US3917951A

US3917951A - Electric irradiation apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3917951A
Application number: US478608A
Authority: US
Inventors: Tjerk Akkerman
Original assignee: US Philips Corp
Current assignee: US Philips Corp
Priority date: 1973-06-22
Filing date: 1974-06-12
Publication date: 1975-11-04
Anticipated expiration: 1992-11-04
Also published as: AT361612B; FR2234015B3; SE7408057L; GB1422894A; ATA508374A; DE2428476A1; FR2234015A1; NL7308699A

Abstract

The invention relates to an electric irradiation apparatus comprising a face plate in which an aperture is recessed behind which a reflector cap is accomodated. A number of strips which are bent out of the plane of the face plate and which adjoin the circumferential edge of the reflector cap are present at the edge of the aperture in the face plate. A number of irradiation members extending in parallel with their longitudinal dimensions and projecting with their ends between the edges of the strips and the circumferential edge of the reflector cap are provided within the reflector cap.

Description

I United States Patent 1191 Akkerman Nov. 4, 1975 1 ELECTRIC IRRADIATION APPARATUS 1,228,994 3/1960 France 250/495 Inventor: Tjerk kerm n rachten, 1,463,336 1 1/l966 France 250/493 Netherlands P E J W La rzmary xammerames wrence [73] Ass1gnee: U.S. Philips Corporation, New Assistant T N G i b York, NY. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Frank R. Trifari [22] Filed: June 12, 1974 21 Appl. No.: 478,608 [571 ABSTRACT The invention relates to an electric irradiation appara- [30] Foreign Application Priority Data tus comprising a face plate in which an aperture is re- June 22 1973 Nether nds 738699 cessed behind which a reflector cap 1s accomodated. a a A number of strips which are bent out of the plane of the face plate and which adjoin the circumferential '8; 250/495 240/1 edge of the reflector cap are present at the edge of the [58] Fie'ld S 493 504 aperture in the face plate. A number of irradiation /503 1 256/1 A members extending in parallel with their longitudinal dimensions and projecting with their ends between the [56] References Cited edges of the strips and the circumferential edge of the FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS reflector cap are provided within the reflector cap. 341,239 11/1959 Switzerland 250/504 4 Claims 2 Drawing Figures U.S.. Pa tent Nov. 4, 1975 Sheet 1 of 2 3,917,951

US. Patent No v. 4, 1975 Sheet 2 of 2 3,917,951

1 ELECTRlC mRAmA'rioN APPARATUS The invention relates to an electric irradiation apparatus which comprises a face plate in which at least one aperture is recessed behind which a reflector cap is arranged so as to be sunk relative to the plane of the face plate, in which a number of irradiation members extending parallel with their longitudinal dimensions are accommodated in the reflector cap and are formed as at least one but preferably two infrared irradiators and at least one ultraviolet irradiator secured in metal holders with its pinch-like ends, said irradiation members extending for the greater part within the reflector cap from a material which is considerably cheaper than the expensive reflective material of the reflector cap.

A favourable embodiment of the irradiation apparatus according to the invention is characterized in that the edges of the strips remote from the plane of the face plate have recesses in which the ends of the irradiation members fit. The presence of said recesses in the edges and projecting with their ends near the edge of the reflector cap. Such an irradiation apparatus is known.

In this known irradiation apparatus the reflector cap with the irradiation members accommodated therein is rotatable relative to the face plate so that the dimensions of the irradiation field can be adjusted. The aperture in the face plate for that purpose has a circular shape.

In this known irradiation apparatus and in the more conventional types of which the face plate and the reflector cap are manufactured from one metal sheet, the reflector cap has a number of apertures near its circumferential edge, through which apertures the irradiation members project with their ends.

A drawback of this construction is that in assembling said irradiation apparatus the electric connection members occurring at the ends of the irradiation members have to be threaded through the holes in the reflector cap. This threading of the irradiation members and the subsequent connection of their electric connection members is a labour-intensive and time-consuming job which cannot or hardly be mechanized. Moreover, the irradiationmembers in said known construction have to be locked with separate components and in a separate operation so as to prevent axial displacement thereof. 7

It is the object of the invention to provide an electric irradiation apparatus in which measures have been taken which enable a mechanized assembling of the apparatus and in which the presence of extra components for locking the irradiation members is superfluous.

