Indexing laser marker
US4638144A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 24, 1985 |
| Grant date | Jan 20, 1987 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 24, 2005 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB23K2101/007
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A machine for marking idicia on small articles of manufacture by means of a laser. Strips of articles in the form of small relatively flat rectangular plate like members are held together in side by side relation in a common plane in plate like frames. The strips are stacked in magazines. The machine has an indexing turret with eight magazine supporting stations, a diametrically disposed conveyor. The full magazines of unmarked parts are loaded onto the machine at one station at the front of the machine by an operator. The full magazines of unmarked parts are then indexed to an unloading station where the lead frames are automatically unloaded from the magazine onto the conveyor where they are transferred past a laser marking station to an unloading station. The laser marker marks an indicia onto each article and the conveyor moves the lead frames to the loading station, where the stacks are reloaded onto an empty magazine. The operator station, the unloading station and reloading station are each 90 degrees from the other in the example shown. An electric circuit including electric eyes position the articles, stop the machine in case of jams, signal the laser when parts are in pos…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.