JP4001534B2 - Laser marking machine gimbal mechanism - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a laser marking device that projects laser light for marking on irradiated objects such as walls, ceilings, and floors in construction sites and the like, and in particular, supports a pendulum equipped with a laser light source unit. The present invention relates to a gimbal mechanism that is swingably supported.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A laser marking device generally uses a semiconductor laser as a laser light source. Since the laser light emitted from the semiconductor laser is diffused light, it is made into a substantially parallel light beam by a collimator lens, and diffused only in one direction by transmitting it through a cylindrical rod lens. The laser marking device is designed to project a vertical line or a horizontal line by laser light by projecting on an irradiated object such as a floor. The laser marking device uses a gimbal mechanism so that a vertical line or a horizontal line is drawn correctly even when the installation posture is inclined. That is, a pendulum is always suspended by a gimbal mechanism so as to maintain a predetermined posture, and a laser light source unit in which a semiconductor laser, a collimator lens, a rod lens and the like are integrally held by a holder is attached to the pendulum, and the light source unit Is always in a fixed posture.
[0003]
The gimbal mechanism in a laser marking device generally uses precision parts such as ball bearings as bearings, and supports the shaft rotatably with the pair of bearings, and the pendulum is suspended by the shaft so as to swing. Yes. FIG. 3 shows an outline of the laser marking device.
[0004]
In FIG. 3, three legs 40 are attached to the lower surface side of the plate-like base 10 which becomes the base of the laser marking device to constitute a tripod. Each leg 40 can adjust the protrusion length from the base 10 so that the posture of the base 10 can be adjusted horizontally. An appropriate number of, for example, three support columns 12 are erected on the upper surface side of the base 10, and a gimbal mechanism 15 is attached to the upper end of each support column 12. The gimbal mechanism 15 has a fixed frame 16 on the outer peripheral side and a swing frame supported by a shaft 22 on the inner side thereof so as to be swingable. Further, the pendulum 20 is swingably supported with respect to the swing frame. And a shaft (not shown). The shaft 22 is composed of a pair of shafts arranged on the same line, and supports the swing frame so as to be swingable from both sides. The shaft that supports the pendulum 20 in a swingable manner is an axis that is orthogonal to the shaft 22. A so-called gyro is formed by the fixed frame 16, the shaft 22, the swing frame, a shaft for suspending the pendulum 20 by the swing frame, and the pendulum 20 swings in all directions with respect to the fixed frame 16. It can be moved.
[0005]
Laser light source units 44 and 46 are incorporated in the pendulum 20. Each of the laser light source units 44 and 46 diffuses the laser light source made of a semiconductor laser, a collimator lens that makes the laser light from the laser light source substantially parallel, and the laser light that becomes substantially parallel light flux only in one direction. It includes optical components such as a cylindrical lens (hereinafter referred to as “rod lens”). Moreover, it has the holder which hold | maintains these optical components. One laser light source unit 44 is a laser light source unit for irradiating a laser line light in the vertical direction for diffusing and projecting laser light only in the vertical direction, and is attached to the upper end of the pendulum 20. The other laser light source unit 46 is a horizontal laser line light irradiation laser light source unit that diffuses and projects laser light only in the horizontal direction, and is attached to the pendulum 20 below the gimbal mechanism 15.
[0006]
The pendulum 20 is suspended through the gimbal mechanism 15 so that the pendulum 20 always takes a predetermined posture, that is, a vertical posture with respect to the base 10 of the laser marking device and a member integral with the base 10. Can do. The laser light source unit 44 emits vertical laser line light, and the laser light source unit 16 emits horizontal laser line light. The laser light source unit for laser line light irradiation is a laser light source such as a semiconductor laser, a collimator lens that makes diffuse laser light emitted from the laser light source a parallel light beam, a rod lens that diffuses the parallel light beam only in one direction, and these optical components It is comprised by the holder etc. which hold | maintain. If the laser light source unit is arranged so that the rod lens diffuses the parallel light beam only in the vertical direction, it becomes a laser light source unit for laser line light irradiation in the vertical direction, and the rod lens diffuses the parallel light beam only in the horizontal direction. If the laser light source unit is arranged as described above, a laser light source unit for irradiating a horizontal laser line light is obtained.
[0007]
FIG. 4 shows an example of a gimbal mechanism in a conventional laser marking device. As described above, the gimbal mechanism is a shaft that supports the fixed frame and the swing frame so as to be swingable, and an axis that is perpendicular to the shaft, and supports the pendulum so as to swing relative to the swing frame. Shaft. FIG. 4 shows an example of a support mechanism for the pendulum 20 with respect to the swing frame 17. In FIG. 4, the swing frame 17 is supported so as to be swingable by being connected to a fixed frame (not shown) arranged outside thereof by a horizontal shaft. The swing frame 17 rotatably supports both ends of the shaft 23 with a pair of bearings 24 and 26 interposed therebetween. The relationship among the swing frame 17, the bearings 24 and 26, and the shaft 23 is as follows.
[0008]
The outer ring 27 of one of the bearings 24 and 26 (on the left side in FIG. 4) of the pair of bearings 24 and 26 is fitted in a fitting hole on one side of the swing frame 17. An outer nut 34 is screwed into a female screw portion formed outside the fitting hole. The outer ring 27 is sandwiched between the outer nut 34 and the step portion of the fitting hole and is fixed to the swing frame 17. The other bearing 26 (on the right side in FIG. 4) of the bearings 24, 26 that are paired is fitted in the other fitting hole of the swing frame 17 so that the outer ring 31 is slidable in the axial direction. An outer nut 52 is screwed into a female thread portion formed outside the other fitting hole, and the position of the outer ring 31 is regulated by the screwed position of the outer nut 52. Inner rings 28 and 32 of the bearings 24 and 26 are substantially integrally coupled to both ends of the shaft 23. As apparent from the configuration described above, the outer nut 52 is a nut for applying a pressure, that is, an axial pressing force to the bearings 24 and 26 that make a pair, and adjusting the pressure.
[0009]
The shaft 23 penetrates the pendulum 20, and the pendulum 20 and the shaft 23 are substantially integrated by pressing the set screw 48 screwed into the pendulum 20 at the intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction of the shaft 23 against the shaft 23. . The pendulum 20 is supported so as to be able to swing together with the shaft 23.
The structure similar to the support mechanism described above can also be applied to a structure in which the swing frame is swingably supported with respect to the fixed frame. The swing frame support mechanism for the fixed frame and the swing frame are By having a pendulum support mechanism, a so-called gyro-type gimbal mechanism is configured.
The gimbal mechanism described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-213554 (Patent Document 1) is based on the same technical idea as the conventional gimbal mechanism shown in FIG.
[0010]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-213554
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the gimbal mechanism of the laser marking device, the pressure applied to the paired bearings affects the operation sensitivity of the gimbal mechanism (responsiveness of the posture correction of the pendulum relative to the tilt of the marking device body). In order to eliminate the rattling of the gimbal mechanism, it is necessary to apply a certain amount of pressure. However, as the pressure increases, the operation sensitivity of the gimbal mechanism decreases. Therefore, according to the gimbal mechanism of the conventional laser marking device as shown in FIG. 4, the operation sensitivity of the gimbal mechanism is accurately adjusted while finely adjusting the pressure applied to the bearing by the outer nut 52 for adjusting the pressure. There is a need to. However, the operation sensitivity adjustment work by the outer nut 52 involves a delicate and troublesome pressurization adjustment work, so that a long time is required for the adjustment.
[0012]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems of the prior art. Basically, a predetermined operation sensitivity of the gimbal mechanism can be obtained without adjusting the pressure applied to the bearing. The laser marking device has been devised so that it is sufficient to adjust the pressurization only when necessary, and to make it easy to work even when adjusting the pressurization. An object of the present invention is to provide a gimbal mechanism.
[0013]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 1 is arranged between a pendulum to which a laser light source unit for emitting laser light in a predetermined direction is mounted and a support, and the pendulum can be swung freely. A gimbal mechanism for a laser marking device to be supported, which includes a shaft that suspends a pendulum, an outer ring and an inner ring that can rotate relative to each other, and is interposed between the support and the shaft so as to rotatably support the shaft. And a pressing member that presses one inner ring of the pair of bearings in the axial direction of the shaft and fixes it to the shaft. The other inner ring of the pair of bearings is provided so as to be slidable with respect to the shaft.
