JP4198922B2 - Nozzle removal mechanism of laser processing equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a nozzle attaching / detaching mechanism that is provided in a processing head of a laser processing apparatus and attaches / detaches a nozzle to / from the processing head.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various types of laser processing apparatuses that process (thermal cutting) a workpiece as a material to be processed with laser light are known. For example, in an installation type laser processing machine, a nozzle for irradiating a workpiece with a laser beam is provided below the processing head.
[0003]
Since such a nozzle is a component close to the processing point, spatter generated when laser cutting is performed, or melting occurs due to laser light or material melt returning from the material. Moreover, if the material to cut | disconnect differs, the nozzle to be used will also differ. Therefore, in the laser processing apparatus, the nozzle is detachable from the processing head so that the nozzle can be replaced.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, the nozzle is generally screwed to the machining head by a screw. Therefore, a tool (jig) may be required, and it takes time to replace the nozzle. In addition, when a tool is necessary, management of the tool is also necessary.
[0005]
The present invention has been made paying attention to the above circumstances, and provides a nozzle detachment mechanism of a laser processing apparatus that can easily detach the nozzle from the processing head main body without using a tool. Objective.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problem, the invention described in claim 1 is provided with a machining head of a laser machining apparatus, and a nozzle for detaching a nozzle for irradiating a workpiece with a laser beam from the machining head main body. In the mechanism, the processing head main body is provided concentrically with the optical axis of the laser beam, and the inner side of the cylindrical portion is fitted with the nozzle, and the inner side of the cylindrical portion is provided in the cylindrical portion. said holding means nozzle and detachably engage retaining said nozzle with respect to the cylindrical portion rotatably fitted into the cylindrical portion concentric with the outer side of the tubular portion, and itself was by rotating, the rotary cylinder that said holding means, and an engaged position engaging said nozzle can be positioned in a releasable engagement releasing position engagement with said nozzle, said machining head It is provided in the body and is linear An operation member for forward and backward, characterized by comprising a means for converting the forward and backward movement of the operating body with rotation of the rotary cylinder.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the holding means is held in a hole of the cylindrical portion so as to protrude and retract inside and outside the cylindrical portion, and the nozzle A sphere that removably engages with a concave groove formed on the outer circumferential surface of the rotating cylinder, and the rotating cylinder rotates by itself to project the sphere to the inside of the cylindrical portion by the inner circumferential surface thereof. Thus, the engagement position with which the groove of the nozzle is engaged, and the state of engagement with the groove of the nozzle by dropping into the groove formed on the inner peripheral surface of the nozzle and retracting from the inside of the cylindrical portion. It is located in the releasable engagement release position, It is characterized by the above-mentioned .
[0007]
In the first and second aspects of the invention, the nozzle can be attached to and detached from the processing head main body by a one-way operation that simply moves the operating body forward and backward. Therefore, the attaching / detaching operation is extremely simple, and there is no need to perform the complicated operation of removing the nozzle by a screwing operation using a tool as in the conventional case.
[0008]
Further, the invention described in claim 3 is the invention described in claim 1 or 2 , further comprising an engagement holding means for holding the engagement state between the holding means and the nozzle. Features.
[0009]
In the invention described in claim 3 , the nozzle can be reliably fixed to the processing head main body. As in the fourth aspect of the present invention, as the engagement holding means, a spring for biasing the operating body or an assist gas supplied from the processing head main body to the nozzle can be used. In particular, if the spring and the assist gas are used in combination, the holding force of the nozzle can be dramatically increased.
[0010]
The invention described in claim 5 is the invention described in any one of claims 1 to 4 , further comprising control means for automatically moving the operating body forward and backward. In the invention described in claim 6 , in the invention described in claim 5 , the operating body is a piston that advances and retreats by fluid pressure, and the control means controls fluid supply / discharge of the piston. Features.
[0011]
In the inventions described in claims 5 and 6 , since the operating body can be automatically advanced and retracted, the nozzle can be automatically detached. Therefore, the nozzle replacement can be performed more easily.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a laser processing machine (laser processing apparatus) 1 provided with a nozzle attaching / detaching mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the laser beam machine 1 guides a workpiece W as a material to be processed on a fixed XY table 3 laid horizontally, and thermally cuts the workpiece W with a laser beam LB.
[0013]
The laser beam LB is oscillated by the laser oscillation device 5 provided in the apparatus main body of the laser processing machine 1 and guided to the processing head 11 via the intensity adjusting device 7 and the reflecting mirror 9. A condensing lens 13 is provided inside the processing head 11, and the laser beam LB is condensed by the condensing lens 13 and thermally cuts the workpiece W at the focal position.
[0014]
In addition, the workpiece W is gripped by the clamp 15 and is moved horizontally on the XY table 3 so that the part to be cut comes directly under the machining head 11. In this case, the clamp 15 is driven in the plane X and Y directions by the XY-axis servomotor while holding the workpiece W. The machining head 11 is driven in the vertical direction by a Z-axis servomotor.
[0015]
FIG. 2 shows a detailed configuration of the processing head 11 of the laser processing machine 1. 2A is a longitudinal sectional view of the machining head 11, FIG. 2B is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 2A, and FIG. FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 2A, and FIG. 2D is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion D in FIG.
[0016]
As shown in the figure, the processing head 11 is configured such that a nozzle 25 is detachably attached to a housing 21 via a nozzle attaching / detaching mechanism which will be described later on a housing 21 below the processing head main body 20. The nozzle 24 has a tip end portion 24 a provided with an opening 40 serving as an outlet for laser light and assist gas, and a mounting end portion 24 b attached to the housing 21. Further, the housing 21 is engaged with a positioning recess 42 formed in the mounting end 24b of the nozzle 24 to center the nozzle 24 (the optical axis O1 of the laser beam LB and the axis O2 of the nozzle 24 are aligned). A convex inner cylinder portion 21a is provided to project downward. A spring 31 that is compressed between the nozzle 24 and the housing 21 when the nozzle 24 is engaged with the inner cylinder portion 21a is wound around the outer periphery of the inner cylinder portion 21a. In this case, the spring 31 is held by a spring holding member 32 fixed to the housing 21, thereby preventing the spring 31 from falling off the inner cylinder portion 21 a.
[0017]
Further, the housing 21 is provided with a convex outer cylinder portion 21b that is located substantially concentrically with the outer cylinder portion 21a so as to protrude downward. The outer cylinder portion 21b extends from the outside to cover the periphery of the attachment end portion 24b of the nozzle 24 that engages with the inner cylinder portion 21a, and has a plurality of spheres 25 as holding means for holding the nozzle 24. ing. In this case, as shown in FIG. 2C, the sphere 25 is formed by penetrating in the radial direction of the housing 21 and spaced apart from each other at a predetermined interval in the circumferential direction of the housing 21. It is fitted and held in the hole 44, and can project and retract from the hole 44 into the inner space of the outer cylinder part 21b by the action of the rotating cylinder 23 described later. Then, the sphere 25 engages with a corresponding concave groove 24 c formed on the outer peripheral surface of the nozzle 24, thereby positioning and holding the nozzle 24 in the axial direction. In order to regulate the amount of protrusion of the sphere 25 into the inner space of the outer cylinder portion 21b, a hole 44 is partially formed on the inner surface of the outer cylinder portion 21b as shown in FIG. A retaining portion 45 that closes is provided.
[0018]
On the outer periphery of the outer cylinder part 21b of the housing 21, a rotatable rotation that suppresses the sphere 25 held by the outer cylinder part 21b from the radially outer side and projects the sphere 25 into and out of the inner space of the outer cylinder part 21b. A cylinder (rotary body) 23 is fitted. As clearly shown in FIG. 3, the rotating cylinder 23 has a plurality of holes formed on the inner peripheral surface thereof in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylindrical portion 21b of the housing 21 corresponding to the holes 44 of the outer cylindrical portion 21b. A groove 46 is provided. These grooves 46 are provided at the same pitch as the holes 44 and spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction of the rotary cylinder 23. In such a configuration, when the inner peripheral surface portion 47 excluding the groove 46 of the rotary cylinder 23 is positioned so as to face the hole 44 of the outer cylinder portion 21b and close it from the outside ((d) in FIG. 2). ), The sphere 25 held in the hole 44 is pushed out from the radially outer side to the radially inner side by the inner peripheral surface portion 47 of the rotating cylinder 23, and protrudes a predetermined amount into the inner space of the outer cylinder part 21b. (Of course, in this case, the protruding amount of the sphere 25 is regulated by the retaining portion 45). On the other hand, when the rotating cylinder 23 is rotated from this state and the groove 46 is positioned so as to face the hole 44, the ball 25 can fall into the groove 46 and be retracted from the inner space of the outer cylinder portion 21b.
[0019]
The rotating cylinder 23 is rotatably held by a holding body 22 fixed to the housing 21. That is, the rotating cylinder 23 can slide in the rotation direction while being guided by these members 21 and 22 while being sandwiched between the housing 21 and the holding body 22.
[0020]
As clearly shown in FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B, a piston 27 as an operating body is disposed in the housing 21 so as to freely advance and retract. In this case, the piston 27 is slidably accommodated in the space S formed in the housing 21, and can advance and retreat linearly while being guided by the housing 21. An operation end portion 27 a at one end of the piston 27 protrudes outside the housing 21 so that the piston 27 can be advanced and retracted from the outside of the housing 21.
[0021]
In the piston housing space S, a spring (engagement holding means) that is positioned between the piston 27 and the housing 21 and urges the piston 27 in the direction (C direction in the figure) to protrude from the space S to the outside. 28 is disposed. Further, a retaining member 29 that prevents the piston 27 from coming out of the space S is fixed to the housing 21 so that the piston 27 does not come out of the space S by the biasing force of the spring 28. In this case, the operation end portion 27 a of the piston 27 protrudes to the outside through the retaining member 29, and the projecting amount from the housing 21 is regulated by the retaining member 29.
[0022]
A pin 26 is fixed to the rotating cylinder 23. The pin 26 protrudes into the piston accommodating space S of the housing 21 and engages with a long hole 50 formed in the piston 21. The long hole 50 extends in the radial direction of the rotary cylinder 23, and the pin 26 can move in the radial direction of the rotary cylinder 23 within the long hole 50.
[0023]
Next, a method for detaching the nozzle 24 from the housing 21 will be described.
First, in the state shown in FIG. 2B in which the piston 27 is applied to the retaining member 29 by the urging force of the spring 28, the inner peripheral surface portion 47 excluding the groove 46 of the rotating cylinder 23 is the outer cylinder portion 21b. It is located so as to face the hole 44 of this and close it from the outside (the state shown in FIG. 2D). Therefore, the sphere 25 held in the hole 44 is pushed from the radially outer side to the radially inner side by the inner peripheral surface portion 47 of the rotating cylinder 23 and protrudes by a predetermined amount into the inner space of the outer cylinder part 21b. At this time, if the positioning concave portion 42 of the nozzle 24 and the inner cylinder portion 21 a of the housing 21 are engaged, the ball 25 and the concave groove 24 c of the nozzle 24 are engaged, and the nozzle 24 is in contact with the housing 21. It is in a fixedly attached state. This state is shown in FIG.
[0024]
Subsequently, when the nozzle 24 is removed from the housing 21 in this attached state, the operation end 27a of the piston 27 is pushed into the space S (in the direction opposite to the C direction) with a finger against the biasing force of the spring 28. . Due to the linear movement of the piston 27, the pin 26 engaged with the elongated hole 50 of the piston 27 also moves linearly together with the piston 27, whereby the rotary cylinder 23 fixed to the pin 26 rotates. At this time, the pin 26 moves in the radial direction of the rotary cylinder 23 in the long hole 50 as the rotary cylinder 23 rotates. That is, the pin 26 cooperates with the elongated hole 50 to transmit the linear movement of the piston 27 to the rotating cylinder 23 to rotate the rotating cylinder 23 (the linear movement of the piston 27 is the rotational movement of the rotating cylinder 23). To
[0025]
When the rotary cylinder 23 is thus rotated, for example, when the piston 27 reaches the end of its predetermined stroke, each groove 46 of the rotary cylinder 23 faces each hole 44 of the outer cylinder portion 21b of the housing 21. To do. As a result, the ball 25 in the hole 44 that is constantly receiving the biasing force from the spring 31 via the nozzle 24 falls into the groove 46 due to the loss of the restraining force from the inner peripheral surface portion 47 of the rotating cylinder 23. It engages and retreats from the inside space of the outer cylinder part 21b. Accordingly, the engagement between the sphere 25 and the concave groove 24 c of the nozzle 24 is released, and the force for holding the nozzle 24 by the sphere 25 is lost. The nozzle 24 that has lost its holding force is pushed out of the inner space of the outer cylinder portion 21b by the biasing force of the spring 31, and the engagement between the positioning recess 42 of the nozzle 24 and the inner cylinder portion 21a of the housing 21 is released. . That is, the nozzle 24 is removed from the housing 21.
[0026]
On the other hand, when the nozzle 24 is attached to the housing 21, the operating end 27 a of the piston 27 is pushed into the space S (in the direction opposite to the C direction) with a finger against the urging force of the spring 28, and the rotating cylinder 23. Each groove 46 is made to face each hole 44 of the outer cylinder part 21b of the housing 21 so that the ball 25 can be retracted from the inner space of the outer cylinder part 21b. Then, with this state maintained, that is, with the piston 27 being pushed with a finger, the mounting end 24b of the nozzle 24 is pushed into the inner space of the outer cylinder portion 21b from below, and the positioning recess 42 of the nozzle 24 and the housing 21 The inner cylinder portion 21a is engaged. At this time, the sphere 25 is pushed out by the nozzle 24 so as to be retracted from the inner space of the outer cylinder portion 21 b and falls into the groove 46 of the rotating cylinder 23. In this state, when the finger is released from the operation end 27 a of the piston 27, the piston 27 returns to the original protruding position by the biasing force of the spring 28, whereby the rotary cylinder 23 rotates via the pin 26. The inner peripheral surface portion 47 excluding the groove 46 of the rotating cylinder 23 is positioned so as to face the hole 44 of the outer cylinder portion 21b and close it from the outside (state (d) in FIG. 2). Therefore, the sphere 25 is pushed from the radially outer side to the radially inner side by the inner peripheral surface portion 47 of the rotating cylinder 23 and engages with the concave groove 24 c of the nozzle 24 positioned facing the hole 44. Thereby, the nozzle 24 is fixedly attached to the housing 21 (the state shown in FIG. 2A).
[0027]
As described above, the nozzle attaching / detaching mechanism of the laser beam machine 1 according to the present embodiment is provided in the housing 21 of the processing head main body 20 and detachably engages with the nozzle 24 so that the nozzle 24 is attached to the processing head main body 20. A ball 25 as a holding means for holding the housing 21 and an engagement position where the ball 25 is engaged with the nozzle 24 by rotating itself and an engagement state where the engagement state with the nozzle 24 can be released. A rotating cylinder 23 as a rotating body that can be positioned at a release position, a piston 27 as an operating body that is provided in the housing 21 of the processing head body 20 and linearly advances and retracts, and a forward and backward movement of the piston 27 is performed as a rotating cylinder. The pin 26 and the long hole 50 which convert into 23 rotational motion are provided.
[0028]
Therefore, the nozzle 24 can be attached to and detached from the housing 21 of the machining head body 20 by a one-push operation in which the piston 27 is simply pushed. Therefore, the attaching / detaching operation is extremely simple, and there is no need to perform the complicated operation of removing the nozzle by a screwing operation using a tool as in the conventional case.
[0029]
In the present embodiment, the engagement state between the sphere 25 and the nozzle 24 is held by the spring 28. Accordingly, the nozzle 27 can be reliably fixed to the housing 21.
[0030]
FIG. 4 shows a modification of the above-described embodiment. In FIG. 4, the same reference numerals are given to components common to the above-described embodiment.
In this modification, the piston 27 is resisted against the biasing force of the spring 28 by applying fluid pressure to the piston 27 through the gas hole 63 (also shown in FIG. 2B) formed in the housing 21. It is made to move in the direction to go (the direction opposite to the C direction). Specifically, a known gas supply / discharge circuit including a direction switching valve and a gas supply source (both not shown) is connected to the gas hole 63, and switching of the direction switching valve is controlled by a control device (not shown). As a result, the supply / discharge of gas to / from the piston 27 is controlled so that the piston 27 is automatically advanced and retracted. Other configurations are the same as those of the above-described embodiment.
[0031]
In such a configuration, since the piston 27 can be automatically advanced and retracted without operating with a finger, the nozzle 24 can be automatically detached. Therefore, the nozzle replacement can be performed more easily. In the case of this modification, seal members 75, 76, 77 such as O-rings are provided between the housing 21 and the piston 27 and the retaining member 29 so that the gas flowing through the gas hole 63 does not leak to the outside. It is desirable to intervene.
