JP2021194692A - Laser processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a laser processing device that is configured to solve the problem that although a user needs to wear protective glasses to protect eyes from a laser beam when performing laser processing with a laser marker having a marking head uncovered, the user sometimes starts to perform the laser processing without wearing the glasses, which sometimes damages the eyes, so as to secure safety of the user.SOLUTION: A laser processing device 1 comprises a first shielding plate 300 at a position surrounding a zone to be processed of a work-piece 8 between a marking head 26 and the work-piece 8. A controller 21, when receiving an instruction to start processing, determines a shielded state by the first shielding plate 300, and when determining that the shielded state by the first shielding plate 300 satisfies a predetermined condition, starts to process the work-piece 8.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present disclosure relates to a laser processing apparatus.

A laser marker is one of the laser processing devices for processing an object (work) to be processed by using a laser beam. The laser marker uses laser light to mark the surface of a marking object (work) with characters, figures, and the like (hereinafter, also referred to as "printing" or "processing"). Since laser light damages the eyes, it is necessary to ensure the safety of users in the field of laser processing equipment such as laser markers. In the conventional laser marker, the marking head is incorporated in a device having a shielding effect, and laser processing is performed in the device to ensure the safety of the user. However, there are cases where the marking head is exposed and used. When using such a laser marker, although the user is obliged to wear protective goggles, he / she may forget to wear the protective goggles and may hurt his / her eyes, so it is necessary to ensure the safety of the user.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59-19093 (Patent Document 1) discloses a laser processing apparatus that prevents leakage of laser light by providing a light-shielding plate on the outer periphery of a lens holder.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 59-19093

Even if the marking head is a bare laser processing device, according to the technique described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59-19093, if a shielding plate (light-shielding plate) is properly attached, the laser beam is shielded. be able to. However, if the shielding plate is not properly attached, the laser beam cannot be shielded, which puts the user at risk.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a laser processing apparatus capable of ensuring the safety of a user.

The laser processing apparatus according to this disclosure is a laser processing apparatus that processes an object to be machined by irradiating it with a laser beam. The laser processing device is attached to a marking head that irradiates the processing object with laser light, and forms a shielding space by surrounding the processing portion of the processing object between the marking head and the processing object. It includes a first shielding plate that prevents the laser beam emitted from the marking head from leaking from the shielding space to the outside, and a controller that controls the operation of the marking head. When the controller receives the instruction to start machining, it determines the light-shielding state by the first shielding plate, and when it is determined that the light-shielding state by the first shielding plate satisfies a predetermined condition, the processing of the object to be machined. To start.

According to the above disclosure, the safety of the user can be ensured.

In the above disclosure, the controller determines the light-shielding state by the first shielding plate during processing, and when it is determined that the light-shielding state by the first shielding plate does not satisfy a predetermined condition, the controller processes the object to be processed. Stop.

According to the above disclosure, the safety of the user can be ensured.

In the above disclosure, the laser processing apparatus further includes a notification unit. The notification unit is provided on the marking head and notifies that the light-shielding state by the first shielding plate satisfies a predetermined condition and the processing can be started.

According to the above disclosure, the user can know that the machining can be started.

In the above disclosure, the laser processing apparatus further includes a detection unit that detects contact between the first shielding plate and the object to be processed. When the detection unit detects the contact between the first shielding plate and the object to be machined, the controller determines that the light-shielding state by the first shielding plate satisfies a predetermined condition.

According to the above disclosure, safety confirmation can be performed based on the contact between the first shielding plate and the object to be processed.

In the above disclosure, the laser light emitted by the marking head is invisible light, and at least a part of the first shielding plate is composed of a transparent member through which visible light passes.

According to the above disclosure, it is possible to observe the object to be processed during processing.

In the above disclosure, the laser processing apparatus further includes an illumination unit that illuminates the inside of the shielded space and an image acquisition unit that acquires an image in the shielded space. The image acquisition unit acquires an image of the object to be processed in the shielded space illuminated by the illumination unit during processing.

According to the above disclosure, it is possible to observe the object to be processed during processing.

In the above disclosure, the laser processing apparatus determines the light-shielding state by the first shielding plate based on the outside light entering the shielding space.

According to the above disclosure, safety confirmation can be performed based on the external light entering the shielding space surrounded by the first shielding plate, the object to be processed, and the marking head.

In the above disclosure, the laser processing apparatus further includes a detection unit that detects light in the shielded space. When the detection unit cannot detect the external light entering the shielding space, the controller determines that the light shielding state by the first shielding plate satisfies a predetermined condition.

According to the above disclosure, safety confirmation can be performed based on the detection result of the detection unit that detects the light in the shielded space.

In the above disclosure, the laser processing apparatus further includes an image acquisition unit that acquires an image in the shielded space. When the image acquisition unit cannot acquire an image of the object to be processed in the shield space, the controller determines that the light-shielding state by the first shield plate satisfies a predetermined condition.

According to the above disclosure, safety confirmation can be performed based on the image in the shielded space acquired by the image acquisition unit.

In the above disclosure, the laser processing apparatus further includes an illumination unit that illuminates the inside of the shielded space. The image acquisition unit acquires an image of the object to be processed in the shielded space illuminated by the illumination unit during processing.

According to the above disclosure, it is possible to observe the object to be processed during processing.

In the above disclosure, the first shielding plate has an elastic member on the surface side in contact with the object to be processed.

According to the above disclosure, since it is possible to make it difficult for a gap to be formed between the first shielding plate and the object to be processed, it is possible to prevent the laser light emitted from the marking head from leaking to the outside. In addition, it is possible to prevent the object to be processed from being damaged by contact with the first shielding plate.

In the above disclosure, the laser processing apparatus further comprises a reception unit. The reception unit is provided on the marking head and receives an instruction to start processing.

According to the above disclosure, the user can instruct the start of processing at hand.

In the above disclosure, the marking head includes a grip portion gripped by the user. The laser processing device is a handy type laser processing device that processes an object to be machined while the user grips the gripped portion.

According to the above disclosure, the safety of the user who uses the handy type laser processing apparatus can be ensured.

In the above disclosure, the laser processing apparatus further comprises a second shielding plate. The second shield plate can be attached to the surface side of the first shield plate in contact with the object to be machined, has an opening corresponding to the size of the object to be machined, and the laser light emitted from the marking head is the first shield. Shields leakage to the outside through the gap created between the plate and the object to be processed.

According to the above disclosure, even if there is a gap between the first shielding plate and the object to be processed, it is possible to prevent the laser light emitted from the marking head from leaking to the outside through the gap. Can be done.

In the above disclosure, the laser processing apparatus is a laser processing apparatus that can be attached to a stationary type laser processing apparatus with the first shielding plate and the second shielding plate removed.

According to the above disclosure, the user can properly use the handy type and the stationary type according to the usage situation.

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a laser processing apparatus capable of ensuring the safety of a user.

It is a block diagram which shows the schematic structure of the laser marker in Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a controller. It is a block diagram which showed the hardware included in the control board. It is a figure which shows the user interface which is displayed on the display device by a controller. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the marking head and the shielding plate. It is a flowchart which shows the start / stop processing of processing by a controller. It is a block diagram which shows the schematic structure of the laser marker in Embodiment 2. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the marking head and the shielding plate in Embodiment 2. It is a figure which shows an example of the arrangement of a lighting device and a camera unit. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the laser marker in Embodiment 3. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the laser marker in Embodiment 4.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The same or corresponding parts in the drawings are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will not be repeated.

