US4945203A — Method and apparatus for making fluorocarbon film…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 58 words

A method of welding two plastic films together, comprising the steps of putting said films into optical contact with each other, and using laser means to weld said films together at locations where laser energy from said laser means strikes said films, said plastic films consisting of fluorocarbon films, and each having physical characteristics different from each other.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 58 words

A method of welding two plastic films together, comprising the steps of putting said films into optical contact with each other, and using laser means to weld said films together at locations where laser energy from said laser means strikes said films, said plastic films consisting of fluorocarbon films, and each having physical characteristics different from each other.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 1, and selecting said laser means to have a wavelength which is absorbed well by the particular plastic of said films.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method of claim 1, and selecting a CO 2 laser in said laser means to produce said laser beam, said CO 2 laser having a wavelength of 10.6 microns.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 34 words

The method of claim 3, said step of putting said films into optical contact including the application of heat and positive or vacuum pressure to said films during said putting into optical contact step.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 4, and the step of using heated platen means to heat said films for said putting into optical contact step.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 64 words

The method of claim 4, wherein said films are each in the range of 0.001 inch to 0.010 inch thick, providing rolls of said films, performing said putting into optical contact step continuously by despooling said rolls of said films, heating at least one of said films to about 200 degrees F. and pressing said films into said optical contact with each other continuously.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 37 words

The method of claim 6, and the steps of making bags for medical usage from said films, and washing and removing static electricity from said films prior to performing said steps of heating and pressing said films.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method of claim 6, and the step of removing static electricity from said films prior to performing said steps of heating and pressing said films.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 113 words

The method of claim 1, and using said plastic films to make plastic bags each having a dimension equal to or less than the width of said films, providing rolls of said films so that said putting into optical contact step is performed continuously, and using said laser means to at least substantially simultaneously make a cut across the width of said films while welding said films together on both sides of said cut, whereby one relative motion between said films and said laser means across said width produces one finished edge on each of two adjacent bags being formed of said films while also severing said two adjacent bags from each other.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 95 words

The method of claim 1, and the step of causing said laser means to comprise one laser producing one laser beam, causing said laser beam to have a central spot of relatively intense laser energy and an annular region surrounding said central spot of relatively less intense laser energy, and using control means to cause relative motion between said laser beam and said films to simultaneously cut said films along the path of said central spot and to weld said films on both sides of the cut line along the path of said annular region.

Claim 12

Independent Claim 188 words

A method of welding two plastic films together, comprising the steps of putting said films into optical contact with each other, using laser means to weld said films together at locations where laser energy from said laser means strikes said films, causing said laser means to comprise one laser producing one laser beam, causing said laser beam to have a central spot of relatively intense laser energy and an annular region surrounding said central spot of relatively less intense laser energy, using control means to cause relative motion between said laser beam and said films to simultaneously cut said films along the path of said central spot and to weld said films along the path of said central spot and to weld said films on both sides of the cut line along the path of said annular region, and the optional steps of selectively preventing one of said annular region and said central spot of said laser beam from affecting said films, whereby said laser beam can be used to selectively only cut and not weld said films, and to selectively only weld and not cut said films.

Claim 13

Independent Claim 188 words

A method of welding two plastic films together, comprising the steps of putting said films into optical contact with each other, using laser means to weld said films together at locations where laser energy from said laser means strikes said films, causing said laser means to comprise one laser producing one laser beam, causing said laser beam to have a central spot of relatively intense laser energy and an annular region surrounding said central spot of relatively less intense laser energy, using control means to cause relative motion between said laser beam and said films to simultaneously cut said films along the path of said central spot and to weld said films along the path of said central spot and to weld said films on both sides of the cut line along the path of said annular region, and the optional steps of selectively preventing one of said annular region and said central spot of said laser beam from affecting said films, whereby said laser beam can be used to selectively only cut and not weld said films, and to selectively only weld and not cut said films.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 11, and the step of using said laser beam in its weld only mode to mark indicia onto said films.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method of claim 1, and the steps of holding said films stationary, and moving said laser means to cause said laser means to trace a predetermined pattern on said films.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method of claim 1, and the steps of holding said laser means stationary, and moving said films to cause said laser means to trace a predetermined pattern on said films.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method of claim 1, and using vacuum table means to hold said films stationary, and using said laser means to cut and weld said films to a predetermined pattern.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 61 words

