JP2003154480A - Laser beam machining system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a workpiece to be stably transported onto a stage, in a laser beam machining system that performs prescribed machining by transporting a single workpiece onto the stage and irradiating the workpiece with a laser beam. SOLUTION: With the workpiece (paper) transported by a belt conveyor 13 and delivered to the stage 12, a prescribed number of rollers 21 are rotated in the transporting direction, placing the workpiece at a fixed position on the stage 12, so that a specified laser beam machining is performed using a laser irradiation means 15 in this system.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a laser processing system for carrying out a predetermined processing by transporting a single workpiece on a stage and irradiating it with laser light.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, for example, when processing a workpiece on a stage with a laser, the workpiece is conveyed and fixed on the stage, and the workpiece is irradiated with laser light based on processing information. It is common to apply predetermined processing by For example, it is also practiced to form predetermined information on the paper by forming through holes in the paper with a laser or scraping off a predetermined depth. In this way, when the processing is performed on the stage, it is necessary to stably carry the workpiece, particularly the flexible workpiece such as paper, to the stage.

Here, FIG. 7 shows an explanatory view of a stage portion in a conventional laser processing system. 7A is a schematic perspective view of the stage portion in the laser processing system, FIG. 7B is an explanatory view of one form of the stage surface, and FIG.
(C) is an explanatory view of another form of the stage surface. Figure 7
In (A), in the laser processing system 101, for example, suction means 103 for fixing a workpiece is provided below a stage 102 for performing processing, and a laser irradiation unit 104 is arranged above. For example, a single-leaf sheet 105 as a workpiece is conveyed to the stage 102, and when the sheet 105 is conveyed to a predetermined position on the stage 102, the suction means 103 fixes the sheet on the stage 102 in a suction state. Although not shown in the figure, a conveyance unit that conveys the sheet 105 onto the stage 102 is performed by, for example, a belt conveyance drive.

The stage 102 includes the suction means 10
In order to fix the sheet 105 by suction by means of 3, a hole for suction is formed on the surface thereof. For example, FIG. 7 (B)
As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of flat circular holes 111 are formed on the entire surface of the stage 102 at regular intervals or irregularly,
As shown in FIG. 7C, a stage 102 is generally formed with honeycomb holes 112 having a honeycomb structure.

[0005]

However, when a flexible work piece such as a sheet 105 is conveyed onto the stage 102, the surface of the stage 102 is formed with circular holes 111 or honeycomb holes 112. Because
There is a problem in that a sheet (workpiece) conveyed at the edge portion is easily caught and a conveyance trouble is likely to occur, and stable conveyance of the work piece onto the stage cannot be performed.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a laser processing system capable of stably transporting a workpiece on a stage.

[0007]

In order to solve the above problems, according to the invention of claim 1, a laser processing system for irradiating a workpiece with a laser beam according to predetermined processing information to perform a predetermined processing. And a stage on which a predetermined number of rotating members that are rotatable in at least a transport direction of the workpiece are provided on a mounting surface of the workpiece, and the workpiece is transported to at least the stage. With respect to the transfer means and the work piece positioned on the stage,
Laser irradiation means for irradiating a laser beam to perform a predetermined process.

According to the present invention, the range occupied by the predetermined number of rotating members provided on the stage is larger than the laser irradiation range of the laser irradiation means.
The configuration is such that "the predetermined number of rotating members provided on the stage is a predetermined number of rollers that are axially rotatable in the conveyance direction of the workpiece", and "the predetermined number of rollers provided on the stage". The rotating member is a predetermined number of rolling members rotatable in at least the conveying direction of the workpiece within the holding body. "

As described above, when the work carried by the carrying means is carried into the stage, it is placed at a predetermined position of the stage by rotating a predetermined number of rotating members in the carrying direction. Predetermined laser processing is performed by the laser irradiation means. That is, since the workpiece to be carried in by the rotation of the rotating member is not caught on any of the workpieces and is smoothly positioned on the stage, the transport obstacle is prevented, and the workpiece is stably transported on the stage. It is possible to make it.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, the object to be processed is a sheet, and characters and figures are appropriately printed on the sheet, and the laser processing method can be applied to both penetration and surface cutting. This does not mean that the work piece is not limited to the paper sheet, and is not limited to the processing form, and may be any one as long as it has the effect of preventing the transport failure on the stage in the present invention. Of course.

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a first embodiment of a laser processing system according to the present invention. A laser processing system 11 shown in FIG. 1 shows a main part thereof, and has a stage 12, belt transfer units 13 and 14 as a transfer unit, a laser irradiation unit 15, and a suction mechanism 16 as a fixing unit. To be done. The stage 12 is provided with a predetermined number of rollers 21, which are rotatable members, which are rotatable in at least the transport direction of the sheet, on the placement surface of the sheet, which is the workpiece (described in FIG. 2). Each roller 21 is made of aluminum, for example, having an outer diameter of 6 mm and a length of 150 mm, and is subjected to a treatment for forming a black corrosion-resistant oxide film by anodizing the surface to prevent reflection of laser light.