[Application example]
First, an example of a situation in which the present invention is applied will be described. The scene to which the present invention is applied is a scene where the marking head performs laser processing with a bare laser marker. More specifically, the present invention is applied to a handy type laser marker 1 that is gripped and used by a user as shown in FIG. When laser processing is performed with a laser marker whose marking head is exposed, the user needs to wear protective goggles to protect the eyes from the laser beam W (see FIG. 2), but the user must wear protective goggles. Laser processing may start and may hurt your eyes. However, the laser marker 1 in the present invention has a shielding plate 300 (see FIG. 1) at a position surrounding the machining portion of the machining object 8 between the marking head 26 (see FIG. 1) and the machining object 8 (see FIG. 1). Can be attached. Further, the laser marker 1 in the present invention needs that the light-shielding state by the shielding plate 300 satisfies a predetermined condition in order to start the laser processing. The predetermined condition is that the shielding plate can shield the laser beam emitted from the marking head to the extent that the safety of the user can be ensured. Whether or not the light-shielding state by the shielding plate satisfies a predetermined condition is, for example, whether or not the shielding plate and the object to be processed are in contact with each other, or the space surrounded by the shielding plate, the object to be processed, and the marking head. Judgment is made based on whether or not external light is inside. As a result, it is possible to prevent the laser beam emitted from the marking head from leaking to the outside, so that the safety of the user can be ensured.

Hereinafter, a more specific application example of the present embodiment will be described. Hereinafter, the laser processing apparatus will be described by taking a laser marker as an example, but the laser processing apparatus may be an apparatus that uses laser light to perform processing other than marking such as drilling, peeling, and cutting. Further, the laser marker according to the present embodiment may have a function of performing processing other than marking such as drilling, peeling, and cutting, in addition to the function of marking characters and symbols.

[Embodiment 1]
<A. Schematic configuration of laser marker 1>
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of the laser marker 1 according to the first embodiment. With reference to FIG. 1, the laser marker 1 is a handy type laser marker that the user grips and uses. The laser marker 1 processes the object to be processed 8 by irradiating the laser beam W (see FIG. 2). The laser marker 1 has a controller 21, a marking head 26, and a removable shielding plate 300.

The controller 21 controls the operation of the marking head 26. The details of the controller 21 will be described later with reference to FIG. 2, but the controller 21 has a laser oscillator that oscillates the laser beam W.

The marking head 26 has a grip portion 261 gripped by the user and a marking head main body 262. The marking head 26 processes the machining object 8 by irradiating the machining object 8 with the laser beam W under the control of the controller 21 while the grip portion 261 is gripped by the user. The laser beam W emitted by the marking head 26 is invisible light. For example, when a YVO4 laser or a YAG laser is used as the laser oscillator, the wavelength of the laser beam W is, for example, about 1.06 micrometer. The marking head 26 is connected to the oscillator in the controller 21 by an optical fiber 28. Further, the marking head 26 is connected to the controller 21 by a communication cable 29. Specifically, the marking head 26 is connected to the control board in the controller 21 by the communication cable 29. The detailed configuration of the marking head 26 will be described later with reference to FIG.

The shielding plate 300 can be removed from the marking head 26. The shielding plate 300 is attached to the marking head 26, forms a shielding space by surrounding the processing portion of the processing object 8 between the marking head main body 262 and the processing object 8, and the laser light emitted from the marking head 26. Prevents W from leaking from the shielded space to the outside. The shielding plate 300 has an elastic member 305 on the surface side in contact with the object to be machined 8. As a result, when the shielding plate 300 is attached to the marking head 26, a gap is less likely to occur between the shielding plate 300 and the object to be processed 8, so that the laser beam W irradiated from the marking head 26 is prevented from leaking to the outside. can do. Further, by having the elastic member 305 on the surface side where the shielding plate 300 is in contact with the shielding plate 8, it is possible to prevent the shielding object 8 from being damaged by the contact with the shielding plate 300.

Further, at least a part of the shielding plate 300 is composed of a transparent member that allows visible light to pass through (window 301 in the figure). The transparent member that allows visible light to pass through is a member that does not allow invisible light to pass through. Since the laser beam W emitted by the marking head 26 is invisible light, the laser beam W emitted from the marking head 26 is emitted to the outside even if a part of the shielding plate 300 is made of a transparent member through which visible light passes. It will not leak. Therefore, the user can confirm the internal state (the state of the object to be processed 8) covered with the shielding plate 300 during processing in a safe state. The shielding plate 300 may be at least partially composed of a transparent member that allows visible light to pass through, and may be entirely composed of a transparent member that allows visible light to pass through.

<B. Detailed configuration of controller 21>
The configuration of the controller 21 will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of the controller 21. The controller 21 includes a laser oscillator 240, a control board 210, a driver 220, and a driver power supply 230. A display device 6 and an input device 7 can be connected to the controller 21. The display device 6 and the input device 7 are used in a situation where the user changes the setting contents in the controller 21 or the like.

The laser oscillator 240 includes an optical fiber 241, a semiconductor laser 242,243,249A to 249D, an isolator 244,246, a coupler 245,248, and a bandpass filter 247.

The semiconductor laser 242 is a seed light source that emits seed light. The semiconductor laser 242 is driven by the driver 220 and emits pulsed seed light.

The isolator 244 transmits only light in one direction and blocks light incident on the opposite direction of the light. Specifically, the isolator 244 passes the seed light emitted from the semiconductor laser 242 and blocks the return light from the optical fiber 241. This can prevent damage to the semiconductor laser 242.

The semiconductor laser 243 is an excitation light source that emits excitation light for exciting rare earth elements added to the core of the optical fiber 241.

The coupler 245 combines the seed light from the semiconductor laser 242 and the excitation light from the semiconductor laser 243 and causes them to enter the optical fiber 241.

The excitation light incident on the optical fiber 241 from the semiconductor laser 243 via the coupler 245 is absorbed by the rare earth element contained in the core of the optical fiber 241. As a result, rare earth elements are excited and a population inversion state is obtained. In this state, when the seed light from the semiconductor laser 242 is incident on the core of the optical fiber 241, stimulated emission occurs. Seed light (pulse light) is amplified by this stimulated emission. That is, the seed light is amplified by incident the seed light and the excitation light on the fiber amplifier configured by the optical fiber 241.

The isolator 246 passes the pulsed light output from the optical fiber 241 and blocks the light returning to the optical fiber 241.

The bandpass filter 247 is configured to pass light in a predetermined wavelength band. Specifically, the “predetermined wavelength band” is a wavelength band including the peak wavelength of the pulsed light output from the optical fiber 241. When spontaneously emitted light is emitted from the optical fiber 241, the naturally emitted light is removed by the bandpass filter 247.

The laser light that has passed through the bandpass filter 247 is incident on the optical fiber 28 provided for transmitting the laser light via the coupler 248. The semiconductor lasers 249A to 249D emit excitation light in order to amplify the laser light that has passed through the bandpass filter 247 in the optical fiber 28. That is, the optical fiber 28 is a fiber amplifier by combining the coupler 248 and the isolator 264 (see FIG. 5) described later in the same manner as the fiber amplifier composed of the coupler 245, the optical fiber 241 and the isolator 246. Configure.

The combiner 248 combines the pulsed light that has passed through the bandpass filter 247 with the light from the semiconductor lasers 249A to 249D and causes them to enter the optical fiber 28.

The configuration of the laser oscillator 240 shown in FIG. 2 is an example and is not limited thereto. For example, the laser oscillator 240 may not include a bandpass filter 247 as long as it can obtain laser light in a predetermined wavelength band.

The control board 210 includes a control unit 211, a pulse generation unit 212, a storage unit 213, and a communication processing unit 214, 216, 217.

The control unit 211 controls the overall operation of the controller 21 by controlling the pulse generation unit 212 and the driver 220. Specifically, the control unit 211 controls the overall operation of the controller 21 by executing the operating system and the application program stored in the storage unit 213. As a result, the laser beam W is irradiated from the marking head 26 to the object 8 to be processed.

The pulse generation unit 212 generates an electric signal having a predetermined repetition frequency and a predetermined pulse width. The pulse generation unit 212 outputs an electric signal or stops the output of the electric signal under the control of the control unit 211. The electric signal from the pulse generation unit 212 is supplied to the semiconductor laser 242.

The storage unit 213 stores various data in addition to the operating system and the application program.

