US3829982A

US3829982A - Ink curing and drying apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3829982A
Application number: US00263250A
Authority: US
Inventors: R Pray; R Foster
Original assignee: Thermogenics of New York Inc
Current assignee: HANTSCHO COMMERICAL PRODUCTS Inc; Thermogenics of New York Inc
Priority date: 1972-06-15
Filing date: 1972-06-15
Publication date: 1974-08-20
Anticipated expiration: 1991-08-20

Abstract

Curing and drying apparatus for printing inks which includes a housing having openings for passing a printed web therethrough and lamp assemblies each including a shell, a reflector, and an ultraviolet light lamp or radiator for focusing radiation onto said web. Blowers are coupled to said housing for feeding air about the back side of said reflectors and about the sockets for the lamps to remove excess heat and means are provided for protecting said lamps from said cooling air to prevent lowering the temperature and therefor the efficiencly of the lamps. The lamp assemblies are rotatable to and from an operating position and when out of the operating position the radiation is directed into cooled radiation absorbing chambers which permit the lamps to remain energized without damaging the web should movement of the latter be temporarily stopped because of the need for stopping the associated printing press.

Description

0 United States Patent 1191 Pray et al. Aug. 20, 1974 INK CURING AND DRYING APPARATUS 3,733,709 5/1973 Bassemir et a] 34/1 Inventors: Robert w. y East po 3,745,307 7/1973 Peek et a1. 34/4 N.Y.; Ralph L. Foster, Darien, FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Conn- 1,454,269 1/1969 Germany 219/348 619,281 5/1961 Canada [73] Asslgnee. t il %gr i il of New York 158,607 4/1957 Sweden 219/348 [22] Filed: June 15, 1972 Primary Examiner.lohn J. Camby [21] AppL NO: 263,250 Assistant Examiner-Paul Devinsky 57 ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl 34/4, 34/41, 34/1,

219/348 34/49 Curmg and drying apparatus for prmtmg mks which 51 I Cl mcludes a housing having openings for passing a nt. F26b 3/30 [58] Field of Search I 34/4 1 39 41 43 44 printed web therethrough and lamp assemblles each 34/48 3 4 including a shell, a reflector, and an ultraviolet light lamp or radiator for focusing radiation onto said web. Blowers are con led to said housin for feedin air [56] References Cited P g g about the back s1de of said reflectors and about the UNITED STATES PATENTS sockets for the lamps to remove excess heat and 2,420,399 5/1947 New 34/48 means are provided for protecting said lamps from 2,656,449 4/1952 Elgar 219/348 Said Cooling air to prevent lowering the temperature and therefor the efficiencly ofthe lamps. The lamp as- 286l354 H958 i 34/68 semblies are rotatable to and from an operating posi- 3O52037 9/1962 Misveuamjlm tion and when out of the operating position the radia- 3:141:089 7/1964 Hultgreen 219/352 tion is directed into cooled radiation absorbing cham- 3,321,197 5/1967 Parslow 34 41 bers which p it t lamps to r main energized with- 3,406,954 10/1968 Fannon, Jr 34/48 out damaging the web should movement of the latter 3,452,181 6/1969 Stryjewski 219/388 be temporarily stopped because of the need for stop- 3,637,983 1/1972 Nelson 1 A 34/49 the associated printing press 3,643,342 2/1972 Tyson et al. 1 34/48 3,697,722 10/1972 Furuichi et a1. 219/388 12 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures CON70L SIGNAL 0 4/ 421 if flfCIP/(ALLY OPERATED 56, 5.

VALVE x, 45 VENT 77%? mumps J7 NURM/IL vozmgs LOW vow/ 5 eat/-19 fATENTfmuszo Ian mil 3 Qk ni Rs wixiw PATENTEDAUBZO lam SEEIZN3 INK CURING AND DRYING APPARATUS This invention relates to ink drying and curing apparatus for printing presses and more specifically to a novel and improved ultraviolet ink drying system useful among other things for offset presses of both single color and multi-color types.

