Infrared Application of the Month:
Drying Inks for High Speed Printing
A color offset printing operation required process heat for the ink drying component of their process. Their near-infrared (NIR) system did the job, but the drying time required slowed the process, keeping the operation form taking full advantage of new high-speed printing head. They removed the NIR heaters and replaced them with a pair of carbon infrared heaters from Heraeus Noblelight. This retrofit allowed the plant to increase sheet feed speed to match print speeds while maintaining the rigorous quality standards for which the company is known.
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Infrared Application of the Month:
Drying Paper Tissues
Printing of patterns on disposable paper tissues enhances the product aesthetics. But this print process presents challenges. Specifically, the water-based inks must be dried completely prior to packing of the tissues. Slow drying time creates process bottlenecks. After exploring several options, a tissue manufacturer chose a hybrid carbon/shortwave infrared heater from Heraeus Noblelight. This heater pairs a mediumwave carbon lamp with a shortwave heater, encasing both in quartz. The hybrid heater allows the application of deep, penetrating heat that is distributed evenly to all layers of the product. The result is higher throughput and energy savings.
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Tech Center Spotlight: Optical Pyrometers
For temperature measurement and closed loop control this small sized optical non-contact temperature sensor is perfect for most industrial applications. Excellent optical resolution, high ambient operating temperature and accurate control are only a few of the outstanding features of this small footprint device.
Features
- Precise noncontact temperature measurement from -40 to 900°C
- Small infrared sensor with 22:1 optical resolution
- Rugged and usable up to 180°C ambient temperature without cooling
- Separate electronics with easy accessible programming keys and LCD backlit display
- Selectable analog output: 0/4-20mA, 0-5V, 0-10V, thermocouple type K or J
- standard air purge jacket keeps lens clean
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Special Designs:
MHS Infrared Modules
Unique sizes and shapes such as curved heated areas or systems requiring a framing for support are typical of the MHS series of heating systems. Completely custom designed for each application, the MHS series offers three-dimensional heating ability and works well with applications that involve additional equipment such as internal conveyor systems. Framing typically from profiled aluminum, with the internal heated areas constructed from high temperature aluminized steel.
Learn more about MHS Infrared Modules from Heraeus Noblelight.
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Technical Learning: Introduction to IR Technology, Part 2
History of infrared process heating
Electric infrared process heating is not a new technique. It has been in use -- in one form or another -- for over half a century. But only in recent years have a wide choice of radiant heat sources - infrared heaters - become available.
The term infrared heating as applied to industrial heating processes originated in the late 1930s when experiments took place in the use of heat radiation produced by commercial lighting bulbs fitted with special external reflectors.
The technique was very successful for curing the new synthetic resin enamels on car bodies, so it was applied to production lines. Carbon-filament lamps were used at first, and later tungsten-filament lamps with internal reflectors. In each case the lamps were rated to operate at a reduced filament temperature. As the reduction in filament temperature had the effect of moving the peak wavelength of the emitted radiation further into the infrared portion of the spectrum, it was logical to differentiate between lamp bulbs used for lighting and those used for heating by calling the latter infrared lamps and the process in which they were used infrared heating. The early lamp systems were only capable of providing power intensities in the order of 5 kW/ m2; modern designs can provide up to 105 kW/ m2, and with improved directional properties. When other types of even more powerful radiant heat source were later developed (e.g. linear quartz lamps and metal sheathed elements), the term infrared heating was retained.
This undoubtedly had some commercial value in persuading industrialists to investigate this heating process in relation to their own problems. As a result, industry has enjoyed significant savings in time and money. The concept of the infrared oven became firmly established. Infrared heaters, reflective walls, roof and floor, together with entrapped warm air were combined to optimize the heating of a wide range of products, including three-dimensional shapes. Infrared heating has proved its worth over many years, having evolved into a sophisticated industrial tool to become an acknowledged and indispensable branch of engineering practice.
Coming in the next issue: Intro to IR Technology, Part 3.
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That's it for this month's issue of Application Notes for IR Heating. Feel free to encourage your colleagues to subscribe. Just click HERE to send them an invitation to subscribe. It's quick, easy, FREE, and no-obligation.
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