[0014]
One of the paired bearings has an outer ring fixed to the support and an inner ring fixed to the shaft. The other bearing of the pair of bearings has an inner ring slidably fitted on the shaft, so that no pressure is applied to the pair of bearings. Therefore, the operation sensitivity of the gimbal mechanism is guaranteed the maximum operation sensitivity depending on the accuracy of the bearing. The accuracy of the gimbal mechanism depends on the accuracy of the paired bearings, and it is not necessary to apply pressure to the bearing as long as the accuracy of the bearing is within an allowable range.
[0015]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the pressing member is a nut.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the other inner ring of the pair of bearings is pressed in the axial direction of the shaft by the second pressing member.
[0016]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention, the second pressing member is a nut screwed into the shaft so that the position thereof can be adjusted.
When the accuracy of the bearing is outside the allowable range, the position of the second pressing member made of a nut with respect to the shaft is adjusted. As a result, a pressure is applied to the pair of bearings and the pressure can be adjusted, so that both the accuracy of the gimbal mechanism and the operation sensitivity can be ensured.
[0017]
The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that each outer ring of a pair of bearings is fixed to a support.
[0018]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of a gimbal mechanism of a laser marking device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The gimbal mechanism according to the present invention can be applied to a laser marking device configured to swingably support a pendulum mounted with a laser light source unit that emits laser light in a predetermined direction with a support, The present invention can also be applied to the laser marking device having the configuration described with reference to FIG. Therefore, the description of the outline of the laser marking device is omitted. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the same reference numerals are given to the components corresponding to the components in the examples shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.
[0019]
FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a gimbal mechanism of a laser marking device according to the present invention. As described in the outline of the laser marking device shown in FIG. 3, the gimbal mechanism is a shaft that supports the fixed frame and the swing frame so as to be swingable, and an axis in a direction perpendicular to the shaft. And a shaft for swingably supporting the pendulum with respect to the frame. FIG. 1 shows an example of a support mechanism for the pendulum 20 with respect to the swing frame 17. In FIG. 1, the swing frame 17 is supported so as to be swingable by being connected to a fixed frame (not shown) disposed outside the swing frame 17 by a horizontal shaft. The swing frame 17 rotatably supports both end portions of the shaft 23 with a pair of ball bearings 24 and 26 interposed therebetween. The relationship among the swing frame 17, the bearings 24 and 26, and the shaft 23 is as follows.
[0020]
One of the paired ball bearings 24, 26 (on the left side in FIG. 1) has an outer ring 27 fitted in a fitting hole on one side of the swing frame 17. An outer nut 34 is screwed into a female screw portion formed outside the fitting hole. The outer ring 27 is sandwiched between the outer nut 34 and the step portion of the fitting hole and is fixed to the swing frame 17. The other bearing 26 (on the right side in FIG. 4) of the bearings 24, 26 that are paired is fitted in the other fitting hole of the swing frame 17 so that the outer ring 31 is slidable in the axial direction. An outer nut 36 is screwed into a female thread portion formed outside the other fitting hole, and the outer ring 31 is sandwiched between the outer nut 36 and the step portion of the fitting hole and fixed to the swing frame 17. Has been. The inner ring 28 of one bearing 24 is fitted into a small diameter portion formed at one end of the shaft 23. When an inner nut 38 as a pressing member is screwed into the male thread portion formed in the small diameter portion, the inner ring 28 of the bearing 24 is pushed in the axial direction of the shaft 23, so that the gap between the step portion of the shaft 23 and the inner nut 38 is pushed. The inner ring 28 is sandwiched between the inner ring 28 and the inner ring 28 is fixed to the shaft 23. On the other hand, the inner ring 32 of the other bearing 26 is fitted to a small diameter portion formed at the other end of the shaft 23 so as to be slidable in the axial direction.
[0021]
The shaft 23 penetrates the pendulum 20, and the pendulum 20 and the shaft 23 are substantially integrated by pressing the set screw 48 screwed into the pendulum 20 at the intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction of the shaft 23 against the shaft 23. . The pendulum 20 is supported so as to be able to swing together with the shaft 23.
