Claims
- 1. A chamber for producing a resonant electromagnetic mode when microwave radiation is introduced into the chamber, comprising:a body, the body comprising an inner surface, the inner surface comprising a substantially conductive material; a front wall and a rear wall, both the front and rear walls comprising inner surfaces, wherein the inner surfaces of the front and rear walls comprise a substantially conductive material, and wherein the front and rear walls are configured to be substantially reflective of microwaves; an elongated member oriented in a central portion of the chamber, the elongated member comprising a substantially low loss dielectric material; wherein the body, the front wall, and the rear wall together define a cavity, and wherein an interior volume of the cavity and a volume of the elongated member are predetermined such that the interaction of the microwave radiation with the body, the front and rear walls, and the elongated member produces the resonant electromagnetic mode during use.
- 2. The chamber of claim 1 wherein the electromagnetic mode is a transverse magnetic mode.
- 3. The chamber of claim 1 wherein the electromagnetic mode is a TM110 mode.
- 4. The chamber of claim 1 wherein the elongated member comprises a second elongated member running through a center portion of the elongated member along a longitudinal axis of the elongated member, the second elongated member comprising a substantially rigid metal.
- 5. The chamber of claim 1 wherein the electromagnetic mode comprises an electric field component, wherein the chamber is configured such that a strength of the electric field is variable, and wherein the strength of the electric field is at a maximum value proximate an outer surface of the elongated member.
- 6. The chamber of claim 1 wherein the electromagnetic mode comprises an electric field component, and wherein the chamber is configured such that a strength of the electric field is substantially uniform along a longitudinal axis of the elongated member.
- 7. The chamber of claim 1 wherein the cavity is configured such that a TM110 mode is produced at a significantly greater magnitude than the other modes when the cavity is irradiated with microwave radiation.
- 8. The chamber of claim 1 wherein the inner surface encloses two slots formed therein, the slots being configured to allow a web material to pass through the chamber.
- 9. The chamber of claim 1 wherein a portion of the inner surface encloses an opening formed therein, the opening being configured to allow air to pass through the chamber.
- 10. The chamber of claim 1 wherein the chamber is made of aluminum.
- 11. The chamber of claim 1 wherein the interior cavity is substantially cylindrical, and wherein the elongated member is substantially cylindrical.
- 12. The chamber of clam 1, further comprising a lower section, an upper section, and a connector, the lower section configured to join with the upper section to form the interior cavity, the connector configured to couple the lower section to the upper section such that a front edge of the upper section is movable away from a front edge of the lower section.
- 13. The chamber of claim 1 wherein the elongated member comprises polytetrafluoroethylene.
- 14. The chamber of claim 1, further comprising a lower section, an upper section, and a connector, the lower section configured to join with the upper section to form the interior cavity, the connector configured to couple the lower section to the upper section such that a front edge of the upper section is movable away from a front edge of the lower section, and wherein the movement of the upper section allows a width of the interior cavity to change such that the resonant mode of the cavity may be altered.
- 15. A system for drying coated materials with microwave radiation, comprising:a chamber for receiving the coated material, the chamber configured to produce a resonant electromagnetic mode when microwave radiation is introduced into the chamber such that the microwave radiation substantially dries at least a portion of the coated material, comprising: a body, the body comprising an inner surface, the inner surface comprising a substantially conductive material; and a front wall and a rear wall, both the front and rear walls comprising inner surfaces, wherein the inner surfaces of the front and rear walls comprise a substantially conductive material, and wherein the front and rear walls are configured to be substantially reflective of microwaves; wherein the body, the front wall, and the rear wall together define a cavity, and wherein an interior volume of the cavity and a volume of the elongated member are predetermined such that the interaction of the microwave radiation with the body, the front and rear walls, and the elongated member produces the resonant electromagnetic mode during use; and a microwave generator for generating the microwave radiation during use.
- 16. The system of claim 15, further comprising an elongated member oriented in a central portion of the chamber, the elongated member comprising a substantially low loss dielectric material.
- 17. The system of claim 15 wherein the electromagnetic mode is a transverse magnetic mode.
- 18. The system of claim 15 wherein the electromagnetic mode is a TM010 mode.
- 19. The system of claim 15 wherein the electromagnetic mode is a TM210 mode.
- 20. The system of claim 15 wherein the electromagnetic mode comprises an electric field component, and wherein the chamber is configured such that the electric field is oriented along a longitudinal axis of the elongated member.
- 21. The system of claim 15 wherein the electromagnetic mode comprises an electric field component, and wherein the chamber is configured such that a strength of the electric field is at a minimum value proximate the inner surface.
- 22. The system of claim 15 wherein the electromagnetic mode comprises an electric field component, wherein the chamber is configured such that a strength of the electric field is variable, and wherein the strength of the electric field is at a maximum value at an outer surface of the elongated member.
- 23. The system of claim 15 wherein the electromagnetic mode comprises an electric field component, and wherein the chamber is configured such that a strength of the electric field is substantially uniform along a longitudinal axis of the elongated member.
- 24. The system of claim 15 wherein the electromagnetic mode comprises an electric field component, and wherein the chamber is configured such that a strength of the electric field is at a minimum value within the elongated member.
- 25. The system of claim 15 wherein the electromagnetic mode comprises an electric field component, wherein the chamber is configured such that a strength of the electric field is at a first minimum value proximate the inner surface, and wherein the strength of the electric field increases in a direction towards the elongated member such that the strength reaches a maximum value at an outer surface of the elongated member, and wherein the strength of the electric field is at a second minimum value within the elongated member.
- 26. The system of claim 25 wherein the first minimum value and the second minimum value are about zero.
- 27. The system of claim 15 wherein the cavity is configured such that a TM110 mode is produced as the mode with the largest amplitude when the cavity is irradiated with microwave radiation.
- 28. The system of claim 15 further comprising two slots formed through the inner surface, the slots configured to allow the coated material to pass through the chamber.
- 29. The system of claim 15 further comprising an opening formed through a portion of the inner surface, the opening configured to allow air to pass through the chamber.
- 30. The system of claim 15 wherein the chamber is made of aluminum.
- 31. The system of claim 15 wherein the inner surface comprises an inner conductive layer, wherein the inner layer comprises gold, silver or copper.
- 32. The system of claim 15 wherein the interior cavity is substantially cylindrical, and wherein the elongated member is substantially cylindrical.
- 33. The system of claim 15 wherein the interior cavity is substantially cylindrical, and wherein the interior width is between about 0.5 to about 3 meters, and wherein the elongated member is substantially cylindrical.
- 34. The system of clam 15, further comprising a lower section, an upper section, and a connector, the lower section configured to join with the upper section to form the interior cavity, the connector configured to couple the lower section to the upper section such that a front edge of the upper section is movable away from a front edge of the lower section.
- 35. The system of claim 15 wherein an energy of the microwave radiation contained within the chamber is substantially constant during use.
- 36. The system of claim 15 wherein the elongated member is made of a dielectric material whose dielectric properties maintain the desired TM mode within the cavity.
- 37. The system of claim 36 wherein the dielectric material comprises polytetrafluoroethylene, quartz, or duroid.
- 38. The system of claim 15 wherein the elongated member is made of a material having a low loss dielectric constant.
- 39. The system of claim 15 wherein the microwave generator generates microwave radiation having a frequency of about 2000-3000 MHz.
- 40. The system of claim 15 wherein the microwave generator generates microwave radiation having a frequency of about 600-1200 MHz.
- 41. The system of claim 15 wherein the elongated member comprises a second elongated member running through a center portion of the elongated member along a longitudinal axis of the elongated member, the second elongated member made of a substantially rigid metal.
- 42. The system of clam 15, further comprising a lower section, an upper section, and a connector, the lower section configured to join with the upper section to form the interior cavity, the connector configured to couple the lower section to the upper section such that a front edge of the upper section is movable away from a front edge of the lower section, and wherein the movement of the upper section allows a width of the interior cavity to change such that the resonant mode of the cavity may be altered.
- 43. The system of claim 15, further comprising a waveguide coupling the microwave generator to the chamber, wherein the waveguide is substantially rectangular.
- 44. The system of claim 15 further comprising a waveguide coupling the microwave generator to the chamber, wherein the waveguide is substantially rectangular, the waveguide comprising a pair of broadwalls oriented on opposing sides of the waveguide, and wherein the waveguide is coupled to the chamber such that the broadwalls are substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the chamber.
- 45. The system of claim 15, further comprising an opening formed through a portion of the inner surface, the opening configured to allow air to pass through the chamber, and further comprising an air intake system, the air intake system coupled to the opening, wherein the air intake system is configured to draw air out of the chamber and into the air intake system.
