JP3034325B2 - Laser processing machine - 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 beam machine, and more particularly, to a laser beam exchanging device for exchanging a laser nozzle, which is provided with a nozzle holding device capable of freely holding and releasing a laser nozzle. The present invention relates to a laser beam machine provided on a frame of the laser beam machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, replacement of a laser nozzle provided in a laser processing machine is usually performed by an operator. In addition, in order to perform mechanical replacement, a laser nozzle has been replaced by a separately installed replacement device such as a robot hand.

[0003]

However, since the replacement of the laser nozzle in the above-mentioned conventional laser beam machine is performed manually, it takes time and effort, and there is a problem that productivity cannot be improved. Was. In addition, mechanical replacement using a robot hand or the like requires a complicated mechanism and space, and thus has a problem in that cost cannot be reduced.

[0004] An object of the present invention is to improve the productivity by improving the productivity by providing an exchange device for detaching and replacing a laser nozzle mounted on a laser processing head, in order to improve the above problem. And to provide a laser processing machine that reduces costs.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention relates to a laser processing machine having a laser processing head for performing laser processing on a workpiece, which is provided with a laser nozzle detachably and interchangeably. X in the frame at
A guide rail extending in the axis or Y-axis direction,
A plurality of nozzle holders which detachably support a laser nozzle to be replaced are movably supported and provided. The nozzle holder is detachably engaged with a notch formed in a part of the guide rail, and supports an appropriate nozzle holder so as not to drop. A movable bracket provided with a guide portion having the same cross-sectional shape as the cross-sectional shape of the guide rail, and a laser nozzle with respect to the position where the guide portion is engaged with the cutout portion of the guide rail and the laser processing head. A laser processing machine is provided with a laser processing head provided with a nozzle holding device which is movably provided at a nozzle replacement position for performing replacement and which can hold and release a laser nozzle.

In the laser beam machine, a state switching operation device for switching a nozzle holding device provided in the laser processing head between a nozzle holding state and a released state is provided.
It is desirable to have it on a moving bracket.

[0007]

With the use of the laser processing machine of the present invention, when the laser processing of the work is completed by the laser nozzle provided in the laser processing head and the laser nozzle to be processed next is replaced, the laser nozzle is provided on the moving bracket. An empty nozzle holder is positioned directly below the laser nozzle of the laser processing head. Then, the laser processing head is lowered to insert the laser nozzle into the empty nozzle holder.

The moving bracket is provided with a state switching operating device for switching between the laser nozzle holding state and the released state.
By rotating the nozzle holding device provided on the laser processing head,
The laser nozzle is released from the laser processing head. Then, when the laser processing head is lifted, the laser nozzle is held by the nozzle holder locked on the guide portion of the moving bracket, so that the moving bracket is rotated and positioned in the notch of the guide rail.

After that, among the nozzle holders supporting the plurality of laser nozzles supported on the guide rail, the nozzle holder provided with the laser nozzle required for the next processing is moved and positioned in the notch. The nozzle holder positioned in the notch rotates the moving bracket, removes it from the guide rail, and moves it directly below the laser processing head,
Lowering the laser processing head, inserting it into a new laser nozzle, operating the state switching operation device, and rotating the nozzle holding device provided on the laser processing head to bring the laser nozzle into a holding state with respect to the laser processing head. Completes the replacement work. Note that the standby position of the moving bracket is always located on the guide rail side.

Since the laser nozzle can be replaced in a short time with simple components, the productivity is improved and the cost is reduced.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

Referring to FIG. 4, FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the laser beam machine 1 has a T-shape when viewed from above, and has an X-axis direction (a direction orthogonal to the drawing in FIG. 4; For example, a box-shaped base 3 is provided which extends in the Y-axis direction (the left-right direction in FIG. 4, the direction perpendicular to the drawing in FIG. 5, and the vertical direction in FIG. 6). Have been.

A pallet 5 for supporting the work W is provided on the base 3 extending in the X-axis direction so as to be movable in the X-axis direction, and a column 7 is erected on the base 3 extending in the Y-axis direction. I have. The strut 7 includes a front strut 7a and both side struts 7a.
The upper support plate 9 is integrally provided on the upper part of the column 7. A rail 11 is provided on the lower surface of the upper support plate 9 and a laser oscillator 13 is provided on the rail 11 via a sliding member, for example, an LM guide. Although omitted, it is provided movably from a drive source such as an electric motor via a rotation transmitting member. In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, the laser oscillator 13 can be moved backward from the forward limit position shown by the solid line to the position shown by the dotted line.

