JP2002160085A - Exchanging device for lens holder of connecting head for laser beam machining - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To quickly and surely adapt a connecting head of a laser beam machine to a desired machining operation by exchanging components. SOLUTION: A housing device 22 for catching and holding a cutting nozzle 21 of a connection head 11 is additionally installed at least at two magazine positions 13 for holding a exchange lens holder 10 of a connection head 11. Thereby, the lens holder 11 and the cutting nozzle 21 can be attached to or detached from the connection head 11 at the same position. The housing device 22 is engaged with the cutting nozzle 21 in the direction of rotation, also housing the cutting nozzle 21 so as to surround it.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an exchange device for a lens holder of a connection head for processing a workpiece by a laser beam.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art German Utility Model DE 29507189U
1 discloses a connecting head for processing a workpiece with a laser beam. The laser beam is focused with the help of an optical focusing system in the connection head,
After passing through this condensing optical system, it is emitted from the cutting tip.
In this case, the condensing optical system is adjustable in the direction of its optical axis and in the direction transverse thereto, and is attached to the lens holder. This lens holder can be inserted into the connection head housing as a plug-in (plug-in) unit and can also be taken out of the connection head housing.
In order to assist the processing of the workpiece with the laser beam, a processing gas is injected under a constant pressure together with the laser beam from a cutting tip attached to the connection head.

[0003] Such connecting heads are used, for example, in laser cutting systems. Laser cutting is exceptionally flexible compared to competing cutting methods (drilling, sawing, etc.), while switching to a new profile, material or workpiece thickness relatively quickly and quickly. Can be done automatically. Therefore, a plurality of processing parameters, ie, a contour program, a laser output, a feed rate,
The nature and pressure of the process gas, the distance between the connection head and the workpiece, and the focus are frequently changed. Apart from adjusting these parameters, it is often necessary to change the focal length of the focusing optical system, the diameter and type of the chip, and the like, and as a result, it is necessary to replace the focusing optical system and the cutting tip.

Since the condensing optical system and the cutting tip are worn out during normal use, in order to ensure a high level of processing quality, periodic inspection (required) of the condensing optical system and the cutting tip after replacement is necessary. Depending on) or regular replacement is required. Worn or damaged collection optics or cutting tips can damage both the workpiece being machined and the laser cutting system.

In order to make it possible to exchange the focusing optics, German Patent Application DE 196 55 127 discloses that an exchange device for the focusing optics is integrated in the connection head and that, during operation of the working beam, a plurality of focal lengths differing. A technique has been disclosed in which the condensing optical system can be arranged at different distances from the cutting tip. In this case, the individual focusing optics systems are provided on a turntable or slide in a different plane perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the processing beam.

[0006] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-006062 discloses an exchange device for a cutting tip of a laser processing head, in which a plurality of cutting tips are accommodated in one magazine.
The magazine has a corresponding hole for holding the cutting tip, and when the cutting tip is lightly pressed and inserted into this hole, the flange of the cutting tip engages behind the end of the hole. The cutting tip is held on the connection head by a corresponding locking means, and after one cutting tip is mounted on the magazine, another cutting tip can be taken out of the magazine by the connection head.

In yet another known cutting tip changer (US Pat. No. 5,101,089), various interchangeable cutting nozzle tips are provided in bayonet closures provided in the nozzle body of the connection head. Or in a magazine holding device.
To replace the cutting nozzle tip, the nozzle tip is first fixed in the holding device by pushing it into the corresponding receiving space and twisting the connection head. Then, the insertion receiving portion is further rotated to release the connection between the cutting nozzle tip and the connection head or the nozzle body. Next, retract the connection head to remove another cutting nozzle end from the magazine, first twist the connection head to connect the connection head and the cutting nozzle tip, and then insert the cutting nozzle tip and the holding device. Break the bond. In this case, instead of rotating the connection head to lock and release the connection by insertion, the holding device may be rotated by a motor.

[0008] German Patent DE 40 45 552 C2 discloses a machine tool for performing arbitrary machining of a workpiece by means of a laser beam or a machine tool. Nozzle laser heads of different design specifications, housed in a magazine with a large number of tools, can optionally be used with known machine tools. At the same time, the exchange operation can be automatically advanced by the program control system. Therefore, this patent implicitly describes a nozzle laser head replacement device having at least two magazine parts. Each magazine must have a holding device for the nozzle laser head. However, there is no detailed description of how such a switching device is designed.

[0009] European Patent Application EP 0779125A
1 describes a laser processing head having a manually replaceable lens holder. To replace the lens holder, release the lens holder by manipulating the lever so that the centering retaining clip is depressed against the force of the spring, and manually release the opening in the laser processing head. And replace it with another lens holder.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a replacement device in which the connection head of a laser processing unit can be quickly and reliably adapted to the processing operation in an improved manner. is there.

[0011]

The above object is achieved by the present invention.
This is achieved by the exchange device described in (1). Effective developments and improvements of the invention are set forth in the dependent claims.

According to the invention, a changer for a lens holder of a connection head for machining a workpiece by means of a laser beam is provided as at least one screw-in and screw-out device as a further holding device. Is provided at each magazine position. The thread engaging and unscrewing device is configured as a receiving device for the cutting nozzle to engage and surround the cutting nozzle contained therein. With the configuration of such a further holding device, the cutting nozzle can be removed from the connection head,
Alternatively, the cutting nozzle held by the holding device can be removed from the connecting head or mounted on the connecting head simply by operating the holding device in the screw engaging or unscrewing direction for mounting on the connecting head.

It is particularly advantageous if at least one magazine position is provided with at least two storage devices. Accordingly, one magazine can be provided with one or more pre-cutting nozzles, and the operator can automatically operate the exchange device without any intervention for a long time.

In principle, when replacing the cutting nozzle, the connecting head can be lowered so that the cutting nozzle is inserted into the interior of the receiving device. However, a preferable effect of the present invention is that each receiving device is moved from its stationary position to the threaded position. It can be moved to the mating and unscrewing position and the opposite direction. This has the effect that the plurality of storage devices in one magazine position can be moved together from the rest position to the screw engaging and unscrewing positions and vice versa.

In order to ensure a safe screwing function without damaging the screw nozzle screw, in particular when the cutting nozzle is screwed into the connection head, as a suitable improvement of the present invention, each of the receiving devices is provided with: It is supported on the screw drive via a spring, preferably a compression spring. This compression spring ensures that the cutting nozzle screw is pressed with a certain limited force against the screw of the connection head, so that a secure screwing (engagement) can be ensured while Is avoided. When the cutting nozzle is inserted into the storage device, the storage device is flexed by elasticity, so that damage to the front end of the cutting nozzle can be substantially eliminated.

Another advantageous refinement of the invention is that the screw drive has means for limiting the torque acting at least in the direction of the screw engagement. By this means, the cutting nozzle can always be held firmly on the connection head and at the same time can be precisely positioned at a predetermined position. In addition, damage to the cutting nozzle due to excessively strong screw force can be reliably avoided,
In this case, there is no danger that the cutting nozzle will not be securely held on the connection head.

Preferably, each storage device is operated by a separate screw drive, but multiple storage devices in one magazine position may be operated by a common screw drive. As a result, since only one screw drive is required for each magazine position, the structure of each magazine position of the exchange device and the control system thereof can be simplified, and there is no need to determine which screw drive position to activate. .

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in more detail with reference to the drawings. In the figures, corresponding elements are denoted by the same reference numerals.

FIG. 1 shows a laser processing system for processing a workpiece by a laser beam.
The exchange device used for the above is shown. The connection head 11
It is attached to a processing arm 12, shown only schematically, of a portal unit (not shown in detail) in the laser processing system. With the processing arm 12, the portal unit moves the connection head 11 in all three spatial directions, that is, the X, Y and Z directions indicated by arrows in FIG.

In the illustrated embodiment, the changer has four magazine positions 13, but may include more or fewer magazine positions 13 depending on the number of functional members held in a ready state. The magazine positions 13 each include a holding device 14. The holding device 14 securely captures and holds the lens holder 10 together with a lock and unlock device 15 that functions as an actuator for fixing the lens holder 10 by fixing means provided on the connection head 11 (not shown in detail). . At the same time, the holding device 1
4 comprises a fixing device 16. The fixing device 16 can move vertically in the direction of the bidirectional arrow B and has two fixing pins 17. The two fixing pins work together with the corresponding holes 18 provided in the grip member 19 of the lens holder 10 to capture and hold the lens holder 10 at the magazine position 13. Further, each holding device 14 at the magazine position 13
It has a support surface on a support rail 20 common to all magazine positions. When the lens holder 10 is arranged and held at the magazine position 13, the lens holder 10 is held on the support surface portion of the magazine position 13 by the grip member 19 and the front surface.

The design of the holding device 14, ie the design of its holding and supporting members, depends substantially on the design specifications of the lens holder 10 used and can be varied in many ways. For example, it is conceivable to use the holding and fixing scissors (tongues) to catch and hold the grip member 19.
The locking and unlocking device 15, shown schematically as a pin movable in the direction of the double arrow C, is compatible with the means provided for locking and fixing the lens holder 10 to the connection head 11. Actuators can also be used.

In order to remove the cutting nozzle 21 attached to the connection head 11 from the connection head at the same magazine position 13 as the lens holder 10, or to attach the cutting nozzle 21 to the connection head, each magazine position 13
Has a receiving device 22 as a holding device for catching and holding the cutting nozzle, and the cutting nozzle 21 is insertable into the receiving device 22 to form an engagement state. To remove the cutting nozzle 21 from the connection head 11 or to fix the cutting nozzle to the connection head, the storage device 22 is rotatable in any rotational direction indicated by a bidirectional arrow A ′ in the figure.

As shown in FIG. 2, one magazine position 1
A plurality of storage devices 22 for the cutting nozzles 21 can be provided in 3. Each storage device 22 has a storage head 23, and a storage space 24 opened upward in the storage head 23.
Are formed. A support shoulder 25 for a support flange 26 of the cutting nozzle 21 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the storage space 24. The inner wall of the storage space 24 has a non-circular shape between the support shoulder 25 and the opening of the storage space 24, for example, a hexagonal or octagonal shape, and is engaged with the storage head 23 of the storage device 22 in the rotational direction. The torque can be transmitted to the formed and inserted cutting nozzle 21.

Each storage head 23 of the storage device 22 is non-slidably fitted to a screw drive 27 that can be operated in both directions. The receiving head 23 is movably movable in the axial direction against the force of the compression spring structure 28.
Is held in. The cutting nozzle 21 is the storage space 24
When inserted into the storage head 23, the receiving head 23 can elastically flex to avoid damage to the cutting nozzle. on the other hand,
When screwing the cutting nozzle 21 into the connection head 11, the compression spring structure 28 ensures that the two screws which are screwed together engage with each other with a certain limited force, so that these two A secure screw connection is guaranteed without risk of damage to the screw.

In order to ensure that the screw is not damaged by excessively strong torque acting on the cutting nozzle 21, the screw drive 27 is provided with a suitable torque control. For example, a slip coupling may be provided for this purpose.

The screw drive 27 can be moved up and down by an actuating drive 30 so that the individual storage devices 22 can be moved from the rest position shown in FIG. 2 to the screw engaging and unscrewing positions and vice versa. Mounted on the holding carriage 29. The actuation drive 30 can be configured as an electric motor or a pneumatic cylinder.

The holding carriage 29 is located at the magazine position 13
Are guided on the guide rails 31 of the guide and holding frame 32 provided in the frame.

Instead of providing an individual screw drive 27 for each receiving device 22, a single drive for transmitting the driving force to each receiving device via suitable transmission means is provided, and a plurality of receiving devices at the magazine position 13 are provided. Can be driven together.

The switching device according to the invention operates in the following manner.

When the condensing optical system 9 of the connection head 11 and its cutting nozzle 21 are replaced after a certain processing period has elapsed,
The connection head 11 is guided to the empty magazine position of the exchange device by the processing arm 12 of the portal unit. Then, depending on whether the connection head 11 is lowered or the storage device 22 is raised until the cutting nozzle 21 is inserted into the storage device 22, the connection head 11 is moved to a magazine position where the storage device 22 can clamp the cutting nozzle 21. To move. In each magazine position, if only one storage device 22 is provided as a further holding device, the lens holder 10 is arranged such that its front surface and the lower side of the gripping member 19 abut against the support rail 20. , Properly held in this position. On the other hand, when a plurality of storage devices 22 are provided at the magazine position 13, first, the cutting nozzle 21 is removed from the connection head 11 and held in the storage device 22.

When the connecting head 11 is held on the support rail 20 by its front surface and the lower side of the grip member 19, the fixing device 16 moves downward, so that the fixing pin 17 18 to hold the lens holder 10 firmly in the magazine position 13. If a single storage device 22 is provided at the magazine position 13 and the cutting nozzle 22 is not yet removed from the connection head, the cutting nozzle 21 is captured by the storage device 22 and the screw of the cutting nozzle is loosened at the same time. To remove from the connection head 11. Then, after fixing the lens holder 10, the lens holder is connected to the connection head 11.
Is unlocked with the aid of the lock and unlock device 15. Thus, the connection head 1
Since the lens holder 1 can be moved from the magazine position 13, the lens holder 10 having the condensing optical system and the corresponding cutting nozzle 21 can be removed from the connection head 11.

