JP2012091224A - Laser machining apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a laser machining apparatus which easily recognizes a life of a galvanomirror drive system.SOLUTION: A laser marking apparatus 1 turns galvanomirrors 23a and 23b turnable on a shaft, irradiates a workpiece W with a laser beam outputted from a laser beam source 20, while scanning the laser beam. A controller 26 counts and stores the cumulative number of uses of the galvanomirrors. A display 7a as a displaying means displays information on the lives of the galvanomirrors, based on the stored cumulative number of uses.

Description

  The present invention relates to a laser processing apparatus.

  In a laser processing apparatus, when processing is performed by irradiating a processing target with a laser beam from a light source, the processing is performed by scanning using a galvano drive device. An operation abnormality of the galvano drive device is detected (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2002-82304 A

By the way, the drive system of the galvano mirror has a life and requires maintenance, but it is difficult to determine whether or not the life is near.
An object of the present invention is to provide a laser processing apparatus that can easily recognize the life of a drive system of a galvano mirror.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a laser processing apparatus that rotates a galvano mirror that can rotate around an axis and irradiates a processing object while scanning a laser beam output from a light source. Counting means for counting at least one of the cumulative number of times of use and operation time of the galvanomirror, storage means for storing at least one of the total number of times of use and operation time by the counting means, and storing in the storage means And a display means for displaying information on the lifetime of the galvano mirror based on at least one of the cumulative number of times used and the operating time.

  According to this configuration, the counting means counts at least one of the cumulative number of times the galvano mirror is used (the number of operations) and the operation time. The storage means stores at least one of the cumulative number of times used by the counting means and the operation time. Then, the display means displays information related to the life of the drive system of the galvano mirror based on at least one of the cumulative use count and the operation time stored in the storage means. As a result, the lifetime of the drive system of the galvanometer mirror can be easily recognized.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the laser processing apparatus according to the first aspect, the first galvanometer mirror that is rotatable about the first axis and the second axis that is orthogonal to the first axis are provided. A second galvanometer mirror that can rotate as a center, and the counting means counts the cumulative number of times of use of the first galvanometer mirror and the cumulative number of times of use of the second galvanometer mirror; May display the larger total number of times of use of the first galvanometer mirror and the second total number of use of the second galvanometer mirror.

  As described in claim 3, in the laser processing apparatus according to claim 2, the display means is a galvanometer disposed on the downstream side of the laser light of the first galvanometer mirror and the second galvanometer mirror. It is good to display the total number of times the mirror is used.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the laser processing apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the cumulative number of times the galvanomirror is used by the counting means and a period required to reach the number of times The gist of the invention is that it further comprises a prediction means for predicting the time when the cumulative number of times of use reaches a specified value and displaying it on the display means.

  According to this configuration, the predicting means predicts when the cumulative number of galvanomirrors reaches the specified value from the cumulative number of galvanomirrors counted by the counting means and the period required to reach the number. The predicted time is displayed on the display means. Thus, by looking at the predicted time displayed on the display means, it is possible to grasp the approximate time when the drive system of the galvano mirror reaches the end of its life, so that convenience is improved.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the laser processing apparatus according to the fourth aspect, when a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the start of use, the prediction unit is configured to detect the galvanometer mirror by the counting unit at that time. The gist is to predict the time when the cumulative usage count reaches a specified value from the cumulative usage count and the specified timing, and display the predicted time on the display means.

  According to this configuration, when a predetermined period has elapsed since the start of driving of the laser processing apparatus by the prediction unit, the cumulative number of times the galvanomirror is used and the predetermined period counted by the counting unit at that time The time when the cumulative number of times the galvanomirror is used reaches a specified value is predicted, and the predicted time is displayed on the display means. As a result, when the specified period has elapsed since the start of driving of the laser processing apparatus, the predicted time when the galvano mirror drive system reaches the end of its life is automatically displayed on the display means. It becomes easy.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the laser processing apparatus according to the fourth aspect, when the operation switch is operated, the predicting unit determines the cumulative number of times the galvanomirror is used by the counting unit at that time and The gist is to predict the time when the cumulative number of times of use reaches a specified value from the period required to reach the number of times and display it on the display means.

  According to this configuration, when the operation switch is operated, the total number of galvano mirrors used from the total number of galvano mirrors used by the counting means at that time and the period required to reach the number. The time when the value reaches the specified value is predicted by the prediction means, and the predicted time is displayed on the display means. As a result, if the operation switch is operated at a desired timing, it is possible to check the predicted time when the drive system of the galvano mirror will reach the end of its life, so that convenience is improved.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the laser processing apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, from the cumulative number of times the galvanometer mirror is used by the counting means until the number of times of use reaches a specified value. The gist of the present invention is further provided with a remaining number calculating means for calculating the number of remaining galvanometer mirrors and displaying it on the display means.

  According to this configuration, the remaining number of galvanometer mirrors is calculated from the cumulative number of galvanomirrors counted by the counting unit until the number of times of use reaches the specified value, and displayed on the display unit. Is done. Thus, by viewing the number of times displayed on the display means, it is possible to easily grasp the time when the drive system of the galvano mirror reaches the end of its life.

  The gist of the invention described in claim 8 is that the laser processing apparatus according to claim 4 further comprises warning means for warning when it is time to reach the specified value by the prediction means.

  According to the same configuration, the warning unit issues a warning when the cumulative number of times the galvanomirror is predicted by the prediction unit reaches a specified value. Thereby, it can be recognized that the prediction time has come.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the laser processing apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, it is determined whether or not the cumulative number of uses of the galvanometer mirror by the counting means has reached a specified value. The gist of the present invention is that it further comprises a determination means for displaying the determination result on the display means.

  According to this configuration, the determination unit determines whether or not the cumulative use number of galvanomirrors counted by the counting unit has reached a specified value, and the determination result is displayed on the display unit. Thereby, it can be easily recognized whether the drive system of the galvano mirror has reached the end of its life.

