Apparatus and method for laser cutting using a support member having a gold facing layer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10286489-B2
Application number	US-201113976514-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 29, 2011
Priority date	Dec 30, 2010
Publication date	May 14, 2019
Grant date	May 14, 2019

Abstract

The present application relates to an apparatus ( 52 ) for supporting sheet material during cutting by laser radiation comprising a support member ( 42 ) having a gold facing layer. A method for cutting sheet material using such apparatus is also defined.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for laser converting sheet material, the apparatus comprising a support member having a gold facing layer and a laser radiating station that emits laser radiation suitable for cutting the sheet material, wherein the support member is configured to support a sheet material in a dimensionally and configurationally stable flat configuration in target position to the laser radiating station such that the sheet material is positioned in direct contact with the support member between the contact member and the laser radiating station such that the gold facing layer is in the entire path of laser radiation which passes through the sheet material.

2. An apparatus for laser converting sheet material, the apparatus comprising a support member having a gold facing layer and a laser radiating station that emits laser radiation suitable for cutting the sheet material, wherein the support member is configured to support a sheet material in a dimensionally and configurationally stable flat configuration in target position to the laser radiating station such that the sheet material is positioned in direct contact with the support member between the contact member and the laser radiating station such that the gold facing layer is in the path of laser radiation which passes through the sheet material, wherein the support member is a continuous belt.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the support member comprises a backing member.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the support member comprises a stainless steel backing member.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the support member comprises, in order on the first face of the backing member, a tie layer, an optional hardness enhancement layer, a buffer layer, a gold facing layer, and a transmissive low surface energy coating.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the tie layer comprises at least one of titanium nitride, zirconium nitride, and titanium aluminum nitride, and combinations thereof.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the support member has vacuum channels therethrough.

8. A method of laser converting sheet material comprising
(1) providing an apparatus of claim 1 ;
(2) providing the sheet material; and
(3) directing laser radiation at the sheet material to form cuts in the sheet material.

9. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the support member comprises a backing member.

10. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the support member comprises a stainless steel backing member.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the support member comprises, in order on the first face of the backing member, a tie layer, an optional hardness enhancement layer, a buffer layer, a gold facing layer, and a transmissive low surface energy coating.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the tie layer comprises at least one of titanium nitride, zirconium nitride, and titanium aluminum nitride, and combinations thereof.

13. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the support member has vacuum channels therethrough.

14. A method of laser converting sheet material comprising
(1) providing an apparatus of claim 2 ;
(2) providing the sheet material; and
(3) directing laser radiation at the sheet material to form cuts in the sheet material.

Assignees

• Wu Pingfan
• David Moses M
• Tait Bruce E
• Schuknecht Schoen A
• Theiss Steven D
• Studiner Iv Charles J
• Karg Jr Donovan C C
• 3M Innovative Properties Co

Inventors

• Wu Pingfan
• David Moses M
• Tait Bruce E
• Schuknecht Schoen A
• Theiss Steven D
• Studiner Iv Charles J
• Karg Jr Donovan C C

Classifications

• B23K26/38

  by boring or cutting · CPC title

• B23K2103/42

  Plastics other than composite materials · CPC title

• B23K2101/16

  Bands or sheets of indefinite length · CPC title

• B23K26/0838 Primary

  by using an endless conveyor belt · CPC title

• B23K26/0846 Primary

  for moving elongated workpieces longitudinally, e.g. wire or strip material · CPC title