Thereafter, the connection head 11 is moved to another magazine position in which a set of the condensing optical system 9 having the associated cutting nozzle 21 suitable for the next processing is held in a ready state. Subsequently, the lens holder 10 is first inserted into the connection head 11 in the reverse order, and is locked to the connection head 11 with the aid of the lock and unlock device 15. Then, the fixing pin 17 of the fixing device 16 is connected to the grip member 19.
The lens holder 10 is released from the holding device 14 by pulling the lens holder 10 out of the hole 18. At the same time as the insertion of the lens holder 10, in the case of a single storage device 22, the cutting nozzle 21 is mounted from below with the assistance of the storage device 22.

When the cutting nozzle 21 is to be removed from the connection head 11, the receiving device 22 is moved from its stationary position to the screw-engaging and unscrewing position. The cutting nozzle 21 is first inserted into the storage space 24 of the storage head 23 of the storage device 22 by moving the connection head 11 downward. Then, screw drive 2
7 is used as an auxiliary, and the cutting nozzle 21 is connected to the connection head 11.
Loosen to release from. Next, if necessary, the accommodation device 2
The connection head 11 is detached from the storage device 22 while returning 2 to its rest position. Connect cutting head 21 to cutting nozzle 21
When screwing into 1, the reverse procedure is performed. In this case, the compression spring structure ensures that the screw of the cutting nozzle 21 and the screw of the connecting head 11 that are screwed together engage with each other with a predetermined limited force and that damage to the screw is avoided.

The above-described screw connection is terminated when the cutting nozzle 21 moves to a desired position of the connection head 11 in a predetermined manner and is screwed with a predetermined torque determined by monitoring the torque applied to the screw drive 27. I do.

Limiting or monitoring the torque can also prevent breakage or damage of the screw due to excessively strong screwing forces.

When the cutting nozzle 21 is removed from the storage device 22, a new focusing optical system and a new cutting nozzle 21 are removed.
Is provided for further laser machining of the workpiece.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a very simplified perspective view of an exchange according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially cut-away side view showing a plurality of screwing and unscrewing devices for a cutting nozzle in an exchange device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

9 condensing optical system, 10 lens holder, 11 connection head, 13 magazine position, 14 holding device, 15 operating device, 16 fixing device, 17 fixing pin, 18 hole, 19
Grip member, 20 support rail, 21 cutting nozzle, 22 storage device, 23 storage head, 24 storage space, 25 support shoulder, 26 support flange, 2
7 Spring drive, 28 compression spring, 29 holding carriage, 30 working drive, 32 guide and holding frame.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 3C002 AA05 DD14 GG03 LL00 4E068 CD14 CD15

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An exchange device for a lens holder (10) of a connecting head (11) for processing a workpiece by means of a laser beam, said exchange device having at least two magazine positions (13), each of which has a magazine position. The position is determined by the holding device (1) that captures and holds the lens holder (10).
4), a further holding device (22) for capturing and holding a further functional member (21), and an actuating device (15) for fixing means provided on the connection head (11) to fix the lens holder (10). A further actuating device (23) for tightening the means for fixing the further functional member (21) of the connecting head (11) to the connecting head (11), whereby the lens holder (10) and the further function The member (21) is removed from the connection head (11) at the same magazine position (13) or the connection head (1) is removed.
1) wherein said further holding device (22) is further configured as a screw engagement and unscrewing device for a cutting nozzle (21). A cutting nozzle surrounding a cutting nozzle (21) housed in a mating state
An exchange device configured as the storage device (22) of (21). 2. The switching device according to claim 1, wherein at least two storage devices (22) are provided in at least one magazine position (13). 3. The exchange device according to claim 1, wherein each of the storage devices (22) is movable from a retracted position to a screw engaged and unscrewed position and vice versa. Characteristic exchange device. 4. The switching device according to claim 3, wherein
Storage devices (2) in one magazine position (13)
2) An exchange device characterized in that it can be moved from its retracted position to a screw engagement and screw release position or vice versa. 5. The exchange device according to claim 1, wherein each housing device (22) is supported on a screw drive (27) via a spring, preferably a compression spring (28). An exchange device, characterized in that: 6. The changer according to claim 5, wherein the screw drive (27) has means for limiting at least the torque acting in the screwing direction. 7. The exchange device according to claim 5, wherein each housing device (22) is a dedicated screw drive (27).
An exchange device operable by a computer. 8. The exchange device according to claim 5, wherein a plurality of storage devices (22) in one magazine position (13) can be operated by a common screw drive (27). Exchange equipment.