JPH0459999B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a laser cutting device that uses a laser to cut sheet materials such as woven fabrics, knitted fabrics, nonwoven fabrics, and films.

[Prior art and its problems]

Conventionally, when cutting cloth-like materials in the production of custom-made clothing, a worker spreads the cloth-like materials on a cutting table,
Cutting is done by placing a paper pattern on top of the pattern or drawing a cutting pattern and moving the cutting tool along the circumference of the pattern. In this case, it is necessary to hold the cloth-like object with one hand so that it does not move, and operate the cutting tool with the other hand to cut it, which results in poor work efficiency and requires highly skilled techniques. . With the recent development of automatic cutting machines, this highly technical work can now be accomplished easily and efficiently using only simple mechanical operations. However, the cutters of these automatic cutting machines are of the same type as conventional manual cutters in which a shearing blade with a considerable width moves back and forth, so it is difficult to cut correctly along the cutting shape in areas with a small radius of curvature. However, the disadvantage that the blade partially deviates from the cutting pattern remains. Therefore, since the cut figures cannot be brought close to each other, it is necessary to provide a considerable distance between the cut figures, resulting in poor utilization of the fabric. Furthermore, at acute corners of the cutting figure, it is necessary to remove the shearing blade from the cloth, change the direction of the blade to the next cutting direction, and then feed the shearing blade by the width of the blade, then lower the shearing blade onto the cloth and restart cutting. There is. Therefore, it is not only inefficient, but also requires control over the direction and elevation of the blade, making the device expensive. Therefore, a cutting method using a laser has been proposed as a new cutting method to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks. According to this method, there is no need for physical contact with the cloth-like object, and unlike the conventional method, no pressing force is generated in the direction of movement of the cutter, so the force required to hold the cloth-like object is small. Also, a blade polishing device is not required. Furthermore, when applied to cutting cloth made of 100% synthetic fibers or cloth made partly of blended fibers, the synthetic fibers at the cut portion fuse together and have the advantage that no fraying occurs. From this point of view, many laser cutting devices have been proposed so far, but none have been put into practical use. For example, an endless belt made of wire mesh that unfolds and holds a cloth-like object, an optical device disposed above the belt and movable in a direction perpendicular to the movement direction of the belt, and a laser disposed opposite the optical device. In the case of a cutting device (Japanese Patent Publication No. 51-17757), which includes a laser device that projects a laser beam, and a control device that controls the direction and amount of movement of the endless belt and optical device based on the cutting pattern, It is not possible to sufficiently remove the bad odor that occurs when a cloth-like material is burnt off by irradiation, and the disadvantage that the working room environment is significantly degraded has not been solved. Note that a suction box connected to a suction means is provided at the lower part of the endless belt, but this suction box is used to hold cloth-like objects on the endless belt. The bad odor generated and floating above the fabric cannot be removed by suction, and this method does not solve the problem of removing the bad odor. Therefore, we considered covering the entire upper part of the mounting means with a housing and suctioning and discharging it from above as well. However, with this, the position of the odor would change as the laser head moved, so we used the suction means to suck and discharge the odor. Even if you try to do so, if the suction position is far from the odor generation position, suction will not be possible, and the odor will leak out of the housing through the surrounding gaps.If you use an extremely large suction pump to suck the odor, it will be difficult to remove the odor. Although it is not impossible to remove it, there is a drawback that if the suction is applied with such a large force, the fabric placed on the placement means will turn over.
Increasing the suction power also increases running costs, and even if you try to fix problems with the fabric placed on the placement means (for example, fabric turning up), there is a fatal drawback that cannot be fixed because the housing is on the entire surface. Moreover, since the dimensions of the housing must be changed depending on the dimensions of the mounting means, there is a problem in that the cost increases accordingly.

