Material handling equipment using microwaves to achieve heat treatment

Abstract

The present invention mainly discloses a heat treatment device using quasi-traveling microwaves, which is used to replace the known microwave drying device with a resonant cavity, so as to perform efficient, stable and uniform heat treatment on linear objects such as fibers, silk, artificial fibers and rayon. The heat treatment device includes: a main waveguide, a microwave baffle, an auxiliary waveguide, and at least one microwave absorber arranged in the main waveguide. According to the design of the present invention, a microwave source inputs a microwave to the auxiliary waveguide and the main waveguide, so that the microwave travels in the auxiliary waveguide and the main waveguide to become a quasi-traveling wave. In addition, a linear object can be placed in the main waveguide through the auxiliary waveguide, so that a first part of the linear object is located in the cavity of the microwave absorber, and a second part of the linear object is located in the auxiliary waveguide and the main waveguide. In this case, in addition to the first part absorbing the quasi-traveling wave by itself and being heated, the microwave absorber absorbs the quasi-traveling wave and heats the second part.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of heat treatment equipment, and in particular to a material processing equipment that utilizes quasi-microwaves to achieve heat treatment. Background Art

[0002] It is known that a boiler is a non-penetrating heat treatment device, which includes a heat source device and a material containing device. When the material is heat treated, the heat source device transfers heat energy to the material in the material containing device through a medium such as steam, high-temperature water or an organic heat carrier. In other words, after the heat source device generates heat energy, the heat energy is transferred to the surface of the material according to a heat transfer path including the material containing device and the heat transfer medium, and finally transferred to the center of the material.

[0003] Practical experience shows that boilers have the disadvantage of slow heating speed. Therefore, before starting heat treatment, the boiler must be preheated to a target temperature, and then the material is sent into the boiler to start heat treatment. On the other hand, since the material does not directly receive the heat energy generated by the boiler, in addition to the considerable energy loss during the heat treatment process, it often occurs that the material is heated unevenly, resulting in a decrease in product yield.

[0004] On the other hand, microwaves refer to electromagnetic waves with a wavelength ranging from 0.001 meters to 0.1 meters and a frequency ranging from 300MHz to 300GHz. Compared with infrared and far infrared rays, microwaves have better penetration into the medium. Therefore, in the process of microwaves penetrating the medium, the molecules of the medium are affected by the microwave energy and vibrate at high speed, causing the temperature of the medium to rise, thus achieving the effect of heating the medium.

[0005] At present, microwave heat treatment equipment (Microwave heat treatment apparatus) uses a specific microwave to perform penetrating heating on a material to complete the heat treatment of the material. Compared with traditional boilers (i.e., non-penetrating heat treatment equipment), microwave heat treatment equipment has the advantages of fast heating speed, short processing time and energy saving. Take a microwave oven (Microwave Oven) as an example, it includes a microwave generator and a resonant cavity. When the microwave oven is running, the microwave generator radiates a microwave into the resonant cavity. Since the inner wall of the resonant cavity reflects the microwave, the microwave will form a standing wave in the resonant cavity, where the crest of the standing wave has a higher heating efficiency, and the wave node with an amplitude of 0 cannot heat the food. Based on this physical phenomenon, a turntable is placed inside the microwave oven to drive the food to rotate, so that the food can be evenly heated by microwave penetration.

[0006] Furthermore, microwave heat treatment technology is also applied to the manufacture of a microwave drying device, and is thus widely used in various industrial manufacturing. For example, Taiwan Patent No. I739132 discloses a wire manufacturing device, which includes: a blow molding unit, a microwave drying unit, and a cutting unit. The blow molding unit is used to blow a raw material into a wire, and the wire is then sent into the microwave drying unit for microwave drying. In more detail, a moving platform is provided in the resonance cavity of the microwave drying unit, and the moving platform carries the wire in the resonance cavity at a speed during the microwave drying process, so that the wire can be evenly heated by microwaves, thereby drying the moisture carried by the wire.

[0007] Unfortunately, due to the lack of a continuous object conveying unit (such as a discharge wheel and a receiving wheel), the microwave drying unit disclosed in Taiwan Patent No. I739132 cannot be used for continuous drying of continuous objects such as fibers and threads. On the other hand, in order to improve the drying efficiency, the conventional technology usually allows the microwave drying unit to have multiple microwave sources to radiate multiple microwaves into the resonant cavity, thereby forming a multi-mode standing wave in the resonant cavity. However, practical experience has shown that it is difficult to control the multi-mode standing wave to achieve uniform heating and high-efficiency drying of continuous objects without optimizing the wavelengths and frequencies of the multiple microwaves.

[0008] In view of the above reasons, the inventor of this case has made great efforts to study and invent, and finally developed a material processing equipment that uses quasi-microwaves to achieve heat treatment. Summary of the invention

[0009] The main purpose of the present invention is to provide a material processing device that uses quasi-traveling microwaves to achieve heat treatment. In particular, the present invention generates a quasi-traveling wave in a waveguide, and then uses a driving device to send a linear object into the waveguide, so that the linear object absorbs the quasi-traveling wave and is heated. In addition, a microwave absorber made of absorbing material is also provided in the waveguide, so that the linear object is further heated by the heat generated by the microwave absorber. According to this design, under the drive of the driving device, the linear object passes through the waveguide at a transmission speed, thereby obtaining a high-efficiency, stable and uniform heat treatment.

[0010] To achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention proposes an embodiment of the material processing equipment for realizing heat treatment by using quasi-microwaves, which comprises:

[0011] A main waveguide having a front opening and a rear opening;

[0012] a microwave baffle, connected to and covering the rear opening, and having at least one discharge hole;

[0013] An auxiliary waveguide tube having a first section and a second section, the first section having a first opening for connecting a waveguide tube of a microwave source, the second section having a second opening connected to the front opening of the main waveguide tube, and a bending angle between the first section and the second section; wherein the first section is further provided with at least one material inlet hole coaxial with the at least one material outlet hole; and

[0014] At least one microwave absorber made of a microwave absorbing material, located in the main waveguide, and having at least one cavity;

[0015] A driving device is used to drive at least one linear object to move through the at least one feed hole, and then enter the auxiliary waveguide and the main waveguide, and the at least one linear object continues to move to enter the at least one cavity of the microwave absorber, and finally the driving device drives the at least one linear object to move through the at least one feed hole of the microwave baffle and leave the main waveguide;

[0016] The microwave source inputs a microwave into the auxiliary waveguide and the main waveguide through the waveguide, and the microwave substantially travels along a wavefront in the auxiliary waveguide and the main waveguide to become a quasi-traveling wave;

[0017] A first portion of the at least one linear object located in the main waveguide and the auxiliary waveguide is heated by absorbing the quasi-traveling wave, and the microwave absorber absorbs the quasi-traveling wave to heat a second portion of the at least one linear object located in the at least one cavity.

[0018] In one embodiment, the main waveguide and the auxiliary waveguide are both a rectangular waveguide, a circular waveguide or a waveguide with any cross-sectional shape.

[0019] In one embodiment, the main waveguide and the auxiliary waveguide are made of any metal material.

[0020] In a feasible embodiment, the material processing equipment for achieving heat treatment using quasi-traveling microwaves of the present invention further includes: at least one thermal insulation block arranged within the main waveguide tube, so that the at least one microwave absorber is arranged on the at least one thermal insulation block, thereby being thermally isolated from the inner wall of the main waveguide tube.

[0021] In one embodiment, the thread-like object is any one of the following: fiber, silk, synthetic fiber, or rayon.

[0022] In one embodiment, a surface of the thermal insulation block is provided with a groove for matching with the bottom of the microwave absorber.

[0023] In one embodiment, a plurality of observation windows are disposed on the upper surface of the main waveguide, and the observation windows are quartz glass windows.

[0024] In one embodiment, the front opening and the second opening are respectively provided with a first connecting plate and a second connecting plate, so that the front opening and the second opening are butted against each other by assembling the first connecting plate and the second connecting plate.

[0025] In one embodiment, the first section is further provided with a cushion block, and the at least one feed hole passes through the cushion block and the first section.

[0026] In one embodiment, the first opening is provided with a third connecting plate, so that the first opening is connected to an opening of the waveguide by assembling the third connecting plate and a connecting plate of the waveguide. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] Figure 1 A first stereoscopic diagram of a material processing device for achieving heat treatment using quasi-microwaves according to the present invention;

[0028] Figure 2 An exploded view of a material processing device for achieving heat treatment using quasi-microwaves according to the present invention;

[0029] Figure 3 A side sectional view of a material processing device for achieving heat treatment using quasi-microwaves according to the present invention;

[0030] Figure 4 A second stereoscopic view of a material processing device for achieving heat treatment using parallel microwaves according to the present invention; and

[0031] Figure 5 The present invention is a schematic diagram showing an application of a material processing device for achieving heat treatment using quasi-microwaves.

