JP7002387B2 - Plate processing machine - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a plate material processing machine (sheet metal processing machine) that performs processing such as laser processing on a plate material (sheet metal).

In the laser processing machine, which is one of the plate processing machines, a linear motor having better responsiveness than a rotary motor is used as a motor for moving a moving body in a predetermined direction with respect to a support due to a request for improvement in processing speed. May be used. The linear motor has a motor stator provided on the support and extended in a predetermined direction, and a motor mover provided on the moving body so as to face the motor stator with a gap. Further, in order to sufficiently secure the positioning accuracy of the moving body, the laser processing machine is provided with a linear encoder that detects the position of the moving body in a predetermined direction in addition to the linear motor. The linear encoder has a linear scale provided on the support and extending in parallel with the motor stator, and a reading head provided on the moving body so as to face the linear scale at a distance and read the scale of the linear scale. ing.

As prior art related to the present invention, there is one shown in Patent Document 1.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 10-277769

By the way, in order to ensure the ease of installation of the linear encoder and the operational reliability of the linear encoder against thermal deformation (elongation) of the support or the like, it may be necessary to provide the linear scale upward on the support. In this case, if the linear scale is placed in a dust environment for a long time while the laser processing machine is in operation, the dust accumulates on the linear scale and the linear encoder positions the moving object in a predetermined direction. It may not be detected. Therefore, a cleaning measure has been taken using a cleaning nozzle provided on the moving body to eject compressed air from the ejection port of the cleaning nozzle toward a part of the linear scale located near the reading head. ..

However, although the above-mentioned measures can blow off the dust accumulated on the linear scale, the compressed air from the ejection port of the cleaning nozzle entrains the air including the dust around the linear scale, and the dust becomes the linear scale. It can be slammed up and pollute the linear scale. That is, when the linear scale is provided on the support upward, the position of the moving body in a predetermined direction cannot be reliably and accurately detected by the linear encoder, and stable positioning of the moving body is continuously performed. There is a problem that it becomes difficult.

It should be noted that the above-mentioned problem also occurs not only in a laser processing machine but also in other plate material processing machines in which an upward linear scale may be left in a dust environment for a long time.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a plate material processing machine having a novel configuration capable of solving the above-mentioned problems.

An embodiment of the present invention comprises a moving body (movable body) provided on a support in a plate material processing machine (sheet metal processing machine) that processes a plate material (sheet metal) so as to be movable in a predetermined direction, and the moving body. A linear encoder that detects a position in a predetermined direction is configured, and a linear scale that is provided upward on the support and extends in the predetermined direction and a linear scale that is provided on the moving body and ejects compressed air toward the linear scale. The cleaning nozzle is provided with an inner nozzle to be provided and a cleaning nozzle having an outer nozzle for ejecting compressed air toward the periphery of the linear scale, and the cleaning nozzle is an outer nozzle tube provided on the moving body. And the tip plate provided inside the tip end side of the outer nozzle tube and formed through the support hole, and the tip plate provided inside the outer nozzle tube and the tip end side is in the support hole of the tip plate. The inner nozzle tube has a supported inner nozzle tube, the inner nozzle tube is formed at the tip end portion of the inner nozzle tube, and the inner wall surface on the tip end portion side of the outer nozzle tube is located between the end surface of the tip plate. The outer spout is formed .

In the embodiment of the present invention, the cleaning nozzle may be configured so that the flow velocity of the compressed air from the inner ejection port is higher than the flow velocity of the compressed air from the outer ejection port. Further, a part of the outer ejection port may eject compressed air vertically downward. Further, the axial center on the tip end side of the cleaning nozzle may be inclined with respect to the vertical direction.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the cleaning nozzle is provided inside (inside) the outer nozzle tube provided on the moving body and the tip end side of the outer nozzle tube, and is formed through a support hole. It has a tip plate and an inner nozzle tube provided inside (inside) of the outer nozzle tube and the tip end side is supported by the support hole of the tip plate, and the inner is at the tip of the inner nozzle tube. A spout may be formed, and the outer spout may be formed between the inner wall surface on the tip end side of the outer nozzle tube and the end surface of the tip plate.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, compressed air is ejected from the inner ejection port toward the linear scale while the plate processing machine is in operation. At the same time, compressed air is ejected from the outer ejection port toward the periphery of the linear scale. As a result, even if the linear scale is placed in a dust environment for a long period of time, the dust accumulated on the linear scale can be blown off by the compressed air from the inner ejection port. Further, the compressed air from the outer ejection port can suppress the entrainment of air containing dust around the linear scale.