[Disclosure of the invention]

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and even if the fabric etc. is burned off with a laser and a bad odor is generated due to this, the bad odor deteriorates the environment of the work room to the point where it is impossible to work. It is an object of the present invention to provide a laser cutting device that avoids the following. Another object of the present invention is to provide a laser cutting device that can be miniaturized. The object of the present invention is to provide a holding means for holding a predetermined object, a laser beam generating means, a laser head for irradiating the object held by the holding means with a laser beam guided by the laser beam generating means, and a laser head for irradiating the object held by the holding means with a laser beam guided by the laser beam generating means. a laser head moving means for moving the laser head in each of the X direction and the Y direction in the X-Y plane;
This is achieved by a laser cutting device characterized in that it comprises a housing configured to be movable in the direction and exhaust means connected within the housing. Further, a holding means for holding a predetermined object, a laser beam generating means, a laser head for irradiating the object held by the holding means with a laser beam guided by the laser beam generating means, and an X- A laser head moving means for moving the laser head in each of the X direction and the Y direction in the Y plane, a movably configured housing that covers the laser head, and an exhaust means connected to the inside of the housing, This is achieved by a laser cutting device characterized in that the housing is at least partially made of a transparent or translucent material. Further, a holding means for holding a predetermined object, a laser beam generating means, a laser head for irradiating the object held by the holding means with a laser beam guided by the laser beam generating means, and an X- A laser head moving means for moving the laser head in each of the X direction and the Y direction in the Y plane, a movably configured housing that covers the laser head, and an exhaust means connected to the inside of the housing, The exhaust means includes a pipe in which a hole is formed, a belt provided so as to cover the hole-forming surface of the pipe, and the belt is housed in a spaced relation from the hole-forming surface of the pipe, and the belt is arranged to slide on the hole-forming surface of the pipe. This is achieved by a laser cutting device characterized in that it is composed of a housing part whose interior is connected to the housing and which move in contact with each other, and a suction means connected to the pipe. Further, in the laser cutting device described above, it is preferable that the housing is configured to be able to move in synchronization with the movement of the laser head in the X direction. Further, in the above laser cutting device, a suction means can be provided below the holding means. Further, in the above laser cutting device, the holding means can be used as a mounting means. Further, in the above-mentioned laser cutting device, the holding means may be a mounting means formed by equivalently connecting members such as a wire bridge member such as a substantially helical coil or a substantially rectangular ring. Further, in the above laser cutting device, it is desirable that the holding means is made of a material with good laser reflectivity, such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy. In addition, the laser beam generating means is placed within the framework of this cutting device,
For example, if it is installed at the bottom of the holding means and the laser beam is guided to the object held by the holding means using a predetermined laser beam guiding means, even if vibrations such as earthquakes are applied, the entire cutting device will remain the same. Since it moves in a straight line, errors in the relative accuracy of the placement position are less likely to occur.

【Example】

1 to 5 show one embodiment of the laser cutting device according to the present invention, and FIG. 1 a, b, and c are perspective views, plan views, and side views showing the overall outline, and FIG. a, b, c and Fig. 3 a, b are a plan view, a side view, a front view, a partially enlarged plan view, a partially enlarged side view, and Fig. 4 showing the holding means employed in this laser cutting device. a, b, c, d are schematic plan views with some parts removed, side views, front views, and rear views;
The figure is a partial perspective view showing a portion of the exhaust means. In each figure, 10 is a holding means (placing means) on which, for example, a cloth to be cut by a laser is placed. The configuration of this mounting means 10 will be explained in more detail.
As shown in FIGS. 2a, b, c and 3 a, b. That is, one end side of the helical coil 11(1) made of aluminum alloy with high laser reflectivity is arranged so as to interdigitate with the other end side of the helical coil 11(n) made of the same material. 11(1)
The other end is a spiral coil 1 made of the same material.
One end of the spiral coil 11(k) is interlocked with one end of the spiral coil 11(k).
(k-1) so that it bites into the other end side, and
The other end of the helical coil 11(k) is disposed so as to interdigitate with the one end of the helical coil 11(k+1), and a connecting pin 12 is inserted into this mutually overlapping portion. Helical coils 11(1), 11(2),...11(n) in parallel
are interconnected to constitute the endless track mounting means. Furthermore, reference shafts 13 are inserted into the spiral coils 11(1) to 11(n) connected by the connecting pins 12 every few rows, and pass through the spiral coils. Both ends of this reference shaft 13 are attached to chains 14a and 14b disposed on its sides so as to form a loop of an endless track. Incidentally, these spiral coils 11(1) to 11 every few rows
By means of the reference shaft 13 passing through (n), deflection in the Y direction of the mounting means constituted by a helical coil is further prevented, and flatness is further maintained. Chains 14a and 14b are suspended on sprockets 15 and 16 (16 not shown) provided at both ends, and when these sprockets are driven by a predetermined driving means (not shown), chain 14a , 14b travel along a predetermined travel path, and as the chains 14a, 14b travel, the mounting means 1 composed of the spiral coils 11(1) to 11(n)
0 also travels along a predetermined travel route. That is, the mounting means 10 constituted by the spiral coils 11(1) to 11(n) travels along a path of an endless track loop. Furthermore, the spiral coil 11(k) and the spiral coil 1
1 (k-1) and the spiral coil 11 (k+1) are connected via the connecting pin 12, and are like a continuous belt, so even if the spiral coil reaches the sprocket position, , there is no gap between them. Therefore, even when connected to and synchronously driven with a material carrying-in belt conveyor and a cut material carrying-out belt conveyor, there is no problem of the material being caught between the mounting means. Further, below the mounting means 10, rollers 17 made of aluminum or aluminum alloy are installed in a ladder shape so that the upper ends thereof touch the lower ends of the spiral coils of the mounting means. Furthermore, this roller 17
For example, a bolt-type adjustment mechanism 18 is provided to adjust the Z direction (height direction). 19 is a laser head. This laser head 19 is composed of a lens 20 and the like installed at the final stage of a laser beam guiding means that receives laser beams from a laser beam generator (not shown) installed within the frame of the main body of the apparatus. The laser beam is then focused on the cloth placed on the placing means 10. Further, this laser head 19 is configured to be able to move freely in the Y direction by a predetermined drive control means within the XY plane parallel to the mounting surface of the material mounting means 10. Furthermore, this laser head 1
9 is installed in a housing which will be described later, and since this housing itself is configured to be movable in the X direction, it can also be freely moved in the X direction. 21 is a housing provided to cover the laser head 19 that moves along the Y direction. A transparent or semi-transparent part is provided above the housing 21, and the lower part thereof is open. In other words, when cutting using a laser cutting device, it is extremely dangerous to directly visually align the origin of the cutting figure with respect to the material to be cut, so this cutting device is equipped with a television camera. Since the origin of the cut figure is aligned by , a transparent or semi-transparent part is provided to let in the light. Further, the housing 21 is provided with an intake port (not shown) to which a pipe 22 is attached. In other words, when cutting fabric etc. with a laser beam, smoke and bad odor are generated, so the housing 2
An evacuation means is provided to prevent the liquid from filling the housing 21 and to discharge it from the housing 21 through a pipe 22 attached to the intake port to prevent it from leaking into the working environment. The base end of the pipe 22 is connected to the housing 21.
The movable duct connection device 23 is attached to a movable duct connection device 23 that moves in the same direction as the movement of the duct. The movable duct connecting device 23 is provided so as to be in contact with an exhaust duct 24 provided parallel to the guide rail in the X direction. This exhaust duct 24 is made of a rectangular pipe with a large number of holes 25 provided on its upper surface, and the movable duct connecting device 23 is installed so as to cover the holes 25 . These many holes 25 are covered by a belt 26, but the belt 26 is released from closing the holes 25 at the movable duct connecting device 23, so that synchronized suction can be applied to the moving housing 21. It is possible. That is, the housing 2 is cut by laser cutting.
Smoke and bad odor generated inside the housing 21 are removed through a pipe 22 attached to the intake port inside the housing 21, a movable duct connecting device 23, an exhaust duct 24, etc.
It is configured to lead to a deodorizing device using a suction means installed outside. Reference numeral 27 denotes a chamber with an open upper part provided at the lower part of the loading means 10 on which the fabric etc. are placed, and this chamber 27 is connected to several chambers 27(1) to 27 in the X direction.
It is divided into small rooms (m). Each of these small chambers is provided with a suction type exhaust means (not shown). It should be noted that these suction type exhaust means do not all operate at the same time, but only in the chamber below the position where the housing 21 moving in the X direction exists, for example, the small chamber 27 (k) and the small chambers 27 (k- 1), 27
A predetermined control mechanism controlled by the movement of the housing 21 in the X direction is configured so that only a predetermined small chamber 27 is suctioned and exhausted so that only (k+1) is suctioned and exhausted. The width of the small chamber 27 in the X direction that operates at the same time is larger than the width of the housing 21 in the X direction. A belt 28 has both ends fixed to the opening 29 of the housing 21 and is suspended from a sprocket 30 attached at a predetermined position. When the sprocket 30 is driven by a predetermined motor, this belt 28 also runs,
This allows the housing 21 to move in the X direction. Note that the laser beam from the laser beam generator installed in the main body of the apparatus is guided by a first reflecting mirror (not shown) located between the belts 28, and this first reflecting mirror The laser beam reflected by the mirror is guided into the housing 21 through the opening 29 by a second reflecting mirror 31 attached to the housing 21, and is guided into the housing 21 by the reflecting mirror 32 inside the housing 21. The optical path is changed in the longitudinal direction (Y direction), and the laser head 1
The optical path is changed by a reflecting mirror attached to the head of the device 9, and the fabric on the mounting means 10 is focused by a lens 20. The following describes how to cut cloth or the like into a predetermined shape using the laser cutting device configured as described above. First, it is placed on the placing means in the fabric spreading area, and the placing means is driven by a predetermined driving means to place the fabric (the fabric is made of a material that blocks air) within the movement area of the laser head 19. If this is not the case, an air-blocking sheet, e.g. The laser head 19 travels in the X and Y directions according to the received control signals. As the laser head 19 travels, the supply of laser light from the laser light generating means is controlled, so that the laser beam is focused by the lens 20 on the cloth suctioned and fixed on the mounting means 10 by the suction type exhaust means. The light burns the fabric in a predetermined pattern. It should be noted that there is virtually no unevenness on the fabric placed on this placement means 10, and the laser beam focused at a predetermined position is directed to the laser head 19.
The focus will not be lost even when the machine is running, and it can smoothly cut a predetermined pattern.
It was done well. That is, this mounting means 10 is
It is not constructed from a wire mesh as proposed in Publication No. 17757, but is constructed from a large number of spiral coils arranged in parallel.
It had a honeycomb-like surface as proposed in the publication, and there were virtually no irregularities on the surface on which the fabric was placed, so the drawback of the laser beam being out of focus did not occur. Smoke and bad odor are generated from the fabric burnt out by the laser beam irradiation, but even if these accumulate in the housing 21, they are emitted through the pipe 22, the movable duct connection device 23, the exhaust duct 24, etc. Work in which exhaust is exhausted to the outside by a suction type exhaust means connected to this and a small chamber provided at the bottom of the mounting means 10, and a laser cutting device is arranged. The room is rarely contaminated with bad odors, and the work environment is not degraded. It should be noted that the suction-type exhaust means connected to the small chambers 27(1) to 27(m) alone cannot sufficiently remove the odor etc. generated when burned out by laser beam irradiation. Therefore, it is not possible to sufficiently prevent environmental pollution in the work room. That is, the suction type exhaust means connected to the small chambers 27(1) to 27(m) has a function of sucking and fixing the fabric placed on the placing means 10 to the placing means 10, Further, although it is effective in exhausting smoke and bad odor at the moment of cutting by laser beam irradiation, it is not possible to sufficiently suck out the bad odor and smoke floating above the fabric. Then, remove the bad odor etc. floating above the fabric.
If suction is attempted using only the suction-type exhaust means connected to the small chambers 27(1) to 27(m) disposed below, the suction force of this exhaust means must be significantly increased. However, when using extremely high suction power like this, the suction force against the fabric becomes excessive, which tends to cause unevenness on the surface of the fabric, and the focus of the irradiated laser may be deviated from the surface of the fabric. However, there is a drawback that the fabric cannot be cut properly. The mounting means 1 is moved by the movement of the laser head 19.
When the cutting of the fabric placed on the cloth is completed, the placing means 10 which has been in a stopped state starts traveling, that is, the motor is activated and the chains 14a and 14b begin to rotate. The means 10 also begins to run, and the fabric cut into a predetermined shape is sent out in the direction of the arrow in FIG. During this feeding, even when the leading edge of the fabric is fed from the horizontal line on the helical coil to the arcuate line near the sprocket (the end of the mounting means 10), the helical coils seem to bite into each other. Since they are connected and there is no gap between the spiral coil rows, there is no problem of the fabric getting caught in the mounting means 10 as in the case of Japanese Patent Publication No. 51-40677, and the fabric can always be sent to the next process in good condition. It becomes like this. Since the delivery to the next process can be carried out smoothly, the length of the mounting means 10 in the X direction is not required so much, that is, the length of the mounting means 10 in the X direction is This eliminates the need for a long extraction area as in the case of the proposal in the No. 1 publication, and it has become possible to reduce the size accordingly.

