JP2003215419A - Condenser lens position adjusting mechanism of laser processing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a condenser lens position adjusting mechanism of a laser processing machine which allows the position of a condenser lens to be adjusted stably, easily, and securely from one direction. <P>SOLUTION: The condenser lens position adjusting mechanism comprises a lens holder 40 which holds the condenser lens 13, a head body 28 which stores and holds the lens holder 40 horizontally movably and is positioned coaxially with the optical axis of a laser beam, a 1st lens moving means 25 which is coupled with the lens holder 40 on one side of the lens holder 40 and supports the lens holder 40 so that it can swing on a specified swing axis 78 and also moves the lens holder 40 horizontally in the head body 28, and 2nd lens moving means 24a and 24b which are provided on one side of the lens holder 40 together with the 1st lens moving means 25 and swing the lens holder 40 individually from two directions around the swing axis 78. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a condenser lens position adjusting mechanism for adjusting a position of a condenser lens which is provided in a laser beam machine and focuses a laser beam on a work.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various types of laser processing machines for processing (thermal cutting) a work as a material to be processed by laser light are known. For example, in a stationary laser processing machine, a nozzle for irradiating a work with a laser beam is provided below the processing head. Further, this nozzle is provided with a centering adjustment mechanism for matching the axis of the nozzle with the optical axis of the laser beam (matching the laser beam with the processing point).

An example of such a centering adjustment mechanism is shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the housing 102 located on the outer circumference of the nozzle 100 is provided with four adjusting screws (stretch bolts) 105 arranged at an angular interval of 90 degrees in the circumferential direction, for example. These adjusting screws 1
Reference numeral 05 penetrates the housing 102 in a screwed state, and contacts the nozzle 100 holding the condenser lens 104 in the housing 102 from four directions.

Therefore, in such a structure, by pushing and pulling the four adjusting screws 105, specifically, the adjusting screw 105 in the desired direction (moving direction of the nozzle 100) is loosened and pulled out, and By tightening and pushing in the adjusting screw 105 on the opposite side to the direction, the centering adjustment of the nozzle 100, that is, the position adjustment of the condenser lens 104 that condenses the laser beam on the work is performed.

[0005]

By the way, in the structure of the conventional centering adjusting mechanism described above, it is necessary to bring a hand and a tool close to the machining head from four directions. Therefore, if there is a structure around the machining head, It may not be possible to adjust.

In the above-described conventional centering adjustment mechanism, for example, in order to perform the centering adjustment by moving the nozzle 100 in the direction of 45 degrees (direction forming 45 degrees with respect to the X axis or the Y axis). The four adjusting screws 105 have to be turned one by one. Therefore, it is very difficult to adjust. In addition, the adjustment screw 105 located opposite to the desired movement direction (movement direction of the nozzle 100) has the nozzle 100
There is a case where the (condensing lens 104) is fixed and does not move, and in that case, the adjusting screws 105 facing each other must be loosened. However, at this time, the nozzle 10
Since 0 (the condensing lens 104) becomes free, it is not known what kind of movement will be performed when it is pushed by one adjusting screw 105. That is, there is a possibility that the desired position adjustment cannot be performed.

Therefore, there is also known a structure in which the condenser lens is biased by a spring and the condenser lens is stretched and supported by two bolts so that the position adjustment can be performed only in one direction. Since the spring is interposed, the position adjustment is unstable, and since the condenser lens is pressed down from above and below, the position cannot be restored only by the spring.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a condenser lens position adjusting mechanism for a laser processing machine, which can stably and simply adjust the position of the condenser lens from one direction. The purpose is to do.

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention described in claim 1 adjusts the position of a condenser lens provided in a laser processing machine and condensing a laser beam onto a work. In the condenser lens position adjustment mechanism for
A lens holder that holds the condenser lens, a head body that accommodates and holds the lens holder so as to be horizontally movable, and is positioned coaxially with the optical axis of the laser beam, and a lens on one side of the lens holder. A first lens moving unit that is connected to the holding body, supports the lens holding body swingably about a predetermined swing axis, and moves the lens holding body horizontally within the head main body; And a second lens moving means which is provided on one side of the lens holding body together with the lens moving means and swings the lens holding body individually from two directions around the swing shaft. To do.

In the invention described in claim 1, with a small number of adjustments (the number of bolts to be adjusted is small),
The position of the condenser lens can be adjusted only on one side of the condenser lens. If the position adjustment can be performed only on one side of the condenser lens in this way, it is not necessary to bring a hand or a tool close to the processing head from four directions. Therefore, even if there is a structure around the processing head, position adjustment can be performed. It can be done reliably. Also, for example, even when the focusing lens is moved in the direction of 45 degrees (direction forming 45 degrees with respect to the X axis or the Y axis) to perform the centering adjustment, it is necessary to rotate the four adjusting screws one by one as in the conventional case. Absent. Further, since only one bolt is loosened when adjusting the position and no spring is used, the position can be adjusted easily and stably.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided means for detachably accommodating the lens holder with respect to the head main body. And

In the invention described in claim 2, it is very easy to replace the condenser lens.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a laser processing machine 1 including a condenser lens position adjusting mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown, laser processing machine 1
Is to guide a work W as a material to be processed on a fixed XY table 3 laid horizontally and thermally cut the work W with a laser beam LB.

The laser beam LB is oscillated by a laser oscillating device 5 provided in the machine body of the laser processing machine 1 and guided to a processing head 11 via an intensity adjusting device 7 and a reflecting mirror 9. A condensing lens 13 is provided inside the processing head 11, and the laser beam LB is condensed by the condensing lens 13 to thermally cut the work W at the focal position.

The work W is held by the clamp 15 and horizontally moved on the XY table 3 so that the portion to be cut is directly below the processing head 11. In this case, the clamp 15 is driven in the plane X and Y directions by the XY axis servo motor while holding the work W. Further, the processing head 11 is
It is adapted to be driven in the vertical direction by a Z-axis servo motor.

FIG. 2 shows a detailed structure of the processing head 11. Here, FIG. 2A shows the processing head 1
1 is a cross-sectional view (cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 2B) of FIG. 1 taken along a horizontal XY plane, and FIG. 2B is a plane perpendicular to the XY plane. It is sectional drawing cut | disconnected by (plane parallel to Z-axis).

As shown in the figure, the processing head 11 has a substantially cylindrical head body 28 having a nozzle portion 28b at the tip (lower end) thereof, and a cylindrical lens unit detachably set to the head body 28. (Lens holder) 40
It has and. In this case, the head body 28 is positioned coaxially with the optical axis of the laser beam LB. Further, the lens unit 40 is set in the head body 28 through the side surface opening 28 a of the head body 28, and the side surface opening 28 a
Is closed by a lid 27. Further, the head body 28 can house the lens unit 40 so as to form a predetermined annular space with the lens unit 40. Specifically, the head main body 28 has a unit housing space S that allows the lens unit 40 to move in the horizontal direction.

The lid 27 is detachably attached to the head body 28 by a lid fixing mechanism 29. In this case, the lid fixing mechanism 29 is preferably a mechanism that can be loosened by hand so that maintenance of the lens unit 40 can be performed without tools, and is composed of, for example, a hinge, a push bolt, a butterfly bolt, or the like.

The lens unit 40 includes a substantially cylindrical inner holder 22, a substantially cylindrical outer holder 23, and a lens holder 30 for holding the condenser lens 13. The lens holder 30 is fitted in or screwed into the inner holder 22 so that the central axis of the condenser lens 13 coincides with the central axis of the inner holder 22. Also,
When the inner holder 22 is set in the unit accommodating space S of the head main body 28, the inner holder 22 is allowed to move (slide) and rotate in the horizontal direction, and also in the Z-axis direction (vertical direction).
Is restricted by the head main body 28. The outer holder 23 is rotatably and concentrically fitted in an annular groove 22a formed on the outer peripheral surface of the inner holder 22 (that is, the outer holder 23 and the inner holder 22 can rotate with respect to each other). The condenser lens 13 may be directly held by the inner holder 22. In that case, the lens holder 30 becomes unnecessary.