According to the present invention, even when the linear scale is provided on the support upward, the linear encoder can reliably and accurately detect the position of the moving body in a predetermined direction, and the moving body can be positioned. It can be done stably.

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of the laser processing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic right side view of the laser processing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of the laser processing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic rear view of the laser processing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a cleaning nozzle according to an embodiment of the present invention and a specific configuration related thereto. FIG. 6A is a schematic view of the cleaning nozzle and its surroundings according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6B is a view seen from the tip end side of the cleaning nozzle according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7A is a diagram showing the results of fluid analysis of the streamlines (streamline distribution) of the air around the cleaning nozzle in the case of the embodiment. FIG. 7B is a diagram showing the results of fluid analysis of the streamlines of air around the cleaning nozzle in the case of the comparative example. FIG. 8 is a photographic diagram showing the results of the cleaning test in the case of Examples and Comparative Examples.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6.

In addition, in the specification of the present application and the scope of claims, "provided" means not only directly provided but also indirectly provided via another member. Further, in the specification of the present application and the scope of claims, it is defined as follows. The "X-axis direction" is one of the horizontal directions indicated by arrows in the drawing, and is also referred to as a left-right direction. The "Y-axis direction" is one of the horizontal directions indicated by arrows in the drawing and is orthogonal to the X-axis direction, and is also referred to as a front-back direction. Further, in the drawing, "FF" is the forward direction, "FR" is the backward direction, "L" is the left direction, "R" is the right direction, "U" is the upward direction, and "D" is the upward direction. It points downwards.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the laser processing machine 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention is a plate material processing machine (sheet metal processing machine) that performs laser processing on a plate material (sheet metal) W. Hereinafter, a specific configuration of the laser processing machine 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The laser processing machine 10 includes a bed 12 as a support extending in the Y-axis direction (front-back direction). A pair of end walls 14 extending in the Y-axis direction are formed on the upper portion of the bed 12, and the pair of end walls 14 are separated in the X-axis direction. Further, a support wall 16 extending in the Y-axis direction is formed in the vicinity of each end wall 14 in the upper part of the bed 12, and the pair of support walls 16 are separated in the X-axis direction.

A processing region PF for performing laser processing is formed above (upper side) the bed 12. The plate material W is placed on the processing region PF via a skeleton-shaped pallet (table) 22. Further, the pallet 22 has a plurality of support plates (not shown) that support the plate material W by point contact.

Each support wall 16 is provided with a Y-axis guide member 24 extending in the Y-axis direction, and the pair of Y-axis guide members 24 are separated from each other in the X-axis direction with the machining region PF interposed therebetween. The gantry frame (gate-shaped movable frame) 26 as a moving body has a pair of strut portions 26a located on both sides of the machining area PF in the X-axis direction, and is located above the machining area PF and extends in the X-axis direction. It has a beam portion 26b. The portal frame 26 is provided on the upper part of the bed 12 via a pair of Y-axis guide members 24 so as to be movable in the Y-axis direction.

The laser processing machine 10 includes a pair of Y-axis linear motors 28 that move the portal frame 26 as a moving body in the Y-axis direction, which is a predetermined direction, and the pair of Y-axis linear motors 28 are the processing region PF. It is separated in the X-axis direction by sandwiching. Further, each Y-axis linear motor 28 has a motor stator 30 provided on the support wall 16 and extending in the Y-axis direction, and each motor stator 30 is composed of a plurality of permanent magnets. Each Y-axis linear motor 28 has a motor mover 32 provided on the support column 26a of the portal frame 26 so as to face the motor stator 30 with a gap between them, and each motor mover 32 has a magnetic field. It is composed of a coil that generates.