- 46. The system of claim 15 further comprising an opening formed through a portion of the inner surface, and further comprising an air intake system coupled to the opening, wherein the air intake system is configured to draw the solvent from the chamber during use while maintaining a safe operating condition with respect to the concentration of combustible vapors within the chamber.
- 47. The system of claim 15 wherein the coated material is wallpaper.
- 48. The system of claim 15 wherein the coated material is print transfer paper.
- 49. The system of claim 15 wherein the coated material is a coated plastic web.
- 50. The system of claim 15 wherein the coated material is a semiconductor wafer.
- 51. The system of claim 15 wherein the coated material is a coated web, and further comprising a web transfer system for moving the web through the chamber, and further comprising an automatic controller for controlling a speed which the coated material passes through the chamber.
- 52. The system of claim 15 further comprising an automatic control system configured to vary the microwave radiation such that the desired electromagnetic mode is produced.
- 53. The system of claim 15 wherein the solvent is water.
- 54. The system of claim 15 wherein the solvent is a volatile organic compound.
- 55. The system of claim 15 wherein the chamber is configured to fit onto a coated web printing system.
- 56. The system of claim 15 wherein the chamber is configured to fit within an ink-based printing device.
- 57. The system of claim 15 wherein the elongated member is configured to be substantially rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the chamber.
- 58. The chamber of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic mode comprises an electric field component, and wherein the chamber is configured such that the electric field is oriented along a longitudinal axis of the elongated member.
- 59. The chamber of claim 1 wherein the electromagnetic mode comprises an electric field component, and wherein the chamber is configured such that a strength of the electric field is at a substantially minimum value proximate the inner surface.
- 60. The chamber of claim 1 wherein the electromagnetic mode comprises an electric field component, and wherein the chamber is configured such that a strength of the electric field is at a substantially minimum value within the elongated member.
- 61. The chamber of claim 1 wherein the electromagnetic mode comprises an electric field component, wherein the chamber is configured such that a strength of the electric field is at a first minimum value proximate the inner surface, and wherein the strength of the electric field increases in a direction towards the elongated member such that the strength reaches a substantially maximum value at an outer surface of the elongated member, and wherein the strength of the electric field is at a second minimum value within the elongated member.
- 62. The chamber of claim 61 wherein the first minimum value and the second minimum value are about zero.
- 63. The chamber of claim 1 wherein the cavity is configured such that a TM110 mode is produced as the mode with the largest amplitude when the cavity is irradiated with microwave radiation.
- 64. The chamber of claim 1 wherein the inner surface comprises an inner conductive layer, wherein the inner layer comprises gold, silver or copper.
- 65. The chamber of claim 1 wherein the interior cavity is substantially cylindrical, and wherein the elongated member is substantially cylindrical.
- 66. The chamber of claim 1 wherein the interior cavity is substantially cylindrical, and wherein the interior width is between about 0.5 to about 3 meters, and wherein the elongated member is substantially cylindrical.
- 67. The chamber of claim 1 wherein the elongated member is made of a dielectric material whose dielectric properties maintain the desired TM mode within the cavity.
- 68. The chamber of claim 1 wherein the dielectric material comprises polytetrafluoroethylene, quartz, or duroid.
- 69. A system for drying coated materials with microwave radiation, the coated materials being substantially coated with a solvent, comprising:a substantially cylindrical chamber for receiving the coated material, the chamber configured to produce a resonant electromagnetic mode when microwave radiation is introduced into the chamber such that the microwave radiation substantially removes the solvent from the coated material during use comprising: an inner surface, the inner surface comprising a substantially conductive material; a front and rear wall, both the front and rear walls comprising inner surfaces, wherein the inner surfaces of the front and rear walls comprise a substantially conductive material, and wherein the front and rear walls are configured to be substantially reflective of microwaves; an elongated member oriented in a central portion of the chamber, the elongated member comprising a substantially non-conductive material; a slot for allowing the passage of a coated material through the chamber; and an opening configured to allow the removed solvent to pass out of the chamber; a microwave generator for generating microwave radiation; and a waveguide for conducting the microwave radiation from the microwave generator to the chamber.
PRIORITY CLAIM
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/093,113 entitled “Method and Apparatus for Rapid Drying of Coated Materials,” filed Jul. 16, 1998 and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/093,509 entitled “Method and Apparatus for Rapid Drying of Coated Materials,” filed Jul. 21, 1998.
US Referenced Citations (9)
Provisional Applications (2)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60/093113 |
Jul 1998 |
US |
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60/093509 |
Jul 1998 |
US |