JPH05107486A - Laser beam switchover device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a laser beam switchover device capable of reducing loss as low as possible even when the number of work stations is increased, and capable of switching over multiple stations at high speed. CONSTITUTION:An end of an optical fiber on light incidence side 2 for introducing laser beam from a laser device 1 is fixed to an armateur 4A of an electromagnet 3A. Optical fibers on light outgoing side 5A, 5B, and 5C are fixed to an armateur 4B of an electromagnet 3B. An optical fiber drive switchover unit UT connects the optical fiber on light incidence side 2 optically to the optical fiber on light outgoing side 5B when both electromagnets 3A and 3B are energized or non-energized. Also, when the electromagnet 3A only is energized, the optical fiber on light incidence side 2 is switched over to the optical fiber on light outgoing side 5C. In addition, when the electromagnet 3B only is energized, the optical fiber on light incidence side 2 is connected to the optical fiber on light outgoing side 5A.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a laser beam switching device for switching and sending laser light from one laser device to laser processing machines at a plurality of work stations.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional device for sending a laser beam from one laser device to a plurality of work stations, a mirror 30 is rotated and switched by an air cylinder.
Splitting module type device or when the fiber 31 ₁ ... shown in FIG. 10 to send a laser beam necessary to rotate the mirror by the motor, high-speed time division shown in FIG. 11 to send a laser beam to the required fiber 31 ₁ ... There are modular devices.

However, since the former conventional device switches the mirror 30 by an air cylinder, the switching speed is as slow as about 1 Hz, and the latter conventional device has a switching speed as high as 40 Hz. There is a problem that the switching time from one fiber to the other is different from the switching time from the adjacent fiber. In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present inventors have already invented a laser beam switching device which is compact and lightweight, can be flexibly arranged, and has a high switching speed without being attached to the laser oscillator itself. 7 to 9 show a conventional laser beam switching device already invented.

That is, FIG. 7 shows one laser device 1 to two laser devices.
A conventional example in which a laser beam can be switched and sent to a work station at a certain position is shown. An end portion of a light incident side optical fiber 2 for introducing a laser beam from a laser device 1 is fixed to an armature 4 of an electromagnet 3, and the electromagnet is fixed. When the armature 4 is excited by driving the armature 4 and when the armature 4 is returned to the return state (not shown) by the return spring (not shown) when the electromagnet 3 is in the non-excited state. The light emitting side optical fibers 5A and 5B to be optically coupled are switched.

Thus, the electromagnetic drive means such as the electromagnet 3 and the armature 4 and the optical fibers 5A and 5B constitute the optical fiber drive switching unit UT, and the electromagnet 3 of the optical fiber drive switching unit UT is excited or non-excited. By doing so, the work station to which the laser light is sent can be switched and selected. The time required for this switching is as high as several msec to several tens msec.

The light emitting fibers 5A and 5B are connected to, for example, a laser welding machine (not shown) provided in each work station, and laser light is transmitted to two laser welding machines by one laser device 1. Can be supplied. In another conventional example, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, three optical fiber drive switching units UT _{1 to} UT ₃ are used to convert a single laser device 1 into a modularized device X.
To machine M ₁ ~M ₄ consisting of an optical system such as a work station of the four places feed switching the laser beam over, it is obtained by allowing the machining of a workpiece m ₁ ~m ₄ in each. As shown in FIG. 9, in the device X, the end portion of the light incident side optical fiber 2 for introducing the laser light from the laser device 1 is first
Electromagnet 3 ₁ of optical fiber drive switching unit UT ₁ of
Fixed to the armature 4 and the electromagnet 3 ₁ is excited to drive the armature 4 by suction, and the case where the armature 4 is in the returning state when the electromagnet 3 is in the non-excited state. The light output side optical fibers 5A and 5B which are optically coupled are switched.

Also, these optical fibers 5A, 5 on the light emitting side
The ends of B are connected to the armatures 4 of the electromagnets 3 ₂ and 3 ₃ of the _second and third optical fiber drive switching units UT ₂ and UT ₃ , respectively.
The armatures 4 are fixed to the armatures 4 and the _second and third electromagnets 3 ₂ and 3 ₃ are excited to drive the armature 4 by suction, and when the second and third electromagnets 3 are not excited. The fibers 5A, 5
Light emitting side optical fiber 6 optically coupled to the end of B
Switch A ₁ , 6A ₂ or 6B ₁ , 6B ₂ .

These optical fibers 2, 5A, 5
B, 6A ₁ , 6A ₂ , 6B ₁ , 6B ₂ and electromagnets 3 _{1 to} 3 ₃ are integrally incorporated into the same optical circuit board or the like to form a module to form the device X. By simultaneously timing for driving or return to the electromagnets 3 ₁ to 3 ₃ According to another conventional example with Thus, the switching time can be the same as that of one of the above conventional example.

[0009]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional apparatus of the present inventors, as the number of work stations increases, it is necessary to increase the number of optical fiber drive switching units UT, for example, four work stations are required. When switching the laser beam, a loss of laser light occurs little by little when passing through the two optical fiber drive switching units, and when the laser light is transmitted to the work station, the loss is added and the laser supplied from the laser device is added. There is a problem that it is difficult to effectively transmit the optical power.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to minimize the loss as much as possible even when the number of work stations is increased, and to perform a plurality of switching operations. An object is to provide a laser beam switching device that can perform high speed.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention is a laser beam switching device for sending laser light from one laser device to a plurality of locations, and a light incident side optical fiber and a plurality of light emitting devices. Side optical fiber and a first electromagnetic drive means for moving the light incident side optical fiber,
A second electromagnetic driving means for moving the plurality of light emitting side optical fibers constitutes an optical fiber drive switching unit for optically switching and connecting the light input side fiber to any one of the light emitting side optical fibers.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, at each branch point of an optical branching path for branching a laser beam from a single light incident side optical fiber to a plurality of light emitting side optical fibers in sequence. The optical fiber drive switching unit is provided and the optical fiber drive switching unit and the optical branch path are integrated into a module.

[0013]

According to the invention described in claim 1, since both the light incident side optical fiber and the plurality of light emitting side optical fibers are switched by the electromagnetic driving means, even when there are a large number of work stations, Since a large number of optical fiber drive switching units are not used, overall loss can be reduced.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the optical fiber drive switching unit is provided at each branch point of an optical branching path for sequentially branching from one light incident side optical fiber and branching laser light to a plurality of light emitting side optical fibers. Since the optical fiber drive switching unit and the optical branch path are integrated into a module, the electromagnetic drive means of each optical fiber drive switching unit can be simultaneously driven to quickly switch to a plurality of optical fibers on the light emission side. This can be done, and moreover, the fiber can be connected in the branch path without a connector, and the loss can be reduced.

[0015]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be described below with reference to examples. (Embodiment 1) FIGS. 1 to 3 show an embodiment of the present invention in which laser light can be switched and sent from one laser device to three work stations.
The end portion of the light incident fiber 2 for introducing the laser light from is fixed to the armature 4A of the electromagnet 3A, the end portions of the light emitting side optical fibers 5A, 5B and 5C are fixed to the armature 4B of the electromagnet 3B, and the electromagnets 3A and 3B are fixed. To excite
Light emitting side optical fibers 5A, 5B, 5 which are optically coupled to the end of the light incident side optical fiber 2 when not excited.
Any one of C is selectively switched.

More specifically, the control switch means Sa and Sb, which are respectively inserted between the exciting coil CLa and the power source Ea and between the exciting coil CLb and the power source Eb, are opened to separate the electromagnets 3A and 3A.
When both B are in the non-excited state and the amateurs 4A and 4B are in the returned state by the return spring (not shown), the light incident side optical fiber 2 is the light emitting side optical fiber 5 as shown in FIG.
Optically coupled to B, only the control switch means Sa is turned on to excite only the electromagnet 3A, and the amateur 4A
2 is switched to the light emitting side optical fiber 5C, as shown in FIG. Further, when the control switch means Sa is turned off, the control switch means Sb is turned on, the electromagnet 3A is de-excited, and the electromagnet 3B is excited to drive the amateur 4B by suction, as shown in FIG. 2 is coupled to the light emitting side optical fiber 5A.

When the electromagnets 3A and 3B are co-excited, the light incident side optical fiber 2 is optically coupled to the light emitting side optical fiber 5B, as in the case where the electromagnets 3A and 3B are both non-excited. Thus, the electromagnets 3A and 3B, the amateurs 4A and 4B
And two electromagnet driving means, and the optical fibers 2, 5A,
Optical fiber drive switching unit UT with 5B and 5C
Thus, by making the electromagnet 3A or 3B of the optical fiber drive switching unit UT excited or non-excited, it is possible to switch the work station for sending the laser light. The time required for this switching is as high as several milliseconds to several tens of milliseconds. An appropriate means is used to control the control switch means Sa and Sb.

The light emitting fibers 5A, 5B and 5C are
For example, a laser welding machine installed at each work station
(Not shown), and one laser device 1 is used.
So that laser light can be supplied to two laser welding machines
Is becoming (Embodiment 2) In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS.
Optical fiber drive switching unit UT₁~ UT_FourFor
Then, a single laser device 1 is modularized
From the optical system etc. of the nine work stations via X
Processing machine M₁~ M₉Switch the laser beam to send
Processed product m₁~ M₉Which can be processed
Is. As shown in FIG. 5, in the device X, from the laser device 1
The end of the light-incident side optical fiber 2 for introducing the laser light of
First optical fiber drive switching unit UT ₁Through
Optical fiber drive switching unit UT₁Two of
Electromagnet (not shown) selectively energized or de-energized
The optical fiber on the light output side that is optically coupled by
Switching between ivers 5A, 5B and 5C.

