JPH0390289A - Nozzle device for laser beam machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the nozzle from being broken even if the nozzle receives external force and to prevent the failure of a condenser lens, etc., by forming a nozzle holder of an elastic member in such a manner that the nozzle can be deformed when subjected to the external force. CONSTITUTION:The nozzle is bent from a tight contact coil 9 part and parts from a projecting part 8 of a work piece 7 as shown by virtual line when the projecting part 8 and the nozzle 2 come into contact or collision during laser beam processing. Since the impact is relieved by the effect of the tight contact coil spring 9 and the elastic member 11 constituted of an elastic material 10, the impact force is not transmitted to the condenser lens 5 and a lens holder 4, etc. The nozzle can be freely deformed even against the external force in the direction nearly perpendicular thereto if the elastic member 11 is constituted of metallic bellows 9b.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a nozzle device for a laser processing machine.

[Prior Art] FIG. 4 is a half-sectional view showing a conventional nozzle device for a laser processing machine disclosed in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 60-28992, in which 1 is a nozzle holder, and 2 is a nozzle holder 1. The attached nozzle, 3 is a notch provided on the outer periphery of the base of the nozzle 2, 4 is a lens holder, 5 is a condensing lens attached to the lens holder 4, 6 is a laser beam, 7 is a workpiece,
8 is a protrusion of the workpiece 7.

Next, the operation will be explained. During processing by the laser processing machine, the laser beam 6 is focused by the condenser lens 5, and is irradiated onto the workpiece 7 from the tip of the nozzle 2, so that the workpiece 7 is processed. If there is a protrusion 8 or the like on this workpiece 7, the nozzle 2 comes into contact with or collides with it. If the nozzle 2 is rigid, the nozzle holder, the condensing lens 5, and the surrounding structural mechanisms and components will be damaged in the event of the above-mentioned contact or collision. The notch 3 of the nozzle 2 is designed to prevent damage to even the constituent mechanisms.
Due to the above contact or collision, the nozzle 2 is particularly broken at the notch 3 provided therein, as shown by the imaginary line, and the constituent mechanisms etc. are protected from damage.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the conventional nozzle device for a laser processing machine, if the nozzle 2 breaks at its notch 3, it is necessary to replace the entire nozzle 2, and due to its shape, it is difficult to manufacture the nozzle device. Since the above price is also high, there was a problem that it was uneconomical to treat it as a consumable item.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and provides a nozzle device for a laser processing machine that protects the condenser lens and its surrounding structural mechanisms and components without breaking the nozzle. With the goal.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In a nozzle device for a laser processing machine according to the present invention, a nozzle holder that supports a nozzle includes an elastic member that can deform when the nozzle receives an external force.

Further, the nozzle holder is configured to include rigid upper and lower nozzle holders, and a bendable or expandable elastic member coupled between both nozzle holders.

[Function] In the nozzle device for a laser processing machine according to the present invention, when the nozzle contacts or collides with the protrusion of the workpiece, the elastic member of the nozzle holder deforms in response to the external force and reduces the impact force. , the nozzle moves in the direction of deformation of the nozzle holder without breaking, and returns to its original state when the external force is removed. Further, since the impact force is alleviated by the elastic member and is not transmitted to the condenser lens or its surrounding structural mechanisms and components, these components are not damaged.

When the above-mentioned external force acts from the lateral direction, the nozzle holder with the elastic member only needs to bend freely against it, but if there is a risk that the external force will also be applied from the vertical direction of the workpiece, then The elastic member is configured to be stretchable so that the nozzle holder can be deformed not only in the lateral direction but also in the vertical direction.

【Example] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a half-sectional view of a nozzle device for a laser processing machine showing an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the same members as those in FIG. 4 are given the same reference numerals, and detailed explanation thereof will be omitted. 1a
is an upper nozzle holder, and 1b is a lower nozzle holder. Both nozzle holders la.

Both parts 1b are made of rigid bodies. 9 is the upper nozzle holder 1a
and a close coil spring inserted between the lower nozzle holder 1b, and 10 is an elastic body, such as rubber, that grips the close coil spring 9. That is, in this embodiment, the elastic member 11 is composed of a close coil spring 9ε elastic body 10.

Next, the operation will be explained. Workpiece 7 during laser processing
When the protrusion 8 and the nozzle 2 contact or collide, the nozzle 2 is pushed by the external force from the lateral direction at that time, and is bent from the close coil spring 9 between the upper nozzle holder 1a and the lower nozzle holder lb, as shown by the imaginary line. . Therefore, the nozzle 2 can separate from the protrusion 8. In addition, since the impact force with the protrusion 8 is alleviated by the elastic member 11 composed of a tightly coiled spring and the elastic body 10, almost no impact force is transmitted to the condenser lens 5, lens holder 4, etc.

After the nozzle 2 passes the position of the protrusion 8 of the workpiece 7,
That is, when the external force applied to the nozzle 2 is removed, the mutual positional relationship between the upper nozzle holder 1a and the lower nozzle holder 1b is restored to its original state by the elastic member 11.

As described above, the above embodiment is for the case where an external force due to contact or collision with the protrusion 8 is applied from the lateral direction of the nozzle 2.

On the other hand, if there is a possibility that an external force will act not only in the lateral direction but also in the vertical direction to the workpiece 7, the structure shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 may be used. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the elastic member 11 is composed of an ordinary compression coil spring 9a and an elastic body 10 for gripping the spring, and in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, it is composed of a metal bellows 9b.

In any of the embodiments, the elastic member 11 can be freely bent, expanded and contracted, and can be freely deformed in response to external forces in the lateral and vertical directions.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, the nozzle holder is configured to have an elastic member that is more easily deformable than the nozzle. Even if the nozzle is hit by the nozzle, the nozzle moves in the direction of deformation of the nozzle holder to make it easier to separate from the protrusion, etc., and the elastic member alleviates the impact force. Therefore, there is no breakage of the nozzle,
Furthermore, damage to the condenser lens and mechanical parts around it does not occur. Therefore, the nozzle can be used continuously, and there is no need to prepare a spare nozzle, so the operating cost of the device is reduced, and there is no need to spend time replacing the nozzle.

In addition, by making the elastic member connecting the upper and lower nozzle holders expandable and contractible, the above effect can be obtained even when external force is applied not only from the lateral direction but also from the vertical direction, and the nozzle etc. can be sufficiently Protect.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a half-sectional view showing a nozzle device for a laser processing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 2 and 3 are half-sectional views showing other embodiments of the present invention, and FIG. It is a half sectional view of a nozzle device. 1... Nozzle holder 1a... Upper nozzle holder 1b... Lower nozzle holder 2... Nozzle 9... Close coil spring 9a... Compression coil spring 9b... Metal bellows 10... Elastic body 11...Elastic member In the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A nozzle device for a laser processing machine, wherein a nozzle holder that supports the nozzle includes an elastic member that can deform when the nozzle receives external force. (2) The laser processing machine according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle holder includes rigid upper and lower nozzle holders, and a bendable or expandable elastic member connected between both nozzle holders. nozzle device.