[0032]

Explanation of symbols

[0033] 1: Material handling equipment

[0034] 10: Main waveguide

[0035] 101: Observation window

[0036] 11: Microwave baffle

[0037] 111: Discharge hole

[0038] 12: Auxiliary waveguide

[0039] 121: First paragraph

[0040] 1210: Feeding hole

[0041] 1211: Pad

[0042] 122: Second paragraph

[0043] 13: Thermal insulation block

[0044] 14: Microwave absorber

[0045] 141: Cavity

[0046] P1: First connecting plate

[0047] P2: Second connecting plate

[0048] P3: The third connecting plate

[0049] 2: Linear

[0050] 3: Drive device

[0051] 131: Groove DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0052] In order to more clearly describe the material processing equipment for achieving heat treatment using quasi-microwaves proposed by the present invention, the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0053] See also Figure 1 , which shows a three-dimensional diagram of a material processing device for achieving heat treatment using parallel microwaves according to the present invention. And, Figure 2 An exploded view of a material processing apparatus for achieving heat treatment using microwaves according to the present invention is shown, and Figure 3 A side cross-sectional view of a material processing device for heat treatment using a para-microwave according to the present invention is shown. According to the design of the present invention, the material processing device 1 for heat treatment using a para-microwave (hereinafter referred to as the material processing device 1) comprises: a main waveguide 10, a microwave baffle 11, an auxiliary waveguide 12, at least one microwave absorber 14, and at least one thermal insulation block 13.

[0054] like Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the main waveguide 10 has a front opening and a rear opening. It is worth noting that the microwave baffle 11 has at least one discharge hole 111. In more detail, the auxiliary waveguide 12 has a first section 121 and a second section 122. The first section 121 has a first opening for connecting a waveguide of a microwave source, and the second section 122 has a second opening that docks with the front opening of the main waveguide 10. There is a bending angle between the first section 121 and the second section 122, and the microwave baffle 11 is connected to and covers the rear opening. As shown in FIG. Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, at least one material inlet hole 1210 coaxial with the at least one material outlet hole 111 is further provided on the first section 121 .

[0055] In a feasible embodiment, the main waveguide 10 and the auxiliary waveguide 12 are both made of any metal material, and are both rectangular waveguides, circular waveguides, or waveguides of any cross-sectional shape. On the other hand, the thermal insulation block 13 is made of a material with a low thermal conductivity, and the number of the thermal insulation block 13 is at least 1. For example, the thermal insulation block 13 can be made of asbestos, cork, or sawdust, or can be made of magnesium oxide. Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the surface of the heat insulating block 13 is provided with a groove 131 for matching the bottom of the microwave absorber 14. Therefore, the microwave absorber 14 is arranged on the heat insulating block 13, so as to be thermally isolated from the inner wall of the main waveguide 10.

[0056] In a feasible embodiment, the microwave absorber 14 is made of an absorbing material, and the number of the absorbing material is at least 1. According to the definition, an absorbing material is a functional material that can convert electromagnetic waves projected onto a surface into heat energy through dielectric loss and / or magnetic loss. For example, silicon carbide (SiC), silicon nitride (Si3N4), SiC / Si3N4 composites, etc. are all high temperature resistant absorbing materials. Therefore, the present invention does not particularly limit the type of absorbing material used to make the microwave absorber 14. Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, in particular, the present invention allows the microwave absorber 14 to have at least one cavity 141. According to this design, a driving device 3 (or a discharging device) is used to cause at least one linear object 2 to move through the at least one inlet hole 1210, and then enter the auxiliary waveguide 12 and the main waveguide 10. When the driving device 3 is used, the at least one linear object 2 moves at a transmission speed (or a discharging speed), then enters the at least one cavity 141 of the microwave absorber 14, and finally passes through the at least one outlet hole 111 of the microwave baffle 11 and leaves the main waveguide 10.

[0057] According to the design of the present invention, a microwave source inputs a microwave into the auxiliary waveguide 12 and the main waveguide 10 through a waveguide, and the microwave substantially travels along a wavefront in the auxiliary waveguide 12 and the main waveguide 10 to become a quasi-traveling wave. Therefore, when the at least one linear object 2 moves according to the transmission speed, a first portion of the at least one linear object 2 located in the main waveguide 10 and the auxiliary waveguide 12 is heated by absorbing the quasi-traveling wave, and the microwave absorber 14 absorbs the quasi-traveling wave to heat a second portion of the at least one linear object 2 located in the at least one cavity 141.

