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US 6,576,862 B1Granted
Laser-scribing process for rubber and thermoplastic materials such as a hose
AssigneeTechnolines LLC
InventorsDarryl Costin, Scott Harris
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A laser apparatus which operates to mark specified information on a rubber or plastic product, such as a hose. The information is marked using a laser whose energy density per unit time is controlled. The information can.be an alphanumeric information, or a graphic, and can be written while the hose is in motion on a conveyor.
Claims11
A method comprising:
- forming a desired pattern to be marked on a rubber or plastic hose;
- using said desired pattern to change an output of a laser, and applying the laser output to the hose to mark the desired pattern on the hose, the laser being applied with parameters that do not undesirably damage the material, but which forms a perceivable mark indicative of said pattern on said hose;
- and
- said parameters include at least control of an amount of energy applied to a unit area of the hose to amount of energy which allows said hose to withstand its designed for pressure.
1 more element
A hose marking apparatus, comprising:
- a conveyer, having a surface for holding a cylindrically-cross sectioned rubber or plastic hose material, and operated to move said hose along a path of movement;
- and
- an electrically controllable laser, having an output which is directed to a point above a surface of said conveyer and which is controlled to produce an output signal indicative of information, said output signal having a specified energy density per unit time, said output signal changing an outer surface of said hose in a way that produces a perceivable change to said outer surface without altering a capability of said hose to withstand a designed-for pressure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.