The laser processing machine 10 includes a pair of optical Y-axis linear encoders 34 that optically detect the position of the portal frame 26 in the Y-axis direction, and each Y-axis linear encoder 34 has a corresponding Y-axis. It is located near the linear motor 28. Further, each Y-axis linear encoder 34 has a linear scale 36 provided on the end wall 14 and extending in parallel with the motor stator 30, and the linear scale 36 has a large number of scales having the same pitch (not shown). ) Is formed. The linear scale 36 on one side (left side) is facing upward, and the linear scale 36 on the other side (right side) is facing sideways. Each Y-axis linear encoder 34 is provided on the support column portion 26a of the portal frame 26 so as to face the linear scale 36 at a distance from each other, and has a reading head 38 that optically reads the scale of the linear scale 36.

Here, since one of the linear scales 36 is provided upward on the end wall 14, each linear is in a state where the distance between the linear scale 36 and the reading head 38 is set to a predetermined minute distance (for example, 0.2 mm). The encoder 34 can be easily installed. Further, for the same reason, even if the bed 12 or the like expands due to thermal deformation (thermal expansion), the distance between the linear scale 36 and the reading head 38 can be maintained at a predetermined minute distance, and the operational reliability of each linear encoder 34 can be maintained. Can be maintained.

The laser processing machine 10 may use a magnetic Y-axis linear encoder that magnetically detects the position of the portal frame 26 in the Y-axis direction instead of the optical Y-axis linear encoder 34.

The beam portion 26b of the portal frame 26 is provided with an X-axis guide member 40 extending in the X-axis direction, and the X-axis guide member 40 is provided with a slider 42 movable in the X-axis direction. .. Further, the laser machine 10 includes an X-axis linear motor 44 that moves the slider 42 in the X-axis direction. The X-axis linear motor 44 has a motor stator 46 provided on the beam portion 26b of the portal frame 26 and extending in the X-axis direction, and is composed of a plurality of permanent magnets. The X-axis linear motor 44 has a motor mover 48 provided on the slider 42 facing the motor stator 46 with a gap between them, and is composed of a coil that generates a magnetic field. Further, the laser machine 10 includes an optical X-axis linear encoder (not shown) that optically detects the position of the slider 42 in the X-axis direction.

The slider 42 is provided with a laser processing head 50 that irradiates a laser beam from above toward the plate material W placed on the processing region PF via the pallet 22. Further, the laser processing head 50 is optically connected to a laser oscillator 52 that oscillates a laser beam.

Therefore, the slider 42 is positioned in the X-axis direction while the X-axis linear motor 44 is feedback-controlled based on the detected value of the X-axis linear encoder. Further, based on the detected value of each Y-axis linear encoder 34, the portal frame 26 is positioned in the Y-axis direction while feedback-controlling each Y-axis linear motor 28. Then, while positioning the laser processing head 50 in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction, the laser processing head 50 can irradiate the plate material W with laser light from above to perform laser processing.

As described above, one (left side) linear scale 36 is provided upward on the end wall 14, and when one linear scale 36 is placed in a dust environment for a long period of time, it is on one linear scale 36. Dust tends to accumulate in the area. Therefore, a cleaning nozzle 54 for cleaning one of the linear scales 36 is provided on one of the support columns 26a of the portal frame 26. The cleaning nozzle 54 and the specific configuration related thereto are as follows.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6A and 6B, an outer nozzle tube 56 constituting the cleaning nozzle 54 is provided on one of the support columns 26a of the portal frame 26. The cross-sectional shape of the outer nozzle tube 56 is formed into a rectangular shape. The axial center 56s on the tip end side of the outer nozzle tube 56 (axial center 54s on the tip end side of the cleaning nozzle 54) is inclined with respect to the vertical direction. Further, in the lower portion of the outer nozzle tube 56 on the tip end side, a notch portion 56n notched diagonally from a direction parallel to the axial center 56s on the tip end portion side is formed.

