Galvanometer Laser Scanner for PET Bottle Marking
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manual separation of labels and caps from PET bottles during recycling is inconvenient and hampers mass consumption recycling, as existing laser processing technologies struggle to efficiently form complex patterns with high resolution and speed on plastic bottles.
Innovation Solution
A laser processing apparatus comprising a light emitter, a light scanner, and a conveyor that scans and conveys PET bottles in orthogonal directions, using raster scanning and minute-dot writing to form high-resolution patterns, such as character strings, by adjusting scanning and conveying speeds to minimize non-processing time and increase productivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a polygon mirror is used for optical scanning, then the scanning speed can be increased, but the laser resistance deteriorates when higher power laser is used for mass production
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical polygon mirror system with a galvanometer-based optical scanning system. The galvanometer uses electromagnetic fields to deflect a stationary or slowly rotating mirror, eliminating the mechanical centrifugal forces and vibrations that limit polygon mirror performance at high speeds. This substitution maintains high scanning speed while improving reliability under high-power laser irradiation.
2Loss of information
If the scanning area is increased to form complex patterns, then the information capacity is improved, but the processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous scanning motion with the galvanometer system, eliminating the need to stop and reposition between different parts of the pattern. The optical beam continuously traces the complex pattern paths, maintaining constant motion and laser processing action throughout the entire scanning sequence, thereby reducing idle time while accommodating large scanning areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The galvanometer system dynamically adjusts the scanning speed and beam position in real-time based on the pattern complexity and location. The system can accelerate through simpler pattern sections and decelerate through detailed areas, optimizing the trade-off between information capacity and processing time through dynamic motion control.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables the direct, high-speed formation of complex patterns with higher resolution on PET bottles, enhancing recycling efficiency by reducing manual intervention and improving the speed and accuracy of information display on plastic bottles.
Implementation Method 1
a light emitter to emit laser light; a light scanner to scan a workpiece in a scanning direction with the laser light emitted from the light emitter, to process the workpiece
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2C
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
A laser processing apparatus (20) includes: a light emitter (23) to emit laser light; a light scanner (29) to scan a workpiece (21) in a scanning direction with the laser light emitted from the light emitter (23), to process the workpiece (21); and a conveyor (22) to convey the workpiece (21) to a scanning area scanned by the light scanner (29) in a conveying direction (A) orthogonal to the scanning direction, a longitudinal direction of the scanning area is in the scanning direction (A).