【effect】

According to the present invention, it is not necessary to provide a housing over the entire upper surface of the holding means for deodorization, and therefore, even if a cloth-like object held by the holding means is turned up, it can be easily corrected. It is possible to do this, and
Since the internal volume of the housing can be made small, the deodorizing effect is high even if the output of the exhaust means for deodorizing is small.
It has been said that it has great advantages in improving the work room environment, and it can largely solve the inherent disadvantages of laser cutting, and this solution does not reduce work efficiency, so it is suitable for practical use. Since the housing can be small, the device does not need to be enlarged.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 5 show one embodiment of the laser cutting device according to the present invention, and FIG. 1 a, b, and c are perspective views, plan views, and side views showing the overall outline, and FIG. a, b, c and Fig. 3 a, b are a plan view, a side view, a front view, a partially enlarged plan view, a partially enlarged side view, and Fig. 4 showing the holding means employed in this laser cutting device. a, b, c, d are schematic plan views with some parts removed, side views, front views, and rear views;
The figure is a partial perspective view showing a portion of the exhaust means, and FIGS. 6 a, b and 7 a, b are a side view and a plan view showing other examples of the holding means. 10... mounting means, 11(1), 11(2), 11
(n)...Spiral coil, 12...Connection pin, 1
3...Reference axis, 14a, 14b...Chain, 1
5...Sprocket, 17...Roller, 19...
... Laser head, 20 ... Lens, 21 ... Housing, 22 ... Pipe, 23 ... Movable duct connecting device, 24 ... Exhaust duct, 25 ...
hole, 26...belt, 27...chamber, 28...belt, 29...opening, 30...sprocket, 3
1,32...Reflector.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A holding means for holding a predetermined object, a laser beam generating means, a laser head for irradiating a laser beam guided by the laser beam generating means onto the object held by the holding means, and a laser head moving means for moving the laser head in each of the X direction and the Y direction in the X-Y plane; a housing that covers the laser head and is configured to be movable in the X direction; and a housing connected within the housing. A laser cutting device characterized in that it is equipped with an evacuation means. 2. A holding means for holding a predetermined object, a laser beam generating means, a laser head for irradiating the object held by the holding means with a laser beam guided by the laser beam generating means, and an X-Y direction of the laser head. The housing comprises a laser head moving means for moving the laser head in each of the X direction and the Y direction in a plane, a movably constructed housing that covers the laser head, and an exhaust means connected to the inside of the housing. A laser cutting device characterized in that at least a portion thereof is made of a transparent or semi-transparent material. 3 A holding means for holding a predetermined object, a laser beam generating means, a laser head for irradiating the object held by the holding means with a laser beam guided by the laser beam generating means, and an X-Y direction of the laser head. A laser head moving means for moving the laser head in each of the X direction and the Y direction in a plane, a movably configured housing that covers the laser head, and an exhaust means connected to the inside of the housing, and the exhaust means The means includes a pipe in which holes are formed, a belt provided to cover the hole-formed surface of the pipe, and the belt is accommodated at a distance from the hole-formed surface of the pipe and is in sliding contact with the hole-formed surface of the pipe. 1. A laser cutting device comprising: a casing portion whose interior is connected to a housing; and a suction means connected to the pipe. 4. The laser cutting device according to claims 1 to 3, wherein the length of the housing is long enough to cover the movement of the laser head in the Y direction. 5. The laser cutting device according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a suction means is provided below the holding means. 6. The laser cutting device according to claims 1 to 3, wherein the holding means is a mounting means. 7. The laser cutting device according to claims 1 to 3, wherein the holding means is a mounting means made of a bridge member of equivalently connected wire rods. 8. Claim 1, characterized in that the holding means is made of a material with good laser reflectivity.
A laser cutting device according to items 1 to 3.