With the development of printing inks and other coatings which may be rapidly cured and dried by relatively high intensity ultraviolet radiation, apparatus for the production of high intensity ultraviolet radiation has been suggested utilizing, among other devices, high intensity mercury lamps. While mercury lamps which utilize a high intensity are to evaporate mercury within a sealed envelope have been found most effective for generating ultraviolet light, they present certain problems, particularly when used in connection with printing presses. One of the basic difficulties is encountered in stopping a press since the ultraviolet radiation will immediately burn the web which is normally paper or other similar material that is readily damaged by excessive radiation. While the use of shutters and partitions have been suggested, they have not been found particularly effective to prevent damage to the printed web since the lamps must continue to be energized at least to 50 percent of their intensity if the web is to be halted only momentarily. This is necessary since to minutes are required to restart a lamp once the arc has been extinguished. Furthermore, shutters and partitions will absorb substantial energy so that the time during which the shutters would be effective before reradiating heat of sufficient magnitude to burn the printed web is materially limited.

This invention overcomes the difficulties heretofore encountered and provides a novel and improved device particularly adaptable for use in rapidly curing and drying printing inks and wherein the printed web may be stopped for an indefinite period while the ultraviolet lamps are energized and without adversely affecting the lamps or web in any way.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of novel and improved curing and drying apparatus for continuously moving printed and coated webs embodying means for irradiating the web and for rapidly terminating the irradiation should the web be stopped without deenergizing the source of radiation.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of novel and improved irradiating apparatus utilizing high intensity lamps for curing and drying printed and coated surfaces and which includes energy absorbing chambers for receiving and dissipating radiant energy of said lamps when it is desired to terminate irradiation of the printed or coated surfaces without deenergizing the lamps.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of novel and improved ink drying and curing apparatus embodying high intensity ultraviolet lamps and reflectors and air cooling means for cooling both the reflectors and the electrical connectors for the lamps without permitting circulation of air over the lamp envelopes.

A still further object of the invention resides in the provision of a novel and improved ultraviolet radiator for drying and curing printing inks and coatings.

The objects of the invention are attained by the provision of a housing having elongated cylindrical tubes or shells rotatably disposed therein. A longitudinal portion of each tube is open to receive a reflector and an ultraviolet energy source and the housing has openings to permit a web to be treated to pass therethrough. The cylindrical tubes are rotatable from one position to direct radiation onto the web and to another position wherein the open portion of each tube is closed by an energy absorbing chamber. The housing and tubes have openings for the circulation of air through the housing, through the tubes and about the reflectors, and about the energy absorbing chambers to cool the housing, tubes, chambers and lamp terminals while, at the same time, permitting the energy sources to remain at a normal operating temperature.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will be more clearly understood from the following description and accompanying drawings forming part of this application.

In the Drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view with parts broken away of one embodiment of drying and curing apparatus in accordance with the invention,

FIGS. 2 and 3 are cross-sectional views of FIG. 1 taken along the

lines

22 and 33 thereof,

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 with the cylindrical tubes or shells rotated away from the web being treated,

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 taken along the line 55 thereof and with parts broken away, and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 5 taken along the line 6-6 thereof.

Referring now to the drawings, the drying apparatus is enclosed within a housing generally denoted by the numeral 10 having a web inlet 11 and a web outlet 12. The web is denoted by the numeral 13 and moves vertically through the housing. As will become apparent, the housing 10 may be positioned so that the web traverses the housing horizontally or at any angle of inclination.

In the instant embodiment of the invention, four ultraviolet lamp assemblies generally denoted by the

numerals

14, 15, 16 and 17 are utilized for simultaneously curing ink on each side of the web though it is evident that any desired number of lamps on one or both sides may be employed depending on the speed of the web and whether one or both sides are to be treated.

The lamp assemblies 14 through 17 are supported by transverse partitions l8 and 19 disposed within the housing 10 and spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the width of the web. The

partitions

18 and 19 each include four openings, 21 through 25 in partition 18 and 21' through 25 in partition 19, for rotatably supporting the lamp assemblies on each side of the web 13. More specifically, the lamp assemblies which are generally of tubular configuration are arranged with the

assemblies

14 and 15 on the left side of the web 13 as viewed in FIGS. 3 and 4, while the assemblies 16 and 17 are on the right side of the web and displaced upwardly therefrom so that radiation from two opposing lamp assemblies is not directed simultaneously on the same portion of the web. Inasmuch as the four lamp assemblies are identical in structure and mounted in a similar manner, only one lamp assembly will be described.

