Dynamic laser cutting apparatus
First Claim
1. A laser cutting apparatus for cutting sets of different location index tab edges from a high speed moving web, comprising:
- a driver for moving a web, said web having periodic registration marks, wherein said registration mark indicates the beginning of successive index tab sheets;
a control device for controlling said laser cutting apparatus;
a laser device for providing a laser beam;
a scanner coupled to said laser device, said scanner directing said laser beam to cut successive index tab sheets;
an interpreter circuit for translating signals between said control device and said scanner;
an encoder for monitoring the speed of said press that is indicative of said web speed;
a registration sensor coupled to said press, said registration sensor detecting said registration marks;
a frame for interfacing said laser cutting apparatus with said driver for moving said web;
said control device communicating with said interpreter, encoder, and registration sensor, said control device generating a synthesize signal from said registration signal and said web speed signal to compensate for the disturbances and/or stretching of said moving web, said synthesized signal sent through said interpreter to direct said scanner to cut sets of successive index tab edges with differently spaced tabs;
an input and output air ventilation system for removing vapors or dust formed from said laser cutting on said moving web; and
means for directing said laser beam toward said web to form beveled edges on the laser cut sheets;
whereby sets of sheets with different location index tabs at the output are formed of said apparatus without the need for collating the sheets.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention relates to a dynamic laser cutting apparatus for cutting successively various configurations on a moving feed stock or other moving web or successive sheets. The apparatus includes a control device, which monitors the relative location of the moving feed stock, and controls a scanner to direct a laser beam to cut successively various configurations on the desired relative location of the feed stock. One of the configurations that may be cut with the present invention is sets of successive sheets with index tabs in different locations, from a high-speed moving feed stock, thereby eliminating the need for collating the individual index tab sheets into a set. In order to cut consistently, the control device also monitors the speed of the moving feed stock, and based on the speed of the feed stock, adjusts the power level of the laser to cut consistently on the moving feed stock. Accordingly, even during startups and shut downs, when the feed stock is accelerating and decelerating, respectively, the present invention produces consistent cuts, thereby minimizing scrap. Additionally, the power level of the laser may be adjusted for various cutting operations, such as micro-perfing and scoring. The present invention may also be used to cut a multilayer feed stock, via scoring and micro-perfing, to produce variety of products, such as labels, business cards and the like. Furthermore, as the laser cuts along the edges of the feed stock, the edges are substantially beveled to minimize the “paper cuts”, which may be caused by sharp edges. Also, an input and output ventilation system is provided to remove the vapors and/or dust that may be generated by the laser cutting on the feed stock.
216 Citations
62 Claims
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1. A laser cutting apparatus for cutting sets of different location index tab edges from a high speed moving web, comprising:
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a driver for moving a web, said web having periodic registration marks, wherein said registration mark indicates the beginning of successive index tab sheets;
a control device for controlling said laser cutting apparatus;
a laser device for providing a laser beam;
a scanner coupled to said laser device, said scanner directing said laser beam to cut successive index tab sheets;
an interpreter circuit for translating signals between said control device and said scanner;
an encoder for monitoring the speed of said press that is indicative of said web speed;
a registration sensor coupled to said press, said registration sensor detecting said registration marks;
a frame for interfacing said laser cutting apparatus with said driver for moving said web;
said control device communicating with said interpreter, encoder, and registration sensor, said control device generating a synthesize signal from said registration signal and said web speed signal to compensate for the disturbances and/or stretching of said moving web, said synthesized signal sent through said interpreter to direct said scanner to cut sets of successive index tab edges with differently spaced tabs;
an input and output air ventilation system for removing vapors or dust formed from said laser cutting on said moving web; and
means for directing said laser beam toward said web to form beveled edges on the laser cut sheets;
whereby sets of sheets with different location index tabs at the output are formed of said apparatus without the need for collating the sheets. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
an air filter and pump for supplying clean air to a dehumidifier to dry said clean air;
at least one conduit for delivering said clean and dry air to at least one air knife;
at least one vent for removing said vapor and/or dust;
wherein, said at least one air knife directs said clean and dry air to the cutting area of said laser beam and said at least one vent removes said vapors or dust.
