Ultraviolet curing system including supplemental energy source
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for curing an ultraviolet (UV)-curable coating material applied to a substrate surface, the apparatus comprising:
- a curing head comprising;
a shroud defining an interior volume, the shroud forming an opening along one side, the opening positionable proximate the substrate surface; and
a UV radiation source attached to the shroud, wherein the shroud is configured to direct UV energy from the UV radiation source through the opening of the shroud and towards a portion of the UV-curable coating material applied to a first area of the substrate surface that is aligned with the opening; and
a supplemental light source attached to the curing head outside of the shroud, the supplemental light source configured to deliver light to a portion of the UV-curable coating material applied to a second area of the substrate surface that is located beyond the shroud and selected to reduce a curing potential of stray UV energy that escapes laterally beyond the shroud, wherein the supplemental light source comprises an incandescent light source, a halogen light source, a fluorescent light source, or an LED light source.
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Abstract
Machines and methods for curing ultraviolet (UV)-curable coating materials. In one embodiment, the machine includes a UV radiation source having one or more lamps partially enclosed within a shroud of a curing head. The machine may further include a supplemental energy source located outside of the shroud. The supplemental energy source may illuminate an uncured area of the floor coating material that is beyond the curing head. In some embodiments, the supplemental energy source may reduce or prevent the partial curing of the coating material outside of the curing head resulting from stray UV energy.
55 Citations
26 Claims
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1. An apparatus for curing an ultraviolet (UV)-curable coating material applied to a substrate surface, the apparatus comprising:
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a curing head comprising; a shroud defining an interior volume, the shroud forming an opening along one side, the opening positionable proximate the substrate surface; and a UV radiation source attached to the shroud, wherein the shroud is configured to direct UV energy from the UV radiation source through the opening of the shroud and towards a portion of the UV-curable coating material applied to a first area of the substrate surface that is aligned with the opening; and a supplemental light source attached to the curing head outside of the shroud, the supplemental light source configured to deliver light to a portion of the UV-curable coating material applied to a second area of the substrate surface that is located beyond the shroud and selected to reduce a curing potential of stray UV energy that escapes laterally beyond the shroud, wherein the supplemental light source comprises an incandescent light source, a halogen light source, a fluorescent light source, or an LED light source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An apparatus for curing an ultraviolet (UV)-curable coating material applied to a floor surface, the apparatus comprising:
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a frame supported for movement over the floor surface; a curing head supported by the frame, the curing head comprising; a shroud comprising sidewalls defining a partially enclosed interior volume, the shroud defining an opening along a bottom side of the shroud, the opening positionable over the floor surface; and a UV radiation source located within the interior volume of the shroud, wherein the shroud is configured to direct UV energy generated by the UV radiation source through the opening of the shroud and towards a portion of the UV-curable coating material applied to a first area of the floor surface that is located beneath the shroud and between the sidewalls; and a supplemental light source attached to the curing head outside of the shroud, the supplemental light source configured to illuminate a portion of the UV-curable coating material applied to a second area of the floor surface that is located outside of the sidewalls of the shroud and further configured to disrupt a wavelength of stray UV energy that escapes beyond the sidewalls of the shroud, wherein the supplemental light source comprises an incandescent light source, a halogen light source, a fluorescent light source, or an LED light source. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for curing an ultraviolet (UV)-curable coating applied to a substrate surface, the method comprising:
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passing a UV curing apparatus over a first area of the substrate surface covered by a UV-curable coating material, thereby curing the coating material on the first area of the substrate surface; illuminating a portion of the coating material covering a second area of the substrate surface that lies beyond a lateral edge of the curing apparatus with a supplemental light source comprising an incandescent light source, a halogen light source, a fluorescent light source, or an LED light source; and reducing, with the supplemental light source, a curing potential of stray UV energy that escapes beyond the lateral edge of the curing apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An apparatus for curing an ultraviolet (UV)-curable coating material applied to a substrate surface, the apparatus comprising:
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a curing head comprising; a shroud defining an interior volume, the shroud forming an opening along one side, the opening positionable proximate the substrate surface; and a UV radiation source attached to the shroud, wherein the shroud is configured to direct UV energy from the UV radiation source through the opening of the shroud and towards a portion of the UV-curable coating material applied to a first area of the substrate surface that is aligned with the opening; and a supplemental light source comprising a 500 W halogen light bulb, the supplemental light source attached to the curing head outside of the shroud, the supplemental light source configured to deliver light to a portion of the UV-curable coating material applied to a second area of the substrate surface that is located beyond the shroud wherein the supplemental light source is configured to disrupt a wavelength of stray UV escaping laterally beyond the shroud. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. An apparatus for curing an ultraviolet (UV)-curable coating material applied to a floor surface, the apparatus comprising:
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a frame supported for movement over the floor surface; a curing head supported by the frame, the curing head comprising; a shroud comprising sidewalls defining a partially enclosed interior volume, the shroud defining an opening along a bottom side of the shroud, the opening positionable over the floor surface; and a UV radiation source located within the interior volume of the shroud, wherein the shroud is configured to direct UV energy generated by the UV radiation source through the opening of the shroud and towards a portion of the UV-curable coating material applied to a first area of the floor surface that is located beneath the shroud and between the sidewalls; and a supplemental light source comprising a 500 W halogen light bulb, the supplemental light source attached to the curing head outside of the shroud, the supplemental light source configured to illuminate a portion of the UV-curable coating material applied to a second area of the floor surface that is located outside of the sidewalls of the shroud wherein the supplemental light source is configured to disrupt a wavelength of stray UV energy that escapes beyond the sidewalls of the shroud. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification