JP2003245790A - Laser beam machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a laser beam machine which prevents a bushing for a guide from being caught by a bellows guide bar causing a partition plate to tilt relative to a laser beam, and also prevents a specific bellows for an optical path from being expanded to largely shorten the maintenance cycle of the bellows for the optical path. <P>SOLUTION: The laser beam machine is provided with an elastic body in a clearance between all partition plates that has faces opposing the partition plates, so that the partition plates fixed to a plurality of bellows for the optical path are suspended all the time relative to the center axis of the laser beam which penetrates a plurality of bellows for the optical path. <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 laser beam machine for smoothly expanding and contracting an optical path bellows for protecting a human body from a laser beam output from a laser oscillator.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Laser light output from a laser oscillator is guided to a laser processing head by a plurality of reflecting mirrors, and the laser processing head is moved by at least one axis relative to a work by a well-known drive mechanism. In the laser processing machine described above, an optical path bellows for protecting the human body from the laser light is attached to the optical path portion of the laser light that moves relative to the workpiece.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a laser processing machine. The configuration of the laser processing machine will be described below with reference to FIG. This figure shows a laser processing machine that moves the laser processing head 21 relative to the workpiece in one axis direction (in this case, the Y axis direction). Laser light L output from the laser oscillator 24
B is guided to the workpiece W through the plurality of reflecting mirrors 22.
The laser processing head 21 is moved in the Y-axis direction by a well-known drive mechanism (not shown). The work W is moved in the X-axis direction by a well-known drive mechanism (not shown). The laser processing head 21, the reflecting mirror 22, and the laser oscillator 24 described above are installed in a frame 23 forming a support body of the laser processing machine.

As described above, the laser processing head 21 and the workpiece W are driven by a well-known drive mechanism (not shown), and are moved relative to each other by the controller of the laser processing machine (not shown), The workpiece W can be processed two-dimensionally.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing the optical path of a conventional laser beam driven in the Y-axis direction of FIG. The configuration of the conventional optical path of the laser light driven in the Y-axis direction will be described below with reference to FIG. In FIG. 3, a laser beam L is emitted from one end of the laser processing head 21 having the reflecting mirror 22 built therein.
B is irradiated, and the other end is fixed via a partition plate 5 at one end of the optical path bellows 2 for protecting the body from the laser light LB. Both ends of the optical path bellows 2 have laser beams LB.
Is fixed to a partition plate 5 having a hole penetrating therethrough, and another optical path bellows 2 is attached to this partition plate 5, and thereafter, a plurality of optical path bellows 2 and partition plates 5 are similarly provided.
Are connected. The laser processing head 21 is fixed to one end of the partition plate 5, and the end of the laser processing head 21 in a direction different from the laser processing head 21 (Y2 direction) is the frame 2.
It is fixed at 3.

Guide bushings 4 are provided on the partition plates 5, and the bellows guide bars 3 are fixed to the frame 23 by penetrating the guide bushings 4. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, each partition plate 5 is provided so as to hang down by the bellows guide bar 3 penetrating the guide bushing 4, and moves in the Y-axis direction with the bellows guide bar 3 as an axis. Can be made. The above-mentioned optical path bellows 2 expands and contracts in the Y-axis direction, but is provided with an appropriate length so as not to sag on the optical path of the laser light in the most expanded state.

When the laser processing head 21 is moved in the Y-axis direction by a drive mechanism (not shown) in the optical path of the laser beam LB having the above-mentioned configuration, the optical path bellows 2 fixed to the partition plate 5 is Processing head 21
The bellows 2 close to is moved in the Y-axis direction.

[0008]

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 3 and is a view when the optical path bellows 2 is expanded and contracted. As shown in FIG. 3 described above, the conventional optical path bellows 2 in the optical path of the laser light is closer to the laser processing head 21 as the laser processing head 21 moves in the Y-axis direction by a drive mechanism (not shown). The bellows 2 are sequentially expanded and contracted in the Y-axis direction. At this time, if dust, dust, or the like adheres between the guide bushing 4 and the bellows guide bar 3, the guide bushing 4 and the bellows guide bar 3 do not move smoothly, and the friction force between them causes the guide bushing 4 to move. The bushing 4 is caught by the bellows guide bar 3, and the partition plate 5 is inclined with respect to the laser light LB as shown in FIG. As described above, the partition plate 5
Is tilted with respect to the laser light LB, the optical path bellows 2 is not expanded or contracted in parallel with the laser light LB in the Y-axis direction, but is distorted obliquely with respect to the laser light LB. . When the optical path bellows 2 is distorted obliquely with respect to the laser light LB in this way, the optical path bellows 2 overlaps the optical path of the laser light LB, and the laser light LB irradiates the bellows 2 and the optical path bellows. Deteriorate 2,
It causes problems such as damage and burning.

Further, in the workpiece W shown in FIG. 2 described above, when the area to be processed is only a limited area of the entire processing area of the laser processing machine, as described above, the laser processing head 21 is used. Since the optical path bellows 2 close to the optical path are expanded and contracted in the Y-axis direction, all the optical path bellows 2 provided in the laser processing machine are not expanded or contracted. That is, as described above, in the optical path bellows 2 that expands and contracts to process the limited processing area, only the specific optical path bellows 2 expands and contracts. The optical path bellows 2 is a consumable item and gradually deteriorates or damages during repeated expansion and contraction, so that the original expansion and contraction function cannot be maintained. As described above, the optical path bellows 2 that cannot maintain the original expansion / contraction function needs to be replaced, and the maintenance cycle becomes significantly shorter than the original maintenance cycle of the optical path bellows 2.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the guide bushing 4 is used.
Is not caught in the bellows guide bar 3 and the partition plate 5 is not inclined with respect to the laser light LB, and only the specific optical path bellows 2 expands and contracts, and the maintenance cycle of the optical path bellows 2 is significantly shortened. A laser processing machine that does not do this is provided.

[0011]

A laser beam machine according to the present invention divides a laser beam LB output from a laser oscillator 24 into a plurality of reflecting mirrors 22 which guide the laser beam LB to a laser beam processing head 21 and an optical path portion of the laser beam LB. A frame 23, which is connected to each other through the plate 5 and has one end fixed to the laser processing head 21 and the other end forming a support body of the laser processing machine.
The optical path bellows 2 having the laser beam LB fixed thereto as a central axis, the guide bushings 4 respectively installed on the partition plate 5, and the guide bushing 4 parallel to the central axis of the laser beam LB. Penetrates through the both ends of the frame 23
A bellows guide bar 3 which is fixed to the laser machining head 21. The laser machining head 21 is moved by a known drive mechanism in a direction parallel to the central axis of the laser beam LB penetrating the plurality of optical path bellows 2. Applied to laser processing machines.

The invention of claim 1 at the time of filing is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, each partition plate 5 fixed to the plurality of optical path bellows 2 has a plurality of optical path bellows 2.
It is a laser processing machine in which an elastic body is provided between all the partition plates that are surfaces facing each other of the partition plate 5 so that the laser beam LB penetrating the laser beam LB is always hung vertically.

The invention of claim 2 at the time of filing is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, each partition plate 5 fixed to the plurality of optical path bellows 2 has a plurality of optical path bellows 2.
An elastic body is provided on the outer periphery of the bellows guide bar 3 between all the partition plates which are surfaces facing each other of the partition plate 5 so that the laser beam LB penetrating through the partition plate 5 is always vertically arranged with respect to the central axis thereof. The laser processing machine according to claim 1.

The invention of claim 3 at the time of filing is described in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, each partition plate 5 fixed to the plurality of optical path bellows 2 has a plurality of optical path bellows 2.
The bellows guide bar is provided between all the partition plates, which are surfaces facing each other of the partition plate 5, so that the bellows guide bar is provided vertically to the central axis of the laser light LB penetrating the laser beam LB. The laser beam machine according to claim 1, wherein an elastic body is provided at a position on the horizontal plane of No. 3.

The invention of claim 4 at the time of application is the laser beam machine according to claim 1, 2 or 3 in which the elastic body is a compression spring.

The invention of claim 5 at the time of application is the laser beam machine according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the elastic body is a tension spring.

