A photoirradiation device includes an insertion path for inserting a wire rod; a first reflector having a circular arc shape centered on a point shifted from a center of the insertion path by a first distance, one side of the first reflector facing the insertion path being a reflective surface; a second reflector disposed adjacent open edges of the first reflector and having a circular arc shape centered on a point shifted from the center of the insertion path by a second distance that is different from the first distance, one side of the second reflector facing the insertion path being a reflective surface; and a light source that is positioned on an opposite side of the insertion path from the first reflector and that projects light toward the wire rod.

A forming apparatus is equipped with (i) a conveyance unit configured to convey a formation sheet, that expands due to irradiation with electromagnetic waves, along a conveyance path in a state in which tension for causing bending in accordance with a conveyance path that is convexly bent is applied, and (ii) an irradiation unit configured to irradiate with the electromagnetic waves the formation sheet during conveyance by the conveyance unit in the state in which the tension is applied.

In a shaping device, a sheet that distends due to being irradiated with electromagnetic waves is placed a conveyor belt. An irradiator irradiates the sheet placed on and conveyed by the conveyor belt with electromagnetic waves. At least one heater heats the conveyor belt.

A production method for fiber-reinforced plastic, includes: a step in which a material (A) including a prepreg base material is obtained, said prepreg base material having cuts therein and having a thermoplastic resin impregnated in reinforcing fibers arranged in parallel in one direction; a step in which a pressurizing device is used that applies a substantially uniform pressure in a direction (X) orthogonal to the travel direction of the material (A) and the material (A) is caused to travel in the one direction and is pressurized while being heated to a prescribed temperature (T), an angle (θ) of −20° to 20° being formed between the orthogonal direction (X) and a fiber axial direction (Y) for the reinforcing fibers of the prepreg base material; and a step in which the material (A) pressurized by the pressurizing device is cooled and the fiber-reinforced plastic is obtained.

A production method for fiber-reinforced plastic, includes: a step in which a material (A) including a prepreg base material is obtained, said prepreg base material having cuts therein and having a thermoplastic resin impregnated in reinforcing fibers arranged in parallel in one direction; a step in which a pressurizing device is used that applies a substantially uniform pressure in a direction (X) orthogonal to the travel direction of the material (A) and the material (A) is caused to travel in the one direction and is pressurized while being heated to a prescribed temperature (T), an angle (θ) of −20° to 20° being formed between the orthogonal direction (X) and a fiber axial direction (Y) for the reinforcing fibers of the prepreg base material; and a step in which the material (A) pressurized by the pressurizing device is cooled and the fiber-reinforced plastic is obtained.

A method and apparatus for thermally processing material on a low-temperature substrate using pulsed light from a flash lamp is disclosed. Material is conveyed past the flash lamp. The pulses of light are formed by Pulse Width Modulation to tailor the shape of the pulses to generate a thermal gradient in the substrate that enables the material to be heated beyond the maximum working temperature of the substrate without damage. Its shaped pulse rate is synchronized to the conveyance speed of a conveyance system. By using the information from a feedback sensor, the thermal gradient is recalculated to alter the shape of the pulses in real time for optimizing subsequent curings in real time without powering down the curing apparatus. The combined pulse shaping and synchronization allow a temperature profile to be tailored in the sample that is uniformly cured in the conveyance direction.

A method and apparatus for thermally processing material on a low-temperature substrate using pulsed light from a flash lamp is disclosed. Material is conveyed past the flash lamp. The pulses of light are formed by Pulse Width Modulation to tailor the shape of the pulses to generate a thermal gradient in the substrate that enables the material to be heated beyond the maximum working temperature of the substrate without damage. Its shaped pulse rate is synchronized to the conveyance speed of a conveyance system. By using the information from a feedback sensor, the thermal gradient is recalculated to alter the shape of the pulses in real time for optimizing subsequent curings in real time without powering down the curing apparatus. The combined pulse shaping and synchronization allow a temperature profile to be tailored in the sample that is uniformly cured in the conveyance direction.

There is provided an embossed film in which the frequency of loss of concavities is smaller, the embossed film including: a film main body; and a plurality of concavities formed on a surface of the film main body. A diameter of an opening surface of the concavity is larger than a visible light wavelength, an arrangement pattern of the concavities has periodicity along a length direction of the film main body, and the difference between the rate of loss of concavities in one end portion of the film main body and the rate of loss of concavities in the other end portion of the film main body is 10 ppm or less.

A bare optical fiber manufacturing method includes applying an ultraviolet curable resin applied around an optical fiber; and irradiating the ultraviolet curable resin with ultraviolet light emitted from semiconductor ultraviolet light emitting elements, by use of an ultraviolet irradiation device having plural ultraviolet irradiation units each having plural positions where the ultraviolet light is emitted toward the ultraviolet curable resin, the plural positions being arranged on the same circle, the plural ultraviolet irradiation units being arranged in a traveling direction of the optical fiber such that the optical fiber passes centers of the circles, at least two of the plural ultraviolet irradiation units being differently arranged with respect to circumferential direction angles thereof around an axis that is the traveling direction of the optical fiber.

A bare optical fiber manufacturing method includes applying an ultraviolet curable resin applied around an optical fiber; and irradiating the ultraviolet curable resin with ultraviolet light emitted from semiconductor ultraviolet light emitting elements, by use of an ultraviolet irradiation device having plural ultraviolet irradiation units each having plural positions where the ultraviolet light is emitted toward the ultraviolet curable resin, the plural positions being arranged on the same circle, the plural ultraviolet irradiation units being arranged in a traveling direction of the optical fiber such that the optical fiber passes centers of the circles, at least two of the plural ultraviolet irradiation units being differently arranged with respect to circumferential direction angles thereof around an axis that is the traveling direction of the optical fiber.