JP2001058284A - Laser beam working machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To successively machine a work in a small space by heating a machining spot of a work to a temp. below the working temp. with a preheating device having a plurality of shelves arranged in the vertical direction, carrying out the work and performing machining with irradiating with a laser beam to heat the working temp. or higher. SOLUTION: A work W is carried into a shelf 21 of a preheating device 20A and is heated to a working temp. When the shelf 21 is filled up, the preheating device 20A is moved to a prescribed position along a track 70. Then, a work carrying-out device 50 carries out the work after completion of preheating, and the work W is placed on a transport device 30. The transport device 30 transports the work W to a laser beam machine 10, the work W is machined by the laser beam machine 10. Subsequently, the work W is taken out from the transport device 30 by a work carrying-in device 60, is carried into a shelf 41 of a slow cooling device 40A and is slowly cooled by the slow cooling device 40A. When all the shelves of the slow cooling device 40A is filled with works W, the slow cooling device 40A is moved on a track 80, and the works W are taken out.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a laser processing apparatus for processing a workpiece by irradiating a laser beam.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a technique for processing a workpiece with a laser beam. For example, 2 glass pieces (work pieces)
And a technique of manufacturing a double glass by fusing together, or a technique of melting and deforming a part of a glass piece (work piece) by irradiating a laser beam.

[0003]

When a work is laser-processed in this way, a crack or a crack may be generated in the work due to a large temperature gradient generated in the work. In order to avoid this, it is necessary to preheat the work to a temperature lower than the processing temperature before the main processing by the laser light, or to gradually cool the work to a temperature lower than the processing temperature after the main processing by the laser light. It is valid.

The time required for preheating and slow cooling is considerably longer than the time required for main processing (processing by laser beam irradiation). The time required for preheating and slow cooling becomes longer as the occurrence of cracks and cracks in the work is reduced. That is, it is necessary to heat as slowly as possible in the preheating process and to cool as slowly as possible in the slow cooling process. In particular, slow cooling requires a lot of time.

Therefore, in order to process the workpieces one after another, it is necessary to place many workpieces in a preheating process, and to perform the main processing by the laser beam sequentially from the preheated workpieces. Then, a space large enough to accommodate many works in the preheating process is required. For example, a processing line for pre-heating a large number of workpieces arranged on a conveyor is required. In such a case, the entire processing line becomes extremely long.

[0006] Further, although the work for which main processing has been completed is placed in the slow cooling process, a large amount of work is accumulated in the slow cooling process. This also requires a large space. For example, if a processing line is used in which many works are arranged on a conveyor and gradually cooled, the entire processing line becomes very long.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a laser processing apparatus according to the present invention is a laser processing apparatus for irradiating a workpiece with a laser beam, and comprises a plurality of laser processing apparatuses arranged in a vertical direction. A preheating device for heating a portion of the work to be processed placed on the shelf of each stage to a temperature lower than a processing temperature of the work; and a preheating device that is preheated by the preheating device. Main processing means for irradiating the portion of the work carried out from the preheating device with a laser beam to heat the work to a temperature equal to or higher than a processing temperature of the work to perform processing (claim 1). With this configuration, it is possible to accommodate a large number of works in a small space and preheat the work. Therefore, even if the preheating time is longer than the main processing time, the workpieces can be processed one after another in a limited small space.

In the laser processing apparatus, the preheating device may be configured to be able to circulate the positions of the plurality of shelves. With this configuration, when the positions of the shelves circulate, all shelves can be accessed at the same position.

Further, in the above-mentioned laser processing apparatus, a gradual cooling device for gradually cooling the work processed by the main processing means to a temperature lower than a processing temperature of the work, and a gradual cooling of the work from the preheating device. And a transfer device for transferring the work to the device. The work may be processed by the main processing means on the transfer device (Claim 3). A work unloading device for unloading the workpiece and placing it on the transfer device (claim 4). This is convenient for automating the work processing process.

[0010] In the laser processing apparatus, a plurality of the preheating devices may be provided so that the plurality of preheating devices can move on a track. In this way, while unloading the workpiece from one preheating device,
Since the work can be carried into another empty preheating device, time efficiency can be improved.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a laser processing apparatus for irradiating a workpiece with a laser beam to process the workpiece. And a main processing means for heating and processing the work to a temperature equal to or higher than the processing temperature of the work, and a plurality of shelves arranged in parallel in the vertical direction. A slow cooling device for gradually cooling the work placed on the shelf to a temperature lower than a processing temperature of the work (claim 6). With this configuration, it is possible to accommodate a large number of works in a small space and gradually cool the work. Therefore, even if the slow cooling time is longer than the main processing time,
Work can be processed one after another in a limited small space.

In the laser processing apparatus, the slow cooling device may be configured to be able to circulate the positions of the plurality of shelves. With this configuration, when the positions of the shelves circulate, all shelves can be accessed at the same position.

In the above laser processing apparatus, a preheating device for heating a portion to be processed of the work to a temperature lower than a processing temperature of the work, and a transfer device for transferring the work from the preheating device to the slow cooling device The work may be configured to be processed by the main processing means on the transfer device after being preheated by the preheating device (Claim 8). A work carrying device for removing the work and carrying the work to the shelf of the slow cooling device may be provided. This is convenient for automating the work processing process.

Further, in the laser processing apparatus, a plurality of the slow cooling devices may be provided, and the plurality of slow cooling devices may be configured to be movable on a track. In this way, while the workpiece is being carried into one slow cooling device,
Since the work can be carried out from the other slow cooling device loaded with the work, time efficiency can be improved.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a view showing an almost entire appearance of a laser processing apparatus D according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
Is a plan view of the entire laser processing apparatus D.

As laser processing performed by this type of laser processing apparatus, a part of a work is irradiated with laser light to melt and deform the part, or a laser is applied to a contact point or a close place of two work pieces. There is a process of irradiating light and fusing the portion. The processing temperature of the laser beam irradiation part differs depending on the type of processing. For example, in the case of the fusion processing, the fusion temperature of the work is the processing temperature.

As another type of laser processing performed by this type of laser processing apparatus, there is a smoothing processing of the surface of a work by irradiating a laser beam. In other words, the surface of the work having an uneven surface is irradiated with a laser beam and heated, and the residual stress is removed from the heat-treated area to smooth the area. In this processing, before the laser beam irradiation, the workpiece is in a state where residual stress is present on the surface thereof, and is in a state where irregularities are formed on the surface with the presence of the residual stress. Then, when heat treatment is performed by laser light irradiation, the residual stress is removed from the heat-treated region, so that the unevenness on the surface can be reduced and the region can be smoothed. In this processing, the temperature at which the residual stress on the surface is removed is the processing temperature.

In particular, when the work having an uneven surface is an amorphous and crystalline work, the removal of residual stress in a region heated by irradiation with laser light is performed by removing the residual stress by approximately one time. It can be achieved by adopting such a composition. That is, the workpiece has a composition in which amorphous and crystalline are mixed before the heat treatment is performed, and the workpiece is in a state where irregularities are formed on the surface by the residual stress accompanying the composition. Then, when heat treatment is performed by laser light irradiation, the heat-treated region has an amorphous and substantially uniform composition to remove residual stress, and as a result, unevenness on the surface of the heat-treated region Can be reduced for smoothing. In this processing, the temperature at which the workpiece surface can be made to have a substantially uniform amorphous composition is the processing temperature.

In the smoothing process, the laser beam and the work may be relatively moved, and the adjacent regions may be sequentially heated.

Further, as another type of laser processing performed by this type of laser processing apparatus, there is chamfering of an end face of a plate-like work. That is, the end surface of the plate-shaped work is irradiated with laser light, and the end surface is processed so as to be rounded. When laser light is irradiated on the end face of the plate-like work,
The irradiated part locally rises in temperature and reaches the softening point. Since the surface tension of the softened work tries to minimize the surface area, the end face is rounded and a smooth curved surface is obtained. In this way, chamfering of the end face of the plate-like work is performed. In particular, when the plate-like work is a glass plate, the thermal conductivity of the glass is extremely poor,
The temperature of the portion irradiated with the laser beam sharply rises locally and reaches the softening point. In this processing, the temperature at which the end face of the work reaches the softening point is the processing temperature.

Various examples of laser processing have been described above.
Examples of the material of the work or plate-like work on which the laser processing is performed include glass, ceramic, metal, and plastic.

The laser processing device D mainly includes a laser processing machine 10, which is a main processing means, preheating devices 20A and 20B, a transport device 30, slow cooling devices 40A and 40B, a work unloading device 50, and a work loading device 6.
0, consisting of orbits 70 and 80.

The laser beam machine 10 can emit a laser beam from the head 11, and processes the workpiece W with the laser beam. That is, laser light is applied to a portion of the workpiece W to be processed, and the temperature of the portion is raised to a processing temperature or higher to perform processing (main processing).

The preheating devices 20A and 20B are devices for heating a portion of the work W to be fused to a predetermined preheating temperature (a temperature lower than a processing temperature). The preheating devices 20A and 20B heat the work W to be processed by heating the entire work W. The preheating devices 20A and 20B have a plurality of shelves 21.
have. The plurality of shelves 21 are arranged in two rows on the left and right and in seven rows in the vertical direction in each of the preheating devices 20A and 20B. The work W can be placed on each of the shelves 21. The preheating devices 20A and 20B are provided with a heater (not shown), and the heater can heat the entire work W placed on the shelf 21.
Two such preheating devices 20A and 20B are provided on the track 70, and can move along the track 70.

The slow cooling devices 40A and 40B are devices for gradually cooling the main processed portion of the work W from a processing temperature to a predetermined temperature (a temperature lower than the processing temperature). Slow cooling means that the temperature of the work is uniformly and gradually reduced. The slow cooling devices 40A and 40B have substantially the same configuration as the preheating devices 20A and 20B. That is, the slow cooling devices 40A, 40B
Also has a plurality of shelves 41 arranged in two rows on the left and right and in seven rows in the vertical direction, and the work W can be placed on each of the shelves 41. In the slow cooling devices 40A and 40B,
A heater (not shown) is provided so that the entire work W placed on the shelf 41 can be heated. These two slow cooling devices 40A and 40B are provided on the track 80, and can move along the track 80.

The transfer device 30 is provided with a track 7 for the preheating devices 20A and 20B.
0 and the orbital 80 for the slow cooling devices 40A and 40B,
The work W can be transported in the direction from the track 70 to the track 80. As can be seen from FIG. 1, one end of the transfer device 30 has penetrated into the work loading device 60 via an opening 61 formed at the lower portion of the work loading device 60. Also, although not evident from FIG.
The other end of 30 penetrates into work unloading device 50 through an opening formed in the lower part of work unloading device 50. The lower opening of the work unloading device 50 is formed similarly to the opening 61 formed in the work loading device 60.

The work unloading device 50 is configured so that the work W stored therein can be unloaded from the shelves 21 of the preheating devices 20A and 20B and placed on the transfer device 30.

The work carry-in device 60 is configured so that the work W can be removed from the transfer device 30 and carried into the shelf 41 of the slow cooling devices 40A and 40B.

As can be seen from FIG. 2, the trajectories 70 and 80 both form a closed loop.

Next, a procedure for processing the work W by the laser processing apparatus D will be described. In order to process the work W, first, the work W is carried into one of the shelves 21 of the preheating device. This loading is performed, for example, with the preheating device 20A stopped at the position P1 in FIG. Here, the work W is carried into each of the plurality of shelves 21 of the preheating device 20A. Preheating device 20A
Is provided with a heater, and the space where the work W of each shelf 21 is placed is heated by the heater. Therefore,
At the same time as the work W is carried into the shelf 21, heating of the work W is started. By this heating, the temperature of the work W gradually rises to a predetermined temperature lower than the processing temperature. A plurality of works W are successively carried into the preheating device 20A. However, since the works W can be placed on a plurality of shelves 21 arranged in parallel in the vertical direction, the limited space is effectively used, Can be accommodated.

When the last work W is carried into the preheating device 20A, the work W carried first is heated to near the predetermined temperature. And preheating equipment
When the work W is carried into all the shelves 21 of 20A, the preheating device 2
0A is moved along the track 70 to the position P2 in FIG.

Then, the work unloading device 50 is
The preheated work W is unloaded from the shelf 21 of A and placed on the transfer device 30. The transfer device 30 transfers the work W in the direction of arrow X in the figure. The work W placed on the transfer device 30 is placed on the transfer device 30 while
It exits the lower opening of 50 and moves in the direction of arrow X. The work unloading device 50 unloads the works W one after another from the preheating device 20A and sequentially places them on the transfer device 30.

The transfer device 30 moves the work W intermittently. This is to stop the work W when the work W comes before the laser processing machine 10 so that the laser processing machine 10 can smoothly perform the main processing on the work W.

Since the workpiece W has already been heated to a predetermined temperature lower than the processing temperature before the main processing by the laser processing machine 10 is performed, the work is heated to a temperature higher than the predetermined temperature. Even if it does, cracks and cracks do not occur in the work W during laser beam irradiation.

The transfer device 30 is covered by a heat insulation furnace 90 indicated by a virtual line in the figure, and the work W on the transfer device 30 is kept warm by the heat insulation furnace 90. The reason why the transfer device 30 is covered with the heat retaining furnace 90 is to prevent the work W preheated by the preheating device 20A from being cooled during the transfer by the transfer device 30. The processing location of the processed workpiece W
This is to prevent rapid cooling during the transport by 30. Note that the laser beam from the laser beam machine 10
Through the opening 91 formed in the heat insulating furnace 90, it can enter.

When the laser processing machine 10 completes the main processing of the work W, the work W enters the inside of the work loading device 60 by the transfer device 30 through the opening 61 of the work loading device 60. Then, the work carry-in device 60 removes the work W from the transfer device 30 and carries the work W to the shelf 41 of the slow cooling device 40A waiting at the position P3 in FIG. The workpiece carrying-in device 60 sequentially feeds the workpieces W which have been subjected to the main processing, which are successively sent by the transport device 30, to the shelf 4 of the slow cooling device 40A.
Carry in one. A plurality of works W are successively carried into the slow cooling device 40A.
Since the works W can be stored in the 41, a large number of works W can be accommodated by effectively using the limited space.

The slow cooling device 40A has a heater, and each shelf 4
The space in which one work W is to be placed is heated by this heater. Therefore, the workpiece W after the main processing is carried into the shelf 41 of the slow cooling device 40A, and the slow cooling is started at the same time. That is, since each shelf 41 has risen to the predetermined temperature, the work W is cooled slowly. The slow cooling is performed in order to prevent the work W from being rapidly cooled, particularly at the processing location. That is, if the work W immediately after the main processing is rapidly cooled, a large temperature gradient is generated inside the work W, which causes cracks and cracks. In this way, it is possible to prevent the work W from being cracked or cracked.

When the last work W is loaded into the slow cooling device 40A, the first loaded work W has already been cooled to a predetermined temperature lower than the processing temperature of the work W.
When the work W is carried into all the shelves 41 of the slow cooling device 40A,
The slow cooling device 40A moves on the track 80 to the position of P4 in FIG. Then, at this position, the work W whose cooling has been completed is taken out from the cooling device 40A.

The track 70 has two preheating devices 20A and 20A.
There is B, but there is no difference in the composition. The two preheating devices 20A and 20B are provided for the following reason. That is, while the preheating device 20A is at the position P2 in FIG. 2 and the work W is sequentially carried out from the preheating device 20A, the preheating device 20B is set at the position P1 in FIG. apparatus
It is carried into 20B. Then, when all the works W are unloaded from the preheating device 20A and the preheating device 20A becomes empty,
At the same time as moving the preheating device 20A to the position P1, the preheating device 20B loaded with the work W is moved to the position P2. In this way, time efficiency in processing the work W can be improved.

For the same reason, two slow cooling devices 40A and 40B are provided on the track 80. That is, there is no difference in the configuration of the two slow cooling devices 40A and 40B.
And while the workpieces W are sequentially loaded into the slow cooling device 40A, the slow cooling device 40B is set to the position P4 in FIG. 2, and the slowly cooled workpiece W is unloaded from the slow cooling device 40B. It is. When the work W is fully loaded on the slow cooling device 40A, the slow cooling device 40A is moved to the position P4, and at the same time, the empty slow cooling device 40B is moved to the position P3. In this way, time efficiency in processing the work W can be improved.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing another embodiment of the preheating device. In the above embodiment, the position of the shelf of the preheating device is fixed in the preheating device. However, the preheating device may be configured such that the positions of the shelves circulate as shown in FIG. The preheating device 20C shown in FIG. 3 includes a circulation driving device, and the circulation driving device circulates all the shelves 21C in a direction indicated by an arrow in the drawing. And the unloading device 50C
The work W stored in the shelf 21C circulating at the lower left position of the preheating device 20C in FIG. 3 is sequentially unloaded. in this way,
When the position of the shelf 21C circulates, the operation of the unloading device 50C can be simplified. Similarly, when the workpieces W are loaded into the preheating device 20C, all the workpieces W can be loaded from the same position, so that the loading operation is simplified.

The structure in which the positions of the shelves are circulated in this manner can be similarly applied to a slow cooling device. When the structure in which the position of the shelf is circulated is adopted in the slow cooling device, the operation of the loading device is simplified. Also, the work unloading work is simplified.

The laser processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described.

In the above embodiment, when a plurality of works are carried into the preheating device, the case where the preheating of the first work is almost completely completed before the last work is carried in, Although the case where the transfer of the workpieces is performed relatively slowly has been described, the transfer of all the workpieces may be performed quickly so that all the workpieces are preheated substantially uniformly. Further, in the above embodiment, when a plurality of works are carried into the slow cooling device, when the last work is carried in, the case where the slow cooling of the work first carried in is almost completed, that is, Although the case where the work is carried in relatively slowly has been described, all the work may be quickly carried in so that all the work is gradually cooled almost uniformly.

Further, the laser processing apparatus of the above embodiment is
Although two preheating devices that can move on orbit and two slow cooling devices that can move on orbit are provided, the number of preheating devices and the number of slow cooling devices may be more. Alternatively, only one device may be used. Further, in the above embodiment, the closed loop trajectory is shown, but the trajectory may be an open loop. Further, a trajectory is not required. For example, the preheating device 1
A configuration in which only the table is fixed at the position P1 in FIG. 2 may be employed. In this case, the workpieces before processing are successively carried in from the backside f1 side of the preheating device, and the work unloading device sequentially carries out the works from the front side f2 side of the preheating device to the transfer device from the one after completion of the preheating. What is necessary is just to make it mount.

Further, for example, only one slow cooling device is used in FIG.
It may be configured to be fixed at the position of P3. In this case, the work carry-in device sequentially carries the work carried by the transfer device from the front side f3 of the slow cooling device to the slow cooling device, and gradually cools the work in order from the one after the slow cooling is completed. What is necessary is just to carry out from the back surface f4 side of an apparatus.

[0048]

The present invention is embodied in the form described above, and has the following effects. (1) Equipped with a preheating device having a plurality of shelves vertically arranged in parallel, a large number of works can be accommodated by effectively using the limited space, and the work can be processed one after another in a small space. it can. (2) If a slow cooling device having a plurality of shelves arranged in a vertical direction is provided, a large number of works can be accommodated by effectively using a limited space, and works can be successively stored in a small space. Can be processed. (3) When the positions of the shelves of the preheating device and the slow cooling device circulate, all shelves can be accessed at the same position, so that it is easy to carry in a work to a shelf or carry out a work from a shelf. (4) The provision of a transfer device for transferring the work from the preheating device to the slow cooling device facilitates automation of the work processing process. (5) The provision of the work carry-out device and the work carry-in device facilitates the automation of the work processing process. (6) If a plurality of preheating devices that can move on the track are provided, the work can be carried into another empty preheating device while the work is being unloaded from one preheating device, improving the time efficiency. it can. (7) If a plurality of slow cooling devices that can move on the track are provided, the work can be carried out from another slow cooling device full of the work while the work is being loaded into one slow cooling device. Efficiency can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of almost the entire laser processing apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the entire laser processing apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing another embodiment of the preheating device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Laser processing machine 11 Head 20A, 20B, 20C Preheating device 21,21C shelf 30 Transfer device 40A, 40B Slow cooling device 41 Shelf 50,50C Work unloading device 60 Work loading device 61 Opening 70,80 Track 90 Heat insulation furnace 91 Opening

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A laser processing apparatus for processing a workpiece by irradiating the workpiece with a laser beam, comprising: a plurality of shelves vertically arranged side by side; A preheating device for heating the portion to be processed to a temperature lower than the processing temperature of the work, and irradiating the portion of the work unloaded from the preheating device after being preheated by the preheating device with laser light, A main processing means for performing processing by heating to a temperature equal to or higher than the processing temperature of the work. 2. The laser processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the preheating device is configured to be able to circulate the positions of the plurality of shelves. 3. A slow cooling device for gradually cooling the work processed by the main processing means to a temperature lower than a processing temperature of the work, and a transfer device for transferring the work from the preheating device to the slow cooling device. The laser processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: processing the workpiece by the main processing unit on the transfer device. 4. A work unloading device for unloading the work from the preheating device and mounting the work on the transfer device.
The laser processing apparatus according to the above. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of said preheating devices, wherein said plurality of preheating devices are movable on an orbit.
The laser processing apparatus according to any one of Items 4 to 4. 6. A laser processing apparatus for processing a workpiece by irradiating the workpiece with a laser beam, wherein the workpiece is irradiated with the laser beam and heated to a temperature equal to or higher than a processing temperature of the workpiece. A main processing means, and a plurality of shelves vertically arranged in parallel with each other, and the work processed by the main processing means and placed on the shelves of each stage is reduced in temperature below the processing temperature of the work. A laser processing apparatus comprising: 7. The laser processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the slow cooling device is configured to be able to circulate the positions of the plurality of shelves. 8. A preheating device for heating a portion of the work to be processed to a temperature lower than a processing temperature of the work, and a transfer device for transferring the work from the preheating device to the slow cooling device, The laser processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the work is processed by the main processing means on the transfer device after being preheated by the preheating device. 9. The laser processing apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a work loading device for removing the work from the transfer device and carrying the work to a shelf of the slow cooling device. 10. The laser processing apparatus according to claim 6, comprising a plurality of said slow cooling devices, wherein said plurality of slow cooling devices are configured to move on a track. .