Laser enclosure

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The protective enclosure of the present invention is believed to meet these needs.
The enclosure of the present invention may be used, for example, to encase a Class IV laser to allow it to operate as a Class I laser.
The protective enclosure includes a housing having a section with an opening through which workpieces pass into and out of an inner cavity of the housing.
Additionally provided is a workpiece positioner for moving workpieces from a workpiece loading/unloading zone, through the opening in the housing to a first work zone within the housing inner cavity.
The workpiece positioner is provided with at least one workpiece holder which is capable of supporting workpieces having a generally high aspect ratio.
The workpiece holder further includes a device for effecting movement of the workpieces during welding.
In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, a laser enclosure is provided comprising a housing having an inner cavity in which laser operations are capable of being performed and a section having an opening through which workpieces pass into and out of the inner cavity.
The enclosure further includes a workpiece positioner rotatable about a generally horizontal axis for moving workpieces from a workpiece loading/unloading zone, through the opening to a work zone within the inner cavity.
The workpiece positioner includes a first workpiece holder adapted to releasably receive at least one of the workpieces.
The enclosure also includes passive sealing apparatus movably coupled to one of the section and the workpiece positioner for sealing at least one portion of the section to at least one portion of the workpiece positioner to inhibit laser energy from exiting the housing through the opening.
The first section comprises a first generally vertical wall having the first opening therein.
The housing further comprises second, third and fourth generally vertical walls, and a ceiling connected to the first, second, third and fourth walls.
The workpiece positioner further comprises a frame and first and second shielding panels which are fixedly connected to the frame