Abstract:
An example apparatus includes a first axle extending from a left side support to a right side support, the first axle configured to axially rotate; a second axle extending from the left side support to the right side support and being substantially parallel to the first axle, the second axle configured to axially rotate, the second axle and the first axle being spaced apart. Each of the first axle and second axle include two or more lower support wheel assemblies and two or more higher support wheel assemblies alternatingly positioned along each axle. The higher support wheel assemblies have a larger diameter than the lower support wheel assemblies, and each of the lower support wheel assemblies and the higher support wheel assemblies are configured to axially rotate with a corresponding axle.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Laser etching is used to imprint text, images or other graphics on various materials. For example, laser etching can be used to personalize a variety of objects, such as glasses, for example. In conventional systems, one object at a time is etched with a laser source. Further, laser etching on devices with non-flat surfaces can present difficulties in the etching process. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding of various examples, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of an example apparatus and an example product for use with the example apparatus; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a top view of the example apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a side view of the example apparatus of  FIG. 1  loaded with four example objects; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a detailed view of a section of the example apparatus of  FIGS. 1-3 ; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a cross-sectional view taken along  5 - 5  of  FIG. 3 ; and 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a cross-sectional view taken along  6 - 6  of  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Various examples described below provide an apparatus for supporting a plurality of products in a manner that allows the plurality of products to be laser etched. The products are supported such that a surface to be laser etched of each of the products is rotatably positioned on a plane or a line that may represent a focal position of the laser source. Thus, while conventional systems may provide a single rotary tool to etch a single item, using the various examples described herein, multiple products can be simultaneously mounted on the apparatus for etching by a single laser source, with each of the multiple products positioned on the laser focal plane or line. In addition, while the examples herein are described for use in laser etching, other uses for the examples are contemplated within the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the apparatus may be used for printing on a cylindrical or conical surface where the print head is positioned close to the surface. In various examples, the printing may be laser printing or ultraviolet (UV) printing. 
     An example apparatus  100  is described below with reference to  FIGS. 1-6 . The example apparatus  100  is formed with a base  110  that extends the length of the apparatus  100 . In the illustrated example apparatus  100 , the base  110  is a single piece. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the base  110  may be formed in a variety of manners which are contemplated within the scope of the present disclosure. The length of the base  110  may be selected to particular applications. For example, the base  110  may be provided with a length to accommodate the limits of a laser device. In other examples, the base  110  may have a length to accommodate a desired number of objects. As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the example apparatus  100  is provided with a base  110  with a length to accommodate four example objects, such as glasses  400 . 
     The example apparatus  100  is provided with side supports  120 ,  130  at each end of the base  110 . The side supports  120 ,  130  extend vertically upward from the base. The size of the side supports  120 ,  130  may be selected according to desired parameters, such as strength and particular application of the example apparatus  100 . 
     In the illustrated example, one side support  130  is provided with a gear assembly  140  to provide for the rotation of two parallel axles  150 ,  160 . The gear assembly  140  may also include a drive motor (not shown) and other components, such as a power supply. Such gear assemblies are well known to those skilled in the art, and a detailed discussion of such gear assemblies is unnecessary in this disclosure. The gear assembly  140  of the example apparatus  100  causes axial rotation of the two parallel axles  150 ,  160  in the same direction. Thus, the axles  150 ,  160  may both be selectively rotated in either direction. A control cable  180  may be used to provide instruction signals to the gear assembly  140 . For example, a controller, such as a computer CPU (not shown) may be connected to the apparatus  100  and may provide electronic signals to the gear assembly  140  to control operation of the apparatus, including rotation direction and speed of the axles  150 ,  160 . 
