US4896944A — Method and apparatus for trepanning workpieces

Claim 1

Independent Claim 113 words

A beam delivery assembly for focusing a beam of collimated radiation from an energy source comprising: a lens holder in said housing having a lens supported thereon in a first aligned position wherein the optical axis of said lens is congruent with a longitudinal axis; means for supporting said lens holder for movement laterally within said housing in a plane generally perpendicular to the path of the beam; means for supporting said housing for rotation about its vertical longitudinal axis to rotate the lens and lens holder;and positioning means for adjusting the supported lens with respect to said longitudinal axis for producing a variable orbital path of the focused beam on a workpiece.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 113 words

A beam delivery assembly for focusing a beam of collimated radiation from an energy source comprising: a lens holder in said housing having a lens supported thereon in a first aligned position wherein the optical axis of said lens is congruent with a longitudinal axis; means for supporting said lens holder for movement laterally within said housing in a plane generally perpendicular to the path of the beam; means for supporting said housing for rotation about its vertical longitudinal axis to rotate the lens and lens holder;and positioning means for adjusting the supported lens with respect to said longitudinal axis for producing a variable orbital path of the focused beam on a workpiece.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 33 words

In the beam delivery assembly of claim 1, said lens having a focal point, said positioning means including slide means for adjusting the focal point of said lens offset from said longitudinal axis.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 43 words

In the beam delivery of claim 2, said lens holder means including spring means for resiliently limiting travel thereof in one offset direction from said longitudinal axis and for returning said lens holder means in a direction opposite to the one offset direction.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 54 words

In the beam delivery assembly of claim 2, said lens having a focal point, said positioning means including a source of gas pressure and means for applying a pneumatic pressure on said lens holder means for shifting it in directions to offset the focal point of said lens with respect to said longitudinal axis.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 44 words

In the beam delivery assembly of claim 1, said lens holder means including spring means for resiliently limiting travel thereof in one offset direction from said longitudinal axis and for returning said lens holder means in a direction opposite to the one offset direction.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 52 words

In the beam delivery assembly of claim 1, said lens having a focal point, said positioning means including a source of gas pressure and means for applying a pneumatic pressure on said lens holder means for shifting it to offset the focal point of said lens with respect to said longitudinal axis.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 90 words

In the beam delivery assembly of claim 1, said lens having a focal point, said lens holder means including spring means for resiliently limiting travel thereof in one offset direction from said longitudinal axis and for returning said lens holder means in a direction opposite to the one offset direction, said positioning means including a source of gas pressure and means for applying a pneumatic pressure on said lens holder means for shifting it in directions to offset the focal point of said lens with respect to said longitudinal axis.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 109 words

In the beam delivery assembly of claim 1, said lens having a focal point, said positioning means including slide means for adjusting the focal point of said lens outwardly of said longitudinal axis, said lens holder means including spring means for resiliently limiting travel thereof in one offset direction from said longitudinal axis and for returning said lens holder means in a direction opposite to the one offset direction, said positioning means including a source of gas pressure and means for applying a pneumatic pressure on said lens holder means for shifting it in directions to offset the focal point of said lens with respect to said longitudinal axis.

Claim 10

Independent Claim 153 words

A method for cutting circular sections from a workpiece by trepanning comprising the steps of: providing a source of laser energy in the form of a collimated beam; providing a focusing lens and positioning it in a first position to align the optical axis thereof with a reference axis and position the lens a predetermined distance from the surface of a workpiece; adjusting the distance of the focusing lens from the surface of the workpiece to focus the collimated beam thereon; laterally offsetting the focusing lens through a lateral offset with respect to the reference axis to vary the location of the focus point on the workpiece; and rotating the laterally offset focusing lens to orbit the focal point of the collimated beam on the workpiece to trace the focused beam to produce a trepanning of the workpiece with a diameter which varies in accordance with the lateral offset of the focusing lens.

Claim 11

Independent Claim 153 words

A method for cutting circular sections from a workpiece by trepanning comprising the steps of: providing a source of laser energy in the form of a collimated beam; providing a focusing lens and positioning it in a first position to align the optical axis thereof with a reference axis and position the lens a predetermined distance from the surface of a workpiece; adjusting the distance of the focusing lens from the surface of the workpiece to focus the collimated beam thereon; laterally offsetting the focusing lens through a lateral offset with respect to the reference axis to vary the location of the focus point on the workpiece; and rotating the laterally offset focusing lens to orbit the focal point of the collimated beam on the workpiece to trace the focused beam to produce a trepanning of the workpiece with a diameter which varies in accordance with the lateral offset of the focusing lens.

Claim 12

Independent Claim 98 words

A method for processing a workpiece comprising the steps of: directing a collimated beam from an energy source against a focusing lens having a focal point; shifting the focusing lens to produce a lateral offset with respect to the collimated beam; said shifting of the focusing lens produced by application of a pneumatic pressure thereon; positioning the shifted focusing lens by applying a spring abutment force thereon; thereafter rotating the shifted lens to direct the focal point of the lens in an orbital path whose diameter is varied in accordance with the lateral offset of the focusing lens.

Claim 13

Independent Claim 98 words

A method for processing a workpiece comprising the steps of: directing a collimated beam from an energy source against a focusing lens having a focal point; shifting the focusing lens to produce a lateral offset with respect to the collimated beam; said shifting of the focusing lens produced by application of a pneumatic pressure thereon; positioning the shifted focusing lens by applying a spring abutment force thereon; thereafter rotating the shifted lens to direct the focal point of the lens in an orbital path whose diameter is varied in accordance with the lateral offset of the focusing lens.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1993-01-29	1993-07-31	1994-01-30	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1997-01-29	1997-07-31	1998-01-30	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2001-01-29	2001-07-31	2002-01-30	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and apparatus for trepanning workpieces

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