Laser Marking Enclosure With Gated Ports for Light Containment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laser marking apparatuses in casting facilities face challenges in completely shielding laser light within the operation space, leading to leakage due to the need for carrying-in and carrying-out ports for molds, which complicates the suppression of laser light exposure to the surrounding environment.
Innovation Solution
A laser marking apparatus is integrated into a conveyance line with a light-shielding case that includes carrying-in and carrying-out ports, featuring a light-shielding gate that closes during mold entry and opens after marking, ensuring the laser light is contained within the operation space, and optionally providing additional shielding at both ports for enhanced containment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a light-shielding member is provided to cover the operation space of the laser marking apparatus, then laser light leakage is suppressed, but the carrying-in and carrying-out ports prevent complete coverage
Solution Approach 1:
The light-shielding member is divided into a fixed light-shielding case and a movable light-shielding gate. The case provides permanent shielding for the operation space, while the gate selectively opens/closes to allow mold passage. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by maintaining continuous shielding structure while providing access ports through controlled opening rather than permanent gaps.
Solution Approach 2:
The light-shielding gate is made movable between open and closed positions based on operational requirements. During mold conveyance, the gate opens to allow passage; during laser marking, the gate closes to prevent light leakage. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between needing open ports for access and requiring closed shielding for safety.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the light-shielding gate is kept closed to prevent laser light leakage, then safety is improved, but mold conveyance is blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The light-shielding gate dynamically switches between closed (safety) and open (conveyance) states based on operational phase. The control unit coordinates gate opening during mold entry/exit and closing during laser marking, resolving the contradiction by making the shielding adaptive rather than static.
Solution Approach 2:
The light-shielding gate opens in advance before mold conveyance begins and closes before laser marking starts. This preliminary action ensures that the gate is in the correct position for the upcoming operation, preventing conflicts between conveyance and safety requirements.
3Productivity
If carrying-in and carrying-out ports are provided for mold conveyance, then productivity is improved, but laser light leakage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The light-shielding structure is segmented into a fixed case with permanent ports and a movable gate that selectively covers the ports. This allows the ports to remain open for productivity while the gate provides dynamic shielding to prevent light leakage when not in use.
Solution Approach 2:
The light-shielding gate acts as an intermediary element between the open ports (needed for productivity) and the laser light (causing harm). It allows mold passage through the ports while blocking laser light, mediating between the conflicting requirements of productivity and safety.
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
This configuration effectively suppresses laser light leakage to the outside environment during identifier marking on molds on a conveyance line, ensuring safe operation and maintaining the integrity of the laser marking process by preventing interference and extending the life of the light source and head.
Implementation Method 1
a light-shielding gate provided at either the carrying-in port or the carrying-out port and openable and closable... This enables the laser marking apparatus to suppress leakage of the laser light from the operation space to the outside
Data Source
AI summary
A laser marking apparatus includes a head marking the identifier on a mold, a light-shielding case, a light-shielding gate provided at either a carrying-in port or a carrying-out port of the light-shielding case, and a control unit controlling operation of the head and operation of the light-shielding gate, and the control unit closes the light-shielding gate and causes the head to start a marking operation on the mold in response to carrying-in of the mold into the operation space and opens the light-shielding gate in response to the marking operation ending.