US5118918A — Beam delivery apparatus

Claim 1

Independent Claim 189 words

A beam delivery apparatus, comprising: a laser (10) having an axis (14); a first reflecting means (13) at one end of the laser (10) and pivotal about the axis (14), said first reflecting means (13) adapted to reflect a laser beam normal to the axis (14); a second reflecting means (15) aligned with the first reflecting means (13), pivotal about a further axis (16) spaced from and parallel to the axis (14), the second reflecting means (15) adapted to reflect the beam along the further axis (16), means (29) mounting the second reflecting means (15) for lateral movement normal to the further axis (16); a telescopic means, (30) joining the first and second reflecting means (13, 15), to pivot said reflecting means (13, 15) in unison as the second reflecting means (15) moves laterally; a third reflecting means (19) aligned with the second reflecting means (15), means mounting (26) the third reflecting means (19), for lateral movement with the second reflecting means (15), means mounting the third reflecting mounting means for (19) for reciprocal movement along the further axis (16), towards and away from the second reflecting means (15).

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 189 words

A beam delivery apparatus, comprising: a laser (10) having an axis (14); a first reflecting means (13) at one end of the laser (10) and pivotal about the axis (14), said first reflecting means (13) adapted to reflect a laser beam normal to the axis (14); a second reflecting means (15) aligned with the first reflecting means (13), pivotal about a further axis (16) spaced from and parallel to the axis (14), the second reflecting means (15) adapted to reflect the beam along the further axis (16), means (29) mounting the second reflecting means (15) for lateral movement normal to the further axis (16); a telescopic means, (30) joining the first and second reflecting means (13, 15), to pivot said reflecting means (13, 15) in unison as the second reflecting means (15) moves laterally; a third reflecting means (19) aligned with the second reflecting means (15), means mounting (26) the third reflecting means (19), for lateral movement with the second reflecting means (15), means mounting the third reflecting mounting means for (19) for reciprocal movement along the further axis (16), towards and away from the second reflecting means (15).

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 25 words

An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including focusing means (33) associated with the third reflecting means (19) for focusing the beam on a workpiece.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 110 words

An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 comprising a main housing (25), said laser (10) mounted in said main housing (25); an upper housing (26) supported on said main housing (25) for movement in a direction normal to said laser axis (14); mounting means (31) at one end of said upper housing (26) for said second reflecting means (15) and mounting means (32) supported in said upper housing (26) for said third reflecting means (19) and said focusing means (33); said telescopic means (30) being connected at one end thereof to said mounting means (31) and at its other end to a mounting means for said first reflecting means (13).

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 40 words

An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said telescopic means (30) is hollow and aligned with the axis of the beam between the first and second reflecting means (13, 15), whereby the beam passes through the telescopic means (30).

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 26 words

An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, including means for supporting (32) said focusing means (33) in a predetermined distance from a surface of a workpiece.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 74 words

An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second reflecting means (13, 15) include means for pivotally and rotatably mounting each of said reflecting means (13, 15), said telescopic means (30) being operatively associated with said first and second reflecting means (13, 15) whereby rotation of one of said first and second reflecting means (13, 15) effects corresponding rotation of the other of said reflecting means through said telescopic means (30).

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 49 words

An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said telescopic means (30) comprises at least one fixed segment operatively secured to said first or second reflecting means (13, 15) and at least one movable segment fixedly secured to the other of said first and second reflecting means (13, 15).

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 55 words

An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said second reflecting means (15) is mounted within said upper housing (26) whereby movement of said upper housing (26) effects movement of said second reflecting means (15) whereby said telescopic means (30) translates the movement of said second reflecting means (15) to said first reflecting means (13).

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 38 words

An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, including a sensing means system for sensing the distance of said focusing means (33) of the beam delivery apparatus above a workpiece to be subjected to the action of said beam.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 69 words

An apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said sensing system includes a sensor 63, pneumatic movement means (32) for movement of said focusing means (33), pneumatic switch means (69) generating an electrical output signal, amplifying means (73) for receiving said output signal, said amplifying means (73) generating an output control signal, and actuating means (74) for controlling said pneumatic means (32) for movement of said focusing means (33).

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 85 words

An apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said sensing system further includes means for creating a differential air pressure (65) between said pneumatic movement means (32) and a workpiece; means for sensing a difference in the air pressure or resistance of the air pressure, and means for comparing values generated by said means for sensing a difference in the air pressure to actuate movement of said focusing means (33) in response to a change in distance between said focusing means (33) and said workpiece.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 49 words

An apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said sensing system includes means (65) for supplying a fluid flow to said sensor (63); means (67) for feeding fluid from said sensor; and means for measuring a difference between fluid flow to said sensor and fluid flow from said sensor.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 136 words

In a sensing system for sensing the distance of a focusing means (33) of a beam delivery apparatus above a workpiece to be subjected to the action of a laser beam the improvement wherein said sensing system comprises pneumatic means (32) adapted to be associated with said focusing means (33); means 65 for supplying a fluid flow to a sensor means 63, means 67 for feeding fluid from said sensor means 63; sensor means for sensing a difference between fluid flow to said sensor means 63 and fluid flow from said sensor means 63; and means for comparing values generated by said sensor means 63 for sensing a difference in the air pressure to actuate movement of said focusing means (33) in response to a change in distance between said focusing means (33) and a workpiece.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 136 words

In a sensing system for sensing the distance of a focusing means (33) of a beam delivery apparatus above a workpiece to be subjected to the action of a laser beam the improvement wherein said sensing system comprises pneumatic means (32) adapted to be associated with said focusing means (33); means 65 for supplying a fluid flow to a sensor means 63, means 67 for feeding fluid from said sensor means 63; sensor means for sensing a difference between fluid flow to said sensor means 63 and fluid flow from said sensor means 63; and means for comparing values generated by said sensor means 63 for sensing a difference in the air pressure to actuate movement of said focusing means (33) in response to a change in distance between said focusing means (33) and a workpiece.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 21 words

A sensing system as defined in claim 13, including means for generating an output signal to be received by a controller.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 36 words

A sensing system as defined in claim 12, including controller means for receiving said signal, said controller means being effective to generate an output signal to actuate means for effecting movement of said focusing means (33).

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 53 words

A sensing system as defined in claim 13, including pneumatic movement means (32) for movement of said focusing means (33), pneumatic switch means (69), for generating an electrical output signal, amplifying means (73) for receiving said output signal, and generating an output control signal, and actuating means responsive to said output control signal.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1995-06-02	1995-12-02	1996-06-02	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1999-06-02	1999-12-02	2000-06-02	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2003-06-02	2003-12-02	2004-06-02	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Beam delivery apparatus

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