The lamp assembly 14 includes a tubular shell 26 which extends through the openings 21 and 21' in the partitions l8 and 19 respectively. The shell is rotatably sealed in the openings by light-

tight rings

27 and 28 of a suitable high temperature plastic or metal. As will be described, each lamp assembly is rotatable through an angle of 90 and, accordingly, suitable means are provided to limit rotation as well as longitudinal displacement. The shell 26 has a longitudinal opening 29 of substantial arcuate width and a length slightly greater than the width of the web. A curved reflector 30 of suitable hypobolic or other curvature is disposed within the shell 26 and with the edges of the reflector coincident with the edges of the longitudinal opening 29. The ends of the reflector are closed by

annular plates

31 and 32 having openings 31 and 32' respectively communicating with the back side of the reflector.

The ends of the shell 26 are closed by

plates

33 and 34 each of which carry

electrical sockets

35 and 36 respectively for the ultraviolet radiation lamp 37. The sockets are positioned in such a manner that the lamp 37 will be disposed in proper relationship to the reflector in order to focus the radiation on the web with a beam width at the point of impingement preferably being of the order of one quarter inch. The shell is further provided with an elongated opening 38 and the ends of the shells which extend through the partitions l8 and 19 are provided with

openings

39 and 40. The

plates

33 and 34 on the ends of the shells 26 are removably secured in position to facilitate. servicing and maintenance.

Because of the high intensity radiation emitted by the lamps 37 and the concentration of the radiation on an exceedingly narrow strip across the web, the web will be quickly burned should the press speed be materially decreased or the press be stopped for any reason whatsoever. While the lamps can be deenergized, even momentary deenergization would require at least five to ten minutes for restarting with the result that substantial press-time would be lost. To avoid deenergization of the lamps 37 should the press speed be reduced, a suitable control signal is applied to the terminal 41 which is fed to an electrically operated valve 42 and to switching means 43. The switching means 43 is supplied via conductors 44 with a normal operating voltage for the lamps 37 and a low operating voltage, and the conductors 45 are connected to the lamps 37. The actual electrical connections have been omitted in order to avoid unnecessary complication of the drawings. When the press speed is reduced to approximately 25 percent of its normal speed, switching means 43 is actuated to switch the lamps 37 to the low voltage source which functions to operate the lamps at approximately one-half of the normal power output. Under these conditions, since the web 13 continues to move throughthe dryer 10, the intensity of the radiation from the lamps 37 is insufficient to damage the web but will effect curing of the ink on the printed web.

If the printing press is completely stopped or its speed falls below 25 percent of its normal speed, the control signal 41 will operate the electrically operated valve 42 and thereby actuate a pneumatically operated control 46 which effects rotation of the shells 26 from the positions shown in FIG. 3 to the positions shown in FIG. 4 so that the radiation emitted by the lamps 37 is directed into energy absorbing chambers 47. The pneumatically operated device 46 is carried by the partition 18 and has a shaft 48 pivoted at 49 to a piston disposed within the cylinder 50 and the lower end of the shaft 49 slidably engages a cooperating opening in a fixed support 51 also carried by the partition 18. The end plates 33 of the shells 26 each carry a stud 52 fixedly secured thereto. Each stud 52 engages a bracket or dog 53 fixed to the shaft 48 and having a slot 54 slidably engaging pin 52. With the piston in the retracted position as shown in FIG. 2, the reflectors in the shells are directed toward the web 13 as shown in FIG. 3. When air pressure is applied to the upper conduit 55 of the pneumatic device 46 and the lower conduit 56 is vented to the air by reason of the operation of the electrically operated valve 42, the shaft 48 will move downwardly to rotate the shells 26 to the position shown in FIG. 4. At the same time, the control 43 reduces the intensity of the lamps 37 to approximately 50 percent of their normal operating power. Immediately upon restarting the press and its attainment of a speed in excess of 25 percent of its normal speed, the shells 26 are rotated to the position shown in FIG. 3 and normal voltage is applied to the lamps.

