Corner-cube irradiation control

Abstract

A system and method for utilizing corner-cube reflector technology for irradiation control in direct radiant heating systems is described. The system and method has application in many types of direct irradiation heating systems and is applicable to both narrowband or broadband directed irradiation heating systems. The purpose and result of the implementation is to improve the overall system efficiency through the redirection of photons back to a targeted item which is being heated or treated with the irradiation energy.

1 . A system for irradiation treating or processing a target item, the system comprising:
 an irradiation source operative to produce irradiation,   the irradiation source configured to direct irradiation toward a target item; and   an irradiation zone in which the target will be located for irradiation, the irradiation zone being at least partially defined by proximate corner-cube reflector material, the corner cube reflector material comprising an array of corner cube reflectors and being operative to reflect irradiation back to the target item, irradiation which has been, at least one of, reflected from, back-scattered from, or passed through the target item.   
     
     
         2 . The system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the system is a cooking oven. 
     
     
         3 . The system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the target item is a food or organic item. 
     
     
         4 . The system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the system is included within a bottle forming system. 
     
     
         5 . The system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the target item is a plastic bottle preform. 
     
     
         6 . The system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the corner cube reflector material includes at least one aperture through which irradiation can be directed through the corner cube reflector material toward the target item. 
     
     
         7 . The system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the corner cube reflector material comprises a portion of the enclosure of the irradiation zone. 
     
     
         8 . The system as set forth in  claim 7  wherein comprising a portion of the enclosure of the irradiation zone means more than half the enclosure of the irradiation zone. 
     
     
         9 . The system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the corner cube reflector material covers substantially all of the interior surface of the irradiation zone except that the corner cube reflector material does not cover irradiation sources. 
     
     
         10 . The system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the corner cube reflector material is located such that it is strategically located in at least some areas where stray irradiation would be likely to need redirection to the target item. 
     
     
         11 . The system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the corner cube reflector material circumferentially surrounds around a long axis of the preform but allowing for access to get preforms in and out of the irradiation chamber to facilitate high speed production. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the access consists of allowing for either a linear or arcuate travel path through the irradiation chamber. 
     
     
         13 . The system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein corner cube material surrounds the preform, forming an irradiation chamber during at least part of the time during which it is being irradiated. 
     
     
         14 . The system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the corner cube material incorporates a colored pigment such that the material appears as a colored surface to a human viewer and such that the corner cube material is functional at wavelengths of the irradiation. 
     
     
         15 . The system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the corner cube material is coated on at least one of a front surface or back surface such that the material reflects at least 85% of wavelengths above 750 nm. 
     
     
         16 . The system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the corner cube material is coated on at least one of a front or back surface and reflects at least 95% of wavelengths. 
     
     
         17 . The system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the corner cube material is operative to function above 1600 nm. 
     
     
         18 . The system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the reflective coating is at least one of aluminum, silver, gold, copper, and cadmium or alloys thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the corner cube reflector material incorporates a smooth and washable surface facing the irradiation target item. 
     
     
         20 . The system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein an acceptance angle for the corner cube array is ±45°. 
     
     
         21 . A method for irradiation treating or processing a target item, the method comprising:
 irradiating the target item using an irradiation source in an irradiation zone; and   reflecting irradiation, which is one of reflected from, scattered from, or transmitted through the target item, back to the target item using proximate corner-cube array reflector material defining at least partially the irradiation zone.   
     
     
         22 . The method as set forth in  claim 20  wherein the irradiation is for the purpose of at least one of heating, drying, curing and dehydrating the target item. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the irradiation arrangement is implemented within a cooking oven or a processing oven. 
     
     
         24 . The method as set forth in  claim 22  wherein the target item is a food or organic item. 
     
     
         25 . The method as set forth in  claim 22  wherein the method is implemented within a bottle forming system. 
     
     
         26 . The method as set forth in  claim 2  wherein the target item is a plastic bottle preform. 
     
     
         27 . The method as set forth in  claim 21  wherein target material is one of metal, glass or plastic in a manufacturing or filling process.