For that purpose the electric irradiation apparatus of the above-described type according to the invention is characterized in that the edge of the face plate comprises two mutually parallel edge portions extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the irradiation members and each having a strip bent out of the plane of the face plate, the edge of said strip remote from the plane of the face plate adjoining the circumferential edge of the reflector cap, the ends of the irradiation members each projecting between the edge of the strip and the circumferential edge of the reflector cap. In assembling said irradiation apparatus, the irradiation members need not be threaded through holes in the reflector cap but the radiation members are laid on the free edges of the strip remote from the plane of the face plate, after which the reflector cap is placed against the radiation members with its circumferential edge. The threading operation is thus replaced by a stacking operation. Because said stacking operation is carried out in one direction, first the face plate, then the irradiation members, and then the reflector cap, said operation can easily be mechanized. An additional advantage is that the face plate can be manufactured of the strips facilitates the positioning of the irradiation members relative to the aperture in the face plate and hence also relative to the reflector cap upon assembling the apparatus.

A further favourable embodiment of the irradiation apparatus according to the invention is characterized in that at least one of the ends of each of the irradiation members has a locking member bearing against one of the strips. Such a locking member may consist, for example, of an annular thickening at the end of the irradiation member, which thickening bears against the sidewall of the strip remote from the reflector cap and thus counteracts an axial displacement of the irradiation member relative to the reflector cap. Instead of an annular thickening, one of the ends or both ends of the irradiation member may be provided with an annular groove which cooperates with one of the recesses in the edge of the strip. Separate components, such as braces secured against the face plate and the like, thus become superfluous.

Still another favourable embodiment of the irradiation apparatus according to the invention is character- FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the faceplate, the irra- I diation members and the reflector cap of the irradiation apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

The irradiation'apparatus shown in FIG. 1 comprises a housing 1 which is manufactured from metal sheet or a synthetic material and which is closed on its front by a face plate 2 in which an aperture 3 is recessed. Arranged behind said aperture is a bent reflector cap 4 formed from a reflecting material which is sunk relative to the plane of the face plate. Accommodated inside said reflector cap in this embodiment are three irradiation members extending parallel with their longitudinal dimensions, namely the ultraviolet irradiator 5 and the

infrared irradiators

6 and 7. In this embodiment the edge of the aperture 3 in the face plate comprises four

edge portions

8 and 9 extending in parallel in pairs. The edge portions 8 extend transversely to the longitudinal direction of the irradiation members, the edge portions 9 extend parallel thereto. Each of the

edge portions

8 and 9 comprises a

strip

10 and 11, respectively, bent out of the plane of the face plate and extending transversely thereto. The circumferential edge of the reflector cap adjoins with four curved edges the

free edges

12 and 13 of the

strips

10 and 11 respectively, remote from the plane of the face plate. The free edges 12 of the strips 10 each have three

recesses

14, 15 and 16. Metal holders 30 in which the ends 17 of the ultraviolet irradiator 5 are connected, fit in the recesses 14. The

recesses

15 and 16 are designed to receive the

ends

18 and 19, respectively, of the infrared radiators. As shown in FIG. 1, the ends of the irradiation members thus project between the edges of the strips and the circumferential edge of the reflector cap.

In FIG. 2 which is an exploded view of the reflector cap, the irradiation members and the face plate, the same reference numerals are used as in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the metal holders 30 and the

ends

18 and 19 of the

irradiation members

5, 6 and 7, respectively, have locking members which in the assembled condition of the irradiation members prevent the axial displacement thereof. The locking members of the infrared irradiators in this embodiment are formed as annular collars 21 which bear against the sides of the strips remote from each other. Of course, instead of the grooves 20, collars and instead of the collars 21 grooves may be used. Furthermore, each of the ends of the irradiation members is connected to an electric connection wire 29.

