The present disclosure is directed to a radiation system. This disclosure is further directed to a radiation system for curing a radiation curable coating composition to form a cured coating layer.
The use of radiation curable coatings is becoming more common in coating industry. Such use requires a combination of radiation curable coating compositions and a radiation source. Typically, an ultraviolet (UV) source such as a UV lamp can be used for curing a UV curable coating composition applied over a substrate to form a cured coating layer. However, the radiation such as the UV radiation from the UV lamp can be harmful for operators during the use.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide an improved radiation system. In addition, other objects, desirable features and characteristics will become apparent from the subsequent summary and detailed description, and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background.
According to an exemplary embodiment, a radiation system includes a radiation device coupled to a control unit through a coupling device; a radiation blocker having an adaptor opening for receiving the radiation device when the radiation device is positioned on the radiation blocker, a carrier comprising a compartment for housing the radiation blocker and a target part and a coating of a UV radiation curable composition, the target part being positioned at a predetermined distance from the radiation device. The radiation system provides that the adaptor opening of the radiation blocker receives the radiation device to block and vent radiation from the radiation device when the radiation device is positioned on the radiation blocker; and that the radiation device produces UV radiation in a wavelength range between 100 nm to 800 nm at a peak power level when not positioned on the radiation blocker and cures the UV radiation curable composition on the target part when at the predetermined distance.
According to another exemplary embodiment, a kit for radiation system is provided. The kit comprises a radiation device coupled to a control unit through a coupling device, a radiation blocker having an adaptor opening for receiving the radiation device when the radiation device is positioned on the radiation blocker, a carrier comprising a compartment for housing the radiation blocker and a target part and a coating of a UV radiation curable composition, the target part being positioned at a predetermined distance from the radiation device. The kit for a radiation system also includes the adaptor opening of the radiation blocker receiving the radiation device to block and vent radiation from the radiation device when the radiation device is positioned on the radiation blocker, and the radiation device producing UV radiation in a wavelength range between 100 nm to 800 nm at a peak power level when not positioned on the radiation blocker and cures the UV radiation curable composition on the target part when at the predetermined distance.
The present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements, and wherein:
The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the invention or the application and uses of the invention. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in the preceding background of the invention or the following detailed description.
The features and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood, by those of ordinary skill in the art, from reading the following detailed description. It is to be appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described above and below in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention that are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any sub-combination. In addition, references in the singular may also include the plural (for example, “a” and “an” may refer to one, or one or more) unless the context specifically states otherwise.
The use of numerical values in the various ranges specified in this application, unless expressly indicated otherwise, are stated as approximations as though the minimum and maximum values within the stated ranges were both proceeded by the word “about.” In this manner, slight variations above and below the stated ranges can be used to achieve substantially the same results as values within the ranges. Also, the disclosure of these ranges is intended as a continuous range including every value between the minimum and maximum values.
This disclosure is directed to an improved radiation system. The radiation device can comprise the following components as illustrated.
A radiation device (1) coupled to a control unit (2) through the coupling device (3).
A radiation blocker (4) having an adaptor opening (5) for receiving the radiation device (1) when the radiation device is positioned on the radiation blocker (4).
A carrier (10) including a first compartment (11) for housing the radiation blocker (4). A second compartment (12) may be included for housing the control unit, and one or more carrier motion devices (13).
The adaptor opening may dimensionally fit the radiation device (1) to block radiations from the radiation device (1) when the radiation device (1) is in the seated position on the radiation blocker (4).
The system can have the radiation device not in the seated position (
The radiation device can comprise a UV source such as a UV light bulb (20) such as a mercury UV lamp, a UV light-emitting diode (LED), or any other UV source that can provide the desired irradiation power at the target part and coating. A UV power measuring device, such as a UV POWER PUCK® FLASH, available from The EIT Instrument, Sterling, Va. 20164, USA, can be suitable to measure UV irradiation power.
The control unit (2) can be used to adjust or control the UV irradiation power, duration of power timing, or a combination thereof. The irradiation power measured at the coating to be tested, such as the target coating or the control coating, can be adjusted by adjusting power to the radiation device such as the power to the UV lamp or UV LED, the distance between the radiation device and the coating to be irradiated, UV reflection assembly such configurations of radiation reflector disclosed hereafter, or a combination thereof. The control unit (2) can comprise one or more display devices (2a-2b), one or more adjustment devices such as dials (2d-2f) (
The radiation device can be configured to produce radiations having peak radiation wavelength in a range of from 250 nm to 450 nm and has a peak irradiation power in a range of from 0.5 W/cm2 to 10 W/cm2. Different UV source can also produce UV irradiations at same or different one or more peak wavelengths. In one example, an Arc UV source can have a peak wavelength at about 315 nm or about 365 nm. In another example, an LED UV source can have a peak wavelength at about 365 nm.
The radiation blocker (4) can comprise one or more UV blocking elements (6) that permit visible radiations (21) to exit the radiation blocker (4) while blocking UV radiations (22) from exiting the radiation blocker (4), when the radiation device is in the seated position (
One advantage of the system disclosed herein is that the UV blocking elements (6) can permit visible radiations (21) to exit the radiation blocker (4) so an operator can visually confirm that the UV source is actually powered when the radiation device is seated on the radiation blocker (4) without being exposed to the UV irradiation.
