LASER ICE ETCHING SYSTEM AND METHOD

摘要

A laser ice etching system (7) includes a laser (11) for producing a laser beam, a laser aiming system (13) adapted to aim and direct a laser beam produced by the laser (11) onto forming ice cubes and a controller (9) operatively coupled to the laser (11) and the laser aiming system (13). The controller (9) provides commands to the laser (11) to produce the laser beam and commands to the laser aiming system (13) to aim and direct the laser beam onto the forming ice cubes. The laser ice etching system (7) is positioned adjacent to a vertical cold plate (3) of an ice making machine (1) and forms an image in the center of an ice cube by aiming and directing the laser beam in a predetermined pattern over a portion of the ice cube.