Process and apparatus for welding or heat treating by laser
OwnerYvon Rancourtinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Method and apparatus for welding, cutting, surface machining or heat treating workpieces by a laser beam which includes providing an optical element in the path of the laser beam to modify the pattern of the laser beam such that different geometric patterns can be projected on the focal plane, and this beam pattern spans at least the width of the heat treatment, cutting, surface machining or welding zone on the workpieces.
Claims24
A method of welding at least a seam on workpieces comprising the steps of defining a welding station including a laser welding source, defining a focal plane spaced from the laser welding source and to project a laser beam so formed at a right angle to the focal plane, modifying the laser beam to project an oblong pattern at the focal plane, having a major axis and a minor axis, with the major axis extending transversely of the focal plane relative to the seam to form a welding-zone such as to span the seam to be welded, moving at least one of the welding station and a combination of workpieces, relative to one another, such that the seam to be welded passes through the welding zone whereby at least a welded seam is formed continuously on the workpieces.
An apparatus for welding at least a continuous seam to join workpieces, including jig means for maintaining the workpieces and the seam to be welded in a welding zone, welding means including at least a laser welding source and a focal plane spaced from the laser welding source at the welding zone, means passing the laser beam perpendicular to the focal plane, a first optical element placed in the path of the laser beam such that the beam forms an oblong pattern having a major axis and a minor axis with the major axis extending transversely of the seam to span the welding zone at the focal plane, means for moving one of the welding stations and the jig such that the seam to be welded passes continuously through the welding zone whereby at least a welded seam is formed continuously on the workpieces.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.