JP2002046085A - Laser marker apparatus and printing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a laser marker apparatus available at lower costs than conventional apparatus and capable of enhancing processing efficiency, and a printing method. SOLUTION: The laser marker apparatus includes means 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, and 7 for applying position-detecting laser beams 4 to the subject 8 of printing; a detection mean 10 for detecting the laser beams 4 applied and reflected from the subject 8 of printing; a means 9 for obtaining the position information of the subject 8 of printing by detecting the position of the end of the subject 8 of printing from the reflected laser beams 4; and means 9, 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7 for applying printing laser beams to the subject 8 of printing according to the position information of the subject of printing.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a laser marker device, and more particularly, to a laser marker device capable of improving the accuracy of a printing position on a printing object.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a laser marker device which irradiates a printing surface of an object to be printed with a laser beam to print predetermined characters and figures. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a conventional laser marker device. Referring to FIG.
A conventional laser marker device will be described.

Referring to FIG. 6, a conventional laser marker device includes an illuminating device 15 for illuminating a component 108 to be printed.
1 and an imaging device 110 for imaging a component to be printed
An image processing device 150 that measures the position of a print target component and an inclination angle with respect to a predetermined direction from an image captured by the imaging device 110, and an XYθ stage 153.
And an XYθ stage controller 152 and a laser head 15 for irradiating the print target component 108 with laser light.
5 and a laser control device 154 for controlling the laser head.

Next, the operation of the conventional laser marker device will be described. First, the print target component 108 is arranged at a predetermined position. Then, the illumination target 151 causes the print target component 10
While illuminating 8, the imaging device 110 images the print target component 108. Then, the imaging data of the print target component 108 is transferred from the imaging device 110 to the image processing device 150. The image processing device 150 obtains position information such as the position of the print target component 108 and the inclination with respect to a predetermined installation direction from the image data.

Next, the XYθ stage controller 152
Then, the position information of the print target component 108 is transferred from the image processing device 150. Then, the XYθ stage controller 152 on which the print target component 108 is disposed is set so that the position of the print target component 108 becomes a predetermined position and angle when the laser beam is irradiated.
3 is controlled. In other words, by operating the XYθ stage 153, the position and direction of the print target component 108 are corrected so that the position of the print target component 108 at the laser light irradiation step, which is the next step, becomes a predetermined position.

Next, the print target component 10 whose position has been corrected
8 is irradiated with laser light from a laser head 155. The laser head 155 is controlled by the laser control device 154, so that the print target component 10 is controlled.
8 is printed on a predetermined area on the surface of the image 8.

[0007]

However, the conventional laser marker device shown in FIG. 6 has the following problems. That is, in a state where the print target component 108 is not accurately positioned, as shown in FIG. 6, the current position information of the print target component 108 is detected, and based on the position information, the XYθ stage 153 detects the print target component. 10
8 needs to be adjusted. For this reason, in the conventional laser marker device, complicated devices such as the image processing device 150, the XYθ stage 153, and the XYθ stage controller 152 are required, and there is a problem that the cost of the laser marker device increases.

[0008] As shown in FIG. 6, before the laser light is irradiated from the laser head 155, the part 1 to be printed is printed.
It was necessary to carry out steps such as imaging at 08 and correcting the position of the print target component 108. As a result, when printing is performed by irradiating a large number of print target components 108 with laser light,
Since the process time required for one print target component 108 is increased, the number of print target components 108 that can be processed per unit time of the laser marker device is reduced. As a result, there has been a problem that the processing efficiency of the laser marker device is reduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to reduce the cost of the apparatus and improve the processing efficiency as compared with the prior art. And a printing method using the laser marker device.

[0010]

According to one aspect of the present invention, a laser marker device irradiates a position detection laser beam to an object to be printed, and reflects reflected light of the irradiated position detection laser beam from the object to be printed. Detecting means for detecting, position detecting means for obtaining position information of the printing object by detecting the position of the end of the printing object from the reflected light of the laser light, and printing based on the position information of the printing object. Means for irradiating the object with laser light for printing.

