Laser system for marking or perforating

• US 6,201,209 B1
• Filed: 09/22/1998
• Issued: 03/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Macsa ID, S.A.
• Original Assignee: Macsa ID, S.A.
• Inventors: Llado Abella, Jordi
• Primary Examiner(s): Evans, Geoffrey S.
• Application Number:
  US09/101,594
• Time in Patent Office: 903 Days
• Field of Search: 219/121.73, 219/121.75, 219/121.68, 219/121.7, 219/121.6
• US Class Current: 219/121.6
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/02 Positioning or observing the workpiece, e.g. with respect to the point of impact; Aligning, aiming or focusing the laser beam
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/035 Aligning the laser beam automatically B23K26/042

Abstract

A laser system for marking or perforating, including a laser tube and a head having an adjustable optical system with at least one focusing lens. The telescopic tube, a system of lenses for the light beam correction, and a deflexion system are integrally provided with the laser tube. In order to easily optimize the focal distance, a focusing lens is situated in a mobile tube of the telescopic tube which includes a mobile tube (17b) and a fixed tube (17a).

Claims

1. A system for marking a perforation by laser comprising:

a laser tube; and

a headstock including an adjustable optical system therein, the optical system comprising at least one lens for focusing a laser beam emitted from the laser tube and a deflection system producing a deflected laser beam and a non-deflected laser beam;

the headstock being solidly attached to and supported by the laser tube such that the laser tube operates as an optical bench for the optical system.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the mobile tube comprises a protection element forming a chamber with a first opening for receiving a pressurised gas and a second opening for discharging received gas.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the second opening is located in a trajectory of the deflected laser beam.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the optical system further comprises a telescoping portion having a fixed tube and a mobile tube, the focusing lens being located in the mobile tube;

the system further comprising an absorption system for absorbing the nondeflected laser beam integrated entirely in the fixed tube.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the absorption system comprises a groove that extends substantially throughout the length of the fixed tube.

6. The system according to claim 4, wherein the absorption system comprises a blocking element located in the fixed tube.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the blocking element has a wall inclined relative to a longitudinal axis of the fixed tube.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the headstock further comprises an adjustable mirror positioned to reflect the non-deflected laser beam onto the blocking element.

9. The system according to claim 6, wherein the fixed tube has conduits therein suitable for carrying a coolant liquid.

10. The system according to claim 1, further comprising means for defining a circular cross-section laser beam from an elliptical cross-section beam, the means for defining a circular cross-section being between the laser tube and the deflection system.

11. The system according to claim 10, characterized in that the means for defining a circular cross-section is located at a point at which the diameter of the laser beam on the X axis plus the distance traveled between an exit window for the laser beam and this point multiplied by the divergence of the laser beam in said X axis will be equal to the diameter of the laser beam on the Y axis plus the distance traveled between an exit window for the laser beam and said point multiplied by the divergence in said Y axis.

12. The system according to claim 10, wherein the means for defining a circular cross-section is a cylindrical lens.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the means for defining a circular cross-section comprises a beam expander.

14. The system according to claim 13, further comprising a cylindrical lens, the expander being located immediately after the cylindrical lens.

15. The system according to claim 1, further comprising an adjustment and blocking system for the deflection system.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the adjustment and blocking system comprises a support element capable of a rotational movement that permits the adjustment of the direction of the non-blocked laser beam and its subsequent blocking.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the support element comprises a fine adjustment mechanism.

18. The system according to claim 15, wherein the adjustment and blocking system comprises a flat plate with three circular slots through which blocking elements operate.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein a central position of the blocking elements relative to the circular slots corresponds to the Bragg angle.

20. The system according to claim 1, wherein the optical system further comprises a telescoping portion having a fixed tube and a mobile tube, the focusing lens being located in the mobile tube;

the fixed tube having fixing devices for connecting the laser tube and the fixed tube to each other in one of at least two angle positions.

21. The system according to claim 20, wherein the fixed tube part has a housing for supporting a mirror.

22. The system according to claim 20, wherein the fixing devices are adjustable in a horizontal plane to permit adjustment of alignment with respect to the laser tube.

23. The system according to claim 20, further comprising two opposing mobile mirrors for adjustment of the direction of the non-deflected laser beam.

24. A system for marking or perforation by laser comprising:

a laser tube; and

a headstock including an adjustable optical system therein, the optical system having a telescoping portion having a fixed tube and a mobile tube and further comprising at least one lens for focusing a laser beam emitted from the laser tube, the focusing lens being located in the mobile tube;

the headstock being solidly attached to and supported by the laser tube such that the laser tube operates as an optical bench for the optical system.

25. The system according to claim 24, wherein the headstock is fixed to the laser tube by an adjustable positioning device.

26. The system according to claim 25, wherein the adjustable positioning device comprises flat plates with sliding dovetail interlocks.

27. The system according to claim 25, wherein the deflection system is positioned on a swivel mount assembly comprising a swivel-mounted wheel with micrometric angle adjustment and blocking devices, the swivel mount system permitting adjustment of the Bragg angle.