The structure similar to the support mechanism described above can also be applied to a structure in which the swing frame 17 is swingably supported with respect to the fixed frame. The support mechanism of the swing frame 17 with respect to the fixed frame, and the swing frame 17 has a support mechanism for the pendulum 20 with respect to the so-called gyro-type gimbal mechanism.
[0022]
As is apparent from the configuration described above, the inner nut 38 as a pressing member for pressing one inner ring 28 of the paired ball bearings 24, 26 in the axial direction of the shaft 23 and fixing it to the shaft 23 is provided to make a pair. Since the other inner ring 32 of the ball bearings 24, 26 is slidable with respect to the shaft 23, no pressure is applied to the paired ball bearings 24, 26. The outer ring 34 of the bearing 24 on one side is fixed to the support body 17, and the inner ring 28 of the bearing 24 is fixed to the shaft 23, so that the relative position of the bearing 24 to the support body 17 and the relative position of the shaft 23 to the bearing 24 are changed. Determined. The relative position of the other bearing 26 with respect to the support body 17 is determined by fixing the outer ring 32 to the support body 17, and the inner ring 32 corresponds to the relative position between the outer ring 32 and the support body 17. By moving in the direction, the relative position between the inner ring 32 and the shaft 23 is determined.
[0023]
According to the embodiment having such a configuration, since no pressure is applied to the paired ball bearings 24 and 26, the mechanical resistance applied to the gimbal mechanism including the bearings 24 and 26 is small, and the operation sensitivity of the gimbal mechanism is low. There is an advantage that it becomes higher. However, since no pressure is applied to the bearings 24 and 26 that make a pair, there is a concern that the gimbal mechanism rattles compared to the case where the pressure is applied. However, due to factors such as improving the accuracy of the ball bearings, there is a considerable proportion of the rattling between the outer ring and the inner ring that is within the allowable range for the ball bearing for the laser marking device gimbal mechanism. is doing. Therefore, if the ball bearings 24 and 26 making a pair are within the allowable range of rattling between the outer ring and the inner ring, it is configured as in the embodiment shown in FIG. No need to adjust the operation sensitivity. By doing so, the assembly process and adjustment process of the gimbal mechanism can be simplified.
[0024]
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, when the rattling of the outer and inner rings of the paired ball bearings 24 and 26 protrudes from an allowable range, the ball bearings 24 and 26 are fitted to the shaft 23 so as to be slidable in the axial direction. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the inner ring 32 of the right bearing 26 may be pushed in the axial direction by the second pressing member. The embodiment is shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, a male screw is formed on the outer periphery of the other end portion of the shaft 23 to which the inner ring 32 of the other bearing 26 is fitted among the ball bearings 24, 26 that make a pair, and this male screw is a second pressing member. The nut 50 is screwed. The inner nut 50 hits the inner ring 32 of the bearing 26 and pushes the inner ring 32 in the axial direction of the shaft 23 and toward the longitudinal center of the shaft 23. Other configurations are the same as those of the embodiment shown in FIG.
[0025]
According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, when the rattling between the outer ring and the inner ring of the ball bearings 24 and 26 that make a pair protrudes from an allowable range, the inner nut 50 that is the second pressing member is removed. While rotating, the inner ring 32 of the bearing 26 is pushed with the inner nut 50. Thus, a pressure is applied to the paired ball bearings 24 and 26. However, this pressurization may be very small so that the rattling of the outer ring and the inner ring of the paired ball bearings 24 and 26 is within an allowable range. The position of the inner ring 32 of the bearing 26 with respect to the shaft 23 is adjusted so that a slight pressure is applied. By doing so, since the rattling of the outer ring and the inner ring of the paired ball bearings 24 and 26 is within an allowable range, even if the adjustment is performed with the inner nut 50, a simple adjustment operation may be performed. Further, there is an advantage that shakiness of the gimbal mechanism can be reduced while maintaining a high operational sensitivity of the gimbal mechanism having the ball bearings 24 and 26 that make a pair.
[0026]
As in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, male screws are formed at both ends of the shaft 23, and when it is not necessary to use the inner nut 50 as the second pressing member, it is substantially the same as the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. Only when it is necessary to push the inner ring 32 of the other bearing 26 in the axial direction in order to reduce the shakiness of the gimbal mechanism, the inner nut as the second pressing member as shown in FIG. 50 may be used.