The invention according to claim 10 is summarized in that the laser processing apparatus according to claim 9 further includes alarm means for warning based on the determination result by the determination means.
According to this configuration, the warning is performed by the warning unit based on the determination result by the determination unit. Thereby, the determination result by the determination means can be recognized more easily.

  According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the laser processing apparatus according to the ninth aspect, the determination unit reaches a predetermined value before the cumulative number of times the galvano mirror is used by the counting unit reaches a specified value. The gist is that it has been determined whether or not, and an alarm is made based on the determination result.

  According to this configuration, the determination unit determines whether or not the cumulative number of times the galvano mirror is used by the counting unit has reached a predetermined value before reaching the specified value, and an alarm is issued based on the determination result. . As a result, the user can know that the galvano mirror drive system is in a state immediately before the end of its life through the alarm, and thus a replacement part for the galvano mirror drive system can be prepared in advance. For this reason, convenience is improved.

On the other hand, as a method of counting the operation time of the galvanometer mirror, according to the invention of claim 12,
-It further comprises position detecting means for detecting the rotational position of the galvano mirror, and the counting means measures and measures the time during which the rotational position of the galvano mirror detected through the position detecting means is changing. This time is defined as the operation time of the galvanometer mirror.
Or according to the invention of claim 13,
-Driving means for rotating the galvanometer mirror within a predetermined coordinate system, and coordinate data indicating a plurality of coordinates on the locus from the start point to the end point set in the coordinate system are sequentially transmitted to the driving means. And a control means for rotating the galvanometer mirror from the start point to the end point, and the counting means changes the coordinate data corresponding to the start point from the time when the control means sends the drive means to the end point. The elapsed time until the corresponding coordinate data is transmitted to the driving means is measured, and the measured elapsed time is set as the operation time of the galvanometer mirror.
Thus, the operation time of the galvanometer mirror can be easily counted.

  As described in claim 14, in the laser processing apparatus according to claim 12 or 13, the axis includes a first axis and a second axis that are orthogonal to each other, and the galvanometer mirror includes the first axis. A first galvanometer mirror rotatable about the axis of the second and a second galvanometer mirror rotatable about the second axis, and the counting means is a cumulative number of the first galvanometer mirror. The operating time and the cumulative operating time of the second galvanomirror are counted, respectively, and the display means is configured to count the cumulative operating time of the first galvanomirror and the cumulative operating time of the second galvanomirror. It is good to display the longer total operation time.

  As described in claim 15, in the laser processing apparatus according to claim 14, the display means is disposed on the downstream side of the laser light of the first galvanometer mirror and the second galvanometer mirror. The total operating time of the galvanometer mirror may be further displayed.

  According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in the laser processing apparatus according to any one of the twelfth to fifteenth aspects, when the operation time indicating the life of the drive system of the galvano mirror is a specified time, the display means is The gist of the present invention is to further display a difference time between the total operation time of the galvanometer mirror counted by the counting means and the specified time.

  According to this configuration, the difference between the galvano mirror operating time and the specified time, that is, the remaining time until the galvano mirror drive system reaches the end of its life is displayed on the display means. Therefore, by looking at the time displayed on the display means, it is possible to easily grasp the approximate time when the drive system of the galvano mirror reaches the end of its life.

  In a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, in the laser processing apparatus according to the sixteenth aspect, when a predetermined period has elapsed since the start of driving of the laser processing apparatus, the counting means counts at that time. Predicting means for predicting when the accumulated operating time of the galvanomirror reaches the specified time from the accumulated operating time of the galvanomirror and the predetermined period, and displaying the predicted time on the display means is further provided. This is the summary.

  According to this configuration, when a predetermined period has elapsed since the start of driving of the laser processing apparatus, the predicted time when the galvano mirror drive system reaches the end of its life is automatically displayed on the display means. Maintenance is easy.

  In the invention according to claim 18, in the laser processing apparatus according to claim 16, when the operation switch is operated, the cumulative operation time of the galvanometer mirror counted by the counting means at that time and the operation thereof The gist further comprises prediction means for predicting when the accumulated operation time of the galvanomirror reaches the specified time from a period required to reach time, and displaying the predicted time on the display means. To do.

  According to this configuration, by operating the operation switch at a desired timing, it is possible to display on the display means the time when the cumulative operation time of the galvano mirror is expected to reach the specified time. Accordingly, if the user operates the operation switch at his / her favorite timing, the user can always check the predicted time when the drive system of the galvano mirror reaches the end of its service life, so that convenience is improved.

  According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, the laser processing apparatus according to the seventeenth or eighteenth aspect further comprises warning means for giving a warning when the predicted time to reach the specified time predicted by the prediction means is reached. This is the gist.

According to this configuration, a warning is given by the warning means when the time predicted by the prediction means has come. For this reason, it can be easily recognized that the prediction time has come.
According to a twentieth aspect of the present invention, in the laser processing apparatus according to any one of the twelfth to fifteenth aspects, the galvano is measured by the counting means when an operating time indicating the life of the drive system of the galvano mirror is a specified time. The gist of the invention is that it further includes a determination unit that determines whether or not the total operation time of the mirror has reached the specified time and displays the determination result on the display unit.

  According to this configuration, the determination result as to whether or not the cumulative operation time of the galvano mirror has reached the specified time is displayed on the display means. Thereby, it is possible to easily recognize whether or not the cumulative operation time of the galvano mirror has reached the specified time only by looking at the determination result displayed on the display means.

The gist of the invention according to claim 21 is that the laser processing apparatus according to claim 20 further comprises alarm means for giving an alarm based on the determination result by the determination means.
According to this configuration, an alarm is issued based on a determination result as to whether or not the cumulative operation time of the galvanometer mirror has reached a specified time. For this reason, it is possible to more easily recognize whether or not the cumulative operation time of the galvanometer mirror has reached the specified time.

  According to a twenty-second aspect of the present invention, in the laser processing apparatus according to the twenty-first aspect, the determination means sets the galvano mirror total operation time counted by the counting means to a predetermined time shorter than the specified time. The gist is that it is determined whether or not the alarm has been reached, and an alarm is further provided by the alarm means based on the determination result.

  According to this configuration, an alarm is further issued when the accumulated operation time of the galvanomirror reaches a predetermined time shorter than the specified time. As a result, the user can know that the galvano mirror drive system is in a state immediately before the end of its life through the alarm, and thus a replacement part for the galvano mirror drive system can be prepared in advance. For this reason, convenience is improved.

  According to the present invention, the lifetime of the drive system of the galvanometer mirror can be easily recognized.

The perspective view which shows the schematic structure about 1st Embodiment of the laser marking apparatus which actualized the laser processing apparatus concerning this invention. The block diagram which shows the schematic structure about the laser marking apparatus of the said 1st Embodiment. The schematic diagram which shows the galvano drive device about the laser marking apparatus of the said 1st Embodiment. The front view of the indicator about the laser marking device of the 1st embodiment. Explanatory drawing for demonstrating an effect | action of the laser marking apparatus of the said 1st Embodiment. The time chart for demonstrating the method of counting the frequency | count of use (number of operation | movement) of a galvanometer mirror about the laser marking apparatus of the said 1st Embodiment. The time chart for demonstrating the method of estimating the time when the drive system of a galvanometer mirror reaches the lifetime about the laser marking apparatus of the said 1st Embodiment. (A)-(c) is a timing chart for demonstrating the method to measure the operating time of a galvanometer mirror about 2nd Embodiment of the laser marking apparatus which actualized the laser processing apparatus concerning this invention. The front view of the indicator about the laser marking device of the 2nd embodiment. The time chart for demonstrating the method of estimating the time when the drive system of a galvanometer mirror reaches the lifetime about the laser marking apparatus of the said 2nd Embodiment.

<First Embodiment>
Hereinafter, a first embodiment in which a laser processing apparatus according to the present invention is embodied in a laser marking apparatus will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the laser marking device 1, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the laser marking device.
As shown in FIG. 1, the laser marking device 1 includes a controller 2 that emits laser light L. A head 4 is connected to the controller 2 via a fiber cable 3. A head 4 is connected to the controller 2 via an electric cable 5, and a console 7 is connected to the controller 2 via an electric cable 6. Then, the laser marking device 1 marks a desired character, figure, symbol or the like (hereinafter referred to as a character or the like) on the marking surface Wa of the workpiece W placed on the placing table 8.

A window portion 9 from which the laser beam L is emitted is formed on the lower surface of the head 4. The head 4 is installed such that the window portion 9 faces the marking surface Wa of the workpiece W.
As shown in FIG. 2, the controller 2 includes a laser light source (laser oscillator) 20, and laser light L is emitted from the laser light source 20 and sent to the fiber cable 3. Laser light is sent to the head 4 through the fiber cable 3. As shown in FIG. 1, one end of the fiber cable 3 is connected to the beam expander housing 10 in the head 4. A beam expander 21 (see FIG. 2) is accommodated in the beam expander accommodating portion 10, and laser light from the fiber cable 3 is sent to the beam expander 21.

  As shown in FIG. 2, first and second galvanometer mirrors 23 a and 23 b and a condensing lens 24 are disposed in the optical path of the laser beam L in the head 4 in order from the laser light source 20 side. The laser light L from the beam expander 21 is incident on the first and second galvanometer mirrors 23a and 23b. The first and second galvanometer mirrors 23a and 23b are driven by a mechanical galvano drive device (drive means) 25 using a ball bearing. This will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  In FIG. 3, ball bearings 30 and 31, a rotation shaft of the first galvano motor 34, and a rotation shaft 36 of the first galvanometer mirror 23 a are arranged on the a1 axis as the first axis. The first galvanometer mirror 23a is rotatably supported by ball bearings 30 and 31 on both sides of the galvanometer motor 34. Similarly, ball bearings 32 and 33, a rotation shaft of the second galvano motor 35, and a rotation shaft 37 of the second galvanometer mirror 23b are disposed on the a2 axis as the second axis. The second galvano mirror 23b is rotatably supported by ball bearings 32, 33 on both sides of the galvano motor 35. The galvano motors 34 and 35 can rotate the first and second galvano mirrors 23a and 23b in forward and reverse directions about the a1 and a2 axes substantially orthogonal to each other.

  And the 1st and 2nd galvanometer mirrors 23a and 23b reflect the laser beam L from the beam expander 21, and change the emission direction. Specifically, the first galvanometer mirror 23a rotates and scans the laser beam L irradiated toward the workpiece W in one direction (X direction, see FIGS. 1 and 2) of the marking surface Wa. Let In addition, the second galvanometer mirror 23b rotates to irradiate the laser beam L toward the workpiece W in a direction perpendicular to the X direction of the marking surface Wa (Y direction, see FIGS. 1 and 2). ). Therefore, the laser beam L irradiated toward the workpiece W is scanned in the X direction and the Y direction with respect to the marking surface Wa of the workpiece W by the first and second galvanometer mirrors 23a and 23b. It is like that.

  In this way, the first galvanometer mirror 23a can be rotated about the a1 axis as the first axis, and the second galvanometer mirror 23b can be rotated about the a2 axis as the second axis. The first and second galvanometer mirrors 23a and 23b are rotated, and the workpiece W is irradiated with the laser beam L output from the laser light source 20 to perform processing.

  In FIG. 1, the console 7 is provided with a display 7a and an operation unit 7b. The operation unit 7b includes a numeric keypad, and the operation unit 7b can set a laser power for processing the workpiece W. Details of the display 7a are shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 4, the display 7 a includes a galvanometer mirror reversal operation cumulative number display section 40 and a maintenance time display section 41. The galvano mirror reversal operation cumulative number display section 40 displays the total number of reversal operations of the galvano mirrors 23a and 23b. The maintenance time display unit 41 displays a time when the galvano drive device 25 reaches the end of its life due to its operation.

  In FIG. 2, the controller 2 includes a control device (control means) 26 that comprehensively controls the laser marking device 1. The control device 26 includes a nonvolatile memory 26a, and marking information such as characters to be printed is stored in the nonvolatile memory 26a. This marking information includes information such as the coordinate values of the start point and end point of each line segment constituting the character and the like, the thickness of the line segment formed by the irradiation of the laser beam L, and the like.

  The control device 26 is connected to the operation unit 7b of the console 7, and information such as a set value of laser power is input to the control device 26 from the operation unit 7b. The control device 26 is connected to the laser light source 20 and the driving device 25 for the galvano mirror. The driving device 25 for the galvano mirror includes first and second galvano motors 34 and 35. By driving the galvano motors 34 and 35, the first and second galvano mirrors 23a and 23b are rotated. Is controlled.

  The control device 26 drives the laser light source 20 to emit laser light L, and drives and controls the first and second galvano motors 34 and 35 based on the marking information stored in the nonvolatile memory 26a. The light L is scanned two-dimensionally to mark a predetermined character or the like on the marking surface Wa of the workpiece W.

Next, the operation of the laser marking device 1 configured as described above will be described.
The control device 26 as a counting means counts the cumulative number of operations of the galvanometer mirrors 23a and 23b. In particular, in the present embodiment, the cumulative number of inversion operations (folding operations) of the galvanometer mirrors 23a and 23b is counted. This will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. The X direction and Y direction shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 indicate the X direction and Y direction shown in FIG.

  FIG. 5 shows the transition of the strokes of the first galvanometer mirror 23a and the second galvanometer mirror 23b when “ABC” is printed. The first galvano mirror 23a for the X direction and the second galvano mirror 23b for the Y direction start to rotate at time t1, and the second galvano mirror 23b for Y direction reverses at time t2, At time t3, the first galvanometer mirror 23a for the X direction and the second galvanometer mirror 23b for the Y direction are reversed.

In FIG. 6, the horizontal axis indicates time, and the transition of the stroke of the first and second galvanometer mirrors 23a and 23b is shown.
In FIG. 6, the inversion operation of the first galvanometer mirror 23a for the X direction is counted. This is indicated by nx = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 in the figure. Similarly, the inversion operation of the second galvanometer mirror 23b for the Y direction is counted. This is indicated by ny = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 in the figure.

The count values nx and ny are stored in the nonvolatile memory 26a.
In this way, the control device 26 counts the cumulative number (count values nx, ny) of inversion operations of the galvano mirrors 23a, 23b from the contents of the commands to the galvano motors 34, 35 that drive the galvano mirrors 23a, 23b.

  The control device 26 causes the cumulative number of inversion operations (count values nx, ny) of the galvanometer mirrors 23a, 23b to be displayed on the galvanometer mirror inversion operation cumulative number display unit 40 of the display 7a. More specifically, the larger value of the count value nx of the reversal operation of the first galvano mirror 23a for the X direction and the count value ny of the reversal operation of the second galvano mirror 23b for the Y direction is determined by the galvano mirror. It is displayed on the reversal operation cumulative number display section 40.

In addition, the control device 26 performs life prediction of the galvano drive device 25. This will be described with reference to FIG.
In FIG. 7, the horizontal axis represents time and the vertical axis represents the count value. It is assumed that driving of the laser marking device 1 is started at time t10. By using the laser marking device 1, the count value nx increases. Then, the control device 26 calculates the following equation (1) from the period T1 from the start of driving at the current time point (timing at time t11) to the present time, the current count value nx value n1, and the specified value n10. Based on this, the lifetime prediction time t12 of the drive system of the first galvanometer mirror 23a is calculated. The specified value n10 is the number of uses (more specifically, the number of reversal operations) indicating the life of the drive system of the first galvanometer mirror 23a in the galvano drive device 25.

t12 = t11 + (T1 · (n10−n1)) / n1
... (1)
That is, when the use of the laser marking device 1 is continued at this pace, the time when the drive system of the first galvano mirror 23a reaches the end of life (the time when the number of lifespan is reached) is estimated.

  This will be specifically described. For example, after installation, data for one month is taken, and this life count time t12 is calculated by setting this count value to n1 and T1 = one month in the above equation (1). Further, the predicted time when the driving system of the second galvanometer mirror 23b reaches the end of its life is similarly calculated.

  Then, the control device 26 indicates the most recent time among the life prediction time of the drive system of the first galvanometer mirror 23a and the life prediction time of the drive system of the second galvanometer mirror 23b thus calculated. This is displayed as the estimated life time of the galvano drive device 25 on the maintenance time display unit 41 of the indicator 7a. Thereby, it is possible to know when the galvano drive device 25 reaches the end of its life due to its operation.

According to the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) The laser marking device 1 scans the laser light L output from the laser light source 20 by rotating the first and second galvanometer mirrors 23a and 23b that can rotate about the a1 axis and the a2 axis. However, the workpiece W is irradiated and processed. The control device 26 as the counting means and the storage means counts the cumulative number of times of use of the first and second galvanometer mirrors 23a and 23b (inversion operation in the present embodiment) and stores the cumulative number of times of use. The display 7a as a display means displays information relating to the lifetime of the galvano drive device 25 based on the stored cumulative number of uses. As a result, the lifetime of the galvano drive device 25 can be easily recognized.

  That is, the ball bearings 30, 31, 32, and 33 of the galvano drive device 25 are deteriorated due to non-uniform stress when the galvano mirrors 23a and 23b are reversed. Therefore, the ball bearings 30, 31, 32, 33 have a life and require maintenance. In the present embodiment, it can be easily determined whether or not the life of the ball bearings 30 to 33 is near.

