured paint is formed on the uniformly cured quartz 8a.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Technical field of invention] The present invention relates to a device for irradiating an object with ultraviolet rays.

[Technical background of the invention and its problems]

In recent years, methods have been used to treat objects by irradiating them with ultraviolet light. For example, there is a method in which an ultraviolet curable paint is applied to the surface of an object and then irradiated with ultraviolet rays to harden the dotted coating layer to cover the surface, and another method is to irradiate tableware, drinking water, air, containers, etc. with ultraviolet rays.

It is a method of sterilization, etc.

The former is an ultraviolet irradiation device for coating.

A device as shown in FIG. 110 is often used. That is 9
A point-like or rod-like ultraviolet light source is provided inside a reflector 32, and an irradiated object 35, which is rotated by a one-rotation mechanism 33 and wound up and transported by a two-winding mechanism 34, is placed near it.

Further, as a device for sterilizing the latter object, a device as shown in FIG. 11 is often used in industry. That is, a rod-shaped or point-shaped ultraviolet light source 31 is arranged in the passage of the object 35 to be irradiated. here.

A belt conveyor 36 is used as a means for conveying the object to be irradiated.
is typical.

In these cases, since the light source is point-shaped or rod-shaped, the irradiated object 3
UV rays are not evenly irradiated around 5.

As a result, the uniformity of treatment of the irradiated object was lacking.

Further, even when the above-mentioned point light sources are uniformly arranged around the object to be irradiated, the uniformity of light emission cannot be maintained due to variations in the manufacturing process of the light source, etc. Therefore, it has been difficult to uniformly irradiate the surrounding area of the object with ultraviolet rays.

[Purpose of the invention]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an ultraviolet irradiation device that eliminates the drawbacks of the conventional techniques such as U+ described above and irradiates uniform ultraviolet rays onto the circumferential surface of an object to be irradiated.

[Summary of the invention]

The present invention provides an electrodeless arc tube having a cavity and a light-emitting part formed around the cavity and filled with a luminescent substance that is excited by receiving microwave radiation and emits ultraviolet light;
2. Emit microwaves evenly in 100 directions across the spectrum. and a conductive antenna at least partially inserted into a cavity of the electrodeless arc tube.

Since the conductive antenna is equipped with a microwave supply source that supplies microwaves to the light emitting section via the conductive antenna, the conductive antenna that propagates microwaves realizes radially uniform microwave radiation and connects the two light emitting sections. The luminescent substance enclosed in the 9-light emitting part is excited evenly in the circumferential direction of the light emitting part by this uniform microwave radiation, so the light emitting part 9 also emits ultraviolet light with uniform intensity in the circumferential direction, and as a result, there is no radiation. Inside the cavity of the electrode arc tube.

The object to be irradiated is provided with an ultraviolet irradiation device that can uniformly irradiate the surface with ultraviolet rays.

[Embodiments of the invention]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a device showing an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, a magnetron 3, which has a metal attached to a part of one end of a rectangular waveguide 1 via a socket 2, emits microwaves, and the emitted microwaves are transmitted to an electrodeless arc tube 4. Light emitting part 4a which is a constituent part
It is used to excite luminescent substances such as mercury and metal compounds sealed in the chamber.

In this embodiment, in addition to the magnetron 3, a rectangular waveguide 1 and a cylindrical conductive antenna 5a are used as means for supplying the microwave to the light emitting section 4a. That is, the microwaves emitted by the magnetron 3 are transmitted through the rectangular waveguide 1 and reach the cylindrical conductive antenna 5a made of a highly conductive material such as copper. This cylindrical conductive antenna 5a is
It is fixed to an opening 1a provided in the side wall of the waveguide 1 via an insulating plate 6, and protrudes a predetermined length inside and outside the waveguide 1. In this embodiment, fluororesin is used as the material for the insulating plate 6.

This may be a material such as ceramics. The aforementioned microwave is absorbed by the conductive antenna 5a fixed in this manner and radiated toward the electrodeless arc tube 4 side.

