JP5210783B2 - Laser marking device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a laser marking device, and more particularly to a configuration of a tilt sensor of a laser marking device.

One of the work at the construction site is the ink marking work that sets the standard of verticality and horizontality when constructing pillars and walls.
As a device used for the marking operation, a laser marking device using laser light is known.

  A laser marking device converts a laser beam emitted from a semiconductor laser into a collimated beam by a collimator lens and converges the collimated beam in one direction by passing through a cylindrical rod lens so that it is converged on a wall, ceiling, floor, etc. It can irradiate as a bright line in the vertical direction or the horizontal direction. In this case, the bright line in the vertical direction or the horizontal direction is set in each direction by setting the direction of the center line of the rod lens arranged in the optical path from the semiconductor laser to the horizontal direction or the vertical direction.

  The laser marking device is equipped with a gimbal mechanism or a gyro mechanism for suspending the laser unit holder that holds the above laser light source and each optical element together. Regardless of the inclination, the laser unit holder is maintained in the vertical posture.

  By the way, the laser marking device can absorb the influence on the marking accuracy by the inclination of the installation surface to some extent by the above-mentioned gimbal mechanism and gyro mechanism, but when the inclination exceeds a predetermined amount, the emitted light from the laser light source is accurate. In some cases, it becomes impossible to point horizontally or vertically.

In view of this, a configuration has been proposed in which an alarm is issued to prevent the inking operation from being performed when the angle of the installation surface exceeds a predetermined value (for example, Patent Document 1).
Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which a sensor is swingably supported at the center of a ring provided on a support leg base of a summing device, and when the sensor contacts the ring, this is detected as an excessive tilt and a warning is disclosed. Yes.

On the other hand, as a configuration for detecting the inclination, a level sensor is provided to detect the installation angle (for example, Patent Document 1), or a container in which bubbles are enclosed in a liquid is used. There is a configuration for detecting a transmitted optical change (see, for example, Patent Documents 2 and 3).
In Patent Document 2, a level sensor including a transmission type optical sensor and a container that is arranged in the optical axis and in which a liquid is sealed is used. A configuration is described in which displacement (levelness) with respect to a direction is detected.

  In Patent Literature 3, a light source is arranged on one side with a container filled with bubbles in a liquid, and a light receiving element in which photodiodes serving as light receiving elements are arranged in a plurality of divided regions on the other side. A configuration is disclosed in which a light receiving position on the light receiving element side through a changing bubble is determined to detect inclination.

JP 2007-285710 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-176924 JP-A-9-257474

  In any of the configurations disclosed in the above-mentioned patent documents, it is possible to determine the inclination when installing the laser marking device during the marking operation. However, in order to detect the tilt state, erroneous detection is caused unless a reference is set for the vertical deviation or level of the tilt sensor.

  Therefore, when assembling the laser marking device, set the horizontal level of the tilt sensor with high accuracy so that when the laser marking device is installed on a horizontal plane, the vertical bright line or horizontal bright line is accurately emitted. It is necessary to adjust.

  Conventionally, the standard setting of the level of the tilt sensor is performed while adjusting the laser marking device while it is mounted on a surface plate having a level reference plane when the laser marking device is assembled. One example is the method shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 4, a plurality of pillars 100 are provided inside the laser marking device to form a gate shape, and a gimbal mechanism having two axes orthogonal to each other at the upper end of each pillar 100 or A gyro mechanism (hereinafter referred to as “gimbal mechanism”) is attached, and the laser unit holder 101 is suspended and supported by the gimbal mechanism so as to be swingable. The laser unit holder 101 is provided with a laser emitting portion 102.

On the swing end (lower end) side of the laser unit holder 101, a sensor plate 103A constituting a part of the tilt sensor 103 is provided so as to protrude in the horizontal direction.
The inclination sensor 103 includes the sensor plate 103A described above and a reflective optical sensor 103B in which the opening 103A1 formed in the sensor plate 103A is positioned on the optical axis.
The sensor plate 103A is formed with a reflective region 103C that is a surface facing the reflective optical sensor 103B and having a reflective surface within a predetermined range around the opening 103A1.
The reflection region 103C is a portion for detecting that the state is excessively inclined, and the size of the opening 103A1 is set to a size corresponding to the inclination capable of inking, and the light from the light source is at a position outside the opening 103A1. When reflected, it is possible to warn that ink cannot be printed.

  As a configuration of such a tilt sensor, not only the reflection type optical sensor described above but also a transmission type optical sensor unit 104 as shown in FIG. 5 may be used. Further, when the range of the opening 103A1 is detected as an inclination range that can be marked, as shown in FIG. 6, instead of the opening 103A1, the reflection degree at the position corresponding to the opening 103A1 is made different from the other reflection degrees. A method of detecting the degree of reflection with a reflective optical sensor is also conceivable. For example, when the reflectance of the reflecting surface is divided into two stages, the reflectance in the range corresponding to the inclinable range is RF1, and the surrounding reflectance is RF2, RF1> RF2.

  In the laser marking device including such a tilt sensor, the position of the optical sensor as an initial state is opposed to the opening 103A1, or the reflection degree of the reflection surface is different from the reflection degree in other regions. It is necessary to correspond to the surface (in the above example, the range of the reflectance RF1).

  Since the inclination of the installation surface acting on the laser marking device is biaxial, the alignment of the optical sensor and the reflective surface of the aperture or the reflection surface having a different degree of reflection is generally dependent on the amount of the eye. Adjusting while changing. That is, the center of the range of the opening 103A1 or the reflectance RF1 is obtained and adjusted. However, since the range of the opening 103A1 or the reflectance RF1 has a certain extent and the center position is unknown, even if it is intended to be adjusted to the center position, it varies within the above range and cannot be adjusted with high accuracy. Currently, the reliability of the position accuracy of the sensor cannot be obtained.

  Therefore, it is conceivable to narrow the range of the opening 103A1 or the reflectance RF1 to a very narrow range and adjust the position of the sensor so that these can be detected. However, since the adjustment is performed while searching for the opening 103A1 or the range of the reflectance RF1 in a groping state, there is a problem that the adjustment work takes time.

  The object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems with the conventional laser marking device, in particular, the initial setting of the tilt sensor, that is, the problem of the alignment between the optical sensor and the detection target portion by this sensor. An object of the present invention is to provide a laser marking device having a configuration capable of initial setting.

In order to achieve this object, the present invention has the following features.
(1) In a laser marking device provided with a tilt sensor for supporting a laser unit holder provided with a laser unit in a suspended manner and detecting the tilt of the laser unit holder,
The laser unit holder includes a sensor plate,
The tilt sensor is an optical sensor including a light emitting unit that emits light toward the sensor plate, and a light receiving unit that receives reflected light or transmitted light.
The sensor plate includes a light transmission portion at a position facing the optical sensor, and the reflection amount or transmission amount of the emitted light from the optical sensor is varied in a plurality of steps toward the outside with the light transmission portion as a center. It is characterized by having a detected part having a region.

(2) The to-be-detected part is characterized in that it is composed of a region where the reflectance increases sequentially toward the outside centering on the light transmitting part at the center.

(3) The to-be-detected part is characterized in that it is composed of a region where the transmittance decreases gradually toward the outside centering on the light transmitting part at the center.

(4) The region adjacent to the light transmitting portion in the detected portion is formed in a size corresponding to an inclination angle at which inking work is allowed.

(5) The to-be-detected part is characterized in that an area adjacent to the light transmitting part or having a different reflectance or transmittance is used as an area that can be predicted to be close to the light transmitting part in the central part.

  According to the present invention, the sensor plate includes a light transmission portion at a position facing the optical sensor, and a plurality of reflection amounts or transmission amounts of the emitted light from the optical sensor toward the outside centering on the light transmission portion. Since the detected portion having a region varied in stages is provided, the region adjacent to the light transmitting portion is a region where it is possible to detect that the inclination angle of the inking device is within a range that allows the inking operation. At the same time, it is an area that predicts that the light transmission part is close. Therefore, after assembling the laser marking device and adjusting the balance of the laser unit holder, when adjusting the position of the light sensor that constitutes the tilt sensor, the light sensor first detects the light while observing the output of the light receiving part of the light sensor. Adjustment can be made so as to face the region adjacent to the transmission part, and then the optical sensor can be adjusted to face the light transmission part. Since the optical sensor adjustment procedure as described above can be taken, it is possible to adjust the optical sensor so that it faces the center position of the target. The problem of variation can be solved. Further, in adjusting the position of the optical sensor so as to face the center position of the target as described above, after adjusting so as to face the area adjacent to the light transmitting portion, it is possible to narrow the position to the position facing the light transmitting portion. Therefore, it is easier and more reliable to adjust the position of the photosensor than to adjust the position of the photosensor while predicting with the reference amount as in the prior art.

The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a main part of the tilt sensor 1 provided in the laser marking device 1000 according to the present embodiment.