The method of claim 1, and the step of causing relative motion between said films and said laser means in an X-Y orthogonal system, moving one of said laser means and said films in one of said X and Y directions, and moving the other of said laser means and said films in the other of said X and Y directions.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 135 words

A method of welding two plastic films together, comprising the steps of putting said films into optical contact with each other, using laser means to weld said films together at locations where laser energy from said laser means strikes said films, causing said laser means to comprise a first laser and a second laser, displacing said first laser from said second laser, causing relative motion between said films and said first and second lasers along a line defined by said two lasers, using the one of said lasers to first strike said films to weld said films together and the second of said lasers to cut said films apart along the weld, and performing said cutting and welding in such manners that said films remain welded together on both sides of the line of cut.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 135 words

A method of welding two plastic films together, comprising the steps of putting said films into optical contact with each other, using laser means to weld said films together at locations where laser energy from said laser means strikes said films, causing said laser means to comprise a first laser and a second laser, displacing said first laser from said second laser, causing relative motion between said films and said first and second lasers along a line defined by said two lasers, using the one of said lasers to first strike said films to weld said films together and the second of said lasers to cut said films apart along the weld, and performing said cutting and welding in such manners that said films remain welded together on both sides of the line of cut.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 36 words

The method of claim 1, and the step of causing a flow of shielding gas around the location where said laser beam strikes said films, whereby thermal decomposition of said films at said location is prevented.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 11 words

The method of claim 18, wherein said shielding gas is helium.

Claim 23

Independent Claim 82 words

A method of welding two plastic films together, comprising the steps of putting said films into optical contact with each other, using laser means to weld said films together at locations where laser energy from said laser means strikes said films, and controlling the location at which said laser beam strikes said films by deviating said beam away from the optical axis of said laser means, whereby said laser beam can weld said films together at a pre-existing edge of said films.

Claim 24

Independent Claim 82 words

A method of welding two plastic films together, comprising the steps of putting said films into optical contact with each other, using laser means to weld said films together at locations where laser energy from said laser means strikes said films, and controlling the location at which said laser beam strikes said films by deviating said beam away from the optical axis of said laser means, whereby said laser beam can weld said films together at a pre-existing edge of said films.

Claim 25

Independent Claim 46 words

A method of cutting fluorocarbon sheet material comprising the steps of selecting a CO 2 laser having a wavelength of 10.6 microns, applying the beam from said laser to said fluorocarbon sheet material, and causing relative motion between said laser beam and said fluorocarbon sheet material.

Claim 26

Independent Claim 46 words

A method of cutting fluorocarbon sheet material comprising the steps of selecting a CO 2 laser having a wavelength of 10.6 microns, applying the beam from said laser to said fluorocarbon sheet material, and causing relative motion between said laser beam and said fluorocarbon sheet material.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 44 words

The method of claim 21, and the steps of welding two of said sheets together, putting said sheets into optical contact with each other, and using said laser beam to simultaneously weld said sheets together at locations where said laser beam strikes said sheets.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 35 words

The method of claim 22, said step of putting said fluorocarbon sheets into optical contact including the application of heat and positive or vacuum pressure to said sheets during said putting into optical contact step.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 23, and the step of using heated platen means to heat said films.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 64 words

The method of claim 23, wherein said sheets are each in the range of 0.001 inch to 0.010 inch thick, providing rolls of said sheets, performing said putting into optical contact step continuously by despooling said rolls of said sheets, heating at least one of said sheets to about 200 degrees F., and pressing said sheets into said optical contact with each other continuously.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 37 words

