JP3038083B2 - Nozzle changing device in laser beam 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 nozzle exchanging apparatus for a laser beam machine, and more particularly, to a laser beam machine for automatically exchanging nozzles by utilizing the movement of a table or a machining head in the X and Y axes. The present invention relates to a nozzle changing device in a machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a laser beam machine, it is necessary to replace a consumable nozzle, and the nozzle is generally replaced by hand.

[0003]

However, there is a problem that the nozzle replacement in the above-mentioned conventional laser processing machine requires manual labor and replacement time. In recent years, the laser processing machine has been increasingly automated, and there is no operator. Although it became necessary to operate at night, there is a need for automatic replacement of consumables such as nozzles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to improve the above-mentioned problems by using a laser processing machine which is capable of automatically changing nozzles without adding any drive system to a current laser processing machine, and achieving automation of the machine. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a device for replacing a nozzle in a machine.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention relates to a laser processing head provided in a laser processing machine, in which a nozzle and a table on which a work is placed are relatively moved along X and Y axes. The table is provided with a nozzle exchange section, and the nozzle exchange section is provided with a plurality of nozzle holding sections that rotate using the relative movement of the nozzle and the table in the X and Y axis directions. Thus, a nozzle changing device in the laser beam machine was configured.

[0006]

By using the nozzle replacement device in the laser processing machine of the present invention, when replacing the nozzle, the nozzle provided on the laser processing head is replaced with an empty nozzle holding portion which is the replacement position of the nozzle replacement portion provided on the table. And mount the nozzle on the empty nozzle holding section. When the nozzle and the table are relatively moved in the X and Y-axis directions in this state, the nozzle holding unit rotates within the nozzle replacing unit, and when the nozzle holding unit holding the nozzle to be replaced comes to the replacing position, Stop the movement of the nozzle or table. Then, the nozzle is removed from the laser processing head, and a new nozzle is replaced.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. The laser processing device and the table on which the work is placed have a known configuration, and thus detailed illustration and description are omitted.

Referring to FIG. 3, a laser processing machine 1 includes a laser oscillator 3, and a portal frame 5 constituting the laser processing machine 1 includes a laser processing head 9 having a nozzle 7 for irradiating a laser beam. Is provided. The laser processing head 9 is movable in the Y-axis direction (vertical direction in FIG. 3).

At a position below the laser processing head 9,
A table 11 for supporting a workpiece W to be cut or cut is provided so as to be movable in the X-axis direction (left-right direction in FIG. 3) by driving a driving member (not shown). A plurality of work clamps 13 for fixing the work W are provided on the table 11 so as to be adjustable in position. Reference numeral 15 denotes an operation box. Further, a nozzle replacement unit 17 is provided at one end of the table 11.

After the work W is mounted on the table 11, the work W is fixed by the work clamp 13 and the laser beam is radiated from the nozzle 7 of the laser processing head 9 to the work W. By appropriately moving the laser processing head in the X-axis direction and the laser processing head 9 in the Y-axis direction, the workpiece W is cut or cut into an appropriate shape.

The nozzle replacement section 17 will be described in more detail.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG.
1 at one end, that is, Y of the laser processing head 9
A nozzle replacement section 17 is provided on one side of the table 11 on a line moving in the axial direction.

In the nozzle replacement section 17, an outer cylinder 21 is integrally provided on a base 19 mounted and fixed on the table 11 by bolts or the like. The outer cylinder 21 is divided into upper and lower cylinders 21a, 21b. An internal gear 21c provided with internal teeth 23 between 21b is mounted and integrated. And the cylinder 2
Bearings 25 are mounted on the inner diameter sides of 1a and 21b. Reference numeral 27 denotes a bearing retainer, which is fixed on the cylindrical body 21a.

A disk 2 is provided on the inner diameter side of each bearing 25.
9a and 29b are mounted, and the disks 29a and 29b
The gear shaft 31 is mounted eccentrically from the center of b through the disks 29a and 29b via the bearing 33. A small gear 35 is provided integrally with the gear shaft 31. The small gear 35 is formed on the internal gear 23c formed on the internal gear 21c.
Are engaged. Further, reference numeral 37 denotes a bearing retainer.

