LASER EQUIPMENT FOR GOLD WORKSHOPS AND / OR DENTAL TECHNICIANS

Abstract

A method is described for decontaminating room air by means of a tabletop apparatus (10) (or with dedicated stand) for the processing of metal costume jewelry/goldsmiths or dental prostheses through a LASER beam, wherein a source of UV and/or UV-C radiation irradiates a forced flow (F) of ambient air before it comes out of a casing of the apparatus.

Claims

1. Apparatus (10) for the manual processing of metal costume jewelry and/or dental prostheses through a LASER, comprising: a casing (12) delimiting a closed or partially closed processing chamber (20) which is configured to allow access to an operator's hands to load a workpiece to be processed, a LASER source (18) configured to send a LASER beam into the processing chamber, a fan or means (50) for creating a forced air flow (F) coming out of the casing, a source (56) of UV and/or UV-C radiation for irradiating the airflow before it comes out of the casing.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a filter to filter said airflow before it comes out of the casing.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising an electronic processor programmed to partialize one or more UV and/or UV-C sources mounted inside the casing to save energy or switch on additional UV and/or UV-C sources mounted inside the casing to maintain a desired efficiency of decontamination.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, comprising a flow meter or an air-flow sensor to measure the flow-rate of the forced airflow, and an electronic processor programmed to control the flow-rate of the forced airflow by reading a signal emitted by the flow meter or air-flow sensor so that the measured flow-rate is set equal to a predetermined value.

5. Method for decontaminating room air by means of an apparatus (10) for the manual processing of metal costume jewelry/goldsmiths or dental prostheses through a LASER beam, wherein a source (56) of UV and/or UV-C radiation radiates a forced flow (F) of ambient air before it comes out of a casing of the apparatus.

6. Method according to claim 5, wherein the forced airflow constitutes the air of a cooling circuit for internal components of the apparatus.

7. Method according to claim 5, wherein the source (56) of UV and/or UV-C radiation is partialized during the operation of the LASER source.

8. Method according to claim 5, wherein during the operation of the LASER source an additional source of UV and/or UV-C radiation is activated or the effect of an additional source of UV and/or UV-C radiation is increased.

9. Method according to claim 5, wherein during the inactivity of the LASER source the forced airflow (F) is cyclically interrupted for a predetermined time.

10. Method according to claim 5, wherein the flow-rate of the forced airflow is measured and a forced airflow generator is regulated so that the measured flow-rate is equal to a predetermined value.

11. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said filter is a HEPA filter.

12. Apparatus according to claim 2, comprising an electronic processor programmed to partialize one or more UV and/or UV-C sources mounted inside the casing to save energy or switch on additional UV and/or UV-C sources mounted inside the casing to maintain a desired efficiency of decontamination.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12, comprising a flow meter or an air-flow sensor to measure the flow-rate of the forced airflow, and an electronic processor programmed to control the flow-rate of the forced airflow by reading a signal emitted by the flow meter or air-flow sensor so that the measured flow-rate is set equal to a predetermined value.

14. Method according to claim 6, wherein the source (56) of UV and/or UV-C radiation is partialized during the operation of the LASER source.

15. Method according to claim 7, wherein during the operation of the LASER source an additional source of UV and/or UV-C radiation is activated or the effect of an additional source of UV and/or UV-C radiation is increased.

16. Method according to claim 6, wherein during the inactivity of the LASER source the forced airflow (F) is cyclically interrupted for a predetermined time.

17. Method according to claim 6, wherein the flow-rate of the forced airflow is measured and a forced airflow generator is regulated so that the measured flow-rate is equal to a predetermined value.

Description

[0030] The advantages of the invention will be clearer from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which

[0031] FIG. 1 shows a three-dimensional view of a LASER welding machine;

[0032] FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view according to the vertical median plane II-II of FIG. 1;

[0033] FIG. 3 shows part of a cooling circuit as assembled,

[0034] FIG. 4 shows the part of FIG. 3 as disassembled.

[0035] In the figures equal numbers indicate equal or conceptually similar parts, and the welding machine is described as in use. A welding machine 10 is illustrated herein as an example of an apparatus according to the invention. The welding machine 10 comprises a hollow outer casing 12 that internally delimits a cavity 20 in which an object can be processed by a laser 18 in a zone W. The cavity 20 is accessible to an operator's hands via a front opening 16 (optionally closed by a curtain) and observable via a microscope 14 mounted on the casing 12.

[0036] Above the opening 16, integrated into the casing 12, is an optional transparent inspection window 40 (see FIG. 2) for the zone W. The window 40 preferably comprises, from the outside in, a sequence of a magnifying glass 46, a protective filter to shield from laser radiation, and another optional shielding filter. A straight observation line L indicates the direct, straight optical path for observing the zone W from the window 40.

[0037] FIGS. 3 and 4 show a decontaminating device applicable to the welding machine 10, or in general to a portable device for processing metal jewelry through a LASER.

[0038] A fan 50 induces a forced airflow F (indicated by arrows) that passes through a grid and/or filter (e.g. of HEPA type) 52, enters a compartment 54 and exits the welding machine 10 pushed by the fan 50.

[0039] The compartment 54 is e.g. delimited by the walls of internal components of the welding machine 10. The grid and/or pre-filter 52 may belong to an (optional) radiator assembly 99 for cooling circulating cooling water for internal components of the welding machine 10. A source 56 of UV and/or UV-C radiation, such as a lamp, is installed in the compartment 54 to irradiate the airflow F before it exits the casing of the welding machine 10.

[0040] The air F is taken in a known manner from the environment, and during the ordinary circulation of air F inside the casing 12 to cool the welding machine 10, the air F is also decontaminated by the source 56 and preferably filtered before being released into the environment. Thus, people working around the welding machine 10 enjoy a safer environment. The sources 56 inside the welding machine 10 may also be more than one.

[0041] Preferably, the flow-rate of the airflow F is regulated by controlling the speed of the fan 50 through a processor (not shown). The processor is, for example, programmed to

[0042] partialize the source 56 during the operation of the LASER source to save energy, or

[0043] activate an additional UV and/or UV-C radiation source, previously inactive, to increase decontamination efficiency.

[0044] For example, the processor is programmed in such a way that, during the inactivity of the LASER source, the forced airflow F is cyclically interrupted for a predetermined time, in order to let the air F remain longer in front of the source 56 (inside the compartment 54).