The communication processing unit 214 is an interface for communicating with the marking head 26. The control unit 211 transmits a control signal to the marking head 26 via the communication processing unit 214 and the communication cable 29. Further, the control unit 211 receives a control signal (for example, a control signal instructing the start of processing from the reception unit 272 described later) from the marking head 26 via the communication processing unit 214 and the communication cable 29.

The communication processing unit 216 receives an input from the input device 7. The input device 7 is various pointing devices (for example, a mouse, a touch pad, etc.), a keyboard, and the like. The communication processing unit 216 notifies the control unit 211 of the received input.

The communication processing unit 217 transmits the image data generated by the control unit 211 to the display device 6. In this case, the display device 6 displays an image (user interface) based on the image data. An example of the user interface displayed on the display device 6 will be described later with reference to FIG.

The driver power supply 230 supplies power to the driver 220. As a result, the driver 220 supplies the drive current to the semiconductor lasers 242, 243, 249A to 249D. Each of the semiconductor lasers 242, 243, 249A to 249D oscillates by being supplied with a driving current. The drive current supplied to the semiconductor laser 242 is modulated by an electric signal from the pulse generating unit 212. As a result, the semiconductor laser 242 oscillates in a pulse and outputs pulsed light having a predetermined repeating frequency and a predetermined pulse width as seed light. On the other hand, a continuous drive current is supplied to each of the semiconductor lasers 243, 249A to 249D by the driver 220. As a result, each of the semiconductor lasers 243, 249A to 249D oscillates continuously, and the continuous light is output as the excitation light.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing the hardware included in the control board 210. With reference to FIG. 3, the control board 210 includes a processor 110, a memory 120, a communication interface 130, and a pulse generation circuit 140.

The memory 120 includes, for example, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 121, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 122, and a flash memory 123. The flash memory 123 stores the above-mentioned operating system, application program, and various data. The memory 120 corresponds to the storage unit 213 shown in FIG.

The processor 110 controls the overall operation of the controller 21. The control unit 211 shown in FIG. 2 is realized by the processor 110 executing an operating system and an application program stored in the memory 120. When executing the application program, various data stored in the memory 120 are referred to.

The communication interface 130 is for communicating with an external device (for example, a marking head 26, a display device 6, and an input device 7). The communication interface 130 corresponds to the communication processing units 214,216, 217 in FIG. 2.

The pulse generation circuit 140 corresponds to the pulse generation unit 212 in FIG. That is, the pulse generation circuit 140 generates an electric signal having a predetermined repetition frequency and a predetermined pulse width based on a command from the processor 110.

The hardware configuration shown in FIG. 3 is an example and is not limited thereto.

<C. Pre-registration>
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a user interface 700 displayed on the display device 6 (see FIG. 2) by the controller 21 (see FIG. 2). The user interface 700 is realized by the control unit 211 (see FIG. 2) executing an application program stored in the storage unit 213 (see FIG. 2). The input operation by the user on the user interface 700 in the input device 7 is accepted by the communication processing unit 216, and the accepted input is notified to the control unit 211.

The control unit 211 can switch the screen mode according to the operation of the user. FIG. 4 shows a screen of an edit mode used for creating and editing marking data. Upon receiving the user operation of clicking the button 703, the control unit 211 switches the screen from the edit mode screen to the operation mode screen used when actually performing marking (processing). The control unit 211 switches the operation mode screen to the edit mode screen by accepting the user operation of clicking the button displayed on the operation mode screen.

When the control unit 211 receives the user operation of clicking the button 702, the control unit 211 displays the test marking screen on the display device 6. As a result, the user can confirm the created and edited marking data on the display device 6.

The control unit 211 accepts input of marking patterns (machining patterns) such as characters, figures, and symbols to be marked. The processing pattern is drawn by the user using the drawing area 701. A coordinate system including an X-axis and a Y-axis is set in the drawing area 701. The control unit 211 specifies the machining pattern input by the user in the coordinate system. That is, the control unit 211 accepts the machining pattern input by the user as position information.

The control unit 211 accepts the setting of the irradiation conditions of the laser beam W (see FIG. 2) in the state where the laser / scanning tab 710 is selected. The laser / scanning tab 710 includes columns for inputting the output power of the laser beam W, the frequency of the laser beam W, and the processing speed. When a numerical value is input to each of the "power", "frequency", and "machining speed" fields, the control unit 211 uses the input numerical value as the output power of the laser beam W, the frequency of the laser beam W, and the machining speed. Set as.

When the control unit 211 receives the user operation of clicking the button 750, the control unit 211 saves the content (setting content) input by the user as a default value. When the control unit 211 accepts the user operation of clicking the button 760, the content (setting content) input by the user is returned to the default value.

The control unit 211 can also write the contents (setting contents) input by the user to the external memory in a file format, or send the contents to an external device. According to this, these setting contents can be transferred to a laser marker other than the laser marker 1.

The controller 21 irradiates the laser beam W based on the processing pattern input by the user and the irradiation condition of the laser beam W, provided that the light-shielding state by the shielding plate 300 (see FIG. 1) satisfies a predetermined condition. Then, the processing of the object to be processed 8 (see FIG. 1) is started. Even after the processing is started, the controller 21 determines the light-shielding state by the shielding plate 300, and when the light-shielding state by the shielding plate 300 does not satisfy the predetermined condition, the light-shielding state by the shielding plate 300 satisfies the predetermined condition. Processing is interrupted until this happens. The predetermined condition is that the shielding plate 300 can shield the laser beam W emitted from the marking head 26 (see FIG. 1) to the extent that the safety of the user can be ensured. In the laser marker 1 (see FIG. 1) in the first embodiment, the light-shielding state by the shield plate 300 is determined by the contact between the shield plate 300 and the object to be processed 8. Hereinafter, processing start / stop control in the laser marker 1 will be described.

<D. Machining start / stop control>
The start / stop control of machining in the laser marker 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of the marking head 26 and the shielding plate 300. The marking head 26 has a grip portion 261 gripped by the user and a marking head main body 262.

The grip portion 261 has a notification unit 271 that notifies the user that machining can be started. As a safety confirmation, the laser marker 1 determines the light-shielding state by the shielding plate 300 before the start of processing, and starts processing when the light-shielding state by the shielding plate 300 satisfies a predetermined condition. The notification unit 271 notifies the user that the safety confirmation before the start of machining is completed and the machining can be started. As a result, the user can know that the safety confirmation before the start of machining is completed and the machining can be started. In addition, the notification unit 271 notifies that processing is in progress during processing. This allows the user to know that processing is in progress. A liquid crystal display, an LED (light emitting diode) lamp, / and a speaker or the like can be adopted as the notification unit 271. When the notification unit 271 is a liquid crystal display, the notification unit 271 notifies by characters, icons, or / and colors that processing can be started or that processing is in progress. When the notification unit 271 is an LED lamp, the notification unit 271 notifies by lighting the lamp that processing can be started or processing is in progress. When the notification unit 271 is an LED lamp, the notification unit 271 may notify that processing can be started or that processing is in progress by changing the color of the lamp. When the notification unit 271 is a speaker, the notification unit 271 voicely notifies that processing can be started or that processing is in progress.

The grip portion 261 further includes a reception portion 272 that receives an instruction to start machining. A touch panel or physical buttons can be adopted for the reception unit 272. The user can instruct the laser marker 1 to start processing by operating the reception unit 272. When the reception unit 272 receives the user's operation, the reception unit 272 transmits a control signal instructing the start of machining to the controller 21. The notification unit 271 and the reception unit 272 may be integrated.

The marking head body 262 includes a guide light source 263, an isolator 264, a galvano scanner 266, a condenser lens 267, and a laser emitting unit 268.

The guide light source 263 generates visible light (guide light G) that displays the processing position by the laser light W on the processing object 8. The guide light source 263 is composed of a light emitting element such as a laser diode. The guide light source 263 is provided so that the optical axis of the guide light G output from the guide light source 263 and the optical axis of the laser light W output from the controller 21 are orthogonal to each other.