[0058] It can be seen from the above description that even if the dielectric loss force or magnetic loss force of the linear object 2 to be processed is not high, when the linear object 2 moves into the cavity 141 of the microwave absorber 14, the microwave absorber 14 will still absorb the quasi-traveling wave and heat the linear object 2.

[0059] Different from Taiwan Patent No. I739132, which uses microwaves to heat and dry the wire in the resonance cavity, the present invention generates a quasi-traveling wave in the main waveguide 10, and then uses the driving device 3 to send a linear object 2 into the main waveguide 10, so that the linear object 2 absorbs the quasi-traveling wave and is heated. In addition, the present invention also provides a microwave absorber 14 made of absorbing material in the main waveguide 10, so that the linear object is further heated through the microwave absorber 14. Therefore, under the drive of the driving device 3, the linear object 2 passes through the main waveguide 10 at a transmission speed, and in the process of passing through the main waveguide 10, a high-efficiency, stable, and uniform heat treatment is achieved for the linear object 2. Therefore, the material processing equipment 1 of the present invention can replace the known microwave drying device, so as to be used for high-efficiency, stable, and uniform heat treatment of linear objects such as fibers, silk, artificial fibers, and rayon.

[0060] It should be noted that the known microwave drying device forms a multi-modal standing wave in the resonant cavity by radiating multiple microwaves into the resonant cavity. However, practical experience has shown that it is difficult to control the multi-modal standing wave to achieve uniform heating and efficient drying of the linear object 2 without optimizing the wavelengths and frequencies of the multiple microwaves. On the contrary, according to the design of the present invention, the microwave source inputs a microwave into the main waveguide 10 and the auxiliary waveguide 12 through the waveguide, thereby forming a quasi-traveling wave in the main waveguide 10. Therefore, the mode of the microwave is controllable, and at the same time, multi-modal standing waves with difficult-to-control parameters will not be generated in the main waveguide 10, eliminating the problem of phase interference between multiple wave sources.

[0061] like Figure 2 and Figure 3As shown, the upper surface of the main waveguide 10 is provided with a plurality of observation windows 101, and the observation window 101 is a quartz glass window. On the other hand, in order to facilitate the assembly of the main waveguide 10 and the auxiliary waveguide 12, the present invention further provides a first connection plate P1 at the front opening of the main waveguide 10, and provides a second connection plate P2 at the second opening of the second section 122 of the auxiliary waveguide 12. According to this design, the first connection plate P1 and the second connection plate P2 can be assembled by a locking member such as a screw to realize the assembly of the main waveguide 10 and the auxiliary waveguide 12, so that the front opening and the second opening are docked. On the other hand, in order to facilitate the assembly of the auxiliary waveguide 12 and the microwave source, the present invention further provides a third connection plate P3 at the first opening of the first section 121. According to this design, the third connection plate P3 and the connection plate of the waveguide of the microwave source can be assembled by a locking member such as a screw to realize the assembly of the auxiliary waveguide 12 and the microwave source.

[0062] Further, by Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 It can be known that the linear object 2 can only enter the auxiliary waveguide 12 through the feed hole 1210 of the first section 121, and the microwave can only be input into the auxiliary waveguide 12 through the first opening of the first section 121. Therefore, in order for the material processing equipment 1 that uses quasi-microwaves to achieve heat treatment to perfectly cooperate with a microwave source and a driving device 3 (or a discharge device) on an automated production line, the present invention specifically provides a bending angle between the first section 121 and the second section 122 of the auxiliary waveguide 12, and sets the at least one feed hole 1210 on a bottom surface of the first section 121. In other words, when the bending angle is provided, the first opening of the first section 121 and the feed hole 1210 are not on the same axis.

[0063] Figure 4 FIG. 2 is a second perspective view of a material processing device for heat treatment using a parallel microwave according to the present invention. Figure 4 As shown, the second section 122 and the first section 121 may have the bending angle, so that the auxiliary waveguide 12 is a bending waveguide. It is worth noting that the top surface and the bottom surface of the first section 121 are parallel to a horizontal plane, and the top surface and the bottom surface of the second section 122 are also parallel to the horizontal plane. In other words, the present invention only requires that there is a bending angle between the second section 122 and the first section 121, but does not particularly require the bending direction or plane of the bending waveguide (i.e., the auxiliary waveguide 12).