The energy absorbing chambers 47 are generally identical in structure and extend between and are supported by the

partitions

18 and 19. Each chamber includes a bottom wall 57 and upwardly extending

side walls

58 and 59. The upper edges of the

side walls

58 and 59 are positioned as close as possible to the associated shell 26 so that the light and air leakage from the chambers 47 will be maintained at a minimum. To further minimize the leakage of air from those portions of the housing 10 surrounding the lamp assemblies 14 through 17 into the space between the lamp assemblies and the web, each leg 59 carries an elongated strip of flexible material 60 which rides against the outer surface of the associated shell 26. In addition, the legs 58 of the energy absorbing chambers 47 associated with the

lamp assemblies

14 and 16 each carry a downwardly and outwardly extending bracket 61, each of which carries a piece of flexible material 62 on the outer end thereof which bears against the surface of the underlying lamp assemblies 15 and 17, as the case may be. The leg 58 of the energy absorbing chamber associated with the lamp assembly 15 has a downwardly extending .wall 63 and the energy absorbing chamber 47 associated with the lamp assembly 17 has a similar wall 64 extending downwardly from the leg 58. The

walls

63 and 64 are in closely spaced relationship and provide just sufficient clearance for the web 13 so that the latter will not touch the

partitions

63 and 64 during normal operation of the associated press. The lower edges of the

walls

63 and 64 are coincident with an elongated opening 65 in the bottom end of the housing 10 through which the web 13 enters the housing.

Light and air leakage above the lamp assemblies is prevented by walls or baffles 66, 67, 68 and 69. The baffle 66 is supported between the partitions l8 and 19 and has a flexible strip 70 extending throughout its length and bearing against the shell 26 of the lamp assembly 14. A wall or baffle 68 is hinged at 71 to the upper edge of the wall 66 and is movable from an operating position as shown in FIG. 3 to an open position as shown in FIG. 4. The open and closed positions are controlled by a spring 72. Similarly, the wall or baffle 67 also extends between the partitions l8 and 19 and has a flexible member 73 bearing against the outer surface of the shell 26 forming part of the lamp assembly 16. The wall or baffle 69 is pivoted at 74 to the upper edge of the wall 67 and is movable from an operating position as shown in FIG. 3 to an open position as shown in FIG. 4 under the control of a spring 75. The upper ends of the baffles 68 and 69 are curved inwardly at 68' and 69' respectively to form an exceedingly narrow gap through which the web 13 may emerge from the housing 10. This procedure greatly minimizes light leakage from the housing and it is important that such leakage be minimized because the radiation is high tensity ultraviolet light which has serious adverse effects on the human eye. To facilitate threading of the web through the housing however, the baffles 68 and 69 can be moved to the open position shown in FIG. 4.

Inasmuch as substantial heat is developed within the housing 10, a novel and improved system is provided for both removing the heat from the housing and for cooling the reflectors 30. The cooling system includes a pair of centrifugal or other suitable motor operated blowers 76 and 76'. The blowers are secured to the rear wall 77 of the housing 10 and are coupled by

conduits

78 and 79 to

openings

80 and 81 so that air from the blowers 76 and 76' is discharged into the spaces surrounding the lamp assemblies and bounded by the.

partitions

18 and 19. Exhaust conduit 82 as shown in FIG. 1 is also secured to an aligned with a cooperating'opening in the rear wall 77 of the housing 10. The conduit 82 therefore communicates with the space 84 between the housing end wall 77 and the partition 18. Thespace 84 and the space 85 in the forward end of the housing between the partition 19 and the housing front wall 86 are coupled by

conduits

87 and 88 extending between and supported by

partitions

18 and 19.

With the foregoing arrangement, air from the

blowers

76 and 76 is fed through the

conduits

78 and 79 into the spaces between the partitions l8 and 19 and the outer sides of the lamp assemblies 14 and on one side of the web 13 and the outer sides of the lamp assemblies l6 and 17 on the other side of the web 13. In the case of the

lamp assemblies

14 and 15, the air enters the slots or openings 38 as shown in FIG. 1 and travels in both directions over the back sides of the reflectors 30. Part of the air passes through the openings 31' in the plates 31 and is discharged through openings 39 and into the chamber 84. The remainder of the air flows through openings 32' in the plates 32 and is discharged through openings 40 into the chamber 85. The same air flow occurs in connection with the lamp assemblies 16 and 17. The air flowing into chamber 85 passes through

conduits

87 and 88 into chamber 84 and all of the air in chamber 84 is exhausted through the conduit 82.

As pointed out above, it is important that the air does not contact and cool the envelopes of the lamps 37. This is accomplished by the structure previously described and shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The air is directed through the

openings

31 and 32 in

plates

31 and 32 for the purpose of cooling the narrow neck portions 37 of the lamps 37 as well as the

sockets

35 and 36 as may be observed more clearly in FIG. 5. Inasmuch as electrical connectors are secured to the neck portions 37, the openings 90 and 91 in the plates 31 and 32- must have a diameter larger than the electrical connectors which engage the

sockets

35 and 36. To prevent air from flowing about the lamps 37, the opening 90 and 91 are closed by split rings 93 of a high temperature insulating material held in position by suitable brackets 94. In this way effective cooling of the lamp necks 37 and the

sockets

35 and 36 is accomplished and the cooling air cannot flow over and about the lamps 37 which would adversely affect the operation thereof.

