Dual Conveyor Belt Coating Apparatus for Inert Atmosphere Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coating systems face challenges in providing a uniform inert atmosphere for excimer lamp treatment and subsequent polymerization steps, leading to high nitrogen consumption and potential oxygen contamination on conveyor belts, which affects treatment quality.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus employs a dual conveyor belt system where the first belt operates outside an inert chamber and the second belt inside, with a reflecting member to distribute radiation evenly across all surfaces, and includes nitrogen injectors and recirculation fans to maintain an inert atmosphere and reduce oxygen contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single conveyor belt system is used for both pre-gelation and excimer treatment, then device complexity is reduced, but uniform inert atmosphere cannot be maintained and oxygen contamination occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The single conveyor belt system is segmented into two separate conveyor belts: a first conveyor belt for pre-gelation treatment and a second conveyor belt for excimer treatment. This segmentation allows each belt to operate in its own optimized environment, with the second belt positioned inside an inert chamber to maintain uniform inert atmosphere, thereby eliminating oxygen contamination while managing system complexity through functional separation.
2Reliability
If nitrogen pumping systems are used to maintain inert atmosphere, then treatment quality is improved, but nitrogen consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of maintaining inert atmosphere throughout the entire processing area, the inert atmosphere is applied locally only where needed - specifically in the region where the second conveyor belt operates during excimer treatment. The first conveyor belt operates in normal atmosphere during pre-gelation. This localized application reduces nitrogen consumption while maintaining treatment quality in the critical excimer treatment zone.
Solution Approach 2:
The pre-gelation treatment is performed beforehand in normal atmosphere on the first conveyor belt, preparing the photosensitive paint in advance. Only after this preliminary step does the system transition to the inert atmosphere environment for the excimer treatment on the second belt. This temporal and spatial separation allows nitrogen to be used only when and where it is most critical for treatment quality.
3Device complexity
If oxygen is present on conveyor belt surfaces, then device complexity is reduced, but treatment uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The treatment process is segmented into two distinct zones with different atmospheric conditions: the first conveyor belt operates in normal atmosphere for pre-gelation, while the second conveyor belt operates inside an inert chamber for excimer treatment. This segmentation prevents oxygen contamination on the second belt, ensuring uniform treatment while managing atmospheric control complexity through zoned separation.
Solution Approach 2:
An inert chamber is introduced as an intermediary structure between the normal atmosphere environment and the excimer treatment zone. This intermediary enclosure maintains a controlled inert atmosphere specifically around the second conveyor belt, preventing oxygen from reaching the treatment area and compromising treatment uniformity, while isolating the complexity of atmosphere control to a dedicated structure.
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 setup ensures optimal treatment of all surfaces while significantly reducing nitrogen usage and minimizing oxygen contamination, thereby enhancing treatment quality and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
illumination by means of an excimer lamp, with ultraviolet radiation usually having a wavelength of 172 nm. This allows the treatment of the microstructure of the surface of the photosensitive paint, which becomes opaque as well as hard
Implementation Method 2
a further polymerization step, which takes place by means of ultraviolet lamps, typically gallium or mercury lamps
Implementation Method 3
said at least one optic group may comprise a reflecting member, arranged in said housing cavity, in correspondence of said radiation source, so as to spread its emitted radiation
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~3B
Figure 4A~7B
AI summary
The present invention relates to an apparatus for coating (1; 1') manufactured articles (P), such as panels made of wood, fiberglass, ceramic or the like, on which a photosensitive paint is applied beforehand, wherein said manufactured article (P) has un upper surface (Ps), a head surface (Pt), a tail surface (Pc), two side surfaces (PI) and a lower surface (Pi), comprising at least one radiation source (41, 61) for the treatment of said photosensitive paint, a conveying system (3), on which said manufactured article (P) is movable in a forward direction (A), and an inert chamber (8), in which an inert atmosphere is maintained, characterized in that said conveying system (3) comprises a first conveyor belt (31a) and a second conveyor belt (31b), arranged adjacent and in series, so that the manufactured article (P) may move from said first conveyor belt (31a) to said second conveyor belt (36), while it moves in said forward direction (A), in that said first conveyor belt (31a) is arranged, at least mostly, outside said inert chamber (8), and in that said second conveyor belt (31b) is arranged, at least mostly, inside said inert chamber (8).