The isolator 264 passes the pulsed light output from the optical fiber 28 and blocks the light returning to the optical fiber 28. The pulsed light that has passed through the isolator 264 is incident on the dichroic mirror 265.

The galvano scanner 266 includes a dichroic mirror 265 and a galvano mirror 266a. The dichroic mirror 265 is provided on the optical axis of the laser beam W emitted from the controller 21 and on the optical axis of the guide light G emitted from the guide light source 263. The dichroic mirror 265 has a property of reflecting light of a specific wavelength and transmitting light of other wavelengths. Due to such a property, the dichroic mirror 265 reflects the guide light G emitted from the guide light source 263 and transmits the laser light W emitted from the controller 21 to the galvano mirror 266a.

The galvano mirror 266a has an X-axis galvano mirror and a Y-axis galvano mirror. The X-axis galvano mirror and the Y-axis galvano mirror scan the laser beam W and the guide beam G in the X-direction and the Y-direction with respect to the workpiece 8. That is, the laser beam W transmitted through the dichroic mirror 265 and the guide light G reflected by the dichroic mirror 265 are scanned in the X-direction and the Y-direction with respect to the workpiece 8 by the X-axis galvano mirror and the Y-axis galvano mirror. ..

The condensing lens 267 concentrates the laser beam W and the guide light G deflected by the galvano scanner 266 on the surface of the object 8 to be processed and scans them. The laser light W and the guide light G collected by the condenser lens 267 are emitted from the laser emitting unit 268 toward the object to be processed 8.

Further, the marking head main body 262 has a mounting portion 280 for the shielding plate 300. The shielding plate 300 has an elastic member 305 on the surface side in contact with the object to be machined 8. The shielding plate 300 has contact sensors 310 (contact sensors 310a, 310b) that detect contact between the shielding plate 300 and the object to be machined 8. The detection result by the contact sensor 310 is used in the determination process of whether or not the light-shielding state by the shielding plate 300, which will be described later, satisfies a predetermined condition. Therefore, the shielding plate 300 is provided with a sufficient number of contact sensors 310 (which may be one or a plurality) so that it can be determined whether or not the shielding state by the shielding plate 300 satisfies a predetermined condition.

When the contact sensor 310 detects the contact between the shielding plate 300 and the object to be machined 8, the laser beam W leaks to the outside in the space S surrounded by the shielding plate 300, the object to be machined 8 and the marking head 26. It becomes a shielded space that never happens. The laser marker 1 emits the laser beam W to process the object to be processed 8 only when the contact sensor 310 detects the contact between the shielding plate 300 and the object to be processed 8.

The laser marker 1 can be attached to a stationary type laser processing device with the shielding plate 300 removed.

The processing start / stop processing in the laser marker 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a machining start / stop process by the controller 21 (see FIG. 2). The process shown in FIG. 6 is a process realized by the control unit 211 (see FIG. 2) executing the application program stored in the storage unit 213 (see FIG. 2). The process shown in FIG. 6 is started when the power of the laser marker 1 is turned on, and is repeated until the power of the laser marker 1 is turned off.

First, the control unit 211 determines whether or not the light-shielding state by the shielding plate 300 (see FIG. 5) satisfies a predetermined condition (step S605). Specifically, when the control unit 211 detects the contact between the shielding plate 300 and the object to be machined 8 (see FIG. 5) by the contact sensor 310 (see FIG. 5), the shielding state by the shielding plate 300 is predetermined. It is determined that the conditions are satisfied. When the light-shielding state by the shield plate 300 satisfies a predetermined condition (YES in step S605), the control unit 211 shifts the process to step S610.

In step S610, the control unit 211 notifies that machining can be started. Specifically, the control unit 211 transmits a control signal instructing notification that machining can be started to the marking head 26 (see FIG. 2). As a result, the safety confirmation before the start of machining is completed, and the notification unit 271 (see FIG. 5) notifies the user that the machining can be started. When the machining is restarted after the machining interruption (process of step S635) described later, the control unit 211 transmits a control signal instructing notification that the machining can be restarted to the marking head 26. As a result, the safety confirmation before resuming machining is completed, and the notification unit 271 notifies the user that machining can be resumed.

Next, the control unit 211 determines whether or not the instruction to start machining has been received (step S612). The reception unit 272 (see FIG. 5) receives the instruction to start processing. When the instruction to start processing is received (YES in step S612), the control unit 211 shifts the processing to step S615.

In step S615, the control unit 211 starts machining and notifies that machining is in progress. Specifically, the control unit 211 irradiates the laser beam W based on the processing pattern input by the user using the user interface 700 (see FIG. 4) and the irradiation conditions of the laser beam W (see FIG. 2). The object 8 to be processed is processed. Further, the control unit 211 transmits a control signal instructing a notification indicating that processing is in progress to the marking head 26. As a result, machining is started, and the notification unit 271 notifies the user that machining is in progress. For example, when the notification unit 271 is an LED lamp, the notification unit 271 lights up in a different color during processing than during non-processing. When the machining is restarted after the machining interruption (process of step S635) described later, the control unit 211 restarts the machining and sends a control signal instructing notification that the machining is in progress to the marking head 26. Send. As a result, the machining is restarted, and the notification unit 271 notifies the user that the machining is in progress.

Next, the control unit 211 determines whether or not the light-shielding state by the shielding plate 300 satisfies a predetermined condition (step S620). Specifically, when the contact sensor 310 detects the contact between the shielding plate 300 and the object to be machined 8, the control unit 211 determines that the shielding state by the shielding plate 300 satisfies a predetermined condition. When the light-shielding state by the shield plate 300 satisfies a predetermined condition (YES in step S620), the control unit 211 shifts the process to step S625. On the other hand, when the light-shielding state by the shielding plate 300 does not satisfy a predetermined condition (NO in step S620), the control unit 211 interrupts the processing and notifies that the processing is in progress (for example, an LED lamp). (Lighting up) is interrupted (step S635), and the process returns to step S605.

In step S625, the control unit 211 determines whether or not the machining is completed. The control unit 211 determines that the machining is completed when all the machining patterns input by the user have been machined using the user interface 700. When the machining is completed (YES in step S625), the control unit 211 stops the machining and ends the notification indicating that the machining is in progress (step S630). Specifically, the control unit 211 stops the machining and transmits a control signal instructing the end of the notification indicating that the machining is in progress to the marking head 26. As a result, the processing is stopped, and the notification indicating that the processing is in progress (for example, lighting of the LED lamp) is terminated. After step S630, the control unit 211 returns the process to step S605.

As described above, the laser marker 1 in the first embodiment ensures the safety of the user whether or not the light-shielding state by the shielding plate 300 satisfies a predetermined condition (the laser beam W irradiated by the shielding plate 300 from the marking head 26). Whether or not it can be shielded to the extent possible) is determined by the contact between the shielding plate 300 and the object to be processed 8. The laser marker 1 in the first embodiment irradiates the laser beam W on the condition that the contact sensor 310 detects the contact between the shielding plate 300 and the object to be machined 8, and starts processing the object to be machined 8. do. If the contact sensor 310 cannot detect the contact between the shielding plate 300 and the object to be machined 8 even after the machining is started, the laser marker 1 uses the contact sensor 310 to contact the shielding plate 300 with the object to be machined 8. Processing is interrupted until it becomes possible to detect. Therefore, in the laser marker 1 in the first embodiment, the contact sensor 310 detects the contact between the shielding plate 300 and the object to be machined 8, that is, the laser beam W irradiated by the shielding plate 300 from the marking head 26. Since it is a condition for starting processing that the processing can be shielded to the extent that the safety of the user can be ensured, the safety of the user can be ensured.

