WO2011055785A1 - Method and apparatus for cutting cable insulating film using laser beam - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is a method and an apparatus for cutting a cable insulating film using a laser beam, wherein laser beams (L1, L2) applied in the vertical direction toward a cable (W) extending in the front-rear direction are moved by displacing the beams not only in the cable traversing direction (horizontal direction) but also in the vertical direction such that the focal point (F) of the laser beams (L1, L2) moves in the circumferential direction along the outer circumferential surface of the cable (W). Thus, since the insulating film of the cable (W) can be always positioned within the effective range for being cut by means of thermal energy, said effective range being in the laser beams (L1, L2), the insulating film of the cable (W) having a radius larger than the effective range of the laser beams (L1, L2) can be reliably cut.

Description

Method and apparatus for cutting an insulation coating of a wire with a laser beam

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for cutting an insulating coating on a wire with a laser beam, and more specifically, the insulating coating on an electric wire having a radius dimension exceeding the effective range in which the insulating coating can be cut by the thermal energy of the laser beam. It relates to cutting technology.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in order to remove (strip) an insulation coating from an electric wire terminal portion and expose a core wire, a device that cuts the insulation coating with a pair of opposed strip blades (see, for example, Patent Document 1 below) has been used. However, along with the thinning of the insulation coating accompanying thinning of the electric wire, an apparatus for cutting the insulation coating using a laser beam (for example, see Patent Documents 2 and 3 below) has come to be used. ing.

Here, when an apparatus having the same structure described in the following Patent Documents 2 and 3 is outlined with reference to FIG. 26, the base 2 is supported by the base portion 1 and the base portion 1 is supported. A laser beam generating means 4 is supported below the base portion 1 by a cylindrical support member 3 penetrating the tube.
In addition, the base 2 is provided with a splitter 5 and a plurality of mirrors 6, 7, and 8. After the laser light L supplied from the laser light generating means 4 is divided into two by the splitter 5, a pair of upper and lower condensing lenses 9 is provided. , 10 respectively.

On the other hand, the support means 11 that integrally supports the pair of upper and lower condenser lenses 9 and 10 is supported by a pair of upper and lower linear guides 12 and 13 provided on the base 3 so as to be reciprocally movable in the direction of arrow A. Yes.
The drive motor 14 fixed to the back side of the base 2 is configured to rotationally drive a drive shaft 16 having an eccentric shaft 15.
And the eccentric shaft 15 is engaged with the slider of the linear guide 17 fixed to the back surface of the support means 11 so that relative rotation is possible.
As a result, when the drive motor 14 is rotated, the support means 11 reciprocates in the direction indicated by the arrow A, so that the laser light L emitted from the pair of upper and lower condenser lenses 9 and 10 toward the electric wire W is reflected by the electric wire W. Can be repeatedly reciprocated in the direction across the wire, thereby cutting the insulation coating of the wire W.

JP 2001-112137 A JP 2007-151345 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-1432805

By the way, the laser light L emitted from the condenser lenses 9 and 10 toward the electric wire W converges on the focal point F of the condenser lenses 9 and 10 as schematically shown in FIG. The effective range in which the coating can be cut by the thermal energy of the laser beam L is limited to a predetermined range in which the focal point F is sandwiched in the irradiation direction.

Thus, as shown in FIG. 28, in the case of the electric wire W whose radius dimension is smaller than the effective range of the laser light L, the pair of condensing lenses 9 and 10 facing each other are arranged in the transverse direction of the electric wire W (arrow A). The insulation coating can be cut over the entire circumference of the electric wire W.

However, as shown in FIG. 29, in the case of the electric wire W whose radius dimension is larger than the effective range of the laser light L, the laser light L irradiated toward the electric wire W from the condensing lenses 9 and 10 facing each other. Thus, although the insulation coating of the portions S1, S2 on the condenser lens 9, 10 side of the electric wire W can be cut, the insulation coating of the side portions S3, S4 of the electric wire W cannot be cut.
Therefore, even if the pair of condensing lenses 9 and 10 are moved in the transverse direction (direction of arrow A) of the electric wire W, the insulating coating cannot be cut over the entire circumference of the electric wire W.

On the other hand, in recent years, due to circumstances such as mounting an in-vehicle camera in an automobile, the need for high-speed communication has been increasing for an in-vehicle wire harness, and a large-diameter shielded electric wire has been used.
At this time, in order to expose the central conductor of the shielded wire, first, the outer skin is irradiated with carbon dioxide laser light (CO ₂ laser light), cut and removed, and then the exposed copper shield braid is covered with a green laser. This is cut and removed by irradiating light (YVO ₄ laser light), and then the insulator around the central conductor is irradiated with carbon dioxide laser light to cut and remove it.

However, the wavelength of the carbon dioxide laser is about 10640 nanometers, whereas the wavelength of the green laser light is much shorter, about 532 nanometers. It will become narrower.
Thus, in a conventional apparatus that cuts the insulation coating by reciprocating the laser beam in the direction crossing the electric wire, the insulation coating of a large-diameter wire, for example, a large-diameter shielded wire, is cut with a carbon dioxide green laser beam. Is extremely difficult.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and to cut the insulating coating of the electric wire that can reliably cut the insulating coating of the electric wire whose radius is larger than the effective range of the laser beam by the laser beam. It is to provide a method and apparatus.

By the way, in the “International Search Report” of PCT / JP2010 / 050067, which is an international patent application related to the present application, the above Patent Document 3 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-143280) is listed as a Category X document, and In this document, “the opinion of the international search organization” describes that “the lens holder driving mechanism 16 is controlled so that the focal point moves in the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral surface of the insulating coating 5”. The inventions according to claims 1 to 2 and 4 to 5 of the international patent application are described as having no novelty or inventive step.

However, the device described in Patent Document 3 is a device manufactured at the request of the applicant of the present application, and is exactly the same as the device described in Patent Document 2 related to the prior application of the present applicant. It has a structure.
As a result, the “laser coating removal apparatus” described in Patent Document 3 is as described in the paragraphs [0003] to [0009] with reference to [FIG. 26] to [FIG. 29] in this specification. It has a structure.

That is, the apparatus described in Patent Document 3 moves the beam spots of the first laser light L1 and the second laser light L2 in the left-right direction (arrow direction) with respect to the coated wire 3. The beam spots (focal points) of the laser beams L1 and L2 are “moved in the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral surface of the insulating coating 5”. It is impossible.
Thus, it is considered that the above description in the “international search agency opinion” is a mistake based on misunderstanding of the structure of the device described in Patent Document 3.

The means described in claim 1 for solving the above problem is as follows.
A method of cutting the insulation coating of a wire with a laser beam,
Supporting the condensing lens that irradiates laser light from above and below toward the insulation coating of the electric wires extending in the front-rear direction by the support means,
The support means is supported so as to reciprocate vertically and horizontally with respect to the base of the cutting device,
While supplying the laser light generated by the laser light generating means to the condenser lens,
The support means is driven by the drive means provided on the base to move the support means in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction with respect to the base,
The operation of the driving means is controlled so that the focal point of the laser light applied to the insulating coating from the condenser lens is displaced in the vertical and horizontal directions and moves in the circumferential direction along the outer peripheral surface of the insulating coating. ,
It is characterized by that.

That is, the conventional method of cutting the insulation coating of the electric wire with the laser beam is to simply reciprocate the laser beam irradiated in the vertical direction toward the electric wire extending in the front-rear direction in the electric wire transverse direction (left-right direction). (See Patent Documents 2 and 3 above).
On the other hand, the method of cutting the insulation coating of the electric wire of the present invention with a laser beam is not only the vertical direction but also the laser beam irradiated in the vertical direction toward the electric wire extending in the front-rear direction. Further, the focal point of the laser beam is moved in the circumferential direction along the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire, in other words, the focal point of the laser beam is moved so as to draw an arc.
As a result, the insulation of the electric wire can always be positioned inside the effective range of the laser light that can be cut by the thermal energy. Therefore, the insulation of the electric wire having a radius dimension larger than the effective range of the laser light can be achieved. The thermal energy of the laser beam can be concentrated on the coating so that the coating can be cut reliably.
Needless to say, the object to be cut by the laser beam includes not only the insulation coating of the electric wire but also the shield braid of the shielded electric wire and the central conductor.

The focal point of the laser beam not only moves in the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral surface of the insulating coating as described in claim 2, but also has a predetermined focus on the outer peripheral surface of the insulating coating as described in claim 3. It can be moved with a gap, or it can be moved inside the outer peripheral surface of the insulating coating, or it can be moved on the outer peripheral surface of the insulating coating at first but gradually moved inside the outer peripheral surface.
That is, when the shape of the outer peripheral surface of the insulating coating is a perfect circle, the insulating coating can be cut most efficiently by moving the focal point of the laser beam so as to stroke the outer peripheral surface of the insulating coating.
However, when the wire is wound up, the insulation coating may be deformed and become elliptical, so the focus of the laser beam is away from the outer peripheral surface of the insulating coating or inside the outer peripheral surface. By moving it so that it bites in, the insulating coating can be cut reliably.

Further, as described in claim 4, when the insulating coating is viewed in a cross section in the transverse direction, the focal point of the laser beam is in the circumferential direction along the outer peripheral surface at both end portions in the left-right direction of the outer peripheral surface. The displacement that moves forward and the displacement that moves backward in the circumferential direction can be repeated.
As a result, the laser beam is repeatedly applied to the left and right end portions of the outer peripheral surface of the insulation coating, in other words, the portion where the insulation coating is thickest and difficult to cut with laser light when viewed from the direction of laser light irradiation. Therefore, the insulating coating on these portions can be surely cut with a laser beam.

Furthermore, the focal point of the laser beam is not only moved so as to draw an arc along the outer peripheral surface of the insulation coating, but also moved along the outer peripheral surface of the insulation coating so as to draw a spiral around the axis of the electric wire, or a cross section. In the case of an electric wire having a triangular shape, a quadrangular shape, a hexagonal shape, etc., it can be moved in accordance with the shape of the insulating coating.

Further, the laser beam is irradiated from one condenser lens provided above the electric wire extending in the front-rear direction so that the focal point moves in the circumferential direction along the outer peripheral surface of the upper half of the insulating coating. Can be cut around its entire circumference by rotating the wire around its axis.

Alternatively, the insulating coating of the electric wire can be cut over the entire circumferential direction by irradiating laser light from a pair of upper and lower condenser lenses provided above and below the electric wire extending in the front-rear direction.
At this time, the upper and lower pair of condensing lenses are integrally supported by one support means, and the support means is driven to move in the up and down direction and the left and right direction, thereby irradiating from the upper and lower pair of condensing lenses respectively. It is preferable to move the pair of laser beams in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction while interlocking.

Further, as drive means for moving the focal point of the laser beam in the vertical direction and the front-rear direction, for example, a pair of linear motors or a pair of ball screws provided on the base of the apparatus are used to move the support means in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction, respectively. It can be driven individually.
Alternatively, as in the cutting device described below, by rotating the eccentric shaft having the same eccentric amount as the radial dimension of the electric wire to be processed, the support means is moved in conjunction with the vertical direction and the front-rear direction. Thus, the focal point of the laser beam can be moved in the circumferential direction along the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire.

The means described in claim 5 for solving the above problem is
A device that cuts the insulation of a wire with a laser beam,
A pair of upper and lower condensing lenses disposed opposite to each other in the vertical direction across the electric wire, respectively irradiating laser light from the vertical direction toward the insulation coating of the electric wire extending in the front-rear direction,
Laser light guiding means for guiding the laser light generated by the laser light generating means to the pair of upper and lower condenser lenses,
A support means for integrally supporting the pair of upper and lower condenser lenses provided to be movable in a vertical direction and a horizontal direction with respect to a base of the device;
Driving means supported by the base for driving the support means in the vertical and horizontal directions;
The pair of upper and lower condenser lenses are arranged so that their focal points coincide with each other,
The driving means is configured such that the focal points of the pair of upper and lower laser beams irradiated from the pair of upper and lower condensing lenses toward the insulation coating of the electric wire are displaced in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction, and the outer peripheral surface of the insulation coating of the electric wire The support means is configured to move in the left-right direction and the up-down direction so as to move in the circumferential direction.

That is, since the apparatus of the present invention according to claim 5 cuts the insulating coating of the electric wire by laser light irradiated from the upper and lower pair of condensing lenses, it can efficiently cut the insulating coating of the electric wire. it can.
At this time, the pair of upper and lower condensing lenses are integrally supported by the support means and arranged so that their focal points coincide with each other.
Thereby, it is possible to easily execute the control for driving and displacing the support means so that the mutually coincident focal points of the upper and lower pair of condensing lenses move in the circumferential direction along the outer peripheral surface of the insulating coating of the electric wire. Can do.

Moreover, although the apparatus of this invention described in Claim 6,7,8 implement | achieves the method of this invention described in Claim 2,3,4 respectively, all are supporting means to an up-down direction and right and left. This can be achieved by controlling the operation of the driving means that drive in the direction.
Specifically, by rotating the eccentric shaft having the same eccentricity as the radial dimension of the electric wire to be processed, the support means is moved in conjunction with the vertical direction and the front-rear direction, thereby focusing the laser beam. Can be moved in the circumferential direction along the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire.
Advancing and reversing the focal point of the laser beam in the circumferential direction can be achieved by switching between forward rotation and reverse rotation of a drive motor that rotationally drives the eccentric shaft.
Alternatively, it can be achieved by controlling a pair of linear motors or a pair of ball screws provided on the base of the apparatus in conjunction with the vertical direction and the horizontal direction, or individually controlling in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction. .

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, when the laser beam is applied to the upper half of the insulating coating from the upper condensing lens, the upper condensing device of the electric wire insulating coating cutting apparatus according to the fifth aspect is provided. The pair of upper and lower light concentrators that supply laser light to the lens and supply laser light to the lower condenser lens when irradiating the lower half of the insulating coating with laser light from the lower condenser lens Laser light supply path switching means for switching the laser light supply path to the lens in conjunction with the operation of the driving means is added.

That is, in the wire insulation coating cutting apparatus according to claim 9, when the laser light is irradiated from the upper condenser lens to the upper half of the wire insulation coating, the laser light generation means is generated by the laser light supply path switching means. When the laser beam is irradiated from the lower condenser lens to the lower half of the insulating coating of the electric wire, the laser beam generated by the laser beam generating means is supplied to the upper condenser lens. All are supplied to the lower condenser lens.
Thus, unlike the case where the laser beam is divided into two by using a splitter and the laser beam is supplied to the upper and lower condenser lenses by 50%, insulation is performed using 100% of the laser beam generated by the laser beam generating means. Since the coating can be cut, it is possible to replace the ability of the laser light generating means with about half of the capability, leading to a large cost reduction.

Further, the means described in claim 10 is the electric wire insulation coating cutting apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the driving means includes:
A drive shaft that rotates about a rotation axis extending in the front-rear direction;
An eccentric shaft that is eccentric with respect to the rotation axis by a predetermined eccentric amount and revolves around the rotation axis while engaging with the support means in a relatively rotatable manner,
The amount of eccentricity is determined based on an outer diameter of the insulating coating.

That is, in the electric wire insulation coating cutting apparatus according to the tenth aspect, for example, when the drive shaft is rotated by a drive motor fixed to the base of the apparatus, the eccentric shaft revolves around the rotation axis of the drive shaft.
Thereby, the support means engaged with the eccentric shaft in a relatively rotatable manner also revolves around the rotation axis of the drive shaft.
Therefore, when the eccentric amount of the eccentric shaft is set to a value that is half of the outer diameter dimension of the insulation coating of the electric wire, the coincident focal points of the pair of upper and lower condenser lenses move in the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral surface of the insulation coating. Will do.
In addition, what is necessary is just to change the eccentric amount of an eccentric shaft according to the outer diameter dimension, when cutting the insulation coating of the other electric wire from which an outer diameter dimension differs.

Further, when the eccentric amount of the eccentric shaft is set to a value obtained by adding a margin value (for example, 1 millimeter) to a value that is half of the outer diameter dimension of the insulation coating of the electric wire, the focal points of the pair of upper and lower condensing lenses that coincide with each other. Will move in the circumferential direction turning around the periphery of the insulating coating with an interval equal to the margin value.
Thereby, even when the insulation coating of the electric wire to be processed is crushed and deformed into an elliptical shape, the insulation coating can be reliably cut.

By the way, when the laser light supply path switching means is operated to switch the laser light supply path to the pair of upper and lower condensing lenses, it takes some time for the switching. A slight period occurs when no laser beam is supplied.
At this time, when the focal points of the pair of upper and lower condenser lenses are moved in the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral surface of the insulating coating, the laser beam is not irradiated on both sides in the electric wire transverse direction (left-right direction) of the insulating coating. There is a possibility that a part that is not cut off may occur.
On the other hand, when the focal points of the pair of upper and lower condenser lenses are moved in the circumferential direction with a predetermined interval with respect to the outer peripheral surface of the insulating coating, The laser light supply path switching means can be operated aiming at a period in which the focal point is separated from the outer peripheral surface of the insulating coating in the electric wire transverse direction (left-right direction).
Thereby, it can prevent reliably that the part which is not cut | disconnected by not irradiating a laser beam in the both sides of the electric wire crossing direction (left-right direction) of insulation coating arises.

