JPH06308346A - Optical fiber connecting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an optical fiber connecting device whose attachment is facilitated and by which an optical fiber is surely connected without the leakage of a laser beam. CONSTITUTION:This device is provided with a connector 1 fixed to the end of the optical fiber 1a transmitting the laser beam 2c to a work optical system and a receptacle 2 in which the connector 1 is inserted so as to connect the optical fiber 1a to a laser work machine 2d. A coupling (electrode member) 4 abutting at the time of inserting the connector 1 to a specified position in the receptacle 2, and an insulating member 3 insulating the electrode member 4 from the receptacle 2 are provided, then voltage V is impressed between the electrode member 4 and the receptacle 2.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical fiber connecting device for a laser processing machine for performing welding, cutting, drilling, etc. using an optical fiber.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an optical fiber connecting device of this type, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 3-17284 and Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 3-31 have been used.
There is one disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 924, which improves heat resistance and enables transmission of high-power laser light.

However, these devices forget to insert the connector into the receptacle and cannot detect even if the coupling to the receptacle is insufficient, so that the laser beam is transmitted in such a state. There was a risk of leading to a big accident. In particular, recently, it has become more and more common to connect multiple optical fibers to one laser processing machine by performing time branching or energy branching. The danger of being exposed to light is also increasing.

Therefore, the applicant of the present application has filed Japanese Patent Application No. 4-778.
No. 90 proposes a structure in which a laser beam for detection having a different wavelength from the laser beam for processing is reflected by a mirror provided in the processing optical system on the emission side and is detected by a detector provided on the incident side. is doing.

[0005]

[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application No. 4-77 mentioned above
In the one proposed in No. 890, the presence or absence of the connection of the optical fiber can be optically detected by using the detection laser light.

However, in order to attach it to the existing laser processing machine, it is necessary to adjust the optical axis for reflecting the light by a mirror and change the processing optical system, and it is easy to attach it to the existing laser processing machine. was difficult. Further, even if the connector is not sufficiently connected, it is considered that the laser beam for detection passes if the laser beam for detection passes, so that it is not possible to notify the danger before the connector is disconnected.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an optical fiber connection device which is easy to install and can be connected securely without leakage of laser light.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to a first aspect of the present invention, a connector fixed to an end of an optical fiber for transmitting a laser beam to a processing optical system, and the connector is inserted. In the optical fiber connecting device having a receptacle for connecting the optical fiber to the laser processing machine by being performed, an electrode member that abuts when the connector is inserted into the receptacle to a predetermined position, and an insulating member that insulates the electrode member from the receptacle. And
A voltage is applied between the electrode member and the receptacle.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a plurality of the first aspect of the present invention is configured such that one electrode member and the other receptacle are connected in series with each other.

[0010]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the connector is inserted into the receptacle to a predetermined position and is normally connected, the connector is brought into contact with the electrode member to which a voltage is applied between the connector and Becomes electrically conducting through the connector, and when the connector is about to be detached from the receptacle, or completely detached, the insulating member insulates the electrode member from the receptacle and becomes non-conducting, When the connection and disconnection are detected, the irradiation of the laser light can be stopped when the connection is not established, so that the laser light can be surely connected without leakage. Further, if the electrode member and the insulating member have a shape that can be attached to the receptacle, they can be easily attached to the existing laser processing machine.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, for example, in the case of using one laser beam splitting device and two laser beam splitting devices, one electrode member and the other receptacle are used, respectively. Since they are connected in series with each other, even if any of the connectors is disconnected from the receptacle, they are in a non-conductive state, and the irradiation of laser light can be stopped.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
It will be described based on.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a connector, which is fixed to an end of an optical fiber 1a for transmitting laser light to a processing optical system, has a ferrule 1b made of metal for externally fitting the optical fiber 1a, and a screw portion 1d on an inner peripheral surface for rotation. It has a metal cap nut 1c, which possibly surrounds the ferrule 1b.

Reference numeral 2 denotes a receptacle, which is formed of a metal material into a substantially cylindrical shape with one side in the longitudinal direction as a body portion 2a and the other side as an insertion portion 2b. The body 2a has a laser beam on the end face on the opening side.
The laser processing machine 2d that emits 2c is attached to the casing of the laser processing machine 2d so as to be electrically conductive, and the condenser lens 2e of the laser light 2c is attached.
Is provided on the opening side of the inner hole. The inserting portion 2b has a guide portion 2f for inserting and guiding the ferrule 1b of the connector 1, and an outer peripheral surface thereof is a screw portion 2g with which a screw portion 1d provided on the cap nut 1c of the connector 1 is screwed.

A ring-shaped insulating member is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the body 2a.
3 is fitted, and a metal coupling (electrode member) 4 is attached to the outside of the insulating member 3.One end of this coupling 4 is supported by an insulating elastic body 4a and the other end is Are extended so as to project toward the threaded portion 2g side of the insertion portion 2b.