Further, the electrodeless light emitting device is fixed to the insulating plate 6, surrounds the portion of the conductive antenna 5a protruding outside the waveguide 1, and has a cavity 4b coaxial with the conductive antenna 5a formed in its central axis. A pipe 4 is provided. The tube material of this electrodeless arc tube 4 and 1
．． For this purpose, quartz glass is used in consideration of heat resistance, ultraviolet light transmittance, etc.

That is, the microwave absorbed by the conductive antenna 5a inside the waveguide 1 is radially radiated from the part of the conductive antenna 5a surrounded by the light emitting part 4a of the electrodeless arc tube 4, and is radiated to the second light emitting part 4a. Uniformly excites the encapsulated luminescent substance,
Therefore, the intensity of the ultraviolet light emitted by the light emitting part 4a becomes uniform in the cylindrical shape, and normal ultraviolet light emission is achieved.

Further, a metal cover 7 disposed outside the electrodeless arc tube 4
The metal cover 7 serves to prevent microwaves and ultraviolet light from leaking into the outside world, and to protect it from shocks from the outside world.The bottom of the metal cover 7 also has a notch 7a concentric with the conductive antenna 5. It is provided. Further, a magnetron power supply 9 was provided to supply power to the magnetron 3.

In the apparatus configured as described above, the object to be irradiated, for example, filamentous quartz glass 8a, has its surface coated with ultraviolet curable paint by an applicator attached to the apparatus, and is wound up by a drum 10a serving as a conveying means. , an opening 1 opened on the side surface facing the opening 1a of the rectangular waveguide 1.
b, the opening 1a, the conductive antenna 5a, and the irradiation section 4C other than the portion of the electrodeless arc tube 4 that revolves around the conductive antenna 5a.

It is conveyed to and passes through the notch 7a of the metal cover 7.

In other words, the ultraviolet curing paint applied to the filamentous quartz glass 8a is uniformly irradiated in a cylindrical shape with the ultraviolet light emitted uniformly by the irradiation section 4C of the electrodeless arc tube 4 as described above.
The filamentous quartz glass 8a is uniformly cured and coated with the ultraviolet curing paint.

In this embodiment, the oscillation frequency of the magnetron 3 is set to 2450 MH%, which is widely used, the hole diameter of the notch 7a of the metal cover 7 is set to 5 mm, and the winding speed of the added drum 10a is set to about 20 m/sec. Set.

As explained above, according to this embodiment, in addition to uniform ultraviolet irradiation on the outer surface of the filament glass 8a coated with the ultraviolet curing paint, which is the object to be irradiated, the By varying the wave output, the intensity of the emitted ultraviolet rays changes, making it possible to accurately control the curing time of ultraviolet curing paints and to cure not only limited types of purple (5','') 1. line curing paints. , it can be coated with any UV-curable paint.

In addition, although the above embodiment describes a coating made of filamentous quartz glass, it is not limited to quartz glass, and its applications are wide, including various electric wires.

Next, as another embodiment, the apparatus shown in FIG. 2 used for sterilizing liquid such as milk will be described. In FIG. 2, the same numbers as in FIG. 1 indicate the same parts as those in the previous embodiment.

Here, the difference in structure from the apparatus for coating optical fibers described above is that a tube 10 formed of, for example, quartz glass 9 is provided in the path through which the filamentous quartz glass 8a in the embodiment described above passes.
b, and milk 8 that requires sterilization is placed inside the tube 10b.
b. This milk 8b
The structure of the means for flowing and conveying the liquid to the irradiation section 4C of the electrodeless arc tube 4 is as follows.

In a device used for sterilization configured as described above, for example a tube 10b and an existing electric pump 10c, milk 8b is flowing at a predetermined flow rate into the quartz tube 10b in the rectangular waveguide 1. is subjected to microwave dielectric heating by the microwaves emitted by the magnetron 3. Thereafter, the heated milk 8b reaches the irradiation section 4C of the electrodeless arc tube 4, where it is uniformly irradiated with ultraviolet rays in a cylindrical shape, as described above.