The split rings 93 as well as the sealing strips 60, 62, and 73 are preferably formed of a flexible high temperature material. One such material that has been found effective for this purpose is asbestos impregnated with a tetrafluoroethylene resin generally known in the trade as Teflon. Other suitable materials may of course be employed provided however that they will enable the attainment of a good air seal.

While only one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it is understood that alterations, modifications and changes may be made without departing from the true scope and spirit thereof as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. Ink curing apparatus comprising a housing having openings for feeding a printed web therethrough, at least one lamp assembly within said housing, said lamp assembly including a reflector, a high intensity ultraviolet light radiating lamp, means rotatably supporting said assembly within said housing for moving said reflector from one position wherein said ultraviolet radiation is directed toward said web to another position wherein said radiation is directed away from said web, an energy absorbing chamber adjoining said lamp assembly and receiving said radiation when said assembly is in said other position, air circulating means for circu lating air about said reflector and said chamber and means shielding said light radiating lamp from said circulated air in both of said positions.

2. Ink curing apparatus according to claim I wherein said lamp assembly includes an elongated cylindrical shell having an elongated opening extending longitudinally thereof, means supporting said reflector and lamp within said shell, said reflector being positioned to direct said radiation outwardly through said opening, said shell including a second opening opposite the first said opening and end openings and said air circulating means circulating air through said second opening, over the back side of said reflector and discharging it through said end openings.

3. Ink curing apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said lamp has an elongated cylindrical envelope terminating at its ends in neck portions of reduced diameter and electrical connectors carried by said neck portions, said supporting means includes transverse plates adjoining the ends of the first said opening to support and close the ends of said reflector, said plates including openings for receiving the neck portions of said envelope, said plates being further arranged to permit the flow of air entering the first said opening to pass beyond said plates for discharge through said end openings and means carried by said plates and sealing the openings about said neck portions.

4. Ink curing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said energy absorbing chamber comprises an elongated U-shaped channel having legs extending toward said lamp assembly, the width of said channel being at least equal to the width of said reflector, and said reflector when in said other position being aligned with said U- shaped channel.

5. Ink curing apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said housing includes a pair of partitions disposed transversely of said web and defining end chambers, at least one lamp assembly disposed on at least one side of said web and rotatably carried by said partitions, said lamp assembly including an elongated shell extending through said partitions and having an elongated opening extending between said partitions to receive said reflector, plates within said shell and adjoining the ends of said reflectors, said plates each having a central opening and an offset opening to the rear of said reflector, said shell having a second opening disposed between said partitions and opposite the first said opening and said channel extends between said partitions.

6. lnk curing apparatus according to claim wherein said housing includes at least one conduit extending between said partitions and communicating with said end chambers, said blowers communicate with and force air into the space between said partitions and one of said end chambers includes air venting means.

7. lnk curing apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said lamps are cylindrical and have narrowed neck portions with electric terminals extending from the ends thereof, said neck portions extending through the central openings in said plates, sockets carried by the ends of said shell for engaging said electric terminals and means sealing said central openings of said plates about said neck portions.

8. lnk curing apparatus according to claim 1 including means responsive to the speed of said printed web through said housing to reduce the voltage on said lamp should the speed fall to percent of the normal speed and means responsive to termination of the movement of said web to rotate said lamp assembly from said one position to said other position.

9. Ink curing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said lamp has an elongated cylindrical envelope terminating at its end in neck portions and electrical connectors carried by said neck portions, a shell surrounding the back of said reflector and transverse plates within said shell and adjoining the ends of said reflector to close the ends thereof, said plates including openings for receiving the neck portions of said envelope, said plates being further arranged to permit the flow of air entering the first said opening to pass beyond said plates for discharge through said end openings and means carried by said plates and sealing the openings about said neck portions.