At the upper end of the gear shaft 31, a nozzle holding portion 3 is provided.
9 are provided. That is, the nozzle holder main body 41 is integrally provided on the gear shaft 31 via the pin 43, and an engaging portion 45 that engages with the laser nozzle 7 is formed on the upper surface of the nozzle holder main body 41. Have been. The laser nozzle 7 is screwed to the laser processing head 9 by a screw 47.

As shown in FIG. 2, the nozzle holding portion 39 has a plurality of nozzles (in this embodiment, three nozzles at a position of 120 degrees).
Pieces) are arranged.

With the above configuration, the operation is such that the small gear 35 fixed to the gear shaft 31 on which the nozzle holding portion 39 is mounted is the internal gear 2c of the internal gear 21c provided on the outer cylinder 21.
3, the nozzle holding portion 39 has the internal teeth 23.
Along the inner gear 21c.

Therefore, when replacing the laser nozzle 7 screwed to the laser processing head 9, the center of the nozzle replacement section 17 provided on the table 11 is positioned on the movement line on which the laser processing head 9 moves in the Y-axis direction. I do. At this time, the nozzle holding unit 39 positions the empty nozzle holding unit 39 without the laser nozzle 7 at the exchange position P (see FIG. 3) on the movement line of the laser processing head 9 in the Y-axis direction. Then, the laser processing head 9 on which the laser nozzle 7 to be replaced is screwed is moved in the Y-axis direction and positioned just above the empty nozzle holding portion 39, and then the laser nozzle 7 to be replaced with the empty nozzle holding portion 39 is lowered. And attach it. At this time, although not shown, the laser nozzle 7 and the nozzle holding portion 39 are fixed so as not to slip.

Next, the table 11 is moved in the X-axis direction, and the laser processing head 9 is moved in the Y-axis direction. The nozzle holder 39 is rotated along the internal gear 21c by the movement of the two in the Y-axis and Y-axis directions. The nozzle 7 comes off the laser processing head 9.

Next, in order to mount a new laser nozzle 7 on the laser processing head 9, it is possible to mount the new laser nozzle 7 by performing the above operation in reverse. That is, the nozzle holder 39 containing the new laser nozzle 7 to be replaced is positioned at the nozzle replacement position P, the table 11 is moved in the X-axis direction while the laser processing head 9 is lowered, and the laser processing head 9 is moved in the Y-axis direction. Then, when the nozzle holding unit 39 is moved in a direction opposite to the above-described rotation direction, the laser nozzle 7 is screwed into the laser processing head 9.

With the configuration and operation described above, the exchange is performed by using the movement of the table 11 and the laser processing head 9 in the X and Y axis directions without requiring a drive system, so that night operation can be supported. The nozzle can be automatically replaced at the time set by the operator.

In addition, it is easy to retrofit a machine already delivered, and in the future, the wear of the laser nozzle 7 will be detected, and replacement at that time will be possible, so that the machine can be automated.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be embodied in other modes by making appropriate changes. For example, in the present embodiment, the laser processing machine 1 in which the table 11 moves in the X-axis direction and the laser processing head 9 moves in the Y-axis direction has been described, but the table 11 moves in the X-axis and Y-axis directions, and the processing head 9 The present invention is also applicable to a fixed laser processing machine or a laser processing machine that fixes the table 11 and moves the processing head 9 in the X-axis and Y-axis directions.

[0024]

As will be understood from the above description of the embodiments, according to the present invention, since the structure is as described in the claims, the laser nozzle screwed to the laser processing head The nozzle can be replaced by rotating the nozzle holding unit using the movement of the table and the laser processing head in the X- and Y-axis directions without adding any driving source. Thus, the nozzle can be automatically replaced, and the machine can be automated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a main part of the present invention and showing a nozzle replacement part.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory plan view showing a schematic configuration of a laser beam machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Laser processing machine 7 Laser nozzle 9 Laser processing head 11 Table 17 Nozzle exchange part 39 Nozzle holding part

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] A nozzle mounted on a laser processing head provided in a laser processing machine and a table on which a workpiece is mounted are relatively movably provided in X and Y axes directions, and the table is provided with a nozzle replacement unit; A nozzle exchanging device for a laser beam machine, wherein the nozzle exchanging unit is provided with a plurality of nozzle holding units that rotate using relative movement of the nozzle and the table in the X and Y axis directions.