UV Irradiation System for Uniform Vehicle Paint Curing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for uniformly irradiating motor vehicle bodies with electromagnetic radiation, such as UV light, to cure paint are inefficient and require excessive effort due to the need for continuous tracking and alignment of multiple ultraviolet radiation sources, leading to uneven irradiation and fluctuating intensity, which results in suboptimal paint curing.
Innovation Solution
The use of multiple ultraviolet radiation sources arranged offset to each other, allowing for simultaneous irradiation of a strip on the vehicle body's surface, with pivotable sources controlled by a unit that adapts to different body shapes and positions, ensuring complete and uniform coverage without excessive effort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If multiple ultraviolet radiation sources are used to irradiate the vehicle body, then the irradiation coverage is improved, but the device complexity and operational effort increase due to continuous tracking requirements
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of moving the radiation sources to track the vehicle body (complex active tracking), the patent inverts the approach by keeping sources fixed and moving the vehicle body through the irradiation zone. This eliminates the need for complex source tracking mechanisms while maintaining complete surface coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The radiation field is segmented into multiple zones, each covered by a fixed radiation source. As the vehicle body moves through the system, different segments of the body surface pass through different source zones, ensuring complete coverage without requiring any source to track the entire body.
2Device complexity
If sources are arranged one behind the other, then the device structure is simplified, but the uniformity of irradiation is compromised due to gaps in coverage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a one-dimensional linear arrangement of sources to a two-dimensional distributed arrangement. Sources are positioned at different locations and angles around the vehicle body path, creating overlapping irradiation zones that ensure uniform coverage while maintaining structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
Each radiation source is positioned to optimize coverage of specific local areas of the vehicle body. The arrangement ensures that different regions of the body receive appropriate irradiation from optimally positioned sources, achieving uniform overall coverage through localized optimization.
3Ease of operation
If sources are fixed in position, then the operational effort is reduced, but the adaptability to different body shapes and positions is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The fixed source arrangement is designed to universally handle different vehicle body types and positions. The multi-source configuration creates a comprehensive irradiation field that can accommodate various body shapes, sizes, and orientations without requiring source repositioning or recalibration.
Solution Approach 2:
While sources remain fixed in position, the system achieves adaptability through the dynamic movement of the vehicle body through the irradiation zone. The relative motion between fixed sources and moving body ensures that all surfaces are exposed to appropriate radiation levels regardless of body configuration.
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 approach ensures consistent and uniform irradiation of the vehicle body's surface, preventing uneven paint curing and maintaining optimal paint hardness across all areas, reducing the need for continuous tracking and minimizing operational effort.
Implementation Method 1
UV-curing paint systems are of particular importance, or paints that can be cured photochemically and thermally initiated by free radicals. Thus, in particular, ultraviolet radiation (UV radiation) or infrared radiation (IR radiation) come into consideration as suitable electromagnetic radiation for curing such paints.
Data Source
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Figure 5~8
AI summary
The device has UV radiation sources arranged in series in a preset direction of relative movement of a body, where two of the sources are pivoted at respective axes from the direction. The axes run perpendicular to the direction and perpendicular to radiation directions for UV radiation such that the sources are aligned. Regions (B11, B14) of an upper surface (O) of a body are irradiated with the UV radiation by the sources in a reference relative position to the body. Partial regions (TB11, TB14) extend from the regions by preset values at interval (l) defined for a measurement variable. An independent claim is also included for a method for irradiating a body with an electromagnetic radiation.