JP2524526Y2 - Laser injection unit - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a laser incidence unit for causing a laser beam from a laser oscillator to enter one end of an optical fiber, and more particularly to a novel structure of a mechanism for aligning an optical fiber.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIGS. 5 and 6 show the structure of a typical conventional laser incidence unit used in a laser processing apparatus. 5 and 6 are a vertical sectional view and a top view of the laser incidence unit.

[0005] In FIG. 5, the laser incidence unit includes an optical fiber attaching portion 102 for fixing and attaching one end of an optical fiber 100 to a predetermined position, and a laser beam from a laser oscillation device (not shown). A cylindrical lens holding portion 132 for holding a condensing lens 130 for condensing light on one end face; The unit body 134 is fixedly attached to an external support plate 138 at a flange portion 136 thereof.

[0004] A receptacle (connector) 104 for receiving and coupling one end of the optical fiber 100 is provided at the center of the optical fiber mounting portion 102. The distal ends of the position adjusting screws 106 to 112 are in contact with the side surfaces of the lower end of the receptacle 104 from four directions. These screws 106 to 112 are connected to nuts 114 to 1 in the middle.
20 and operation knobs 122 to
By rotating the lens 128, it moves in each axial direction. Therefore, by rotating the knobs 122 and 126 of the screws 106 and 110 opposed in the X direction, the position of the receptacle 104 in the X direction is adjusted, and the screws 108 and 1 opposed in the Y direction are adjusted.
By rotating knobs 122 and 126 of No. 12, Y
The position of the receptacle 104 in the direction can be adjusted. In this manner, centering of the receptacle 104 and thus centering of the end face of the optical fiber 100 can be performed.

On the other hand, the lens holding part 132 is screwed to the outer cylinder of the unit main body 134, and the condensing lens 130 can be moved in the optical axis direction by turning the lens holding part 132. .

[0006]

In this type of laser incidence unit, it is essential that the laser beam passing through the condenser lens is accurately focused and incident on the center of the end face of the optical fiber. In the case of high-power laser light, such as used in laser processing, if it is not precisely focused and incident, not only the incidence efficiency will decrease, but also the end face of the fiber may be burned, so accurate alignment is required. You. For accurate positioning, the distance between the condensing lens and the end face of the optical fiber should be approximately equal to the focal length of the lens, and the center of the optical lens and the optical fiber should be aligned, that is, both should be arranged on the same axis. Achieved by

In the above-described conventional laser incidence unit, since the condenser lens 130 can be accurately moved in the axial direction, the adjustment of focusing is easy. However, it is difficult to align the receptacle 104 with the screws 106 to 112 from all sides, and even if the alignment is adjusted with great effort, the position of the receptacle 104 shifts due to the backlash of the screws 106 to 112, and consequently the light There is a possibility that the mounting position of the fiber 100 may shift. In addition, the four operation knobs 122 to 128 not only complicate alignment adjustment but also protrude in all directions, which sometimes hinders when a plurality of units are arranged close to each other.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide an easy-to-use laser incidence unit capable of accurately aligning an end face of an optical fiber with an optical lens by a simple operation. Aim.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, a laser input unit according to the present invention has an end of an optical fiber fixedly mounted at a predetermined position, and condenses a laser beam by an optical lens. In a laser incidence unit adapted to be incident on one end surface of a fiber, a lens housing means provided fixed to a unit main body and holding the optical lens movably in an optical axis direction; A first table means provided so as to be capable of linearly moving in a predetermined first direction orthogonal to the optical axis of the lens; and a predetermined first means fixedly provided on the unit body.
A first screw hole having a pitch of, and a predetermined screw hole provided coaxially with the first screw hole and fixed to the first table means, and different from the first pitch. A second screw hole having a pitch of 2; a first screw portion screwed into the first screw hole portion; and a second screw portion screwed into the second screw hole portion. A predetermined first lead corresponding to a difference between a lead of the first screw portion with respect to the first screw hole portion and a lead of the second screw portion with respect to the second screw hole portion; A first screw member for moving the means in the first direction; and a first spring means for urging the first table means in the first direction with respect to the unit body. And connector means for coupling to one end of the optical fiber, Serial orthogonal to the first direction, and a second table means disposed so as to be linearly moved in a second direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction of the optical lens, said first
And a third screw hole having a predetermined third pitch and fixed to the second table means so as to be coaxial with the third screw hole. A fourth screw hole provided and having a predetermined fourth pitch different from the third pitch, a third screw portion screwed into the third screw hole, and the fourth screw hole A fourth screw portion screwed to the portion, and a lead of the third screw portion to the third screw hole portion and a fourth screw portion to the fourth screw hole portion.
A second screw member for moving the second table means in the second direction with a predetermined second lead corresponding to a difference between the lead of the screw portion and the first table feed means. On the other hand, a second spring means for urging the second table means in a predetermined direction in the second direction is provided.