In addition, as described in claims 11 to 18, by configuring the eccentric amount of the eccentric shaft while rotating the drive shaft, the focal points of the pair of upper and lower condensing lenses that coincide with each other can be obtained. For example, it can be initially disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the insulating coating and can enter the inside of the insulating coating as the cutting of the insulating coating proceeds.
Thereby, the insulating coating having a thickness larger than the effective range in which the insulating coating can be cut by the thermal energy of the laser beam can be reliably cut by the laser beam.
Needless to say, a thin insulating coating within the effective cutting range can be reliably cut.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a method and an apparatus for cutting an electric wire insulation coating that can reliably cut an electric wire insulation coating having a radius dimension larger than the effective range of the laser light with a laser beam.

The whole front view which shows typically one Embodiment of the insulation coating cutting device of the electric wire of this invention. FIG. 2 is an overall right side view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along a broken line AA in FIG. The whole front view which shows the action | operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. The whole front view which shows the action | operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. The whole front view which shows the action | operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. The whole front view which shows the action | operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. The whole front view which shows the action | operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. The figure which shows the action | operation principle of this invention typically. The figure which shows the action | operation principle of this invention typically. The figure which shows the action | operation principle of this invention typically. The figure which shows the action | operation principle of this invention typically. The figure which shows the action | operation principle of this invention typically. The figure which shows the action | operation principle of this invention typically. The figure which shows the eccentric shaft drive mechanism of the cutting device of 2nd Embodiment. The figure explaining the action | operation of the eccentric shaft drive mechanism shown in FIG. The figure explaining the action | operation of the eccentric shaft drive mechanism shown in FIG. The figure which shows the eccentric shaft drive mechanism of the cutting device of 3rd Embodiment. The figure which shows the action | operation of the eccentric shaft drive mechanism shown in FIG. The figure which shows the eccentric shaft drive mechanism of the cutting device of the modification of 3rd Embodiment. The figure which shows the eccentric shaft drive mechanism of the cutting device of 4th Embodiment. The figure explaining the action | operation of the eccentric shaft drive mechanism shown in FIG. The figure explaining the action | operation of the eccentric shaft drive mechanism shown in FIG. The figure which shows the eccentric shaft drive mechanism of the cutting device of 5th Embodiment. The figure which shows the eccentric shaft drive mechanism of the cutting device of the modification of 5th Embodiment. The whole front view which shows a conventional apparatus. The figure explaining the cutting | disconnection of the insulation coating by a laser beam. The figure explaining the cutting | disconnection of the insulation coating by a laser beam. The figure explaining the cutting | disconnection of the insulation coating by a laser beam.

Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 1 thru | or FIG. 25, each embodiment of the method and apparatus which cut | disconnect the insulation coating of the electric wire of this invention with a laser beam is described in detail.
In the following description, the direction in which the electric wire extends is referred to as the front-rear direction, the vertical direction is referred to as the up-down direction, and the direction perpendicular to both the front-rear direction and the up-down direction is referred to as the left-right direction.

First Embodiment First, an overall structure of a cutting device according to a first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

In the cutting apparatus 100 of the first embodiment, the base 22 is supported by the base portion 21 of the apparatus, and the laser beam generating means 24 is supported below the cylindrical support member 23 that penetrates the base portion 21. Yes.
The base 22 is provided with mirrors 32 and 33 for guiding laser light to the upper condenser lens 31 and mirrors 35 and 36 for guiding laser light to the lower condenser lens 34. ing.
Filters 37 and 38 are provided on the side of the electric wire W with respect to the upper condenser lens 31 and the lower condenser lens 34, respectively.

Further, laser light supply path switching means 40 is provided in the vicinity of the cylindrical support member 22 in the base 22.
The switching means 40 is a retracted position where the mirror 35 does not block the laser light passing through the inside of the cylindrical support member 22 from the laser light generating means 24 and moving upward in the vertical direction, and the mirror 35 is reflected to the mirror 36. The mirror 35 is moved forward and backward from the position.
Specifically, the support member 41 that supports the mirror 35 is guided so as to reciprocate by a linear guide 42 that extends obliquely upward to the right.
In addition, a slider 44 is attached to an elongated connecting member 43 connected to the support member 41 and extending obliquely downward to the right through a linear guide.
Further, the drive motor 45 fixed to the back side of the base 22 rotates the drive shaft 46 about a rotation axis extending in the front-rear direction.
The eccentric shaft 47 that is eccentric with respect to the rotational axis of the drive shaft 46 is engaged with the slider 44 via a bearing 48 (see FIG. 3) so as to be relatively rotatable.

As a result, as shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, the mirror 35 is in the retracted position when the eccentric shaft 47 is located on the diagonally lower left side. The laser beam that passes through and moves upward in the vertical direction can be supplied to the upper condenser lens 31 via the mirrors 32 and 33.
On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 6, 7, and 8, when the eccentric shaft 47 is on the diagonally upper right side, the mirror 35 is in the advanced position, so the laser beam generating means 24 to the cylindrical support member 22. The laser beam passing through the interior of the lens and traveling upward in the vertical direction can be supplied to the lower condenser lens 34 via the mirrors 35 and 36.

The mirror 35 has a predetermined width, and its flat reflecting surface extends obliquely upward to the right at an angle of 45 degrees, and further extends linearly by a linear guide 42 extending at an angle of 45 degrees to the upper right. By being guided, the laser beam can be guided toward the mirror 36 even at a position where the advance position shown in FIGS. 6 to 8 is not completely reached.

Further, a substantially inverted U-shaped support means 50 that supports the pair of upper and lower condenser lenses 31 and 34 integrally is supported on the base 22 by a pair of upper and lower linear guides 51 and 52, and the base 22 Can move in parallel without tilting in the vertical and horizontal directions.
Further, the drive motor 53 fixed to the back side of the base 33 rotates the drive shaft 54 around a rotation axis extending in the front-rear direction.
An eccentric shaft 55 that is eccentric with a predetermined eccentric amount D with respect to the rotation axis C of the drive shaft 54 is provided with a bearing 57 (see FIG. 2) on an engaging portion 56 that protrudes on the back side of the support means 50. (See FIG. 4), and are engaged so as to be relatively rotatable.
Note that the value of the eccentric amount D of the eccentric shaft 55 is set to a value equal to, for example, the radial dimension on the basis of the radial dimension of the insulation coating of the electric wire W.

As a result, when the drive motor 53 is operated to rotate the drive shaft 54 about its rotational axis, the eccentric shaft 55 is rotated from the rotational axis C of the drive shaft 54 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 to 8. Revolves on a revolving orbit of radius D around.
Along with this, the support means 50 also revolves on a revolution track having a radius D around the rotation axis C of the drive shaft 54.

On the other hand, the upper condenser lens 31 is connected to the electric wire W from the upper condenser lens 31 when the eccentric shaft 55 is at a position on the left side in the horizontal direction with respect to the rotation axis C of the drive shaft 54 as shown in FIG. The focus F1 of the laser light L1 irradiated on the support means 50 is positioned so as to come to a position W1 on the left side in the horizontal direction with respect to the center W0 of the electric wire W on the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire W.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 4, when the eccentric shaft 55 is at a position on the upper side in the vertical direction with respect to the rotation axis C of the drive shaft 54, the laser light L <b> 1 irradiated to the electric wire W from the upper condenser lens 31. The focal point F <b> 1 comes to the position W <b> 2 on the upper side in the vertical direction with respect to the center W <b> 0 of the electric wire W in the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire W.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the eccentric shaft 55 is in a position on the right side in the horizontal direction with respect to the rotation axis C of the drive shaft 54, the laser light L <b> 1 irradiated to the electric wire W from the upper condenser lens 31. The focal point F1 comes to a position W3 on the right side in the horizontal direction with respect to the center W0 of the electric wire W in the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire W.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, the lower condenser lens 34 is arranged so that when the eccentric shaft 55 is at a position on the right side in the horizontal direction with respect to the rotation axis C of the drive shaft 54, the lower condenser lens 34 The focal point F2 of the laser beam L2 applied to the electric wire W is positioned on the support means 50 so as to come to a position W3 on the right side in the horizontal direction with respect to the center W0 of the electric wire W on the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire W.

Thus, as shown in FIG. 7, when the eccentric shaft 55 is in a position vertically below the rotation axis C of the drive shaft 54, the laser irradiated to the electric wire W from the lower condenser lens 34. The focal point F2 of the light L2 comes to a position W4 on the lower side in the vertical direction with respect to the center W0 of the electric wire W on the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire W.

Then, as shown in FIG. 8, when the eccentric shaft 55 is at a position on the left side in the horizontal direction with respect to the rotation axis C of the drive shaft 54, the laser light L <b> 2 irradiated to the electric wire W from the lower condenser lens 34. The focal point F <b> 2 comes to a position W <b> 1 on the left side in the horizontal direction with respect to the center W <b> 0 of the electric wire W on the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire W.

Furthermore, the pair of upper and lower condenser lenses 31 and 34 are fixed on the support means 50 so that their focal points F1 and F2 coincide.
Specifically, the support means 50 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 are in the same position.
At this time, the focal point F1 of the upper condenser lens 31 and the focal point F2 of the lower condenser lens 34 are both positioned at a position W3 on the right side in the horizontal direction with respect to the center W0 of the electric wire W on the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire W. Positioned on the support means 50.

Next, the operation of the cutting device 100 of this embodiment will be described.

When cutting the insulation coating of the electric wire W, first, for example, the drive shaft 54 having the eccentric shaft 55 having the eccentric amount D equal to the radial dimension of the electric wire W is selected and attached to the drive motor 53.
Next, as shown in FIG. 1, when the eccentric shaft 55 is at a position on the left side in the horizontal direction with respect to the rotation axis C of the drive shaft 54, the laser light L <b> 1 irradiated to the electric wire W from the upper condenser lens 31. The electric wire W is positioned with respect to the support means 50 so that the focal point F1 is positioned at the position W1 on the left side in the horizontal direction with respect to the center W0 of the electric wire W in the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire W.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 1, 4, and 5, the drive shaft 54 is rotated in the clockwise direction in the drawing, and the eccentric shaft 55 is revolved around the rotation axis C of the drive shaft 54 in the order of C1, C2, and C3. .
At this time, prior to the rotation of the drive shaft 54, the drive motor 45 of the laser beam supply path switching means 40 is operated to move the mirror 35 to the retracted position.
As a result, all of the laser light L generated by the laser light generation means 24 is supplied to the upper condenser lens 31.
Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 1, 4, and 5, the laser light L <b> 1 irradiated from the upper condenser lens 31 toward the electric wire W cuts the upper half of the insulating coating of the electric wire W.

After that, as shown in FIG. 6, when the eccentric shaft 55 reaches the position C3 on the revolution track, the drive motor 45 of the laser light supply path switching means 40 is operated to move the mirror 35 to the advanced position.
As a result, all of the laser light L generated by the laser light generation means 24 is supplied to the lower condenser lens 34.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 6, 7, and 8, the drive shaft 54 is rotated in the clockwise direction in the drawing, and the eccentric shaft 55 is revolved around the rotation axis C of the drive shaft 54 in the order of C3, C4, and C1. .
Thereby, the laser beam L2 irradiated toward the electric wire W from the lower condenser lens 34 cuts the lower half of the insulating coating of the electric wire W.

Then, by rotating the drive shaft 54 in the clockwise direction in the drawing and revolving the eccentric shaft 55 around the rotation axis C of the drive shaft 54 in the order of C1, C2, C3, C4 several times, The insulating coating of the electric wire W can be reliably cut over the entire circumference by the laser beams L1 and L2 irradiated from the condenser lenses 31 and 34.

That is, the method and apparatus for cutting the insulation coating of the electric wire of this embodiment with a laser beam is applied to the electric wire W extending in the front-rear direction (direction perpendicular to the paper surface shown in the figure), as schematically shown in FIG. The laser beam focal point F moves in the circumferential direction along the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire by reciprocally displacing the laser beam irradiated in the vertical direction toward the vertical direction as well as the electric wire transverse direction (left and right direction). In other words, in other words, the focal point of the laser beam is moved in order from (1) to (5) so as to draw an arc.

Thereby, since the insulating coating of the electric wire W can always be located inside the effective range in which the insulating coating can be cut by the thermal energy of the laser beam L, the radius dimension is larger than the effective range of the laser beam L. The thermal energy of the laser beam L can be concentrated and reliably cut into the insulation coating of the electric wire W, in other words, the insulation coating thicker than the effective range of the laser beam L.

Furthermore, the method and apparatus for cutting the electric wire insulation coating of the first embodiment with a laser beam are shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. Since the pair of upper and lower laser beams L1 and L2 are irradiated from 34, the insulating coating can be reliably cut without rotating the electric wire W.

In addition, the pair of upper and lower condenser lenses 31 and 34 are integrally supported by the support means 50, and the support means 50 is driven by the eccentric shaft 55 that revolves around the rotation axis C extending in the front-rear direction of the drive shaft 54. Since the focal points F of the pair of upper and lower condenser lenses 31 and 34 coincide with each other in the circumferential direction along the outer peripheral surface of the insulating coating of the electric wire W, the pair of upper and lower pairs are vertically moved. The condensing lenses 31 and 34 can be reliably driven.

Further, when changing the outer diameter dimension of the electric wire W to be processed, such as exchanging the electric wire to be processed, for example, it is replaced with a drive shaft 54 having an eccentric shaft 55 having an eccentric amount D equal to the radial dimension of the electric wire W to be exchanged. By doing so, the focal points F of the pair of upper and lower condenser lenses 31 and 34 that coincide with each other can be moved in the circumferential direction along the outer peripheral surface of the insulating coating of the electric wire W.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 10, the cutting apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment moves the upper condenser lens 31 to (1) to (5) while moving the laser beam to the upper half of the insulation coating of the electric wire W. When irradiating L1, the laser light supply path switching means 40 supplies all of the laser light generated by the laser light generation means 24 to the upper condenser lens 31.
As shown in FIG. 11, when the lower light collecting lens 34 is moved from (6) to (10) and the lower half of the insulation coating of the electric wire W is irradiated with the laser light L2, the laser light is emitted. The supply path switching means 40 supplies all of the laser light generated by the laser light generation means 24 to the lower condenser lens 34.
Thus, unlike the case where the laser beam is divided into two by using a splitter and the laser beam is supplied to the upper and lower condenser lenses by 50 percent respectively, the laser beam generated by the laser beam generating means 24 is used by 100 percent. Since the insulating coating can be cut, the laser light generating means can be replaced with one having about half of its capability, leading to a significant cost reduction.

By the way, when the laser light supply path switching means 40 is operated to switch the laser light supply paths to the pair of upper and lower condenser lenses 31, 34, it takes some time for the switching, and the pair of upper and lower condenser lenses. A slight period in which the laser beams L1 and L2 are not irradiated from 31 and 34 toward the insulating coating of the electric wire W occurs.
At this time, when the focal points F1 and F2 of the pair of upper and lower condenser lenses 31 and 34 move in the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral surface of the insulation coating of the electric wire W, both side portions of the insulation coating in the transverse direction (left and right direction) In addition, there is a possibility that a portion that is not cut off is generated due to the laser beams L1 and L2 not being supplied.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 12, the focal points F1 and F2 of the pair of upper and lower condenser lenses 31 and 34 (see FIGS. 10 and 11) have a predetermined distance from the outer peripheral surface of the insulating coating. By moving in the circumferential direction on the opened circular orbit W1, the focal points F1 and F2 of the pair of upper and lower condenser lenses 31 and 34 are separated from the outer peripheral surface of the insulation coating of the electric wire W in the electric wire transverse direction (left and right direction). The laser light supply path switching means 40 can be switched for the period of time.

More specifically, in FIG. 12A, the laser beam supply path before the focal points F1 and F2 of the laser beams L1 and L2 pass through the point P6 on the circular orbit W1 and reach the point P2 from the point P1. The switching of the switching means 40 is completed.
Similarly, in FIG. 12B, before the focal points F1 and F2 of the laser beams L1 and L2 pass through the point P3 of the circular orbit W1 and reach the point P5 from the point P4, the laser beam supply path switching unit 40 Allow the switch to complete.
Thereby, while the focal point F1 of the laser beam L1 moves from the point P2 on the circular orbit W1 to the point P3, that is, while the laser beam L1 crosses the electric wire W from the left to the right side, and the focal point F2 of the laser beam L2 is a circle. While moving from the point P5 on the trajectory W1 to the point P6, that is, while the laser beam L2 crosses the electric wire W from the right to the left, the laser beams L1 and L2 are reliably irradiated from the upper and lower condenser lenses 31 and 34. Therefore, the side part of the left-right direction among the insulation coating of the electric wire W can be cut | disconnected reliably.

