Process for engraving ceramic surfaces using local laser vitrification
First Claim
1. A process for engraving ceramic surfaces using a laser, said process comprising applying said laser to said ceramic surface along an area to be engraved such that a portion of said ceramic material in said engraving area is removed and melted by said laser to a sufficient degree such that said melted material is fused into a surrounding unmelted portion of said ceramic material whereby an adherent, contrasting marking is created along said engraving area to a depth within and below said ceramic surface, said engraving taking place in three stages:
- a first stage in which said laser removes a portion of said ceramic material to form said depth for said marking within and below said ceramic surface;
a second stage in which said laser continues to deliver energy to melt and vitrify said ceramic material whereby it is fused into surrounding unmelted ceramic material within said depth; and
a third stage in which said laser removes residue from said ceramic surface to effect said adherent, contrasting marking.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
A process is provided for producing contrasting, long lasting, glassy heat fused images on the surface of ceramic materials such as bricks using a laser to vitrify the substrate material. The process is accomplished in three stages: Stage 1) the laser produces a non-adherent, highly light absorptive layer by heating and removing material from the marking field to create depth into the brick'"'"'s surface; Stage 2) melting of the main portion of the substrate material along the marking field using the non-adherent light absorptive layer from Stage 1 as an effective light absorber/heat transducer to cause vitrification along the marking field; Stage 3) residue from the melting in stage 2 is removed by laser ablation to produce the vitrified finished mark.
76 Citations
8 Claims
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1. A process for engraving ceramic surfaces using a laser, said process comprising applying said laser to said ceramic surface along an area to be engraved such that a portion of said ceramic material in said engraving area is removed and melted by said laser to a sufficient degree such that said melted material is fused into a surrounding unmelted portion of said ceramic material whereby an adherent, contrasting marking is created along said engraving area to a depth within and below said ceramic surface, said engraving taking place in three stages:
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a first stage in which said laser removes a portion of said ceramic material to form said depth for said marking within and below said ceramic surface; a second stage in which said laser continues to deliver energy to melt and vitrify said ceramic material whereby it is fused into surrounding unmelted ceramic material within said depth; and a third stage in which said laser removes residue from said ceramic surface to effect said adherent, contrasting marking. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification