JP2003329454A - Laser marking device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a compact and inexpensive laser marking device of a simple structure, having a laser irradiating direction automatic correcting mechanism. <P>SOLUTION: The light emitted from a laser light source is passed through a collimator lens to be changed to the circular collimate light. The circular collimate light is passed through a rod lens to be converted into the line light. Here, the rod lens is supported rotatably on its supporting point. When the entire optical system is inclined by an angle θ from a horizontal line, both of the light source and the rod lens are inclined by the angle θ at the moment of inclination, but the rod lens is rotated on the supporting point and keeps its horizontal state. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a laser marking device, and more particularly to a laser marking device having a line light emitting optical system having an attitude control function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At the time of building a house, especially at the start of construction, it is essential to set a reference for mounting various members and to set a reference line for positioning of member processing (marking out work). Therefore, at the construction site, leveling was performed using an instrument such as a level surveying instrument, a plurality of mark inks were attached to the wall of the target structure, and these were connected to form a marking line, which was the construction standard. However, this work needs to be performed by at least two people, which is very troublesome and inefficient work. Therefore, recently, it has become more frequent to efficiently perform marking out using a laser marking device having a line light irradiation function. Since the laser marking device can easily perform marking work by one person, it is becoming an essential construction work tool for construction work. Since the line light emitted from the laser marking device serves as a construction standard, the accuracy of the irradiation direction is important. Therefore, the laser marking device is usually provided with a mechanism for automatically correcting the laser irradiation direction. This laser irradiation direction automatic correction method has two methods. That is, (1) an attitude control method using a tilt sensor and (2) a plumb bob method using a gimbal support mechanism. In either case, the structure is such that the automatic correction mechanism incorporates all optical systems.

[0003]

In the attitude control system using the tilt sensor, the number of parts is large and the structure is complicated. Further, the cost of parts also increases. On the other hand, the downswing method using the gimbal support mechanism is less expensive than the attitude control method using the tilt sensor, but has a problem that the support system becomes large. The laser marking device disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-230827 includes a mechanism for adjusting the laser horizontally to the ground with an adjusting screw. However, it is not intended to automatically correct the laser irradiation direction, and therefore it is easy to use. I can not say.

An object of the present invention is to provide a laser marking device which solves the above-mentioned conventional problems. Specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide a laser marking device having a simple structure, a small size, a low price, and a function of automatically correcting the irradiation direction of laser light.

[0005]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, each optical element for converting incident light into line light is provided with a means for controlling the emission angle of the line light. Has one feature. With this configuration, it is possible to automatically correct the emission direction of the line light with a much simpler structure than the conventional one.

Another feature of the present invention is that an optical element for converting incident light into line light is supported so as to be freely movable around a support point of a fixed member as a rotation center, and the optical element and the support point are supported. The line light emitting optical system is configured such that the connecting line segments are always in the vertical direction. With such a configuration, the emission direction of the line light can be automatically corrected easily and inexpensively.

Another feature of the present invention is that, in a laser marking apparatus provided with a semiconductor laser and an optical element for converting a light beam from the semiconductor laser into horizontal line light or vertical line light, the semiconductor laser is The optical element is fixed to the fixing member, while the optical element is supported so that it can freely move about the supporting point of the fixing member, and the direction of the line segment connecting the optical element and the supporting point is always vertical even if the semiconductor laser is tilted. It is in the direction. With this configuration, it becomes possible to automatically correct the emission direction of the line light even if the semiconductor laser is tilted.

Another feature of the present invention is that in a laser marking device provided with a light source made of a semiconductor laser and an optical element for converting a light beam from the light source into horizontal line light or vertical line light, By supporting the element so that it can freely move around the support point of the fixed member as the center of rotation, the direction of the line segment connecting the optical element and the support point is always vertical even if the light source is tilted. , Provided with a control means for automatically controlling the emission angle of the light from the optical element, and with an adjusting means for manually correcting the inclination of the light source itself, a rough adjustment is performed by the adjusting means, and a fine adjustment is performed. This is done by the above control means. By thus correcting the emission direction of the line light in two steps, the adjustment can be performed quickly and accurately. Another feature of the present invention is a first unit having a light source made of a semiconductor laser, a lens for forming circular collimated light from a light beam of the light source, and an optical element for converting the circular collimated light into horizontal line light. And a third unit having an optical element for converting circular collimated light into vertical line light, the one unit selected from the second and third units and the first unit. It is to constitute a laser marking device by combining with a unit. With this configuration, it is not necessary to separately purchase a device for generating horizontal line light and a device for generating vertical line light, and a part of them can be commonly used, so that an inexpensive device can be provided. Another feature of the present invention is that a light source made of a semiconductor laser, an optical element for converting a light beam from the light source into horizontal line light or vertical line light, and the optical element with the support point of the fixing member as the center of rotation It is provided with a plurality of laser marking device units that are supported so that they can move freely, and that the direction of the line segment that connects the optical element and the supporting point is always the vertical direction even when the light source is tilted. The laser marking device is configured to form the line light on the line.
With this configuration, the emission angle of the line light from the laser marking device can be corrected for each unit, and there is an advantage that adjustment can be easily performed. Another feature of the present invention is to prepare four laser marking units capable of automatically correcting the emission angle of the line light, and form one linear line light by the first and second units. The fourth unit is to form another linear line light. With this configuration,
Horizontal line light and vertical line light can be generated at the same time, and the emission angle of the line light can be corrected individually. Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a mechanism for automatically correcting the emission attitude of vertical line light in a line light emission optical system used in a laser marking apparatus of the present invention. The rod lens 3 is housed in a holder (not shown). Further, the holder is supported by a bearing 5 via a support member 4 so that the holder can rotate about a fulcrum A. A collimator lens 2 is arranged on the emission side front surface of the laser light source 1 in order to convert the light emitted from the laser light source 1 into collimated light. The laser light source 1 is arranged so that the center height of the emission port, the center height of the collimator lens 2 and the center height of the rod lens 3 all match. The light emitted from the laser light source 1 becomes a circular collimator light having a beam diameter of 2 mm by the collimator lens 2. Next, this collimator light has a diameter of 3 m
Vertical line light having a line width of 2 mm is transmitted through the rod lens 3 having a length of m and a length of 5 mm. If the entire optical system is kept horizontal, the direction of the emitted line light will be the vertical direction. Figure 2
(1) shows the case where the laser light source 1 (including the collimator lens) and the rod lens 3 are in a horizontal position. At this time, vertical line light along the vertical direction is obtained. Next, consider the case where the entire optical system is tilted from the horizontal by an angle α.
As shown in FIG. 2 (2), both the light source 1 and the rod lens 3 tilt at an angle α at the moment of tilting, but the rod lens 3 rotates about the fulcrum A. As a result, the light source 1 remains tilted by the angle α as shown in FIG.
Keeps horizontal. When the light source 1 tilts, the center position of the light source shifts. Therefore, we will estimate the amount of movement of the light source from Fig. 3. In the initial state, the center position C1 of the light source 1 and the rod lens 3
It is assumed that the center positions C3 of the two match. If the distance from the fulcrum A to the center position C1 of the light source 1 is L, the light source center position C
The movement amount of 1 is Lsinα in the X direction and L-Lcosα in the Y direction in the figure.
= L (1-cosα). Now, assuming that the angle α is 3 ° and the distance L from the fulcrum A to the rod lens center position is 10 mm,
The amount of movement of the light source center position C1 is 10 x sin3 = 0.52 mm in the X direction.
10 × (1-cos3) = 0.01 mm in the Y direction. Beam diameter of collimator light is 2mm, diameter of rod lens 3 is 3m
If the length of the rod lens 3 is 5 mm and the length of the rod lens 3 is 5 mm, the collimator light can be sufficiently incident on the rod lens 3 even if the position of the light source moves. In addition,
Since the incident light on the rod lens 3 is circular collimated light, a circular beam is incident on the rod lens 3 regardless of the inclination of the laser light source 1 including the collimator lens 2.
It is possible to always obtain line light with a constant line width. As described above, according to the present embodiment, even if the entire optical system is tilted from the horizontal by the angle α, both the light source 1 and the rod lens 3 are tilted by the angle α at the moment of tilting, but the rod lens 3 is centered on the fulcrum A. As a result of the rotation, the horizontal posture is maintained as shown in FIG. 2 (3), and the direction of the emitted line light is the vertical direction. (Embodiment 2) FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a mechanism for automatically correcting the emission attitude of horizontal line light in the line light emission optical system used in the laser marking apparatus of the present invention. In this case, the rod lens 3 is placed vertically and is a holder (not shown).
It is stored in. Further, the holder is supported by a bearing 5 via a support member 4 so that the holder can rotate about a fulcrum A. A collimator lens 2 is arranged on the emission side front surface of the laser light source 1 in order to convert the light emitted from the laser light source 1 into collimated light. The laser light source 1 is arranged so that the center height of the emission port, the center height of the collimator lens 2 and the center height of the rod lens 3 all match. The light emitted from the laser light source becomes a circular collimator light having a beam diameter of 2 mm by the collimator lens 2. Next, this collimator light has a diameter of 3 m
m A horizontal line light having a line width of 2 mm is transmitted through the rod lens 3 having a length of 3 mm. As shown in FIG. 5 (1), if the entire optical system is kept horizontal, the direction of the emitted line light will be horizontal. When the entire optical system is tilted by an angle α from the horizontal line, both the light source 1 and the rod lens 3 are tilted by the angle α at the moment of tilting, but the rod lens 3 rotates about the fulcrum A as a center. . As a result, the laser emission posture correction function works, and as shown in Fig. 5 (3), the rod lens
3 maintains a horizontal posture, and the direction of the emitted line light is horizontal. (Third Embodiment) Next, a mode in which the optical system with the automatic line light emission posture correction function of the present invention is mounted on a laser marking device will be described. FIG. 6 is a top view and a sectional view showing an embodiment of a laser marking device for vertical lines. As shown in FIG. 6, a collimator lens 2 is attached to the tip of the emission port of the semiconductor laser 1 so that circular collimator light can be obtained. The semiconductor laser 1 and the collimator lens 2 are attached to the laser marking device body 6. The rod lens 3 for producing the line light is attached to the lens holder 7, and is attached to the laser marking device main body 6 by the bearing 5 via the support member 4. The line light is emitted to the outside through a glass window 13 provided in the main body 6. A laser drive circuit board 8 and a power source 9 are mounted on the laser marking device body 6. Laser marking device body
6 At the top, a bubble tube for confirming the levelness when the device is installed 1
0 is attached in the laser emission direction and the direction orthogonal thereto. Further, the laser marking device 6 of the present invention is provided with a height adjusting leg 12 for adjusting the levelness when the device is installed. (Fourth Embodiment) FIG. 7 is a top view and a vertical sectional view showing an embodiment of a laser marking device for horizontal lines. In the case of a horizontal line laser marking device, the arrangement of the rod lens 3 is different, and the rod lens 3 is mounted in the vertical direction. Other configurations are the same as those of the laser marking apparatus for vertical lines in FIG.

Next, how to use the laser marking apparatus of the present invention will be described. The following description is for a horizontal line laser marking device. First, the horizontal level of the device is adjusted using the bubble tube 10 attached to the upper part of the device. For example, when the horizontal line laser marking device is installed on a surface inclined by an angle θ in the front-back direction of the device as shown in FIG.
Since the emission port side faces slightly obliquely upward, the horizontal line light emitted as it is will illuminate above the original irradiation position. Then, while looking at the bubble tube 10, the height of the front and rear legs 12 is adjusted to adjust the horizontal level in the front-rear direction of the device. Further, as shown in FIG. 9, when the horizontal line laser marking device is installed on a surface inclined by an angle θ in the left-right direction of the device,
The horizontal level in the left-right direction of the device is incorrect. Therefore, the horizontal level of the device in the left-right direction is adjusted by adjusting the height of the leg 12 attached to the left-right direction of the device. Next, after adjusting the horizontal level, the switch 11 is turned on, the laser is turned on, and the line light is emitted from the emission port. At this time, even if the horizontal level adjustment is insufficient and some horizontal tilt remains, the laser emission posture correction function works, so as shown in Fig. 5 (3), the rod lens 3 maintains the horizontal posture and is emitted. The direction of the line light is horizontal. (Embodiment 5) Next, a description will be given of a mode in which an optical system with a line light emitting posture automatic correction function of the present invention is mounted as a separate type optical unit in a laser marking device. The laser marking device of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 10, is configured by separating the light source main body 15 for emitting collimated light and the line light emitting portions 14h and 14v having a line light emitting posture automatic correction function, When using, they are used in combination. In the figure, 14h indicates a unit that emits horizontal line light.
v indicates a unit that emits vertical line light. Vertical line light and horizontal line light can be arbitrarily selected by changing the combination of the light source body 15 and the line light emitting units 14h and 14v. (Embodiment 6) FIG. 11 shows another embodiment of the laser marking device of the present invention, which is capable of irradiating line light in four directions by combining four laser marking devices 16. . As a method of combining four pieces, for example, there is a method of incorporating a laser marking device 16 on a base 17 as shown in FIG. Of course, a method of directly fixing the laser marking devices 16 may be used. In this example, the same kind of line light is emitted on the same line. That is, in FIGS. 11 and 12, at the position a, a horizontal line is irradiated to the left in the drawings,
In the direction of position b, vertical lines are illuminated upward in the figure, at position c, horizontal lines are illuminated rightward in the figure, and at position d, vertical lines are illuminated downward in the figure. Has become. The types of lines to be combined can be freely selected. Further, it is possible to change the irradiation angle of the line light by selecting the shape of the base.
For example, in the base 17 shown in FIG. 13, the pedestals 18 on which the laser marking device 16 is placed are arranged at an angle of 60 °. Therefore, when the laser marking device 16 for irradiating a horizontal line is mounted on all the pedestal portions 18 of the base 17, it is possible to irradiate the horizontal line in a direction of 360 ° around the center of the base 17.