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7. A laser cutting apparatus for cutting sets of different location index tab sheets from a moving web, comprising:
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a web feeding apparatus for feeding a web along a predetermined path;
a laser device for providing a laser beam;
a scanner coupled to said laser device for directing said laser beam at said moving web as it moves along its path; and
a control apparatus coupled to said scanner for controlling said scanner to direct said laser to cut successively tabs on successive sections of said moving web, with said tabs on successive sheets being in different locations;
whereby sets of sheets with different location index tabs at the output are formed of said apparatus without the need for collating the sheets. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A laser cutting apparatus for cutting sets of differently laser cut sheets from a feed stock, comprising:
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a feeder apparatus for feeding a feed stock along a predetermined path to place successive feed stock sheet areas in a laser cutting zone, wherein said feed stock has a periodic registration marks to cut the next successive sections of said feed stock;
a laser device for providing a laser beam;
a scanner coupled to said laser device for directing said laser beam at said feed stock when it is within the laser cutting zone; and
a control apparatus coupled to said scanner for controlling said scanner to direct said laser beam to cut successive configurations on successive sections of said feed stock, with said configurations on successive sheets being in different patterns;
a registration sensor coupled to said control apparatus, said registration sensor detects said registration marks to use as a reference point, wherein said control apparatus controls said scanner to direct the laser beam based on the reference point to cut the next successive sections of the feed stock;
whereby sets of sheets with different configurations of pattern sheets are formed at the output of said apparatus without the need for collating the sheets. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. A laser cutting apparatus for cutting sets of differently laser cut sheets from a feed stock, comprising:
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a feeder apparatus for feeding a feed stock along a predetermined path to place successive feed stock sheet areas in a laser cutting zone;
a laser device for providing a laser beam;
a scanner coupled to said laser device for directing said laser beam at said feed stock when it is within the laser cutting zone; and
a control apparatus coupled to said scanner for controlling said scanner to direct said laser beam to cut successive configurations on successive sections of said feed stock, wherein said scanner directs said laser to cut successively tabs on successive sections of said feed stock, with said tabs on successive sheets being in different locations.
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50. A system for accurately cutting on a moving feed stock, comprising:
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a feed stock having periodic registration marks, wherein each of the registration marks indicates next successive sections of the feed stock to be cut;
a laser cutting apparatus adapted to direct a laser beam at the feed stock as the feed stock passes through a laser cutting zone, wherein the laser cutting apparatus detects each of the registration marks as a reference point to direct the laser beam to cut on next successive sections of the feed stock;
a laser device for providing a laser beam;
a scanner coupled to the laser device for directing the laser beam at the feed stock when it is within the laser cutting zone; and
a control apparatus coupled to the scanner for controlling the scanner to direct the laser beam to cut successive configurations on successive sections of the feed stock, with the configurations on successive sheets being in different patterns. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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56. A laser cutting apparatus for cutting sets of differently laser cut sheets from a feed stock, comprising:
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a feeder apparatus for feeding a feed stock along a predetermined path to place successive feed stock sheet areas in a laser cutting zone;
a laser device for providing a laser beam;
a scanner coupled to said laser device for directing said laser beam at said feed stock when it is within the laser cutting zone;
a control apparatus coupled to said scanner for controlling said scanner to direct said laser beam to cut successive configurations on successive sections of said feed stock, with said configurations on successive sheets being in different patterns; and
wherein said laser cutting apparatus includes an applicator for applying a protective film onto said feed stock;
whereby sets of sheets with different configurations of pattern sheets are formed at the output of said apparatus without the need for collating the sheets. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58, 59, 60, 61)
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62. A laser cutting apparatus for cutting sets of differently laser cut sheets from a feed stock, comprising:
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a feeder apparatus for feeding a feed stock along a predetermined path to place successive feed stock sheet areas in a laser cutting zone;
a laser device for providing a laser beam;
a scanner coupled to said laser device for directing said laser beam at said feed stock when it is within the laser cutting zone;
a control apparatus coupled to said scanner for controlling said scanner to direct said laser beam to cut successive configurations on successive sections of said feed stock, with said configurations on successive sheets being in different patterns; and
wherein said scanner includes a bifocal lens for splitting said laser beam to a pair of laser beams having focal points directed respectively slightly above and slightly below said feed stock, whereby said first focal point bevels the top edge and said second focal point bevels the bottom edge of said feed stock, resulting in substantially rounded edge cuts;
whereby sets of sheets with different configurations of pattern sheets are formed at the output of said apparatus without the need for collating the sheets.
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Specification