[0017]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION FIG. 1 is a diagram best representing the features of the invention according to the application. Since FIG. 1 is the same as FIG. 5 described later, the description will be described later with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of an optical path portion of laser light showing an embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the laser processing machine of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
In the figure, the laser beam LB is emitted from one end of a laser processing head 21 having a built-in reflecting mirror 22, and the other is a bellows 2 for an optical path for protecting the body from the laser beam LB.
Has one end fixed via a partition plate 5. Both ends of the optical path bellows 2 are fixed to a partition plate 5 provided with a hole through which the laser light LB passes, and another optical path bellows 2 is attached to the partition plate 5, and the like. The bellows 2 and the partition plate 5 are connected to each other.
The laser processing head 21 is fixed to one end of the partition plate 5, and the end in a different direction (Y2 direction) from the laser processing head 21 is fixed to the frame 23.

Guide bushings 4 are provided on the partition plates 5, respectively, and the bellows guide bar 3 is fixed to the frame 23 by penetrating the guide bushings 4. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, each partition plate 5 is provided so as to hang down by the bellows guide bar 3 penetrating the guide bushing 4, and moves in the Y-axis direction with the bellows guide bar 3 as an axis. Can be made. The above-mentioned optical path bellows 2 expands and contracts in the Y-axis direction, but is provided with an appropriate length so as not to sag on the optical path of the laser light in the most expanded state.

In the optical path of the laser beam LB having the above-mentioned structure, each partition plate 5 fixed to the plurality of optical path bellows 2 described above has a plurality of optical path bellows 2.
As an elastic body between all the partition plates that are the surfaces facing each other of the partition plate 5, for example, an appropriate constant without being bent so that the laser beam LB that penetrates through Is provided with a spring.

In the laser beam machine having the above construction, when the laser beam machining head 21 is driven in the Y-axis direction by a well-known drive mechanism (not shown), each partition is moved when the optical path bellows 2 expands and contracts. The force of the spring provided between the plates 5 causes the force of the spring to act on each of the partition plates 5 substantially evenly, so that the partition plates 5 are always supported in the direction perpendicular to the central axis of the laser beam LB, and the optical path is smoothly moved. The bellows 2 expands and contracts. In particular, as shown in FIG. 5, by providing the spring 1 at a position on the horizontal plane of the bellows guide bar 3 with respect to the laser beam LB, between all the partition plates that are surfaces that face each other of the partition plate 5, The optical path bellows 2 can be expanded and contracted in a stable state.

[0021]

EXAMPLE FIG. 6 is an example of an example of the present invention and is a schematic perspective view of an optical path portion of a laser beam provided with a spring. Less than,
An example of the action of the spring of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. In FIG. 6, the same mechanisms as those in FIG. 5 described above are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 6, each partition plate 5 fixed to the plurality of optical path bellows 2 installed in the optical path of the laser beam LB passes through the plurality of optical path bellows 2 of the laser beam LB. An appropriate constant, such as a compression spring, is wound around the outer periphery of the bellows guide bar 3 between all the partition plates that are mutually facing surfaces of the partition plate 5 so that the partition plate 5 is always vertically installed with respect to the central axis. Is provided. In the laser processing machine having the above configuration, when processing the workpiece W, the laser processing head 21 moves from the tip of the laser processing head to the laser beam LB while moving in the Y-axis direction shown in FIG.
Is irradiated. When the laser processing head 21 moves in the Y-axis direction, the optical path bellows 2 connected via the partition plate 5 also expands and contracts in the same direction. That is, the optical path bellows 2 is provided on each guide bushing 4 via the partition plate 5, and the bellows 2 expands and contracts along the bellows guide bar 3 in a direction parallel to the central axis of the laser light LB. When the bellows 2 expands and contracts, the compression springs 6 before and after the partition plate 5 vertically support the partition plates, so that the bellows 2 can expand and contract smoothly.

FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged schematic view of FIG. 6 when the guide bushing 4 is caught on the bellows guide bar 3. As shown in the figure, if dust, dust, or the like adheres between the guide bushing 4 and the bellows guide bar 3, the guide bushing 4 and the bellows guide bar 3 do not move smoothly. At this time, due to the frictional force between the guide bushing 4 and the bellows guide bar 3, both the guide bushing 4 and the bellows guide bar 3 are moved.
The partition plate 5 receives the resistance force Fb in the direction of the laser processing head 21 and is inclined with respect to the laser beam LB. However, in the laser beam machine of the present invention, the compression spring 6 is provided as described above, and when the guide bushing 4 is caught on the bellows guide bar 3, the configuration shown in FIG.
As shown in, the repulsive force Fa of the compression spring 6 acts in the direction opposite to the resistance force Fb. The repulsive force Fa of the compression spring 6 is the resistance force F.
It has a stronger repulsive force than b, and the repulsive force Fa can release the catch. After that, as shown in FIG. 8 to be described later, the partition plate 5 can be kept in a vertically suspended state by the expansion and contraction force F of the compression spring 6.

FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged schematic view of FIG. 6, showing a state in which the partition plate 5 is always supported in the vertical direction by the expansion / contraction force F of the compression spring 6. As shown in the figure, when the laser processing head 21 is driven by a well-known drive mechanism (not shown) in the Y-axis direction, a spring provided between the partition plates 5 when the optical path bellows 2 expands and contracts. By the force of, the elastic force F of the spring acts on each partition plate 5 almost uniformly, and the partition plate 5 is always supported in the direction perpendicular to the central axis of the laser beam LB. Therefore, even when processing is performed only in a limited area within the entire processing area of the laser processing machine, all the partition boards 5 on the optical path of the laser beam LB are substantially moved without moving only the specific partition board 5. The bellows 2 for the optical path smoothly expands and contracts by moving evenly.

Here, in the description of the embodiments of FIGS. 6 to 8, the spring is described as a compression spring. However, although the direction of the force of expansion and contraction is different, the same effect as the compression spring can be obtained by using the tension spring. Further, in the description of FIGS. 6 to 8, the spring is provided so as to be wound around the outer periphery of the bellows guide bar 3. However, as shown in FIG. 5, each of the springs fixed to the plurality of optical path bellows 2 is provided. Elasticity is provided between all the partition plates that are mutually facing surfaces of the partition plate 5 so that the partition plate 5 is always vertically arranged with respect to the central axis of the laser light LB that penetrates the plurality of optical path bellows 2. By providing a spring having an appropriate constant without bending the body, for example, the same effects as those of the embodiments of FIGS. 6 to 8 can be obtained and the following effects can be obtained. That is, the spring need not be wound around the outer periphery of the bellows guide bar 3 as shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, but may be provided between the partition plates 5, so that even if the spring is deteriorated or damaged, the spring shown in FIGS. The spring replacement work can be performed more easily than in the embodiment of FIG. Here, by providing the position of the spring on the horizontal plane of the bellows guide bar 3 with respect to the laser light LB, the effect of the elastic force of the spring on the partition plate 5 can be further enhanced.

5 to 8 of the present invention, the compression spring and the tension spring are used as an example of the elastic body. However, the partition plate 5 is used for the laser beam LB that penetrates the optical path bellows 2. The same effect as that of the embodiment of the present invention can be obtained by using another elastic body having an appropriate constant without being bent so that the elastic body is always vertically arranged with respect to the central axis.

[0027]

The laser beam machine according to the present invention has a laser beam LB.
In this optical path, each partition plate 5 fixed to the above-mentioned plurality of optical path bellows 2 is always placed vertically to the central axis of the laser beam LB penetrating the plurality of optical path bellows 2. Further, as an elastic body, for example, a spring having an appropriate constant without being bent is provided between all the partition plates which are the surfaces of the partition plate 5 facing each other. Therefore,
The optical path bellows 2 can be smoothly expanded and contracted by the elastic force F of the spring. When the guide bushing 4 is caught by the bellows guide bar 3, as shown in FIG. 7, the repulsive force F of the compression spring 6 is directed in the direction opposite to the resistance force Fb.
Since a acts and the repulsive force Fa of the compression spring 6 has a stronger repulsive force than the resistance force Fb, the repulsive force Fa can instantly release the catch. Therefore, when the laser processing head 21 is driven, the partition plate 5 does not tilt and the laser light LB that passes through the inside of the optical path bellows 2
Does not deteriorate, damage or burn the optical path bellows 2 because it always passes through almost the center of the optical path bellows 2.

