Retractable Laser Engraving Enclosure for Setup Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing laser engraving devices have inconvenient and difficult-to-use enclosure arrangements, particularly for inserting and setting up products during the engraving process, which hinder efficient operation.

Innovation Solution

A 360-degree accessible enclosure that can be vertically extended and retracted, allowing adjustment of the distance between the laser and the product, while maintaining full enclosure, using telescoping members and guide rails for easy operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the enclosure is fixed and fully enclosed during operation, then safety and beam containment are improved, but access for inserting and setting up products becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety and beam containmentVSAvoidaccess for inserting and setting up products

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The enclosure transitions from a fixed structure to a dynamic one that can open and close. The enclosure includes movable walls that can be opened to provide 360-degree access during setup, then closed during operation to ensure safety and beam containment. This dynamic configuration allows the system to adapt between two operational states: open for loading/setup and closed for engraving.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Device complexity

If the enclosure height is fixed, then structural simplicity is maintained, but adjustment of laser-to-product distance for proper focal length becomes impossible

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidadjustment of laser-to-product distance

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The enclosure height is made adjustable through telescoping members that allow the enclosure to extend vertically. This enables the laser-to-product distance to be modified for different focal length requirements while maintaining a relatively simple base structure. The telescoping mechanism provides the necessary adaptability without requiring a completely complex structural redesign.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The telescoping members of the enclosure are nested within each other, allowing the enclosure to extend and retract in a compact manner. This nesting arrangement provides vertical adjustment capability while minimizing the space required when the enclosure is in its retracted state, and maintains structural simplicity through the nested configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Reliability

If the enclosure is fully enclosed during setup, then safety is improved, but operational convenience for product insertion and setup becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesafetyVSAvoidoperational convenience for product insertion and setup

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The enclosure is designed to be dynamically configurable, opening during the setup phase to allow easy product insertion and positioning from any direction (360-degree access), then closing during the engraving operation to provide safety and beam containment. This temporal separation of open and closed states resolves the contradiction between safety and ease of setup.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS9216476B1Enclosure for laser engraving device

Publication Date: 2015.12.22 TYKMA

AI summary

A laser engraving device includes a retractable enclosure which provides full access to the product to be engraved for set-up while providing complete enclosure of the product during the engraving operation.