Further, at least a part of the shielding plate 300 is composed of a transparent member that allows visible light to pass through. The transparent member that allows visible light to pass through is a member that does not allow invisible light to pass through. Since the laser beam W emitted by the marking head 26 is invisible light, the laser beam W emitted from the marking head 26 is emitted to the outside even if a part of the shielding plate 300 is made of a transparent member through which visible light passes. It will not leak. Therefore, the user can confirm the internal state (the state of the object to be processed 8) covered with the shielding plate 300 during processing in a safe state. If it is not necessary to confirm the state of the object to be processed 8 during processing, the entire surface of the shielding plate 300 may be made of a member that does not allow visible light to pass through.

[Embodiment 2]
In the laser marker 1 in the first embodiment, at least a part of the shielding plate 300 is composed of a transparent member that allows visible light to pass through. On the other hand, in the laser marker according to the second embodiment, the entire surface of the shielding plate is made of a member that does not allow visible light to pass through. Hereinafter, the points different from the laser marker 1 in the first embodiment will be described. The same components as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

A configuration different from that of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of the laser marker 1A according to the second embodiment. FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of the marking head 26A and the shielding plate 300A in the second embodiment. There are two configurations different from the first embodiment.

The first is that the shielding plate 300A is made of a member that does not allow visible light to pass through. As shown in FIG. 7, the shielding plate 300A does not have the window 301 (see FIG. 1) through which visible light has been provided by the shielding plate 300 in the first embodiment. Therefore, like the laser marker 1 in the first embodiment, the state of the processing object 8 in the space surrounded by the shielding plate 300A, the processing object 8 and the marking head 26A is confirmed from the window 301 during processing. Can't.

The second point is that, as shown in FIG. 8, the marking head main body 262A has a lighting device 269 and a camera unit 270. The camera unit 270 is arranged at a position where the processing object 8 can be photographed in the shielding space surrounded by the shielding plate 300A, the processing object 8, and the marking head 26A. When the contact sensor 310 detects the contact between the shielding plate 300A and the object to be machined 8, the laser beam W leaks to the outside in the space S surrounded by the shielding plate 300A, the object to be machined 8 and the marking head 26A. It becomes a shielded space that never happens. The illuminating device 269 illuminates the inside of the shielded space. The camera unit 270 photographs the inside of the shielded space illuminated by the lighting device 269 during processing, and acquires an image in the shielded space being processed. The image acquired by the camera unit 270 is transmitted to the controller 21 and displayed on the display device 6 (see FIG. 2). The image acquired by the camera unit 270 may be displayed on a display device other than the display device 6, for example, a mobile terminal or a personal computer. Since the shielding plate 300A is made of a member that does not allow visible light to pass through, when the shielding plate 300A is attached to the marking head main body 262A, the user cannot look into the space S and is processing. The state of the processed object 8 cannot be confirmed. However, in the laser marker 1A according to the second embodiment, since the marking head main body 262A has the lighting device 269 and the camera unit 270, the object 8 to be processed in the shielded space being processed can be photographed, so that the user can take a picture. Can confirm the state of the object to be processed 8 during processing.

The laser marker 1A can be attached to a stationary type laser processing device with the shielding plate 300A, the lighting device 269, and the camera unit 270 removed.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement of the lighting device 269 and the camera unit 270. FIG. 9 shows the lighting device 269 and the camera unit 270 as viewed from the side of the object to be machined 8. With reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, the camera unit 270 is arranged next to the condenser lens 267, and can image the inside of the space S surrounded by the shielding plate 300A, the object to be processed 8, and the marking head 26A. .. The lighting device 269 (lighting device 269a to lighting device 269h) is arranged so as to surround the camera window 270a of the camera unit 270 and the laser emitting unit 268, and is surrounded by the shielding plate 300A, the object to be processed 8, and the marking head 26A. It is possible to illuminate the entire space S.

Since the lighting device 269 may be arranged at a position capable of illuminating the space S surrounded by the shielding plate 300A, the object to be processed 8, and the marking head 26A, the lighting device 269 may be provided on the shielding plate 300A. good. Further, one or a plurality of lighting devices 269 are provided so as to be able to illuminate the space S surrounded by the shielding plate 300A, the processing object 8, and the marking head 26A.

As described above, in the laser marker 1A according to the second embodiment, since the shielding plate 300A is made of a member that does not allow visible light to pass through, it is not possible to look into the shielding space. However, in the laser marker 1A according to the second embodiment, the camera unit 270 can take a picture of the object to be machined 8 in the shielded space by illuminating the shielded space with the lighting device 269 during the machining, so that the user can process the laser marker 1A. The state of the object to be processed 8 inside can be confirmed. If it is not necessary to confirm the state of the object to be machined 8 being machined, the laser marker 1A may not be provided with the lighting device 269 and the camera unit 270.

Further, the processing start / stop processing in the second embodiment is the same as the processing start / stop processing in the first embodiment. That is, also in the laser marker 1A in the second embodiment, the contact sensor 310 detects the contact between the shielding plate 300A and the object to be machined 8, that is, the laser beam W irradiated by the shielding plate 300A from the marking head 26A. Since it is a condition for starting processing that the processing can be shielded to the extent that the safety of the user can be ensured, the safety of the user can be ensured.

When the shielding plate 300A does not include the contact sensor 310, the laser marker 1A uses the shielding plate 300A based on the external light entering the shielding space surrounded by the shielding plate 300A, the object to be processed 8, and the marking head 26A. It suffices to determine the light-shielding state due to. Specifically, the laser marker 1A photographs the inside of the space S with the camera unit 270, and determines the light-shielding state by the shielding plate 300A based on the photographed image. Since the entire surface of the shielding plate 300A is made of a member that does not allow visible light to pass through, if the shielding plate 300A is properly attached to the marking head main body 262A, the shielding plate 300A, the object to be processed 8, and the marking head The space S surrounded by 26A is a shielded space in which outside light does not enter. Therefore, when the lighting device 269 is turned off and the inside of the shielded space is photographed by the camera unit 270, the image of the object to be processed 8 cannot be acquired.

Therefore, when the controller 21 turns off the lighting device 269, the space S surrounded by the shielding plate 300A, the processing object 8 and the marking head 26A is photographed by the camera unit 270, and the image of the processing object 8 cannot be acquired. In addition, it is determined that the light-shielding state by the shielding plate 300A satisfies a predetermined condition, that is, the shielding plate 300A can shield the laser beam W irradiated from the marking head 26A to the extent that the safety of the user can be ensured, and the processing is performed. Processing of the object 8 is started. Further, even during processing, the controller 21 turns off the lighting device 269, photographs the inside of the space S with the camera unit 270, and when the image of the object to be processed 8 can be acquired, the light-shielding state by the shielding plate 300A is changed. It is determined that the predetermined conditions are no longer satisfied, and the machining is stopped. The processing start / stop processing is the same as the processing start / stop processing shown in FIG. 6 except for the determination method in the determination processing (step S605 and step S620 shown in FIG. 6). Specifically, in the determination process of step S605 and step S620, when the image of the object to be processed 8 cannot be acquired, the control unit 211 determines that the light-shielding state by the shielding plate 300A satisfies a predetermined condition. When the image of the object to be processed 8 can be acquired, the control unit 211 determines that the light-shielding state by the shielding plate 300A does not satisfy a predetermined condition.

The laser marker 1A irradiates the laser beam W to start processing the processing object 8 on condition that the image of the processing object 8 cannot be acquired when the lighting device 269 is turned off and the space S is photographed. .. If the image of the object to be processed 8 can be acquired even after the processing is started, the laser marker 1A suspends the processing until the image of the object to be processed 8 cannot be acquired. Therefore, in the laser marker 1A, when the lighting device 269 is turned off and the space S is photographed, the image of the object 8 to be processed cannot be acquired, that is, the laser beam W irradiated by the shielding plate 300A from the marking head 26A is emitted. Since it is a condition for starting processing that the shielding can be performed to the extent that the user's safety can be ensured, the user's safety can be ensured.