Further, when the laser processing head 21 moves, the laser light L that penetrates the plurality of optical path bellows 2 is formed.
Since the expansion and contraction force of the spring is evenly applied to each partition plate 5 via the springs so that each partition plate 5 is always hung vertically with respect to the central axis of B, all the partition plates 5 on the optical path of the laser beam LB. The optical path bellows 2 expands and contracts while the partition plate 5 moves evenly. Therefore, even when processing is performed only within a limited area within the entire processing area of the laser processing machine, the specific partition plate 5
Only never move. Therefore, the laser beam LB
All the partition plates 5 on the optical path of the optical path move evenly, and only the specific optical path bellows 2 do not repeatedly expand and contract, and the maintenance cycles of all the optical path bellows 2 of the optical path part are substantially equal. Can be

The embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 6 has the following effects in addition to the effects described above. In the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 6, each partition plate 5 fixed to the plurality of optical path bellows 2 installed in the optical path of the laser beam LB penetrates the plurality of optical path bellows 2 with the laser beam LB. A spring is provided so as to be wound around the outer periphery of the bellows guide bar 3 between all the partition plates, which are mutually facing surfaces of the partition plate 5, so that the spring is always vertically arranged with respect to the central axis of the partition plate. Therefore, when the optical path bellows 2 expands and contracts, the spring expands and contracts while being wound around the bellows guide bar 3. If the spring is not wrapped around the outer periphery of the bellows guide bar 3, the elastic force will decrease as the spring expands and contracts, and will eventually bend, so it must be replaced. However, as described above, in the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 6, since the spring expands and contracts while being constantly wound around the outer periphery of the bellows guide bar 3, when the aforementioned spring is not wound around the outer periphery of the bellows guide bar 3. The load on the spring is less than that of, and the maintenance cycle of the spring can be significantly extended.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram best representing the features of the invention according to the application.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a laser processing machine.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing an optical path of conventional laser light.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 3 and is a view when an optical path bellows is expanded and contracted.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of an optical path portion of laser light of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of an optical path portion of laser light provided with a spring, which is an example of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram when the guide bushing is caught by the bellows guide bar in the partially enlarged schematic view of FIG. 6;

8 is a partially enlarged schematic view of FIG. 6, showing a state in which the partition plate is always supported in the vertical direction by the expansion and contraction force of the compression spring.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 spring 2 Optical path bellows 3 Bellows guide bar 4 Guide bushing 5 partition boards 6 spring 21 Laser processing head 22 Reflector 23 frames 24 Laser oscillator LB laser light W Workpiece

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of reflecting mirrors for guiding a laser beam output from a laser oscillator to a laser processing head, and a plurality of reflecting mirrors connected to an optical path portion of the laser beam via a partition plate, one end of which is connected to the laser processing head. A bellows for the optical path having the laser beam as a central axis, which is fixed to the frame forming the support body of the laser beam machine and the other end of which is fixed, a guide bushing installed in each of the partition plates, and a laser beam of the laser beam. A bellows guide bar that is parallel to the central axis and penetrates the guide bushing and has both ends fixed to the frame, in a direction parallel to the central axis of the laser light that penetrates the plurality of optical path bellows. In a laser processing machine that moves and processes the laser processing head by a known drive mechanism, each partition plate fixed to the plurality of optical path bellows An elastic body is provided between all the partition plates that are surfaces facing each other of the partition plate so that they are always hung vertically with respect to the central axis of the laser light passing through the plurality of optical path bellows. Laser processing machine. 2. The partition plates fixed to the plurality of optical path bellows are arranged such that the partition plates are always vertically arranged with respect to the central axis of the laser light penetrating the plurality of optical path bellows. The laser beam machine according to claim 1, wherein an elastic body is provided on the outer periphery of the bellows guide bar between all the partition plates that are surfaces of the partition plates facing each other. 3. The partition plates fixed to the plurality of optical path bellows are arranged such that the partition plates are always vertically arranged with respect to a central axis of a laser beam penetrating the plurality of optical path bellows. The laser beam machine according to claim 1, wherein an elastic body is provided between all of the partition plates, which are surfaces facing each other of the partition plate, and at a position on the horizontal plane of the bellows guide bar with respect to the laser light. 4. The elastic body is a compression spring.
Alternatively, the laser processing machine according to 2 or 3. 5. The laser processing machine according to claim 1, wherein the elastic body is a tension spring.