Patent ID: 6180950
Filing Date: 2001-01-30
Classification: B29B,B29C,B29L,D02J,D06M,Y10T

Abstract:
An improved apparatus for non-contact quantum mechanical heating of a thermoplastic fiber by resonant energy absorption of laser energy by the fiber, the apparatus comprising in combination:a) means for illuminating at least one thermal plastic fiber with an intense light source from a carbon monoxide continuous wave laser beam of resonant frequency for the prescribed fiber being treated; said means comprising a microheater cell having an internal reflective coating which is wave-length dependent on the laser beam;b) means for traversing the fiber to be treated across the path of the laser beam in a direction perpendicular to the beam of radiation from the laser source; andc) means for adjusting the rate of traversement of the fiber to maintain the temperature of the thermoplastic fiber within a temperature range of about five percent below the melting point of the thermoplastic fiber to continuously heat the fiber by resonant energy absorption of the laser beam.