The axial center 56s on the tip end side of the outer nozzle tube 56 is inclined with respect to the vertical direction, but the angle is parallel to the vertical direction and the X-axis direction inclined by 90 ° from the vertical direction in which the outer nozzle tube 56 is not inclined. It can be selected as appropriate within the angle range. Further, the notch portion 56n of the outer nozzle tube 56 is set to an appropriate dimension in consideration of the inclination of the outer nozzle tube 56 and the gap between the end wall 14 (bed 12) and one of the linear scales 36. Further, the cross-sectional shape of the outer nozzle tube 56 may be formed into a shape other than a rectangular shape such as a circular shape.

Inside (inside) the outer nozzle tube 56 on the tip end side, a tip plate 58 is provided in a direction orthogonal to the axial center 56s on the tip end side. The front end surface and the rear end surface of the tip plate 58 are joined to the inner wall surface of the outer nozzle tube 56, respectively. Further, notches 58n are formed in the lower front portion and the lower rear portion of the tip plate 58, respectively. The upper end surface of the tip plate 58 is in non-contact with the inner wall surface of the outer nozzle tube 56. The lower end surface of the tip plate 58 is located on the notch 56n side of the outer nozzle tube 56, and coincides with the lower inner wall surface of the outer nozzle tube 56 when viewed from the tip side of the cleaning nozzle 54. Further, a support hole 60 for passing the inner nozzle 62, which will be described later, is formed in the central portion of the tip plate 58.

An inner nozzle tube 62 is provided inside (inside) the tip end side of the outer nozzle tube 56, and the tip end side of the inner nozzle tube 62 is fixed in a state of being supported by the support hole 60 of the tip plate 58. Has been done. The base end side of the inner nozzle tube 62 projects to the outside of the outer nozzle tube 56. Further, at the tip of the inner nozzle tube 62, an inner ejection port 64 is formed in the vicinity of the reading head 38 and ejects compressed air CA toward the surface of one of the linear scales 36.

Between the inner wall surface on the tip end side of the outer nozzle tube 56 and the upper end surface of the tip plate 58, compressed air CA is ejected toward the periphery of the surface of one of the linear scales 36 in the vicinity of the reading head 38. The first outer spout 66A (66) is formed. Further, between the inner wall surface on the tip end side of the outer nozzle tube 56 and the front end surface and the rear end surface of the tip plate 58, the vicinity of the reading head 38 and toward the periphery of the surface of one of the linear scales 36. Second outer outlets 66B (66) for ejecting compressed air CA are formed respectively. Further, between the inner wall surface on the tip end side of the outer nozzle tube 56 and the lower end face of the tip plate 58, a third outer spout that ejects compressed air toward the end wall 14 vertically below (directly below). 66C (66) is formed.

It should be noted that the third outer ejection port is formed by omitting the portion parallel to the axial center 56s on the tip end side of the notch 56n of the outer nozzle tube 56 and performing slit processing on the lower portion of the outer nozzle tube 56 on the tip end side. 66C may be formed. The outer spout 66 may be formed over the entire circumference of the tip plate 58.

As a result, when the dust accumulated on one linear scale 36 is blown off by the compressed air CA from the inner ejection port 64, the dust accumulated on one linear scale 36 is blown off from the plurality of outer ejection ports 66 (66A, 66B, 66C) to the periphery of one linear scale 36. Compressed air CA is ejected toward. Therefore, the compressed air CA ejected from the plurality of outer outlets 66 (66A, 66B, 66C) becomes a layer surrounding the compressed air CA from the inner outlet 64, and the compressed air CA from the inner outlet 64 forms one side. It is possible to prevent the entrainment of air SA containing dust around the linear scale 36 of the above, and to prevent the surface of one of the linear scales 36 from being contaminated.