A laser beam tube 15 is connected to the laser oscillator 13, and a processing head support block 19 for supporting a laser processing head 17 is mounted at the tip (right side in FIG. 4) of the laser beam tube 15. The laser beam tube 15 is inserted into a bearing 21 provided on the front side support 7a, and a rail 2 provided along the laser beam tube 15 is provided.
3 is supported by the bearing 21 via a sliding member 25 such as an LM guide. The laser beam tube 1
As the material of 5, the laser processing head 17 provided at the tip is used.
A material having high rigidity and lightness is required so that there is no displacement such as bending, and is made of, for example, carbon fiber.

With the above configuration, the laser beam tube 15 is fixed to the laser oscillator 13 and the laser processing head 17 is provided at the tip of the laser beam tube 15. Therefore, when the laser processing head 7 moves in the Y-axis direction, the laser oscillator 13
Also move together in the Y-axis direction.

The laser processing head 17 has an A-axis direction,
While rotating in the B-axis direction, it also moves up and down in the Z-axis direction,
The laser nozzle 27 can perform three-dimensional (three-dimensional) processing on the workpiece W. The basic configuration and operation of the laser processing head 17 are the same as those already known, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.
7 is moved in the Z-axis direction (the vertical direction in FIGS. 4 and 5 and the direction orthogonal to the drawing in FIG. 6), a rotation transmitting member is provided by a Z-axis motor provided in the machining head support block 19, although not shown. , The ball screw 29 provided in the Z-axis direction is rotated, and the laser processing head 17 is moved up and down. In addition, as shown in the drawing of FIG. 4, the lower limit position shown by the dotted line can be freely set from the upper limit shown by the solid line.

FIG. 2 shows a detailed structure for rotating the laser processing head 17 in the A-axis and B-axis directions. That is, the A-axis rotating body 31 is rotatably provided via a bearing 33 mounted on the processing head support block 19, and the laser processing head body 35 is fixed to the lower end of the A-axis rotating body 31. A cylindrical hollow cylindrical body 37 is mounted inside the A-axis rotating body 31 via a bearing 39, and a laser beam LB passes through the hollow cylindrical body 37. A bevel gear 41a is formed at the lower end of the hollow cylindrical body 37.
It is meshed with a bevel gear 41b formed on the shaft rotating body 43.

The B-axis rotator 43 is rotatably provided on the laser processing head body 35 via a bearing 45. Although not shown, the B-axis rotator 43 is rotated by a motor or the like via a rotation transmitting member. Is rotated. A C-axis moving body 47 is fixed to the tip (the left side in FIG. 2) of the B-axis rotating body 43 with a bolt or the like. The laser beam LB
From the laser oscillator 13 to the processing head support block 19
The laser beam is bent by a bend mirror 49a provided therein, bent at a right angle by a bend mirror 49b provided on the laser processing head body 35, and further bent at a right angle by a bend mirror 49c provided in the C-axis moving body 47. Then, the work W is irradiated.

With the above configuration, when the A-axis rotating body 31 is rotated, the laser processing head main body 35 is moved to the position shown in FIG.
When the B-axis rotating body 43 rotates in the direction of the arrow and the C-axis moving body 47 rotates, the C-axis moving body 47 rotates in the direction of the arrow B shown in FIG.

The C-axis moving body 47 is provided with a laser nozzle 27 at a lower portion (a lower portion in FIG. 2).
7 is provided integrally with a cylindrical body 53 having a condenser lens 51,
A bayonet member 57 serving as a nozzle holding device 56 is rotatably mounted on the inner cylindrical portion of a square nozzle holder 55. The cylinder 53 is provided with a plurality of grooves 59 that are detachable from a bayonet mechanism provided on the inner periphery of the bayonet member 57. In order to rotate the bayonet member 57, the nozzle holder 55 includes a laser (described later). A bevel gear 67a provided with a clutch member 65b capable of engaging and disengaging from a clutch member 65a of the dog clutch 63 provided in the nozzle support device 61 is rotatably provided. Has been engaged. The dog clutch 63 is rotated by a motor 69.

With the above configuration, when the motor 69 is driven to rotate the dog clutch 63 of the laser nozzle changing device 61, the bayonet member 57 is rotated from the clutch member 65a via the clutch member 65b, and the bayonet member 5 is rotated.
The engagement is released at a position where the projection 57a provided on the groove 7 matches the groove 59 provided on the cylinder 53, and the cylinder 53 can be lowered. That is, when the projection 57a and the groove 59 match, the laser nozzle 27 can be pulled out from the nozzle holder 55, and the laser nozzle 27 can be replaced.