Further, each roller 21 is arranged, for example, 0.5 mm higher than the surface of the stage 12, and the range occupied by the roller 21 is larger than the laser irradiation range of the laser irradiation means 15. These rollers 21 can be detached one by one, for example, by providing a spring in the shaft 21A.
It should be noted that although the drawing shows the case where eight rollers 21 are arranged as an example, when the A4 size paper is used, for example, 21 rollers 21 having the above dimensions are arranged at a pitch of 7 mm.

The belt transport unit 13 is for transporting the paper to the stage 12, and the belt transport unit 14 is for discharging the laser-processed paper on the stage 12. Although each of the belt transport units 13 and 14 is illustrated as transporting the sheet of the work piece in a placed state, it may be configured in two stages to sandwich and transport the sheet. Good. A mechanism for discharging the sheet to the belt transport unit 14 is omitted, and the sheet can be discharged by rotating and driving a predetermined number of rotating members 21 on the side of the belt transport 14, for example.

The laser irradiation means 15 comprises a stage 12
This is for irradiating the sheet positioned above with a laser beam based on processing information transmitted from a control means (not shown) to perform a predetermined processing. The laser irradiation by the laser irradiation unit 15 is performed by scanning the paper within the laser irradiation range by a drive control unit (not shown).

The suction mechanism 16 serves to prevent the misalignment of the sheet during the laser processing by sucking and fixing the sheet on the processing position of the stage 12 during the laser processing between the rollers 21. is there. In this case, the suction force is appropriately adjusted according to the thickness, hardness, etc. of the sheet (workpiece) so that the sheet to be sucked does not undulate with each roller 21. Further, the suction mechanism 16 also plays a role of discharging smoke generated during laser processing.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the stage shown in FIG. FIG. 2A is a plan view of the stage.
FIG. 2B is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. Figure 2
In (A) and (B), the inside of the stage 12 is a space region, and the opening 22 is formed on the upper surface (surface).
Between the opposite side portions in the opening 22, eight rollers 21 (21 in the case of A4 size paper) are rotatably supported by a shaft 21A so as to be rotatable in the paper conveyance direction, as an example in the figure. It is a thing. These rollers 21 may be rotated by a force that is simply applied, and rotation control may be performed by a driving unit (not shown).

The sheet 31 indicated by the chain double-dashed line is positioned on the stage 12, and the rollers 21 provided in the opening 22 serve as air passages to suck and fix the sheet 31. It will be something to do. Further, a range 32 of laser irradiation by the laser irradiation means 15 on the stage 12 is shown by a chain line, and each roller 21 is provided such that the range occupied on the stage 12 is larger than the laser irradiation range 32. .

That is, as shown in FIG.
When the paper 31 is positioned on the stage 12 at the processing position by the rotation of the corresponding roller 21 (and / or the slip on the surface of the roller 21), the suction drive of the suction mechanism 16 causes the suction force between the rollers 21 to be generated. , The paper 21 is the roller 2
It is fixed in the same state as when it is adsorbed on one surface.

Therefore, FIG. 3 shows an explanatory view of the processing state of the laser processing system in FIG. In FIG.
The sheet 31 is conveyed by the belt conveying unit 13, and the stage 1
2 is carried onto the corresponding roller 21.
Rotation (and surface slippage), the sheet 12 is smoothly loaded onto the stage 12 without being caught by any of them, and is transported to and positioned at the processing position. At that time, the sheet 31 is suction-fixed by the suction drive of the suction mechanism 16.

Then, based on the predetermined processing information, the laser irradiation means 15 sequentially irradiates a predetermined position on the sheet 31 with the laser beam 15A to perform the laser processing. After the laser processing, the suction by the suction mechanism 16 is released, and the processed sheet 31 is discharged to the belt transport unit 14 and transported to a stacker or the like.

As described above, when the sheet 31 is carried onto the stage 12, the sheet 31 is smoothly positioned on the stage 12 without being caught by any of the rotation of the corresponding roller 21 or the like. The conveyance failure is prevented, and the sheet 31 can be stably conveyed onto the stage 12. Further, since the contact area between each roller 21 and the paper 31 is small, it is possible to reduce the damage given to the roller 21 at the time of the penetration processing by the laser, and to make each roller 21 detachable so that the roller 21 is damaged. The replacement of 21 can be facilitated.