The circumferential edge of the reflector cap 4 has two

curved edges

22 and 23 which are situated in mutually parallel planes. The

edges

22 and 23 adjoin the free edges 12 of the strips 10 of the face plate while clamping the ends of the radiation members. For that purpose the

edges

22 and 23 have

recesses

24, 25 and 26 which cooperate with the recesses l4, l5 and 16 in the edges of the strips 10. The ends of the irradiation members are clamped in said recesses upon assembling the irradiation apparatus. The circumferential edge of the reflector cap 4 furthermore comprises the mutually

parallel edge portions

27 and 28 which adjoin the edges 13 of the strips 11 of the face plate.

It is obvious from FIG. 2 that the assembly of the components of the irradiation apparatus according to the invention can be effected by a simple and easily mechanizable stacking: operation. During this operation, the

ends

17, 18 and 19, respectively, of the

irradiation members

5, 6, and 7, respectively, are first laid in the

recesses

14, and 16, respectively, after which the reflector cap is placed against the face plate in such manner that the recesses 24, 25 and 26 clamp the irradiation members. The electric connections are then effected. Extra components or treatments for locking the rection are superfluous. I

1 Av further advantage of the rectangular shape of the aperture in the face plate and hence also of the reflector capis that an irradiation apparatus of smaller dimensions is obtained as a result.

What is claimed is: I

1. An electric irradiation apparatus which comprises a face plate having at least one aperture, a reflector cap disposed on one side of the plane of said face plate, and being dimensioned and configured for alignment with said aperture, a plurality of elongated irradiation members disposed withthe axes thereof in parallel relationship, the axial extremities of each member engaging said reflector cap, each axial portion of each of said irradiation members intermediate said axial extremities being disposed in spanning relationship to said aperture wherein said, face plate comprises two elongated planar members disposed in generally coplanar parallel relationship transverse to the longitudinal axes of said irradiation members, two lips, each elongated planar member being joined to a lip extending in perpendicular relationship to said face plate, the edge of said lip remote from the plane of said face plate adjoining the circumferential edge of said reflector cap, said axial extremities of said irradiation members each projecting between said edge of said lip and said circumferential edge of the reflector cap.

2. An irradiation apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said edges of said lips remote from the plane of the face plate have recesses dimensioned and configured for engagement with said axial extremities of said irradiation members. I

3. An irradiation apparatus as claimedin claim 2, further including means'for locking at least one of the ends of each of the irradiation members against one of said lips.

4. An irradiation apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of said irradiation members is an infrared irradiator and at least one is an ultraviolet radiator.

UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT NO. 3, 917 951 DATED November 4, 1975 INVENTOR(S) 3 TJERK AKKERMAN It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

ON THE TITLE PAGE Section [30] the priority number should read as follows Signed and Sealed this A nest:

RUTH C. MASON Am'sting Officer C. MARSHALL DANN (nmmissium'r nflalenrs and Trademarks

Claims

1. An electric irradiation apparatus which comprises a face plate having at least one aperture, a reflector cap disposed on one side of the plane of said face plate, and being dimensioned and configured for alignment with said aperture, a plurality of elongated irradiation members disposed with the axes thereof in parallel relationship, the axial extremities of each member engaging said reflector cap, each axial portion of each of said irradiation members intermediate said axial extremities being disposed in spanning relationship to said aperture wherein said, face plate comprises two elongated planar members disposed in generally coplanar parallel relationship transverse to the longitudinal axes of said irradiation members, two lips, each elongated planar member being joined to a lip extending in perpendicular relationship to said face plate, the edge of said lip remote from the plane of said face plate adjoining the circumferential edge of said reflector cap, said axial extremities of said irradiation members each projecting between said edge of said lip and said circumferential edge of the reflector cap.

2. An irradiation apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said edges of said lips remote from the plane of the face plate have recesses dimensioned and configured for engagement with said axial extremities of saiD irradiation members.

3. An irradiation apparatus as claimed in claim 2, further including means for locking at least one of the ends of each of the irradiation members against one of said lips.