Polymerization and post-tempering device

Abstract

The invention relates to a polymerization and post-tempering device (10) for tempering, in particular post-tempering, dental restoration parts (54) made of polymerizable plastics. At least one light source (38) which emits light in the visible and/or ultraviolet wavelength range and a light chamber with a door (14) to the light chamber are provided. The door (14) comprises a window (20) with a window pane (22) which consists of at least two layers (56, 58) whose layer facing the light chamber reflects at least 90%, in particular approximately 95%, of light, and whose layer facing away from the light chamber filters out UV light and/or blue light.

Claims

1. A polymerization and post-tempering device for tempering dental restoration parts made of polymerizable plastics comprising at least one light source which emits light in the visible and/or ultraviolet wavelength range, a light chamber which comprises the at least one light source, a door to the light chamber, wherein at least one wall comprises a window (20) with a window pane (22) which comprises at least two layers having one layer (56) facing the light chamber (36) reflecting at least 90% light, and another layer (58) facing away from the light chamber (36) filtering out UV light and/or blue light.

2. The polymerization and post-tempering device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device is configured to perform tempering of dental restoration parts, wherein the tempering comprises post-tempering, wherein the dental restoration parts are produced by stereolithography, wherein the at least one wall comprising the window is a door, wherein the one layer facing the light chamber reflects at least 95% of light.

3. The polymerization and post-tempering device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the window (20) has a height-to-width ratio of at least 2 to 1.

4. The polymerization and post-tempering device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the window (20) has a height-to-width ratio of at least 4 to 1.

5. The polymerization and post-tempering device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the window (20) is mounted in a door leg (34) of the door which blocks the emitted light to the outside when viewed obliquely.

6. The polymerization and post-tempering device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the window (20) is mounted centrally and low-lying in the door (14) at a depth which corresponds to at least 60% of the width of the window (20).

7. The polymerization and post-tempering device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the window (20) is substantially flush with an inside side of the door (14).

8. The polymerization and post-tempering device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the window (20) is mounted at the door (14) by a light-tight seal and/or a labyrinth seal.

9. The polymerization and post-tempering device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a screen (42) on an inside side of the door (14) is colored black or coated black.

10. The polymerization and post-tempering device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the layer (56) of the window pane (22) facing the light chamber (36) reflects light to one side, towards the light chamber (36).

11. The polymerization and post-tempering device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the window pane (22) comprises two layers (56, 58) which are applied to one another directly without a separating layer of air.

12. The polymerization and post-tempering device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the layer (58) facing away from the light chamber (36) comprises a plastic material which is transparent and forms an edge filter for UV-light and/or blue light.

13. The polymerization and post-tempering device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the window pane (22) recedes compared to the rest of the door (14), more at a front side (32) than on an inside side of the door, when viewed both from the front side (32) of the door (14) and from inside of the door (14), or from the light chamber (36).

14. The polymerization and post-tempering device as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the door (14) is closed, the window pane (22) filters out at least 70%, of visible light, and at least 95% of UV light of the radiation emitted by the at least one light source (38).

15. The polymerization and post-tempering device as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the door (14) is closed, the window pane (22) filters out at least 85% of visible light, and at least 95% of UV light of the radiation emitted by the at least one light source (38).

16. The polymerization and post-tempering device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the window pane (22) has a width of less than 50 mm.

17. The polymerization and post-tempering device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the window pane (22) has a width of approximately between 30 and 40 mm.

18. The polymerization and post-tempering device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the door comprises a door leg (34), wherein the outer part of the window pane (22) where it overlaps the door leg (34), is covered by a screen (40) which extends across the entire inside of the door (14) except for a section which forms the window (12).

19. The polymerization and post-tempering device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the screen (40) is configured to be reflective towards an interior (36) and is fabricated of metal.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

(1) Further advantages, details and features may be taken from the following description of an exemplary embodiment of the invention in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an inventive polymerization and post-tempering device with the door closed in a perspective illustration;

(3) FIG. 2 shows the embodiment according to FIG. 1 with the door open;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a front view of the inventive polymerization and post-tempering device in the embodiment according to FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a side view of the inventive polymerization and post-tempering device according to FIGS. 1 to 3 with the door open;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a sectional view along the line V-V according to FIG. 3 through the embodiment of the invention illustrated herein as for the rest; and

(7) FIG. 6 shows a sectional view through a modified embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(8) The embodiment of the polymerization and post-tempering device 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises a housing 12 with a door 14. The door 14 occupies the front side of the housing 12, except for a lower region which carries a display and operating device 16.

(9) In the illustrated exemplary embodiment the door 14 comprises an access opening 18 on the right side. It is hinged on the left side, and by pressure on the access opening 18 the door 14 may be opened and thus enables access to a light chamber 36 in the polymerization and post-tempering device 10.

(10) The door 14 further comprises a window 20. It extends upright and has a height-to-width-ratio of approximately 1 to 4. The window 20 comprises a window pane 22 which is configured inventively in a special manner, and it is also referred to in the following remarks for this purpose.

(11) The window pane 22 is surrounded by slightly convexly curved inclined surfaces 24, 26, 28 and 30 which extend to the front side 32 of the door legs 34 and which ensure that the window pane 22 is configured in a low-lying manner.

(12) The window pane 22, the window 20 and accordingly also the associated inclined surfaces 24 to 30 are arranged centrally at the door 14. Although the window pane 22 is configured to be relatively narrow and low-lying, it is possible to look into the inside of the polymerization and post-tempering device 10 also obliquely from the side as the inclined surfaces 24 and 28 diverge from one another.

(13) The polymerization and post-tempering device 10 is apparent from FIG. 2 with the door 14 open. A light chamber 36 with light sources 38 is realized in the interior of the polymerization and post-tempering device 10. The light sources 38 polymerize and cure a dental restoration part which is not illustrated herein and positioned on a rotary plate 41.

