Claims
- 1. An electromagnetic energy spot curing system comprising:
a source of radiation in the electromagnetic spectrum; a template having at least one channel formed therethrough; and a driver for causing relative motion between said template and said source, wherein said channel being positioned and configured to allow differing amounts of radiation emanating from said source to continuously pass through said channel during the course of relative movement between said template and said source.
- 2. A system as in claim 1, wherein said channel is elongated.
- 3. A system as in claim 2, wherein said channel defines an arc that subtends an angle of at least 40 degrees.
- 4. A system as in claim 3, wherein said template rotates about an axis of rotation, said channel having a central axis defined about a single radius extending from said axis of rotation.
- 5. A system as in claim 1, wherein said channel defines a plurality of widths.
- 6. A system as in claim 5, wherein said template rotates about an axis of rotation, and said widths being measured in a direction oblique to said axis of rotation.
- 7. A system as in claim 6, wherein said channel is formed with first and second ends spaced-apart along a central axis, said widths being measured perpendicularly to said central axis.
- 8. A system as in claim 1, wherein said channel includes spaced-apart first and second ends, said first end being arcuate and defined about a first radius, said second end being arcuate and defined about a second radius, said first radius being greater than said second radius.
- 9. A system as in claim 8, wherein said channel includes arcuate side walls extending between and blending with said first and second ends.
- 10. A system as in claim 1, wherein said channel is formed with first and second ends spaced-apart along a central axis, a plurality of reference axes being defined coplanar to said central axis, said reference axes each intersecting both an axis of rotation of said template and said central axis, wherein said channel being non-symmetrically formed about each said reference axis.
- 11. A system as in claim 1, wherein said source is a UV lamp.
- 12. A system as in claim 1, wherein said driver is a motor.
- 13. A method of spot curing a curable material using radiation in the electromagnetic spectrum, said method comprising the steps of:
providing a template having at least one channel formed therethrough; providing a source of the radiation in the electromagnetic spectrum; allowing radiation to emanate from said source; aligning a portion of said channel of said template with said source such that at least a portion of said radiation passes therethrough; and causing relative motion between said template and said source so that said channel continuously allows differing amounts of radiation to pass through said channel during the course of relative movement.
- 14. A method as in claim 13, wherein said step of allowing energy to emanate from said source is controlled by selective opening of a shutter.
- 15. A method as in claim 14, wherein said shutter is maintained open during the course of relative movement.
- 16. A method as in claim 15, wherein said step of causing relative motion between said template and said source is caused by rotation of said template.
- 17. An electromagnetic energy spot curing system comprising:
a means for generating radiation in the electromagnetic spectrum; a template having at least one channel formed therethrough; and, means for causing relative motion between said template and said generating means, wherein said channel being positioned and configured to allow differing amounts of radiation emanating from said generating means to continuously pass through said channel during the course of relative movement between said template and said generating means.
- 18. A system as in claim 17, wherein said generating means is a UV lamp.
- 19. A system as in claim 17, wherein said relative motion means is a motor.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to Provisional Application, Serial No. 60/311,062, filed on Aug. 9, 2001 and entitled “Continuous Path, Variable Width Light Attenuation Device For Electromagnetic Energy Spot Cure System”.
PCT Information
Filing Document |
Filing Date |
Country |
Kind |
PCT/US02/25359 |
8/9/2002 |
WO |
|