With this configuration, when the position of the printing object is deviated from the originally planned position, the irradiation position of the printing laser beam is corrected based on the position information of the printing object. Therefore, it is possible to accurately perform printing with a laser beam at a predetermined position on the printing target according to the amount of displacement of the printing target.

Further, since the laser beam for printing is radiated based on the position information of the printing object, there is no need to physically correct the positional shift of the printing object using an XYθ stage or the like as in the related art. Therefore, it is not necessary to prepare a device such as an XYθ stage in the laser marker device, so that the structure of the laser marker device can be simplified. Therefore, the cost of the laser marker device can be reduced.

Further, since there is no need for a step of physically correcting the position of the printing object using an XYθ stage or the like, the printing object
The processing time per unit can be shortened. Therefore, the processing efficiency of the laser marker device can be improved.

[0014] In the laser marker device according to the above aspect, the means for irradiating the position detecting laser light may include a means for irradiating the position detecting laser light from the printing object to an area where the printing object does not exist through the end of the printing object. Preferably, means for scanning is included.

Here, when the position detecting laser beam is scanned from above the printing object to an area where the printing object does not exist through the end portion, the reflected light of the position detecting laser light reflected from the printing object is reflected. The reflected light of the position detection laser light reflected from the area where the print target does not exist differs from the reflected light of the position detection laser light in the amount of the reflected light and the scattering direction. That is, a point at which the amount of reflected light, the scattering direction, and the like change (change point) corresponds to the end of the print target. Therefore, the position of the end of the print target can be accurately and easily detected by a relatively simple process of imaging the reflected light with an imaging member such as a CCD camera and detecting such a change point. . If the position information of the end of the print target is detected at a plurality of locations, the position and the planar shape of the print target can be easily detected. Therefore, the position information of the printing target can be obtained accurately and easily.

In the laser marker device according to the above aspect, it is preferable that the means for irradiating the position detecting laser light include means for scanning the position detecting laser light so as to pass through a plurality of ends of the printing object.

In this case, since the end portions at a plurality of positions on the printing object can be detected as changing points where the amount of reflected light changes as described above, the positions of the end portions at the plurality of positions on the printing object can be detected. Information can be obtained easily. And
By detecting a plurality of ends of the print target, the position of the print target, the inclination angle with respect to a predetermined direction, and the like can be easily detected. Therefore, by correcting the irradiation position of the printing laser beam based on such accurate position information of the printing target, it is possible to accurately print at a predetermined position of the printing target.

In the laser marker device according to the above aspect, the means for irradiating the position detecting laser light may use a laser light source used for irradiating the laser light for printing.

In this case, since the laser light source is shared by both the means for irradiating the position detecting laser light and the means for irradiating the laser light for printing, the laser marker device emits the position detecting laser light separately from the laser light for printing. There is no need to prepare a laser oscillator for irradiation. Therefore, the configuration of the laser marker device can be further simplified. As a result, the cost of the laser marker device can be reduced.

In the laser marker device according to the one aspect, the means for irradiating the position detecting laser light may use a laser light source different from the laser light source used for the means for irradiating the laser light for printing.

In this case, a laser light source different from the laser light source that oscillates the printing laser light is used to obtain the position detecting laser light, so that it can be obtained only by lowering the output of the laser light source for oscillating the printing laser light. Difficult, lower output laser light can be used as the position detection laser light.

A printing method according to another aspect of the present invention includes:
It is preferable to use the laser marker device according to the one aspect.

In this way, the processing time required for the printing step of printing by irradiating the object to be printed with laser light can be reduced more reliably than before. As a result, the processing efficiency in the printing process can be improved as compared with the related art.

[0024]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following drawings, the same or corresponding portions have the same reference characters allotted, and description thereof will not be repeated.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a laser marker device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a main part of the laser marker device according to the present invention. With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a laser marker device according to the present invention will be described.

Referring to FIG. 1, a laser marker device according to the present invention includes a laser diode 1 and a YAG rod 2 as a laser light source, a collimating lens 3, and XY galvanometers 5 and 6 for changing the irradiation position of laser light.
, A condenser lens 7, an imaging device 10 for detecting the reflected light of the laser light from the print target component 8, and a controller 9. The laser diode 1 and the YAG rod 2 have two roles, that is, means for irradiating laser light for printing and means for irradiating laser light for position detection. Laser light is oscillated in the laser diode 1. This laser light is incident on the YAG rod 2, and the YAG rod 2 generates high-power laser light with a narrow beam width. The laser light passes through the collimating lens 3 to become a parallel laser light 4.

The laser beam 4 is reflected at an arbitrary angle by the XY galvanometers 5 and 6. afterwards,
The laser beam 4 is focused on a predetermined position of a print target component 8 disposed on a gantry or the like via a condenser lens 7. At this focused position, printing can be performed on the surface of the printing target component 8 by the laser beam 4.

The imaging device 10 as a means for detecting the reflected light of the laser beam is used when detecting positional information such as a positional deviation amount and an angular deviation amount of the printing target component 8 described later. The controller 9 is used for controlling the laser diode 1, the YAG rod 2, the XY galvanometers 6, 5, the imaging device 10, and the like. That is, the controller 9 controls the amount of current supplied to the laser diode 1 to control the light amount of the laser light 4, and measures the locus of the reflected light of the laser light from the print target component 8 by the imaging device 10. A function of measuring the amount of positional deviation or angular deviation of the print target component 8 from the measurement result (that is, a role as a means for obtaining positional information of the print target object), and controlling the XY galvanometers 5 and 6 so that the print target component 8 has a function of printing an arbitrary character by the laser beam 4 at a predetermined position.

Referring to FIG. 2, an image pickup device 10 includes a CCD.
Element (Charge Coupled Device) 11 and A / D converter 1
2 is provided. The reflected light of the laser beam reflected from the print target component 8 and condensed by the lens enters the CCD element 11. The reflected light of the laser light is projected on the light receiving surface of the CCD element 11. Then, the information of the projected reflected light is converted into an electric signal. This electric signal is transferred to the A / D converter 12. The A / D converter 12 is a CCD device 1
The converter converts the electric signal (analog video signal) transferred from No. 1 into a digital signal of 256 gradations. Then, this digital signal is transmitted from the A / D converter 12 to the controller 9 via a conductive line. In the controller 9, the digital signal transmitted from the A / D converter 12 is stored in a storage device (RAM: Random Access Memory).
17 (hereinafter, referred to as RAM 17).

The controller 9 includes a CPU 15 (Central Processing Unit) for performing calculation processing and the like, a ROM 16 (Read Only Memory), a RAM 17 (Random Access Memory) as a primary storage device, and a PIO 18 (I / O device). ParallelInput / Output), VTG
14 (Video Timing Generator), a driver 13 for the imaging device 10, D / A converters 20, 22, 24 for converting digital signals to analog signals, an X driver 19 for the XY galvanometers 5, 6, and a Y driver 21 And PWM23 (Plus Wave Modulator).

The CPU 15 is used to control the respective devices inside the controller 9, the image pickup device 10, the laser diode 1, the YAG rod 2, the XY galvanometers 5, 6, and the like. The ROM 16 is a read-only memory that stores programs executed by the CPU 15 and the like. The RAM 17 is used to temporarily store a digitalized video signal transferred from the imaging device 10, data used in a program executed by the CPU 15, and the like, and to print on the print target component 8. Is a memory for temporarily storing data such as characters and figures.

The PIO 18 is an input / output port for exchanging data with an external device at the start or end of printing when printing predetermined characters or the like on the print target component 8. VTG14 (Video Timing Generator)
This is a variable timing generator that generates horizontal and vertical transfer clock timing pulses necessary for reading data from all pixels of the CCD element 11. Also, VT
In G14, a transfer clock timing pulse for reading image data from only an arbitrary area of a pixel in the CCD element 11 can be generated.

The driver 13 is a drive element for amplifying the timing pulse generated in the VTG 14 to a level required for the CCD device 11. D / A converter 20
Converts an instruction signal from the CPU 15 from a digital signal to an analog signal. The X driver 19 controls the XY galvanometers 5 and 6 based on the control signal converted into an analog signal by the D / A converter 20. Also,
The D / A converter 22 converts a control signal from the CPU 15 from a digital signal to an analog signal. Y driver 2
1 controls the XY galvanometers 5 and 6 based on the control signal converted into an analog signal from the D / A converter 22.

A control signal for controlling the output value of the laser diode 1 is input from the CPU 15 to the D / A converter 24. The D / A converter 24 converts this control signal from a digital signal to an analog signal. PWM23 is
The D / A converter 24 is used to control the operation of the laser diode 1 based on the control signal converted into an analog signal.

Next, the operation of the laser marker device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation flow of the laser marker device according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, when the printing operation is started, the start address and the end address of the imaging line of the CCD element 11 are set (S1). Specifically, a predetermined value is set in the VTG shown in FIG. 2 so as to set an imaging region surrounding the region irradiated with the position detection laser light.

Next, a control signal for oscillating the position detecting laser light is set in the D / A converter 24 of the PWM 23 (see FIG. 2) (S2). The output of the position detection laser light is set to be smaller than the output of the printing laser light.

Next, the D / A converter 2 for the X and Y drivers
The data of the start position and the end position of the area irradiated with the weak laser light as the position detection laser light is set to 0 and 22 (S3).

Next, the image pickup is started by the CCD element 11 (S4). Next, the PWM set in step S2
By sending a control signal from the controller 9 to the laser diode 1 based on the set value in, the position detection laser light is oscillated. At the same time, while controlling the rotation angles of the X and Y galvanometers (also called galvanometer mirrors) 5 and 6, the position detection laser beam is scanned from the start point to the end point of the irradiation area (S5).

The irradiation of the position detecting laser is 1
After the end of the two areas, the imaging operation by the CCD element 11 ends (S6).

Next, the image picked up by the CCD element 11 is transmitted to the RA of the controller 9 through the A / D converter 12.
Transfer to M17 (S7).

Next, an image (image data) indicating the locus of the position detecting laser light stored in the RAM 17 is subjected to image processing in the CPU 15. In the locus of the reflected light of the position detection laser light, the coordinates (X
_n, the Y _n), certified through shading coordinates of the line (S8). Then, steps S3 to S8 are repeated four times (S
9).

The gray coordinates are coordinates indicating one of the outer peripheral ends of the print target component 8 as described below. This will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a locus of reflected light when a position detection laser beam is applied to a print target component 8 which is a print target. FIG.
FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram for explaining a process of detecting the position of the end of the print target component 8 from the locus of the reflected light of the position detection laser light (weak laser light).

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the weak laser light, which is the position detecting laser light, is applied to the print target component 8 from above the print target component 8 through the end of the print target component 8 as shown in FIG. Trajectory 2 by scanning to a non-existent area
Irradiated to draw 5-28. At this time, the scanning direction of the weak laser beam may be scanning from the printing target component 8 to a region outside the printing target component 8 where the printing target component 8 does not exist, or may be scanned in the opposite direction.

When the weak laser beam is scanned in this manner, C
The images captured by the CD element 11 are four reflected laser light images 30 to 33 as shown in FIG. Attention is paid to the reflected laser light image 30. The reflected laser light image 30 includes a first density region 34 which is a laser light image obtained by reflecting a weak laser beam on a mount or the like in a region where the print target component 8 does not exist, and a weak laser beam
And a second density region 38 which is a laser beam image obtained by reflecting the light on the surface of the second density region. Then, the coordinates of the density change point 42 of the first density area 34 and the second density area 38 are detected as gray scale coordinates. The change point 42 indicated by the gray scale coordinates is located on a line segment 46 corresponding to the outer periphery of the print target component 8. That is, one of the outer peripheral ends of the shape of the print target component 8 (the end portion 29
(See FIG. 4).

The reflected laser light image 31 also includes a first density area 35 and a second density area 39. The change point 43 where the density changes is one of the outer peripheral ends of the print target component 8 like the change point 42. Similarly, in the reflected laser light image 32, the first density region 3
6 and the second density area 40 are formed, and the density change point 44 can be easily detected. The reflected laser light image 33
Also, the first density region 37 and the second density region 41
Are formed. Then, the density change point 45 can be easily detected. These change points 42 to 45 are the gray scale coordinates in FIG. And the changing points 42, 4
3 is a line segment constituting the outer peripheral end of the print target component 8, and is a line segment 47 passing on the change points 44 and 45.
Are also line segments indicating other portions of the outer peripheral end of the print target component 8. An intersection 48 between the line segments 46 and 47 corresponds to a corner on the outer periphery of the print target component 8.

Thus, the reflected laser light images 30, 3
A line segment 46 connecting the gray scale coordinates of 1 (lines 30, 31);
The position deviation of the print target component 8 is calculated from the intersection of the line segment 47 connecting the grayscale coordinates of the reflected laser light images 32 and 33 (lines 32 and 33) (S10).

The intersection 48 corresponds to the corner of the outer peripheral end of the print target component 8 as described above. And this intersection 48
Is compared with the position of the corner of the outer peripheral end when the print target component 8 is placed at the position where the print target component 8 is to be originally installed. It can be detected whether it is installed in the position where it was set.

Next, a straight line 46 connecting the grayscale coordinates of the reflected laser light images 30, 31 and a horizontal reference line (horizontal line)
49 is calculated. This angle θ corresponds to the angle shift amount of the printing target component 8 (S11).

As described above, the object to be printed 8 is formed by the relatively simple processing of imaging the reflected light of the laser light by the imaging device 10 and detecting such changing points 42 to 45.
Can be accurately and easily detected.
If the position information of the end of the print target component 8 is detected at a plurality of positions as described above, the position and the planar shape of the print target component 8 can be easily detected. Therefore, the position information of the print target component 8 can be obtained accurately and easily.

Next, the X and Y galvanometer mirrors 5, based on the data of the displacement and the angle displacement as the position information,
6, the print position data of the character to be printed is set in the D / A converters 20 and 22 connected to the X and Y drivers 19 and 21. At this time, data is set so that printing can be performed at a predetermined position of the print target component 8 using the above-described positional shift amount and angular shift amount (S12).

Next, data for setting the output of a laser used when printing is set in the D / A converter 24 connected to the PWM 23 (S13).

Next, the print font data obtained by correcting the above-mentioned positional deviation amount and angle deviation amount to the data such as the character font and the symbol font to be printed are converted into the D and D values of the X and Y galvanometer mirrors 5 and 6 respectively. / A converters 20 and 22 are set. Then, while controlling the X and Y galvanometer mirrors 5 and 6, the laser beam 4
Is irradiated to print predetermined characters on the print target component 8 (S14). At this time, the X and Y galvanometers 6 and 5 determine the irradiation position of the laser beam 4 based on the data obtained by correcting the above-described positional deviation and angular deviation. Thus, a series of operations is completed.

As described above, according to the laser marker device of the present invention, when the position of the printing target component 8 is deviated from the originally planned position, the printing marker is printed based on the position information of the printing target component 8. Since the irradiation position of the laser light 4 can be changed, it is possible to accurately perform printing with the laser light 4 at a predetermined position on the print target component 8 in accordance with the positional deviation amount of the print target component 8.

