Web securing system for laser processing
AssigneePreco Laser Systems, LLC
InventorsDonald Herke, John J. Zik, Dan B. Miller, William E. Lawson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The system for laser processing webs includes a laser system having a beam source, a controller and one or more heads to direct a laser beam onto a web. A cylinder cable of controlled rotation applies a web-securing force to the web under the laser beam to secure the web so that the web does not flutter or shift during laser processing. A template may be placed over the cylinder to apply the web-securing force in specific patterns or areas as needed.
Claims46
A laser system comprising:
- one or more high energy beams;
- a moving web extending under the one or more high energy beams;
- and
- a web-securing drum disposed beneath the one or more high energy beams and in contact with a portion of the moving web, the web-securing drum having a substantially cylindrical shape, the web-securing drum for applying a securing force on the portion of the moving web directly under the one or more high energy beams to releasably secure the portion to the drum during a laser processing operation.
A method of processing a pattern on a moving web comprising:
- positioning the moving web over a cylindrical drum positioned under a focused beam of a high energy beam system;
- applying a web-securing force on a bottom surface of the moving web opposite to the focused beam and in contact with the cylindrical drum;
- advancing the moving web in a web direction;
- and
- directing the focused beam onto a top surface of the moving web as the web is advanced.
A system for high energy beam processing of non-homogenous substrate materials comprising:
- a beam source emitting a beam having sufficient energy to cut or score and having a control system and one or more heads for focusing the beam onto a substrate in a cut zone to process a pattern on the substrate;
- a cylinder positioned in the cut zone, the cylinder capable of controlled rotation, the cylinder being in contact with the substrate;
- and
- a web-securing force applied to the substrate in conjunction with the cylinder to secure the substrate in the cut zone.
A method for scoring patterns on a non-homogenous moving web comprising:
- positioning a moving web over a web-securing cylinder within a cut zone of a laser system;
- applying selectively a web-securing force to a portion of the moving web in contact with the web-securing cylinder;
- rotating the web-securing cylinder as the moving web is advanced through the cut zone;
- and
- tracing a pattern on the portion of the moving web with the at least one laser beam.
A web-securing drum positioned with a cutting zone of a focused beam of a high energy beam system, the web-securing drum having a plurality of grooves extending around a circumference of the web-securing drum and openings on an outside surface and spaced around the entire circumference of the web-securing drum, and a vacuum shoe disposed within the web-securing drum for supplying a negative pressure to the surface of the moving web through the openings, the web-securing drum supplying a force to a surface of a moving web and securing the moving web within the cutting zone.
A web-securing drum positioned with a cutting zone of a focused beam of a high energy beam system, the web-securing drum having a plurality of grooves extending around a circumference of the web-securing drum and openings on an outside surface and spaced around the entire circumference of the web-securing drum, and transverse grooves extending alone a surface of the web-securing drum and extending transverse to the grooves along the circumference of the web-securing drum, each transverse groove having one or more fluid openings for directing bursts of fluid through the transverse groove and into the grooves to assist in carrying away debris from the cut zone, the web-securing drum supplying a force to a surface of a moving web and securing the moving web within the cutting zone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.