APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING APPROXIMATELY COLLIMATED LIGHT AND METHOD OF CURING A PHOTOPOLYMERISABLE LAYER USING THE APPARATUS

摘要

Apparatus for providing approximately collimated light comprises an extended light source such as one or more strip lights (12) and an open celled honeycomb panel structure (14) arranged adjacent the light source. The honeycomb panel (14) provides a plurality of parallel passages extending through the structure through which light rays approximately parallel with these passages can pass whilst light rays more acutely inlined to these passages are intercepted by the walls of these cells. Thus light from the light source (12) passing through the panel (14) emerges substantially in a beam generally parallel with said passages. The apparatus may also include a lens system (A, B).