Patent US5011282A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5011282A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Laser beam path alignment apparatus for laser processing machines
Assignee: Amada Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1989-11-16
•
Granted: 1991-04-30
•
Expires: 2009-11-16
Abstract
Abstract To automatically align a laser beam path with respect to an axis along which a movable carriage of a laser processing machine moves, the apparatus of this invention comprises means for detecting laser beam position at least when the carriage is positioned at a first and a second position, means for displaying the detected laser beam positions, and means for adjusting the mirror tilt angle. In the apparatus, the laser beam path is aligned with respect to the axis by actuating the mirror tilt angle adjusting means so that the second laser beam position on the display means is moved to coinside with the first laser beam position. The apparatus of this invention may comprise, instead of the display means, means for calculating an inclination angle of the laser beam with respect to the axis, based on the distance between the first and the second position, and distance between the first and the second laser beam position.
Inventors
- 👤 Stanley L. Ream
- 👤 C. S. Lee
- 👤 G. C. Lim
- 👤 Kenneth Fukae
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 19:24
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/18; G05B19/401; G05B19/4015; B; B23; B23K; B23K26/00; B23K26/02; B23K26/04; B23K26/042; B23K26/043; G01; G01B; G01B11/00; G01B11/26; G05B2219/00; G05B2219/30; G05B2219/41; G05B2219/41091; G05B2219/45; G05B2219/45165
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
A laser beam path alignment apparatus for a laser processing machine that is provided with a laser generator, a laser processing head for performing laser processing, a means for moving the laser processing head in a predetermined axis direction, and a mirror for guiding a laser beam from the laser generator to the laser processing head, comprising: means for detecting a laser beam position through which the laser beam passes, the laser beam position being defined in a plane perpendicular to the predetermined axis direction; means for storing a first laser beam position which is detected by the laser beam position detecting means in the case where the moving means is positioned at a first position in the predetermined axis direction; means for displaying the first laser beam position and a second beam position, the second laser beam position being detected by the laser beam position detecting means in the case where the moving means is positioned at a second position in the predetermined axis direction; and means for rotating the mirror about an axis lying in the surface of the mirror, whereby the second laser beam position is changed to coincide with the first laser beam position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
198 words
A laser beam path alignment apparatus for a laser processing machine that is provided with a laser generator, a laser processing head for performing laser processing, a means for moving the laser processing head in a predetermined axis direction, and a mirror for guiding a laser beam from the laser generator to the laser processing head, comprising: means for detecting a laser beam position through which the laser beam passes, the laser beam position being defined in a plane perpendicular to the predetermined axis direction; means for storing a first laser beam position which is detected by the laser beam position detecting means in the case where the moving means is positioned at a first position in the predetermined axis direction; means for displaying the first laser beam position and a second beam position, the second laser beam position being detected by the laser beam position detecting means in the case where the moving means is positioned at a second position in the predetermined axis direction; and means for rotating the mirror about an axis lying in the surface of the mirror, whereby the second laser beam position is changed to coincide with the first laser beam position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the moving means is either one of X-axis carriage, Y-axis carriage or Z-axis column.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display means is a monitor CRT for graphically displaying the first and the second laser beam position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display means is a display device for digitally displaying the first and the second laser beam position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
222 words
A laser beam path alignment apparatus for a laser processing machine that is provided with a laser generator, a laser processing head for performing laser processing, means for moving the laser processing head in a predetermined axis direction, and a mirror for guiding a laser beam from the laser generator to the laser processing head, comprising: means for detecting a laser beam position through which the laser beam passes, the laser beam position being defined in a plane perpendicular to the predetermined axis direction; means for storing a first laser beam position and a second laser beam position, the first laser beam position being detected by the laser beam position detecting means in the case where the moving means is positioned at a first position in the predetermined axis direction and the second laser beam position being detected by the laser beam position detecting means in the case where the moving means is positioned at a second position in the predetermined axis direction; means for calculating the distance between the first position and the second position of the moving means; and means for calculating an inclination angle of the laser beam with respect to the predetermined axis direction, based on the distance between the first and the second position of the moving means and the first and the second laser beam position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
222 words
A laser beam path alignment apparatus for a laser processing machine that is provided with a laser generator, a laser processing head for performing laser processing, means for moving the laser processing head in a predetermined axis direction, and a mirror for guiding a laser beam from the laser generator to the laser processing head, comprising: means for detecting a laser beam position through which the laser beam passes, the laser beam position being defined in a plane perpendicular to the predetermined axis direction; means for storing a first laser beam position and a second laser beam position, the first laser beam position being detected by the laser beam position detecting means in the case where the moving means is positioned at a first position in the predetermined axis direction and the second laser beam position being detected by the laser beam position detecting means in the case where the moving means is positioned at a second position in the predetermined axis direction; means for calculating the distance between the first position and the second position of the moving means; and means for calculating an inclination angle of the laser beam with respect to the predetermined axis direction, based on the distance between the first and the second position of the moving means and the first and the second laser beam position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising means for rotating the mirror about an axis lying in the surface of the mirror, in accordance with the inclination angle of the laser beam with respect to the predetermined axis direction, to align the laser beam path.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4520261A
Cited
US4576480A
Cited
EP0141724A2
Cited
US4618759A
Cited
US4574180A
Cited
US4707596A
Cited
GB2184831A
Cited
JPS6478696A
Cited
US4918284A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-04-29 | 1994-10-29 | 1995-04-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-04-29 | 1998-10-29 | 1999-04-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-04-29 | 2002-10-29 | 2003-04-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |