JP2001062580A - Laser marker - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily exchange either one of a head part and a controller, and also prevent loss of inherent information of the head part. SOLUTION: This laser marker is equipped with a head part 1 and a controller 2. The head part 1 comprises a laser oscillator 11 to output laser lights for printing on the surface of an object, a scanner 12, a memory 14 for storing inherent information of the head part 1 into inside of the head part 1, and a communication port 15 for transmitting the inherent information to the controller. A microprocessor 22 of the controller 2 reads the storage information of the memory 14 of the head part 1 via communication ports 15 and 21, so as to control the head part at optimum conditions based on the information.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a laser marker having a head unit having a laser oscillator and a scanner for performing printing on the surface of an object using a laser beam, and a controller for controlling the head unit. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A laser marker of this type is an apparatus for marking characters or the like on the surface of an object such as resin, wood, metal, etc. using a laser beam. By heating the surface of an object such as resin, wood, metal, etc. with a laser beam emitted from a laser having a relatively high output such as a CO ₂ laser or a YAG laser, and locally discoloring or deforming the surface Perform marking of characters and the like.

As a method of deflecting a laser beam along a character or the like to be marked, a method called vector scan is usually used. This is a method in which the deflection of the laser beam in the X and Y directions is simultaneously controlled using a galvano scanner, thereby moving the laser beam along a character or a line drawing. In order to perform marking efficiently and in a short time, a trajectory with one stroke is selected as much as possible.

[0004] As shown in FIG. 1, the laser marker comprises a head unit 1 and a controller 2, both of which are electrically connected by a cable 3. The head unit 1 has a built-in laser oscillator and scanner, and is installed so as to face an object 4 to be marked. The controller 2 has a microprocessor, a memory, and the like for controlling the laser oscillator and the scanner of the head unit 1. The controller 2 also controls the setting of marking contents (hereinafter, referred to as printing contents) such as the size and position of the character to be marked and the calculation of the laser trajectory according to the setting contents.

[0005]

Conventionally, the head unit 1 and the controller 2 are adjusted on a one-to-one basis to constitute one product, a laser marker. For example, different controllers have been used for a head unit containing a CO ₂ laser and a head unit containing a YAG laser. Also, the same CO
_{Even in the case of a two-} laser head, for example, since the characteristics of the laser oscillators vary individually, the controllers adjusted so as to have the optimum conditions in accordance with the characteristics of the respective laser oscillators are made to correspond one-to-one. Managed. Therefore, for example, when the head unit 1 fails, it is difficult to replace only the head unit 1 with a new one, and it is necessary to replace the entire laser marker including the controller 2.

In some cases, the controller 2 stores maintenance management information relating to the operating time of the laser oscillator, changes over time in the output, and the like, and controls the head unit to always operate under optimum conditions based on this information. In this case, if the same head unit is to be controlled by another controller, a cumbersome operation such as removing the storage medium storing the maintenance management information of the head unit from the previous controller and attaching it to the newly connected controller is required. Necessary or otherwise, the maintenance information for that head will be lost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems and to provide a laser marker capable of easily replacing only one of the head unit and the controller. In other words, it is an object of the present invention to allow the same controller to correspond to a plurality of head units, or to allow a plurality of controllers to correspond to one head unit.

[0008]

A laser marker according to the present invention comprises a head having a laser oscillator and a scanner for performing printing on the surface of an object using a laser beam, and a controller for controlling the head. A laser marker provided with an information holding unit for holding unique information of a head unit, wherein the head unit is provided with an information holding unit. Preferably, the information processing apparatus further includes communication means for transmitting the information held in the information holding means to the controller.

As described above, by holding the unique information of the head portion inside the head portion, it becomes possible to replace only the head portion. The controller reads the unique information such as the type and characteristics of the head unit to be newly controlled and the maintenance management information from the information holding unit of the head unit via the communication unit, so that the head unit can be read under optimal conditions for the head unit Laser oscillator and scanner can be controlled.

Conversely, even when only the controller is replaced for the same head unit, the unique information of the head unit is not lost, and a new controller is provided from the information holding unit of the head unit via the communication unit. The unique information can be read and the laser oscillator and the scanner of the head section can be controlled under the optimum conditions.

As the information holding means, for example, a memory such as a non-volatile memory which holds the stored contents even when power supply is cut off is preferable. Of course, normal SRAM
May be backed up by a battery. When the unique information is simple selection information such as the type of the head unit, a dip switch may be used as the information holding unit.

The head-specific information includes, in addition to the type of the head, management information such as a manufacturing lot, data for correcting variations in characteristics of a laser oscillator or a scanner constituting the head, and the cumulative operating time of the head. It is preferable to include

[0013]

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

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the laser marker according to the embodiment of the present invention. The appearance of the laser marker is the same as the conventional one shown in FIG. The laser marker includes a head unit 1 and a controller 2, both of which are connected by a communication cable.

The head unit 1 includes a laser oscillator 11 and a scanner.
12, microprocessor 13, memory 14 and communication
A port (communication means) 15 is included. The laser oscillator 11
CO ₂Laser or YAG laser
A laser beam that locally heats and discolors or deforms the surface
Output. Scanner 12 outputs from laser oscillator 11
By deflecting the laser beam,
Laser beam along the trajectory to be marked (printed)
Move the system.

The microprocessor 13 has a communication port 1
The laser oscillator 11 and the scanner 12 are controlled in accordance with a command given from the controller 2 through the controller 5.
For example, the scanner 12 is controlled so that the laser beam is moved with a single stroke along the character or line drawing of the marking. Further, the laser oscillator 11 stops the output of the laser beam during the pause period from one stroke to the next stroke.
Control.

The memory 14 corresponds to information holding means for holding the unique information of the head unit 1, and is constituted by a nonvolatile semiconductor memory. The unique information of the head unit 1 includes information that is written in the memory 14 in advance as initial information and information that is written later according to an operation state or a maintenance state. The former includes management information such as the type of a head unit, a manufacturing lot, and data for correcting a characteristic variation of a laser oscillator or a scanner. These initial information can be written from an external device (not shown) such as a computer connected via the communication port 15. The latter information includes the integrated operating time of the laser oscillator, output deterioration information, and the like, and is written by the microprocessor 13. Details of the unique information will be described later.

The controller 2 includes a communication port 21 for transmitting and receiving commands and data to and from the head unit 1, a microprocessor 22, a memory 23, and a console 24.
It has. The memory 23 includes a microprocessor 22
Includes a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory) for storing processing programs and data to be executed. The console 24 is composed of a liquid crystal display and a touch panel, and is used for setting marking contents (printing contents) such as the size and position of characters to be marked.

The print contents set by using the console 24 are temporarily stored in the memory 23 and are stored in the microprocessor 2.
2 obtains an efficient and optimal trajectory by calculation according to the print contents. That is, a character or the like to be marked is formed by connecting a straight line and an elliptical arc, and the trajectory of the laser beam is set so as to draw as one stroke as much as possible. In addition, the start point and the end point of the laser beam output are determined so that the output of the laser beam is stopped during the pause period from one stroke to the next stroke. The command and data for executing the marking determined in this manner are transmitted from the microprocessor 22 to the head unit 1 via the communication port 21.

The microprocessor 22 reads the unique information of the head unit 1 stored in the memory 14 of the head unit 1 via the communication ports 15 and 21, and based on the unique information, the head unit 1 under optimum conditions. The laser oscillator 11 and the scanner 12 are controlled. The explanation is given with some examples.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a first example in which the type of the head unit 1 is stored in the memory 14 as unique information. The type of the head portion is, for example, C
Information for distinguishing between a small type using an O ₂ laser and a high output type using a YAG laser and respective versions are stored. That is, the memory 14 of a certain head unit 1 stores information (information surrounded by a solid line) indicating that the head is of a type using a YAG laser and its version is 2.00. In the memory 14 of another head unit 1, the head is C
Information indicating that the type uses an O ₂ laser and its version is 1.03 (information enclosed by a broken line)
Is stored.

The microprocessor 22 of the controller 2
Reads the information (unique information) stored in the memory 14 of the head unit 1 to know the type and version of the head unit 1 and performs control corresponding thereto. In addition, management information such as a manufacturing date and a manufacturing lot may be stored as unique information in the memory 14 and used for control by the controller 2. In this way, when one of the head unit 1 and the controller 2 is replaced, there is no need to change the settings of the controller 2 in accordance with the characteristics of the head unit 1, thereby facilitating product maintenance and version management.

FIG. 4 shows, as a second example, a configuration in which distortion of a lens constituting scanner 12 incorporated in head unit 1 and its correction data are stored in memory 14 as unique information of head unit 1. FIG. For example, in a certain head unit 1, the distortion of the lens is large, and the correction data A (information surrounded by a solid line) is stored in the memory 14. In another head unit 1, the distortion of the lens is small, and the correction data B (information surrounded by a broken line) is stored in the memory 14.

The microprocessor 22 of the controller 2
Read out information stored in the memory 14 of the head unit 1 (unique information) to correct the lens distortion based on the correction data corresponding to the distortion of the lens constituting the scanner 12 of the head unit 1. Perform control. Alternatively, correction data relating to variations in laser output and variations in laser on / off delay time may be stored in the memory 14 and used for control by the controller 2.

Conventionally, when a laser marker is constructed by combining the head unit 1 and the controller 2 on a one-to-one basis, the controller is adjusted in accordance with the above-described distortion and characteristic variations caused by manufacturing. According to this example in the embodiment of the present invention, such adjustment is not necessary.

Further, as a modified example of the above configuration, the microprocessor 13 of the head unit 1 reads out the correction data stored in the memory 14 and
2 may be used. In this case, the correction data stored in the memory 14 is transmitted to the communication port 1
There is no need to transmit to controller 2 via 5 and 21. That is, the microprocessor 22 of the controller 2
, Common control may be performed irrespective of the characteristics (correction data) of the laser 11 and the scanner 12 of the head unit 1.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing, as a third example, a configuration in which data relating to the output deterioration of the laser oscillator 11 built in the head unit 1 is stored in the memory 14 as unique information of the head unit 1. It is. For example, in a certain head unit 1, data (information surrounded by a solid line) corresponding to a laser output deterioration of 10% is stored in the memory 14. In another head unit 1, data (information surrounded by a broken line) corresponding to a laser output deterioration of 20% is stored in the memory 14.

The microprocessor 22 of the controller 2
Reads out the stored information (unique information) in the memory 14 of the head unit 1 so that the laser oscillator 1 of the head unit 1
Control is performed to compensate for the output deterioration based on the data related to the output deterioration of No. 1. For example, control is performed to set a larger voltage or current to be supplied to the oscillation light source as the output deterioration increases.

In addition, the head unit 1 (particularly a laser oscillator)
The microprocessor 13 may be configured to accumulate the operating times of the above, and store the integrated operating time in the memory 14. In this case, the microprocessor 22 of the controller 2 estimates the characteristic deterioration of a component such as a laser oscillator based on the integrated operation time read from the memory 14 of the head unit 1 or estimates and notifies the replacement time. Perform processing. Even when the controller 2 is replaced with a new one, the deterioration information unique to the head unit 1 and the storage information of the accumulated operating time are stored in the memory 14 of the head unit 1, so that the new controller inherits the optimal control. It can be performed.

[0030]

As described above, according to the laser marker of the present invention, only one of the head and the controller can be easily replaced. At this time, since the unique information of the head unit is not lost, optimal control for the head unit is maintained without resetting or re-adjusting the controller.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and examples, but can be implemented in various forms. For example,
The information holding means for storing the unique information of the head unit is not limited to the nonvolatile memory, but may be a normal SRAM (static RA).
M) may be configured to be backed up by a battery. Alternatively, when the unique information is simple selection information such as the type of the head unit, a dip switch may be used as the information holding unit.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing the appearance of a conventional laser marker.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a laser marker according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a first example of unique information stored in a memory of a head unit in the laser marker according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a second example of the unique information stored in the memory of the head unit in the laser marker according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a third example of unique information stored in a memory of a head unit in the laser marker according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Head part 2 Controller 11 Laser oscillator 12 Scanner 13 Microprocessor 14 Memory (information holding means) 15 Communication port (Communication means) 21 Communication port 22 Microprocessor 23 Memory 24 Console

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A laser marker comprising: a head unit having a laser oscillator and a scanner for performing printing on the surface of an object using a laser beam; and a controller for controlling the head unit. A laser marker comprising an information holding means for holding the unique information of the head section. 2. The laser marker according to claim 1, further comprising communication means for transmitting information held in said information holding means to said controller. 3. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the controller reads out the unique information of the head unit via the communication unit when the power is turned on, and selects an optimal parameter for the head unit from a plurality of parameters to execute control. The laser marker according to claim 1, wherein the laser marker is configured. 4. The laser marker according to claim 1, wherein said information holding means is a nonvolatile memory. 5. The laser marker according to claim 1, wherein the unique information of the head section is management information such as a type of the head section and a manufacturing lot. 6. The laser marker according to claim 1, wherein the unique information of the head section is data for correcting a characteristic variation of a laser oscillator or a scanner constituting the head section. 7. The laser marker according to claim 1, wherein the unique information of the head section includes an integrated operation time of the head section.