[0027]
In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the inner nuts 38 and 50 are used as members that press the inner rings 28 and 32 of the ball bearings 24 and 26, but an appropriate pressing member that replaces the inner nuts 38 and 50, For example, a pressing ring, a pressing pin, or the like may be used. Furthermore, the inner rings 28 and 32 may be adjusted by pressing the inner rings 28 and 32 using a pressing member only in the manufacturing process or the adjustment process, and the adjusted inner rings 28 and 32 may be bonded to the shaft 23. The adhesive in this case functions substantially the same as the pressing member. Alternatively, the pressing member whose position has been adjusted may be bonded to the shaft 23.
[0028]
The laser marking device according to the present invention may project a laser beam only in the horizontal direction or only in the vertical direction, or referred to as a downward swing to check the vertical degree of the subject. The light may be emitted so as to draw a vertical line. Further, a combination of these may be used.
The embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 relates to a configuration of a bearing portion that rotatably supports a swing frame 17 that is swingably supported by a fixed frame and a shaft 23 that supports a pendulum 20. However, the technical idea of the present invention may be adopted in the configuration of the bearing portion that connects the fixed frame and the swing frame described with reference to FIG.
[0029]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first aspect of the present invention, one of the paired bearings has an outer ring fixed to the support, an inner ring fixed to the shaft, and the other bearing of the paired bearings has an inner ring connected to the shaft. Therefore, a pressure is not applied to the pair of bearings. Therefore, the operation sensitivity of the gimbal mechanism is guaranteed the maximum operation sensitivity depending on the accuracy of the bearing. The accuracy of the gimbal mechanism depends on the accuracy of the paired bearings, and if the accuracy of the bearings is within the allowable range, there is no need to apply pressure to the bearings. The gimbal mechanism can be obtained.
[0030]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, the other inner ring of the pair of bearings is configured to be pushed in the axial direction of the shaft by the second pressing member, so that the rattling of the gimbal mechanism exceeds the allowable range. In this case, the rattling of the gimbal mechanism can be eliminated by pressing the other inner ring of the pair of bearings using the second pressing member. The adjustment of the inner ring of the bearing by the second pressing member is simple because it is sufficient to keep the rattling of the gimbal mechanism within an allowable range.
[0031]
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the second pressing member is made of a nut screwed into the shaft so that the position of the second pressing member can be adjusted. Therefore, it is possible to accurately perform fine pressing force adjustment of the inner ring of the bearing. it can.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan sectional view showing an embodiment of a gimbal mechanism of a laser marking device according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan sectional view showing a second embodiment of the gimbal mechanism of the laser marking device according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a partial sectional side view schematically showing an example of a laser marking device to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 4 is a plan sectional view showing an example of a gimbal mechanism of a conventional laser marking device.
[Explanation of symbols]
20 Pendulum 23 Shaft 24 Bearing 26 Bearing 27 Outer ring 28 Inner ring 31 Outer ring 32 Inner ring 38 Holding member 50 Second holding member

Claims (5)

A gimbal mechanism for a laser marking device, which is interposed between a pendulum and a support, on which a laser light source unit that emits laser light in a predetermined direction is mounted, and supports the pendulum in a swingable manner.
A shaft for hanging the pendulum,
A pair of bearings having a relatively rotatable outer ring and an inner ring, and interposed between the support and the shaft so as to rotatably support the shaft;
A pressing member for pressing one inner ring of the bearings in a pair in the axial direction of the shaft and fixing the shaft to the shaft;
A gimbal mechanism for a laser marking device, wherein the other inner ring of the pair of bearings is slidable with respect to the shaft. 2. The laser marking device gimbal mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the pressing member is a nut. 2. The laser marking device gimbal mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the other inner ring of the pair of bearings is pushed in the axial direction of the shaft by the second pressing member. 4. The laser marking device gimbal mechanism according to claim 3, wherein the second pressing member is a nut screwed into the shaft so that the position thereof can be adjusted. 5. The laser marking device gimbal mechanism according to claim 1, wherein each outer ring of the pair of bearings is fixed to a support.

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