Abstract

A curing unit and method for curing ink and the like on a substrate wherein the curing unit comprises a dual-chambered cover assembly in which is disposed a reflector assembly containing a curing lamp, and means for exhausting air from the chambers of the cover. The reflector assembly includes primary and secondary reflectors that reflect substantially all the radiation emitted along the upper portion of the lamp downward onto the substrate. The lamp is supported within the reflector assembly on upwardly opening supports that do not restrict the expansion or contraction of the lamp, and may be adjusted to adjust the focus of the lamp. The cover assembly includes inner and outer covers that create an outer cooling chamber therebetween, and an inner cooling chamber between the inner cooling chamber and the reflector assembly. The ends of the cover assembly form ducts which communicate with the means for exhausting air from the chambers of the cover. The exhaust means draws external cooling air into the outer cooling chamber through openings in the outer cover and exhausts the air to cool the unit. The exhaust means also exhausts heated air containing ozone, which rises from a curing chamber within the reflector assembly through a gap along an upper portion of the reflector assembly, from the inner cooling chamber to further cool the unit and the curing chamber in particular.