Laser beam alignment
AssigneeMetrologic Instruments, Inc.
InventorsC. Harry Knowles, John R. Meckley, Charles A. Naylor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A laser tube is rigidly mounted within a cylindrical metallic housing, and end rings are attached thereto. Each end ring has an opening for passage of the beam, and a plurality of radially disposed openings. Inside the housing, a smaller adjustment ring is provided, and outside the end rings are reference rings adapted to receive lenses, filters, or the like. Screws engage and penetrate the outer ring, pass freely through the end ring, and engage the inner ring. The outer and inner rings are movably adjustable relative to the housing axis and the laser beam, whereby optical apparatus attached to the outer ring may be positioned precisely relative to the laser beam.
Claims8
In a laser system having a laser tube rigidly mounted within a hollow, generally cylindrical housing, beam alignment apparatus comprising:
- first means, rigidly attached to an end of said housing, having an opening for passage of the laser beam, and a plurality of other openings into said housing;
- second means, movable within said housing, having an opening for passage of the laser beam, and threaded openings corresponding respectively to said other openings in said first means;
- third means, adapted to receive optical apparatus generally in the path of the laser beam, said third means having threaded openings respectively associated with the threaded openings in said second means;
- and
- a plurality of screws, each in rigid threaded engagement with respectively corresponding ones of said threaded openings in said second means and in said third means, said screws being smaller than and freely penetrating said other openings in said first means, wherein said second and third means are annular, and with said screws loosened are transversely movable together relatively to said first means and to the laser beam, and with said screws tightened, are adjusted at a fixed position relatively to said first means and to the laser beam.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.