     The axles  150 ,  160  extend from the gear assembly  140  in one side support  130  to the other side support  120 , where the axles  150 ,  160  may be allowed to freely rotate. As illustrated in  FIGS. 1-6 , the axles  150 ,  160  are spaced apart from each other. In various examples, the spacing between the axles  150 ,  160  may be made variable and may be sufficient to provide room for support wheels  200 ,  300  mounted thereon, as described in greater detail below. The axles  150 ,  160  may be formed of a variety of materials, such as steel or aluminum, for example, and are provided with sufficient strength and rigidity to stably support the objects to be etched, such as the four glasses  400  illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
     Each axle  150 ,  160  is provided with a plurality of support wheel assemblies  200   a - d ,  300   a - d . As illustrated in the example of  FIGS. 1-6 , the example apparatus  100  is provided with alternating lower support wheel assemblies  200   a - d  and higher support wheel assemblies  300   a - d  mounted on each axle  150 ,  160 . A set of four wheel assemblies, two on each axle, provide support for one object. For examples, lower support wheel assemblies  200   a  and higher support wheel assemblies  300   a  on each axle  150 ,  160  may provide support for a single glass. Thus, the example apparatus  100  illustrated in  FIGS. 1-6  provides four sets of wheel assemblies  200   a - d ,  300   a - d  to provide support for four glasses. 
     Within each set of support wheel assemblies, the separation between the lower support wheel assembly  200   a  and the higher support wheel assembly  300   a  may be made variable, as described in greater detail below. A spacer  170  may be provided between the sets of support wheel assemblies (e.g., between higher support wheel assembly  300   b  and lower support wheel assembly  200   c ) to maintain sufficient separation between the sets of support wheel assemblies. 
     The example apparatus  100  may be used for laser etching of a plurality of objects mounted on the apparatus  100 . Simultaneously mounting a plurality of objects on the apparatus for laser etching can significantly increase throughput by reducing the time required to set up the apparatus and the laser. Often, the object may have a shape that presents obstacles to etching of multiple objects on a single mounting. For example, the object to be etched may be a glass, such as the glass  400  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The glass may have a generally truncated conical shape with a wide end  410  and a narrow end  420  with a tapered side wall  430 . 
     In the laser etching process, the surface to be etched is placed at a focal length from the laser source. In order to etch the outer surface of a non-flat object, such as the glass  400 , the object may be moved during the etching process to maintain the point being etched at the focal point. The example apparatus  100  allows a plurality of objects to be maintained at a focal length from a laser source (not shown). For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the side wall of each of the four glasses  400  is maintained along a focal length from a laser source positioned above the apparatus. The focal point of the laser, which may be translated in a direction parallel to the axles  150 ,  160 , is indicated in  FIG. 3  by the dotted line  450 , referred to herein as the focal line  450 . 
     Thus, with reference to  FIG. 3 , the laser source may scan from left to right to etch each glass  400  mounted on the apparatus  100 . As the laser scans from left to right, the desired text, graphic or other such etching may be etched on each of the plurality of objects. In order to provide precise an accurate etching, the surface to be etched should be at approximately the focal point. 
     In this regard, the example apparatus  100  allows positioning of multiple objects, such as glasses  400 , in the desired position and allows for rotating of the objects to allow different points of the non-flat surface to be etched. Thus, in the illustrated examples, the glasses may be positioned to rest on the support wheel assemblies  200 ,  300 . The support wheel assemblies  200 ,  300  may be sized and positioned such that an edge of the side wall of the glasses  400  is aligned with the focal line  450 . The support wheel assemblies  200 ,  300  are provided with different diameters to account for the varying radius of the truncated conical shape of the glass  400 . Further, the distance between the support wheel assemblies  200 ,  300  may be varied to accommodate different sizes and shapes of the glasses  400 , as well as different types of objects with a variety of shapes. Thus, while the examples illustrated in  FIGS. 1-6  show the object to be etched as a glass having a truncated conical shape, a variety of other objects having a variety of shapes are contemplated within the scope of the present disclosure. By way of a non-limiting example, the objects may include vases for flowers having a variety of shapes. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 4-6 , an example of a set of support wheel assemblies is described in greater detail. As noted above, the set of support wheel assemblies includes a lower support wheel assembly  200  and a higher support wheel assembly  300 . The lower support wheel assembly  200  includes a lower support wheel  210 , and the higher support wheel assembly  300  includes a higher support wheel  310 . As illustrated in the examples of  FIGS. 4-6 , the lower support wheel  210  has a smaller diameter than the higher support wheel  310 , with each support wheel  210 ,  310  fixedly rotating with an axle  150 ,  160 . The lower support wheel  210  is positioned around a lower support wheel hub  220 . The lower support wheel hub  220  secures the lower support wheel assembly  200  to the axle with a set screw  225 . The set screw  225  may be tightened to securely position the lower support wheel assembly  200  to the axle and may be loosened to allow re-positioning of the lower support wheel assembly  200  to another position, for example. In various examples, the lower support wheel  210  and the lower support wheel hub  220  may be integrally formed. 
