Angled LED Fiber Coating Curing for Uniform Irradiation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fiber coating devices face challenges with one-sided irradiation leading to irregular curing, increased stress on the coating, and complex installation and removal of radiation sources due to the vertical radiation direction, resulting in inefficiencies and structural complexities.
Innovation Solution
A device with a light-emitting diode (LED) arrangement where the main radiation direction has a beam angle of less than 40° relative to the fiber's longitudinal direction, allowing for increased distance between the LED and the fiber, facilitating easier installation and removal, and enabling more uniform irradiation across the fiber's length.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the radiation direction is perpendicular to the fiber's longitudinal direction (vertical irradiation), then the irradiation intensity can be concentrated, but the curing becomes irregular and stress on the coating increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional vertical irradiation direction by orienting the LED radiation direction at an angle of 10° to 40° relative to the longitudinal direction of the fiber. This angular orientation distributes the radiation along the fiber length, achieving homogeneous curing while reducing stress on the coating, thus resolving the contradiction between concentrated irradiation intensity and curing uniformity.
2Productivity
If the LED is positioned close to the fiber for efficient curing, then the curing efficiency improves, but the installation and removal of the radiation source becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the LED in a spatial arrangement where the radiation direction is angled at 10° to 40° relative to the fiber's longitudinal direction, rather than perpendicular. This dimensional change in positioning allows the LED to be placed at an optimized distance from the fiber, maintaining efficient curing while simplifying installation and removal operations.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the radiation is focused onto one point on the fiber, then the energy efficiency increases, but the coating experiences increased stress and thermal load
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the irradiation along the fiber's longitudinal direction by orienting the LED radiation at an angle of 10° to 40°. This distributes the energy input along multiple segments of the fiber rather than concentrating it at one point, maintaining energy efficiency while reducing thermal stress and preventing overheating of the coating.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration reduces stress on the coating, achieves more homogeneous curing, allows for increased packing density of LEDs, and simplifies the installation process by distributing heat output along the fiber's length, enabling faster curing and higher efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the curing unit comprises a lamp, in particular a light-emitting diode (LED), for emitting at least one light beam
Implementation Method 2
curing coatings of fibers via electromagnetic radiation... the coating protecting the fiber is cured with UV radiation
Data Source
AI summary
A device for coating a fiber includes a fiber receiving arrangement and a coating arrangement which includes an application unit which wets the fiber with a coating agent, and a curing unit arranged downstream of the application unit which optically cures the coating agent. The curing unit includes a lamp which emits at least one light beam which is aimed directly or indirectly at a surface of the fiber. A main radiation direction of the lamp includes a beam angle between the main radiation direction and a longitudinal direction of the fiber of less than 40°. The fiber receiving arrangement and the application unit are movable relative to each other in the longitudinal direction of the fiber via a translational motion arrangement so that a wetting process is implemented substantially along an entire length of the fiber.