[0064] In addition, the present invention further provides a cushion block 1211 on the bottom surface of the first section 121, and the at least one feed hole 1210 passes through the cushion block 1211 and the bottom surface of the first section 121. Figure 5 An application diagram showing a material processing device using the present invention to achieve heat treatment using a parallel microwave. Figure 5 As shown, when the material processing equipment 1 for achieving heat treatment using quasi-microwaves of the present invention is used to heat treat linear materials 2 such as fibers, silk, synthetic fibers, and rayon, a plurality of the material processing equipment 1 can be interconnected or stacked, thereby increasing the output of the heat treatment.

[0065] Thus, the above is a complete and clear description of a material processing device for heat treatment using quasi-microwaves of the present invention. It must be emphasized that the above detailed description is a specific description of a feasible embodiment of the present invention, but the embodiment is not intended to limit the patent scope of the present invention. Any equivalent implementation or modification that does not deviate from the technical spirit of the present invention should be included in the patent scope of this case.

Claims

1. A material processing device for heat treatment using quasi-microwaves, characterized in that: include: A main waveguide having a front opening and a rear opening; a microwave baffle, connected to and covering the rear opening, and having at least one discharge hole; An auxiliary waveguide tube having a first section and a second section, the first section having a first opening for connecting a waveguide tube of a microwave source, the second section having a second opening connected to the front opening of the main waveguide tube, and a bending angle between the first section and the second section; wherein the first section is further provided with at least one material inlet hole coaxial with the at least one material outlet hole; and At least one microwave absorber made of a microwave absorbing material, located in the main waveguide, and having at least one cavity; A driving device is used to drive at least one linear object to move through the at least one feed hole, and then enter the auxiliary waveguide and the main waveguide, and the at least one linear object continues to move to enter the at least one cavity of the microwave absorber, and finally the driving device drives the at least one linear object to move through the at least one feed hole of the microwave baffle and leave the main waveguide; The microwave source inputs a microwave into the auxiliary waveguide and the main waveguide through the waveguide, and the microwave substantially travels along a wavefront in the auxiliary waveguide and the main waveguide to become a quasi-traveling wave; A first portion of the at least one linear object located in the main waveguide and the auxiliary waveguide is heated by absorbing the quasi-traveling wave, and the microwave absorber absorbs the quasi-traveling wave to heat a second portion of the at least one linear object located in the at least one cavity.

2. The material processing equipment for heat treatment using quasi-microwaves according to claim 1, characterized in that: The main waveguide and the auxiliary waveguide are both a rectangular waveguide, a circular waveguide or a waveguide with any cross-sectional shape.

3. The material processing equipment for heat treatment using quasi-microwaves according to claim 1, characterized in that: The main waveguide and the auxiliary waveguide are made of a metal material.

4. The material processing equipment for heat treatment using quasi-microwaves according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes at least one heat insulating block arranged in the main waveguide tube, so that the at least one microwave absorber is arranged on the at least one heat insulating block, thereby being thermally isolated from the inner wall of the main waveguide tube.

5. The material processing equipment for heat treatment using quasi-microwaves according to claim 1, characterized in that: The thread-like object is any one of the following: fiber, silk, artificial fiber, or rayon.

6. The material processing equipment for heat treatment using quasi-microwaves according to claim 4, characterized in that: The surface of the heat insulation block is provided with a groove for matching the bottom of the microwave absorber.

7. The material processing equipment for heat treatment using quasi-microwaves according to claim 1, characterized in that: The upper surface of the main waveguide is provided with a plurality of observation windows, and the observation windows are quartz glass windows.

8. The material processing equipment for heat treatment using quasi-microwaves according to claim 1, characterized in that: The front opening and the second opening are respectively provided with a first connecting plate and a second connecting plate, so that the front opening and the second opening are butted against each other by assembling the first connecting plate and the second connecting plate.

9. The material processing equipment for heat treatment using quasi-microwaves according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first section is further provided with a cushion block, and the at least one material inlet hole passes through the cushion block and the first section.

10. The material processing equipment for heat treatment using quasi-microwaves according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first opening is provided with a third connecting plate, so that the first opening is butted with an opening of the waveguide by assembling the third connecting plate and a connecting plate of the waveguide.

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