JP3830809B2 - Laser processing system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a laser processing system that performs predetermined processing by conveying a single workpiece onto a stage and irradiating it with laser light.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, for example, when processing a workpiece on a stage with a laser, the workpiece is transported and fixed on the stage, and predetermined processing is performed by irradiating the workpiece with laser light based on processing information. It is common to apply. For example, predetermined information is also formed on the paper by forming a through-hole with a laser on the paper or scraping a predetermined depth. In this way, it is necessary to stably carry a workpiece to be processed on the stage, particularly a flexible workpiece such as paper, onto the stage.
[0003]
Here, FIG. 7 shows an explanatory diagram of a stage portion in a conventional laser processing system. 7A is a schematic perspective view of a stage portion in the laser processing system, FIG. 7B is an explanatory view of one form of the stage surface, and FIG. 7C is an explanatory view of another form of the stage surface. In FIG. 7A, in the laser processing system 101, for example, a suction unit 103 for fixing a workpiece is provided below a stage 102 for processing, and a laser irradiation unit 104 is disposed above. For example, when a single sheet 105 as a workpiece is conveyed to the stage 102 and is conveyed to a predetermined position on the stage 102, the suction means 103 fixes the workpiece 102 in the suction state on the stage 102. Although not shown in the figure, a conveying unit that conveys the sheet 105 onto the stage 102 is performed by, for example, belt conveyance driving.
[0004]
The stage 102 has a suction hole formed on the surface thereof so that the sheet 105 is sucked and fixed by the suction means 103. For example, as shown in FIG. 7B, a predetermined number of flat circular holes 111 are formed at equal intervals or irregularly on the entire surface of the stage 102, or as shown in FIG. In general, honeycomb holes 112 having a honeycomb structure on the surface are formed.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when a flexible workpiece such as paper 105 is transported onto the stage 102, the surface of the stage 102 is formed by circular holes 111 and honeycomb holes 112, so that it is transported at the edge portion. There is a problem that a sheet (workpiece) to be caught is caught and easily causes a conveyance failure, and a stable work piece cannot be conveyed onto the stage.
[0006]
Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a laser processing system capable of stably transporting a workpiece on a stage.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 1 is a laser processing system for performing predetermined processing by irradiating a workpiece with laser light in accordance with predetermined processing information, and the inside is for suction. a spatial region, the the mounting surface of the workpiece, conveyance direction freely rotating rollers of the workpiece is provided a predetermined number, a stage Ru is an opening for suction between the rollers, A suction mechanism that is provided for the space area of the stage and sucks and fixes the workpiece on the placement surface from the suction opening, and at least transports the workpiece to the stage. And a laser irradiation means for performing predetermined processing by irradiating the workpiece positioned on the stage with laser light.
[0008]
In the invention of claim 2, "the range occupied by the predetermined number of rollers provided in the stage is greater than the laser irradiation range by the laser irradiation unit" is a configuration.
[0009]
Thus, the workpiece which has been conveyed by the conveying means is conveyed to the stage, is placed at a predetermined position of the stage in the rotation or the like to the conveying direction of the roller of Tokoro constant the suction opening between the rollers After the workpiece is sucked and fixed , predetermined laser processing is performed by the laser irradiation means. That is, the position of the workpiece can be prevented from being displaced by the suction means during laser processing, and smoke can be discharged, and the workpiece to be loaded is fixed by suction when the roller rotates at the suction opening portion . Therefore, the workpiece can be smoothly positioned on the stage without being caught by the opening portion for preventing the conveyance failure, and the workpiece can be stably conveyed on the stage.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, a case is described in which a workpiece is paper, and characters and figures are appropriately printed on the paper, and a laser processing mode can be applied to either penetration or surface cutting. This means that the workpiece is not limited to a sheet, and is not limited to a processing form, and any material may be used as long as it has an effect of preventing a conveyance failure on the stage in the present invention. Of course.
[0011]
FIG. 1 shows a configuration diagram of a first embodiment of a laser processing system according to the present invention. A laser processing system 11 shown in FIG. 1 shows a main part thereof, and includes a stage 12, belt conveying units 13 and 14 as conveying means, laser irradiation means 15 and a suction mechanism 16 as a fixing means. Is done. The stage 12 is provided with a predetermined number of rollers 21 that are rotatable members that are rotatable at least in the conveying direction of the paper on the mounting surface of the paper that is the workpiece (described in FIG. 2). Each roller 21 is made of aluminum having an outer diameter of 6 mm and a length of 150 mm, for example, and is subjected to a process of anodizing the surface to form a black corrosion-resistant oxide film in order to prevent reflection of laser light.