The carrier can further comprise a coupler supporting device (14) for storing and supporting said one or more coupling device (3) that couples the radiation device and the control unit (
The carrier can further comprise at least a cooling device (16) for cooling the radiation device in the seated position. The cooling device can comprise a carrier cooling fan (16) as illustrated in
The cooling device can comprise a cooling sensing device (17) to power on the cooling device when said radiation device is in the seated position. When the radiation device is moved from the seated position, the cooling sensing device (17) can automatically turn off the cooling device to conserve power.
The carrier can further comprise an activity sensing device (18) (
The radiation device can comprise at least one cooling vent (40) on the radiation device (
The radiation device can further comprise a radiation reflector (44) (
The one or more carrier motion devices (13) can be selected from wheels, powered wheels, rolling wheels, tracks, rails, or a combination thereof.
The radiation system can further comprise a battery power source (32) for supplying power to the radiation device (1), the control unit (2), or a combination thereof.
The carrier can further comprise one or more radiation supporting devices (19) (
The aforementioned target can comprise a target coating layer (34), such as a wet coating layer over a coated area of a substrate (31) (
Chemical curing can include the reactions between crosslinkable and crosslinking functional groups. Typical crosslinkable and crosslinking functional groups can include hydroxyl, thiol, isocyanate, thioisocyanate, acid or polyacid, acetoacetoxy, carboxyl, primary amine, secondary amine, epoxy, anhydride, ketimine, aldimine, or a workable combination thereof. Some other functional groups such as orthoester, orthocarbonate, or cyclic amide that can generate hydroxyl or amine groups once the ring structure is opened can also be suitable as crosslinkable functional groups.
It would be clear to one of ordinary skill in the art that certain crosslinking functional groups crosslink with certain crosslinkable functional groups. Examples of paired combinations of crosslinkable and crosslinking functional groups can include: (1) ketimine functional groups crosslinking with acetoacetoxy, epoxy, or anhydride functional groups; (2) isocyanate, thioisocyanate and melamine functional groups each crosslinking with hydroxyl, thiol, primary and secondary amine, ketimine, or aldimine functional groups; (3) epoxy functional groups crosslinking with carboxyl, primary and secondary amine, ketimine, or anhydride functional groups; (4) amine functional groups crosslinking with acetoacetoxy functional groups; (5) polyacid functional groups crosslinking with epoxy or isocyanate functional groups; and (6) anhydride functional groups generally crosslinking with epoxy and ketimine functional groups.
The irradiation curable functional groups can include ethylcnically unsaturated double bonds, such as acrylic or methacrylic double bonds. Sources of UV irradiation for curing can include natural sunlight or artificial UV radiation sources. Examples of UV irradiation for curing can include, but not limited to, UV-A radiation, which falls within the wavelength range of from 320 nanometers (nm) to 400 nm; UV-B radiation, which is radiation having a wavelength falling in the range of from 280 nm to 320 nm; UV-C radiation, which is radiation having a wavelength falling in the range of from 100 nm to 280 nm; and UV-V radiation, which is radiation having a wavelength falling in the range of from 400 nm to 800 nm.
A coating composition having crosslinkable and crosslinking functional groups and the irradiation curable functional groups can be cured by a combination of the chemical curing and the irradiation curing. Such coating compositions can be referred to as a dual cure coating composition.
The substrate or target part can be a vehicle or vehicle part.
This disclosure is further directed to a kit for a radiation system. The kit can include:
a radiation device (1);
a control unit (2);
one or more coupling devices (3);
a radiation blocker (4) having an adaptor opening (5) for receiving the radiation device (1) positioned on the radiation blocker (4);
a carrier (10) comprising a first compartment (11) for housing the radiation blocker (4), and a second compartment (12) for housing the control unit. The kit may include one or more carrier motion devices (13).
The radiation device (1) may be connectable to the control unit (2) through one or more coupling devices (3).
The adaptor opening (5) dimensionally fits the radiation device (1) to block radiations from the radiation device (1) when the radiation device (1) is positioned on the radiation blocker (4).
The radiation device (1) of the kit can be configured to produce radiations having peak radiation wavelength in a range of from about 250 nm to about 450 nm and has a peak irradiation power in a range of from about 1 W to about 10 W.
The radiation blocker (4) of the kit can comprise one or more UV blocking elements (6) that are capable of permitting visible radiations (21) to exit the radiation blocker (4) while blocking UV radiations (22) from exiting the radiation blocker (4), the one or more UV blocking elements are transparent, translucent, fluorescent, or a combination thereof.
The carrier of the kit can further comprise at least a cooling device (16) connectable to the radiation device and the control unit for cooling the radiation device, and the cooling device comprises a cooling sensing device (17) associated with the cooling device to power on the cooling device when the radiation device is positioned in the radiation blocker (4).
The carrier can further comprise an activity sensing device (18) connectable to the radiation device and the control unit to power off the radiation device when assembled and powered, if the radiation device is powered and remains in the seated position for a predetermined period of time.
While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing detailed description, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing an exemplary embodiment, it being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims and their legal equivalents.
The present application is a continuation of and claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/138,010, filed Apr. 25, 2016. The entire contents of such application are incorporated herein by reference. This application also claims priority based on U.S. utility application Ser. No. 14/264,182, filed Apr. 29, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,324,467.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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6046460 | Mertins | Apr 2000 | A |
6538258 | Rau | Mar 2003 | B1 |
6617589 | Ueno | Sep 2003 | B2 |
20140246602 | Wilson | Sep 2014 | A1 |
20140246603 | Wilson | Sep 2014 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20170133115 A1 | May 2017 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 15138010 | Apr 2016 | US |
Child | 15413317 | US | |
Parent | 14264182 | Apr 2014 | US |
Child | 15138010 | US |