[0010]

[0011]

The differential screw mechanism for feeding the first table means in the first direction is constituted by the first screw hole, the second screw hole and the first screw member. When the first screw member is rotated, for example, one clockwise, the first screw member advances or retreats by a predetermined lead in the first direction with respect to the first screw hole portion, and at the same time, the second screw hole portion With respect to the unit body, and as a result, the first table means advances or retreats in the first direction by a first lead corresponding to the difference between the two leads with respect to the unit body. I do. When the first screw member is rotated one turn in the opposite direction, for example, in the counterclockwise direction, an operation in the opposite direction is performed, and as a result, the first table means moves the first lead by only the first lead with respect to the unit body. Back or forward in direction.

The third screw hole, the fourth screw hole, and the second screw member constitute a differential feed screw mechanism for feeding the second table means in the second direction. When the second screw member is rotated, for example, once clockwise, the third screw member advances or retreats by a predetermined lead in the second direction with respect to the third screw hole portion, and at the same time, the fourth screw hole portion With respect to the first table means in the second direction by a second lead corresponding to the difference between the two leads with respect to the first table means. Move forward or backward. When the second screw member is rotated one turn in the opposite direction, for example, in the counterclockwise direction, an operation in the opposite direction is performed, and as a result, the second table means moves only the second lead with respect to the first table means. Second
Back or forward in the direction of.

The first spring means urges the first table means in a predetermined direction of the first direction, and
Spring means urges the second table means in a predetermined direction in the second direction, whereby the first and second table means move (forward or backward) in the first and second directions, respectively. At this time, backlash is effectively prevented. As described above, in the laser incidence unit of the present invention, the first and second table means are driven by the differential feed screw against the first and second spring means in the first and second directions orthogonal to each other. Because the mechanism is used to feed by fine leads, it is easy and easy to align the optical lens attached to the lens storage means fixed to the unit body with the end face of the optical fiber attached to the second table means. Can be done accurately.

[0014]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a laser injection unit according to an embodiment of the present invention; 1 is a perspective view of the laser incidence unit, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the laser incidence unit, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a cross-section taken along line BB of FIG. FIG.

In this laser incidence unit, the flange 12 is fixedly attached to the external support plate 10 (FIG. 3).
And an outer cylinder 14 and a frame 16 fixed to the upper and lower sides of the flange portion 12, respectively, constitute a unit main body,
A cylindrical lens housing 70 is attached to a lower portion of the unit main body, and an optical fiber attaching section is provided on the unit main body.

The lens housing 70 has a condenser lens 7 inside.
2 is disposed perpendicularly to the optical axis direction, and a focus adjustment ring 74 is fixed to the lower end portion.
4 is screwed. Thus, the focus adjustment ring 74 is turned to adjust the position of the condenser lens 72 in the optical axis direction (Z direction) with respect to the unit main body, so that focusing can be easily performed.

The frame 16 comprises a substrate 16a provided with a guide groove 20 in the Y and Y 'directions, and a screw support 16b and a spring support 16c fixed to both sides of the substrate 16a.