Further, these light emitting side optical fibers 5A, 5
B, the end of the 5C are each second, third, by the fourth optical fiber driving switching unit UT _2, UT _3, selectively energized or deenergized electromagnet of UT _4, each fiber 5A, 5B , 5C, which are optically coupled to the ends of the optical output side optical fibers 6A ₁ , 6A ₂ , 6A ₃ or 6
B _1, switches the 6B _2, 6B ₃ or _{6C 1, 6C 2, 6C 3} .

These optical fibers 2, 5A, 5
B, 5C, 6A ₁ , 6A ₂ , 6A ₃ , 6B ₁ , 6B ₂ , 6B
_The device X is constructed by integrally incorporating ₃ , 6C ₁ , 6C ₂ , 6C ₃ and electromagnets for driving them into the same optical circuit board or the like to form a module. Thus, according to the present invention, the switching time can be made the same as in the case of the first embodiment by simultaneously driving or returning each electromagnet.

(Embodiment 3) In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, a light incident side optical fiber 2, four light emitting side optical fibers 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D, and these four light emitting side optical fibers are provided. It is composed of an amateur 4B holding 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D. The driving direction y of the armature 4B is orthogonal to the direction x in which the light incident side optical fiber 2 moves. Four optical fibers 5A, 5 on the light emitting side
B, 5C and 5D are parallel to each other, and on the plane cut perpendicular to the axis of the optical fiber, the optical fibers 5A and 5A on the light emitting side are formed.
B, 5C and 5D are arranged so as to come to the respective vertices of the rectangle, and the distance y ₁ between the light emitting side optical fibers 5A, 5B and 5B and 5D is equal to the moving distance of the amateur 4B.

Thus, the light incident side optical fiber 2 is selectively switched to any of the light emitting side optical fibers 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D by two electromagnets (not shown). Further, as in the case of the above-described embodiment, this can be configured as a unit.

[0023]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the light incident side optical fiber, the plurality of light emitting side optical fibers, the light incident side optical fiber or the plurality of light emitting side optical fibers are moved so that any one of the light incident side optical fibers can be moved. Since the optical fiber drive switching unit is composed of the electromagnetic drive means that is optically switched and connected to the emission side optical fiber, the electromagnetic drive means can perform the switching connection of the light incident side optical fiber to the light emission side optical fiber at a high speed, and the laser. There is no need to install it in the oscillator, and because it uses optical fibers, it can be manufactured in a lightweight and compact size, and the arrangement position is flexible, and even if there are many work stations, an optical fiber drive switching unit can be installed. No longer using a large number, There is an effect that can be reduced.

Further, the invention according to claim 2 is provided with the optical fiber drive switching unit at each branch point of an optical branching path for branching laser light from one light incident side optical fiber to a plurality of light emitting side optical fibers in sequence. In addition, since these optical fiber drive switching units and optical branch paths are integrated into a module, by simultaneously driving the electromagnetic drive means of each optical fiber drive switching unit, switching to a plurality of light emitting side optical fibers can be performed at high speed. Moreover, there is an effect that the fiber can be connected in the branch path without using the connector, and the loss can be reduced. .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an operation state diagram of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an operation state diagram of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an overall configuration diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view showing a configuration of a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of a conventional example.

FIG. 8 is an overall configuration diagram of a conventional example.

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of a conventional example.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of another conventional example.

FIG. 11 is a structural explanatory view of still another conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 laser device 2 light incident side optical fiber 3A electromagnet 3B electromagnet 4A armature 4B armature 5A light emitting side optical fiber 5B light emitting side optical fiber 5C light emitting side optical fiber UT optical fiber drive switching unit

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Katsumi Yoshiya 1048, Kadoma, Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Works Co., Ltd.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A laser beam switching device for sending a laser beam from one laser device to a plurality of locations, wherein a first electromagnetic drive for moving the light incident side optical fiber, the plurality of light emitting side optical fibers, and the light incident side optical fiber. Means and a second electromagnetic drive means for moving the plurality of light emitting side optical fibers, and an optical fiber drive switching unit for optically switching and connecting the light input side fiber to any one of the light emitting side optical fibers. A laser beam switching device characterized by the above. 2. The optical fiber drive switching unit is provided at each branch point of an optical branching path for branching a laser beam to a plurality of light emitting side optical fibers by sequentially branching from one light incident side optical fiber. 2. The laser beam switching device according to claim 1, wherein the optical branch paths are integrally modularized.