[0032]
In the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2B, the passage 60 of the housing 21 through which the laser beam LB and assist gas assisting the laser beam LB communicate with the piston housing space S through the connection passage 62. The assist gas flowing into the space S may be applied to the piston 27 in the same direction as the biasing direction of the spring 28. In this way, the holding force of the nozzle 28 can be further strengthened, and the unexpected drop of the nozzle 24 during laser processing can be prevented. This configuration is particularly advantageous when applied to the above-described modified example of automatic nozzle attachment / detachment, because it is not necessary to rely on the spring 28 alone. In this configuration, it is desirable to insert a seal member 65 such as an O-ring between the housing 21 and the piston 27 in order to seal the assist gas.
[0033]
Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the nozzle 24 is held by the sphere 25. However, the present invention is not limited to the sphere, and any type may be used as long as the nozzle can be held by being detachably engaged with the nozzle 24. . In the above-described embodiment, the forward / backward movement of the piston 27 is converted into the rotational movement of the rotary cylinder 23 via the pin 26. However, any known mechanism may be adopted as long as the forward / backward movement can be converted into the rotational movement. It doesn't matter. In the above-described embodiment, the engagement state between the nozzle 24 and the sphere 25 is held by the spring 28, but it is needless to say that the engagement state is not limited to the spring and can be realized by various known means. Yes. The means for automatically moving the piston 27 back and forth is not limited to gas, and any known means may be used.
[0034]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first and second aspects of the invention, the nozzle can be attached to and detached from the processing head main body by a one-way operation in which the operating body is simply moved forward and backward. Therefore, the attaching / detaching operation is extremely simple, and there is no need to perform the complicated operation of removing the nozzle by a screwing operation using a tool as in the conventional case.
According to the invention described in claim 3 and claim 4 , the same effect as that of the invention described in claim 1 or 2 can be obtained, and the nozzle is securely fixed to the processing head main body. be able to.
According to the invention described in claim 5 and claim 6 , the same effect as that of the invention described in any of claims 1 to 4 can be obtained, and the operating body can be automatically advanced and retracted. Therefore, the nozzle can be automatically detached. Therefore, the nozzle replacement can be performed more easily.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a laser processing machine provided with a nozzle attaching / detaching mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2A is a longitudinal sectional view of a machining head, FIG. 2B is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2A, and FIG. 2C is a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. (D) is an expanded sectional view of the D section of (c).
FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of a rotating cylinder.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a structure according to a modified example around the piston.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Laser processing machine (laser processing equipment)
20 Processing head body 24 Nozzle 23 Rotating cylinder (Rotating body)
25 balls (holding means)
26 pin 27 piston (control body)
50 long hole

Claims (6)

In a nozzle attaching / detaching mechanism for attaching / detaching a nozzle that irradiates a workpiece with a laser beam to a processing head of a laser processing apparatus,
A cylindrical portion that is provided concentrically with the optical axis of the laser beam in the processing head body, and in which the nozzle is concentrically fitted;
Provided in the tubular portion, and holding means for engaging to be the nozzle disengageably which mated to the inside of the cylindrical portion holding the nozzle to the tube portion,
An engagement position for engaging the holding means with the nozzle by engaging with the outer periphery of the cylinder portion so as to be rotatable concentrically with the cylinder portion and rotating itself. A rotating cylinder that can be positioned at a disengaged position where the state can be released;
An operating body that is provided in the processing head body and linearly advances and retracts;
Means for converting the advance / retreat operation of the operating body into the rotation operation of the rotary cylinder ;
A nozzle attaching / detaching mechanism comprising: The holding means is a sphere that is slidably held inside and outside of the cylindrical portion in the hole of the cylindrical portion, and detachably engages with a concave groove formed on the outer peripheral surface of the nozzle,
The rotating cylinder rotates by itself so that the ball protrudes to the inside of the cylindrical portion by the inner peripheral surface thereof, and engages with the concave groove of the nozzle, and the inner peripheral surface thereof. 2. The disengagement position where the engagement state with the concave groove of the nozzle can be released by dropping into the formed groove and retracting from the inside of the cylindrical portion. The nozzle attaching / detaching mechanism according to claim 1. Nozzle desorption mechanism according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that it comprises engagement holding means for holding the engagement state between the nozzle and the holding means. 4. The nozzle attachment / detachment mechanism according to claim 3 , wherein the engagement holding unit is a spring that biases the operation body and / or assist gas supplied from the processing head main body to the nozzle. The nozzle attaching / detaching mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , further comprising control means for automatically advancing and retracting the operating body. The nozzle attaching / detaching mechanism according to claim 5 , wherein the operating body is a piston that advances and retreats by fluid pressure, and the control unit controls supply and discharge of fluid to and from the piston.

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