Abstract: A nozzle plate for an ink-jet printer includes a base plate and a water-repellent film formed over one major surface of the base plate. The water-repellent film is subjected to heat treatment for a given processing time at a processing temperature higher than the softening point of the material forming the water-repellent film after forming a nozzle hole through the base plate and the water-repellent film by a nozzle hole forming process. The heat treatment softens and substantially flattens burrs in the water-repellent film formed in the nozzle hole forming process.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for making a moving body of material (26). The method includes the steps of directing at the moving body a high energy density beam (46,58), concentrating the beam so as to produce an illuminated spot at a location on or within the moving body, and moving the spot in accordance with the resultant of two components of movement, the first component being equal to the velocity of the moving body and the second component being relative to the moving body, so as to create a mark of a predetermined shape. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes at least one movable galvanometer mirror (68,70) capable of moving the spot in accordance with the resultant of the two components.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for removing material from moving metal workpieces, in particular for cutting sheet metal. It entails preheating, without melting, the surface of the workpiece to a temperature at which ignition is triggered by a combustible gas directed onto the preheated section as a jet under pressure, while burnt material from the workpiece is blown away from the cut recess thus produced. In order to achieve smooth edges on large-gauge workpieces with a relatively high feed-rate, a laser beam is also directed onto the cutting front in the cut recess.

Abstract: A laser plotter having the ability to cut registration holes while the medium is in a plotting location within the laser plotter is disclosed. The plotter includes laser plotting apparatus and laser cutting apparatus whose axes of rotation are identical. The laser plotting and laser cutting apparatus can utilize the same or different optical paths. The laser plotting apparatus can perform raster and vector scanning motions.

Abstract: There is disclosed a system and assemblage for producing microtexturized surfaces on implants for use in vertebrate animals, including humans and on substrates for use in growing and developing tissues and/or cells in vitro. By using the disclosed system and assemblage, the geometric configuration and the dimensions of the microtexturized surfaces can be pre-determined to impart a customized design texture on the implant or substrate surface thereby optimizing implant acceptance by and durability in the host tissue and the in vitro promotion of the growth and development of various types of cell tissue on substrates.

Abstract: A conductor pattern test apparatus comprises a DC voltage power source for applying a predetermined DC voltage to an end of one of a plurality of conductor patterns arranged in parallel with each other, a current measurement circuit for measuring a current flowing to another conductor pattern adjacent to the one of the conductor patterns via the end by the DC voltage power source to the end, and a short-circuit position calculation circuit for calculating a resistance value from the end to a short-circuited part of the two conductor patterns adjacent to each other, based on the current value measured by the current measurement circuit and the voltage value applied by the DC power source, and locating a position of the short-circuited part based on the calculated resistance value and a resistance value of a conductor pattern having no short-circuit. A disconnection position calculator calculates a capacitance value from voltage values.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning equipment surfaces using a laser. A barrier layer is provided at a surface to be cleaned prior to being impinged by light from a laser in order to avoid degradation in the form of oxidation of the surface. The laser light causes residual material on the surface to be removed while the barrier layer ensures that energy from the laser light is evenly distributed. In addition, the barrier layer shields the surface from oxygen to thereby prevent oxidation of the surface.

Abstract: A laser cutting machine having a cutting head that is positionable in X-, Y- and Z- directions and which comprises a laser oscillator for supplying a beam via a plurality of mirrors to the cutting head and onto a workpiece mounted on a flat table surface with rising rollers or a retractable rotatable support in the table. The locations and center-of-gravity positions of the machine components are disposed for optimum maneuverability and balance. The plurality of mirrors in the optical system have a first bend mirror, that is a precision-adjustable, circular-polarizing mirror, and a plurality of subsequent bend mirrors that are disposed to counterbalance any resulting phase shift amounts. The subsequent mirrors can be ES or PS coated mirrors and can be accompanied by convex, concave, collimating, etc. mirrors and lenses as needed.

Abstract: A materials processing apparatus for performing a work operation on sheet material with a laser is provided. The apparatus includes a scanning laser which focuses a laser beam onto a work surface along a pre-programmed path. The apparatus also includes a work table which provides a precisely planar support surface for supporting sheet material during a work operation performed by the laser.

Abstract: A desired design for electronic structures is converted into a graphic design format and sorted into a pseudo-raster format corresponding to scan lines. A laser or other machining beam is controlled by a separate tracking beam utilizing a mid-objective scanning system. The firing frequency of the machining beam is determined by the position of the tracking beam on a detector, as compared to the scan line data. Accuracy is verified by detection of plume or spectra generated during machining. Alignment of the machining and tracking beams is by interferometric methods. The system improves optical performance parameters of telecentricity, angle of scanned beam line, location of line in which the scanned line resides, astigmatism and field curvature.

Abstract: A desired design for electronic structures is converted into a graphic design format and sorted into a pseudo-raster format corresponding to scan lines. A laser or other machining beam is controlled by a separate tracking beam utilizing a mid-objective scanning system. The firing frequency of the machining beam is determined by the position of the tracking beam on a detector, as compared to the scan line data. Accuracy is verified by detection of plume or spectra generated during machining. Alignment of the machining and tracking beams is by interferometric methods. The system improves optical performance parameters of telecentricity, angle of scanned beam line, location of line in which the scanned line resides, astigmatism and field curvature.

