JP3496033B2 - Electrodeless discharge lamp and electrodeless discharge lamp light emitting device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrodeless discharge lamp which is excited by microwaves to generate ultraviolet rays, and a light emitting device thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, ultraviolet rays have been widely used for curing ultraviolet-curable adhesives and inks, ultraviolet-curable paints, and other treatment processes of paints and chemical reactions of chemical substances. ing. Conventionally, a high pressure mercury lamp with an electrode was used as a light source for this ultraviolet light.
Recently, so-called electrodeless discharge lamps having no electrodes have been used. This lamp is filled with a light emitting material such as mercury, and when irradiated with a microwave from the outside, the light emitting material is excited to emit light.

An example of such a microwave electrodeless light emitting device is described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2-34459. In this publication, the amounts of mercury, iodine and halogen to be enclosed in the lamp are specified. Then, it is written that the output of ultraviolet rays for treating the object to be irradiated is increased by the specified enclosed amount.

On the other hand, the electrodeless discharge lamp is a so-called high-pressure mercury lamp in which mercury or argon gas is put inside and metal such as iron is not put, and so-called metal halide lamp in which metal such as iron is also put. There is something like. These differences are in the emission wavelength, and a suitable one is selected depending on the object to be irradiated. When used as a metal halide lamp, magnesium, tin, thallium, etc. can be enclosed in addition to iron. For example, compared with metal halide lamps, high-pressure mercury lamps have an ultraviolet wavelength of 200-
It is characterized by having a high ultraviolet intensity of 200 to 300 nm of 450 nm, and is suitable for a treatment such as curing and drying of an ultraviolet curable adhesive or varnish. On the other hand, a metal halide lamp containing iron has an ultraviolet wavelength of 200 to 450.
It is characterized in that it has a high ultraviolet intensity of 350 to 450 nm, and is suitable for drying a resin containing a pigment such as an ultraviolet curable ink.

By the way, although the above publication describes a lamp having a spherical shape, the electrodeless discharge lamp which emits ultraviolet rays is not limited to a spherical shape but may have a rod shape. For example, the object to be irradiated is applied to the one that is conveyed by the conveyor belt and is sequentially irradiated. If the longitudinal direction of the lamp is arranged in the width direction of the conveyor belt, the width direction of the conveyor belt is However, there is an advantage that the irradiation treatment can be performed almost uniformly. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-189805 discloses such a rod-shaped lamp.

By the way, when such a rod-shaped lamp is used for a long time, the tube wall of the lamp becomes cloudy, the enclosed gas leaks to the outside, or a snake-like abnormal light emission occurs in the arc tube. May be. Generally, as a device for treating an irradiation object as described above, it is sufficient that a high pressure mercury lamp can be used for 3000 hours, a metal halide lamp can be used for 1000 hours, and even if it is used, a light output of 70% of the initial lighting can be maintained. Has been done. However, in reality, it may not be possible to turn on this time due to the above reasons.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an electrodeless discharge lamp and a light emitting device thereof that can be satisfactorily lit for a desired time.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the problems,
The electrodeless discharge lamp of the present invention has 50 to 1
Argon gas for starting at 50 Torr and internal volume of lamp 1cc
Per 0.7 × 10 ⁻⁵ gram atom or 7.0 × 1
0 and ^-5 gram atoms mercury, characterized in that made by sealing 3.0 × ^{10 -9} to 6.0 × ^{10 -7} gram molecular mercury iodide. This electrodeless discharge lamp works as a high pressure mercury lamp. In addition, in order to work as a metal halide lamp, iron is enclosed inside and
50 to 150 Torr of argon gas and 0.7 × 10 ⁻⁵ gram atom per 1 cc of internal volume of the lamp or
7.0 × 10 ⁻⁵ gram atom of mercury and 7.3 × 10
⁻⁵ g to 6.0 × 10 ⁻⁴ g of iron, 3.0 × 10
Provided is an encapsulation of ^-8 to 2.0 x 10 ^-6 gram molecules of mercury iodide. On the other hand, as a light emitting device for lighting these electrodeless discharge lamps, a rod-shaped electrodeless discharge lamp, a cavity wall forming a microwave cavity in which this electrodeless discharge lamp is arranged, and the electrodeless discharge lamp are generated. A reflection mirror for reflecting the ultraviolet rays in the direction of the object to be irradiated, a microwave generation means, a waveguide for transmitting the microwave generated by the microwave generation means, and a cavity wall and reflection of the microwave in the waveguide. In an electrodeless discharge lamp light-emitting device comprising an antenna that penetrates a mirror and is coupled to an electrodeless discharge lamp, if the electrodeless discharge lamp is a high pressure mercury lamp, there is no internal 50
Argon gas for starting at 150 Torr and 0.7 × 10 ⁻⁵ g atom or 7.0 per 1 cc of internal volume of the lamp.
× and ^{10 -5} gram atom of mercury, 3.0 × ^{10 -9} to, characterized in that made by sealing 6.0 × ^{10 -7} gram molecular mercury iodide. When the electrodeless discharge lamp is a metal halide lamp, 50 to 150
Argon gas for starting Torr and 0.7 × 10 ⁻⁵ gram atom to 7.0 × 10 per 1 cc of internal volume of the lamp
^-5 gram atom mercury and 7.3 x 10 ^-5 g or
It is characterized by being made by encapsulating 6.0 × 10 ⁻⁴ g of iron and 3.0 × 10 ⁻⁸ to 2.0 × 10 ⁻⁶ gram molecules of mercury iodide.

