Dynamic laser marking
First Claim
1. A method of marking a succession of bodies moving along a predetermined path, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) activating a single detector unit to detect the presence and the movement of one of the moving bodies at a predetermined location along said path;
(b) in response to detection of the movement of said one of the bodies, determining the velocity of said one of the bodies;
(c) activating an energy source at a calculated time following detection of the presence of said one of the bodies to direct a high energy density beam at said one of the bodies as said one of the bodies moves along said path, the calculated time being dependent upon the determined velocity;
(d) concentrating the beam so as to produce an illuminated spot at a location on or within said one of the bodies;
(e) moving the high energy density beam so as to move said spot; and
(f) controlling the movement of the high energy density beam so as to control the movement of said spot in accordance with the resultant of two components of spot movement, the first component being equal to the determined velocity, and the second component being relative to said one of the bodies, so as to create a mark of a predetermined shape at a desired location on or within said one of the bodies.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and an apparatus for making a moving body of material (26). The method includes the steps of directing at the moving body a high energy density beam (46,58), concentrating the beam so as to produce an illuminated spot at a location on or within the moving body, and moving the spot in accordance with the resultant of two components of movement, the first component being equal to the velocity of the moving body and the second component being relative to the moving body, so as to create a mark of a predetermined shape. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes at least one movable galvanometer mirror (68,70) capable of moving the spot in accordance with the resultant of the two components.
259 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method of marking a succession of bodies moving along a predetermined path, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) activating a single detector unit to detect the presence and the movement of one of the moving bodies at a predetermined location along said path; (b) in response to detection of the movement of said one of the bodies, determining the velocity of said one of the bodies; (c) activating an energy source at a calculated time following detection of the presence of said one of the bodies to direct a high energy density beam at said one of the bodies as said one of the bodies moves along said path, the calculated time being dependent upon the determined velocity; (d) concentrating the beam so as to produce an illuminated spot at a location on or within said one of the bodies; (e) moving the high energy density beam so as to move said spot; and (f) controlling the movement of the high energy density beam so as to control the movement of said spot in accordance with the resultant of two components of spot movement, the first component being equal to the determined velocity, and the second component being relative to said one of the bodies, so as to create a mark of a predetermined shape at a desired location on or within said one of the bodies. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for marking a succession of bodies moving along a predetermined path, said apparatus comprising:
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a single detector unit for detecting the presence and determining the velocity of one of the bodies at a predetermined location along said path; an energy source; a first controller for activating the energy source at a calculated time after said single detector unit has detected the presence of said one of the bodies, to create a high energy density beam, and directing the beam at said one of the bodies, the calculated time being dependent upon the determined velocity; a beam concentrator for concentrating the beam so as to produce an illuminated spot at a location on or within said one of the bodies; a beam moving system for moving the high energy density beam so as to move said spot; and a second controller for controlling said beam moving system to provide controlled movement of the spot in accordance with the resultant of two components of movement, the first component being equal to the determined velocity, and the second component being relative to said one of the bodies, so as to create a mark of a predetermined shape at a desired location on or within said one of the bodies. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification