Patent ID: 9029731
Filing Date: 2015-05-12
Classification: B23K

Abstract:
1. A system for processing a continuously moving sheet material, the system comprising: one or more laser processing heads configured to illuminate the moving sheet material with one or more laser beams, the one or more laser processing heads configured to move the one or more laser beams through a laser processing area; a pair of rollers for feeding the sheet material through the laser processing area at a first velocity; a moving vacuum chuck on a conveyor configured to removably affix a first portion of the moving sheet material to the moving vacuum chuck, the moving vacuum chuck further configured to move through the laser processing area at a second velocity so as to control movement of the first portion of the moving sheet material at said second velocity as the first portion is processed by the one or more laser beams; and one or more feedback sensors configured to sense the second velocity relative to the first velocity; and a controller configured to, based on relative indications between the first and second velocities provided by the one or more feedback sensors, coordinate relative motions between the moving vacuum chuck, the pair of rollers, and the one or more laser processing heads to laser process the moving sheet material, wherein the moving sheet material remains in continuous motion between the pair of rollers at the first velocity; and wherein the moving vacuum chuck transports singulated pieces of the moving sheet material to a receiving tray.