Then, the conductor 2h is soldered, brazed,
It is connected to the coupling 4 by welding, etc.
Is connected to the chassis of the laser processing machine 2d and grounded.
A voltage V is applied via a resistor R between 2h and 2i. At this time, since the receptacle 2 is attached to the casing of the laser processing machine 2d so as to be electrically conductive, this voltage V is insulated by the insulating member 3 and the receptacle 2
And the coupling (electrode member) 4 are applied.

Next, the state of inserting the connector 1 into the receptacle 2 will be described. After inserting the ferrule 1b of the connector 1 into the guide portion 2f of the receptacle 2, the cap nut is inserted.
When the threaded portion 1d of 1c is screwed tightly to the threaded portion 2g of the receptacle 2 and is turned so that the cap nut 1c is inserted into the predetermined position, as shown in Fig. 2, the end of the cap nut 1c is screwed. After contacting the other end of the coupling 4 protruding toward the portion 2g side, the elastic body 4a is bent, and the bending force is used as contact pressure to electrically connect the cap nut 1c and the coupling 4 to each other. Then the receptacle 2 and the coupling
The (electrode member) 4 is electrically connected via the connector 1, and the laser beam 2c is emitted from the laser processing machine 2d by detecting the current flowing through the resistor R by the voltage V in the electrically connected state. It is supposed to do. Then, the irradiated laser beam 2c is condensed by the condenser lens 2e and is incident on the end of the optical fiber 1a of the connector 1, and then transmitted through the optical fiber 1a to the processing optical system for welding, cutting and drilling. Various processings such as are performed.

In such an optical fiber connecting device,
When the connector 1 is inserted into the receptacle 2 to a predetermined position and is normally connected, by contacting the coupling (electrode member) 4 to which the voltage V is applied between the connector 1 and the receptacle 2, the connector 1 is inserted. When the connector 1 is in a state of electrical continuity and the connector 1 is about to be detached from the receptacle 2 or is completely detached, the insulating member 3 insulates the electrode member 4 and the receptacle 2 from each other to a non-conductive state. Therefore, when the conduction and non-conduction are detected and the non-conduction is detected, the irradiation of the laser light 2c can be stopped, so that the laser light 2c can be surely connected without leakage.

The electrode member 4 and the insulating member 3 may be attached to the receptacle 2 and can be easily attached to the existing laser beam machine.

Also, the cap nut 1c and the coupling 4
Since and are in contact with each other with the contact pressure by the elastic body 4a,
The electrical connection is maintained even if vibration or shock is applied.

Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. This is a laser beam splitting device that connects a plurality of optical fibers with one laser processing machine to perform time branching or energy branching, and one of the first embodiment is used for the incident side and one for the exit side. This is an example of using two. Ie 5
Is the main body of the splitting device, and the receptacle 2 is the insulator 2j
1 on the entrance side and 2 on the exit side via
The three are connected in series with the electrode member 4 on one side and the body portion 2a of the receptacle 2 on the other side.
Voltage V is applied through R.

In such an optical fiber connecting device,
Similar to the first embodiment, when the connectors 1 are inserted into the respective receptacles 2 to the predetermined positions and all three are normally connected, they are electrically connected through the respective connectors 1. Further, when any one of the connectors 1 is about to be detached from the receptacle 2 or completely detached, it becomes in a non-conducting state. Irradiation of laser light can be stopped.

In the second embodiment, three of the first embodiment are used, but it goes without saying that the number is not limited to that.

[0024]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the connector is inserted into the receptacle to a predetermined position and is normally connected, the connector is electrically connected through the connector, and the connector is removed from the receptacle. When it is coming off or completely coming off, it becomes non-conducting state. When this conducting and non-conducting state is detected, the irradiation of laser light can be stopped when it is non-conducting, so there is no leakage of laser light. If the electrode member and the insulating member can be surely connected and the electrode member and the insulating member have a shape that can be attached to the receptacle, they can be easily attached to the existing laser beam machine.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, for example, in the case of using one laser beam splitting device and two laser beam splitting devices on the incident side, one electrode member and the other receptacle are used for each other. Since they are connected in series, even if one of the connectors is detached from the receptacle, it becomes in a non-conductive state, and the irradiation of laser light can be stopped.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front sectional view showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front sectional view showing a state in which the above-mentioned one is inserted.

FIG. 3 is a front sectional view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Connector 1a Optical fiber 2 Receptacle 2d Laser processing machine 3 Insulation member 4 Electrode member

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

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An optical fiber connecting device comprising: a connector fixed to an end of an optical fiber for transmitting a laser beam to a processing optical system; and a receptacle for connecting the optical fiber to a laser processing machine by inserting the connector. An electrode member that abuts when the connector is inserted to a predetermined position in the receptacle and an insulating member that insulates the electrode member from the receptacle, and a voltage is applied between the electrode member and the receptacle. Optical fiber connection device. 2. An optical fiber connecting device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the ones according to claim 1 are formed by connecting one electrode member and the other receptacle in series with each other.