Staggered laser-etch line graphic system, method and articles of manufacture

Abstract

A staggered laser-etch line graphic system, method, and articles of manufacture are provided. One described method includes the steps of laser engraving a first plurality of lines associated with a first component section of a graphic on a surface of an article; laser engraving a second plurality of lines associated with a second component section of the graphic on the surface of the article; and controlling said laser engraving of the first plurality of lines and said laser engraving of second plurality of lines to reduce the visual impact of a demarcation line separating the first component section of the graphic and the second component section of the graphic.

1 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . An article of manufacture having a laser etched graphic, said article comprising:
 a first plurality of laser engraved lines associated with a first component section of a graphic;   a second plurality of laser engraved lines associated with a second component section sharing a border with said first component section of said graphic;   wherein the first plurality of lines and the second plurality of lines are controlled to reduce the visual impact of a demarcation line separating the first component section and the second component section.   
     
     
         20 . A system for laser engraving a graphic on a surface of an article, comprising:
 a laser engraving apparatus for laser engraving a graphic into a surface of an article, and   a visual impact controller in communication with the laser engraving apparatus and configured to separate the graphic into at least first and second component sections sharing a border, and further configured to control the laser engraving apparatus by adjusting the lengths of a first plurality of lines associated with the first component section and a second plurality of lines associated with the second component section to stagger the first plurality of lines with the second plurality of lines across the border.   
     
     
         21 . The system according to  claim 20 , wherein the visual impact controller is configured to adjust the lengths of the first plurality of lines and the second plurality of lines up to 10%. 
     
     
         22 . The system according to  claim 20 , wherein the visual impact controller is configured to adjust the lengths of the first plurality of lines and the second plurality of lines up to 50%. 
     
     
         23 . The system according to  claim 20 , wherein the visual impact controller is configured to randomize the lengths of the first and second plurality of lines. 
     
     
         24 . The system according to  claim 20 , wherein the visual impact controller is configured to adjust the line per inch density of the first and second plurality of lines. 
     
     
         25 . The system according to  claim 20 , wherein the visual impact controller is configured to control laser power. 
     
     
         26 . The system according to  claim 20 , wherein the graphic is greater in at least one dimension than the field size of a laser engraving the first plurality of lines and the second plurality of lines. 
     
     
         27 . The system according to  claim 20 , wherein the visual impact controller is configured to control the laser engraving apparatus to operate in a continuous print-on-the fly laser etching process wherein the article is continuously moving and a laser beam etches the graphic on the moving article. 
     
     
         28 . The system according to  claim 20 , wherein the visual impact controller is configured to index the position of the laser engraved first component section of the graphic prior to laser engraving of the second component section of the graphic. 
     
     
         29 . A system for laser engraving a graphic on a surface of an article, comprising:
 a laser engraving apparatus for laser engraving a graphic on a surface of an article, and   a visual impact controller in communication with the laser engraving apparatus and configured to separate the graphic into at least a first component section comprising a plurality of first lines having first endpoints and a second component section comprising a plurality of second lines having second endpoints that meet the first endpoints at meeting points staggered on opposite sides of a border between the first and second component sections.   
     
     
         30 . A system according to  claim 29 , wherein the laser engraving apparatus has a defined native field size that is less than at least one dimension of the graphic. 
     
     
         31 . A system according to  claim 29 , wherein the visual impact controller is configured to cause the laser engraving apparatus to engrave the first component section before the second component section. 
     
     
         32 . A system according to  claim 29 , wherein the visual impact controller is configured to cause the laser engraving apparatus to reduce the density of the first lines and second lines adjacent the first and second endpoints. 
     
     
         33 . A system according to  claim 29 , wherein the graphic comprises a wood grain pattern. 
     
     
         34 . A system for laser engraving a graphic on a surface of an article, comprising:
 a laser engraving apparatus for laser engraving a graphic on a surface of an article, and   a visual impact controller in communication with the laser engraving apparatus and configured to separate the graphic into at least a first component section comprising a plurality of first lines having staggered first endpoints and a second component section comprising a plurality of second lines having staggered second endpoints that are spaced from the first endpoints.   
     
     
         35 . A system according to  claim 34 , wherein the laser engraving apparatus has a defined native field size that is less than at least one dimension of the graphic. 
     
     
         36 . A system according to  claim 34 , wherein the visual impact controller is configured to cause the laser engraving apparatus to engrave the first component section before the second component section. 
     
     
         37 . A system according to  claim 34 , wherein the visual impact controller is configured to cause the laser engraving apparatus to reduce the density of the first lines and second lines adjacent the first and second endpoints. 
     
     
         38 . A system according to  claim 34 , wherein the graphic comprises a wood grain pattern.