Ink curing apparatus

Abstract

An ink curing apparatus comprising a lamp housing with a lamp fitting for a lamp terminal of a UV lamp at each opposing end, wherein at least one of the lamp fittings is non-conducting and has a non-conducting lamp terminal seat which has a concave profile for receiving a substantially spherical lamp terminal end piece; whereby, in use during the fitting or removal of a lamp, the at least one lamp fitting allows a lamp terminal end piece to rotate about multiple axes, while being retained substantially in position at the lamp fitting.

Claims

1. An ink curing apparatus comprising: a lamp housing with a lamp fitting at each opposing end; a lamp having at least one substantially spherical terminal end piece; wherein at least one of the lamp fittings is non-conducting and has a non-conducting lamp terminal seat, which has a concave profile for receiving the substantially spherical lamp terminal end piece; whereby, in use during the fitting or removal of the lamp, the at least one lamp fitting allows the lamp terminal end piece to rotate about multiple axes, whilst being retained substantially in position at the lamp fitting.

2. An ink curing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the or each lamp fitting is made of a ceramic material.

3. An ink curing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the or each lamp fitting is a two-part device comprising the lamp terminal seat and a closure means.

4. An ink curing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the lamp terminal seat is curved.

5. An ink curing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the lamp-terminal seat is U-shaped.

6. A UV lamp for an ink curing apparatus, the lamp having a lamp terminal with at least one non-conducting end piece, wherein the non-conducting end piece is substantially spherical.

7. A UV lamp for an ink curing apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the or each non-conducting end piece is made of ceramic.

8. A UV lamp according to claim 6 wherein the non-conducting end piece is a truncated sphere.

9. A UV lamp according to claim 6 wherein the non-conducting end piece is formed of a substantially spherical ceramic block truncated to provide two opposing flat surfaces.

10. An ink curing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the terminal end piece is a truncated sphere.

11. An ink curing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the terminal end piece is formed of a substantially spherical ceramic block truncated to provide two opposing flat surfaces.

12. An ink curing apparatus comprising: a lamp housing with a lamp fitting for a lamp terminal of a UV lamp at each opposing end; wherein at least one of the lamp fittings is non-conducting and has a non-conducting lamp terminal seat, which has a concave profile for receiving a substantially spherical lamp terminal end piece; wherein the or each lamp fitting is a two-part device comprising a lamp terminal seat and a closure means closable to prevent removal of a lamp terminal end piece provided in the fitting; whereby, in use during the fitting or removal of the lamp, the at least one lamp fitting allows the lamp terminal end piece to rotate about multiple axes, whilst being retained substantially in position at the lamp fitting, and being prevented from disengaging from the lamp fitting.

13. An ink curing apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the or each lamp fitting is made of a ceramic material.

14. An ink curing apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the lamp terminal seat is curved.

15. An ink curing apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the lamp-terminal seat is U-shaped.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) One embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1a is a perspective view of one end of a lamp housing for an ink curing apparatus in accordance with the present invention, showing the lamp fitting with a UV lamp fitted thereto;

(3) FIG. 1b is an enlarged perspective view of the lamp fitting showing a UV lamp fitted therethrough;

(4) FIG. 2a is a cross-sectional view through a UV lamp constructed in accordance with a second aspect of the present invention;

(5) FIG. 2b is a cross-sectional view through the UV lamp of FIG. 2a, showing a UV lamp fitted to a lamp fitting; and

(6) FIGS. 3a, 3b and 3c are top and side schematic views showing the process of fitting a UV lamp to the lamp fittings of a lamp housing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) Referring to FIG. 1a, the ink curing apparatus comprises a lamp housing 1, which is an interchangeable cassette 3 for use in ultra violet (UV) print curing. Each end of the lamp housing 1 has an aluminium end plate 5. A second endplate at the opposing end of the lamp housing 1 is not shown in FIG. 1. The cassette 3 comprises a lamp fitting 7, 9 having a curved ceramic body 7 fixed to the cassette 3 and a removable ceramic closure member 9 between which an opening 11 is defined. The cassette 3 is provided with a connection means (not shown) for connecting and disconnecting a UV lamp 13 to and from the power connected to the housing 1. For example, the connection means is a plug/socket arrangement allowing a lamp 13 to be connected into cassette 3 using a push-fit connection. The lamp 13 has a rod-shaped, hollow main body made, for example, of quartz. The main body has located therein chemical compounds to provide ultra violet (UV) radiation when an electrical source is applied to the lamp 13.

(8) As shown in FIG. 1a the cassette 3 also comprises a pivotable lamp door 15, which is hinged about a knurled screw 17. The configuration of the lamp door 15 ensures that, when both ends of the lamp 13 are connected to their respective push fit connections, and the lamp door 15 is closed, the lamp 13 is retained so that it cannot fall out in any orientation.