(14) As is apparent from FIG. 2, the window pane 22 is arranged centrally in the door 14. It extends in a relatively narrow fashion and upright. It is covered by a reflective inside 40 of the door on the inside, i.e. towards the light chamber 36. The reflective inside 40 of the door is mirrored on the inside, just like the remaining side walls of the light chamber 36.

(15) A black and in this respect maximally absorbing screen 42 having a seal made of an elastomer rests on the outer edge of the reflective inside 40 of the door. It pushes against a circumferential frame of the door 14 when the door 14 is closed.

(16) Additionally, a labyrinth seal 44 is configured outside of the screen 42, said labyrinth seal acting only when the door 14 is closed.

(17) As is apparent from FIG. 2, the door 14 is hinged to the housing 12 via door hinges 46.

(18) FIG. 3 shows a front view of the door 14 with the inclined surfaces 24, 26, 28 and 30. In the closed state, the door 14 occupies practically the entire upper front side 32 of the polymerization and post-tempering device 10.

(19) A side view of the polymerization and post-tempering device 10 with the door 14 open is apparent from FIG. 4. The swiveling angle of the door 14 is limited by stops known per se, e.g. to a swiveling angle of 90°.

(20) The construction of a door with an installed inventive window pane 22 is apparent from FIG. 5 in detail.

(21) The window pane 22 is received in a recess 50 in the door leg 34. This region of the recess is covered by the reflective inside 40 of the door.

(22) In a way known per se, the labyrinth seal 44 comprises a labyrinth path which requires multiple redirection of any light radiation and is realized by a corresponding design of the door legs 34 and the door frame 52.

(23) The light source 38 impinges on the light chamber 36 and in particular also on a dental restoration part 54 which is indicated schematically in FIG. 5. The emitted light radiation is reflected on the walls of the light chamber 36 and also on the reflective inside 40 of the door.

(24) The window pane 22 consists of a glass layer 56 and a plastic layer 58. The glass layer 56 is the interior layer and the plastic layer 58 is the exterior layer. The glass layer 56 is provided with a coating 60 on the inside which lets through a small amount of the impinging light radiation, e.g. 5 to 10%, and which reflects 90 to 95% accordingly.

(25) The glass layer 56 comprises a thickness of 2 mm and absorbs e.g. 1% of the impinging radiation passing through.

(26) The plastic layer 58 which may also be deposited by spraying onto the glass layer 56 is configured directly adjacent to the glass layer 56. The plastic layer 58 comprises an edge filter which absorbs UV radiation and lets through visible light to a large extent. In this respect, the transparent plastic layer 58 is pigmented in orange.

(27) Both layers are screwed to one another.

(28) The configuration of the screw connection of the inventive window 20 in an inventive door 14 is apparent from FIG. 6.

(29) The window 20 consists of a reflection pane 56 and an edge filter pane 58. The reflection pane 56 faces the interior of the curing device 10 and comprises a reflective coating 60. In the relaxed state, the pane 58 is curved slightly. This state is illustrated in FIG. 6.

(30) On both sides of the pane 56 one holder 62 and 64 is provided respectively. Herein, it is configured as an angle plate which pushes the pane 56 towards the door leg 34, respectively.

(31) For this purpose, a leg 66 or 68 is supported on the door leg 34 and a central screw connection 70 or 72 of the holder 62 or 64 pulls the holder to each door leg.

(32) The other leg 76 or 78 of the holder 62 or 64 is pressed onto the pane 56 by means of a circumferential seal 74.

(33) Initially, the pane 56 is pressed onto the pane 58 centrally. The pane 58 consists of plastic and is softer than the pane 56. Thus, the pane 58 deforms as a result of the pressure and then abuts against the pane 56 increasingly also on the outside when the pressure increases.

(34) When the screw connections 70 and 72 are tightened, both panes abut against one another all-over without an air gap but under pretension.

(35) The pane 58 is supported on the door leg 34 by means of seals 80 and 82.

(36) This type of clamping the window pane 22 also allows for a certain thermal stress on the panes 56 and 58; if they expand, they can slide against each other and against the brackets and doors legs as desired and work in this respect, provided that enough clearance is included.

(37) Manufacturing or production tolerances, e.g. with respect to the thickness of the pane, are also compensated for, provided that the range of spring of the seals 74, 76, 80 and 82 used, is not exceeded.

(38) Alternatively, it is also possible to provide an air gap between the panes 56 and 58. It also acts as a thermal insulation such that this embodiment is particularly suitable for high-performance curing devices 10.

(39) Alternatively, it is also possible to realize the pane 56 and 58 such that the inside of the pane 58, i.e. towards the interior 36, is provided with a partially reflective layer which is configured similar to the coating 60 and replaces the pane 56. In this case, the pane 58 is considerably thicker, e.g. 6 mm or 8 mm.

(40) This solution is considered for low-performance/low power curing devices 10 as the embodiment with the separate glass pane 56 is more heat-resistant.

(41) For instance, 95% of the entering light radiation in the UV range is absorbed and in the range above 500 nm less than 10% is absorbed, i.e. more than 90% is let through or transmitted.

(42) Thus, the entire transmission characteristic of the window pane 22 allows for the dental restoration part 54 to be viewed from the outside, even while the light source 38 is turned on, but without being dangerous for the viewer due to escaping UV radiation.

(43) It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment. An additional layer made of bulletproof glass may be provided for instance, or the glass layer 56 may be reinforced correspondingly.

(44) The thickness of the plastic layer 58 may be adapted to the requirements in a wide range, preferably, it is substantially as thick as the glass layer 56.