Laser marking system

• US 20030180475A1
• Filed: 03/21/2003
• Published: 09/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AGC Automotive Americas Co. (AGC, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AGC Automotive Americas Co. (AGC, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lunsford, Steven W., Conder, Charles R., Dyrdek, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,204,884 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 427/555
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/002 Curing or drying the ink on the copy materials, e.g. by heating or irradiating
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/00242 Controlling the temperature of the conduction means
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/407 for marking on special material
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/26 Thermography B41M5/20, B41M5/24 take precedence; Marking by high energetic means, e.g. laser otherwise than by burning, and characterised by the material used B23K takes precedence; thermographic or photothermographic systems using noble metal compounds G03C1/494
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/38207 characterised by aspects not provided for in groups B41M5/385 - B41M5/395
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 7/0054 using protective coatings or film forming compositions cured by thermal means, e.g. infrared radiation, heat

Abstract

A laser marking system for automotive glass having an ink spray device capable of depositing an ink layer upon the glass and a drying system is provided for accelerating the drying of the ink layer. A laser system is also provided to operably heat and bond at least a portion of the ink layer to the glass in a predetermined pattern. A cleansing system removes unbonded portions of the ink layer from the glass and a controller is provided to direct the laser system in the predetermined pattern.

Claims

1. A laser marking system for glass, the laser marking system comprising:

an ink spray device capable of depositing an ink layer upon the glass;

a drying system capable of accelerating the drying of the ink layer;

a laser system operable to heat and bond at least a portion of the ink layer to the glass in a predetermined pattern;

a cleansing system operable to remove unbonded portions of the ink layer from the glass; and

a controller operably coupled to at least the laser system for directing the laser system in the predetermined pattern.

2. The laser marking system according to claim 1 wherein the ink spray device comprises:

a manifold;

a solvent source in fluid communication with the manifold;

a fluid pump in fluid communication with the manifold;

an ink source in fluid communication with the fluid pump, the fluid pump operable to pump ink from the ink source to the manifold; and

a moveable spray head in fluid communication with the manifold, the moveable spray head being selectively actuatable to form the ink layer.

3. The laser marking system according to claim 2 wherein the solvent source is pressurized above ambient pressure.

4. The laser marking system according to claim 2 wherein the ink source is further in fluid communication with the manifold, the manifold being positionable to define a continuous fluid path from the ink source to the manifold to the fluid pump and back to the ink source.

5. The laser marking system according to claim 4 wherein the fluid pump is activated at least when the moveable spray head is deactuated.

6. The laser marking system according to claim 2 wherein the manifold is positionable to permit solvent from the solvent source to purge the moveable spray head.

7. The laser marking system according to claim 1 wherein the ink spray device includes a moveable spray head operable to form the ink layer.

8. The laser marking system according to claim 1 wherein the ink spray device comprises:

a spray head;

a drive mechanism coupled to the spray head operable to selectively position the spray head relative to the glass;

a spray controller operably coupled to the spray head, the spray controller operable to control an ink flowrate and air flowrate to the spray head to create a generally uniformly distributed spray.

9. The laser marking system according to claim 8 wherein the drive mechanism is an electronically controlled linear bearing system.

10. The laser marking system according to claim 1 wherein the drying system comprises:

a heating device directing heat toward a side of the glass opposite of the ink layer; and

a blowing device directing air toward the ink layer to facilitate vaporization.

11. The laser marking system according to claim 1 wherein the cleansing system comprises:

a removal housing positionable to enclose at least a portion of the glass;

a cleansing fluid source in fluid communication with the removal housing;

a fluid pump in fluid communication with the cleansing fluid source, the fluid pump being operable to pump cleansing fluid from the cleansing fluid source to the removal housing to remove excess ink and debris from the glass;

a vacuum device operably coupled to the removal housing, the vacuum device being operable to remove the cleansing fluid and the ink and debris from the removal housing;

a controller operably coupled to at least one of the fluid pump and the vacuum device.

12. The laser marking system according to claim 11, further comprising:

a vacuum chamber in fluid communication with the vacuum device to contain the cleansing fluid, ink, and debris.

13. A laser marking system for glass, the laser marking system comprising:

a tape system having ink deposited thereon being positionable generally adjacent the glass; and

a laser operable to heat and bond at least a portion of the ink in a predetermined pattern to the glass.

14. The laser marking system according to claim 13 wherein the tape system comprises:

a pair of rotatable reels; and

a tape member extending between the pair of rotatable reels.

15. The laser marking system according to claim 14 wherein the tape member is positionable adjacent to and in contact with the glass.

16. The laser marking system according to claim 14, further comprising:

a retaining bar operable to retaining the tape member adjacent to the glass.

17. The laser marking system according to claim 13, further comprising:

a removal system disposed downstream from the laser, the removal system being operable to remove excess ink and debris from the glass.

18. The laser marking system according to claim 17 wherein the removal system comprises:

a rotatable brush assembly having a plurality of brushes engagable with a surface of the glass.

19. The laser marking system according to claim 13, further comprising:

a controller operably coupled to at least the laser for directing the laser in the predetermined pattern.

20. A method of applying a laser marking to glass, the method comprising:

spraying ink into a generally uniform ink layer upon a portion of glass;

drying the generally uniform ink layer;

directing a laser toward the generally uniform ink layer to bond the ink to the glass according to a predetermined pattern; and

removing excess ink not bonded to the glass.

21. The method according to claim 20, further comprising:

separating the excess ink from the cleansing fluid.

22. The method according to claim 20 wherein the removing excess ink comprises directing a cleansing fluid toward the glass.

23. The method according to claim 20 wherein the removing excess ink comprises employing a rotatable brush assembly.

24. The method according to claim 20 wherein the removing excess ink comprises:

directing a cleansing fluid toward the glass to remove the excess ink;

vacuuming the cleansing fluid and excess ink; and

separating the excess ink from the cleansing fluid.

25. The method according to claim 20 wherein the spraying a generally uniform ink layer upon a portion of glass comprises:

pumping ink from an ink source to a moveable spray head.

26. The method according to claim 20 wherein the drying the generally uniform ink layer comprises:

directing heat along a side of the glass opposite of the ink layer; and

directing air at the ink layer.

27. The method according to claim 20 wherein the directing a laser toward the generally uniform ink layer comprises:

actuating a drive mechanism coupled to the laser, the drive mechanism moving the laser to form the predetermined pattern.

28. The method according to claim 20, further comprising:

pumping the ink through a fluid path to prevent clogging during nonspraying operations.

29. A method of applying a laser marking to glass, the method comprising:

positioning an ink tape system generally adjacent the glass, the ink tape system having ink disposed thereon;

directing a laser toward the uniform ink tape system to bond the ink to the glass according to a predetermined pattern; and

removing excess ink not bonded to the glass.

30. The method according to claim 29 wherein the removing excess ink comprises directing a cleansing fluid toward the glass.

31. The method according to claim 29 wherein the removing excess ink comprises employing a rotatable brush assembly.

32. The method according to claim 29 wherein the removing excess ink comprises:

directing a cleansing fluid toward the glass to remove the excess ink;

vacuuming the cleansing fluid and excess ink; and

separating the excess ink from the cleansing fluid.

33. The method according to claim 29 wherein the positioning an ink tape system generally adjacent the glass comprises:

providing ink tape spanning between a first reel and a second reel;

retaining the ink tape generally adjacent the glass using a retaining member to retain the ink tape in a generally flat position relative to the glass; and

advancing the ink tape from the first reel to the second reel once at least a portion of the ink is bonded to the glass.