The nozzle holder 55 is provided movably up and down in the C-axis moving body 47. That is, as shown in detail in FIG. 3, the nozzle holder 55 is provided with four columns 71 at four corners, and the columns 71 are formed in a pipe shape. Water supply and drainage and supply and discharge of assist gas are performed. Note that a cylindrical body 75 having a screw 73 formed in the middle of the support 71 is integrally fixed to the support 71.

A ring body 79 having a screw 77 screwed to the screw 73 is rotatably supported by a hollow cylindrical ring support 81, and the ring support 81 is attached to the C-axis moving body 47.
Are integrally fixed by screws 83. Ring body 7
9, a bevel gear 85a is formed on the lower side (the lower side in FIG. 2). The speed reducer 87 is connected to a C-axis vertical electric motor 91 which is a driving source.

With the above configuration, by driving the C-axis vertical electric motor 91, the bevel gear 8
5b rotates, and the bevel gear 85a formed on the ring body 79 meshed with the bevel gear 85b rotates. The screw 77 formed on the ring body 79 by the rotation of the ring body 79
Is rotated, and the cylinder 75 can be moved up and down via the screw 73 into which the screw 77 is screwed, and the nozzle holder 5 supported on the support 71 on which the cylinder 75 as an elevating member is integrated.
5 will move up and down.

By moving the nozzle holder 55 up and down, the distance between the lower end of the laser nozzle 27 and the surface of the work W can be set appropriately. The position shown by the dotted line in FIG. 2 is the lower limit of the laser nozzle 27 and the position of the laser nozzle 2.
7 shows the ascending limit of the cylindrical body 53 provided with the condensing lens 51 provided integrally with the nozzle 7. In FIG. 3, the descending limit of the nozzle holder 55 and the laser nozzle 27 is shown by a two-dot chain line.

With respect to the laser nozzle changing device 61,
This will be described in more detail. Referring to FIG. 1, the laser nozzle replacement device 61 includes a storage unit 93 that stores a number of laser nozzles 27 and an exchange unit 95 that replaces the laser nozzles 27.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, the laser nozzle changing device 61 is incorporated in a front support 7a which is a support 7 of the laser beam machine 1. The accommodating portion 93 is provided with a guide rail 97 extending in the X-axis direction in the front-side column 7a, and is fixed in the front-side column 7a by appropriate means. A notch 99 which is notched in one part is provided at an appropriate position of the guide rail 97, and the guide rail 9 is provided.
The shape of 7 has a T shape.

The width of the notch 99 is determined by the laser nozzle 27.
The width of the nozzle holder 101 that supports
Pressing plates 103 are movably mounted on guide rails 97 at both end sides of a plurality of stored nozzle holders 101, respectively. The driving member 10 for moving the pressing plate 103
5, the chain 109 is hung around sprockets 107 provided on the left and right along the longitudinal direction of the guide rail 97, and the pressing plate 103 is locked at an appropriate position of the chain 109. Although not shown, the sprocket 107 is rotatably held by the front-side column 7a, and includes a motor 111 on one side of the sprocket 107 and a position detecting member 113 on a concentric axis of the motor 111. An encoder and the like are provided.

With the above configuration, when the motor 111 is driven, the sprocket 107 rotates, and the sprocket 10
7, the chain 109 moves in the X-axis direction, and the pressing plate 103 locked to the chain 109 causes the nozzle holder 1 to move.
By pressing 01, the nozzle holder 101 supporting the desired laser nozzle 27 in the notch 99 is positioned. This control is performed by an encoder or the like serving as the position detecting member 113. In addition, a guide portion of a moving bracket, which is a member of an exchange portion 95 described later, is always positioned in the notch portion 99. Therefore, when the nozzle holder 101 accommodated in the guide rail 97 moves, the nozzle holder 101 does not fall from the notch 99.

The replacement section 95 is provided in the front support column 7a, and although not shown, the drive shaft 115 is rotated by an electric motor or a fluid cylinder or the like, and the drive shaft 115 and the moving bracket 117 are fixed. This moving bracket 1
A projection 121 for opening a door 119 provided on the front-side column 7a at the time of rotation is formed in the door 17, and the door 119 is normally urged in a closing direction by a spring or the like, although not shown.

The movable bracket 117 has a guide portion 123 having the same shape (T shape) as the guide rail 97 to be inserted into the notch 99 provided in the guide rail 97.
Is provided, and the nozzle holder 101 is mounted on the guide portion 123.