Next, FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of another embodiment of the laser processing system according to the present invention. The rollers 21 provided on the stage 12 of the laser processing system 11 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 are shown as being arranged in one line in the paper transport direction, but in the laser processing system 11 shown in FIG. In the figure, for example, two openings 22A and 22B are formed and each roller 21A is arranged in two rows. In this case, the rollers 21A differ only in length, and the range occupied by the entire rollers 21A on the stage 12 is larger than the laser irradiation range 32, as described above.

Even if the rollers 21A are arranged in two rows in the sheet conveying direction as described above, the sheet 31 can be stably conveyed onto the stage 12 as described above. Therefore, the rollers 21A are not limited to be arranged in two rows, but can be arranged in a plurality of rows as appropriate.

Next, FIG. 5 shows a configuration diagram of a second embodiment of the laser processing system according to the present invention, and FIG.
The block diagram of the stage is shown. In addition, FIG. 5 and FIG.
Although shown as a single embodiment, it may be mixed with the rotating member in the first embodiment. The laser processing system 11 shown in FIG.
As a rotating member, a spherical roller 41, which is a predetermined number of rolling members that is rotatable in at least the conveying direction of the sheet that is the workpiece in the holder 41A as shown in FIG. , A predetermined number of holes 42 are provided at predetermined positions (FIGS. 5 and 6 (A)), and other configurations are shown in FIG.
4 is the same as that of FIG. Note that FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG.

That is, each spherical roller 41 is made of, for example, a stainless steel ball having an outer diameter of 6 mm, and its surface is treated with black so as to prevent reflection of laser light, and the height of the surface of the stage 12 is, for example, 5 mm. It is a thing. As shown in FIG. 6 (B), each of the spherical rollers 41 is provided with a corresponding number of holders 41A on the upper part of the stage 12, and is held so as not to be separated from the holders 41A. , As if it were a ball bearing, it is rotatably installed in any direction.

Further, the hole 42 is formed in the sheet 31 on which the sheet is placed.
Are sucked and fixed, and smoke generated by laser irradiation for penetration processing is discharged. The number and arrangement of the smoke are appropriately set. Further, at least the range occupied by each of the spherical rollers 41 on the stage 12 is set larger than the laser irradiation range 32 as in the above.

Then, as shown in FIG. 6B, the corresponding spherical roller 41 rotates (and the surface slides) with respect to the sheet 31 carried on the stage 12,
The sheet 31 is smoothly conveyed to the processing position without being caught by any of the sheets, and the suction mechanism 16 causes the sheet 31 to move.
After being fixed by suction, the laser beam is irradiated from the laser irradiation means 15 according to the processing information to perform laser processing. Although FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 show the case where the rolling member as the rotating member is the spherical roller 41, a rod-shaped rolling member which is rotatable in the sheet conveying direction may be used.

As described above, even if the rotary member provided on the stage 12 is formed of a rolling member, the paper 31 can be stably transported onto the stage 12 as in the above. In addition, each spherical roller 41
The contact area between the (rolling member) and the paper 31 is small, and the damage given to the roller 41 (rolling member) during the perforation processing by the laser can be reduced.

[0029]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the work carried by the carrying means is carried into the stage, a predetermined number of rotating members are rotated in the carrying direction. It is placed at a predetermined position on the stage, and by performing predetermined laser processing by the laser irradiation means, the workpiece to be carried in is smoothly positioned on the stage without being caught by any of the workpieces, and the transport obstacle is prevented. Therefore, the workpiece can be stably conveyed on the stage.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a first embodiment of a laser processing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a stage in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a processing state of the laser processing system in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of another embodiment of the laser processing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a second embodiment of a laser processing system according to the present invention.

6 is a block diagram of the stage of FIG.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a stage portion in a conventional laser processing system.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 Laser processing system 12 stages 13, 14 Belt conveyor 15 Laser irradiation means 16 Suction mechanism 21 Laura 22 opening 31 sheets 32 Laser irradiation range 41 Roll 42 holes

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A laser processing system for performing a predetermined processing by irradiating a work with a laser beam in accordance with predetermined processing information, the method comprising: At least a stage provided with a predetermined number of rotatable members rotatable in the transport direction; at least a transport means for transporting the workpiece with respect to the stage; and a laser with respect to the workpiece positioned on the stage. A laser processing system, comprising: a laser irradiation unit for irradiating light to perform a predetermined process. 2. The laser processing system according to claim 1, wherein a range occupied by the predetermined number of rotating members provided on the stage is larger than a laser irradiation range of the laser irradiation means. Laser processing system. 3. The laser processing system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the predetermined number of rotating members provided on the stage are a predetermined number of rollers that are rotatable in the conveying direction of the workpiece. A laser processing system characterized in that 4. The laser processing system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined number of rotating members provided on the stage rotate at least in a carrying direction of the workpiece within a holder. A laser processing system comprising a predetermined number of free rolling members.