[Embodiment 3]
In the laser marker 1A according to the second embodiment, the shielding plate 300A and the processing object 8 are in contact with each other, or when the lighting device 269 is turned off and the space S is photographed, the image of the processing object 8 cannot be acquired. The light-shielding state by the plate 300A was determined. On the other hand, in the laser marker in the third embodiment, the light sensor is used to determine the light-shielding state by the shielding plate. Hereinafter, the points different from the laser marker 1A in the second embodiment will be described. The same components as those in the second embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

A configuration different from that of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of the laser marker 1B according to the third embodiment. There are two configurations different from the second embodiment, the first is that the shielding plate 300B does not have the contact sensor 310 (see FIG. 8), and the second is that the marking head main body 262B is the optical sensor 320. It is a point to prepare. The shielding plate 300B is composed of a member whose entire surface does not allow visible light to pass through, similar to the shielding plate 300A (see FIG. 7) in the second embodiment. The optical sensor 320 detects the light in the space S surrounded by the shielding plate 300B, the object to be processed 8, and the marking head 26B. The position where the optical sensor 320 is provided may be any position as long as it can detect light in the space S surrounded by the shielding plate 300B, the object to be processed 8, and the marking head 26B, and the optical sensor 320 is provided on the shielding plate 300B. May be good. Since the entire surface of the shielding plate 300B is made of a member that does not allow visible light to pass through, if the shielding plate 300B is properly attached to the marking head main body 262B, the shielding plate 300B, the object to be processed 8, and the marking head Since the space S surrounded by the 26B is a shielded space in which outside light does not enter, the optical sensor 320 does not detect the light.

Therefore, when the light sensor 320 cannot detect the external light entering the space S, the controller 21 satisfies the predetermined condition in the light shielding state by the shielding plate 300B, that is, the shielding plate 300B is irradiated from the marking head 26B. It is determined that the laser beam W can be shielded to the extent that the safety of the user can be ensured, and the processing of the object to be processed 8 is started. Further, when the optical sensor 320 detects the external light entering the space S during the processing, it is determined that the light shielding state by the shielding plate 300B does not satisfy the predetermined condition, and the controller 21 stops the processing. The processing start / stop processing in the third embodiment has a different determination method in the determination processing (step S605 and step S620 shown in FIG. 6), but the other processing is the processing start / stop processing shown in FIG. Is the same as. Specifically, in the third embodiment, in the determination process of step S605 and step S620, when the optical sensor 320 cannot detect the outside light entering the shielded space, the control unit 211 is in a shaded state by the shield plate 300B. Determines that the predetermined condition is satisfied, and when the optical sensor 320 can detect the external light entering the shielding space, the control unit 211 determines that the light shielding state by the shielding plate 300B does not satisfy the predetermined condition. ..

The laser marker 1B can be attached to a stationary type laser processing device with the shielding plate 300B, the lighting device 269, the camera unit 270, and the optical sensor 320 removed.

As described above, the laser marker 1B in the third embodiment ensures the safety of the user whether or not the light-shielding state by the shielding plate 300B satisfies a predetermined condition (the laser beam W irradiated by the shielding plate 300B from the marking head 26B). Whether or not it can be shielded to the extent possible) is determined based on the external light entering the shielding space surrounded by the shielding plate 300B, the object to be processed 8, and the marking head 26B. The laser marker 1B in the third embodiment irradiates the laser beam W on the condition that the optical sensor 320 cannot detect the external light entering the shielded space, and starts processing the object 8 to be processed. Even after the processing is started, if the optical sensor 320 detects the external light entering the space S, the laser marker 1B interrupts the processing until the optical sensor 320 cannot detect the external light entering the space S. do. Therefore, in the laser marker 1B in the third embodiment, the optical sensor 320 cannot detect the external light entering the shielding space, that is, the laser beam W irradiated by the shielding plate 300B from the marking head 26B ensures the safety of the user. Since it is a condition for starting processing that the shielding can be performed to the extent possible, the safety of the user can be ensured.

Further, in the laser marker 1B in the third embodiment, since the shielding plate 300B is made of a member that does not allow visible light to pass through, it is not possible to look into the shielding space. However, in the laser marker 1B according to the third embodiment, the camera unit 270 can take a picture of the object to be machined 8 in the shielded space by illuminating the shielded space with the lighting device 269 during the machining, so that the user can process the laser marker 1B. The state of the object to be processed 8 inside can be confirmed. If it is not necessary to confirm the state of the object to be machined 8 being machined, the laser marker 1B may not be provided with the lighting device 269 and the camera unit 270.

[Embodiment 4]
In the laser marker 1 according to the first embodiment, the shielding plate for preventing the laser light W emitted from the marking head 26 from leaking to the outside surrounds the machining object 8 between the marking head main body 262 and the machining object 8. There was only a shield plate 300 (first shield plate) that could be attached to the position. On the other hand, the laser marker according to the fourth embodiment further includes a second shielding plate that shields the laser light emitted from the marking head from leaking to the outside through a gap generated between the first shielding plate and the object to be processed. Hereinafter, the points different from the laser marker 1 in the first embodiment will be described. The same components as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

A configuration different from that of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of the laser marker 1C according to the fourth embodiment. The configuration different from the first embodiment is that the laser marker 1C includes two types of shielding plates (first shielding plate and second shielding plate).

The shielding plate 300C (first shielding plate) is removable from the marking head 26C, and is irradiated from the marking head 26C by being attached to a position surrounding the machining object 8 between the marking head main body 262C and the machining object 8. The laser beam W is shielded from leaking to the outside. At least a part of the shielding plate 300C is composed of a member that allows visible light to pass through. Further, the shielding plate 300C has a contact sensor 311 (contact sensors 311a, 311b) for detecting contact between the shielding plate 300C and the shielding plate 350 described later. The detection result by the contact sensor 311 is used in the determination process of whether or not the light-shielding state by the shield plate 300C and the shield plate 350 satisfies a predetermined condition. Therefore, the shielding plate 300C is provided with a sufficient number of contact sensors 311 (which may be one or a plurality) so that it can be determined whether or not the shielding state by the shielding plate 300C and the shielding plate 350 satisfies a predetermined condition. ..

The shielding plate 350 (second shielding plate) shields the laser beam W irradiated from the marking head 26C from leaking to the outside through the gap generated between the shielding plate 300C and the object to be processed 8. The shielding plate 350 is composed of a member that does not allow visible light to pass through. The shielding plate 350 can be attached to the surface side of the shielding plate 300C in contact with the object to be machined 8, and has an opening 355 corresponding to the size of the object to be machined 8. As shown in FIG. 11, when the surface of the object to be machined 8 is not flat, a gap is generated between the shielding plate 300C and the object to be machined 8, and the laser beam W emitted from the marking head 26C is emitted from the gap. There is a risk of leakage to the outside. In the case of the laser marker 1C in the fourth embodiment, even if a gap is generated between the shielding plate 300C and the object to be processed 8, the laser beam W emitted from the marking head 26C by the shielding plate 350 is emitted. It is possible to prevent leakage to the outside through the gap.

Further, the shielding plate 350 has elastic members 315 (members 315a and 315b) on the surface side in contact with the object to be processed 8. As a result, a gap is less likely to occur between the shielding plate 350 and the object to be processed 8, so that it is possible to prevent the laser beam W irradiated from the marking head 26C from leaking to the outside. Further, by having the elastic member 315 on the surface side where the shielding plate 350 is in contact with the shielding plate 8, it is possible to prevent the shielding plate 350 from being damaged by the contact with the shielding plate 350.

Further, the shielding plate 350 has a contact sensor 312 (contact sensors 312a, 312b) for detecting the contact between the shielding plate 350 and the object to be machined 8. The detection result by the contact sensor 312 is used in the determination process of whether or not the light-shielding state by the shield plate 300C and the shield plate 350 satisfies a predetermined condition. Therefore, the shielding plate 350 is provided with a sufficient number of contact sensors 312 (which may be one or a plurality) so that it can be determined whether or not the shielding state by the shielding plate 300C and the shielding plate 350 satisfies a predetermined condition. ..

