Abstract: A method of fabrication of a filler neck for a fuel tank, comprising: a metal end portion having a first side wall and a longitudinal axis; and a filler comprising a second metal side wall, housed in the end portion and designed to house refuelling means. The method comprises at least one first step of laser welding for making a first weld, which is designed to connect the second side wall of the filler rigidly to the first side wall of the end portion.

Abstract: A method and equipment for laser welding of a breather pipe to a main pipe of a filler neck for the tank of a vehicle, in which a zero-offset focusing head is moved so as to focus a laser beam along a closed welding line extending along an area of joining between a seat carried by the main pipe and one end of the breather pipe engaging said seat.

Abstract: A perforating device for forming holes in cigarettes or similar items, whereby a laser beam, emitted by a laser source, is directed on to the cigarettes, engaged inside respective seats, by means of a mobile reflecting and focusing unit mounted for rotation about an axis, and a rotary reflecting element located on the aforementioned axis; the cigarettes turning about their axis and being conveyed transversely in relation to the same on a drum turning about the axis of the beam at the same speed as the rotary reflector; the drum having a speed different from the speed of the mobile unit and the ratio of the mobile unit speed and the drum speed is substantially, but not exactly, a multiple of said first speed; the mobile unit receiving the beam coaxially with the beam axis and deflecting it first outwards and then towards the beam axis; the focused beam being again deflected outwards towards the cigarettes by a ring of mirrors carried on the rotary reflecting element and equal in number to the seats on the drum

Abstract: A method for butt welding two metal pieces which are difficult to weld, particularly pieces of medium or high carbon content steel with the use of laser beams is accomplished by forming a groove in at least a surface of one of the pieces to be welded to define a pair of longitudinal ribs having flat frontal surfaces. The flat surfaces are placed against the surface of the other piece in welding position and the two ribs are welded simultaneously by means of opposed laser beams moving along the zone of contact between the ribs and the surface of the other piece. An alternate method involves the use of a sheet of welding material having an aperture therein which is located between the two pieces to be welded. The two laser beams move along opposite surfaces of the apertured sheet to weld the two pieces together by means of the intermediate sheet.

Abstract: A device for piercing holes in rod-shaped items particularly cigarettes, on which the items are housed inside respective recesses mounted so as to rotate around their own axes on a conveyor moving cross wise in relation to the recesses. A focusing lens is associated with each respective recess. When the conveyor is operated, the focusing lenses are struck successively by a pulsating laser beam and reflected by a reflecting device located between the laser source and the route travelled by the focusing lenses. The beam is then focused by the focusing lenses on to the periphery of the relative items as they turn.

Abstract: Laser beam focusing head having an unfocused-beam input, a focused-beam output and a lens located between the said input and the said output; the said head comprising a reflecting mirror between the said lens and the said output, and the said lens being located in such a position as to be directly invisible by the said output.

Abstract: Method of laser welding sheet metal protected by using low-vaporizing-temperature materials, whereby, before being subjected to a laser welding beam along a weld area, two metal sheets are placed on top of each other in such a manner that at least one layer of the said protecting material is located between the sheets at the weld area and that the weld area communicates directly externally of the weld area between the sheets whereby gases generated by vaporization of said protective material may escape from the weld area.

Abstract: A piercing device for piercing holes in cigarettes or similar smoking commodities, in which a laser beam emitted by a continuous laser source is directed, by a mobile reflecting and focusing unit, mounted in a rotary manner around an axis. A fixed reflecting member is arranged on the axis and the beam is reflected, on to each cigarette for piercing, the latter being arranged essentially coaxial with the axis and being carried crosswise in relation to it on a rotary drum. The mobile unit receives the laser beam in a direction coaxial with the axis and diverts it first outwards and then inwards to a fixed point on the axis. The focused beam is diverted on to each cigarette by the fixed reflecting member which is provided with two rings of fixed mirrors.

Abstract: A piercing device for piercing holes in cigarettes or similar smoking commodities, in which a laser beam emitted by a continuous laser source is directed, by a mobile reflecting and focusing unit, mounted in a rotary manner around an axis a fixed reflecting member is arranged on the axis and the beam is reflected on to the cigarettes for piercing, while the latter turn round their own axis and travel crosswise in relation to the axis of the beam.The mobile unit receives the laser beam in a direction coaxial with the axis and diverts it first outwards and then towards the latter. The focused beam is derived on to the cigarettes by a ring of mirrors with which the reflecting member is provided.

Abstract: Piercing device for piercing holes in cigarettes or similar smoking commodities, in which a laser beam emitted by a continuous laser source is "pulsated" by a mobile reflecting element, assembled in rotary manner round a fixed axis, and a fixed reflecting element optically connected to the said mobile reflecting element and provided with a faceted reflecting body in the shape of an irregular pyramid designed to define, for each "pulse", a focus on the surface of the said cigarette being pierced, and endowed, in relation to the latter and throughout the length of the pulse, with relatively zero speed.