Patent ID: 7952602

Claim:
Apparatus for marking on tape, comprising: a laser arranged to emit a beam of laser radiation; projection optics arranged to focus the beam to a focal point of the projection optics on the tape, wherein the projection optics include a first lens arranged to collimate the beam of laser radiation from the laser and a second lens arranged to focus the collimated beam; an arrangement for rotating at least a part of the projection optics arrangement with the respect to the laser in a manner such that the focal point is swept generally transverse to a length direction of the tape; and a mechanical arrangement for driving the tape in the length direction thereof with respect to the focused beam, such that the focal point moves over the tape about parallel to the length direction thereof and wherein the first lens is held in a fixed relationship with the laser, wherein the projection optics further includes first and second turning mirrors, the second turning mirror and the second lens being mounted on a support member rotatable reciprocally in a plane parallel to the length direction of the tape about an axis spaced apart from the laser, wherein the first turning mirror of the projection optics is arranged to receive the collimated bean from the first lens and to maintain the collimated beam directed to the second turning mirror, wherein the second turning mirror is arranged to direct the collimated beam to the second lens in a direction about perpendicular to the plane of rotation of the support member, and wherein the second lens is arranged to focus the collimated beam to the focal point on the tape and wherein the support member is rotated about the rotation axis at a first angular rate and maintenance of the collimated beam directed to the second turning mirror is accomplished by rotating the second turning mirror about the rotation axis at a second angular rate, with the second angular rate being about one-half of the first angular rate.