Electric heating – Metal heating – By arc
Reexamination Certificate
2001-05-17
2003-03-25
Elve, M. Alexandra (Department: 1725)
Electric heating
Metal heating
By arc
C219S121700, C219S121670
Reexamination Certificate
active
06538230
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a high speed laser drilling system, and more particularly to a method of operating a laser drilling system to achieve improved laser hole resolution without sacrificing product advancement speed.
Laser systems are often employed to create uniformly spaced holes in a product material such as an advancing web, and such systems are advantageous because of the high product advancement speed and laser hole resolution that can be achieved. Similarly configured systems are used to create holes in continuously fed sheets and in products advanced on a conveyor. However, there are particular hole size and spacing configurations that limit the product advancement speed and/or laser hole resolution because of the constraint of laser turn-on and turn-off times. Specifically, where holes are spaced a relatively large distance apart in comparison to the size of the holes, laser turn-on and turn-off times can limit the speed of product advancement or the resolution of the laser holes. For example, if the product advances at too high of a speed, the laser may remain on for too long and therefore create too large of a hole. Therefore, a method of operating a laser drilling system that enables high laser hole resolution without sacrificing product advancement speed would be a significant improvement in the art.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a method and apparatus for high resolution, high speed laser drilling of an advancing product. A product is advanced in a predetermined product advancement path at a web advancement speed. A laser-generating source provides a pulsed laser beam having a laser-on time and a laser-off time. The laser beam is reflected to direct a focal point of the laser beam onto the web. The focal point of the laser beam is moved in a direction of the product advancement path during the laser-on time and is moved in a direction opposite to the direction of the product advancement path during the laser-off time. The present invention is therefore able to improve laser drilling resolution for a given product advancement speed.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5363126 (1994-11-01), Andrews
patent: 5449879 (1995-09-01), Lawson et al.
patent: 5500506 (1996-03-01), Lawson
patent: 5638110 (1997-06-01), Curry et al.
patent: 5658474 (1997-08-01), Geerke
patent: 5916462 (1999-06-01), James et al.
patent: 6057525 (2000-05-01), Chang et al.
patent: 6137522 (2000-10-01), Melino et al.
patent: 6177648 (2001-01-01), Lawson et al.
patent: 6222157 (2001-04-01), Langille et al.
patent: 6423932 (2002-07-01), Lawson
Elve M. Alexandra
Kinney & Lange , P.A.
Preco Laser Systems, LLC
LandOfFree
Method and apparatus for improving laser hole resolution does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method and apparatus for improving laser hole resolution, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method and apparatus for improving laser hole resolution will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3006211