A pulling bolt 25 as a first lens moving means is connected to the outer holder 23 in order to move the lens unit 40 in the horizontal direction. Specifically, the pull-in bolt 25 is screwed into a screw hole 27a formed in the lid 27 and penetrates the screw hole 27a (in the figure, is oriented in the X-axis direction), The outer holder 23 is connected to the outer holder 23 via a pin 26 so that the outer holder 23 can freely move in the horizontal direction (slide in the horizontal direction and rotate in a horizontal plane). The lead-in bolt 25 may be screwed into the head body 28.

As shown in detail in FIG. 3, the pull-in bolt 25 is a bolt main body 25a screwed to the lid 27.
And a coupling body 25b coupled to the bolt body 25a via the coupling member 25c and coupled to the outer holder 23.
It has and. The bolt main body 25a is composed of a tubular shaft portion 74 having an external thread 70 screwed into the screw hole 27a of the lid 27 and having an outer peripheral surface, and a head portion 72 having an opening groove 56 into which the coupling body 25c is fitted. . The connecting body 25b has an insertion portion 76 that is inserted into the inner hole 54 of the shaft portion 74 of the bolt body 25a.
And a cylindrical connecting portion 78 that is fitted into the through hole 23a of the outer holder 23 and abuts the outer holder 23 on its arcuate peripheral surface.

In the pull-in bolt 25 having such a structure, the insertion portion 76 of the connecting body 25b is attached to the bolt body 25a.
Is inserted into the inner hole 54 of the shaft portion 74, the end portion of the insertion portion 76 is positioned in the opening groove 56 of the head portion 72 of the bolt body 25a, and the coupling member 25c is fitted into the opening groove 56 to form the coupling member. If the locking pin 25d is locked in the annular groove 62 formed at the end of the insertion portion 76 in the hole 80 of 25c, the bolt body 25a and the coupling body 25b can be coupled. In this case, the locking pin 25d is locked in the annular groove 62 through the hole 58 of the head 72 of the bolt body 25a and the hole 60 of the coupling member 25c.

The outer holder 23 and the connecting body 25b are connected by fitting the connecting portion 78 into the through hole 23a of the outer holder 23 and inserting the pin 26 inserted into the through hole 52 of the connecting portion 78 into the through hole 23a. It is formed by being positioned in the stepped groove 23d. In such a connected state, the cylindrical connecting portion 78 fitted into the through hole 23a of the outer holder 23 abuts the outer holder 23 on its arcuate circumferential surface, so that the outer holder 23 (hence, the lens unit 4).
0) can swing in the XY plane (horizontal plane) about the connecting portion 78 while slidingly contacting the arcuate peripheral surface of the connecting portion 78.

Further, in such a connected state, when the pull-in bolt 25 is turned in a direction in which the screwed state of the bolt main body 25a and the screw hole 27 is released, the pin which abuts the wall surface of the stepped groove 23d of the outer holder 23. The outer holder 23 is drawn toward the screw hole 27 a via 26, and the inner holder 22 and the lens holder 30 which are integrated with the outer holder 23 are also drawn toward the screw hole 27 a. That is, the entire lens unit 40 is horizontally moved toward the screw hole 27a.

On the contrary, the bolt body 25a is screwed into the screw hole 2
As it is screwed into 7, the connecting portion 78 abuts against the inner holder 22 and pushes it out, so that the inner holder 22 moves into the screw hole 27.
While moving in a direction away from a, the inner holder 2
2 and an outer holder 23 and a lens holder 30 which are integrated with each other.
Is also pushed out in the direction away from the screw hole 27a. That is, the entire lens unit 40 is horizontally moved in the direction away from the screw hole 27a. That is, the bolt body 25
When a is screwed into the screw hole 27, the pin 26 and the outer holder 23 are not engaged with each other.
5 does not directly connect to the outer holder 23 and move it, but rather the outer holder 23 through the inner holder 22.
To move.

In order to swing the lens unit 40 in the XY plane (horizontal plane) about the connecting portion 78, the lens unit 40 is provided with a pair of tension bolts 24a and 24b as second lens moving means from two directions. Abutting.
Specifically, each of the tension bolts 24a and 24b is in contact with the inner holder 22 instead of the outer holder 23 so as not to prevent the outer holder 23 from swinging around the connecting portion 78. Also, each of the tension bolts 24a, 24b is
While screwing into the screw holes 27b and 27c of the lid 27,
The outer holder 23 extends through the through holes 23b and 23c. Also in this case, each of the tension bolts 24a and 24b
So as not to prevent the outer holder 23 from swinging about the connecting portion 78.
A sufficient gap is secured with c.

