Curing system for photohardenable materials

摘要

A curing system for a photohardenable material is disclosed having an electrically powered light source and a variable power supply electrically connected to the light source. During calibration, a photocell determines the power output of the light source and produces an output signal representative thereof. A control circuit then controls the illumination of the light source by the power supply. This control circuit includes a comparator which compares the power output signal from the photocell with a target value and then varies or increases the power from the power supply to the light source up to a maximum power output whenever the power output signal from the photocell is less than the target value. Following calibration, the control circuit also activates the power supply for a time period sufficient to obtain a substantially constant energy output from the light source per light activation. In the event that the power output signal is less than the target value and also that the power supply is at its maximum power output, the control circuit increases the duration of illumination of the light source beyond a preset time period by an amount sufficient to obtain a substantially constant energy output from the light source per activation.