Next, with reference to FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, a modification of the method and apparatus for cutting the insulation coating of the electric wire of the present invention with a laser beam will be described.

The focal points F1 and F2 of the laser beams L1 and L2 in the above-described embodiment only move in the clockwise direction along the outer peripheral surface of the insulating coating, and do not move in the counterclockwise direction.
On the other hand, in the modification example shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, when the electric wire W is viewed in the cross section in the transverse direction, the portions of the left and right end portions W1 and W3 of the outer peripheral surface are laser light L1. , L2 end points W1, W3 in the left-right direction of the electric wire W by alternately repeating clockwise movement and counterclockwise movement (forward and backward in the circumferential direction) when the focal points F1, F2 pass through. This insulation coating can be more reliably cut by the laser beams L1 and L2.

More specifically, FIG. 13 decomposes the horizontal and vertical displacements of the focal points F1 and F2 when the focal points F1 and F2 of the laser beams L1 and L2 are displaced in conjunction with the horizontal and vertical directions. It is shown.
When the focal point F1 of the laser beam L1 reaches the left end W1 of the electric wire W, it reciprocates in the left-right direction as indicated by h1 and simultaneously reciprocates in the vertical direction as indicated by v1.
Next, when the focal point F1 moves from the left end W1 of the electric wire W through the upper end W2 to the right end W3, it moves continuously in the clockwise direction as indicated by h2 / v2. However, there is no displacement in the counterclockwise direction.
Further, when the focal point F1 reaches the right end W3 of the electric wire W, it reciprocates in the left-right direction as indicated by h3, and at the same time, reciprocates in the vertical direction as indicated by v3.

Exactly the same, the focal point F2 of the laser beam L2 reciprocates in the left-right direction as indicated by h3 at the right end W3 of the electric wire W, and simultaneously reciprocates in the vertical direction as indicated by v3.
Next, when the focal point F2 moves from the right end W3 of the electric wire W through the lower end W4 to the left end W1, the focus F2 continues in the clockwise direction as indicated by h4 / v4. It moves and does not displace counterclockwise.
Further, when the focal point F2 reaches the left end W1 of the electric wire W, it reciprocates in the left-right direction as indicated by h5, and at the same time, reciprocates in the vertical direction as indicated by v5.

As a result, the focal points F1 and F2 of the laser beams L1 and L2 repeatedly apply thermal energy to the insulating coating at the left end W1 and the right end W3 of the electric wire W. Can be cut even more reliably.
In addition, the repetition of such a clockwise / counterclockwise displacement of the focal points F1 and F2 is performed by controlling the operation of the drive motor 45 of the cutting device 100 described above to repeatedly rotate in the forward / reverse direction. Can be achieved.
Further, the magnitude of the displacement of the focal points F1 and F2 in the clockwise / counterclockwise direction is such that the drive shaft of the drive motor 45 is in accordance with the thickness of the insulation coating of the wire W and the effective range of the laser beams L1 and L2. It can be changed by adjusting the angular range of repeated rotation in the rolling direction / reversing direction.

On the other hand, in the modification shown in FIG. 14, when the focal points F1 and F2 of the laser beams L1 and L2 are individually displaced in the left and right directions and the vertical direction, the horizontal and vertical displacements of the focal points F1 and F2 are obtained. Is a disassembled view.
Specifically, when the focal point F1 of the laser beam L1 reaches the left end W1 of the electric wire W, it reciprocates in the left-right direction as indicated by h1, but in the vertical direction as indicated by v1. Is not displaced.
Next, when the focal point F1 moves from the left end W1 of the electric wire W through the upper end W2 to the right end W3, it moves continuously in the clockwise direction as indicated by h2 / v2. However, there is no displacement in the counterclockwise direction.
Further, when the focal point F1 reaches the right end W3 of the electric wire W, it reciprocates in the left-right direction as indicated by h3, but does not displace in the vertical direction as indicated by v3.

Exactly the same, the focal point F2 of the laser beam L2 is reciprocated in the left-right direction as indicated by h3 at the right end W3 of the electric wire W, but is not displaced in the vertical direction as indicated by v3.
Next, when the focal point F2 moves from the right end W3 of the electric wire W through the lower end W4 to the left end W1, the focus F2 continues in the clockwise direction as indicated by h4 / v4. It moves and does not displace counterclockwise.
Further, when the focal point F2 reaches the left end W1 of the electric wire W, it reciprocates in the left-right direction as indicated by h5, but does not move in the vertical direction as indicated by v5.

Thereby, also in this modification, the focal points F1 and F2 of the laser beam L1 repeatedly apply thermal energy to the insulating coating at the left end W1 and the right end W3 of the electric wire W. The insulating coating can be cut more reliably.
The clockwise and counterclockwise displacements of the focal points F1 and F2 of the laser light L1 are achieved by driving the base 23 using a linear motor or a ball screw, unlike the cutting device 100 described above. can do.

As described with reference to FIG. 12, the focal points F1 and F2 of the laser beams L1 and L2 are repeatedly displaced in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction at the left end W1 and the right end W3 of the electric wire W. This is particularly useful when the focal points F1 and F2 of the laser beams L1 and L2 are displaced in the circumferential direction on a circular orbit W1 having a predetermined interval with respect to the outer peripheral surface of the insulation coating of the electric wire W.
More specifically, as shown in FIG. 12 (a), when the focal point F1 of the laser beam L1 reaches the left and right ends P1 and P4 on the circular orbit W1, the focal point F1 is the outer periphery of the electric wire W. It should be at a predetermined distance from the surface.
However, if the insulating coating of the electric wire W is deformed and becomes elliptical, the focal point F1 of the laser light L1 is unexpectedly separated from the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire W, and there is a possibility that the insulating coating cannot be reliably cut.
At this time, if the focal point F1 of the laser beam L1 is repeatedly displaced in the up / down direction and the left / right direction, the focal point F1 of the laser beam L1 can be reliably irradiated to the insulating coating located at a distance.
Therefore, even when the focal points F1 and F2 of the laser beams L1 and L2 are displaced in the circumferential direction on the circular orbit W1 having a predetermined interval with respect to the outer peripheral surface of the insulating coating of the electric wire W, the insulating coating of the electric wire W Can be cut reliably.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 15 to 25, each embodiment of a cutting apparatus provided with an eccentricity variable mechanism that changes the eccentricity of the eccentric shaft during rotation of the drive shaft will be described.
That is, by changing the amount of eccentricity of the eccentric shaft using the eccentricity variable mechanism, it is possible to cut even when the thickness of the wire jacket is thicker than the effective range of the laser beam (see FIG. 29).

Second Embodiment The cutting device 200 of the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 15 to 17 includes a drive motor 53, a drive shaft 54, and an eccentric shaft 55 (see FIG. 2) in the cutting device 100 of the first embodiment described above. The portion is replaced with a variable eccentricity mechanism 60.
More specifically, the drive motor 61 shown in FIG. 15 corresponds to the drive motor 53, and the eccentric shaft 65 corresponds to the eccentric shaft 55.

A holding member 63 is fitted on the drive shaft 62 of the drive motor 61 so as to rotate integrally.
The holding member 63 is a thick bottomed cylindrical member, and a long groove 63a extending in the radial direction with respect to the rotation axis C is recessed at the tip.
In addition, a pair of concave grooves 63b and 63c extending in the front-rear direction (left-right direction in the drawing sheet) along the rotation axis C while being opposed to the diameter direction are provided in the outer peripheral surface of the holding member 63.

In addition, a prismatic slide member 64 is fitted in the long groove 63a at the tip of the holding member so as to be slidable in the radial direction, and rotates integrally with the drive shaft 62.
Further, an eccentric shaft 65 is erected at the end of the slide member 64.
Thereby, the eccentric shaft 65 can be displaced in the radial direction while revolving around the rotation axis C as the drive shaft 62 rotates.

Further, a thin-walled cylindrical member 66 with a bottom is attached to the holding member 63 so as to be relatively rotatable in the circumferential direction.
On the side surface 66a of the cylindrical member 66, first cam grooves 66b and 66c extending spirally around the rotation axis C are respectively cut.
Further, a second cam groove 66e extending in a curved manner is formed in the bottom surface portion 66d of the cylindrical member 66 to receive the eccentric shaft 65.
The cylindrical member 66 engages with a pin (not shown) projecting from the outer peripheral surface of the holding member 63 and can rotate relative to the holding member 63 in the circumferential direction, but in the axial direction. The relative change is impossible.

