Laser welding system and method

Abstract

A laser welding system is disclosed having a housing formed with an opening through which workpieces may be passed, and a laser for generating and directing a laser beam into a welding station within the housing. The system further includes a light trap for inhibiting light from passing from the welding station through the housing opening to the exterior to the housing and a conveyor for conveying workpieces between workpieces loading and unloading stations located exteriorly of the housing and the welding station through the housing opening and the light trap. A method of laser welding a succession of workpieces is also disclosed comprising the steps of successively loading workpieces onto a conveyor at a loading station and conveying the workpieces through a light trap to a welding station located within a housing. The workpieces are illuminated with laser radiation at the welding station and then conveyed through a light trap out of the housing to an unloading station where they are unloaded.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.