On the substrate 16a, Y is moved so as to be linearly movable in the Y, Y 'direction (first direction) along the guide groove 20.
The table 22 (first table means) is attached. A screw hole 24 (first screw hole) having a relatively large pitch is formed in the thick portion 16b 'of the screw support portion 16b, and a first screw 26 (first screw member) of a screw 26 is formed in the screw hole 24. The screw portion 26a is screwed. An operation knob 28 is fixed to the base end of the first screw portion 26a, and a second screw portion 26b having a relatively smaller pitch extends from the tip of the first screw portion 26a. Are screwed into the screw holes 30 (second screw holes) of the Y table 22. Common screw 26
Through the screw holes 24 and Y on the screw support 16b side.
The screw holes 30 on the table 22 side are provided coaxially with each other in the Y and Y 'directions. The lead of the first screw portion 26a to the screw hole 24 is, for example, 1 mm in the Y direction.
And the lead of the second screw portion 26b to the screw hole 30 is set to, for example, 0.8 mm in the Y direction. Thus, when the operation knob 28 is rotated one clockwise, for example, the screw 26 advances by 1 mm in the Y direction with respect to the screw support 16b, and the Y table 22 moves by 0.8 mm in the Y 'direction with respect to the screw 26. As a result, the Y table 22 is moved by 0.2 mm in the Y direction with respect to the screw support 16b fixed to the unit body. Note that a ring-shaped stopper 32 is attached to an intermediate portion of the first screw portion 26a.

On the other hand, three concave portions 34 are formed at predetermined intervals on the inner side surface of the spring support portion 16c, and three concave portions 36 are also formed on the side surface of the Y table 22 facing these concave portions. Compression coil spring 38 between 34 and 36
(A first spring member) is provided. These compression coil springs 38 constantly bias the Y table 22 in the Y ′ direction, so that backlash between the screw 26 and the Y table 22 is prevented.

A pair of guide grooves 40 are formed on the upper surface of the Y table 22 in the X and X 'directions (second direction) so that they can move linearly in the X and X' directions along these guide grooves 40. An X table 42 (second table means) is attached. Further, on the Y table 22, an X table 42
A screw support portion 44 is provided adjacent to. The screw support portion 44 is formed with a screw hole 46 (third screw hole portion) having a relatively large pitch.
Screw portion 48a is screwed. An operation knob 50 is fixed to the base end of the third screw portion 48a.
A fourth screw portion 48b having a relatively small pitch is connected to the distal end of the joint 52a, and the fourth screw portion 48b is connected to a screw hole 54 (fourth screw hole) provided in a thick portion of the joint 52 fixed to the X table 42. Screw hole). In order to pass the common screw 48, the screw hole 46 of the screw support portion 44 and the screw hole 54 of the X table 22 side are provided coaxially with each other in the X and X 'directions.

The lead of the first screw portion 48a with respect to the screw hole 46 is set to, for example, 1 mm in the X direction.
The lead of the second screw portion 48b to the screw hole 54 is set to, for example, 0.8 mm in the X direction. As a result, when the operation knob 50 is rotated once, for example, clockwise,
The screw 48 advances by 1 mm in the X direction with respect to the screw support portion 44, and the X table 42 moves by 0.8 mm in the X ′ direction with respect to the screw 48, and as a result, the screw support fixed on the Y table 22. The X table 42 moves by 0.2 mm in the X direction with respect to the section 44. Note that a ring-shaped stopper 56 is attached to an intermediate portion of the first screw portion 48a.

On the other hand, the Y table 2 below the joint 52
Two concave portions 60 are formed at a predetermined interval on the inner side surface of the block-shaped spring support portion 58 fixed to the side surfaces of the X table 42. Two concave portions 62 are also formed on the side surface of the X table 42 facing these concave portions. A compression coil spring 64 (a second spring member) is formed between the opposed concave portions 60 and 62. Since these compression coil springs 64 urge the X table 42 in the X ′ direction, no backlash occurs between the screw 48 and the X table 42.