In particular, the compressed air CA ejected vertically downward from the third outer ejection port 66C is not only on one linear scale 36 side (right side) as shown by the solid arrow in FIG. 6A, but also on the opposite side (right side). The flow can be divided into the left side). Therefore, not only is it possible to prevent the air SA containing the dust indicated by the dotted arrow in FIG. 6A from being caught in the one linear scale 36 side, but also the effect of moving the dust away from the one linear scale 36 is also effective. Yes, the surface of one of the linear scales 36 can be sufficiently prevented from being contaminated.

One end of a first pipe 68 for supplying compressed air CA to the inner nozzle pipe 62 is connected to the base end of the inner nozzle pipe 62. The other end of the first pipe 68 is connected to a compressed air source (air source) 70 such as an air compressor of factory equipment. Further, in the middle of the first pipe 68, a first speed controller 72 as a first flow velocity adjusting means for adjusting the flow velocity of the compressed air CA supplied to the inner nozzle pipe 62 is arranged. The first speed controller 72 has a variable flow rate throttle valve 74 and a check valve 76 connected in parallel to the variable flow rate throttle valve 74.

One end of a second pipe 78 for supplying compressed air CA to the outer nozzle pipe 56 is connected to the base end of the outer nozzle pipe 56. The other end of the second pipe 78 is connected between the compressed air source 70 and the first speed controller 72 in the middle of the first pipe 68. Further, in the middle of the second pipe 78, a second speed controller 80 is arranged as a second flow velocity adjusting means for adjusting the flow velocity of the compressed air CA supplied to the outer nozzle pipe 56. The second speed controller 80 has a variable flow rate throttle valve 82 and a check valve 84 connected in parallel to the variable flow rate throttle valve 82.

Here, the first speed controller 72 and the second speed controller 80 are appropriately adjusted so that the flow velocity of the compressed air CA from the inner ejection port 64 is higher than the flow velocity of the compressed air CA from the outer ejection port 66. There is. As a result, dust on the surface of one of the linear scales 36 is blown off by the compressed air CA having a high flow velocity from the inner nozzle 64, and the air curtain effect is generated by the compressed air CA having a slow flow velocity from the outer nozzle ejection port 66. Entrainment of air SA containing dust around one of the linear scales 36 is suppressed.

Subsequently, the operation and effect of the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

As shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 (a), compression is performed from the inner ejection port 64 provided in the vicinity of the reading head 38 toward the surface of one of the linear scales 36 while the laser processing machine 10 is in operation. Air CA is ejected. At the same time, compressed air CA is ejected from a plurality of outer ejection ports 66 provided in the vicinity of the reading head 38 toward the periphery of the surface of one linear scale 36. As a result, even if one linear scale 36 is placed in a dust environment for a long time, the dust accumulated on the one linear scale 36 can be blown off by the compressed air CA from the inner ejection port 64. Further, the compressed air CA from the plurality of outer ejection ports 66 can suppress the entrainment of the air SA containing dust around one of the linear scales 36. In particular, since compressed air CA is ejected from a plurality of outer outlets 66 including the third outer outlet 66C toward the periphery of the surface of the linear scale 36, the air curtain effect is exerted and one of the linear scales 36 is exhibited. It is possible to sufficiently suppress the entrainment of air SA containing dust around the surface.

Therefore, according to the embodiment of the present invention, even when one of the linear scales 36 is provided on the end wall 14 (bed 12) upward, the Y-axis linear encoder 34 ensures the position of the portal frame 26 in the Y-axis direction. Moreover, it can be detected accurately, and the portal frame 26 can be stably positioned. As a result, according to the embodiment of the present invention, high-precision laser machining can be stably performed on the plate material W.

The present invention is not limited to the above description of the embodiment, and can be implemented in various other embodiments by making appropriate changes. Further, the scope of rights included in the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and is not limited to the laser processing machine 10, but other sheet metal processing machines such as punch presses to which the technical idea of the present invention is applied. It also extends to.

Examples of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 (a) and 7 (b) and FIG.