[0009]

With such a structure, the high-pressure mercury lamp and the metal halide lamp can be satisfactorily lit for a desired time by using a lamp made by enclosing a predetermined amount of mercury iodide.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an electrodeless discharge lamp of the present invention. 2 and 3 show an electrodeless discharge lamp light emitting device of the present invention.

The electrodeless light emitting discharge lamp 1 (hereinafter, simply referred to as a lamp) is made of quartz glass and is composed of a light emitting portion 1a and a lamp supporting portion 1b. The lamp is held on the device by the lamp support portion 1b. The lamp 1 is filled with mercury as a light emitting material and argon as a rare gas for starting. Further, when the lamp 1 is used as a metal halide lamp, iron is further enclosed. As the lamp 1, for example, a lamp having a light emission length of 240 mm and an outer diameter of 8 mm is applied. And, as will be described later, in the lamp 1, mercury iodide is also enclosed in order to prolong the life of the lamp.

Next, a method of manufacturing the lamp 1 will be briefly described. First, both ends of the quartz glass tube are sealed, and a quartz rod serving as a lamp supporting portion is melted and attached to the sealing portion.
Next, a chip tube for introducing gas is attached to the approximate center of the quartz glass tube. The tip tube is usually a thin tube having an outer diameter of about 4 mm, and liquid mercury and granular mercury iodide are put into the quartz glass tube from here by a filler. Also, in the case of a metal halide lamp, at this time, insert a small iron wire. Next, the chip tube is evacuated to seal the rare gas, and then the chip tube is sealed.

Next, the electrodeless discharge lamp light emitting device will be described. Reference numeral 10 denotes an irradiation part, in which the lamp 1 and the microwave cavity wall 1 formed of a metal material and surrounding the lamp 1 are provided.
1, a reflection mirror 12 for reflecting the light emitted from the lamp 1 in the direction of the object to be irradiated, an antenna 13 for favorably coupling microwaves to the lamp 1, and a microwave cavity wall and a micro wall. It has a mesh 14 that does not transmit waves but only the generated ultraviolet rays.

Reference numeral 20 denotes a microwave generator, which is composed of a magnetron 21 and a waveguide 22. Magnetron 2
From 1, microwave of 2450 MHz is generated, and the inside of the microwave cavity wall is used as an electromagnetic field. Then, the microwave is coupled to the lamp 1 via the waveguide 22 and the antenna 13. Reference numeral 30 denotes a transport unit, which is a transport belt 31 and a transport base 3.
It consists of 2. Reference numeral 40 denotes a control unit, which can control driving of the conveyor belt 31 and oscillation of the magnetron 21.
Although not shown, a cooling fan for cooling the lamp 1 is also provided, and the drive of this fan can also be controlled. Reference numeral 50 denotes an object to be irradiated, which is irradiated with the radiant light from the lamp 1 and is subjected to a desired process.