The method of claim 25, and the steps of making bags for medical usage from said sheets, and washing and removing static electricity from said sheets prior to performing said steps of heating and pressing said sheets.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method of claim 26, and the step of removing static electricity from said sheets prior to performing said steps of heating and pressing said sheets.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method of claim 21, and the step of controlling the location at which said laser beam strikes said sheet material by deviating said beam away from the optical axis of said laser.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 113 words

The method of claim 22, and using two of said fluorocarbon sheets to make plastic bags each having a dimension equal to or less than the width of said sheets, providing rolls of said sheets so that said putting into optical contact step is performed continuously, and using said laser beam to simultaneously make a cut across the width of said sheets while welding said sheets together on both sides of said cut, whereby one relative motion between said sheets and said laser beam across said width produces one finished edge on each of two adjacent bags being formed of said sheets while also simultaneously severing said two adjacent bags from each other.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 88 words

The method of claim 21, causing said beam from said CO 2 to have a central spot of relatively intense laser energy and an annular region surrounding said central spot of relatively less intense laser energy, and using control means to cause relative motion between said laser beam and said fluorocarbon sheet material to simultaneously cut said fluorocarbon sheet material along the path of said central spot and to weld said fluorocarbon sheet material on both sides of the cut line along the path of said annular region.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 61 words

The method of claim 30, and the optional steps of selectively preventing one of said annular region and said central spot of said laser beam from effecting said fluorocarbon sheet material, whereby said laser beam can be used to selectively only cut and not weld said fluorocarbon sheet material, and to selectively only weld and not cut said fluorocarbon sheet material.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method of claim 31, and the step of using said laser beam in its weld only mode to mark indicia onto said fluorocarbon sheet material.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 39 words

The method of claim 21, and the steps of holding said fluorocarbon sheet material stationary, and using control means to move said laser beam to cause said laser beam to trace a predetermined pattern on said fluorocarbon sheet material.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 35 words

The method of claim 21, and the steps of holding said laser beam stationary, and moving said fluorocarbon sheet material to cause said laser beam to trace a predetermined pattern on said fluorocarbon sheet material.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 45 words

The method of claim 21, and using vacuum table means to hold said fluorocarbon sheet material stationary during said step of causing relative motion, whereby said laser beam cuts and welds said fluorocarbon sheet material to a predetermined pattern without the use of a die.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 61 words

The method of claim 21, and the steps of causing relative motion between said sheet material and said laser in an X-Y orthogonal system, moving one of said laser and said sheet material in one of said X and Y directions, and moving the other of said laser and said sheet material in the other of said X and Y directions.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 40 words

The method of claim 21, and the step of causing a flow of shielding gas around the location where said laser beam strikes said fluorocarbon sheet material, whereby thermal decomposition of said fluorocarbon sheet material at said location is prevented.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 11 words

The method of claim 37, wherein said shielding gas is helium.

Claim 44

Independent Claim 117 words

A method of using a laser beam to cut and weld two plastic films simultaneously comprising the steps of forming said laser beam into an relative intense central spot surrounded by an annular region of less intense laser energy, using control means to cause relative motion between said laser beam and said films to simultaneously cut said films along the path of said central spot and to weld said films on both sides of the cut line along the path of said annular region on said films, and putting said films into optical contact with each other, said films consisting of fluorocarbons, and each of said films having physical characteristics different from those of the companion film.

Claim 45

Independent Claim 117 words

A method of using a laser beam to cut and weld two plastic films simultaneously comprising the steps of forming said laser beam into an relative intense central spot surrounded by an annular region of less intense laser energy, using control means to cause relative motion between said laser beam and said films to simultaneously cut said films along the path of said central spot and to weld said films on both sides of the cut line along the path of said annular region on said films, and putting said films into optical contact with each other, said films consisting of fluorocarbons, and each of said films having physical characteristics different from those of the companion film.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 39, and selecting said laser to have a wavelength which is absorbed well by the particular plastic of said films.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 39, and selecting a CO 2 laser to produce said laser beam, said laser having a wavelength of 10.6 microns.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 35 words

The method of claim 41, said step of putting said fluorocarbon films into optical contact including the application of heat and positive or vacuum pressure to said films during said putting into optical contact step.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 42, and using heated platen means to heat said films during said application of heat step.

