JPH0921967A - Method and apparatus for controlling mirror angle / position in light illuminator - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) Abstract: [PROBLEMS] To provide a mirror position control method and device capable of effectively utilizing the entire irradiation range and increasing the amount of printing / drawing. Irradiation position movement control means 5c, based on the output of standby position setting means 5b, in the irradiation possible range of irradiation position control means 2, the midpoint of the end side on the upstream side in the traveling direction of the irradiated body, or The standby position is a point distant from the edge by a predetermined distance determined according to the width of the irradiation pattern, and a point on a straight line which passes through the approximate center of the edge and is parallel to the work advancing direction. Make the mirror stand by at the angle / position to illuminate. When the work W is conveyed by the conveyor 4 and the irradiated area enters the irradiation possible range, the work W
The mirror angle / position of the irradiation position control unit 2 is controlled in accordance with the movement of the light beam, and the light beam is moved along the irradiation pattern. Then, when the irradiation is completed, the mirror is returned to the irradiation angle / position for irradiating the standby position and made to stand by.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a light irradiator applied to a laser marking device, a laser processing device, etc., and more specifically, it is provided in the light irradiator to reflect and irradiate light such as laser light. The present invention relates to a mirror position control method and device for controlling the position.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a method of irradiating a laser beam has been used as one of methods for marking characters, figures, etc. on a work and for processing the work. For example, a laser marking method is used to draw a character / figure on a work (irradiation target), and laser marking is performed as follows. (A) A mask (stencil) inserted in the optical path is irradiated with laser light, and the irradiated object is marked by the laser light that has passed through the character / graphic pattern provided on the mask. (B) The irradiation position of the laser beam is controlled to move in a single stroke to mark a predetermined character / graphic pattern.

The movement control of the laser beam in the above method (b) is performed by using, for example, two sets of mirrors attached to a motor capable of controlling a rotation angle. That is, one of the mirrors is operated to move the laser beam in the X-axis direction, and the other mirror is operated to move the laser beam in the Y-axis direction. A graphic pattern can be printed / drawn.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the construction of a marking device for marking a moving body by the above method (b). In the figure, 1 is a laser that emits a laser beam, and 2 is an irradiation position control means composed of the above-described two sets of mirrors and the like. Reference numeral 4 denotes a conveyor, and the conveyor 4 is driven by the conveyor drive mechanism 4a, and the work W on the conveyor 4 moves in the arrow direction in the figure.

Reference numeral 5 designates a CPU for sending a character / graphic pattern signal Sl, and 6 designates a pattern signal Sl output by the CPU 5.
And a position signal Sp which is the output of the position signal output circuit 7, and the position signal output circuit 7 outputs a position signal Sp which is a signal corresponding to the position of the work W based on the conveyor speed information. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the irradiation position control means 2 described above.

The irradiation position control means 2 includes an X-axis mirror 2a, a Y-axis mirror 2b, and an X-axis scanner 2c for rotating the X-axis mirror 2a and a Y-axis for rotating the Y-axis mirror 2b. It is composed of a scanner 2d, and the X-axis scanner 2c and the Y-axis scanner 2d rotate the X-axis mirror 2a and the Y-axis mirror 2b according to the control signal sent from the adder 6 shown in FIG. 1
A laser beam emitted from the work W is applied to a predetermined position on the work W.

In FIGS. 12 and 13, marking on the work W is performed as follows. In FIG. 12, CP
U5 sends out a pattern signal Sl corresponding to the character / graphic pattern to be printed / drawn. Here, the irradiation position control means 2
The installation position of is fixed, and the work W on the conveyor 4
Since it is moving, even if a character / graphic pattern signal is simply given to the irradiation position control means 2, a desired pattern cannot be printed / drawn on the work W.

That is, when the work W is moving in the X direction as shown in FIG. 14, the irradiation position at the position x1 at the time t1 becomes x2 at the time t2, and at the time t3.
Now move to x3. Therefore, in order to irradiate the same position on the work W, an extra X
It is necessary to tilt the axial drive mirror. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 12, an adder 6 and a position signal output circuit 7 that outputs a signal corresponding to the position of the work W are provided. Then, the position signal Sp of the workpiece W output by the position signal output circuit 7 is added to the pattern signal Sl sent from the CPU 5 to obtain the irradiation position control signal St, and the irradiation position control signal St is set to the irradiation position control means. Send to 2. Even when the work W is moving in the opposite direction, the CPU 5
The irradiation position control signal can be obtained by subtracting or inverting the position signal Sp of the work W from the pattern signal Sl sent from the.

Since the position of the irradiation position control means 2 is fixed and the rotation angle of the mirror is limited, the range in which the laser beam can be irradiated (printable / drawable range) is within a predetermined range. Limited (This range is called irradiation range (drawable range) below). Therefore, when the rotation angle of the mirror reaches the maximum angle (predetermined angle),
It is necessary to reset the mirror position to the initial angle again.

Therefore, the position signal output circuit 7 is, for example,
It consists of a counter that counts pulse signals with a frequency proportional to the conveyor speed. Then, the maximum count value is set to the maximum angle (predetermined angle) of the mirror of the irradiation position control means 2.
The number of pulses required for rotation is set, and when the counter reaches the maximum count value, the counter is reset. That is, by making the output of the position signal output circuit 7 a sawtooth wave, the rotation angle of the mirror can be controlled within a predetermined range.