In this embodiment, the oscillation frequency of the magnetron 3 is set to 2450.
MW locust, the hole diameter of the notch 7a of the metal cover 7 is 30 mm.
And so. Further, the heating temperature of the milk 8b depends on various conditions such as the diameter of the quartz tube 10b, the flow rate of the milk, and the absorbed microwave energy, but is determined by considering the sterilization temperature of the milk and the heating time. The microwave energy emitted by the magnetron 3 supplies the power required for microwave dielectric heating of the milk 8b and the power required for the desired light emission from the light emitting portion 4a of the electrodeless arc tube 4.

As explained above, according to this embodiment, milk can be irradiated with ultraviolet light that has an excellent sterilization effect.

High temperature heating is performed using microwave dielectric heating.

Sterilization of milk can be carried out instantly in a single device using two different sterilization techniques.

Further, although the above embodiment describes the sterilization of milk, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be used to sterilize various bagged wet foods, cooked foods, drinking water, and the like.

It has a wide range of uses.

As another embodiment, the main parts of an apparatus for sterilizing packaging films as shown in FIG. 3 will be explained.

That is, the cylindrical conductive antenna 5a fixed to the opening 1a provided in the side wall of the waveguide 1 via the insulating plate 6 is transported into the hollow part of the cylindrical conductive antenna 5a and the hollow part 4b of the electrodeless arc tube 4. Formed packaging film 8C and packaging film 8
This is a device in which a new knob 11 is added inside c'. Here, the packaging film 8C conveyed to the cavity 4b of the electrodeless arc tube 4 is as follows.

It is irradiated with ultraviolet rays in the irradiation section 4C and is uniformly sterilized. Moreover, the pipe 11 arranged inside the packaging film 8C
Provides a means for discharging liquid foods, etc.

In addition, by adding an existing enclosing means B that imprints this packaging film 8C and completely seals it.

As described above, fluid foods and the like can be instantly packed into the completely sterilized packaging film 8C and sealed. Furthermore, if the nozzle 11 inside the rectangular waveguide 1 is made of quartz glass material, the fluid food, etc. flowing inside the rectangular waveguide 1 will be subjected to microwave dielectric heating as described above, and the food, etc. will be heated, processed, and contained. Oxygen can be reduced.

Above explanation 1. According to this embodiment, it is possible to efficiently make the packaging film completely sterilized, and it is also possible to pack food, etc. that has been heat-treated to reduce the oxygen content inside this film and seal it. 9. The adhesion of germs during food packaging can be significantly reduced.

In addition, as another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, a fixed distributor 12 or the like is used at a predetermined position of the rectangular waveguide 1 to distribute the microwaves emitted by the magnetron 3. It is also possible to provide an electrodeless arc tube 4 excited by microwaves.

Similarly, as shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of openings 1a are provided in the side wall of the rectangular waveguide 1 at predetermined intervals.

A plurality of conductive antennas 5a protruding from the inside and outside of the waveguide 1ff1 by a predetermined length are arranged in each opening 1a.

It is also possible to excite a plurality of electrodeless arc tubes 4 surrounding them.

Furthermore, in all of the above embodiments, the magnetron 3, the rectangular waveguide 1, and the conductive antenna 5a are used as the microwave supply source for supplying microwaves to the light emitting part 4a of the electrodeless arc tube 4, and the complete However, as shown in FIG. 6, part of the microwave supply source may be a coaxial cable 13. In this case, the magnetron 3 and the electrodeless arc tube 4 can be separated by the coaxial cable 13, although an increase in microwave propagation loss cannot be denied.

Greater flexibility in device placement.

FIG. 7 shows another embodiment in which the shape of the electrodeless arc tube 4 is changed from 1 to 1, and the light emitting portion 4a is formed in a spiral shape as shown in FIG. Even when the light emitting section 4a has a spiral shape as shown in the figure, the electrodeless arc tube 4
It has a cavity 4b and a light emitting part 4a, and this cavity 4
b by inserting a conductive antenna 5 that emits microwaves.

