Light curing apparatus

A light curing apparatus includes a chassis, a carrier, a driving mechanism, and a bottom light curing module. The chassis includes a box and a partition arranged in the box to define a curing space and a receiving space. The carrier is translucent and is arranged in the curing space. The driving mechanism is connected to the carrier to rotate the carrier. The bottom light curing module is arranged in the receiving space and includes a plurality of light curing units. The light curing units of the bottom light curing module are configured to emit a curing light onto at least 80% of the carrier, when the driving mechanism drives the carrier to rotate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to a curing apparatus; in particular, to a light curing apparatus.

2. Description of Related Art

When a conventional light curing apparatus is used to implement a curing process, the conventional light curing apparatus emits a curing light onto a side portion of a curable object, so that the curing speed of a bottom portion of the curable object is slower than that of the other portion of the curable object. Thus, some drawbacks (e.g., deformation or warpage) may easily occur in the curing process implemented by using the conventional light curing apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure provides a light curing apparatus to effectively improve the drawbacks associated with conventional light curing apparatuses.

The present disclosure discloses a light curing apparatus including a chassis, a translucent carrier, a driving mechanism, and a bottom light curing module. The chassis includes a box and a partition arranged in the box. The partition is configured to divide a space surroundingly defined by the box into a curing space and a receiving space. The carrier is arranged in the curing space, the driving mechanism is connected to the carrier, and the driving mechanism is configured to drive the carrier to rotate. The bottom light curing module is arranged in the receiving space and includes a plurality of light curing units. The light curing units of the bottom light curing module are configured to emit a curing light onto at least 80% of the carrier, when the driving mechanism drives the carrier to rotate.

In summary, the light curing apparatus in the present disclosure is provided with the bottom light curing module to increase the curing speed of the bottom portion of the curable object, so that the drawbacks (e.g., deformation or warpage) associated with the bottom portion of the curable object can be avoided, when the curable object is in a curing process by using the light curing apparatus.

In order to further appreciate the characteristics and technical contents of the present disclosure, references are hereunder made to the detailed descriptions and appended drawings in connection with the present disclosure. However, the appended drawings are merely shown for exemplary purposes, and should not be construed as restricting the scope of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference is made toFIGS. 1 to 12, which illustrate the present disclosure. References are hereunder made to the detailed descriptions and appended drawings in connection with the present disclosure. However, the appended drawings are merely provided for exemplary purposes, and should not be construed as restricting the scope of the present disclosure.

Reference is made toFIGS. 1 to 8, which illustrate a first embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown inFIGS. 1 to 4, the present embodiment discloses a light curing apparatus100. The light curing apparatus100includes a chassis1, a disk-like carrier2arranged in the chassis1, a driving mechanism3connected to the carrier2, a plurality of limiting mechanisms4(i.e., universal balls4) disposed on the chassis1and supporting the carrier2, a light curing device5disposed on the chassis1, a heating device6(as shown inFIG. 4), and a guiding member7, the latter two of which are arranged in the chassis1and correspond in position to each other.

It should be noted that the components of the light curing apparatus100in the present embodiment can be adjusted according to practical needs. The following description discloses the structure and connection relationships of each component of the light curing apparatus100.

As shown inFIGS. 4 to 6, the chassis1includes a box11and a plate-like partition12arranged in the box11. The partition12is configured to divide a space which is surroundingly defined by the box11, into a curing space S1and a receiving space S2(as shown inFIG. 3). The curing space S1is located above the receiving space S2, and a volume of the curing space S1is preferably larger than that of the receiving space S2, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

The box11includes a plurality of side plates111and a top plate112disposed on the side plates111. The side plates111and the top plate112in the present embodiment are the inner plates of the box11fastened to the partition12(i.e., the three side plates111are jointly formed in an U shape and are connected to an outer portion of the partition12as shown inFIG. 3), so that the side plates111, the top plates112, and the partition12surroundingly co-define the curing space S1. At least one of the side plates111(i.e., the right side plate111as shown inFIG. 6) has a plurality of thru-holes1111, and the top plate112has a plurality of thru-holes1121.

The partition12has a central hole121, a plurality of thru-holes122arranged at one side of the central hole121(i.e., the lower right side of the central hole121as shown inFIG. 5), at least one inlet123, and at least one outlet124, the latter two of which are arranged at another side of the central hole121(i.e., the upper left side of the central hole121as shown inFIG. 5). The curing space S1and the receiving space S2are in air communication with each other through the central hole121, the thru-holes122, the inlet123, and the outlet124.

