Electric heating – Metal heating – By arc
Reexamination Certificate
2003-02-27
2004-11-09
Heinrich, Samuel M. (Department: 1725)
Electric heating
Metal heating
By arc
C219S121610
Reexamination Certificate
active
06815637
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for marking a vehicle.
Vehicle marking is particularly important as a method of discouraging theft of vehicles. If at least one indelible mark is applied to a part of the vehicle, it will be difficult for thieves to disguise the identity of the stolen vehicle when they try to sell it. Indelible marks can be applied to secret or enclosed spaces within the structure. However, such marks have the disadvantage that they are not readily viewable by purchasers. A highly visible indelible mark is required to deter theft.
Accordingly, a practice has arisen of applying marks to an outer surface of a vehicle in a position in which they will be readily visible. These marks may be made in any suitable part of the structure, however, it is particularly preferred to make the marks in the windows of the vehicle. It is usually not possible to remove a mark from window glass. The windows of the vehicle cannot be covered up or painted over by a thief to disguise the identity of the vehicle. It is impossible remove a laser etched mark from window glass without either repolishing the entire surface or, leaving a clear indication that the glass has been tampered with. Repolishing the glass would require removal of the glass from the vehicle.
It is well known in the art to apply a mark to the window glass of a vehicle by an etching process. Typically, a stencil is used defining a unique code which allows the vehicle to be identified, an etching material being applied through the stencil to the window glass. Typically, the etching material comprises hydrogen fluoride or related materials. However, these are very dangerous materials to handle and the process is extremely difficult to automate.
A system of making marks in glass using a laser has been proposed, for example in U.S. Pat. No. 5,298,717. In this case, a carbon dioxide laser is used which generates a laser beam which will make a mark on the surface of glass. The system further includes a controller for providing signals for controlling the laser beam and a laser beam steering system comprising a pair of mirrors whose axes are orthogonal. In use, the laser beam impinges first on one mirror and then on the second mirror, the angular positions of the mirrors being altered in response to signals from the system controller to move the position of the laser beam and thereby cut a suitable pattern onto the glass. In one embodiment, the laser is suspended by a flexible mounting from a gantry which is located above a vehicle station. In another embodiment, the laser itself is mounted on the gantry, a flexible arm being provided, down which the laser beam may be directed to a marking head which contains the mirrors for deflecting the laser beam in the required pattern. The laser emitter mounted on the gantry can be displaced from front to rear of the vehicle as required by the operator.
This prior art device has a number of disadvantages. In the first place, the laser emitter requires to be very robustly constructed to prevent damage and to protect workers. It further requires extensive cooling equipment in order to allow it to operate continously for long periods. In practice, it has been found that it is impractical to mount a sufficiently well constructed laser marking equipment on the end of the arm in the manner shown in the first embodiment. The resulting structure is too bulky and too difficult to operate. Accordingly, it has been found that the laser emitter must be mounted on the support structure or gantry above the vehicle station, in accordance with the second embodiment. However, the second embodiment has the disadvantage that the flexible arm down which the laser beam must be directed from the laser emitter to the marking head is itself liable to damage. The flexible arm must be constructed to a very high standard to ensure that the laser beam is directed down the arm along substantially the same axis whatever the angular position of the various parts of the arm, otherwise there is a danger of damage to the inside of the arm itself or deterioration in the quality of the marking due to an incorrect starting position of the laser beam. In use, the flexible arm is repeatedly moved and subjected to continual strains and occasional impacts. In practice, it has been found that flexible arms of the known type have had to be adjusted approximately once a month.
There have further been problems with the use of a laser to mark glass, because it is sometimes found that the laser produces a mark which is not very clear. On the other hand, at other settings of the laser, it is found that the glass can crack, which is clearly not desirable.
The inventors have sought ways to overcome these problems.
The inventors have sought optimum settings for a glass marking laser, as will be described further below.
The inventors have realised that the problem with existing flexible arms for this purpose is that they are too long and too complex and the individual components are too long. The inventors have realised that the flexible arm may be made much more robust and reliable if it can be made shorter and if the components can be made shorter.
The present inventors have further realised that existing flexible arms have been subjected in use to too much twisting and stretching. This is as a result of the repeated manoeuvering of the marking head by the user to contact numerous parts of the vehicle. The present inventors have yet further realised that these problems can be overcome by placing the laser emitter to one side of the vehicle, so that the arm can be made relatively short. However, in order to allow both sides of vehicle to be marked without moving the vehicle, it is necessary to either place a second laser on the opposite side of the vehicle or to move the first laser from side to side of the vehicle. In addition, it is necessary to be able move the emitter from front to rear of the vehicle.
The inventors have found that these requirements can be met by providing at least three laser mounting positions on the structure, the laser mounting positions being displaced from one another in at least two dimensions. Coverage of all aspects of the vehicle can be obtained if the laser is movable between two of the laser mounting positions and a further laser is mounted at the remaining laser mounting position or if the laser is displaceable between all three of these positions.
Accordingly, the present invention provides an apparatus for marking vehicles, comprising:
a structure extending adjacent to a vehicle station;
the structure defining at least three laser mounting positions spaced apart from one another in at least two dimensions, for mounting at least one laser apparatus, the laser apparatus comprising a laser for producing a laser beam adapted to mark a part of the vehicle and flexible laser beam delivery means for delivering a laser beam from the laser to a selectable point of the vehicle station, the laser apparatus being movable between at least two of the laser mounting positions.
The structure may extend alongside a vehicle station, or at one or other end of the vehicle station or above the vehicle station. The structure may extend on both sides of a vehicle station, for example, the vehicle station may comprise a conveyor belt with the structure on either side of the belt.
The structure may be of any suitable design. Preferably, it comprises a framework and a support or supports for suspending the framework over or adjacent to the vehicle station. The framework may comprise walls, columns or other rigid structural members, for example lattice work structures. The vehicle station may be defined by a surface which is integral with the structure or it may comprise a region of an existing surface, on which the support or supports are mounted. The vehicle station preferably corresponds in size to the size of a vehicle to be marked. Preferably, the vehicle station is of a width such that when a vehicle is parked in the vehicle station, there is sufficient space at either side of the vehicle for
Bell John T.
Hart Geoffrey F.
Dickstein , Shapiro, Morin & Oshinsky, LLP
Heinrich Samuel M.
Retainagroup Limited
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