Fail-safe laser apparatus including main and safety shutters for laser

Claim 2

A fail-safe laser apparatus for emitting a laser beam along an optical axis, comprising: a laser beam radiation source; a main shutter movable between open and closed positions for attenuating in its closed position a laser beam emitted from said laser beam radiation source along said optical axis; a safety shutter movable between open and closed positions for completely intercepting the laser beam incident thereon in its closed position, said safety shutter remaining in said open position in normal operation of the laser apparatus in which all components are properly functioning; said main shutter being positioned between said laser beam radiation source and said safety shutter along said optical axis; a first sensor for monitoring at least a part of said laser beam emitted from said laser beam radiation source between said laser beam radiation source and said main shutter to produce a first signal indicative of a sensed laser beam intensity; a second sensor for monitoring at least a part of said laser beam between said main shutter and said safety shutter to produce a second signal indicative of a sensed laser beam intensity; a detection circuit for receiving said first and second signals to detect whether said laser beam radiation source emits said laser beam along said optical axis and whether said main shutter attenuates said laser beam emitted from said laser beam radiation source, thereby to produce a third signal indicative of detected results; and a safety shutter control means for receiving said third signal from said detection circuit to control movement of said safety shutter between its open and closed positions.

Claim 3

A fail-safe laser apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising: first actuating means for moving said main shutter between its open and closed positions; an emission switch connected to said first actuating means in such a way that said first actuating means may move said main shutter to its open position only when said emission switch is on; and second actuating means included in said safety shutter control means for moving said safety shutter to its closed position when no power is supplied to said laser beam radiation source.

Claim 4

A fail-safe laser apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said detection circuit includes means for detecting said first signal from said first sensor and said second signal from said second sensor to produce said third signal as a control signal for moving said safety shutter to its open position only when said second signal is equal to or less than a predetermined reference value.

Claim 5

A faile-safety laser apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said predetermined reference value corresponds to an intensity of the laser beam attenuated by said main shutter in its closed position.

Claim 6

A fail-safe laser apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said safety shutter control means includes: self-hold means responsive to said third signal from said detection circuit for producing a drive signal and thereafter retaining said drive signal; and actuating means responsive to said drive signal for moving said safety shutter to its open position.

Claim 7

A fail-safe laser apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said safety shutter control means includes: self-hold means responsive to said control signal for producing a drive signal and thereafter retaining said drive signal; and actuating means responsive to said drive signal for moving said safety shutter to its open position.

Claim 8

A fail-safe laser apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said detection circuit includes means for comparing said second signal with a predetermined reference value, means for receiving a signal from said comparing means to produce a control signal only when said second signal is greater than said reference value whereby said safety shutter control means is actuated to move said safety shutter to its closed position on the basis of said control signal.

Claim 9

A fail-safe laser apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said predetermined reference value corresponds substantially to an intensity of the laser beam attenuated by said main shutter in its closed position.

Claim 10

A fail-safe laser apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising: first actuating means for moving said main shutter between its open and closed positions; an emission switch connected to said first actuating means in such a way that said first actuating means may move said main shutter to its open position only when said emission switch is on; and second actuating means included in said safety shutter control means for moving said safety shutter to its closed position when said third signal received by said safety shutter indicates an abnormal condition of said apparatus.

Claim 11

A fail-safe laser apparatus for emitting a laser beam along an optical axis, comprising: a laser beam radiation source; a main shutter movable between open and closed positions for completely intercepting in its closed position a laser beam emitted from said laser beam radiation source along said optical axis; a safety shutter movable between open and closed positions for completely intercepting the laser beam incident thereon in its closed position, said safety shutter remaining in said open position in normal operation of the laser apparatus in which all components are properly functioning; said main shutter being positioned between said laser beam radiation source and said safety shutter along said optical axis; a first sensor for monitoring at least a part of said laser beam emitted from said laser beam radiation source between said laser beam radiation source and said main shutter to produce a first signal indicative of a sensed laser beam intensity; a second sensor for monitoring at least a part of said laser beam between said main shutter and said safety shutter to produce a second signal indicative of a sensed laser beam intensity; a detection circuit for receiving said first and second signals to detect whether said laser beam radiation source emits said laser beam along said optical axis and whether said main shutter intercepts said laser beam emitted from said laser beam radiation source, thereby to produce a third signal indicative of detected results; and a safety shutter control means for receiving said third signal from said detection circuit to control movement of said safety shutter between its open and closed positions.

Claim 12

A fail-safe laser apparatus for emitting a laser beam along an optical axis, comprising: a laser beam radiation source; a main shutter movable between open and closed positions for completely intercepting in its closed position a laser beam emitted from said laser beam radiation source along said optical axis; a safety shutter movable between open and closed positions for completely intercepting the laser beam incident thereon in its closed position, said safety shutter remaining in said open position in normal operation of the laser apparatus in which all components are properly functioning; said main shutter being positioned between said laser beam radiation source and said safety shutter along said optical axis; a first sensor for monitoring at least a part of said laser beam emitted from said laser beam radiation source between said laser beam radiation source and said main shutter to produce a first signal indicative of a sensed laser beam intensity; a second sensor for monitoring at least a part of said laser beam between said main shutter and said safety shutter to produce a second signal indicative of a sensed laser beam intensity; a detection circuit for receiving said first and second signals to detect whether said laser beam radiation source emits said laser beam along said optical axis and whether said main shutter intercepts said laser beam emitted from said laser beam radiation source, thereby to produce a third signal indicative of detected results; and a safety shutter control means for receiving said third signal from said detection circuit to control movement of said safety shutter between its open and closed positions.

Claim 13

A fail-safe laser apparatus as defined in claim 10, further comprising: first actuating means for moving said main shutter between its open and closed positions; an emission switch connected to said first actuating means in such a way that said first actuating means may move said main shutter to its open position only when said emission switch is on; and second actuating means included in said safety shutter control means for moving said safety shutter to its closed position when no power is supplied to said laser beam radiation source.

Claim 14

A fail-safe laser apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said detection circuit includes means for detecting said first signal from said first sensor and said second signal from said second sensor to produce said third signal as a control signal for moving said safety shutter to its open position only when said second signal is zero.

Claim 15

A fail-safe laser apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said safety shutter control means includes: self-holding means responsive to said third signal from said detection circuit for producing a drive signal and thereafter retaining said drive signal; and actuating means responsive to said drive signal for moving said safety shutter to its open position.

Claim 16

A fail-safe laser apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said safety shutter control means includes: self-holding means responsive to said control signal for producing a drive signal and thereafter retaining said drive signal; and actuating means responsive to said drive signal for moving said safety shutter to its open position.

Claim 17

A fail-safe laser apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said detection circuit includes means for comparing said second signal with a predetermined reference value, means for receiving a signal from said comparing means to produce a control signal only when said second signal is greater than said reference value whereby said safety shutter control means is actuated to move said safety shutter to its closed position on the basis of said control signal.

Claim 18

A fail-safe laser apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein said predetermined reference value is zero.

Claim 19

A fail-safe laser apparatus as defined in claim 10, further comprising: first actuating means for moving said main shutter between its open ad closed positions; an emission switch connected to said first actuating means in such a way that said first actuating means may move said main shutter to its open position only when said emission switch is on; and second actuating means included in said safety shutter control means for moving said safety shutter to its closed position when said third signal received by safety shutter indicates an abnormal condition of said apparatus.