Further, a pair of engaging pins 72 a and 72 b that are opposed to each other in the diametrical direction protrude from the inner peripheral surface of the large-diameter annular member 71 that is coaxially disposed around the holding member 63.
The engaging pins 72 a and 72 b enter the first cam grooves 66 b and 66 c, respectively, and the tips thereof enter the concave grooves 63 b and 63 c of the holding member 63.
As a result, the annular member 71 rotates integrally with the holding member 63 and the cylindrical member 66 in accordance with the operation of the drive motor 61.

A second annular member 74 is externally fitted to a pair of front and rear axial bearings 73 a and 73 b that are coaxially disposed on the outer periphery of the annular member 72.
The support member 75 provided at one end in the diameter direction of the second annular member 74 is guided in parallel with the rotational axis C by the linear guide 76.
A ball screw 78 is screwed into a support member 77 provided at the other end in the diameter direction of the second annular member 74.
Accordingly, when the ball screw 78 is rotationally driven in both forward and reverse directions by the drive motor 79, the second annular member 74, and thus the first annular member 71, is displaced in the front-rear direction along the rotation axis C.

As shown in FIG. 15, when the first annular member 71 is in the neutral position in the front-rear direction, the position of the relative rotation of the tubular member 66 relative to the holding member 63 is also in the neutral position.
As a result, the second cam groove 66e holds the eccentric shaft 65 at the neutral position of the radial displacement, and the eccentric amount of the eccentric shaft 65 is D1.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 16, when the first annular member 71 is moved forward to the eccentric shaft 65 side, the engagement pins 72a and 66c are inserted into the first cam grooves 66b and 66c of the tubular member 66, respectively. As a result of the meshing of 72b, the cylindrical member 66 rotates relative to the holding member 63 in the counterclockwise direction as indicated by an arrow A.
Then, since the second cam groove 66e displaces and holds the eccentric shaft 65 inward in the radial direction, the eccentric amount of the eccentric shaft 65 becomes D2 (<D1).

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 17, when the first annular member 71 is moved rearward toward the drive motor 79, the engagement pins are engaged with the first cam grooves 66b and 66c of the tubular member 66. As a result of the meshing of 72 a and 72 b, the cylindrical member 66 rotates relative to the holding member 63 in the clockwise direction as indicated by an arrow B.
Then, since the second cam groove 66e displaces and holds the eccentric shaft 65 radially outward, the eccentric amount of the eccentric shaft 65 is D3 (> D1).

That is, in the cutting device 200 of the first embodiment, the drive motor 79 is operated while the drive shaft 62 is rotating, so that the relative rotation position of the cylindrical member 66 with respect to the holding member 63, and therefore the rotation. The amount of eccentricity of the eccentric shaft 65 with respect to the axis C can be changed.

As a result, the focal points F1 and F2 of the pair of upper and lower condensing lenses 31 and 34 that are coincident with each other are initially disposed on the surface of the insulating coating, for example, and the inside of the insulating coating progresses as the cutting of the insulating coating proceeds. Can get in.
Therefore, it is possible to reliably cut the insulating coating having a thickness larger than the effective range in which the insulating coating can be cut by the thermal energy of the laser beams L1 and L2 by the laser beams L1 and L2.

Third Embodiment Next, a cutting device according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 18 and 19.

The cutting apparatus 300 according to the third embodiment is obtained by changing the eccentricity variable mechanism 60 in the cutting apparatus 200 according to the second embodiment described above, but the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and are duplicated. Description is omitted.

In the eccentricity variable mechanism 80 in the cutting device 300 of the third embodiment, an internal gear 82 is formed in the vicinity of the tip of the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical member 81.
Further, a spur gear 84 is pivotally supported by a rotation shaft 83 extending in parallel to the tip end of the holding member 63 while being eccentric with respect to the rotation axis C, and meshed with the internal gear 82.
An eccentric shaft 85 is erected near the outer periphery of the spur gear 84.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 18, when the first annular member 71 is at the most retracted reference position, the relative rotation position of the tubular member 81 with respect to the holding member 63 is also at the reference position.
Accordingly, since the spur gear 84 meshing with the internal gear 82 of the cylindrical member 81 is also at the reference position, the eccentric amount of the eccentric shaft 85 is D1.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 19, when the first annular member 71 is moved most forward, the engaging pins 72a and 72b mesh with the first cam grooves 66b and 66c of the tubular member 81, respectively. As a result, the cylindrical member 81 rotates relative to the holding member 63 in the counterclockwise direction as indicated by an arrow A.
Then, since the spur gear 84 meshed with the internal gear 82 of the cylindrical member 81 also rotates counterclockwise around the rotation shaft 83, the eccentric amount of the eccentric shaft 85 becomes D2 (<D1). .

That is, in the cutting device 300 of the third embodiment, the drive motor 79 is operated while the drive shaft 62 is rotating, whereby the relative rotation position of the cylindrical member 81 with respect to the holding member 63, and therefore the rotation. The amount of eccentricity of the eccentric shaft 85 with respect to the axis C can be changed.

First Modification Next, a modification of the cutting device 300 according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

In the cutting device 350 of this modification, the pulley 88 is rotationally driven by the drive shaft 87 of the second drive motor 86 provided in parallel with the drive motor 61.
A timing belt 89 is wound between the pulley 88 and the tubular member 81, and the tubular member 81 can be driven to rotate by the second drive motor 86.

At this time, if the drive motor 61 and the second drive motor 86 are interlocked to synchronize the rotation of the holding member 63 and the cylindrical member 81, the spur gear 84 does not rotate around the rotation shaft 83 and rotates. Therefore, the eccentric shaft 85 can be revolved around the rotation axis C while the eccentric amount of the eccentric shaft 85 is fixed.

On the other hand, if the rotational speeds of the holding member 63 and the cylindrical member 81 are slightly different, the spur gear 84 revolves around the rotation axis C while rotating around the rotation shaft 83, and therefore the eccentric shaft 85. The amount of eccentricity can be changed.
Then, when the eccentric amount of the eccentric shaft 85 reaches a desired value, the eccentric amount of the eccentric shaft 85 can be fixed to a desired value by synchronizing the rotation of the holding member 63 and the cylindrical member 81 again. .

If the operation is continued with the holding member 63 and the cylindrical member 81 having slightly different rotational speeds, the eccentric amount of the eccentric shaft 85 changes continuously.
Then, the focal points F1 and F2 of the laser beams L1 and L2 applied to the insulating coating from the pair of upper and lower condenser lenses 31 and 34 move into the insulating coating from the outside of the insulating coating, and are insulated from the inside of the insulating coating. It moves in the circumferential direction along the surface of the insulating coating while alternately repeating the movement coming out of the coating.
Thereby, even when the insulation coating of the electric wire W is deformed or when the positioning of the electric wire W is displaced, the insulating coating can be reliably cut by the laser beams L1 and L2.

In addition, if a friction element is interposed between the holding member 63 and the cylindrical member 81 so that the holding member 63 and the cylindrical member 81 rotate integrally, the eccentric amount of the eccentric shaft 85 is fixed. The eccentric shaft 85 can be revolved around the rotation axis C.
Then, the second drive motor 86 is operated to rotationally drive the cylindrical member 81, or the rotation of the cylindrical member 81 is braked to hold the cylindrical member 81 against the frictional force of the friction element. The amount of eccentricity of the eccentric shaft 85 can also be changed by forcibly making a relative rotation.

Fourth Embodiment Next, a cutting device according to a fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

The cutting device 400 according to the fourth embodiment is obtained by changing the eccentric amount variable mechanism 60 in the cutting device 200 according to the first embodiment described above, and the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and duplicated description. Is omitted.

In the eccentricity variable mechanism 90 in the cutting device 400 of the fourth embodiment, a second cam 92 is formed in the vicinity of the tip of the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical member 91.
The second cam 92 is formed as a cylindrical inner peripheral surface having an axis extending in parallel to the rotation axis C while being eccentric by a predetermined amount.

On the other hand, a concave groove 63 d extending in the radial direction (in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface shown in the drawing) with respect to the rotation axis C is provided in the distal end surface of the holding member 63. In addition, a prismatic protrusion 93a connected to the disk-shaped intermediate member 93 is slidably fitted in the concave groove 63d.
Furthermore, a concave groove 93b extending in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the protrusion 93a extends is formed in the intermediate member 93 on the side opposite to the protrusion 93a. A slide member 94 is slidably fitted in the concave groove 93b.
An eccentric shaft 95 is provided upright at the end of the slide member 94.