Further, each strut bolt 24a, 24b
Are located on the opposite sides of the pull-in bolt 25, and are, for example, 4 times circumferentially with the pull-in bolt 25.
They are spaced apart by an angle of 5 degrees. That is, each of the tension bolts 24a and 24b is oriented along the axes O1 and O2 forming an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the X axis and the Y axis so that the inner holder 22 can be pressed from two directions. And the pulling bolts 25 are collectively arranged on the same side (one side of the lens unit 40) with respect to the Y axis.

Next, with reference to FIG. 4, a method of adjusting the position of the condenser lens 13 with the above-mentioned structure will be described. First, in order to move the condenser lens 13 along the Y axis (movement in the vertical direction in FIG. 4), the pull-in bolt 25 is not moved, and the two tension bolts 24a,
Push and pull 24b. For example, without moving the pull-in bolt 25, one (the lower side in FIG. 4) of the second tension bolt 24b is screwed in (pushed in) and the other (the upper side in FIG. 4) of the first tension bolt 24a is pulled out. When the screw is loosened, as shown in FIG. 4A, the lens unit 40 moves in the positive direction (upper side in the figure) along the Y axis. That is, the axis O of the lens unit 40 is eccentric (eccentric) in the Y axis positive direction with respect to the X axis. Of course, although not shown, when the first tension bolt 24a is screwed in (pushed in) and the second tension bolt 24b is pulled out (the screw is loosened) without moving the pull-in bolt 25, the lens unit 40 moves to Y Move in the negative direction (lower side in the figure) along the axis.

The axis O forming an angle of 45 degrees with the extending direction of the first tension bolt 24a, that is, the Y axis and the X axis.
In order to move the condenser lens 13 along 2 (moving to the lower right or the upper left in FIG. 4), the second strut bolt 24b is not moved, but the first strut bolt 24a is moved.
And the pull-in bolt 25 may be pushed and pulled. For example, without moving the second tension bolt 24b,
When the tension bolt 24a and the pull-in bolt 25 are pushed in (screwed in), the lens unit 40 moves to the lower right in the figure along the O2 axis as shown in FIG. 4B. That is, the axis O of the lens unit 40 is
It is eccentric to the O1 axis downward in the O2 axis. Further, when the first strut bolt 24a and the pull-in bolt 25 are pulled in (the screw is loosened) without moving the second strut bolt 24b, as shown in (c) of FIG. Move to the upper left in the figure along the axis. That is, the axis O of the lens unit 40 is eccentric to the O1 axis in the upward direction of the O2 axis.

Similarly, although not shown, the condenser lens 13 is moved along the extending direction of the second strut bolt 24b, that is, the axis O1 forming an angle of 45 degrees with the Y axis and the X axis (in FIG. In order to move it to the lower left), the second tension bolt 24b and the pull-in bolt 25 may be pushed and pulled without moving the first tension bolt 24a. For example, when the second strut bolt 24a and the pull-in bolt 25 are pushed in (screwed in) without moving the first strut bolt 24a, the lens unit 40 moves to the upper right in the figure along the O1 axis. Also,
When the second tension bolt 24b and the pull-in bolt 25 are pulled in (the screw is loosened) without moving the first tension bolt 24a, the lens unit 40 moves to the lower left in the figure along the O1 axis.

When performing maintenance of the lens unit 40 or replacement of the condenser lens 13, the lid fixing mechanism 29 may be loosened and the lid 27 may be removed from the head main body 28. In this case, the lens unit 40 can be taken out of the head body 28 through the side opening 28a. Then, when the condensing lens 13 is replaced, the condensing lens 13 and the lens holder 30 are removed from the removed lens unit 40. At this time, the head unit 28 is turned upside down as shown in FIG.
When set to, another condenser lens 13 with a different focal length
A can be attached.

