Abstract: A focal point controlling section is configured and arranged to control a focal point of the laser beam outputted from a laser oscillator to selectively focus the laser beam on a surface of a workpiece. A laser irradiation position moving section is configured to move a laser irradiation position at which the laser beam strikes on the surface of the workpiece. A control unit is configured to change a heat amount imparted on the surface of the workpiece to switch between a welding state and a non-welding state by controlling at least one of the focal point controlling section and the laser irradiation position moving section while controlling the laser oscillator to continuously output the laser beam before and after switching between the welding state and the non-welding state.

Abstract: A laser welding apparatus and method reproduces a welding state substantially identical to an actual operation of a robot at a manufacturing site even when an operating speed of the robot is changed. When a moving speed of the robot is, for example, 50% of an override ratio, a welding point speed, which is a resultant speed of a focus moving speed of the laser beam by movement of the robot having a scanner head and the focus moving speed of the laser beam by rotation of the laser scanning mirror, becomes identical to that when an override ratio is 100%. This is achieved by increasing a rotating speed of a laser scanning mirror within the scanner head.

Abstract: A laser working apparatus includes: a laser head provided with a reflector which changes the direction of any one of a laser beam and a visible light; a robot which moves the laser head; and a robot control apparatus. When laser working is performed, the robot control apparatus controls the laser head so that the laser beam can draw a predetermined working pattern on the basis of a predetermined working position on a work piece. When an operation checking work is performed, the robot control apparatus controls the laser head so that the visible light beam can be emitted only to a reference position of the working pattern.

Abstract: A laser welding apparatus is provided with a multiple axis robot having an arm and a scanner attached to a tip end of the arm of the multiple axis robot. The scanner includes an optical system that emits a laser beam onto a work piece. The scanner includes a preset coordinate system with an origin of the coordinate system coinciding with an intersection point between an optical axis of the laser beam and a fixed element of the optical system.

Abstract: A laser welding apparatus and method for easily adjusting a laser focusing position according to a distance from a laser irradiating device to a laser irradiating point on a work piece, or a welding point. A post-collimation laser diameter is measured when the laser emitting end has an optimal laser diameter on the work piece with respect to the distance from the laser processing head to the work piece. Corresponding data is stored with the above distance and the post-collimation laser diameter corresponding to each other. During welding, a diameter of the laser beam passing through a collimate lens is measured by a laser diameter measuring device. The post-collimation laser diameter is adjusted to be an optimal value according to the corresponding data.

Abstract: In an optimum design method comprising a first solution determining step of solving an optimization problem of a first evaluation function for a state variable vector with a design variable vector being as a parameter, and a second solution determining step of solving an optimization problem of a second evaluation function for the design variable vector and the state variable vector thus obtained, the second solution determining step includes the steps of computing a gradient vector of the second evaluation function for the design variable vector, computing a first coefficient based on a value of a norm of the gradient vector, computing a search vector based on the first coefficient, computing a second coefficient, and updating the design variable vector based on the second coefficient.

Abstract: A focal point controlling section is configured and arranged to control a focal point of the laser beam outputted from a laser oscillator to selectively focus the laser beam on a surface of a workpiece. A laser irradiation position moving section is configured to move a laser irradiation position at which the laser beam strikes on the surface of the workpiece. A control unit is configured to change a heat amount imparted on the surface of the workpiece to switch between a welding state and a non-welding state by controlling at least one of the focal point controlling section and the laser irradiation position moving section while controlling the laser oscillator to continuously output the laser beam before and after switching between the welding state and the non-welding state.

Abstract: Disclosed is a laser working apparatus including: a laser emitting apparatus provided with a reflector which changes the direction of any one of a laser beam and a visible light; a robot which moves the laser emitting apparatus; and a robot control apparatus which, when laser working is performed, controls the laser emitting apparatus so that the laser beam can draw a predetermined working pattern on the basis of a predetermined working position on a workpiece, and, when an operation checking work is performed, controls the laser emitting apparatus so that the visible light beam can be emitted only to a reference position of the working pattern.

Abstract: In an optimum design method comprising a first solution determining step of solving an optimization problem of a first evaluation function for a state variable vector with a design variable vector being as a parameter, and a second solution determining step of solving an optimization problem of a second evaluation function for the design variable vector and the state variable vector thus obtained, the second solution determining step includes the steps of computing a gradient vector of the second evaluation function for the design variable vector, computing a first coefficient based on a value of a norm of the gradient vector, computing a search vector based on the first coefficient, computing a second coefficient, and updating the design variable vector based on the second coefficient.