Further, the movable bracket 117 is provided with a state switching operating device 125 for operating the bayonet member 57 which is the nozzle holding device 56 described above. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the clutch member 65a, which can be disengaged, moves relative to the clutch member 65b that rotates the bayonet member 57 provided on the C-axis moving body 47 described above. It is provided on the bracket 117 side. Although the clutch members 65a and 65b are dog clutches 63 and have a well-known configuration, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. However, the clutch members 65a and 65b can be engaged and disengaged by operating members (not shown).

To rotate the dog clutch 63, the clutch member 65a is connected to a motor 69,
Is fixed to the moving bracket 117.

With the above configuration, the standby position of the movable bracket 117 is the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 7, and when the laser nozzle 27 of the laser processing head 17 is replaced, it rotates to the position shown by the dotted line.

That is, by operating an electric motor or a fluid cylinder (not shown), the movable bracket 117 can be positioned from the standby position to a position where the laser nozzle 27 of the laser processing head 17 is replaced. At the position where the laser nozzle 27 of the laser processing head 17 is replaced, the dog clutch 63 is engaged. Therefore, when the motor 69 is driven, the bayonet member 57 rotates through the dog clutch 63, and the laser nozzle 27 is attached and detached. .

When the movable bracket 117 is at the standby position, the guide portion 123 provided on the movable bracket 117 engages with the notch 9 of the guide rail 97 as described above.
9, the nozzle holder 101 can be freely moved.

Next, the operation of the laser nozzle replacement device 61 will be described step by step with reference to FIGS.

In order to finish the cutting of the workpiece W with the laser nozzle 27 provided in the laser processing head 17 and replace it with the laser nozzle 27 required for the next processing, the moving bracket 117 is moved from the standby position to the laser processing head. It turns to 17 side. An empty nozzle holder 101 is mounted on the moving bracket 17 and positioned just below the laser processing head 17. Then, the laser processing head 17 is lowered to insert the laser nozzle 27 into the empty nozzle holder 101.

At the position where the laser processing head 17 is lowered,
Since the movable bracket 117 is provided with a state switching operating device 125 for switching the laser nozzle 27 between the holding state and the released state, the dog clutch 63 of the state switching operating device 125 is connected, and the motor 69 is driven. The laser processing head 17 is driven by driving the state switching operation device 125.
Is rotated. That is, when the clutch member 65b rotates, the bayonet member 57 rotates, and the projection 57a of the bayonet member 57 stops at a position corresponding to the groove 59 provided in the cylindrical body 53. At this position, the laser nozzle Reference numeral 27 releases the lock and enters the released state.

Next, when the laser processing head 17 is raised, the laser nozzle 27 is held by the nozzle holder 101 supported by the guide portion 123 of the moving bracket 117. The notch 99 is fitted.

Thereafter, the nozzle holder 10 holding the plurality of laser nozzles 27 housed in the guide rail 97 is provided.
The nozzle holder 101 provided with the laser nozzle 27 necessary for the next processing is moved and positioned in the notch 99. Nozzle holder 101 positioned in notch 99
Rotates the moving bracket 117 to move the guide rail 97
It is further extracted and moved to just below the laser processing head 17.

Then, the laser processing head 17 is lowered to insert the laser nozzle 27 into the nozzle holder 55, and the state switching operating device 125 is operated to hold the nozzle holder 55 and the laser nozzle 27 by the bayonet member 57.

When the replacement operation is completed, the laser processing head 17 is raised, and the movable bracket 117 is rotated toward the guide rail 97 which is the standby position.

Thus, the laser nozzle 2 is composed of simple components.
Since the replacement of 7 can be performed in a short time, productivity can be improved and cost can be reduced.

On the other hand, the pallet 5 on which the workpiece W is placed
Referring to FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7, the pallet 5 is supported on the front side of the base 3 (the right side in FIGS. 4 and 6, the front side in FIG. 5, and the lower side in FIG. 6) in the X-axis direction. For example, a large number of free bearings, which are support rows 127, are provided. A large number of support rollers 127 are also provided on the rear side in the X-axis direction of the carriage 129, and the carriage 129 is mounted on a carriage base 131 integrally fixed to the front-side column 7a.
For example, it is slidably provided in the X-axis direction via an LM guide or the like.

