Wide-Field Matrix Laser Marking With Symbol Striping to Prevent Clipping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial laser printing systems face challenges in efficiently printing product codes on moving products due to limited laser exposure windows and high laser deflection motion, leading to potential clipping issues and reduced print quality.
Innovation Solution
The method involves grouping discrete symbols into separate symbol groups based on location, organizing them into macro-level stripes perpendicular to product motion, and adding extra distance or time delays between stripes to prevent clipping, while prioritizing print order based on symbol group and stripe entry times within the laser aperture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If laser marking device prints code on moving products using traditional sequential printing method, then printing can be performed on product surface, but laser deflection motion is excessive and print quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The code is divided into multiple symbol groups that are organized into stripes. The laser marking device prints one stripe at a time, processing symbols in organized batches rather than sequential individual printing. This segmentation reduces laser deflection motion by grouping printing operations and improves print quality through more controlled, localized printing passes.
2Manufacturing precision
If laser marking device uses limited exposure window for printing, then printing on moving products is possible, but clipping issues occur and print quality decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-calculates the optimal print path and organizes symbols into stripes before printing begins. By determining the printing sequence and stripe organization in advance, the system ensures that all symbols within the laser's exposure window are captured completely, preventing clipping issues while maintaining high print quality on moving products.
3Productivity
If laser marking device prints all symbols in code sequentially, then complete code printing is achieved, but effective use of laser exposure window is reduced and print time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stripe organization method enables continuous printing operations where the laser processes complete stripes sequentially without unnecessary repositioning. By organizing symbols into logical stripes that can be printed in continuous passes, the system maximizes the utilization of the laser's exposure window and reduces idle time, thereby improving overall printing productivity.
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 approach increases the effective use of the laser's exposure window, reduces deflection motion, and improves print quality by up to 25% in wide field laser marking applications, allowing for successful printing on both slow and fast-moving products without speed control, and optimizing print time on stationary products.
Implementation Method 1
a laser marking device configured to direct a laser beam in two orthogonal directions to move between different locations and to dwell at the different locations to form marks on the one or more products
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B~2C
Figure 3
AI summary
Systems and methods for laser printing product codes on products include, in at least one aspect, a system including: a laser marking device that directs a laser beam to dwell at different locations to form marks on the products; and a controller that obtains a code to be printed, groups discrete symbols in the code with each other into separate symbol groups based on locations of the discrete symbols in the code, organizes symbol(s) in each respective symbol group into one or more stripes in a direction perpendicular to a direction of motion of the products, adds extra distance or time delay between stripes in at least one of the separate symbol groups to prevent clipping of a symbol by the laser marking device by the laser marking device's print aperture, and causes the laser marking device to direct the laser beam in accordance with the separate symbol groups.