In the figure, the tilt sensor 1 includes a laser unit holder 101 suspended by a gimbal mechanism and swingable in a pendulum state, as in the conventional example shown in FIG. A sensor plate 1 </ b> A is provided so as to be integrated with the rocking end (lower end) of the laser unit holder 101. The gimbal mechanism is supported by upper ends of a plurality of pillars 100 that are erected on the support base 2. An optical sensor 1B is disposed on the support base 2 so as to face the sensor plate 1A, and the optical sensor 1B and the sensor plate 1A constitute the tilt sensor 1.
The optical sensor 1B shown in FIG. 1 is a reflection type having a light emitting part and a light receiving part adjacent to each other, and is disposed on the support base 2 so as to face the lower surface of the sensor plate 1A.

  On the surface of the sensor plate 1A facing the optical sensor 1B, a detected part 3 for aligning the facing positional relationship between the opening 1A1 formed in the sensor plate 1A and the optical sensor 1B is provided. The opening 1A1 is a light transmitting part, and the detected part 3 is a light reflecting part. As described below, the reflectance varies stepwise depending on the region.

The detected portion 3 is configured by concentric regions in which the reflectance of the emitted light from the optical sensor 1B is varied in a plurality of stages in the radial direction with reference to a position corresponding to the center position of the opening 1A1.
More specifically, the detected portion 3 is a light transmitting portion by a through hole or the like at a position facing the center of the circular opening 1A1 of the sensor plate 1A, that is, a non-reflecting portion when viewed from the reflective optical sensor 1B. 3A is provided, and concentric regions 3B and 3C in which the reflectance increases sequentially from the non-reflecting portion 3A toward the outside are provided. In FIG. 1, the region 3C, that is, the region having the highest reflectance is shown in a zigzag shape for convenience, but processing for increasing the reflectance is performed by mirror finishing or the like.

  FIG. 2 is a view of the detected portion 3 as viewed from the optical sensor 1B side. In the figure, at a position facing the opening 1A1 of the sensor plate 1A, a non-reflective portion 3A constituted by a through hole, and a region 3B having a low reflectance and a region having a high reflectance toward the outside thereof 3C is provided continuously. In FIG. 2, the region 3C is eccentric with respect to the other regions 3A and 3B, but it is desirable that these regions be formed so as to be concentric with each other.

The region 3B having a low reflectivity, in other words, the region adjacent to the light transmitting portion 3A facing the opening 1A1 is formed in a size corresponding to an inclination angle at which the laser marking device can be used. By detecting the reflected light from the region 3B by the optical sensor 1b, it is found that the angle is within the tilt angle range in which the marking operation can be performed, and the facing position of the optical sensor 1B and the opening 1A1 approaches to a state where they match. It can be used as a region for predicting that the
The configuration of the laser marking device itself is the same as that of a conventionally known laser marking device, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted.

  Since the present embodiment is configured as described above, the alignment between the optical sensor 1B and the opening 1A1 is performed on the surface plate after the laser marking device is assembled and the balance of the laser unit holder 101 is adjusted. A laser marking device is placed and executed. That is, since the level of the laser unit holder 101 is standardized when the laser marking device is placed on the surface plate, the luminous flux emitted from the light emitting element of the sensor unit 1B is at this time the sensor plate 1A side. The facing relationship with the optical sensor 1B is adjusted so that the light beam is transmitted through the aperture 1A1.

In the present embodiment, while observing the output from the optical sensor 1B, it is possible to predict that the light transmission portion 3A is located nearby when the output from the region 3B having a low reflectance is obtained. .
Therefore, while observing the output from the optical sensor 1B with the optical sensor 1B facing the region 3B having low reflectivity, an output change when facing the light transmitting portion (non-reflecting portion) 3A is obtained. Thus, it can be confirmed that the position of the optical sensor 1B facing the opening 1A1 is aligned. In other words, the detected part 3 in the present embodiment is a region where the position accuracy of the optical sensor 1B is not practical but from a region where the position accuracy of the optical sensor 1B is rough, but the optical sensor 1B has a rough positional accuracy. It is characterized in that it is divided in stages up to the region where the position is adjusted with the highest accuracy. By doing so, the position adjustment of the optical sensor 1B can be performed while narrowing down from the region where the accuracy is rough toward the highest accuracy, and the highly accurate adjustment without variations in the position of the sensor 1B is achieved. It becomes possible.

On the other hand, the region 3B having a low reflectance is formed in a size corresponding to the inclination angle at which the marking operation is allowed. For this reason, after installing the laser marking device at a construction site or the like, the degree of inclination at the installed location can be detected by observing the presence or absence of output from the region 3B.
If the inclination is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, the reflected light from the region 3C having the highest reflectance is incident on the optical sensor 1B. In this state, an alarm is issued so that the marking operation is not performed, or the light source unit Take measures such as turning off the power.

  In the present embodiment, the region 3B having a low reflectance adjacent to the light transmission part 3A can be used as the tilt detection region, and the alignment region between the opening 1A1 and the optical sensor 1B at the time of assembly. It is not necessary to add a special alignment structure, and the configuration can be simplified.

The present invention can be applied not only to the reflection type optical sensor described above but also to a transmission type optical sensor. Hereinafter, this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
In FIG. 3, reference numeral 4 denotes a transmissive optical sensor that constitutes a part of the tilt sensor 1. The sensor plate 1A provided integrally with the laser unit holder 101 has an opening 1A2. The surface of the sensor plate 1A is a surface having a high reflectance.

The sensor plate 1A is formed with a step portion having a size slightly larger than the opening 1A2 with respect to the center of the opening 1A2, and the step portion is configured with a size capable of detecting an inclination angle that allows ink marking work. The low-reflectance member 3B ′ thus formed is fitted. This low reflectivity member 3B ′ is used as a detected portion 3 ′ that aligns the opening 1A2 and the transmissive optical sensor 4 together with a light transmitting portion 3A described later.
At the center of the low reflectivity member 3B ′, a light transmission part 3A configured by a through hole as a light transmission part is provided.

  In short, the optical sensor 1B is practically usable from the area where the light from the sensor 4 is projected onto the surface of the sensor plate 1A, which is an area where the positional accuracy of the transmission optical sensor 4 is poor and cannot be practically used. The region where the light from the sensor 4 is projected onto the low reflectance member 3B ′, which is a region where the position accuracy is rough, and the light transmitting portion 3A where the position of the optical sensor 1B is adjusted with the highest accuracy are described above. The region where the light from the sensor 4 is projected is divided in stages. Therefore, also in this embodiment, as in the previous embodiment, the position adjustment of the optical sensor 4 can be performed while narrowing down from the region where the accuracy is rough toward the highest accuracy. High-precision adjustment with no variation in position is possible.

  In each of the embodiments described above, in setting a region where the reflectance or transmittance of light is gradually changed, an opening formed in the sensor plate is used, and the center thereof is set as a target for alignment of the optical sensor. However, it is not always necessary to use the opening. That is, in the case of an optical sensor using light reflection, it is only necessary to have a concentric region in which the light reflectance is changed stepwise, for example, on the surface of the sensor plate facing the optical sensor. A sticker in which areas are set stepwise may be attached, or the area may be drawn stepwise with paint or the like. In the case of an optical sensor that utilizes light transmission, a plate-shaped optically-detected portion in which regions with different light transmittances are arranged concentrically is attached to the sensor plate, and the above-mentioned detection target is detected. The light emitting part and the light receiving part of the optical sensor may be arranged with the part interposed therebetween.

It is a schematic diagram which shows the principal part structure of the inclination sensor with which the laser marking device by embodiment of this invention is equipped. It is a figure for demonstrating the detail of the position detection part used for the inclination sensor shown in FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows embodiment using the other format of the optical sensor used for the inclination sensor shown in FIG. 1 according to FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows the prior art example regarding the principal part structure of an inclination sensor. It is a schematic diagram which shows the modification of the optical sensor used for the principal part structure shown in FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows the partial modification of the principal part structure shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Inclination sensor 1A Sensor plate 1A1, 1A2 Aperture 1B, 4 Optical sensor 3 Detected part 3A Light transmission part 3B Area | region which has low reflectance 3C Area | region which has high reflectance 101 Laser unit holder 1000 Laser marking device

Claims (6)

In a laser marking device provided with a tilt sensor for supporting a suspended laser unit holder including a laser unit and detecting the tilt of the laser unit holder,
The laser unit holder includes a sensor plate,
The tilt sensor is an optical sensor including a light emitting unit that emits light toward the sensor plate, and a light receiving unit that receives reflected light or transmitted light.
The sensor plate includes a light transmission portion at a position facing the optical sensor, and the reflection amount or transmission amount of the emitted light from the optical sensor is varied in a plurality of steps toward the outside with the light transmission portion as a center. A laser marking device characterized by comprising a detected part having a region.   2. The laser marking device according to claim 1, wherein the detected portion is configured by a region where the reflectance increases sequentially toward the outside centering on the light transmitting portion at the center. 3.   2. The laser marking device according to claim 1, wherein the detected portion is configured by a region in which the transmittance gradually decreases toward the outside with the light transmitting portion at the center as a center.   4. The laser marking device according to claim 2, wherein a region adjacent to the light transmission portion in the detected portion is formed with a size corresponding to an inclination angle at which marking operation is allowed. .   5. The detected part is used as an area that can be predicted to be close to the light transmitting part in the center part of an area having a different reflectance or transmittance adjacent to the light transmitting part. Laser marking device as described in.   6. The laser marking device according to claim 1, wherein the light transmission part is an opening provided in a sensor plate.

Images