Abstract: A desired design for electronic structures is converted into a graphic design format and sorted into a pseudo-raster format corresponding to scan lines. A laser or other machining beam is controlled by a separate tracking beam utilizing a mid-objective scanning system. The firing frequency of the machining beam is determined by the position of the tracking beam on a detector, as compared to the scan line data. Accuracy is verified by detection of plume or spectra generated during machining. Alignment of the machining and tracking beams is by interferometric methods. The system improves optical performance parameters of telecentricity, angle of scanned beam line, location of line in which the scanned line resides, astigmatism and field curvature.

Abstract: An image erasing apparatus is provided having an assembly for moving at least one of the heat applicators or heat application means with respect to the other. The apparatus includes a movable member upon which one of the heat application means is mounted, with the movable member movable relative to a fixed frame assembly so that first and second heat application means can be moved toward and away from one another for applying heat to both a front image bearing side and a back side of an image recording medium for erasing images.

Abstract: The output of a continuously pumped, Q-switched, Nd:YAG laser (10) is frequency converted to provide ultraviolet light (62) for plating internal wall surfaces (79, 126) of vias (72, 74) in multilayered electronic devices (80). The parameters of the output pulses (62) are selected to facilitate substantially uniform deposition of plating material particles explosively vaporized from a substrate (124) onto the internal wall surface (79, 126). These parameters typically include at least two of the following criteria: high average power of greater than about 100 milliwatts measured over the beam spot area, a temporal pulse width shorter than about 100 nanoseconds, a spot diameter of less than about 50 microns, and a repetition rate of greater than about one kilohertz.

Abstract: A laser cutter for cutting textile or leather clothing material adhered on a stiff tacky backing sheet includes a laser which produces a laser beam, a guide head for reflecting and focusing the laser beam onto the sheet-backed clothing material, and an optical sensor mounted on the guide head for recognizing the shape or a pattern marked on the material. The material is supported by an idler roller. Under the control of a computer, a pair of bi-directionally driven pinch rollers move the material back and forth across the idler roller in synchronism with movement of the guide head transversely across the material. The computer alternately activates and controls the optical sensor or the laser. In an optical scanning mode, under control of the computer, the material is scanned to create in the computer memory a model of the desired pattern to be cut in the clothing material, and a desired cutting path matched to the shape of, or pattern on, the clothing material.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for remotely positioning a probe, such as an examination or repair probe, in a tubular member. The tubular member may be a nuclear steam generator heat transfer tube to be examined or repaired by the probe. The probe is connected to a conduit which supports the probe as the probe advances along the inner diameter of the tube to the location of the tube requiring examination or repair. The conduit has a portion thereof wound about a take-up reel. As the probe and conduit advance in the tube, it unwinds from about the take-up reel. However, as the conduit unwinds from about the take-up reel, it may tend to develop a "kinked", twisted or contorted region therein inducing torsional stress in the conduit. Such torsional stress may be severe enough to break the conduit. The apparatus of the invention includes a gripper capable of gripping the conduit and also includes a rotator connected to the gripper for rotating both the gripper and the conduit gripped thereby.

Abstract: A method for forming an aperture in a component wall made of metal, the aperture having a diffuser which opens up and outward from a bottom of the diffuser to a first surface of the wall, the method includes the following steps: A) laser machining the wall with a laser which produces a laser beam having a pulse rate and power sufficient to vaporize the metal; B) firing and traversing the laser beam, preferably at an acute angle, across the surface to a predetermined first edge of the diffuser in a single pass starting at a centerline of the diffuser; and C) traversing the laser beam at an increasing rate of speed during the pass so that each beam pulse vaporizes the metal at a laser spot such that successive laser spots substantially overlap each other in decreasing amounts and the pulses nibble out the metal to form a continuous trench below the surface.

Abstract: A process for forming parabolic micro-reflectors on an object includes the steps of placing the object proximate to a transfer lens system, shining a laser beam through the lens system, a mask and a wobble plate and onto the object, the wobble plate wobbling the laser beam such that a parabolic shaped micro-reflector is formed on the object.

Abstract: A machining head of a laser machining apparatus for adjusting flow speed distribution includes a sub assist gas supply inlet; an annular partition for partitioning the inside of the sub assist gas nozzle toward axis direction; an annular flat board which contacts rotatably to the side surface of the down stream of the annular partition wall, and interrupts a part of gas supply inlet, and a part of which is notched; two partition plates which are mounted on both end portions of the annular flat board, partition the inside of the sub assist gas nozzle down stream of the annular partition wall, and rotate with the annular flat board; a driving device for driving the annular flat board; and a control apparatus for operating the driving device.

Abstract: There is disclosed a system and assemblage for producing microtexturized surfaces on implants for use in vertebrate animals, including humans and on substrates for use in growing and developing tissues and/or cells in vitro. By using the disclosed system and assemblage, the geometric configuration and the dimensions of the microtexturized surfaces can be pre-determined to impart a customized design texture on the implant or substrate surface thereby optimizing implant acceptance by and durability in the host tissue and the in vitro promotion of the growth and development of various types of cell tissue on substrates.