Abstract: A process for perforating material comprising the steps of advancing material along a path of travel, passing the advancing material over a movable laser mask having an aperture such that the material drives the mask in unison with the movement of the material, and directing at least one laser beam through the corresponding aperture so as to vaporize the material juxtaposed the mask aperture to correspondingly form an opening in the material. The apparatus contemplated for perforating the material as it is advanced along a path of movement comprises first means for advancing the material along the path of movement, second means having at least one aperture and being operatively associated with the first means for enabling the perforation of the material as it is advanced along the path, and for being driven by and in unison with the advancing material, and third means operatively associated with the second means for vaporizing material juxtaposed said aperture.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for perforating cigarette tipping paper which holes may be obvious or which may be so small as to be "non-obvious". The holes produced range upward from about 0.025 mm. (0.001") or 0.051 mm. (0.002") and are rectangular. As shown in FIG. 4 the web (40) of tipping paper is moved in the direction of the arrow (44) about idler rolls (82) and in contact with at least one rotatable mask (100). The web (40) is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical wall of the masks (100) over a small area (90). The masks (100) are driven, usually at a greater linear rate of speed, in the opposite direction as indicated by the arrows (122) with respect to the movement (44) of the web (40). A laser beam (140) is projected against the interior surface of the cylindrical wall of the masks (100) in alignment with elongated slots (128, 132) which slots (128, 132) extend through the cylindrical wall of the masks (100).