As described above, the lamp of the present invention is made by enclosing mercury iodide inside. FIG. 4 shows the relationship between the enclosed amount of mercury iodide and the life of the lamp in a rod-shaped electrodeless discharge lamp as a high-pressure mercury lamp. Here, the life in this case means that the optical output is 70
It is defined as the time when it reaches%. If the lamp tube wall becomes cloudy or if snake-like abnormal light emission occurs in the arc tube,
The life is reached when the light output reaches 70% of the initial value. Further, when the sealed gas leaks to the outside, the light normally does not come on at that time, so that the light output is 70% or less of the initial value, which means the life. The inner diameter of the lamp is 8mm,
It has a rod-like shape with an emission length of 240 mm and an internal volume of 12 cm ³ , and contains 50 mg of mercury and 100 Torr of argon gas.

From FIG. 4, it is possible to achieve a lamp life of 3000 hours if the amount of enclosed mercury iodide is in the range of 3.0 × 10 ^-9 to 6.0 × 10 ^-7 gram molecules per 1 cc of the internal volume of the lamp. it can. And, as a particularly preferable filling amount, 2 × 10 ⁻⁸ to 1 × 1 per 1 cc of the internal volume of the lamp
It is in the range of ^0-7 gram molecules.

The amount of mercury enclosed has conventionally been 0.7 × 10 ⁻⁵ gram atom to 7.0 × per 1 cc of internal volume of the lamp.
It is known that 10 ^-5 gram atoms are good for obtaining the desired UV output, but below this range the light output is low, while above this range the lamp emits a snake-like light. It is not preferable because Also,
Regarding the enclosed amount of argon gas, the enclosed amount of mercury is 2.1 × 10 ^-5 g atom per 1 cc of the lamp inner volume, and mercury iodide is 9.2 × 10 ^-8 g molecule per 1 cc of the lamp inner volume, 1
Experiments were carried out at 0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 Torr, respectively. It was found that, when 10 Torr of argon gas was filled, it took 10 seconds or more to start the lighting of the lamp, which was not practically usable. Moreover, when 200 Torr was sealed, the lamp did not light. As a result, it can be said that the appropriate amount of sealing is 50 to 150 Torr.

FIG. 5 shows the relationship between the amount of mercury iodide enclosed and the life of the lamp in an electrodeless discharge lamp as a metal halide lamp containing iron. The size and shape of the lamp, the amount of mercury and argon gas enclosed, and the definition of the life are the same as in FIG. From FIG. 5, the enclosed amount of mercury iodide was 3.0 × 10 ⁻⁸ per 1 cc of the internal volume of the lamp.
A lamp life of 1000 hours can be achieved in the range of from 2.0 × 10 ⁻⁶ g / ^mole . And, as a particularly preferable filling amount, the internal volume of the lamp is 1 cc
It can be seen that the range is 3.5 × 10 ⁻⁷ to 7.0 × 10 ⁻⁷ gram molecules. In this experiment, the amount of iron enclosed was 7.3 × 10 ⁻⁵ to 6.0 × 10 ⁻⁴ g.
/ Cc is included.