Abstract: In an optimum design method comprising a first solution determining step of solving an optimization problem of a first evaluation function for a state variable vector with a design variable vector being as a parameter, and a second solution determining step of solving an optimization problem of a second evaluation function for the design variable vector and the state variable vector thus obtained, the second solution determining step includes the steps of computing a gradient vector of the second evaluation function for the design variable vector, computing a first coefficient based on a value of a norm of the gradient vector, computing a search vector based on the first coefficient, computing a second coefficient, and updating the design variable vector based on the second coefficient.

Abstract: A laser welding apparatus and method reproduces a welding state substantially identical to an actual operation of a robot at a manufacturing site even when an operating speed of the robot is changed. When a moving speed of the robot is, for example, 50% of an override ratio, a welding point speed, which is a resultant speed of a focus moving speed of the laser beam by movement of the robot having a scanner head and the focus moving speed of the laser beam by rotation of the laser scanning mirror, becomes identical to that when an override ratio is 100%. This is achieved by increasing a rotating speed of a laser scanning mirror within the scanner head.

Abstract: A laser welding apparatus and method for easily adjusting a laser focusing position according to a distance from a laser irradiating device to a laser irradiating point on a work piece, or a welding point. A post-collimation laser diameter is measured when the laser emitting end has an optimal laser diameter on the work piece with respect to the distance from the laser processing head to the work piece. Corresponding data is stored with the above distance and the post-collimation laser diameter corresponding to each other. During welding, a diameter of the laser beam passing through a collimate lens is measured by a laser diameter measuring device. The post-collimation laser diameter is adjusted to be an optimal value according to the corresponding data.

Abstract: In an optimum design method comprising a first solution determining step of solving an optimization problem of a first evaluation function for a state variable vector with a design variable vector being as a parameter, and a second solution determining step of solving an optimization problem of a second evaluation function for the design variable vector and the state variable vector thus obtained, the second solution determining step includes the steps of computing a gradient vector of the second evaluation function for the design variable vector, computing a first coefficient based on a value of a norm of the gradient vector, computing a search vector based on the first coefficient, computing a second coefficient, and updating the design variable vector based on the second coefficient.

Abstract: A cleaning device and methodology therefor for cleaning a paper path surface upon which paper travels within a printing apparatus such as a computer printer, a photocopy machine, a fax machine, and the like. The cleaning device is a flexible substrate sheet having a first side and a second side, with the first side coated preferably in its entirety with an exposed adhesive having a tack strength between about 0.0002 and about 0.12 pound force-square inch. The second side of the substrate sheet can have laminated thereto a foam resin to provide a flexible thickness that assures pressured contact with all paper path surfaces to be cleaned. A lint-free cloth layer can be laminated to the foam resin if present, or the cloth layer can be laminated directly to the second surface of the sheet substrate. operability occurs as the substrate sheet is fed into the printing apparatus and travels there through along the paper-path surfaces upon which paper is conveyed.

Abstract: A propellant-free composition for lustering and protecting a surface such as a rubber sidewall of a vehicle tire or a vinyl or similar surface. The composition has (1) from about 10 wt. % to 100 wt. % of a high molecular weight liquid linear polysiloxane having a molecular weight above about 550, and (2) from 0 wt. % to about 90 wt. % of a low molecular weight liquid linear and/or cyclic polysiloxane having a molecular weight below about 550. Surface activity of the silicone component of the composition is such that the high molecular weight polysiloxane functions to produce a high luster, while the low molecular weight polysiloxane functions as an evaporative carrier-solvent diluent medium for delivery of the silicone component to the surface and to produce an even distribution on that surface.

Abstract: A cleaning methodology for cleaning a paper path surface upon which paper travels within a printing apparatus. The cleaning device is a flexible substrate sheet having a first side and a second side, with the first side coated preferably in its entirety with an exposed adhesive having a tack strength between about 0.0002 and about 0.12 pound force-square inch. The second side of the substrate sheet can have laminated thereto a foam resin to provide a flexible thickness that assures pressured contact with all paper path surfaces to be cleaned. A lint-free cloth layer can be laminated to the foam resin if present, or the cloth layer can be laminated directly to the second surface of the sheet substrate. Operability occurs as the substrate sheet is fed into the printing apparatus and travels there through along the paper-path surfaces upon which paper is conveyed.

Abstract: A composition for lustering and protecting a surface such as a rubber sidewall of a vehicle tire or a vinyl or similar surface. The composition has as one ingredient thereof from about 5 wt. % to about 95 wt. % of a silicone component. This silicone component has (1) from about 10 wt. % to 100 wt. % of a high molecular weight liquid linear polysiloxane having a molecular weight above about 550, and (2) from 0 wt. % to about 90 wt. % of a low molecular weight liquid linear and/or cyclic polysiloxane having a molecular weight below about 550. The composition includes a second ingredient being from about 5 wt. % to about 95 wt. % of a propellant component, and contains no petroleum distillate solvents.