The carrier2is translucent (i.e., is preferably transparent) and is arranged in the curing space S1of the chassis1. A top surface of the carrier2is configured to carry a curable object (not shown). The driving mechanism3is exemplified as a motor and is approximately arranged in the receiving space S2. A shaft of the driving mechanism3passes through the central hole121of the partition12to connect to a center of the carrier2, so that the driving mechanism3can drive the carrier2to rotate. The universal balls4are mounted on the partition12and are arranged in the curing space S1, and the universal balls4support a bottom surface of the carrier2, so that the carrier2can be stably rotated.

Specifically, as shown inFIG. 7, the carrier2in the present embodiment has a circular shape. The inlet123is arranged in a projecting region defined by orthogonally projecting the carrier2onto the partition12, and the outlet124is arranged outside of the projecting region defined by orthogonally projecting the carrier2onto the partition12. Moreover, the carrier2can be defined as four quadrants, and the inlet123and the thru-holes122are respectively shielded by two diagonal quadrants of the four quadrants of the carrier2.

As shown inFIGS. 4 to 6, the light curing device5is mounted on the chassis1and is configured to emit a curing light toward the curing space S1. The light curing device5in the present embodiment includes a bottom light curing module51, a side light curing module52, and a top light curing module53.

The bottom light curing module51is arranged in the receiving space S2of the chassis1, and is fixed on the bottom surface of the partition12. The bottom light curing module51includes a plurality of light curing units511respectively corresponding in position to the thru-holes122of the partition12. Specifically, each of the light curing units511at least partially passes through the corresponding thru-hole122. In other words, a projecting region defined by orthogonally projecting the light curing units511onto the carrier2is arranged in a quarter of the circular shape of the carrier2(as shown inFIG. 7), but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

Moreover, the light curing units511of the bottom light curing module51are configured to emit a curing light onto at least 80% of the carrier2(i.e., is preferably 100%), when the driving mechanism3drives the carrier2to rotate, so that the curing light can pass through the carrier2to travel onto a bottom portion of the curable object disposed on the carrier2.

Thus, the light curing apparatus100in the present embodiment is provided with the bottom light curing module51to increase the curing speed of the bottom portion of the curable object, so that the drawbacks (e.g., deformation or warpage) associated with the bottom portion of the curable object can be avoided, when the curable object is in a curing process by using the light curing apparatus100.

Specifically, each of the light curing units511is configured to emit a curing light having a wavelength within a range of 280˜500 nm, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the light curing units511of the bottom light curing module51can be configured to emit different curing lights having at least two different wavelengths (e.g., UVA, UVB, or UVC). The light curing units511of the bottom light curing module51can selectively emit a curing light having one of the at least two wavelengths onto at least 80% of the carrier2, when the driving mechanism3drives the carrier2to rotate. The wavelength of the curing light emitted from each of the light curing units511can be adjusted according to the material of the curable object.

Moreover, the light curing units511of the bottom light curing module51can simultaneously emit the different curing lights to overlap the at least two different wavelengths, so that the bottom light curing module51can emit a mixed curing light having a large wavelength band. Accordingly, the bottom light curing module51can be used to cure different curable objects, which are cured by different curing lights.

In addition, the light curing units511in the present embodiment respectively pass through the thru-holes122of the partition12, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, in other embodiments of the present disclosure, a portion of the partition12corresponding in position to the light curing units511is translucent, so that curing light emitted from each of the light curing units511can pass through the portion of the partition12and the carrier2to travel onto the bottom portion of the curable object disposed on the carrier2.

As shown inFIGS. 4 to 6, the side light curing module52is disposed on at least one of the side plates111(e.g., the right side plate111as shown inFIG. 5), and the side light curing module52is configured to emit a curing light toward the curing space S1of the chassis1. The side light curing module52includes a plurality of light curing units521, and the light curing units521respectively and at least partially pass through the thru-holes1111of the corresponding side plate111. Moreover, the top light curing module53is disposed on the top plate112, and the top light curing module53are configured to emit a curing light toward the curing space S1of the chassis1. The top light curing module53includes a plurality of light curing units531, and the light curing units531respectively and at least partially pass through the thru-holes1121of the top plate112.

It should be noted that the structure of each of the light curing units521,531of the side light curing module52and the top light curing module53in the present embodiment is substantially identical to the structure of each of the light curing units511of the bottom light curing module51, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

As shown inFIGS. 4 and 8, the heating device6is arranged in the receiving space S2of the chassis1and is fixed on the bottom surface of the partition12. The heating device6and the bottom light curing module51in the present embodiment are respectively located at two opposite sides of the driving mechanism3. The heating device6is configured to intake air from the curing space S1through the inlet123and to exhaust the heated air to the curing space S1through the outlet124. Moreover, the heating device6is configured to exhaust air through the outlet124in a predetermined airflow direction F.