[0011]

As described above, by applying the optical system with the line light emitting posture automatic correction function according to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a low-cost, small-sized and highly accurate laser marking device.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an embodiment of a vertical line light emitting optical system used in a laser marking device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an operation principle diagram for explaining automatic correction of vertical line light emission according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating automatic correction of line light emission according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing an embodiment of a horizontal line light emitting optical system used in the laser marking device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an operation principle diagram for explaining automatic correction of horizontal line light emission according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing an embodiment of a laser marking device for generating vertical line light according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing an embodiment of a laser marking device for generating horizontal line light according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view for explaining the posture adjustment in the front-rear direction of the device in the laser marking device of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram for explaining posture adjustment in the lateral direction of the device in the laser marking device of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing another embodiment of the laser marking device according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing another embodiment of the composite type laser marking device according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing an example of a composite type laser marking device and a fixing base according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a schematic view showing another embodiment of the composite type laser marking device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 is a laser light source, 2 is a collimating lens, 3 is a rod lens, 4 is a supporting member, 5 is a bearing, 6 is a laser marking device main body, 7 is a rod lens holder, 8 is a laser drive circuit board, 9 is a power supply, 10 Is a bubble tube, 11 is a switch, 12
Is a height adjusting leg, 13 is a glass window, 14 is a separate type line light emitting optical unit, 14h is a horizontal line light emitting optical unit, 14v is a vertical line light emitting optical unit, 15 is a light source main body, 16 is a laser ink Output device, 17 is a base, 1
8 is a pedestal.

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. A line light emitting optical system comprising an optical element for converting incident light into line light, and means for controlling an emission angle of the line light formed by the optical element. 2. An optical element for converting incident light into line light, a fixing member arranged at a position separated from the optical element by a predetermined distance, and the optical element having a support point of the fixing member as a rotation center. A line light emitting optical system comprising a supporting member for supporting the optical element so that the optical element can move freely and the direction of a line segment connecting the optical element and the supporting point is always vertical. . 3. The line emitting optical system according to claim 2, wherein a support point provided to support the optical element is constituted by a bearing. 4. The line light emitting optical system according to claim 1, wherein the light incident on the optical element that converts the light into line light is circular collimated light. 5. A semiconductor laser, an optical element for converting a light beam from the semiconductor laser into horizontal line light or vertical line light, and means for controlling an emission angle of the line light formed by the optical element. A laser marking device characterized by having. 6. A light source comprising a semiconductor laser, an optical element for converting a light beam from the light source into horizontal line light or vertical line light, a member for fixing the light source, and a fixing member for fixing the optical element. It is composed of a support member that supports the support point so that it can freely move about the rotation center, and the direction of the line segment connecting the optical element and the support point is always vertical even if the light source is tilted. Laser marking device. 7. A light source composed of a semiconductor laser, and a lens for forming a circular collimated light beam from the light source.
An optical element for converting the circular collimated light into horizontal line light or vertical line light, a member for fixing the light source, and a support for the optical element so that the optical element can freely move about a support point of the fixing member as a rotation center. A laser marking apparatus comprising a support member, wherein a direction of a line segment connecting the optical element and the support point is always vertical even when the light source is tilted. 8. A light source composed of a semiconductor laser, and a lens for forming a circular collimated light beam from the light source.
An optical element for converting the circular collimated light into horizontal line light or vertical line light, a member for fixing the light source, and an optical element supported so as to be freely movable around a support point of the fixing member as a rotation center. And a control means for automatically controlling the emission angle of light from the optical element by ensuring that the direction of the line segment connecting the optical element and the supporting point is always vertical even if the light source is tilted. A laser marking device, comprising: an adjusting unit for correcting the inclination of the light source, wherein the adjusting unit corrects the emission angle and the control unit further corrects the emission angle. 9. A first unit having a light source composed of a semiconductor laser, a lens for forming circular collimated light from a light beam of the light source, a fixing member for fixing the light source and the lens, and the circular collimated light. And a third unit having an optical element for converting the circular collimated light into vertical line light. The second and third units are provided. A laser marking apparatus, which is configured by combining one unit selected from the above and a first unit. 10. The optical element according to claim 9, wherein the optical elements of the second and third units are supported so as to be freely movable around a support point of the fixed member as a rotation center, and the optical element and the support point are separated from each other. The laser marking device is characterized in that the connecting line segments are always arranged in the vertical direction. 11. A light source comprising a semiconductor laser, an optical element for converting a light beam from the light source into horizontal line light or vertical line light, a member for fixing the light source, and a member for fixing the optical element. A laser marking which is composed of a supporting member that supports the supporting point so that it can freely move about a rotation center, and the direction of the line segment connecting the optical element and the supporting point is always vertical even if the light source is tilted. A laser marking device, comprising a plurality of device units, each configured to form line light in different directions. 12. A light source comprising a semiconductor laser, an optical element for converting a light beam from the light source into horizontal line light or vertical line light, a member for fixing the light source, and a fixing member for fixing the optical element. A first member constituted by a support member that supports the support point so as to be freely movable around the rotation center, and a direction of a line segment connecting the optical element and the support point is always vertical even when the light source is tilted. Second, third and fourth laser marking device units are provided, and one linear line light is formed by the first and second units, and another linear line is formed by the third and fourth units. A laser marking device characterized by being configured to generate light. 13. A laser marking apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the first and second units form horizontal line light, and the third and fourth units form vertical line light.