System and method of laser marking produce

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017239754-A1
Application number	US-201515518907-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 22, 2015
Priority date	Oct 22, 2014
Publication date	Aug 24, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present invention provides systems and methods for laser marking of produce with a laser beam with a center wavelength in the mid-infra-red region without the need for additional surface agents or chemicals to enhance the marking. The present invention further provides produce marked by a laser beam with a center wavelength in the mid-infra-red regions that is free of any additional surface agents or chemicals.

First claim

1 . A laser system for producing a laser beam sufficient to mark produce without the need for additional surface agents or chemicals, the system comprising:
a laser module capable of producing a laser beam with a center wavelength in the mid-infra-red region, a beam delivery system configured to deliver the laser beam to the external surface of the produce; control means for receiving a graphic input to be scribed onto the external surface of produce and for setting a scribing speed for scribing the graphic output on the produce; and a substrate suitable for positioning the produce so it may be scribed.

2 . The laser system of claim 1 , wherein the laser module has a laser beam with a center wavelength in the range from 1900 to 2100 nm.

3 . The laser system of claim 2 , wherein the laser module is a fiber laser module, the active fiber therein substantially doped with Thulium.

4 . The laser system of claim 1 , wherein the laser module is configured to run in continuous wave operation.

5 . A method of scribing produce with a laser beam free from the requirement of a surface agent or chemical to enhance the scribe, the method comprising:
Selecting a laser beam in the mid-infra-red spectrum suitable to be absorbed by the skin or surface of a produce free of a skin; Preselecting a graphic or word to be scribed on the surface of the produce; and Exposing the produce to the laser beam for a time and power sufficient to permanently scribe the pre-selected graphic or word on the produce, wherein the skin or surface of the produce is free of any additional agent or chemical needed to enhance the pre-selected graphic.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the laser beam selected has a center wavelength in the range of 1900 to 2100 nm.

7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the pre-selected graphic is a quick response code or a universal product code.

8 . Produce having a pre-selected graphic that is free from additional surface agents or chemicals prepared by a process comprising the steps of:
providing a laser module capable of producing a laser beam with a center wavelength in the mid-infra-red region; providing a beam delivery system configured to deliver the laser beam to the external surface of the produce; selecting a laser beam in said mid-infra-red region suitable to be absorbed by the external surface of the produce; and exposing produce free of any additional surface agents or chemicals to the laser beam for a time, power and in a pattern sufficient to permanently mark the produce with the pre-selected graphic.

9 . The produce of claim 8 , wherein the pre-selected graphic is a quick response code or a universal product code.

Assignees

• Ipg Photonics Corp

Inventors

• Hoult Anthony

Classifications

• B23K2103/32

  Material from living organisms, e.g. skins · CPC title

• B23K26/352 Primary

  for surface treatment · CPC title

• G06K19/06037

  multi-dimensional coding · CPC title

• B23K26/355

  Texturing · CPC title

• G06K19/06121

  the marking having been punched or cut out, e.g. a barcode machined in a metal work-piece · CPC title