At the center of the upper surface of the X table 42, a receptacle 66 for receiving one end of the optical fiber 90 is fixedly attached. As described above, in the present laser incidence unit, when the operation knob 28 is turned, the Y table 22 moves in the Y and Y 'directions with respect to the unit body, and when the operation knob 50 is turned, the X table 42 moves with respect to the Y table 22. X
Since it moves in the X ′ direction, the position of the receptacle 66, that is, the position of the end face of the optical fiber 90 can be arbitrarily adjusted on the XY plane. Thereby, the alignment of the optical fiber 90 with the condenser lens 72 can be easily performed.

In addition, in the present laser injection unit, the Y table 22 and the X table 42 are urged in the Y 'and X' directions by the compression coil springs 38 and 64, respectively, while the differential screws 26 and 48 are used in the Y and X directions. Since it is sent at a small fine pitch, accurate centering can be performed without backlash.

Also, since there are only two operation knobs 28 and 50, it is convenient to use and is advantageous when it is arranged close to other units or external devices.

[0026]

As described above, according to the laser incidence unit of the present invention, the first unit is fixed to the unit body to which the lens housing for holding the condenser lens movably in the optical axis direction is fixed. The table means is fed by a fine lead in a first direction by a differential feed screw mechanism against the first spring means, and the second table means is moved to the second spring means with respect to the first table means. The differential feed screw mechanism is used to feed the fine fiber in the second direction with a fine lead, so that the center of the end face of the optical fiber attached to the second table means can be easily moved by a simple operation. Can be accurately adjusted to the optical axis of the condenser lens.

Also, since only one operation knob is required in each of the first and second directions, the usability and operability are excellent, and the installation space can be reduced.

Further, by forming the first or second table feed means by a differential feed screw mechanism, it is possible to perform finer table feed, and to perform accurate centering more easily. Can be.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a laser injection unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the laser incidence unit of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a conventional typical laser incidence unit.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the laser incidence unit of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 16 frame 16a substrate 16b screw support 16c spring holder 20 guide groove 22 Y table 24 screw hole 26 screw 26a first screw 26b of screw 26 second screw of screw 26 28 operation knob 30 screw hole 38 compression coil spring 40 Guide groove 42 X table 44 Screw support part 46 Screw hole 48 Screw 48a First screw part of screw 48 b Second screw part of screw 48 54 Screw hole 64 Compression coil spring 66 Receptacle

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. A laser incidence unit in which one end of an optical fiber is fixedly mounted at a predetermined position, and a laser beam is condensed by an optical lens to be incident on one end surface of the optical fiber. Lens storage means for holding the optical lens movably in the optical axis direction, and provided so as to be linearly movable with respect to the unit main body in a predetermined first direction orthogonal to the optical axis of the optical lens. A first table means provided, a first screw hole portion provided fixedly to the unit main body and having a predetermined first pitch, and the first screw hole portion being coaxial with the first screw hole portion. A second screw hole fixedly provided on the first table means and having a predetermined second pitch different from the first pitch; and a first screw hole screwed into the first screw hole. Screw part and said No.
A second screw portion that is screwed into the screw hole portion.
The first table means with a predetermined first lead corresponding to the difference between the lead of the first screw portion for the screw hole portion and the lead of the second screw portion for the second screw hole portion. A first screw member for moving in a first direction, a first spring means for urging the first table means against the unit body in a predetermined direction in the first direction, and the light A connector means for coupling to one end of the fiber, the connector means being capable of linearly moving with respect to the first table means in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction and orthogonal to the optical axis of the optical lens; A second table means provided on the first table means; a third screw hole fixedly provided on the first table means and having a predetermined third pitch; and coaxially with the third screw hole. So that it is fixed to the second table means. A fourth screw hole having a predetermined fourth pitch different from the third pitch, a third screw portion screwed into the third screw hole, and the fourth screw hole.
And a fourth screw portion that is screwed into the screw hole portion.
The second table means with a predetermined second lead corresponding to the difference between the lead of the third screw portion for the screw hole portion and the lead of the fourth screw portion for the fourth screw hole portion. A second screw member for moving in the second direction; and a second spring means for urging the second table means in the second direction in a predetermined direction with respect to the first table feed means. And a laser incidence unit.