Sealing arrangement for a laser enclosure

DETAILED DESCRIPTION These needs are met by the passive sealing arrangement of the present invention.
The sealing arrangement forms part of a protective enclosure which may, for example, encase a Class IV laser to allow it to operate as a Class I laser.
The protective enclosure further 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 transport means for moving workpieces through the opening into and out of the inner cavity.
The passive sealing arrangement serves to seal a portion of the transport means to a portion of the housing section to inhibit the escape of laser energy from the enclosure.
The sealing arrangement of the present invention allows sealing to be accomplished in a quick and efficient manner.
In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, a laser system is provided which includes generator means for generating and directing a laser beam to a laser workstation.
The system further includes a housing having an inner cavity for containing the laser workstation.
The housing includes a section having an opening through which workpieces pass into and out of the inner cavity.
The laser system additionally includes transport means for moving the workpieces through the opening into and out of the inner cavity, and passive sealing means movably coupled to one of the section and transport means for sealing a portion of the transport means with a portion of the section to inhibit laser energy from exiting the housing through the opening.
The housing preferably further includes first, second and third generally vertical walls, and a stationary ceiling connected to the first, second and third walls and the section.
The transport means may comprise a rotary turntable and a vertical partition mounted on the rotary turntable for rotation therewith.
The vertical partition extends through the center of rotation of the rotary turntable, which is generally coplanar with the section of the housing