As a result, the intermediate member 93 acts as an Oldham coupling interposed between the holding member 63 and the slide member 94, and extends in the radial direction with respect to the rotation axis C while being orthogonal to each other. Then, the slide member 94 can be displaced relative to the holding member 63 in two directions, a direction perpendicular to the paper surface shown in FIG. 21 and a vertical direction on the paper surface shown in the drawing.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 21, when the first annular member 71 is at the most retracted reference position, the relative rotation of the tubular member 91 with respect to the holding member 63 is also at the reference position.
Along with this, the position of the slide member 94 fitted to the second cam 92 of the cylindrical member 91 is also at the reference position, so the eccentric amount of the eccentric shaft 95 is D1.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 22, when the first annular member 71 is moved forward to the intermediate position, the cylindrical member 91 is counterclockwise as shown by the arrow A with respect to the holding member 63. Turn 90 degrees in the direction.
As a result, the second cam 92 formed on the cylindrical member 91 displaces the slide member 94 in the two directions described above, so the eccentric amount of the eccentric shaft 95 is D2 (<D1).

Further, when the first annular member 71 is moved most forward as shown in FIG. 23, the cylindrical member 91 is further rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise as indicated by the arrow A with respect to the holding member 63. .
Accordingly, the second cam 92 formed on the cylindrical member 91 further displaces the slide member 94 in the two directions described above, and the eccentric amount of the eccentric shaft 95 becomes D3 (<D2).

That is, in the cutting device 400 of the fourth embodiment, the drive motor 79 is operated while the drive shaft 62 is rotating, so that the relative rotation position of the cylindrical member 91 with respect to the holding member 63, and therefore the rotation. The amount of eccentricity of the eccentric shaft 95 with respect to the axis C can be changed.
Further, since the second cam 92 which is a cylindrical member is externally fitted to the slide member 94, the slide member 94 does not have radial play.
Thereby, the upper and lower pair of condensing lenses 31 and 34 in the cutting device 400 can be positioned more accurately.

Fifth Embodiment Next, a cutting device according to a fifth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

Unlike the cutting devices of the first to fourth embodiments described above, the cutting device 500 of the fifth embodiment does not displace the eccentric shaft while actively controlling the eccentric shaft to a predetermined eccentric amount. The eccentric shaft is passively decentered within the range of the amount of eccentricity.

More specifically, a planetary gear unit 510 is connected to the drive shaft 62 of the drive motor 61.
The planetary gear unit 510 is supported by a base portion of the cutting device 500 by a support member 511, and is also supported by a sun gear 512 that is rotationally driven by a drive shaft 62, an annular gear 513 that is fixed to the unit housing, and a carrier (not shown). Planetary gears 514 are provided.
An eccentric shaft 515 is erected on the outer peripheral portion of the planetary gear 514.

Accordingly, when the drive gear 61 is operated and the sun gear 512 is rotated with the annular gear 513 fixed, the planetary gear 514 rotates while revolving around the rotation axis C, so that the eccentric shaft 515 is moved to the arrow A. As indicated by, the rotation around the rotation axis C is performed while being displaced radially inside the predetermined range D.
Then, the focal points F1 and F2 of the laser beams L1 and L2 applied to the insulating coating from the pair of upper and lower condenser lenses 31 and 34 move into the insulating coating from the outside of the insulating coating, and are insulated from the inside of the insulating coating. It circulates along the surface of the insulating coating while alternately repeating the movements coming out of the coating.
Thereby, even when the insulation coating of the electric wire W is deformed or when the positioning of the electric wire W is displaced, the insulating coating can be reliably cut by the laser beams L1 and L2.

Second Modified Example Next, with reference to FIG. 25, a modified example of the cutting device 500 of the fifth embodiment will be described.

The eccentric amount variable mechanism 551 in the cutting device 550 of the modification shown in FIG. 25 includes a sun gear 553 that is rotationally driven by a drive motor 552, a planetary gear 554 that is supported so as to be relatively rotatable with respect to the sun gear 553, and An annular gear 555 is provided. An eccentric shaft 556 is erected on the outer peripheral portion of the planetary gear 554.
Further, a timing belt 559 is wound between a pulley 558 and an annular gear 555 that are rotationally driven by a second drive motor 557 arranged in parallel with the drive motor 552, and the annular gear 555 is wound by the second drive motor 557. It can be rotated.

At this time, when the drive motor 552 and the second drive motor 557 are interlocked to synchronize the rotation of the sun gear 553 and the annular gear 555, the planetary gear 554 rotates relative to the sun gear 553 and the annular gear 555. Since it revolves around the rotation axis C, the eccentric amount of the eccentric shaft 556 can be fixed and revolved around the rotation axis C.

In contrast, if the rotational speeds of the sun gear 553 and the annular gear 555 are slightly different, the planetary gear 554 revolves around the rotation axis C while rotating relative to the sun gear 553 and the annular gear 555. The amount of eccentricity of the eccentric shaft 556 can be changed.
The eccentric amount of the eccentric shaft 85 can be fixed to a desired value by synchronizing the rotation of the sun gear 553 and the annular gear 555 when the eccentric amount of the eccentric shaft 556 reaches a desired value.

If the operation is continued with the sun gear 553 and the annular gear 555 having slightly different rotational speeds, the amount of eccentricity of the eccentric shaft 556 changes continuously.
Then, the focal points F1 and F2 of the laser beams L1 and L2 applied to the insulating coating from the pair of upper and lower condenser lenses 31 and 34 move into the insulating coating from the outside of the insulating coating, and are insulated from the inside of the insulating coating. It circulates along the surface of the insulating coating while alternately repeating the movements coming out of the coating.
Thereby, even when the insulation coating of the electric wire W is deformed or when the positioning of the electric wire W is displaced, the insulating coating can be reliably cut by the laser beams L1 and L2.

As mentioned above, although each embodiment and modification of the method and apparatus which cut | disconnect the insulation coating of the electric wire of this invention with a laser beam were demonstrated in detail, this invention is not limited by embodiment mentioned above and a modification, and variously Needless to say, it is possible to make changes.
For example, in the first embodiment described above, the drive motor 53, the drive shaft 54, and the eccentric shaft 55 are used as drive means for driving the support means 50 to move in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction.
On the other hand, a first linear motor or ball screw for moving the support means 50 in the vertical direction and a second linear motor or ball screw for moving the support means 50 in the left-right direction are used in combination. It can also be a structure.

In the first embodiment described above, the drive motor 45 is used as a drive source for the laser light supply path switching means 40.
On the other hand, by using a pulley and a timing belt, the laser light supply path switching unit 40 can be driven by the drive motor 53 that drives the support unit 50.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Basic part of conventional apparatus 2 Base 3 Cylindrical support member 4 Laser beam generating means 5 Splitter 6, 7, 8 Mirror 9,10 Condensing lens of conventional apparatus 11 Support means 12, 13 Linear guide 14 Drive motor 15 Eccentric shaft 16 Drive shaft 17 Linear guide 21 Basic portion 22 Cylindrical support member 23 Base 24 Laser light generating means 31, 34 Condensing lenses 32, 33, 35, 36 Mirror 37, 38 Filter 40 Laser light supply path switching means 41 Support member 42 Linear Guide 43 Connecting member 44 Slider 45 Drive motor 46 Drive shaft 47 Eccentric shaft 48 Bearing 50 Support means 51, 52 Linear guide 53 Drive motor 54 Drive shaft 55 Eccentric shaft 56 Engaging portion 57 Bearing 100 Cutting device 200 of the first embodiment Cutting device 300 of 2 embodiment Cutting of 3rd embodiment Device 350 the cutting device of the cutting device 400 the fourth embodiment of the first variant 500 the fifth embodiment of the cutting device 550 the cutting device of the second modification

Claims (18)