  (2) It has a first galvanometer mirror 23a that can be rotated about the a1 axis and a second galvanometer mirror 23b that can be rotated about the a2 axis perpendicular to the a1 axis. The total number of times that the galvano mirror 23a is used and the number of times that the second galvano mirror 23b is used are counted. Displays the cumulative total number of uses of the number of uses. Such a configuration is preferable for recognizing the life of the galvano drive device 25.

  (3) The control device 26 as a predicting means predicts the cumulative number of times of use of the galvanomirror and the time (maintenance time, replacement time) when the cumulative number of times of use reaches the specified value from the period required to reach the number of times. This is displayed on the display 7a. Accordingly, by looking at the predicted time displayed on the display device 7a, it is possible to grasp the approximate time when the galvano drive device 25 reaches the end of its life, so that convenience is improved.

(4) In particular, when a specified period (for example, one month) has elapsed since the drive of the laser marking apparatus 1 is started, the control device 26 determines the total number of times the galvano mirror is used and the specified period. The time when the cumulative number of uses reaches a specified value is predicted and displayed on the display 7a. As a result, when a predetermined period has elapsed since the start of driving of the laser processing apparatus, the life prediction time of the galvano drive apparatus 25 is automatically displayed on the display 7a, so that the laser processing apparatus can be easily maintained. Become.
<Second Embodiment>
Next, a second embodiment in which the laser processing apparatus according to the present invention is embodied in a laser marking apparatus will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, the accumulated operation time of the galvanometer mirror and the estimated life time of the galvano drive device 25 obtained based on the operation time are respectively displayed on the display unit 7a. Hereinafter, a description will be given focusing on differences from the first embodiment.

  As shown by the broken line in FIG. 2, in this embodiment, the rotation angle sensor 50 that detects the rotation angle of the rotation shaft 36 of the first galvano motor 34 and the rotation shaft 37 of the second galvano motor 35. A rotation angle sensor 51 for detecting the rotation angle is provided. In the present embodiment, these rotation angle sensors 50 and 51 serve as position detection means for detecting the rotation positions of the first and second galvanometer mirrors 23a and 23b. The output signals of these sensors 50 and 51 are taken into the control device 26. The control device 26 detects the rotation angles of the rotation shafts 36 and 37 through the rotation angle sensors 50 and 51 and monitors changes in the rotation angles. And the operation | movement of the 1st galvanometer mirror 23a and the 2nd galvanometer mirror 23b is each measured by the timers 26b and 26c which are built in while the rotation angle of the rotating shafts 36 and 37 is changing. Find each time.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 8, a method for obtaining the cumulative operation time of the galvanometer mirror will be described. In FIG. 8, only the method for obtaining the operating time of the first galvanometer mirror 23a will be described for convenience.

  In printing a predetermined character on the marking surface Wa of the workpiece W, for example, as shown in FIG. 8A, it is assumed that the laser beam L is irradiated on the workpiece W during a period from time t1 to time t4. Suppose that the rotation angle θ1 of the rotation shaft 36 of the first galvano motor 34 changes as shown in the figure. At this time, when the control device 26 detects a change in the rotation angle θ1 of the rotation shaft 36 detected through the rotation angle sensor 50 at time t1, as shown in FIG. 8B, the timer 26b counts from that time. Start up. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 8A, when the change in the rotation angle θ1 of the rotation shaft 36 cannot be detected at time t2, the timer 26b stops counting up. At this time, as shown in FIG. 8C, the control device 26 sets the value Ta of the timer 26b to the value Ta for the cumulative operating time S0 of the first galvanomirror 23a stored in the nonvolatile memory 26a. to add. As a result, the cumulative operation time Sx of the first galvanometer mirror 23a becomes time S1 (= S0 + Ta) in the figure. At this time, the control device 26 initializes the value of the timer 26b. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 8 (a), when a change in the rotation angle θ1 of the rotation shaft 36 is detected again at time t3, the timer 26b starts counting up again from that point in time as shown in FIG. 8 (b). Start. Further, as shown in FIG. 8A, when it becomes impossible to detect the change in the rotation angle θ1 of the rotary shaft 36 at time t4 with the end of printing, as shown in FIG. At that time, the timer 26b stops counting up. Also at this time, as shown in FIG. 8C, the control device 26 sets the value Tb of the timer 26b to the cumulative operating time S1 of the first galvanometer mirror 23a stored in the nonvolatile memory 26a. to add. As a result, the cumulative operation time Sx of the first galvanometer mirror 23a becomes time S2 (= S1 + Tb) in the figure. At this time, the control device 26 initializes the value of the timer 26b.

  In the present embodiment, the cumulative operation time Sx of the first galvanometer mirror 23a is counted by accumulating the value of the timer 26b as described above, and the value is stored in the nonvolatile memory 26a. The cumulative operation time of the second galvanometer mirror 23b is counted in the same manner, and the counted operation time is stored in the nonvolatile memory 26a. Then, as shown in FIG. 9, the control device 26 displays the longer operation time of the cumulative operation time of the first galvanometer mirror 23a and the cumulative operation time of the second galvanometer mirror 23b as the indicator 7a. Are displayed on the total galvanomirror operation time display unit 42.

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the lifetime of the galvano drive device 25 is predicted based on the cumulative operation time of the first and second galvanometer mirrors 23a and 23b. Next, a method for predicting the lifetime of the galvano drive device 25 will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 10, for example, after the laser marking device 1 starts to be driven at time t <b> 10, the cumulative operation time Sx of the first galvanometer mirror 23 a increases to time S <b> 1 as the device 1 is used. And At this time, the control device 26 calculates the first galvano, based on the following equation (2), from the period T1 from the start of driving at the current time t11 to the present, the current operation time S1, and the specified time S10. The life prediction time t12 of the drive system of the mirror 23a is calculated. The specified time S10 is an operation time indicating the life of the drive system of the first galvano mirror 23a in the galvano drive device 25.

t12 = t11 + (T1 · (S10−S1)) / S1
... (2)
The predicted time when the drive system of the second galvanometer mirror 23b reaches the end of its life is calculated in the same manner.

  Then, the control device 26 indicates the most recent time among the predicted timing of the drive system of the first galvanomirror 23a and the predicted lifetime of the drive system of the second galvanometer mirror 23b calculated in this way. This is displayed as the estimated life time of the galvano drive device 25 on the maintenance time display section 41 of the indicator 7a shown in FIG.

According to the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(5) The control device 26 counts the cumulative operating time of the first and second galvanometer mirrors 23a and 23b using the timers 26b and 26c, respectively, and stores the counted cumulative operating time in the nonvolatile memory 26a. I decided to remember. Then, based on the cumulative operation time of the first and second galvanometer mirrors 23a and 23b, information on the life of the galvano drive device 25 is displayed on the display 7a. Thereby, the lifetime of the galvano drive device 25 can be easily recognized.

  (6) The display 7a displays the longer operating time of the cumulative operating time of the first galvano mirror 23a and the cumulative operating time of the second galvano mirror 23b. Such a configuration is preferable for recognizing the life of the galvano drive device 25.

  (7) In the control device 26, the cumulative operating time of the first and second galvanometer mirrors 23a and 23b and the time required to reach the operating time are time (maintenance time) The replacement time is predicted and displayed on the display 7a. Accordingly, by looking at the predicted time displayed on the display device 7a, it is possible to grasp the approximate time when the galvano drive device 25 reaches the end of its life, so that convenience is improved.

  (8) In particular, in the control device 26, when a specified period (for example, one month) has elapsed since the start of the driving of the laser marking device 1, the total operating time of the galvanometer mirror and the specified period at that time The time when the accumulated operation time reaches the specified time is predicted and displayed on the display 7a. As a result, when a predetermined period has elapsed since the start of driving of the laser processing apparatus, the predicted time when the galvano driving apparatus 25 reaches the end of its life is automatically displayed on the display 7a. It becomes easy.

<Other embodiments>
Each said embodiment is not limited above, For example, you may actualize as follows.

  In the first embodiment, the values of both the cumulative number of operations of the first galvanomirror 23a (count value nx) and the cumulative number of operations of the second galvanomirror 23b (count value ny) are calculated using the galvano You may make it display on the mirror inversion operation | movement total frequency display part 40. FIG. In the second embodiment, the cumulative operating time of the first galvano mirror 23a and the cumulative operating time of the second galvano mirror 23b are both displayed on the galvano mirror cumulative operating time display unit 42. You may make it make it.

  In the first embodiment, the sum of the cumulative number of operations (count value nx) of the first galvanometer mirror 23a and the cumulative number of operations (count value ny) of the second galvanometer mirror 23b is calculated as the galvanometer mirror. You may make it display on the reversal operation accumulation frequency display part 40. FIG. In the second embodiment, the sum of the accumulated operating time of the first galvanomirror 23a and the accumulated operating time of the second galvanomirror 23b is displayed on the galvanomirror accumulated operating time display unit 42. You may do it.

  In the first and second embodiments, the cumulative number of operations (reversal operations) of the shorter galvanomirrors of the drive system of the first galvanometer mirror 23a and the drive system of the second galvanometer mirror 23b. You may make it display the frequency | count or total time on the display parts 40 and 42. FIG.

  In the first embodiment, when the operation switch is operated in the first embodiment, the cumulative number of times of use of the galvano mirror at the time and the period required until the number of times the cumulative number of times of use is reached. It is also possible to predict the time to reach and to display the predicted time on the display 7a. That is, the life prediction time t12 may be calculated by the above equation (1) with the time point when the operation switch is pressed as a reference and displayed on the display device 7a (may have an update function). . In the second embodiment as well, similarly, the estimated life time t12 may be calculated based on pressing of the operation switch and displayed on the display unit 7a. Thereby, if the operation switch is operated at a desired timing, the galvano drive device 25 can always check the predicted time to reach the end of its life, so that convenience is improved.

  In the first embodiment, the control device 26 calculates the number of times the remaining galvano mirror is used until the number of times of use reaches a specified value from the cumulative number of times of use of the galvano mirror, and this is displayed on the display 7a. You may make it display. In this case, the control device 26 becomes the remaining number calculation means. Similarly, in the second embodiment, a difference time between the cumulative operation time of the galvanometer mirror and the specified time may be calculated and displayed on the display unit 7a. Thereby, by looking at the number of times displayed on the display 7a, it is possible to easily grasp the approximate time when the galvano drive device 25 reaches the end of its life.

  -In the said 1st and 2nd embodiment, you may be made to warn by an alarm etc., for example, when the lifetime prediction time of the galvano drive device 25 comes. Thereby, it can be recognized that the prediction time has come. In this case, an alarm or the like becomes a warning means.

  In the first embodiment, the control device 26 determines that the cumulative use count of the first galvano mirror 23a has reached a specified value, or the cumulative use count of the second galvano mirror 23b has reached a specified value. It may be determined whether or not the determination has been made, and the determination result may be displayed on the display 7a. As a method of displaying the determination result, for example, when a galvanomirror lifetime indicator lamp is newly provided in the indicator 7a, the cumulative number of times of use of the first galvanomirror reaches a specified value, or the second For example, a method of turning on the galvano mirror life indicator lamp when the cumulative number of times the galvano mirror is used reaches a specified value can be employed. Similarly, in the second embodiment, the cumulative operation time of the first galvano mirror 23a has reached a specified time, or the cumulative operation time of the second galvano mirror 23b has reached a specified time. It may be determined, and the determination result may be displayed on the display 7a. In this case, the control device 26 serves as a determination unit.