When the contact sensor 311 detects the contact between the shielding plate 300C and the shielding plate 350, and the contact sensor 312 detects the contact between the shielding plate 350 and the object to be machined 8, the shielding plate 300C and the shielding plate 350 The space S surrounded by the processing object 8 and the marking head 26C is a shielding space in which the laser beam W does not leak to the outside. In the laser marker 1C, the laser beam W is only when the contact sensor 311 detects the contact between the shielding plate 300C and the shielding plate 350, and the contact sensor 312 detects the contact between the shielding plate 350 and the object 8 to be processed. Is emitted to process the object 8 to be processed.

The processing start / stop processing in the fourth embodiment has a different determination method in the determination processing (step S605 and step S620 shown in FIG. 6), but the other processing is the processing start / stop processing shown in FIG. Is the same as. Specifically, in the fourth embodiment, in the determination process of step S605 and step S620, the contact sensor 311 detects the contact between the shielding plate 300C and the shielding plate 350, and the contact sensor 312 detects the shielding plate 350. When the contact between the machine and the object to be machined 8 is detected, the control unit 211 determines that the light-shielding state by the shield plate 300C and the shield plate 350 satisfies a predetermined condition, and the contact sensor 311 determines that the shield plate 300C and the shield plate 300C are in contact with each other. When the contact with the shield plate 350 is not detected, or the contact between the shield plate 350 and the object 8 to be processed is not detected by the contact sensor 312, the control unit 211 is shielded from light by the shield plate 300C and the shield plate 350. It is determined that the state does not satisfy a predetermined condition.

The laser marker 1C can be attached to a stationary type laser processing device with the shielding plate 300C and the shielding plate 350 removed.

As described above, the laser marker 1C in the fourth embodiment has the laser light emitted from the marking head 26C by the shielding plate 350 even when a gap is formed between the shielding plate 300C and the object to be processed 8. Since W can be prevented from leaking to the outside through the gap, the safety of the user can be ensured.

Further, the laser marker 1C in the fourth embodiment determines whether or not the light-shielding state by the shielding plate 300C and the shielding plate 350 satisfies a predetermined condition (laser light W irradiated by the shielding plate 300C and the shielding plate 350 from the marking head 26C). Whether or not it can be shielded to the extent that the safety of the user can be ensured) is determined by the contact between the shielding plate 300C and the shielding plate 350 and the contact between the shielding plate 350 and the object to be processed 8. The laser marker 1C in the fourth embodiment irradiates the laser beam W on the condition that the contact is detected by the contact sensor 311 and the contact sensor 312, and starts the processing of the object 8 to be processed. If the contact sensor 311 and the contact sensor 312 cannot detect the contact even after the processing is started, the laser marker 1C performs the processing until the contact sensor 311 and the contact sensor 312 can detect the contact. Suspend. Therefore, in the laser marker 1C in the fourth embodiment, the contact is detected by the contact sensor 311 and the contact sensor 312, that is, the user uses the laser beam W irradiated by the shielding plate 300C and the shielding plate 350 from the marking head 26C. Since it is a condition for starting processing that the shielding can be performed to the extent that the safety of the user can be ensured, the safety of the user can be ensured.

Further, at least a part of the shielding plate 300C is composed of a transparent member that allows visible light to pass through. The transparent member that allows visible light to pass through is a member that does not allow invisible light to pass through. Since the laser beam W emitted by the marking head 26C is invisible light, the laser beam W emitted from the marking head 26C is emitted to the outside even if a part of the shielding plate 300C is composed of a transparent member through which visible light is transmitted. It will not leak. Therefore, the user can confirm the internal state (the state of the object to be processed 8) covered with the shielding plate 300C and the shielding plate 350 in a safe state during processing. If it is not necessary to confirm the state of the object to be processed 8 during processing, the entire surface of the shielding plate 300C may be made of a member that does not allow visible light to pass through.

Further, the configuration in which the laser marker includes two types of shielding plates (first shielding plate and second shielding plate) can be applied to the laser marker 1A in the second embodiment or the laser marker 1B in the third embodiment. can. When a configuration including two types of shielding plates is applied to the laser marker 1A in the second embodiment, the same processing as in the fourth embodiment is applied to the processing start / stop processing. As a method for determining the light-shielding state by the shielding plate, the method described in the second embodiment, in which the inside of the space S is photographed by the camera unit 270 and the light-shielding state by the shielding plate is determined based on the photographed image, is adopted. May be good. When a configuration including two types of shielding plates is applied to the laser marker 1B in the third embodiment, the same processing as in the third embodiment is applied to the processing start / stop processing.

[Summary]
The laser markers in each embodiment have been described above. In the laser marker in any of the embodiments, the light-shielding state by the shielding plate (shielding plate 300, shielding plate 300A, shielding plate 300B, shielding plate 300C, shielding plate 350) satisfies a predetermined condition (the shielding plate is the marking head). The laser beam emitted from the above can be shielded to the extent that the safety of the user can be ensured), and the laser beam is irradiated to start the processing of the object to be processed. Even after the processing is started, the laser marker determines whether or not the light-shielding state by the shielding plate satisfies the predetermined condition, and if the light-shielding state by the shielding plate does not satisfy the predetermined condition, the light-shielding by the shielding plate does not satisfy the predetermined condition. Machining is interrupted until the condition satisfies a predetermined condition. Therefore, in the laser marker in any of the embodiments, the light-shielding state by the shielding plate satisfies a predetermined condition, that is, the shielding plate shields the laser beam emitted from the marking head to the extent that the user's safety can be ensured. Since what can be done is a condition for starting machining, the safety of the user can be ensured.

[Additional Notes]
The above-described embodiment includes the following technical ideas.

[Structure 1]
It is a laser processing apparatus (1,1A, 1B, 1C) that processes an object (8) to be processed by irradiating it with a laser beam (W).
A marking head (26, 26A, 26B, 26C) that irradiates the processed object (8) with the laser beam (W), and
Attached to the marking head (26, 26A, 26B, 26C), the machining location of the machining object (8) between the marking head (26, 26A, 26B, 26C) and the machining object (8). A first shielding plate (300,) that forms a shielding space by surrounding the shielding space and prevents the laser beam (W) irradiated from the marking heads (26, 26A, 26B, 26C) from leaking from the shielding space to the outside. 300A, 300B, 300C) and
A controller (21) for controlling the operation of the marking heads (26, 26A, 26B, 26C) is provided.
The controller (21) is
When the instruction to start processing is received, the light-shielding state by the first shielding plate (300, 300A, 300B, 300C) is determined, and the light-shielding state is determined.
A laser processing apparatus that starts processing of the object to be processed (8) when it is determined that the light-shielding state by the first shielding plate (300, 300A, 300B, 300C) satisfies a predetermined condition.

[Structure 2]
The controller (21) is
During processing, the light-shielding state by the first shielding plate (300, 300A, 300B, 300C) was determined.
2. The configuration 1 is described in which processing of the object to be machined (8) is stopped when it is determined that the light-shielding state by the first shielding plate (300, 300A, 300B, 300C) does not satisfy the predetermined condition. Laser processing equipment.

[Structure 3]
A notification unit provided on the marking head (26, 26A, 26B, 26C) and notifying that the light-shielding state by the first shielding plate (300, 300A, 300B, 300C) satisfies the predetermined condition and the machining can be started. 2. The laser processing apparatus according to configuration 1 or 2, further comprising (271).

[Structure 4]
Further, a detection unit (310, 310a, 310b) for detecting contact between the first shielding plate (300, 300A, 300B, 300C) and the machining object (8) is provided.
When the detection unit (310, 310a, 310b) detects the contact between the first shielding plate (300, 300A, 300B, 300C) and the machining object (8), the controller (21) said. The laser processing apparatus according to any one of Configurations 1 to 3, wherein it is determined that the light-shielding state by the first shielding plate (300, 300A, 300B, 300C) satisfies the predetermined condition.

