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US 6,888,853 B1Granted
Laser radiation source
AssigneeHell Gravure Systems GmbH
InventorHeinrich Jürgensen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for selectively process material on a processing surface of a printing form to create a fine structure or pattern for images or text. At least one fiber laser comprising a pump source and a laser fiber is provided. A laser gun is mounted adjacent the printing form and has at least a focusing optics. The fiber laser outputs a laser beam which is diffraction-limited to permit the focusing optics to focus the laser beam onto the processing surface of the printing form as a spot having a spot size sufficiently small to process the processing surface to create the fine structure or pattern images or text.
Claims296
A method for generating laser beams for engraving cups in a processing surface of a material, comprising the steps of:
- providing at least one diode-pumped fiber laser;
- providing each fiber laser with at least one output;
- arranging in a first ordering pattern at least two of said outputs;
- at least one of shaping and aligning the laser beams emerging from the outputs of the individual fiber lasers such that they impinge onto said processing surface in a second ordering pattern to engrave said cups by eroding a material of said processing surface, said laser beams having a power density and energy sufficiently high for eroding said material to create said cups;
- and
- wherein the material comprises copper on a cylinder of a rotogravure engraving machine.
3 more elements
A method for engraving cups in a copper material surface of a printing form, comprising the steps of:
- providing at least one fiber laser;
- providing each fiber laser with at least one output;
- arranging in a first ordering pattern at least two of said outputs;
- and
- at least one of shaping and aligning laser beams emerging from the outputs such that they impinge onto said copper material surface in a second ordering pattern to engrave said cups by eroding the copper material, said laser beams having a power density and energy sufficiently high for eroding said copper material to create said cups.
2 more elements
A printing form engraving machine, comprising:
- a printing form having a copper surface;
- at least one fiber laser;
- each fiber laser comprising at least one output;
- at least two of said outputs being arranged in a first ordering pattern;
- laser beams emerging from the outputs of the individual fiber lasers being at least one of shaped and aligned such that they impinge onto said copper surface in a second ordering pattern for engraving said cups;
- and
- said emerging laser beams having a power density and energy which are sufficiently high to erode copper from said copper surface for creating said cups.
4 more elements
A laser radiation source for generating laser beams for processing material by engraving cups in a processing surface thereof, comprising:
- at least one diode-pumped fiber laser;
- each fiber laser comprising at least one output;
- at least two of said outputs being arranged in a first ordering pattern;
- the laser beams emerging from the outputs of the individual fiber lasers being at least one of shaped and aligned such that they impinge onto said processing surface in a second ordering pattern for engraving said cups;
- said emerging laser beams having a power density and energy sufficiently high to erode material from said processing surface for creating said cups;
- and
- said material comprises copper on a rotating cylinder of a rotogravure engraving machine.
4 more elements
An apparatus for processing material with laser radiation in order to engrave cups in at least one processing surface of the material, comprising:
- at least one laser radiation source for generating laser beams for processing the at least one processing surface by engraving the cups therein;
- the laser radiation source comprising at least one diode-pumped fiber laser;
- each fiber laser comprising at least one output;
- at least two of said outputs being provided;
- the outputs of the fiber lasers being arranged in a first ordering pattern;
- the laser beams emerging from the outputs of the individual fiber lasers being at least one of shaped and directed such that they impinge said processing surface in a second ordering pattern;
- the laser beams having a power density and energy sufficiently high to erode the material to engrave said cups;
- a controller for controlling the laser radiation source;
- at least one material carrier for the processing surface;
- a unit for generating at least one relative movement between the laser beams and the processing surface;
- and
- the material comprises copper on a cylinder of a rotogravure engraving machine.
9 more elements
A rotogravure engraving system for engraving half-tone cups for receiving printing fluid into a printing form comprising a rotable rotogravure printing drum having a round outer metal peripheral processing surface, comprising:
- a mounting which receives said rotatable printing drum;
- at least one fiber laser comprising a pump source and a laser fiber having an outfeed end and a core surrounded by a pump core, said pump source being positioned at said laser fiber, and said laser fiber outputting a continuous wave laser beam;
- a laser gun having a focusing optics and mounted for lateral movement alongside said rotatable drum, the laser beam output from said laser fiber outfeed end being delivered to said focusing optics;
- a modulator which controls the laser beam;
- and
- the laser beam output from said laser fiber being diffraction-limited to permit said focusing optics to focus the laser beam as said drum is rotating onto said metal processing surface as a spot having a spot size sufficiently small to create the half-tone cups for printing fine structure rotogravure images or text by removing metal material from said processing surface.
3 more elements
A rotogravure engraving system for engraving half-tone cups for receiving printing fluid into a printing form comprising a rotable rotogravure printing drum having a round outer metal peripheral processing surface, comprising:
- a housing having a mounting which receives said rotatable printing drum;
- at least one fiber laser comprising a pump source and a laser fiber having an outfeed end and a core surrounded by a pump core, said pump source being positioned at said laser diode, said laser fiber outputting a continuous wave laser beam, and said pump source and an end of the laser fiber opposite the outfeed end being fastened at a fixed position in said housing;
- a laser gun having a focusing optics and mounted for lateral movement alongside said rotatable drum, the outfeed end of said laser fiber being secured at an input of said laser gun;
- a modulator in said laser gun which controls the laser beam;
- and
- the laser beam output from said laser fiber being diffraction-limited to permit said focusing optics to focus the laser beam as said drum is rotating onto said metal processing surface as a spot having a spot size sufficiently small to create the halftone cups for printing fine structure rotogravure images or text by removing metal material from said processing surface.
3 more elements
A rotogravure engraving system for engraving half-tone cups for receiving printing fluid into a printing form comprising a rotable rotogravure printing drum having a round outer metal peripheral processing surface, comprising:
- a mounting which receives said rotatable printing drum;
- at least one fiber laser comprising a pump source and a laser fiber having an outfeed end and a core surrounded by a pump core, said pump source being positioned at said laser fiber, and said laser fiber outputting a laser beam;
- a laser gun having a focusing optics and mounted for lateral movement alongside said rotatable drum, the laser beam output from said laser fiber outfeed end being delivered to said focusing optics;
- a modulator which controls at least an intensity of the laser beam;
- and
- the laser beam output from said laser fiber being diffraction-limited to permit said focusing optics to focus the laser beam as said drum is rotating onto said metal processing surface as a spot having a spot size sufficiently small to create the halftone cups for printing fine structure rotogravure images or text by removing metal material from said processing surface, and wherein the processing surface is comprised of at least one of the metals copper and chrome.
3 more elements
A method for engraving half-tone cups for receiving a printing fluid into a rotogravure printing form, comprising the steps of:
- providing a mounting which receives the printing form comprising a rotatable rotogravure printing drum having a round outer metal peripheral processing surface;
- providing at least one fiber laser comprising a pump source and a laser fiber comprising an outfeed end, the pump source being positioned at said laser fiber, and the laser fiber comprising a core surrounded by a pump core;
- providing a laser gun mounted for lateral movement alongside said rotatable drum, said laser gun having a focusing optics, and a laser beam output by said laser fiber outfeed end being deliverable to said focusing optics;
- providing a modulator to control the laser beam;
- and
- while rotating said drum, outputting from said laser fiber the laser beam which is a continuous wave beam and which is diffraction-limited to permit said focusing optics to focus the laser beam onto said processing surface as a spot having a spot size sufficiently small to create the rotogravure half-tone cups in said metal processing surface for printing fine structure rotogravure images or text by removing metal material from said processing surface.
3 more elements
A method for engraving half-tone cups for receiving a printing fluid into a rotogravure printing form, comprising the steps of:
- providing a mounting which receives the printing form comprising a rotatable rotogravure printing drum having a round outer metal peripheral processing surface which is at least one of copper and chrome;
- providing at least one fiber laser comprising a pump source and a laser fiber comprising an outfeed end, the pump source being positioned at said laser fiber, and the laser fiber comprising a core surrounded by a pump core;
- providing a laser gun mounted for lateral movement alongside said rotatable drum, said laser gun having a focusing optics, and a laser beam output by said laser fiber outfeed end being deliverable to said focusing optics;
- providing a modulator to control an intensity of the laser beam;
- and
- while rotating said drum, outputting from said laser fiber the laser beam which is diffraction-limited to permit said focusing optics to focus the laser beam onto said processing surface as a spot having a spot size with a power density therein of at least approximately 107 W/cm2 at maximum beam intensity and sufficiently small to create the rotogravure half-tone cups in said metal processing surface for printing fine structure rotogravure images or text by removing metal material from said processing surface.
3 more elements
A flexo printing system for use in creating a fine structure for images or text on a processing surface of a flexo printing form mounted on a rotatable drum having a round outer peripheral surface, comprising:
- a mounting which receives said rotatable drum;
- at least one fiber laser comprising a pump source and a laser fiber having an outfeed end and a core surrounding by a pump core, said pump source being positioned at said laser fiber, and said laser fiber outputting a continuous wave laser beam;
- a laser gun having a focusing optics and mounted for lateral movement alongside said rotatable drum, the laser beam output from said laser fiber outfeed end being delivered to said focusing optics;
- a modulator which controls the laser beam;
- and
- the laser beam output from said laser fiber being diffraction-limited to permit said focusing optics to focus the laser beam as said drum is rotating onto said processing surface as a spot having a spot size sufficiently small to create said fine structure for images or text by removing material from said processing surface.
3 more elements
A flexo printing system for use in creating a fine structure for images or text on a processing surface of a flexo printing form mounted on a rotatable drum having a round outer peripheral surface, comprising:
- a mounting which receives said rotatable drum;
- at least one fiber laser comprising a pump source and a laser fiber having an outfeed end and a core surrounded by a pump core, said pump source being positioned at said laser fiber, and said laser fiber outputting a continuous wave laser beam;
- a laser gun having a focusing optics and mounted for lateral movement alongside said rotatable drum, the laser beam output from said laser fiber outfeed end being delivered to said focusing optics;
- a beam splitter which creates a plurality of laser beams from said at least one laser beam and a modulator system which individually modulates each of said laser beams;
- and
- the laser beam output from said laser fiber being diffraction-limited to permit said focusing optics to focus the plurality of laser beams as said drum is rotating onto said processing surface as a plurality of spots along a line, the spots having a spot size sufficiently small to create said fine structure for images or text by removing material from said processing surface.
3 more elements
A flexo printing system for use in creating a fine structure for images or text on a processing surface of a flexo printing form mounted on a rotatable drum having a round outer peripheral surface, comprising:
- a mounting which receives said rotatable drum;
- a plurality of fiber lasers each comprising a pump source and a laser fiber having an outfeed end and a core surrounded by a pump core, said pump source being positioned at said laser fiber, and said laser fibers each outputting a respective continuous wave laser beam;
- a laser gun having a focusing optics and mounted for lateral movement alongside said rotatable drum, the laser beams output from said respective laser fiber outfeed ends being delivered to said focusing optics;
- a modulator system which separately controls each of the laser beams;
- and
- the laser beams output from said laser fibers each being diffraction-limited to permit said focusing optics to focus the laser beams as said drum is rotating onto said processing surface as a plurality of spots along a line, the spots having a spot size sufficiently small to create said fine structure for images or text by removing material from said processing surface.
3 more elements
A method for removing material at a processing surface of a flexo printing form for creating a fine structure image or text on a processing surface thereof, comprising the steps of:
- providing a mounting with a rotatable drum thereon having the flexo printing form mounted therearound;
- providing at least one fiber laser comprising a laser diode pump source and a laser fiber having an outfeed end and a core surrounded by a pump core, said pump source being positioned at said laser fiber, and said laser fiber outputting a continuous wave laser beam when pumped;
- providing a laser gun mounted for lateral movement alongside said rotatable drum, said laser gun having a focusing optics;
- providing a modulator to control the laser beam;
- and
- outputting the laser beam as a diffraction-limited laser beam from the laser fiber to permit said focusing optics to focus the laser beam as said drum is rotating onto said processing surface as a spot having a spot size sufficiently small to create said fine structure for images or text by removing the material from said processing surface.
3 more elements
A method for removing material at a processing surface of a flexo printing form for creating a fine structure for images or text on a processing surface thereof, comprising the steps of:
- providing a mounting with a rotatable drum thereon having the flexo-printing form mounted thereon;
- providing at least one fiber laser comprising a laser diode pump source and a laser fiber having an outfeed end and a core surrounded by a pump core, said pump source being positioned at said laser fiber, and said laser fiber outputting a continuous wave laser beam when pumped;
- providing a laser gun mounted for lateral movement alongside said rotatable drum, said laser gun having a focusing optics, and said laser gun outputting a plurality of laser beams along a line;
- providing a modulator system which controls each of the laser beams independently;
- and
- each of the laser beams being diffraction-limited to permit said focusing optics to focus each of the respective laser beams as said drum is rotating onto said processing surface as a plurality of spots along the line, the spots having a spot size sufficiently small to create said fine structure for images or text by removing the material from said processing surface.
3 more elements
An offset printing system for use in creating a fine pattern for images or text on a processing surface of an offset printing form mounted on a rotatable drum having a round outer peripheral surface, comprising:
- a mounting which receives said rotatable drum;
- at least one fiber laser comprising a pump source and a laser fiber having an outfeed end and a core surrounding by a pump core, said pump source being positioned at said laser fiber, and said laser fiber outputting a continuous wave laser beam;
- a laser gun having a focusing optics and mounted for lateral movement alongside said rotatable drum, the laser beam output from said laser fiber outfeed end being delivered to said focusing optics;
- a modulator which controls the laser beam;
- and
- the laser beam output from said laser fiber being diffraction-limited to permit said focusing optics to focus the laser beam as said drum is rotating onto said processing surface as a spot having a spot size sufficiently small to create said fine pattern for images or text by processing material on said processing surface.
3 more elements
An offset printing system for use in creating a fine pattern for images or text on a processing surface of an offset printing form mounted on a rotatable drum having a round outer peripheral surface, comprising:
- a mounting which receives said rotatable drum;
- at least one fiber laser comprising a pump source and a laser fiber having an outfeed end and a core surrounded by a pump core, said pump source being positioned at said laser fiber, and said laser fiber outputting a continuous wave laser beam;
- a laser gun having a focusing optics and mounted for lateral movement alongside said rotatable drum, the laser beam output from said laser fiber outfeed end being delivered to said laser gun;
- a beam splitter which creates a plurality of laser beams from said at least one laser beam and a modulator system which individually modulates each of said laser beams;
- and
- the laser beam output from said laser fiber being diffraction-limited to permit said focusing optics to focus the plurality of laser beams as said drum is rotating onto said processing surface as a plurality of spots along a line, the spots having a spot size sufficiently small to create said fine pattern for images or text by processing material on said processing surface.
3 more elements
An offset printing system for use in creating a fine pattern for images or text on a processing surface of an offset printing form mounted on a rotatable drum having a round outer peripheral surface, comprising:
- a mounting which receives said rotatable drum;
- a plurality of fiber lasers each comprising a pump source and a laser fiber having an outfeed end and a core surrounding by a pump core, said pump source being positioned at said laser fiber, and said laser fibers each outputting a respective continuous wave laser beam;
- a laser gun having a focusing optics and mounted for lateral movement alongside said rotatable drum, the laser beam output from said respective laser fiber outfeed end being delivered to said focusing optics;
- a modulator which separately controls each of the laser beams;
- and
- the laser beam output from said laser fibers each being diffraction-limited to permit said focusing optics to focus the laser beams as said drum is rotating onto said processing surface as a plurality of spots along a line, the spots having a spot size sufficiently small to create said fine patterns for images or text by processing material on said processing surface.
3 more elements
A method for processing material at a processing surface of an offset printing form for creating a fine pattern for images or text on a processing surface thereof, comprising the steps of:
- providing a mounting with a rotatable drum thereon having the offset printing form mounted therearound;
- providing at least one fiber laser comprising a laser diode pump source and a laser fiber having an outfeed end and a core surrounded by a pump core, said pump source being positioned at said laser fiber, and said laser fiber outputting a continuous wave laser beam when pumped;
- providing a laser gun mounted for lateral movement alongside said rotatable drum, said laser gun having a focusing optics;
- providing a modulator to control the laser beam;
- and
- outputting the laser beam as a diffraction-limited laser beam from the laser fiber to pemit said focusing optics to focus the laser beam as said drum is rotating onto said processing surface as a spot having a spot size sufficiently small to create said fine pattern for images or text by processing the material on said processing surface.
3 more elements
A method for processing material at a processing surface of an offset printing form for creating a fine pattern for images or text on a processing surface thereof, comprising the steps of:
- providing a mounting with a rotatable drum thereon having the offset printing form mounted thereon;
- providing at least one fiber laser comprising a laser diode pump source and a laser fiber having an outfeed end and a core surrounded by a pump core, said pump source being positioned at said laser fiber, and said laser fiber outputting a continuous wave laser beam when pumped;
- providing a laser gun mounted for lateral movement alongside said rotatable drum, said laser gun having a focusing optics, and said laser gun outputting a plurality of laser beams along a line;
- providing a modulator system which controls each of the laser beams independently;
- and
- each of the laser beams being diffraction-limited to permit said focusing optics to focus each of the respective laser beams as said drum is rotating onto said processing surface as a plurality of spots along the line, the spots having a spot size sufficiently small to create said fine pattern for images or text by processing the material on said processing surface.
3 more elements
An offset printing system for use in creating a fine pattern for images or text on a processing surface of an offset printing form mounted on a rotatable drum having a round outer peripheral surface, comprising:
- a mounting which receives said rotatable drum;
- at least one fiber laser comprising a pump source and a laser fiber having an outfeed end and a core surrounding by a pump core, said pump source being positioned at said laser fiber, and said laser fiber outputting a continuous wave laser beam;
- a laser gun having a focusing optics and mounted for lateral movement alongside said rotatable drum, the laser beam output from said laser fiber outfeed end being delivered to said focusing optics, and said laser gun outputting a plurality of laser beams;
- a modulator which separately controls each of the laser beams;
- and
- the laser beam output from said laser fibers each being diffraction-limited to permit said focusing optics to focus the laser beams as said drum is rotating onto said processing surface as a plurality of spots along a line, the spots having a spot size sufficiently small to create said fine pattern for images or text by processing material on said processing surface.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.