Parts degating apparatus using laser
AssigneeSyntec Optics
InventorsDavid Abrams, David Giancola, Joel Lawther, Douglas H. Axtell
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A parts fabrication apparatus has a staging fixture that is configured to position at least a portion of a molded plastic assembly that has a connective runner portion with at least one molded part extended from the connective runner portion by a severable gate portion. A laser source is energizable to direct toward the severable gate portion, from a laser output aperture positioned beneath the staged plastic assembly, a coherent light beam having sufficient energy for melting the gate portion and releasing the molded part along a drop path. A support is disposed to deflect the drop path of at least a portion of the released molded part in a direction away from the coherent light beam.
Claims16
A parts fabrication apparatus comprising:
- a) a staging fixture that is configured to hold a severable gate portion of a molded plastic assembly at a melt position;
- b) a laser source energizable to direct, from a laser output aperture that is disposed beneath the melt position of the staged molded plastic assembly, a coherent melting light beam to the melt position and to release a molded part suspended from the staging fixture to fall away from the staging fixture on a drop path;
- and c) a stationary deflecting support supporting the severable gate portion disposed in a fixed location relative to the laser output aperture, between the laser output aperture and the melt position of the severable gate portion, and disposed to define the drop path of the falling released part by momentary contact following release of the molded part.
A parts fabrication apparatus comprising:
- a) a staging fixture that is configured to dispose a severable gate portion of a molded plastic assembly at a first position for separating a releasable molded part from the molded plastic assembly;
- b) a deflecting support that is configured as a pivot seating for contact against a portion of the releasable molded part positioned in the staging fixture;
- and c) an optical apparatus that has a source of laser light energizable to generate a coherent light beam, wherein the optical apparatus directs the generated coherent light beam from a fixed-position output aperture, fully past the support pivot seating, and toward the severable gate portion, wherein the coherent light beam has sufficient energy for releasing the molded part along a drop path defined by the deflecting support and wherein the support is stationary with respect to the output aperture.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.