[Structure 5]
The laser beam (W) irradiated by the marking heads (26, 26A, 26B, 26C) is invisible light.
The laser processing apparatus according to any one of Configurations 1 to 4, wherein at least a part of the first shielding plate (300, 300A, 300B, 300C) is composed of a transparent member that allows visible light to pass through.

[Structure 6]
The lighting unit (269) that illuminates the inside of the shielded space,
An image acquisition unit (270) for acquiring an image in the shielded space is further provided.
The image acquisition unit (270) acquires an image of the processing object (8) in the shielding space illuminated by the illumination unit (269) during processing, any one of the above configurations 1 to 4. The laser processing apparatus described in.

[Structure 7]
The laser processing apparatus according to any one of Configurations 1 to 3, wherein the light shielding state of the first shielding plate (300, 300A, 300B, 300C) is determined based on the external light entering the shielding space.

[Structure 8]
Further, a detection unit (320) for detecting light in the shielded space is provided.
When the detection unit (320) cannot detect the external light entering the shielding space, the controller (21) is subject to the predetermined condition of being shielded by the first shielding plate (300, 300A, 300B, 300C). 7. The laser processing apparatus according to configuration 7, which determines that the above conditions are satisfied.

[Structure 9]
An image acquisition unit (270) for acquiring an image in the shielded space is further provided.
The controller (21) uses the first shielding plate (300, 300A, 300B, 300C) when the image acquisition unit (270) cannot acquire an image of the processed object (8) in the shielding space. The laser processing apparatus according to configuration 7, wherein it is determined that the light-shielding state satisfies the predetermined condition.

[Structure 10]
A lighting unit (269) that illuminates the inside of the shielded space is further provided.
The laser processing apparatus according to configuration 9, wherein the image acquisition unit (270) acquires an image of the processing object (8) in the shielding space illuminated by the illumination unit (269) during processing.

[Structure 11]
The laser according to any one of configurations 1 to 10, wherein the first shielding plate (300, 300A, 300B, 300C) has an elastic member on the surface side in contact with the workpiece (8). Processing equipment.

[Structure 12]
The laser processing apparatus according to any one of Configurations 1 to 11, further comprising a reception unit (272) provided on the marking heads (26, 26A, 26B, 26C) and receiving an instruction to start machining.

[Structure 13]
The marking head (26, 26A, 26B, 26C) includes a grip portion (261) gripped by the user.
The laser processing apparatus (1,1A, 1B, 1C) is a handy type laser processing apparatus that processes the processing object (8) while the user grips the grip portion (261). The laser processing apparatus according to any one of 1 to 12 in configuration 12.

[Structure 14]
The opening (355) that can be attached to the surface side of the first shielding plate (300, 300A, 300B, 300C) in contact with the machining object (8) and corresponds to the size of the machining object (8). The laser beam (W) irradiated from the marking heads (26, 26A, 26B, 26C) is used between the first shielding plate (300, 300A, 300B, 300C) and the object to be processed (8). The laser processing apparatus according to any one of Configurations 1 to 13, further comprising a second shielding plate (350) that shields the gap generated between them from leaking to the outside.

[Structure 15]
The laser processing apparatus (1,1A, 1B, 1C) is a stationary type laser processing apparatus with the first shielding plate (300, 300A, 300B, 300C) and the second shielding plate (350) removed. The laser processing apparatus according to configuration 14, which is an attachable laser processing apparatus.

It should be considered that the embodiments disclosed this time are exemplary in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown by the scope of claims rather than the above description, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of claims.

1,1A, 1B, 1C laser marker, 6 display device, 7 input device, 8 processing object, 21 controller, 26,26A, 26B, 26C marking head, 28,241 optical fiber, 29 communication cable, 110 processor, 120 memory , 121 ROM, 122 RAM, 123 flash memory, 130 communication interface, 140 pulse generation circuit, 210 control board, 211 control unit, 212 pulse generator, 213 storage unit, 214,216,217 communication processing unit, 220 driver, 230 Driver power supply, 240 laser oscillator, 242,243,249A, 249B, 249C, 249D semiconductor laser, 244,246,264 isolator, 245,248 coupler, 247 bandpass filter, 261 grip, 262,262A, 262B, 262C Marking head body, 263 guide light source, 265 dichroic mirror, 266 galvano scanner, 266a galvano mirror, 267 condensing lens, 268 laser emitting part, 269 lighting device, 270 camera unit, 270a camera window, 271 notification part, 272 reception part , 280 mounting part, 300, 300A, 300B, 300C, 350 shielding plate, 301 window, 305,315,315a, 315b member, 310,310a, 310b, 311,311a, 311b, 312,312a, 312b contact sensor, 320 Optical sensor, 355 openings, 700 user interface, 701 drawing area, 702,703,750,760 buttons, 710 laser / scanning tab, G guide light, W laser light.

Claims (15)

A laser processing device that processes an object to be machined by irradiating it with laser light.
A marking head that irradiates the object to be processed with the laser beam,
A shielding space is formed by being attached to the marking head and surrounding the processing portion of the processing object between the marking head and the processing object, and the laser light emitted from the marking head is emitted from the shielding space. The first shielding plate to prevent leakage to the outside and
A controller for controlling the operation of the marking head is provided.
The controller
When the instruction to start processing is received, the light-shielding state by the first shielding plate is determined, and the light-shielding state is determined.
A laser machining apparatus that starts machining the object to be machined when it is determined that the light-shielding state of the first shielding plate satisfies a predetermined condition. The controller
During processing, the light-shielding state of the first shielding plate is determined, and the light-shielding state is determined.
The laser processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when it is determined that the light-shielding state by the first shielding plate does not satisfy the predetermined condition, the processing of the processing object is stopped. The laser processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a notification unit provided on the marking head and notifying that the light-shielding state by the first shielding plate satisfies the predetermined condition and the processing can be started. Further, a detection unit for detecting contact between the first shielding plate and the object to be machined is provided.
A claim that the controller determines that the light-shielding state by the first shielding plate satisfies the predetermined condition when the detection unit detects the contact between the first shielding plate and the machining object. The laser processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The laser beam emitted by the marking head is invisible light, and is
The laser processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein at least a part of the first shielding plate is composed of a transparent member that allows visible light to pass through. The lighting unit that illuminates the inside of the shielded space,
Further, an image acquisition unit for acquiring an image in the shielded space is provided.
The laser processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the image acquisition unit acquires an image of the processing object in the shielded space illuminated by the lighting unit during processing. The laser processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the light blocking state of the first shielding plate is determined based on the external light entering the shielding space. Further equipped with a detection unit that detects light in the shielded space,
The laser according to claim 7, wherein the controller determines that the light-shielding state by the first shielding plate satisfies the predetermined condition when the detection unit cannot detect the external light entering the shielding space. Processing equipment. Further, an image acquisition unit for acquiring an image in the shielded space is provided.
7. The controller determines that the light-shielding state by the first shielding plate satisfies the predetermined condition when the image acquisition unit cannot acquire an image of the processing object in the shielding space. The laser processing apparatus described in. Further equipped with a lighting unit that illuminates the inside of the shielded space,
The laser processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the image acquisition unit acquires an image of the object to be processed in the shielded space illuminated by the illumination unit during processing. The laser processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the first shielding plate has an elastic member on the surface side in contact with the object to be processed. The laser processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11, further comprising a reception unit provided on the marking head and receiving an instruction to start processing. The marking head includes a grip portion gripped by the user.
The laser according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the laser processing apparatus is a handy type laser processing apparatus that processes the object to be machined while the user grips the grip portion. Machining equipment. It can be attached to the surface side of the first shielding plate in contact with the object to be machined, has an opening corresponding to the size of the object to be machined, and the laser beam emitted from the marking head is the first shielding. The laser processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 13, further comprising a second shielding plate that shields the plate from leaking to the outside from a gap generated between the plate and the object to be machined. The laser processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the laser processing apparatus is a laser processing apparatus that can be attached to a stationary type laser processing apparatus with the first shielding plate and the second shielding plate removed.

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