10. Ink curing apparatus comprising a housing having openings for feeding a printed web therethrough, at least two lamp assemblies within said housing and disposed on opposite sides of said web each lamp assembly including a reflector, a high intensity ultraviolet light radiating lamp, means rotatably supporting said assembly within said housing for moving said reflector from one position wherein said ultraviolet radiation is directed toward said web to another position wherein said radiation is directed away from said web, an energy absorbing chamber adjoining said lamp assembly and receiving said radiation when said assembly is in said other position, air circulating means for circulating air about said reflector and said chamber and means shielding said light radiating lamp from said circulated air in both of said positions, said energy absorbing chamber comprising an elongated U-shaped channel having legs extending toward said lamp assembly, the width of said channel being at least equal to the width of said reflector, and said reflector when in said other position being aligned with said U-shaped channel, said housing further including a pair of partitions on each side of said web and disposed perpendicular to and transversely of said web to define end chambers, said partitions rotatably carrying said lamp assemblies, each of said lamp assemblies further including an elongated shell extending through said partitions and having an elongated opening extending between said partitions to receive said reflector, plates within said shell and adjoining the ends of said reflectors, said plates each having a central opening and an offset opening to the rear of said reflector, said shell having a second opening disposed between said partitions and opposite the first said opening and said channel extends between said partitions, air and light baffles extending between said partitions and closing the areas between each shell and the housing wall and between each energy absorbing chamber and the housing wall to completely shield the web passing through the housing and the lamps from said cooling air.

11. Ink curing apparatus according to claim 10 wherein at least two lamp assemblies each with an associated energy absorbing chamber are disposed on each side of said web and along the length of the web, the energy absorbing chambers being positioned at relative to the reflectors when the latter are in said one position, air shielding means between each energy absorbing chamber and the adjoining shell and said baffles extend from the outermost shells and energy absorbing chambers to the adjoining housing walls.

12. Ink curing apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said means for moving said lamp assemblies from said one position to said other position includes a slidably mounted rod, couplings between each lamp assembly and said rod and means for reciprocating said rod to rotate said lamp assemblies through an angle of approximately 90.

Claims

1. Ink curing apparatus comprising a housing having openings for feeding a printed web therethrough, at least one lamp assembly within said housing, said lamp assembly including a reflector, a high intensity ultraviolet light radiating lamp, means rotatably supporting said assembly within said housing for moving said reflector from one position wherein said ultraviolet radiation is directed toward said web to another position wherein said radiation is directed away from said web, an energy absorbing chamber adjoining said lamp assembly and receiving said radiation when said assembly is in said other position, air circulating means for circulating air about said reflector and said chamber and means shielding said light radiating lamp from said circulated air in both of said positions.

2. Ink curing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said lamp assembly includes an elongated cylindrical shell having an elongated opening extending longitudinally thereof, means supporting said reflector and lamp within said shell, said reflector being positioned to direct said radiation outwardly through said opening, said shell including a second opening opposite the first said opening and end openings and said air circulating means circulating air through said second opening, over the back side of said reflector and discharging it through said end openings.

4. Ink curing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said energy absorbing chamber comprises an elongated U-shaped channel having legs extending toward said lamp assembly, the width of said channel being at least equal to the width of said reflector, and said reflector when in said other position being aligned with said U-shaped channel.

6. Ink curing apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said housing includes at least one conduit extending between said partitions and communicating with said end chambers, said blowers communicate with and force air into the space between said partitions and one of said end chambers includes air venting means.

7. Ink curing apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said lamps are cylindrical and have narrowed neck portions with electric terminals extending from the ends thereof, said neck portions extending through the central openings in said plates, sockets carried by the ends of said shell for engaging said electric terminals aNd means sealing said central openings of said plates about said neck portions.

8. Ink curing apparatus according to claim 1 including means responsive to the speed of said printed web through said housing to reduce the voltage on said lamp should the speed fall to 25 percent of the normal speed and means responsive to termination of the movement of said web to rotate said lamp assembly from said one position to said other position.

11. Ink curing apparatus according to claim 10 wherein at least two lamp assemblies each with an associated energy absorbing chamber are disposed on each side of said web and along the length of the web, the energy absorbing chambers being positioned at 90* relative to the reflectors when the latter are in said one position, air shielding means between each energy absorbing chamber and the adjoining shell and said baffles extend from the outermost shells and energy absorbing chambers to the adjoining housing walls.

12. Ink curing apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said means for moving said lamp assemblies from said one position to said other position includes a slidably mounted rod, couplings between each lamp assembly and said rod and means for reciprocating said rod to rotate said lamp assemblies through an angle of approximately 90*.