As described above, the condensing lens position adjusting mechanism of the present embodiment accommodates and holds the lens unit 40 as a lens holder for holding the condensing lens 13 and the lens unit 40 so as to be horizontally movable. The head main body 28, which is positioned coaxially with the optical axis of the laser beam, is connected to the lens unit 40 on one side of the lens unit 40, and supports the lens unit 40 swingably around a swing shaft 78. The retracting bolt 25 as a first lens moving means for horizontally moving the lens unit 40 in the head main body 28, and the retracting bolt 25 are provided on one side of the lens unit 40, and the lens unit 40 is centered around a swing shaft 78. Strut bolts 22 as second lens moving means for individually swinging in two directions.
a and 24b.

Therefore, the position of the condenser lens 13 can be adjusted only on one side of the condenser lens 13 with a small number of adjustments (the number of bolts to be adjusted is small). If the position adjustment can be performed only on one side of the condensing lens 13 in this manner, it is not necessary to bring a hand or a tool close to the processing head from four directions. Therefore, even if there is a structure around the processing head, the position adjustment can be performed. Can be reliably performed. Further, for example, even when the focusing lens 13 is moved in the direction of 45 degrees (direction forming 45 degrees with respect to the X axis or the Y axis) to perform the centering adjustment, it is necessary to rotate the four adjusting screws one by one as in the conventional case. Nor. Also, when adjusting the position, the bolt to loosen is 1
Since there is only one and no spring is used, position adjustment can be performed easily and stably.

In particular, in this embodiment, the lens unit 4
0 is divided into two members 22 and 23 which are coaxial with each other, the outer holder 23 which is one member is supported so as to be swingable and horizontally movable, and the inner holder 22 which is the other member is pushed and pulled from two directions. Since the outer holder 23 is allowed to swing without restriction, the lens unit 40 can be easily and accurately moved stably in any direction in the horizontal plane.

Further, the condenser lens position adjusting mechanism of this embodiment is a means for removably housing the lens unit 40 in the head body 28, specifically, the lid body 2.
7 and the lid fixing mechanism 29, the condenser lens 1
Replacing 3 is very easy.

[0036]

According to the invention described in claim 1, the position of the condenser lens can be adjusted only on one side of the condenser lens with a small number of adjustments (the number of bolts to be adjusted is small). . If the position adjustment can be performed only on one side of the condenser lens in this way, it is not necessary to bring a hand or a tool close to the processing head from four directions. Therefore, even if there is a structure around the processing head, the position adjustment can be performed. It can be done reliably. Also, for example, even when the focusing lens is moved in the direction of 45 degrees (direction forming 45 degrees with respect to the X axis or the Y axis) to perform the centering adjustment, it is necessary to rotate the four adjusting screws one by one as in the conventional case. Absent. Further, since only one bolt is loosened when adjusting the position and no spring is used, the position can be adjusted easily and stably. Also,
According to the invention described in claim 2, the same effect as that of the invention described in claim 1 can be obtained, and the condenser lens can be replaced very easily.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a laser processing machine including a condenser lens position adjusting mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 2B, and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of the machining head taken along a plane perpendicular to the XY plane.

FIG. 3 is an exploded cross-sectional view of a pull-in bolt.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing an operation of a condenser lens position adjusting mechanism.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a lens unit.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a conventional condenser lens position adjusting mechanism.

[Explanation of symbols]

13 Condensing Lenses 24a, 24b Stretching Bolts (Second Lens Moving Means) 25 Pulling Bolts (First Lens Moving Means) 28 Head Main Body 40 Lens Units (Lens Holders) 78 Connections (Rotating Shafts)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A condenser lens position adjusting mechanism for adjusting a position of a condenser lens for condensing a laser beam onto a work, which is provided in a laser processing machine, comprising: a lens holder for holding the condenser lens; A head main body positioned to be coaxial with the optical axis of the laser beam while accommodating and holding the lens holder so as to be horizontally movable, and connected to the lens holder on one side of the lens holder,
A first lens moving unit that supports the lens holder so as to be swingable about a predetermined swing axis and horizontally moves the lens holder within the head body; and the first lens moving unit together with the first lens moving unit. A second lens moving unit which is provided on one side of the lens holder and which individually swings the lens holder from two directions around the swing shaft; Condenser lens position adjustment mechanism. 2. The condensing lens position adjusting mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising means for removably accommodating the lens holder with respect to the head main body.