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US4458134A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method and apparatus for drilling holes with a laser

Assignee: Unisys Corp
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Filing: 1982-06-30
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Granted: 1984-07-03
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Expires: 2002-06-30
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Abstract

Abstract Method and apparatus for drilling holes with a laser comprising a support member carrying an insulating sheet which supports a metal plate in which holes are to be drilled by a laser. The insulating sheet serves to blow molten metal out of the holes as they are formed and prevents metal from depositing on the plate around the holes.

Inventors

  • 👤 James A. Ogle

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-01 15:46
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; B23K26/00; B23K26/14; B23K26/142; B23K26/1462; B23K26/36; B23K26/38; B23K26/382; B23K26/40; B23K2103/00; B23K2103/16; B23K2103/50

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim 98 words
Apparatus for drilling holes with a laser in a metal plate comprising a support apparatus having a support surface for supporting a metal plate in which holes are to be drilled with a laser, an insulating sheet on said support surface of said support apparatus, a metal plate, to be drilled, loosely seated on said insulating sheet, and a laser disposed above said support apparatus and positioned to form holes in said metal plate seated on said insulating sheet, said insulating sheet serving to prevent molten metal from depositing on said metal plate at the hole formed therein.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 98 words
Apparatus for drilling holes with a laser in a metal plate comprising a support apparatus having a support surface for supporting a metal plate in which holes are to be drilled with a laser, an insulating sheet on said support surface of said support apparatus, a metal plate, to be drilled, loosely seated on said insulating sheet, and a laser disposed above said support apparatus and positioned to form holes in said metal plate seated on said insulating sheet, said insulating sheet serving to prevent molten metal from depositing on said metal plate at the hole formed therein.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 12 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said insulating sheet is paper.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 116 words
Apparatus for drilling held holes with a laser in a metal plate comprising a suction apparatus having a support surface for supporting a metal plate in which holes are to be drilled with a laser, an insulating porous sheet on said support surface of said suction apparatus, the insulating sheet being sufficiently porous to permit air to be drawn therethrough, a metal plate, to be drilled, on said insulating porous sheet, by said suction apparatus and said laser disposed above said suction apparatus and positioned to form holes in a metal plate seated on said insulating sheet, said insulating sheet serving to prevent molten metal from depositing on said metal plate at the hole formed therein.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 116 words
Apparatus for drilling held holes with a laser in a metal plate comprising a suction apparatus having a support surface for supporting a metal plate in which holes are to be drilled with a laser, an insulating porous sheet on said support surface of said suction apparatus, the insulating sheet being sufficiently porous to permit air to be drawn therethrough, a metal plate, to be drilled, on said insulating porous sheet, by said suction apparatus and said laser disposed above said suction apparatus and positioned to form holes in a metal plate seated on said insulating sheet, said insulating sheet serving to prevent molten metal from depositing on said metal plate at the hole formed therein.
Claim 6
Independent Claim 94 words
The method of drilling holes with a laser in a metal plate comprising the steps of supporting a metal plate on a support plate, providing an insulating sheet between the metal plate and the support plate, holding said metal plate and said insulating sheet together as a temporary assembly, directing energy from a laser onto said metal plate to form a hole in said metal plate, said insulating sheet serving to prevent molten metal from depositing on said metal plate at the hole formed therein, and removing said metal plate from said temporary assembly.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 94 words
The method of drilling holes with a laser in a metal plate comprising the steps of supporting a metal plate on a support plate, providing an insulating sheet between the metal plate and the support plate, holding said metal plate and said insulating sheet together as a temporary assembly, directing energy from a laser onto said metal plate to form a hole in said metal plate, said insulating sheet serving to prevent molten metal from depositing on said metal plate at the hole formed therein, and removing said metal plate from said temporary assembly.
Claim 8
Independent Claim 108 words
The method of drilling holes with a laser in a metal plate comprising the steps of supporting a metal plate on an apertured support plate, providing an insulating sheet between the metal plate and the support plate, directing energy from a laser through said metal plate to form a hole in said metal plate, said insulating sheet serving to eject molten metal from said metal plate as it is formed by the laser and thus preventing it from depositing on said metal plate at the hole formed therein, and removing said metal plate from its position on said insulating sheet so that it can be processed as desired.
Claim 9
Independent Claim 108 words
The method of drilling holes with a laser in a metal plate comprising the steps of supporting a metal plate on an apertured support plate, providing an insulating sheet between the metal plate and the support plate, directing energy from a laser through said metal plate to form a hole in said metal plate, said insulating sheet serving to eject molten metal from said metal plate as it is formed by the laser and thus preventing it from depositing on said metal plate at the hole formed therein, and removing said metal plate from its position on said insulating sheet so that it can be processed as desired.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 14 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said insulating sheet is a paper-type material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 12 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said insulating sheet is cardboard.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 13 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said insulating sheet is tissue paper.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 13 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said insulating sheet is filter paper.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US27772A Cited
US3410979A Cited
US3562009A Cited
USRE27772E Cited
US3742182A Cited
US4239954A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1987-07-03 1988-01-02 1988-07-03 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1991-07-03 1992-01-02 1992-07-03 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1995-07-03 1996-01-02 1996-07-03 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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