Referring to FIG. 8, the frame 137 of the motor 135 is fixed to the carriage 129, and the carriage 129 is slid in the X-axis direction via the radial bearing 139 and the slide bearing 141. And is rotatably mounted on the motor core 143. The motor core 143 includes a nut member 145.
Are integrally provided, and the nut member 145 is provided with a screw shaft 147.
(For example, a ball screw or the like) is screwed into the screw shaft 147.
Is extended in the X-axis direction, and both ends of the
1 are fixed to both sides.

By driving the motor 135 with the above configuration, the nut member 145 with which the screw shaft 147 is screwed
Rotates, and moves on the screw shaft 147 to the left and right in the X-axis direction. Therefore, the carriage 129 is movable in the X-axis direction, and the sliding member 133 provided on the carriage base 131 is provided.
Thereby, the movement is smoothly performed in the left-right direction.

The pallet 5 on the support roller 127 provided on the carriage 129 is clamped by the clamp members 149 provided on both sides of the carriage 129. In addition, as the clamp member 149, the pallet 5 is clamped by, for example, moving the presser plate 153 by a fluid-actuated cylinder 151.

With the above configuration, the pallet 5 can be smoothly placed on the base 3 with the support roller 127 as a guide.
The carriage 129 side of the pallet 5 on the base 3 is clamped by a clamp member 149, and the motor 13
By driving the pallet 5, the pallet 5 becomes movable in the X-axis direction together with the movement of the carriage 129. The front side of the pallet 5 at the time of movement is smoothly moved with the support roller 127 provided on the front side of the base 3 serving as a guide.

As an additional member other than those described above, a cover 155 is provided to cover the processing portion of the laser processing machine 1, and the top plate is openable and closable. Further, when laser processing is performed on the work W placed on the pallet 5, the base 3 receives scrap generated by a chip conveyor 157 provided below the pallet 5, and receives the scrap bucket 15.
9 is provided with a scrap transport device 161 for storing scrap.

In the laser processing machine 1 having the above-described configuration, the laser nozzle 27 can be replaced in a short time without any manual operation, so that productivity can be improved and cost can be reduced.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be embodied in other modes by making appropriate changes. In the present embodiment, the guide rail 97 of the laser nozzle replacement device 61 has been described as extending in the X-axis direction. However, the guide rail 97 extending in the Y-axis direction can be employed. Although the motor 69 has been described as the device 125, a drive source such as an actuator may be used.

[0053]

As will be understood from the above description of the embodiment, according to the present invention, a nozzle holder having a plurality of laser nozzles housed in a guide rail is moved by a moving bracket to a nozzle of a laser processing head. A state switching actuating device for positioning the laser processing head at the exchange position, providing a laser nozzle provided on the laser processing head to be freely housed in the guide rail, and switching the nozzle holding device provided on the laser processing head between a holding state and a released state. Provided on the moving bracket.

Thus, the nozzle can be replaced in a short time with a simple structure, and no manpower is required, so that productivity can be improved and cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 is an enlarged front perspective view showing a main part of the present invention, and is a part viewed from an arrow I in FIG. 4;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along a line II in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a part viewed from an arrow III in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view showing a laser beam machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, taken along a line IV in FIG. 5;

FIG. 5 is a front view of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of FIG.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the part viewed from the arrow VII in FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the arrow VIII in FIG. 6;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Laser processing machine 7 Prop (frame) 17 Laser processing head 27 Laser nozzle 56 Nozzle holding device 97 Guide rail 99 Notch 101 Nozzle holder 117 Moving bracket 123 Guide part 125 State switching operation device

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B23K 26/00-26/14

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A laser processing machine comprising a laser processing head for performing laser processing on a work and having a laser nozzle detachably mounted and replaceable, and a guide extending and provided on a frame of the laser processing machine in the X-axis or Y-axis direction. Rail (9
7) a plurality of nozzle holders (101), which detachably support a laser nozzle (27) to be replaced, are movably supported and provided, and a notch (99) formed in a part of the guide rail (97). ), The guide portion (1) having the same cross-sectional shape as that of the guide rail (97) and capable of supporting the appropriate nozzle holder (101) so as not to drop.
The movable bracket (117) provided with the laser processing head (17) is positioned at a position where the guide portion (123) is engaged with the notch (99) of the guide rail (97) and the laser processing head (17). The laser nozzle (2) is movably provided at a nozzle replacement position where the nozzle (27) is replaced.
7) A laser processing machine comprising a laser processing head provided with a nozzle holding device capable of holding and releasing. 2. The laser according to claim 1, wherein a state switching operation device for switching a nozzle holding device provided in the laser processing head between a nozzle holding state and a released state is provided on the moving bracket. Processing machine.