     Similarly, the higher support wheel  310  may be positioned around a higher support wheel hub  320 . The higher support wheel hub  320  secures the higher support wheel assembly  300  to the axle with a set screw  325 . The set screw  325  may be tightened or loosened to securely position or to allow re-positioning of, respectively, the higher support wheel assembly  300 . In various examples, the higher support wheel  310  and the higher support wheel hub  320  may be integrally formed. 
     Each of the lower support wheel  210  and the higher support wheel  310  may be provided with a rubber O-ring  230 ,  330  around the outer edge of the support wheels  210 ,  310 . The O-ring  230 ,  330  may provide a desired amount of friction between the support wheels  210 ,  310  and the object to be etched. Thus, when the axle is rotated, causing the support wheels  210 ,  310  to rotate, the object resting on the wheels may rotate in the opposite direction. In the case of the glass  400 , the rotation allows etching to be performed on all portions of the side wall  430  of the glass  400 . 
     The lower support wheel assembly  200  is also provided with a stopper  240 . The stopper  240  provides for a guide for the positioning of the glass  400  on the support wheel assemblies  200 ,  300 . Further, the stopper  240  prevents unintentional lateral movement of the object. As illustrated most clearly in  FIG. 3 , the wide end  410  of the glass rests on the lower wheel  210  and against the stopper  240 . The glass  400  is forced against the stopper  240  by gravity, and the stopper  240  prevents further lateral movement of the glass  240 . 
     In operation, a user may mount multiple objects, such as glasses, on the apparatus. As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , for example, each object may be mounted on a set of support wheels  210 ,  310 . A wider portion of the object, such as the wide end  410  of the glass  400  may be positioned on the lower support wheels  210 , and the narrower portion of the object, such as the narrow end  420  of the glass, may be positioned on the higher support wheels  310 . In the illustrated examples, the narrow portion and the wider portion are at or near the ends of the glass  400 . In other examples, one or both of the narrow portion and the wider portion may be away from an end of the object. Further, while the examples illustrate a set of support wheels including two wheels on each axle, in other examples, additional wheels may be used. 
     After mounting of the objects, a controller may control operation of the apparatus  100 , as well as a laser source. In this regard, the controller may coordinate the portion of the object being etched by controlling the rotation of the object through rotation of the axles  150 ,  160  with operation of the laser source. Thus, the controller may etch a desired text, image or other graphic on the object  400 . In various examples, each object mounted on the apparatus may be etched with the identical graphic, or a different object may be etched on one or more of the objects mounted on the apparatus. In further examples, the objects mounted on the apparatus  100  may be identical to each other (e.g., the four identical glasses  400  illustrated in  FIG. 3 ) or may be of different sizes and/or shapes from each other. In this regard, while the rotation of each object is related to the rotation of the other objects mounted on the apparatus, the etching of each object may be wholly independent from etching of the other objects. 
     Thus, in accordance with various examples of the present disclosure, a greater throughput of laser etched objects may be produced. Further, as noted above, in addition to laser etching, the various examples may be used for various other applications which are contemplated within the scope of the present disclosure including, but not limited to, laser printing or UV printing. The various examples set forth herein are described in terms of example block diagrams, flow charts and other illustrations. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the illustrated examples and their various alternatives can be implemented without confinement to the illustrated examples. For example, block diagrams and their accompanying description should not be construed as mandating a particular architecture or configuration.