(9) Referring to FIGS. 1b and 2a, a UV lamp 13 comprises a lamp terminal assembly 21 at each of its ends. The assembly 21 comprises a curved ceramic block 23, having a substantially circular cross-section. The ceramic block 23 is a lamp terminal end piece, which has an outer surface, which is substantially spherical. The sphere is truncated to provide two opposing flat surfaces 23a, 23b. That is, the ceramic block 23 of the lamp terminal end piece is a sphere having a segment cap cut off by planar surfaces 23a, 23b. The ceramic block 23 of the lamp terminal end piece has a cylindrical hollow passing through it into which the lamp 13 is fixed. An electrode (not shown) passes into the glass tube 19 of the lamp 13 and into the curved ceramic block 23. The ceramic block 23 at each end of the lamp 13 provides for ease of insertion and removal of the lamp 13 into and from the end plate 5 and curved ceramic body 7.

(10) Referring to FIG. 1b and FIG. 2b, the diameter at the widest point of the curved ceramic block 23 is about 1 mm less than the greatest width of the opening 11 provided by the curved ceramic body 7.

(11) Referring to FIGS. 1b, 3a, 3b and 3c, in use, the curved ceramic block 23 of a first end of the lamp 13 is placed on the curved receiving face 7a of the ceramic body 7, which acts as a terminal seat. The ceramic closure member 9 of the cassette 3 is closed i.e. placed over the ceramic body 7 to restrict the movement of the first end of the lamp 13. The ceramic block 23 of the lamp terminal 21 rolls over the curved face 7a of the ceramic body 7, so that the lamp 13 is moveable about multiple axis in all degrees of freedom, whilst still being held, i.e. substantially retained, within the lamp end ceramic fitting 7, 9; i.e. so that movement is restricted.

(12) As shown in FIG. 3a, a first end of the lamp 13 is placed on the curved face 7a of the ceramic body 7 with the ceramic closure member 9 placed over the ceramic body 7 at the lamp end so that movement of the lamp 13 is restricted. To manoeuvre the second end of the lamp 13 into the second ceramic body 7, the ceramic block 23 of the lamp terminal is moved over the ceramic block 7 so that the lamp 13 can be fitted whilst the lamp 13 is out of line, thus reducing the possibility of snapping the lamp end 11.

(13) As shown in FIGS. 1b and 3b, with the first end of the lamp in position, the configuration of the lamp fitting 7 allows for movement of the lamp 13 in all degrees of freedom, but restricts movement of the first lamp terminal 21 out of the fitting, which comprises ceramic body 7 and closure member 9. The fitting prevents the first end of the lamp 13 disengaging with the fitting 7. The curved ceramic face 7a of the lamp fitting allows the lamp end piece 23 to rotate about multiple axis; i.e. it can be manoeuvred through multiple degrees of freedom. This allows the ceramic block 23 at the other, i.e. second, end of the lamp 13 to be positioned into the respective ceramic fitting, which comprises a ceramic body 7 and closure member (not shown), without any risk of damage to the first end of the lamp 13.

(14) Referring to FIG. 3c and FIG. 1a, with both ends of the lamp 13 in position, i.e. fitted on the lamp fitting 7, 7 within the cassette 3, the second ceramic closure member is inserted to meet the curved ceramic body 7. The lamp door 15 is pivoted and closed, to retain the lamp 13 in place for UV print curing to commence.

(15) In use, the distance between the lamp's electrical connection, i.e. between the assembly 21 and the aluminium end plate 5 of the cassette 3 is sufficient to ensure that the electrical connection is insulated by the ceramic components 7, 7, 9, 23 described above. This significantly decreases any risk of electrical tracking or short circuiting between the lamp's electrical connection and the end plate 5.

(16) When the lamp 13 is spent, the connection to the cassette 3 and the lamp 13 is disconnected. The lamp door 15 at each end of the lamp cassette 3 is opened; the ceramic closure member 9 is removed and a first end of the lamp 13 is removed from the curved ceramic body 7. During removal of the first lamp end, the second end of the lamp 13 is moveable in all degrees of freedom, whilst still be held within the ceramic fitting 7, 9. The curved ceramic body of the lamp fitting is allowed to rotate about multiple axis and so has multiple degrees of freedom. Following removal of the first lamp terminal 21, the second lamp terminal 21 is also removed from the respective ceramic fitting and so from the cassette 3.

(17) It will be appreciated that the foregoing is merely exemplary of the lamp and lamp housing of the present invention. The skilled reader will understand that modifications can readily be made thereto without departing from the true scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.