[0012]
Further, each roller 21 is disposed, for example, 0.5 mm higher than the surface of the stage 12, and is provided larger than the laser irradiation range by the laser irradiation means 15 as a range occupied on the stage 12. These rollers 21 can be removed one by one, for example, by providing a spring in the shaft 21A. Although the figure shows a case where eight rollers 21 are arranged as an example, for example, when using A4 size paper, 21 rollers 21 having the above dimensions are arranged at a pitch of 7 mm.
[0013]
The belt transport unit 13 is for transporting paper to the stage 12, and the belt transport unit 14 is for discharging paper that has been laser processed on the stage 12. Each of the belt conveyance units 13 and 14 is illustrated as being conveyed with a paper sheet to be processed placed thereon, but may be configured in two stages so as to sandwich and convey the paper sheet. Good. Further, a mechanism for discharging the paper to the belt conveyance unit 14 is omitted, and for example, the paper can be discharged by rotationally driving a predetermined number of rotating members 21 on the belt conveyance 14 side.
[0014]
The laser irradiating means 15 is for performing predetermined processing by irradiating the paper positioned on the stage 12 with laser light based on processing information transmitted from a control means (not shown). The laser irradiation by the laser irradiation unit 15 is performed by scanning on the paper within a laser irradiation range by a drive control unit (not shown).
[0015]
The suction mechanism 16 is for preventing a paper position shift during laser processing by sucking and fixing the paper on the processing position of the stage 12 during laser processing from between the rollers 21. In this case, the suction force is appropriately adjusted according to the thickness, hardness, and the like of the paper (workpiece) so that the paper to be sucked does not wave with each roller 21. The suction mechanism 16 also serves to discharge smoke generated during laser processing.
[0016]
Here, FIG. 2 shows a configuration diagram of the stage of FIG. 2A is a plan view of the stage, and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2A. 2A and 2B, the inside of the stage 12 is a space region, and an opening 22 is formed on the upper surface (surface). In the figure, as an example, eight rollers 21 (21 in the case of A4 size paper) are supported by the shaft 21A so as to be rotatable in the paper conveyance direction between the opposing side portions in the opening 22. It is a thing. These rollers 21 may be rotated by simply applied force, or may be controlled by a driving unit (not shown).
[0017]
Then, assuming that the paper 31 indicated by a two-dot chain line is positioned on the stage 12, the paper 31 is sucked and fixed between the rollers 21 provided in the opening 22 as air passages. It will be. Further, a laser irradiation range 32 by the laser irradiation means 15 on the stage 12 is indicated by a one-dot chain line, and each roller 21 is provided with a larger area on the stage 12 than the laser irradiation range 32. .
[0018]
That is, as shown in FIG. 2B, when the paper 31 is placed on the stage 12 at the processing position by the rotation of the corresponding roller 21 (and / or slipping on the surface of the roller 21), the suction mechanism 16 The sheet 21 is fixed in the same state as when the sheet 21 is adsorbed on the surface of each roller 21 by the suction force between the rollers 21 by the suction drive.
[0019]
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a state during processing of the laser processing system in FIG. In FIG. 3, the paper 31 is transported by the belt transport unit 13 and transported onto the stage 12. At that time, the stage smoothly moves without being caught by any rotation (and surface slippage) of the corresponding roller 21. 12 is carried to the machining position and positioned. At that time, the sheet 31 is sucked and fixed by the suction drive of the suction mechanism 16.
[0020]
Based on the predetermined processing information, the laser irradiation unit 15 sequentially irradiates the laser beam 15A to a predetermined position on the paper 31 to perform laser processing. After the laser processing, suction by the suction mechanism 16 is released, and the processed paper 31 is discharged to the belt transport unit 14 and transported to a stacker or the like.
[0021]
Thus, when the paper 31 is carried onto the stage 12, the paper 31 is smoothly caught on the stage 12 without being caught by any rotation of the corresponding roller 21. Thus, the paper 31 can be stably conveyed onto the stage 12. In addition, the contact area between each roller 21 and the paper 31 is small, so that damage to the roller 21 can be reduced during laser penetration, and each roller 21 can be removed to damage the roller. 21 can be easily exchanged.
[0022]
Next, FIG. 4 shows a configuration diagram of another embodiment of the laser processing system according to the present invention. Although the roller 21 provided on the stage 12 of the laser processing system 11 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 is shown as being arranged in one row with respect to the paper transport direction, the laser processing system 11 shown in FIG. For example, two openings 22A and 22B are formed and each roller 21A is arranged in two rows. The roller 21A in this case is only different in length, and the range occupied by the entire roller 21A on the stage 12 is larger than the laser irradiation range 32 as described above.
