Apparatus for electron curing of resin coated webs

Claim 2

Apparatus for forming coated webs comprising means to supply a web of material, means for coating resin onto said backing material, a source of high energy electron radiation, means to pass said web past said source of electron radiation and a means to gather said web.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means to electrostatically deposit grain onto said web.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means to pass said web past said electron source further comprises alternative paths for passing the web such that either side may be exposed directly to the electron radiation.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said means to pass said web allow transport without contacting the uncured resin.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said source of electron radiation is immediately accessible for cleaning after power is shut off.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said web material is selected from the group consisting of paper, non-woven fabric, natural fiber cloth and artificial fiber cloth.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said web is in an inerting anamber during movement past said source of electron radiation.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said source of high energy radiation is housed in a radiation absorbing vault.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said vault comprises at least two openings for a web entering and exiting from the chamber and pathways for said web between said openings, said source of a beam of high energy electron radiation, an electron absorbing chamber housing said source of high energy radiation, a shielded service and entry area into said vault for access to said source of high energy radiation and to the means for carrying a web, a target area enclosure for service access to the inerting chamber and means for carrying the web through the electron beam target area with the proviso that said target area enclosure and said service and entry areas are large enough for a person to easily enter, that said chamber may be accessed for adjustment by movable panels from said service area and that the vault allows less than .25 millirems per hour radiation to escape during operation.

Claim 11

A vault for treatment of resin coated web materials comprising, a vault having openings for a web entering and exiting from the chamber and pathways for said web between said openings, a source of a beam of high energy electron radiation, an electron absorbing chamber housing said source of high energy radiation, a shielded service and entry area into said vault for access to said source of high energy radiation and to the means for carrying a web, a target area enclosure for service access to the inerting chamber and means for carrying the web through the electron beam target area with the proviso that said target area enclosure and said service and entry areas are large enough for a person to enter, that said chamber may be accessed for adjustment by movable panels from said service area and that the vault allows less than .25 millirems per hour radiation to escape during operation.'

Claim 12

A vault for treatment of resin coated web materials comprising, a vault having openings for a web entering and exiting from the chamber and pathways for said web between said openings, a source of a beam of high energy electron radiation, an electron absorbing chamber housing said source of high energy radiation, a shielded service and entry area into said vault for access to said source of high energy radiation and to the means for carrying a web, a target area enclosure for service access to the inerting chamber and means for carrying the web through the electron beam target area with the proviso that said target area enclosure and said service and entry areas are large enough for a person to enter, that said chamber may be accessed for adjustment by movable panels from said service area and that the vault allows less than .25 millirems per hour radiation to escape during operation.'

Claim 13

A vault for a source of high energy electron radiation comprising a generating device enclosure containing an electron beam generating device, a target area containing the target for said electron beam device and an access room providing shielded access to said box and to said generating device.

Claim 14

A vault for a source of high energy electron radiation comprising a generating device enclosure containing an electron beam generating device, a target area containing the target for said electron beam device and an access room providing shielded access to said box and to said generating device.

Claim 15

The vault of claim 11, wherein said vault emits less than .25 millirems per hour radiation during operation.

Claim 16

The vault of claim 11, further comprising means for drawing a web carrying radiation curable resin into said chamber, past said electron beam device to cure said resin and to withdraw said web with cured resin from the chamber.

Claim 17

The vault of claim 13, further comprising alternative means that allow the web to be drawn past said electron beam device for curing from the uncured resin side of said web or the back side of said web.

Claim 18

The vault of claim 11, wherein the walls and ceiling of said vault comprise steel.

Claim 19

The vault of claim 15, wherein said walls and said ceiling further comprise lead.

Claim 20

A radiation vault enclosure comprising a radiation resistant structure, means for a web of material to enter said structure, means to carry said web past a source of electron radiation in said structure, means for said web to leave said structure and access means for a person to enter said radiation resistant structure for cleaning of the said means to .carry said web.

Claim 21

A radiation vault enclosure comprising a radiation resistant structure, means for a web of material to enter said structure, means to carry said web past a source of electron radiation in said structure, means for said web to leave said structure and access means for a person to enter said radiation resistant structure for cleaning of the said means to .carry said web.

Claim 22

The radiation enclosure of claim 17, wherein said structure is a large enough enclosure that the web may be strung in said structure by a person inside the structure.

Claim 23

The radiation enclosure of claim 17 wherein the entrance and exit holes for the web are about 4 inches high.

Claim 24

The radiation enclosure of claim 19 wherein said enclosure interior is divided into at least two interior chambers and wherein one of said interior chambers shields said source of electron beam radiation in radiation-resistant material.

Claim 25

The radiation enclosure of claim 18 wherein said web may be carried into and through its normal path in the structure while said source of radiation is disconnected and while a person in said structure makes adjustments to the means that carry the web in the structure.

Claim 26

The radiation vault enclosure of claim 17 wherein said enclosure gives off less than .25 millirems per hour of radiation.

Claim 27

The enclosure of claim 17 wherein said radiation resistant structure has walls and ceiling comprised of lead and steel.

Claim 28

The enclosure of claim 17 wherein openings for said web to enter said structure and to leave from said structure are several inches high.

Claim 29

The enclosure of claim 20 wherein one interior chamber encloses the target area for the electron beam source.

Claim 30

The enclosure of claim 20 wherein one interior chamber provides service access to the means carrying said web entering and leaving said enclosure.

Claim 31

The enclosure of claim 17 wherein said means to carry said web past said source of electron beam radiation comprises alternative means to form paths for passing said web such that either side may be exposed directly to the electron radiation.

Claim 32

The enclosure of claim 17 wherein said means for web to enter said structure and said means for said web to leave said structure are at least about eight feet from an electron beam source of electron radiation.