Patent · US Active

Metal belt for laser materials processing

US9688474B2 · kind B2 · utility

2Cited by
7References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 23, 2015
Grant dateJun 27, 2017
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 29, 2035

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB23K2103/42
  • WIPO fieldMachine tools
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A transporting system, for laser processing a workpiece. The system uses a metal belt, formed of a metal material. The belt is formed into a continuously moving conveyor that has plural holes therein that are between 0.005″ in diameter and 0.025 inches in diameter, and are spaced ≦10 mm but ≧5 mm from one another. The holes are beveled in cross-section at an angle between 40 degrees and 60 degrees to form a smaller hole size at the outer surface and a larger hole size at the inner surface. A vacuum source is connected to apply vacuum to the inner surface of the belt, to each of the larger size sections of the plural holes. A vacuum source is connected to apply vacuum to the inner surface of the belt, to each of the plural holes. A laser system, directs its output beam towards a laser processing area in an area of the belt on the outer surface to process the workpiece.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.