(Example 1)
When compressed air is ejected from the inner and outer outlets (in the case of the example), fluid analysis is performed on the streamlines (streamline distribution) of the air around the cleaning nozzle, and the results of the fluid analysis are summarized. As shown in FIG. 7 (a). In addition, when compressed air is ejected from the inner nozzle (in the case of the comparative example) using only the inner nozzle tube as the cleaning nozzle, fluid analysis is performed on the streamline of the air around the cleaning nozzle (inner nozzle tube). The results of the fluid analysis are summarized in FIG. 7 (b). The streamline of compressed air is indicated by a solid arrow, and the streamline of air containing dust is indicated by a broken line arrow. The streamline of air inside the cleaning nozzle is omitted.

That is, in the case of the comparative example, it was confirmed that the air containing dust around the linear scale was entrained in the compressed air from the inner ejection port and flowed toward the linear scale side. On the other hand, in the case of the example, it was confirmed that the flow of air containing dust around the linear scale to the linear scale side was suppressed. It is considered that this is because the compressed air from the outer ejection port suppresses the entrainment of air containing dust around the linear scale.

(Example 2)
In the case of the example and the case of the comparative example, the cleaning test was performed in an environment simulating the dust environment during laser processing. The results of the cleaning test are summarized in FIG. In the cleaning test, an adhesive tape having an upward adhesive surface was attached to the linear scale in order to facilitate the accumulation of dust on the linear scale.

That is, in the case of the comparative example, it was confirmed that the dust was deposited on the linear scale, whereas in the case of the example, the dust was not deposited on the linear scale.

10 Laser Machining Machine 12 Bed (Support)
14 End wall 16 Support wall 22 Pallet 24 Y-axis guide member 26 Gate frame (moving body)
26a Strut 26b Beam 28 Y-axis linear motor (linear motor)
30 Motor stator 32 Motor mover 34 Y-axis linear encoder 36 Linear scale 38 Read head 40 X-axis guide member 42 Slider 44 X-axis linear motor 46 Motor stator 48 Motor mover 50 Laser processing head 52 Laser oscillator 54 Cleaning nozzle 54s Axial center on the tip side of the cleaning nozzle 56 Outer nozzle tube 56s Axial center on the tip side of the outer nozzle tube 56n Notch 58 Tip plate 58n Notch 60 Support hole 62 Inner nozzle tube 64 Inner spout 66 Outer spout 66A No. 1 outer spout 66B 2nd outer spout 66C 3rd outer spout 68 1st pipe 70 Compressed air source (air source)
72 1st speed controller 74 Variable flow rate throttle valve 76 Check valve 78 2nd piping 80 2nd speed controller 82 Variable flow rate throttle valve 84 Check valve CA Compressed air SA Air containing dust PF Processing area W Plate material (sheet metal)

Claims (4)

A moving body provided on a support in a plate processing machine that processes a plate material so as to be movable in a predetermined direction, and a moving body.
A linear encoder that detects the position of the moving body in the predetermined direction is configured, and a linear scale that is provided upward on the support and extends in the predetermined direction is used.
It is provided with a cleaning nozzle provided on the moving body and formed with an inner ejection port that ejects compressed air toward the linear scale and an outer ejection outlet that ejects compressed air toward the periphery of the linear scale. And
The cleaning nozzle
The outer nozzle tube provided on the moving body and
A tip plate provided inside the tip side of the outer nozzle tube and formed through a support hole, and a tip plate.
It has an inner nozzle tube provided inside the outer nozzle tube and whose tip end side is supported by the support hole of the tip plate.
The inner spout is formed at the tip of the inner nozzle tube, and the outer spout is formed between the inner wall surface on the tip side of the outer nozzle tube and the end surface of the tip plate. Plate processing machine. The plate processing machine according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning nozzle is configured such that the flow velocity of the compressed air from the inner ejection port is higher than the flow velocity of the compressed air from the outer ejection port. The plate processing machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a part of the outer ejection port ejects compressed air vertically downward. The plate processing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the axial center on the tip end side of the cleaning nozzle is inclined with respect to the vertical direction .

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