As shown inFIGS. 5, 7, and 8, the guiding member7is arranged in the curing space S1of the chassis1. The guiding member7is arranged in the predetermined airflow direction F to guide air, which is exhausted from the outlet124of the heating device6, thereby changing the predetermined airflow direction F. Thus, the heated air exhausted from the outlet124of the heating device6can be guided by the guiding member7, thereby adjusting the predetermined airflow direction F. Thus, an inner temperature distribution of the curing space S1becomes more uniform to improve the performance of the curing process implemented by the light curing apparatus100.

In the present embodiment, the guiding member7includes a triangular guiding plate71and two connecting portions72respectively connected to two edges of the guiding plate71. The two connecting portions72of the guiding member7are respectively fixed on two adjacent side plates111(i.e., the left side plate111and the rear side plate111as shown inFIG. 5), which are connected to each other. The guiding member7and the two adjacent side plates111surroundingly co-define a triangular pyramid space S3, and a cross-sectional area of the triangular pyramid space S3gradually increases in a direction from the partition12to the top plate112(i.e., a direction from a lower side to an upper side as shown inFIG. 5). Moreover, the guiding member7of the light curing apparatus100in the present embodiment can be changed according to practical needs, thereby satisfying different curable objects, which are suitable to different temperature distributions.

Specifically, an edge of a projecting region defined by orthogonally projecting the guiding member7onto the partition12(i.e., the edge711of the guiding plate71between the two connecting portions72as shown inFIG. 7) is a tangent line of the projecting region defined by orthogonally projecting the carrier2onto the partition12, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

In addition, the outlet124in the present embodiment is arranged outside of the projecting region defined by orthogonally projecting the carrier2onto the partition12, and is arranged in the projecting region defined by orthogonally projecting the guiding member7onto the partition12, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, in other embodiments of the present disclosure, at least a part of the outlet124can be arranged in the projecting region defined by orthogonally projecting the carrier2onto the partition12, but the bottom surface of the carrier2needs to be arranged outside of the predetermined airflow direction F, when the heating device6exhausts air through the outlet124.

Reference is made toFIGS. 9 to 12, which illustrate a second embodiment of the present disclosure. The present embodiment is similar to the first embodiment. The difference between the present embodiment and the first embodiment is disclosed as follows.

The carrier2in the present embodiment is transparent and includes a circular plate-like carrying portion21and an annular flange22downwardly extending from a peripheral edge of the carrying portion21. The carrying portion21and the flange22surroundingly co-define a limiting space S4. The carrier2is disposed on the limiting mechanisms4(i.e., universal balls4). A portion of each of the limiting mechanisms4is arranged in the limiting space S4and is abutted against an inner edge of the annular flange22, so that the carrying portion21cannot be moved on a horizontal plane by the limiting mechanisms4.

The driving mechanism3is abutted against the annular flange22to drive the carrier2to rotate. That is to say, the driving mechanism3in the present embodiment is not connected to the center of the carrier2(i.e., a center of circle of the carrying portion21), so that the bottom light curing module51can emit a curing light to travel onto the center of the curable object, thereby increasing the curing performance of the curable object.

Specifically, the partition12of the present embodiment is not provided with the central hole121, and the partition12has an opening125corresponding in position to a part of the annular flange22. The driving mechanism3includes a motor31and a friction wheel32installed on the motor31. The motor31is fastened to the bottom surface of the partition12, and a part of the friction wheel32passes through the opening125of the partition12to abut against a bottom end of the annular flange22. Thus, the friction wheel32of the driving mechanism3is rotatable to rub the bottom end of the annular flange22, thereby rotating the carrier2along the center of circle of the carrying portion21.

[The possible effects of the present disclosure]

In summary, the light curing apparatus in the present disclosure is provided with the bottom light curing module to increase the curing speed of the bottom portion of the curable object, so that the drawbacks (e.g., deformation or warpage) associated with the bottom portion of the curable object can be avoided, when the curable object is in a curing process by using the light curing apparatus.

Moreover, the heated air exhausted from the outlet of the heating device can be guided by the guiding member, thereby adjusting the predetermined airflow direction. Thus, an inner temperature distribution of the curing space becomes more uniform to improve the performance of the curing process implemented by the light curing apparatus. The guiding member of the light curing apparatus in the present disclosure can be changed according to practical needs, thereby satisfying different curable objects, which are suitable to different temperature distributions.

In addition, the driving mechanism is abutted against the annular flange to drive the carrier to rotate, and the driving mechanism is not connected to the center of the carrier, so that the bottom light curing module can emit a curing light to travel onto the center of the curable object, thereby increasing the curing performance of the curable object.