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 64 words

The method of claim 42, wherein said films are each in the range of 0.001 inch to 0.010 inch thick, providing rolls of said films, performing said putting into optical contact step continuously by despooling said rolls of said films, heating at least one of said films to about 200 degrees F. and pressing said films into said optical contact with each other continuously.

Claim 51

Dependent Claim 37 words

The method of claim 44, and the steps of making bags for medical usage from said films, and washing and removing static electricity from said films prior to performing said steps of heating and pressing said films.

Claim 52

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method of claim 44, and the step of removing static electricity from said films prior to performing said steps of heating and pressing said films.

Claim 53

Dependent Claim 111 words

The method of claim 39, and using said plastic films to make plastic bags each having a dimension equal to or less than the width of said films, providing rolls of said films so that said putting into optical contact step is performed continuously, and using said laser beam to simultaneously make a cut across the width of said films while welding said films together on both sides of said cut, whereby one relative motion between said films and said laser beam across said width produces one finished edge of each of two adjacent bags being formed of said films while also simultaneously severing said two adjacent bags from each other.

Claim 54

Dependent Claim 35 words

The method of claim 39, and the steps of holding said films stationary, and moving said laser beam using said control means to cause said laser beam to trace a predetermined pattern on said films.

Claim 55

Dependent Claim 35 words

The method of claim 39, and the steps of holding said laser beam stationary, and moving said films using said control means to cause said laser beam to trace a predetermined pattern on said films.

Claim 56

Dependent Claim 41 words

The method of claim 39, and using vacuum table means to hold said films stationary during said step of causing relative motion, whereby said laser beam cuts and welds said films to a predetermined pattern without the use of a die.

Claim 57

Dependent Claim 52 words

The method of claim 39, and the step of controlling the location at which said laser beam strikes said films by deviating said beam away from the optical axis of the means producing said laser beam, whereby said laser beam can weld said films together at a pre-existing edge of said films.

Claim 58

Dependent Claim 62 words

The method of claim 39, and said step of causing relative motion between said films and said laser means occurring in an X-Y orthogonal system, moving one of said laser beam and said films in one of said X and Y directions, and moving the other of said laser beam and said films in the other of said X and Y directions.

Claim 59

Independent Claim 137 words

A method of using a laser beam to cut and weld two plastic films simultaneously comprising the steps of forming said laser beam into a relatively intense central spot surrounded by an annular region of less intense laser energy, using control means to cause relative motion between said laser beam and said films to simultaneously cut said films along the path of said central spot and to weld said films on both sides of the cut line along the path of said annular region on said films, and the optional steps of selectively preventing one of said annular region and said central spot of said laser beam from affecting said films, whereby said laser beam can be used to selectively only cut and not weld said films, and to selectively only weld and not cut said films.

Claim 60

Independent Claim 137 words

A method of using a laser beam to cut and weld two plastic films simultaneously comprising the steps of forming said laser beam into a relatively intense central spot surrounded by an annular region of less intense laser energy, using control means to cause relative motion between said laser beam and said films to simultaneously cut said films along the path of said central spot and to weld said films on both sides of the cut line along the path of said annular region on said films, and the optional steps of selectively preventing one of said annular region and said central spot of said laser beam from affecting said films, whereby said laser beam can be used to selectively only cut and not weld said films, and to selectively only weld and not cut said films.

Claim 61

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 53, and the step of using said laser beam in its weld only mode to mark indicia onto said films.

Claim 62

Dependent Claim 36 words

The method of claim 39, and the step of causing a flow of shielding gas around the location where said laser beam strikes said films, whereby thermal decomposition of said films at said location is prevented.

Claim 63

Dependent Claim 11 words

The method of claim 55, wherein said shielding gas is helium.

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

Method and apparatus for making fluorocarbon film plastic bags using a laser

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