  In the first embodiment, when the control device 26 reaches the specified value for the cumulative number of uses of the first galvanomirror 23a, or the cumulative number of uses for the second galvanomirror 23b reaches the specified value. For example, an alarm may be given by sound using an alarm or the like. Also in the second embodiment, similarly, when the cumulative operation time of the first galvanometer mirror 23a has reached the specified time, or the cumulative operation time of the second galvanometer mirror 23b has reached the specified time. Sometimes an alarm may be given. Thereby, it can be easily recognized whether or not the galvano drive device 25 has reached the end of its life.

  In the first embodiment, the control device 26 reaches a predetermined value in which the cumulative number of uses of the first galvanometer mirror 23a or the cumulative number of uses of the second galvanometer mirror 23b is smaller than a specified value. For example, an alarm may be given by an alarm. Similarly, in the second embodiment, when the cumulative operation time of the first galvanometer mirror 23a or the cumulative operation time of the second galvanometer mirror 23b reaches a predetermined time shorter than the specified time, An alarm may be given. Thereby, since the user can know that the galvano drive device 25 is in a state immediately before the end of its life through the alarm, a replacement part of the galvano drive device 25 can be prepared in advance. For this reason, convenience is improved. In this case, an alarm or the like becomes a warning means.

  As in the first embodiment, the larger total of the number of times of use of the first galvanometer mirror 23a and the number of times of use of the second galvanometer mirror 23b is displayed on the display 7a. If this is done, the following problems may occur. First, in a situation where the first galvanometer mirror 23a is used more frequently, the second galvanometer mirror 23b is not displayed on the display unit 7a. Therefore, if such a situation continues, the user can use the second galvanometer mirror 23b. Unable to check the number of uses. Therefore, for example, when the lifetime of the second galvanometer mirror 23b arranged on the downstream side of the laser beam is shorter, the second number of times of use of the second galvanometer mirror 23b cannot be confirmed by the user, The drive system of the galvanometer mirror 23b may reach the end of its life, which is not preferable. Therefore, the display device 7a may separately display the cumulative use count of the second galvanometer mirror 23b. Thereby, even if the lifetime of the galvanometer mirror arranged on the downstream side of the laser beam is shorter, the cumulative number of operations of the galvanometer mirror having a shorter lifetime can be easily recognized. Similarly, in the second embodiment, the cumulative operation time of the second galvano mirror 23b may be displayed on the display 7a.

  -The life of the drive system of a galvano mirror tends to become shorter as the weight of the galvano mirror increases. Therefore, in each of the above embodiments, the cumulative use count of the heavier one of the first and second galvanometer mirrors 23a and 23b, or the cumulative operation time may be displayed on the display 7a. Thereby, the lifetime of the galvano drive device 25 can be grasped more accurately.

-When displaying the total number of times the galvano mirror is used or the total operating time, the specified value may be displayed simultaneously on the screen.
In the first embodiment, the information displayed on the galvano mirror reversal operation cumulative number display unit 40 is displayed by operating the switching unit (switch) after providing the display switching unit (switch). Further, it may be possible to selectively switch to any one of the cumulative number of uses, a specified value (lifetime number), and the remaining number of times until the specified value is reached. Also in the second embodiment, a configuration according to this can be adopted.

  In the first embodiment, for example, the operation mode of the laser marking device 1 is set to be a first mode in which the value of the specified value can be changed and the value smaller than the specified value, for example, by operating an operation switch. You may enable it to selectively switch to either of the 2nd modes which can change a value. Also in the second embodiment, a configuration according to this can be adopted.

  In the first embodiment, the control device 26 accumulates the operation of the galvanomirrors 23a and 23b based on the galvanomirror operation detection signal from the sensor (galvanomirror operation detection means) that detects the operation of the galvanomirrors 23a and 23b. The number of times may be counted.

  In the first embodiment, the total number of operations (inversion operation) of the first galvanometer mirror 23a for X direction is counted and the total number of operations (inversion operation) of the second galvanometer mirror 23b for Y direction is counted. Although the number of times is counted, only the cumulative number of operations (inversion operation) of one galvanometer mirror may be counted and displayed on the display 7a. Also in the second embodiment, a configuration according to this can be adopted.

  In the first embodiment, the cumulative number of reversal operations of the galvanometer mirrors 23a and 23b is counted. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, if the galvanometer mirrors 23a and 23b rotate even a little, the number is counted. May be.

  In such a laser marking device, generally, drive control of the first and second galvano motors 34 and 35 based on the marking information is performed as follows. First, when the control device 26 reads the coordinate data of the start point and end point of each line segment constituting the character or the like from the non-volatile memory 26a in the marking information, it further decomposes each line segment between the start point and the end point. A plurality of coordinates on the trajectory from the start point to the end point are obtained. Then, by sequentially transmitting the obtained plurality of coordinate data to the galvano driving device 25 at predetermined time intervals, the rotation angles of the first and second galvanometer mirrors 23a and 23b are gradually changed, and the laser beam L is started. It is made to move from to the end point. Therefore, in the second embodiment, a lapse of time from when the control device 26 transmits coordinate data corresponding to the start point to the galvano drive device 25 until when coordinate data corresponding to the end point is transmitted to the galvano drive device 25. Time may be measured, and the measured elapsed time may be used as the operating time of the first and second galvanometer mirrors 23a and 23b. Thereby, in measuring the operation time of the 1st and 2nd galvanometer mirrors 23a and 23b, since the rotation angle sensors 50 and 51 mentioned above can be omitted, the structure can be simplified.

  -In each said embodiment, although the laser processing apparatus concerning this invention was actualized to the laser marking apparatus, it is not limited to this, Other laser processing apparatuses, for example, a laser welding machine, a laser drilling machine, a laser It may be embodied in a cutting machine or the like.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Laser marking apparatus, 7a ... Display, 20 ... Laser light source, 23a ... 1st galvanometer mirror, 23b ... 2nd galvanometer mirror, 26 ... Control apparatus, 34 ... 1st galvano motor, 35 ... 2nd Galvano motor, 40... Galvano mirror reversal operation cumulative number display section 41. Maintenance time display section, L... Laser beam, W.