Uniform ultraviolet light emission from the light emitting section 4a is guaranteed. In this case, it is preferable to make the pitch of the spiral fine in order to maintain the uniformity of the irradiated light, but by changing the pitch appropriately, it is possible to form a cavity with a curve that corresponds to the shape of the object to be irradiated. can.

Further, in the above embodiment, the object to be irradiated was passed through the cavity 4b of the electrodeless arc tube 4 and irradiated with ultraviolet light, but as shown in FIG.
It is also possible to configure the apparatus in such a way that the ultraviolet light is transported so as to be transferred sequentially into the cavity 4b of the electrodeless arc tube 4 and irradiated with ultraviolet light by the irradiation section 4C of the electrodeless arc tube 4. As shown in the figure, a rod-shaped conductive antenna 5b is used here.

Microwaves are supplied to the electrodeless arc tube 4. Further, as a preferable example, an ultraviolet reflecting film 14 such as a thin aluminum film is added to the inner surface of the metal cover 7.

It is also possible to promote effective irradiation with ultraviolet light.

According to this embodiment, it is possible to uniformly irradiate ultraviolet rays onto relatively small objects of the same shape.

Suitable for ultraviolet treatment of large quantities of small quantities of objects to be irradiated.

FIG. 9 shows another example in which microwaves are radiated from the conductive antenna 5.

Light emitting part 4 disposed on the outer side of the conductive antenna 5
FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway sectional view of a device that excites the light-emitting section 4a' and the light-emitting section 4a', which is also arranged inside, to realize light emission from both.

Here, since the conductive antenna 5 uniformly emits microwaves, the light emitting part 4a disposed on the outer side of the circumference is generally smaller than the light emitting part 4a' disposed on the inner side of the circumference. This makes it difficult to receive microwaves.

Therefore, as shown in the figure, by shortening the tube length of the light emitting part 4a' arranged inside the 9th circumference side, and by reducing the thickness of the light emitting part 4al in the lateral direction with respect to the tube axis, the 9th circumference side It is preferable to adopt a structure that increases the amount of microwaves reaching the light emitting section 4a disposed on the outside.

According to this embodiment, since each light emitting part 4a148' can be filled with a light emitting substance or the like having a different emission wavelength, the wavelength range of the ultraviolet light irradiated onto the object to be irradiated can be efficiently extended over a wide range. be able to.

As mentioned above, specific examples are explained in detail using specific numerical values etc. in the main text.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in the details without departing from the spirit and spirit of the invention.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, a tubular electrodeless arc tube that is excited by microwaves and uniformly emits ultraviolet light is provided.

Because the object to be irradiated is transported into the cavity of the arc tube.

The circumferential surface of the object to be irradiated is irradiated with uniform ultraviolet light, and the object to be irradiated is uniformly processed.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of one embodiment of the ultraviolet irradiation device according to the present invention. FIGS. 2, 5 and 6 are sectional views of other embodiments. FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway sectional view of another embodiment; FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an electrodeless arc tube of another embodiment; FIGS. 10 and 11 are conventional examples. This is a schematic diagram of: 1... rectangular waveguide 3... magnetron 4.
4'...electrodeless arc tube 4a, 4a',...light emitting part 4b
, 4b'-, hollow part 4c, 4c'... irradiation part 5... conductive antenna 5a... cylindrical conductive antenna 5b.2. Rod-shaped conductive antenna 8... Irradiated object agent Patent attorney Noriyuki Chika (and 1 other person) Figure 1 Figure 2 b Figure 3 Figure 4 1 Figure 6 Figure 1 Figure 8 Figure 9 4C Figure 10 Figure 11

Claims (1)

[Claims] An electrodeless arc tube having a light-emitting part in which a light-emitting substance that emits ultraviolet light excited by receiving microwave radiation is enclosed and a cavity formed approximately in the center, and at least a portion of the tube is inserted into the cavity. It comprises a conductive antenna and a microwave supply source that supplies microwaves to the light emitting part via the conductive antenna, and the object to be irradiated with the ultraviolet light is transported to the cavity part. An ultraviolet irradiation device featuring: