Marking apparatus with a plurality of gas lasers with resonator tubes and individually adjustable deflection means

US9573223B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Alltec Angewandte Laserlicht Technologie GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Kevin L. Armbruster · Chicopee, US
• Brad D. Gilmartin · Gardner, US
• Peter J. Kueckendahl · Bad Oldesloe, DE
• Bernard J. Richard · Dudley, US
• Daniel J. Ryan · Sycamore, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 19, 2012
• Grant date: Feb 21, 2017
• Expiry date: Nov 4, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H01S3/2232
• WIPO field: Machine tools
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

The invention relates to a marking apparatus (100) for marking an object with laser light, comprising a plurality of gas lasers (10) and a control unit for individually activating each of the gas lasers (10) to emit a laser beam according to a sign to be marked. The gas lasers (10) are stacked such that the laser beams emitted by the gas lasers (10) form an array of laser beams, in particular a linear array with parallel laser beams, each gas laser (10a-i) comprises laser tubes (12) that at least partially surround an inner area (5). The apparatus (100) further comprises beam-delivery means (14) for directing the array of laser beams into the inner area (5) and a set of deflection means (30) for rearranging the array of laser beams into a desired array of laser beams. The set of deflection means (30) is arranged in the inner area (5) and comprises at least one deflection means (33a, 33i) per laser beam, in particular at least one mapping mirror (33a, 33i) or one optical waveguide per laser beam. Each deflection means (30) is individually adjustable in its deflection direction and/or individually shiftable.