| United States Patent | 5,851,335 |
| Budnik, et. al. | Dec. 22, 1998 |
Abstract
A method of imprinting a workpiece includes lasing the workpiece to create a depression or other opening, depositing a laser-fusible polymer material into the depression, and then lasing the material so as to fuse the material into the depression. Preferably, the laser-fusible polymer material is fusible in the near infrared spectrum. An alternate method for imprinting using colored powder paints includes an additional step of heating the workpiece to ensure thermosetting of the colored powder paint. Laser fusible materials having particular physical characteristics and compositions may be used to facilitate the process.
| Inventors: | Budnik; Daniel J. (Cheshire, CT); Condit; David A. (Avon, CT). |
| Assignee: | Otis Elevator Company (Farmington, CT). |
| Appl. No.: | 895,312 |
| Filed: | Jul. 16, 1997 |
| Continuation-in-part of Ser No. 594,053, Jan. 30, 1996. |
| Intl. Cl. : | B32B 31/24 |
| Current U.S. Cl.: | 156/257; 156/272.8; 219/121.72; 264/126; 427/555 |
| Field of Search: | 156/272.8, 257; 427/198, 510, 516, 555, 556, 275; 219/121.68, 121.72, 121.85, 121.64, 121.65, 121.66; 264/126, 267 |
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