1. A method of cutting the insulation coating of a wire with a laser beam,
   A support lens is provided with a condenser lens that irradiates laser light from above and below toward the insulation coating of the electric wires extending in the front-rear direction,
   The support means is supported so as to reciprocate vertically and horizontally with respect to the base of the cutting device,
   While supplying the laser light generated by the laser light generating means to the condenser lens,
   The support means is driven by the drive means provided on the base to move the support means in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction with respect to the base,
   The operation of the driving means is controlled so that the focal point of the laser light applied to the insulating coating from the condenser lens is displaced in the vertical and horizontal directions and moves in the circumferential direction along the outer peripheral surface of the insulating coating. ,
   A method of cutting an insulating coating of an electric wire with a laser beam.
2. 2. The method of cutting an insulating coating of an electric wire according to claim 1, wherein the operation of the driving means is controlled so that the focal point moves in a circumferential direction on an outer peripheral surface of the insulating coating. .
3. The operation of the driving means is controlled so that the focal point moves in a circumferential direction along the outer peripheral surface with a predetermined interval from the outer peripheral surface of the insulating coating. A method of cutting the insulating coating of the described wire with a laser beam.
4. When the focal point is a cross section in the transverse direction of the insulating coating, a displacement that advances in the circumferential direction along the outer circumferential surface and a displacement that moves back in the circumferential direction are present at both end portions in the left-right direction of the outer circumferential surface. 4. The method of cutting an insulating coating of an electric wire according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the operation of the driving means is controlled to repeat.
5. A device that cuts the insulation of a wire with a laser beam,
   A pair of upper and lower condensing lenses disposed opposite to each other in the vertical direction across the electric wire, respectively irradiating laser light from the vertical direction toward the insulation coating of the electric wire extending in the front-rear direction,
   Laser light guiding means for guiding the laser light generated by the laser light generating means to the pair of upper and lower condenser lenses,
   A support means for integrally supporting the pair of upper and lower condenser lenses provided to be movable in a vertical direction and a horizontal direction with respect to a base of the device;
   Driving means supported by the base for driving the support means in the vertical and horizontal directions;
   The pair of upper and lower condenser lenses are arranged so that their focal points coincide with each other,
   The driving means is configured such that the focal points of the pair of upper and lower laser beams irradiated from the pair of upper and lower condensing lenses toward the insulation coating of the electric wire are displaced in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction, and the outer peripheral surface of the insulation coating of the electric wire An apparatus for cutting an insulating coating of an electric wire with a laser beam, wherein the support means is configured to move in the left-right direction and the up-down direction so as to move in the circumferential direction along the line.
6. The said drive means is comprised so that the said support means may be moved to the left-right direction and an up-down direction so that the said focus may move to the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral surface of the insulation coating of the said electric wire. The apparatus which cut | disconnects the insulation coating of the electric wire described in 5 with the laser beam.
7. The drive means moves the support means in the left-right direction and the up-down direction so that the focal point moves in a circumferential direction along the outer peripheral surface with a predetermined interval from the outer peripheral surface of the insulating coating of the electric wire 6. An apparatus for cutting an insulating coating of an electric wire according to claim 5 with a laser beam.
8. The driving means has a displacement that advances in the circumferential direction along the outer circumferential surface and the circumferential direction at both ends of the outer circumferential surface when the focal point is viewed in a cross section in the transverse direction. 8. The electric wire insulation coating according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the support means is moved in the left-right direction and the up-down direction so as to repeat the backward displacement. apparatus.
9. When irradiating laser light from the upper condenser lens to the upper half of the insulating coating, the laser light is supplied to the upper condenser lens and from the lower condenser lens to the lower half of the insulating coating. Laser light supply path switching means for supplying laser light to the lower condenser lens when irradiating laser light, and switching the laser light supply path for the pair of upper and lower condenser lenses in conjunction with the operation of the driving means. The apparatus for cutting the insulating coating of the electric wire according to any one of claims 5 to 8 with a laser beam.
10. The driving means includes
    A drive shaft that rotates about a rotation axis extending in the front-rear direction;
    An eccentric shaft that is eccentric with respect to the rotation axis by a predetermined amount and revolves around the rotation axis while engaging with the support means;
    6. The apparatus for cutting an electric wire insulation coating with a laser beam according to claim 5, wherein the amount of eccentricity is determined based on an outer diameter of the insulation coating.
11. A first eccentric amount variable mechanism for changing an eccentric amount of the eccentric shaft while the drive shaft is rotating;
    The first eccentricity variable mechanism is:
    An eccentric shaft support means for rotating integrally with the drive shaft while supporting the eccentric shaft so as to be displaceable in the radial direction of the rotation axis;
    A cylindrical member that can be rotated integrally with the drive shaft while being fitted on the drive shaft coaxially and relatively rotatably;
    By reciprocating back and forth along the rotation axis while engaging with a first cam provided on a side surface of the cylindrical member, the cylindrical member is rotated relative to the drive shaft. An engaging member;
    Engagement member driving means for reciprocating the engagement member in the front-rear direction,
    The cylindrical member includes a second cam that engages with the eccentric shaft support means or the eccentric shaft so as to radially displace the eccentric shaft when rotated relative to the drive shaft. The apparatus which cut | disconnects the insulation coating of the electric wire described in Claim 5 with a laser beam.
12. The cylindrical member has a bottom surface portion that closes the end portion on the eccentric shaft side,
    The second cam is a cam groove that is curved and penetrates the bottom portion so that the eccentric shaft can be inserted therethrough,
    12. The electric wire according to claim 11, wherein the cam groove is configured to push the eccentric shaft in a radial direction when the cylindrical member rotates relative to the drive shaft. A device that cuts the insulation coating of a laser beam.
13. The eccentric shaft support means is a slide member that is slidably engaged with an end portion of the drive shaft in a radial direction,
    The second cam is an inner cylindrical surface that is eccentric with respect to the rotation axis and is continuously provided on the inner wall surface of the cylindrical member.
    The apparatus for cutting an insulation coating of an electric wire according to claim 11 with a laser beam, wherein the inner cylindrical surface is configured to be fitted around both ends of the slide member in the radial direction.
14. 14. The apparatus for cutting an electric wire insulation coating with a laser beam according to claim 13, wherein the slide member is supported by an end face of the drive shaft so as to be slidable in the radial direction via an Oldham joint.
15. A second eccentric amount variable mechanism for changing an eccentric amount of the eccentric shaft while the drive shaft is rotating;
    The second eccentricity variable mechanism is:
    A spur gear that is pivotally supported at the front end of the drive shaft so as to be rotatable around a rotation shaft that extends in parallel while being eccentric with respect to the rotation axis, and the eccentric shaft is erected in the vicinity of the outer periphery thereof;
    A cylindrical member that can be rotated integrally with the drive shaft while being fitted on the drive shaft coaxially and relatively rotatably;
    By reciprocating back and forth along the rotation axis while engaging with a first cam provided on a side surface of the cylindrical member, the cylindrical member is rotated relative to the drive shaft. An engaging member;
    Engagement member driving means for reciprocating the engagement member in the front-rear direction,
    The said cylindrical member is equipped with the internal gear which rotates the spur gear, when it rotates relatively with respect to the said drive shaft, meshing | engaging with the spur gear. A device that cuts the insulation coating of electric wires with laser light.
16. A third eccentric amount variable mechanism for changing an eccentric amount of the eccentric shaft while the drive shaft is rotating;
    The third eccentricity variable mechanism is:
    A spur gear that is pivotally supported at the tip of the drive shaft so as to be rotatable around a rotation shaft that extends in parallel while being eccentric with respect to the rotation axis, and the eccentric shaft is erected in the vicinity of the outer periphery thereof;
    A cylindrical member that is coaxial with the drive shaft and is fitted so as to be relatively rotatable;
    A first drive motor that rotationally drives the drive shaft;
    A second drive motor that rotationally drives the cylindrical member in conjunction with the rotational speed of the first drive motor,
    The eccentric amount of the eccentric shaft is controlled by rotating the spur gear relative to the drive shaft by controlling the operations of the first and second drive motors. The apparatus which cut | disconnects the insulation coating of the electric wire of Claim 5 characterized by these with a laser beam.
17. A fourth eccentricity variable mechanism for changing the eccentric amount of the eccentric shaft while the drive shaft is rotating;
    The fourth eccentricity variable mechanism is:
    A sun gear that rotates integrally with the drive shaft, an internal annular gear fixed to the base of the device, and a planetary gear that revolves around the sun gear while meshing with the sun gear and the internal annular gear. Having a planetary gear mechanism with
    6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the eccentric shaft is erected near the outer periphery of the planetary gear.
18. A fifth eccentric amount variable mechanism for changing an eccentric amount of the eccentric shaft while the drive shaft is rotating;
    The fourth eccentricity variable mechanism is:
    A sun gear that rotates integrally with the drive shaft, an internal gear that is rotatably supported on a base of the device, a planetary gear that revolves around the sun gear while meshing with the sun gear and the internal gear A planetary gear mechanism comprising:
    A second drive motor that rotationally drives the internal gear in conjunction with the rotational speed of a first drive motor that rotationally drives the drive shaft,
    6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the eccentric shaft is erected near the outer periphery of the planetary gear.

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