Claims (22)

A laser processing apparatus that rotates a galvano mirror that can rotate about an axis and irradiates a processing target while scanning a laser beam output from a light source,
Counting means for counting at least one of the cumulative number of uses and the operating time of the galvanometer mirror;
Storage means for storing at least one of the cumulative number of times of use and the operation time by the counting means;
Display means for displaying information relating to the lifetime of the galvano mirror based on at least one of the cumulative number of times used and the operation time stored in the storage means;
A laser processing apparatus comprising: A first galvanometer mirror rotatable about a first axis and a second galvanometer mirror rotatable about a second axis orthogonal to the first axis;
The counting means counts the cumulative number of times of use of the first galvanomirror and the cumulative number of times of use of the second galvanomirror, and the display means counts the cumulative number of times of use of the first galvanomirror and 2. The laser processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a larger cumulative number of times of use of the two galvanometer mirrors is displayed.   3. The display unit according to claim 2, wherein the display unit displays a cumulative number of use times of the galvanometer mirror disposed on the downstream side of the laser light among the first galvanometer mirror and the second galvanometer mirror. Laser processing equipment.   The apparatus further includes a predicting unit that predicts and displays on the display unit the cumulative number of times the galvanomirror is used by the counting unit and a period when the cumulative number of usage reaches a specified value from a period required to reach the number. The laser processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3.   When the specified period has elapsed since the start of use, the predicting means sets the cumulative use count of the galvanomirror by the counting means at that time and the cumulative use count to a specified value from the specified timing. The laser processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a reaching time is predicted and displayed on the display means.   When the operation switch is operated, the predicting means determines a time when the cumulative use count reaches a specified value from a cumulative use count of the galvano mirror by the counting means at that time and a period required to reach the count. The laser processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the laser processing apparatus predicts and displays the information on the display unit.   A remaining number calculating means for calculating the remaining number of times of the galvanomirror until the number of times of use reaches a specified value from the cumulative number of times of use of the galvanomirror by the counting means and displaying on the display means; The laser processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the apparatus is a laser processing apparatus.   The laser processing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a warning unit that warns when it is time to reach the specified value by the prediction unit.   The determination unit according to claim 1, further comprising: a determination unit configured to determine whether the cumulative number of times the galvano mirror is used by the counting unit has reached a predetermined value and to display a determination result on the display unit. The laser processing apparatus of any one of Claims.   The laser processing apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a warning unit that issues a warning based on a determination result by the determination unit.   The determination means determines whether or not the cumulative use count of the galvano mirror by the counting means has reached a predetermined value before reaching a specified value, and an alarm is made based on the determination result. The laser processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the apparatus is a laser processing apparatus.   Position detecting means for detecting the rotational position of the galvano mirror is further provided, and the counting means measures and measures the time during which the rotational position of the galvano mirror detected through the position detecting means is changed. The laser processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the time is an operation time of the galvanometer mirror.   Drive means for rotating the galvanometer mirror within a predetermined coordinate system, and coordinate data indicating a plurality of coordinates on the locus from the start point to the end point set in the coordinate system are sequentially transmitted to the drive means. Control means for rotating the galvanometer mirror from the start point to the end point, and the counting means corresponds to the end point from the time when the control means transmits coordinate data corresponding to the start point to the drive means. 2. The laser processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an elapsed time up to a point of time when coordinate data to be transmitted is transmitted to the driving unit is measured, and the measured elapsed time is set as an operation time of the galvanometer mirror. The axis is composed of a first axis and a second axis that are orthogonal to each other, and the galvano mirror is centered on the first galvano mirror and the second axis that are rotatable about the first axis. As a second galvanometer mirror that can rotate as
The counting means counts the cumulative operating time of the first galvanomirror and the cumulative operating time of the second galvanometer mirror, respectively, and the display means counts the cumulative operating time of the first galvanometer mirror and 14. The laser processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein a longer accumulated operation time of the accumulated operation times of the second galvanometer mirror is displayed.   The said display means further displays the total operation time of the galvanometer mirror arrange | positioned in the downstream of the said laser beam among the said 1st galvanometer mirror and the said 2nd galvanometer mirror. The laser processing apparatus as described in.   When the operating time indicating the life of the driving system of the galvano mirror is defined as a specified time, the display means further calculates a difference time between the accumulated operating time of the galvano mirror and the specified time counted by the counting means. The laser processing apparatus according to any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein the laser processing apparatus is displayed.   When a predetermined period has elapsed since the start of driving of the laser processing apparatus, the cumulative operation time of the galvano mirror from the total operation time of the galvano mirror counted by the counting means at that time and the predetermined period 17. The laser processing apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising a predicting unit that predicts a time when the operation time reaches the specified time, and displays the predicted time on the display unit.   When the operation switch is operated, the accumulated operation time of the galvanomirror from the accumulated operation time of the galvanomirror currently counted by the counting means and the period required to reach the operation time is The laser processing apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising a predicting unit that predicts a time when the specified time is reached and displays the predicted time on the display unit.   The laser processing apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising a warning unit that issues a warning when a predicted time to reach the specified time predicted by the prediction unit is reached.   When the operation time indicating the life of the drive system of the galvano mirror is defined as a specified time, it is determined whether the accumulated operation time of the galvano mirror measured by the counting means has reached the specified time, The laser processing apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a determination unit that displays a determination result on the display unit.   21. The laser processing apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising alarm means for performing an alarm based on the determination result by the determination means.   The determination means determines whether or not a cumulative operation time of the galvanomirror counted by the counting means has reached a predetermined time shorter than the specified time, and based on the determination result, an alarm by the alarm means The laser processing apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising:

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