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United States Patent 6,423,932
Lawson July 23, 2002

Apparatus and method for high speed laser perforation of webs

Abstract

An apparatus and method for high speed laser perforation of a web involves a web-bearing cylinder receiving the web in a wrapped spiral pattern. The web-bearing cylinder includes a slit along a circular circumference of the cylinder. A laser guiding tube is provided for propagation of a laser beam within the web-bearing cylinder. An inner cylinder is also provided in the web-bearing cylinder. The inner cylinder has an axis, supports a reflecting mirror adjacent to the laser guiding tube to direct the laser beam in the slit in the web-bearing cylinder, and is rotatable around the axis to adjust an orientation of the reflecting mirror so as to direct the laser beam around the circular circumference of the web-bearing cylinder in the slit.


Inventors: Lawson; William E. (1917 County Rd. I, Somerset, WI 54025)
Appl. No.: 785867
Filed: February 16, 2001

Current U.S. Class: 219/121.7; 219/121.71
Intern'l Class: B23K 026/38
Field of Search: 219/121.6,121.74,121.7,121.71 131/281


References Cited

U.S. Patent Documents
3594261Jul., 1971Broerman219/121.
3808394Apr., 1974Mominee et al.219/121.
4302654Nov., 1981Bennett et al.219/121.
4507535Mar., 1985Bennett et al.219/121.
4843207Jun., 1989Urbanek219/121.
4961080Oct., 1990Henderson et al.
6038487Mar., 2000Balster et al.

Primary Examiner: Evans; Geoffrey S.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Kinney & Lange, P.A.

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