Further, since the laser beam 4 for printing is radiated based on the positional information of the component 8 to be printed, it is necessary to physically correct the positional deviation of the component 8 to be printed by using an XYθ stage or the like as in the related art. There is no. Therefore, it is not necessary to prepare a device such as an XYθ stage in the laser marker device, so that the structure of the laser marker device can be simplified. Therefore, the cost of the laser marker device can be reduced.

Further, since there is no need for a step of physically correcting the position of the print target component 8 using an XYθ stage or the like, the processing time per one print target component 8 in the laser marker device is shortened as compared with the related art. be able to.
Therefore, the processing efficiency of the laser marker device can be improved.

The laser diode 1 and the YAG rod 2, which are laser light sources, are used in both the step of irradiating laser light for position detection (S5) and the step of irradiating laser light 4 for printing (S14). Therefore, it is not necessary to prepare a laser oscillator for irradiating the position detection laser light separately from the laser light source for printing in the laser marker device. Therefore, the configuration of the laser marker device can be further simplified. As a result, the cost of the laser marker device can be reduced.

In the laser marker device, a laser light source different from the laser light source used in the step of irradiating the laser light for printing (S14) may be prepared in order to irradiate the laser light for position detection. In this case, a laser light source that can oscillate lower-output laser light, which is different from a laser light source that oscillates laser light for printing, can be used to obtain laser light for position detection. Therefore, step S
When selecting the laser light source for oscillating the laser light for printing used in 14, it is possible to use a laser light source more optimized for printing without considering the output of the laser light for position detection and the like. Become. Therefore, the degree of freedom in designing the laser marker device can be improved.

The embodiments disclosed this time are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the embodiments described above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

[0060]

Thus, the structure of the laser marker device can be simplified, and the work efficiency of the printing process can be improved as compared with the conventional one.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a laser marker device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a main part of the laser marker device according to the present invention shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining an operation flow of the laser marker device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a locus of reflected light when a position detection laser beam is irradiated to a printing target component.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining a process of detecting a position of an end of a print target component from a locus of reflected light of a position detection laser beam.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a conventional laser marker device.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 laser diode, 2 YAG rod, 3 collimating lens, 4 laser light, 5, 6 XY galvanometer, 7 focusing lens, 8 parts to be printed, 9 controller, 10 imaging device, 11 CCD element, 12 A / D
Converter, 13 drivers, 14 VTG, 15 CPU,
16 ROM, 17 RAM, 18 PIO, 19 X driver, 20, 22, 24 D / A converter, 21 Y driver, 23 PWM, 25 to 28 locus, 29 end of print target component, 30 to 33 reflected laser light image , 34-
37 first density area, 38 to 41 second density area,
42 to 45 density change points, 46, 47 line segments corresponding to the outer periphery of the part, 48 intersections, 49 horizontal reference lines.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C362 BB29 BB30 BB32 BB37 BB46 CB50 CB51 CB67 4E068 AB00 CA14 CB03 CC02 CE02

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A means for irradiating an object to be printed with a position detecting laser beam, a detecting means for detecting reflected light of the irradiated position detecting laser light from the object to be printed, and a reflected light of the position detecting laser light From, by detecting the position of the end of the print target, means for obtaining the position information of the print target, based on the position information of the print target, a means for irradiating the print target with laser light for printing on the print target A laser marker device comprising: 2. The means for irradiating the position detection laser light includes means for scanning the position detection laser light from above a print target object to an area where no print target object exists through an end of the print target object. The laser marker device according to claim 1, comprising: 3. The laser marker device according to claim 2, wherein the means for irradiating the position detection laser light includes means for scanning the position detection laser light so as to pass through a plurality of end portions of the printing target. . 4. The laser marker device according to claim 1, wherein the means for irradiating the position detection laser light uses a laser light source used for the means for irradiating the printing laser light. 5. The means for irradiating the position detection laser light uses a laser light source different from the laser light source used for the means for irradiating the printing laser light.
The laser marker device according to any one of the above. 6. A printing method using the laser marker device according to claim 1.