[0023]
As described above, even when the rollers 21A are arranged in two rows with respect to the paper conveyance direction, the paper 31 can be stably conveyed onto the stage 12 as described above. Therefore, the rollers 21A are not limited to being arranged in two rows, but can be arranged in a plurality of rows as appropriate.
[0024]
Next, FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of a second embodiment of the laser processing system according to the present invention, and FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of the stage of FIG. 5 and 6 are shown as a single embodiment, they may be mixed with the rotating member in the first embodiment. The laser processing system 11 shown in FIG. 5 has a predetermined number of rolls that can rotate at least in the transport direction of a sheet as a workpiece in a holding body 41A as shown in FIG. A spherical roller 41, which is a member, is provided, and a predetermined number of holes 42 are provided at predetermined locations (FIGS. 5 and 6A). Other configurations are the same as those in FIGS. Therefore, explanation is omitted. Note that FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG.
[0025]
That is, each spherical roller 41 is made of, for example, a stainless steel sphere having an outer diameter of 6 mm, and is provided with a surface that is blackened to prevent reflection of laser light and has a height of, for example, 5 mm from the surface of the stage 12. is there. As shown in FIG. 6B, each spherical roller 41 is provided with a corresponding number of holding bodies 41A provided on the stage 12 so as not to be detached from the holding body 41A. As if it were a ball bearing, it was built in any direction so as to be freely rotatable.
[0026]
The holes 42 are for sucking and fixing the positioned paper 31 and for discharging smoke generated by the laser irradiation of the penetrating process, and the number and arrangement thereof are appropriately set. Furthermore, at least the range occupied by each of the spherical rollers 41 on the stage 12 is provided larger than the laser irradiation range 32 as described above.
[0027]
Then, as shown in FIG. 6B, when the corresponding spherical roller 41 rotates (and slips) with respect to the paper 31 carried on the stage 12, the paper 31 is caught in either. However, after the paper 31 is smoothly transported to the processing position and the paper 31 is sucked and fixed by the suction mechanism 16, the laser beam 15A is irradiated from the laser irradiation means 15 according to the processing information, and laser processing is performed. 5 and 6 show the case where the rolling member as the rotating member is a spherical roller 41, a rod-like rolling member that is rotatable in the paper conveyance direction may be used.
[0028]
As described above, by configuring the rotating member provided on the stage 12 with a rolling member, the paper 31 can be stably conveyed onto the stage 12 as described above. Further, the contact area between each spherical roller 41 (rolling member) and the paper 31 is small, and damage to the roller 41 (rolling member) at the time of penetration processing by a laser can be reduced.
[0029]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when the workpiece conveyed by the conveying means is carried into the stage, the workpiece is placed at a predetermined position of the stage by rotating the predetermined number of rollers in the conveying direction or the like. After the workpiece is sucked and fixed by the suction opening between the rollers, the laser irradiation means performs predetermined laser processing to prevent the workpiece from being displaced during processing and to discharge smoke. In addition, the workpiece to be loaded can be smoothly positioned on the stage without being caught by the opening for suction fixation, and it is possible to prevent the conveyance trouble, and the workpiece can be stably placed on the stage. It can be transported.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a first embodiment of a laser processing system according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the stage of FIG. 1;
3 is an explanatory diagram of a state during processing of the laser processing system in FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of another embodiment of a laser processing system according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a second embodiment of a laser processing system according to the present invention.
6 is a configuration diagram of the stage of FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a stage portion in a conventional laser processing system.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Laser processing system 12 Stages 13 and 14 Belt conveyance part 15 Laser irradiation means 16 Suction mechanism 21 Roller 22 Opening part 31 Paper 32 Laser irradiation range 41 Roller 42 Hole

Claims (2)

A laser processing system for performing predetermined processing by irradiating a workpiece with laser light according to predetermined processing information,
Inside a space region for sucking the the mounting surface of the workpiece, conveyance direction freely rotating rollers of the workpiece is provided a predetermined number, the opening for the suction between the rollers a stage Ru is,
A suction mechanism that is provided for the space area of the stage and sucks and fixes the workpiece on the placement surface from the opening for suction;
At least conveying means for conveying the workpiece to the stage;
Laser irradiation means for performing predetermined processing by irradiating the workpiece placed on the stage with laser light;
A laser processing system comprising: 2. The laser processing system according to claim 1, wherein a range occupied by the predetermined number of rollers provided on the stage is larger than a laser irradiation range by the laser irradiation means.

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