[0019]

As described above, according to the present invention, by using a lamp made by enclosing a predetermined amount of mercury iodide for each of a high pressure mercury lamp and a metal halide lamp, a desired time can be obtained. It can be turned on well.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view showing an electrodeless discharge lamp of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view showing an electrodeless discharge lamp light emitting device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a view showing an electrodeless discharge lamp light emitting device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the relationship between mercury iodide and the lighting time of the electrodeless discharge lamp of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a relationship between mercury iodide and a lighting time of the electrodeless discharge lamp of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 electrodeless discharge lamp 10 Irradiation part 11 Microwave cavity wall 12 reflective mirror 13 antennas 20 Microwave generator 21 magnetron 22 Waveguide 30 transport section 40 control unit 50 irradiation target

Continued front page    (72) Inventor Masami Togasaki               6409 Motoishikawa-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture               Ushio Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Tsurusaki Hata               1194 Sado, Bessho-cho, Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture Usioden               Machine Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kaoru Mitsuka               2-1, 1-1, Fukuoka, Kamifukuoka City, Saitama Prefecture               Japan Radio Co., Ltd., Kawagoe Works                (56) References Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-211851 (JP, A)                 JP 60-158544 (JP, A)                 JP-A-57-63768 (JP, A)                 JP 63-291351 (JP, A)                 JP-A-2-189805 (JP, A)

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. An electrodeless discharge lamp made of rod-shaped quartz glass which is ignited in a microwave electromagnetic field produced by enclosing a starting argon gas and mercury therein. Argon gas and 0.7 × 10 ⁻⁵ gram atom per 1 cc of internal volume of the lamp
7.0 × 10 ⁻⁵ gram atom mercury and 3.0 × 10
An electrodeless discharge lamp characterized by being made by encapsulating mercury iodide of ^-9 to 6.0 x 10 ^-7 gram molecules. 2. An electrodeless discharge lamp made of quartz glass in the shape of a rod, which is lighted in a microwave electromagnetic field produced by enclosing a starting argon gas, mercury, and iron therein. 50 to 150 Torr argon gas,
0.7 × 10 ⁻⁵ g atom per 1 cc of lamp volume
To 7.0 × 10 ⁻⁵ gram atom mercury and 7.3 ×
10 ⁻⁵ g to 6.0 × 10 ⁻⁴ g of iron, 3.0 ×
An electrodeless discharge lamp, which is produced by enclosing mercury iodide of 10 ⁻³ to 2.0 × 10 ⁻⁶ gram molecule. 3. An electrodeless discharge lamp made of rod-shaped quartz glass, a cavity wall forming a microwave cavity in which the electrodeless discharge lamp is arranged, and ultraviolet rays generated from the electrodeless discharge lamp are irradiated with an object to be irradiated. A reflecting mirror for reflecting in a direction, a microwave generating means, a waveguide for transmitting the microwave generated by the microwave generating means, a microwave in the waveguide passing through the cavity wall and the reflecting mirror, An electrodeless discharge lamp light-emitting device, comprising: an antenna coupled to an electrodeless discharge lamp, wherein the electrodeless discharge lamp internally has an argon gas of 50 to 150 Torr,
0.7 × 10 ⁻⁵ g atom per 1 cc of lamp volume
To 7.0 × 10 ⁻⁵ gram atom mercury and 3.0 ×
An electrodeless discharge lamp light emitting device, characterized by being made by encapsulating ^10-9 to 6.0 × 10 ^-7 gram molecules of mercury iodide. 4. An electrodeless discharge lamp made of rod-shaped quartz glass, a cavity wall constituting a microwave cavity in which the electrodeless discharge lamp is arranged, and ultraviolet rays generated from the electrodeless discharge lamp to be irradiated. A reflecting mirror for reflecting in a direction, a microwave generating means, a waveguide for transmitting the microwave generated by the microwave generating means, a microwave in the waveguide passing through the cavity wall and the reflecting mirror, An electrodeless discharge lamp light-emitting device, comprising: an antenna coupled to an electrodeless discharge lamp, wherein the electrodeless discharge lamp internally has an argon gas of 50 to 150 Torr,
0.7 × 10 ⁻⁵ g atom per 1 cc of lamp volume
To 7.0 × 10 ⁻⁵ gram atom mercury and 7.3 ×
10 ⁻⁵ g to 6.0 × 10 ⁻⁴ g of iron, 3.0 ×
An electrodeless discharge lamp light-emitting device, characterized by being made by encapsulating 10 ⁻³ to 2.0 × 10 ⁻⁶ gram molecule of mercury iodide.