As described above, the pattern signal Sl output from the CPU 5 and the position signal Sp of the workpiece W output from the position signal output circuit 7 are added to obtain the irradiation position control signal St,
An irradiation position control signal St is sent to the X-axis scanner 2c and the Y-axis scanner 2d of the irradiation position control device 2. The X-axis scanner 2c and the Y-axis scanner 2d of the irradiation position control means 2 rotate the X-axis mirror 2a and the Y-axis mirror 2b by the irradiation position control signal St so that the laser beam emitted from the laser 1 is moved to a predetermined position on the work W. To irradiate. As a result, a desired character / graphic pattern is printed / drawn on the work W. When printing / drawing on the work W is completed, for example, X
The angles of the axis mirror 2a and the Y-axis mirror 2b are returned to the angles at which the writing / writing start position (laser beam irradiation start position) of the printing / drawing pattern is irradiated to prepare for the next printing / drawing of the work.

[0012]

In the above marking device, when the printing / drawing on one work is completed, the angles of the X-axis mirror 2a and the Y-axis mirror 2b are irradiated to the writing start position of the printing / drawing pattern. After returning to the angle, the X-axis mirror 2a and the Y-axis mirror 2b are on standby at the angle.

Therefore, when the printing / drawing pattern is changed frequently, the mirror angle must be moved to the angle for irradiating a new writing start position each time, and it takes time to move the mirror. , Unable to do quick marking. Therefore, when the printing / drawing of the pattern on one work W is completed, the angle of the mirror is set to the work W.
The mirror movement time can be shortened by returning the substantially central position of the work W to the irradiation position and making it stand by after the entire area enters the irradiation range (drawable range). .

That is, if the mirror angle is returned to the position where the work W is irradiated to the substantially central position, the writing start position for the next supplied work W is whatever position on the work W for a relatively short time. With, the mirror angle can be moved to an angle at which a new writing start position is irradiated, and the average movement time of the mirror can be shortened. 15, 16,
FIG. 17 is a diagram for explaining the operation in the case where the mirror angle is returned to the position for irradiating the substantially central position of the work and the device is on standby as described above.

As shown in FIG. 15A, the work W is conveyed in the X direction by the conveyor 4, and the irradiation position control means 2
, And the length of the work W in the X-axis direction is WL, and the length of the drawable range Ar in the X-axis direction is DL. Also,
The edge on the downstream side in the transport direction of the work W is WE1 and the edge on the upstream side in the transport direction is WE2. Also, the drawable range A
The upstream edge of r in the transport direction is AE2, and the downstream edge of the drawable range Ar in the transport direction is AE1.

In the figure, the work position (workpiece W1 in the figure) at the time when the entire area of the work W enters the drawable area Ar, and the work edge WE2 indicate the drawable area A.
There is a distance L2 from the edge AE2 of r (the edge WE1 of the work is a distance L1 from the edge AE2 of the drawable range Ar).
Work) (work W2 in the figure).

Further, when the mirror is on standby, the mirror angle is approximately the center of the irradiated object at the time when the entire area of the work W enters the drawable range Ar, as shown in FIG. When the work W is supplied, the mirror moves from the irradiation angle of the point R to the irradiation angle of the writing start position of the print / drawing pattern. Then, the laser 1 is turned on and printing / drawing is started on the next work W.

Here, consider a case where the character patterns P1 and P2 are printed on the work W as shown in FIGS. 15 (b) and 15 (c). That is, one line is printed while moving the laser beam in the Y-axis direction of the work W (direction orthogonal to the traveling direction of the work W), and then the irradiation position of the laser beam is set to 1 upstream of the moving direction of the work W. The next line is printed by moving by the line, and the required number of lines are printed with line breaks in the same way.

In this case, the patterns P1 and P2 are used.
It is assumed that the width of each row in the X-axis direction is sufficiently smaller than the length of the work W in the X-axis direction. FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a beam movement locus in the case of printing characters on a work on the premise shown in FIG. 15, in which the horizontal axis represents time and the vertical axis represents the distance from the edge AE2 of the drawable range Ar. is there.

In the figure, time t1 is the time when the edge WE1 of the work W reaches the edge AE2, time t2 is the time when the edge WE2 of the work W reaches the edge AE2, and time t3 is the time t3. The work W is shown in FIG.
This is the time when the position W2 in (a) is reached. The movement from the standby position R is started at the time when the whole area of the work W enters the drawable range Ar, that is, at time t2.

For example, when printing the pattern P1, first, the mirror angle moves from the irradiation angle of the standby position R to the irradiation angle of the writing start position Q1 of the pattern P1.
Then, when the mirror angle reaches the position for irradiating the position Q1, the irradiation of the laser beam is started, and the first line is printed while maintaining a constant distance PL1 from the edge WE1 of the work W.

When the printing of the first line is completed, the mirror angle moves to the position where the writing start position Q2 of the next line is irradiated, and the next line is printed in the same manner as above. Then, when the printing of the pattern P1 is completed, the mirror angle returns to the angle for irradiating the standby position R, and waits for the next irradiation target to be conveyed. By the way, when the mirror is controlled as described above, if the printing speed is slow or the line length to be printed is long, the work W may come out of the drawable range Ar during printing depending on the printing position on the work W. There is a case where printing is not possible due to partial printing.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a case where a desired pattern cannot be printed on the work W as described above. That is, as described above, since the installation position of the irradiation position control means 2 is fixed, there is a limit to the drawable range Ar, and when the printing speed is slow (when the line length to be printed is long), FIG. As shown in the drawing, the locus of movement of the laser beam is out of the drawable range Ar during printing and a part of the area cannot be printed.

As described above, although the mirror movement time can be shortened by returning the angle of the mirror to the irradiation position of the substantially central position of the work W at the time of starting the printing / drawing, the mirror moving time can be shortened. / If the drawing speed is slow,
Print part of desired character / graphic pattern on work W /
I can't draw. In such a case, the drawable range Ar may be widened or the printing / drawing speed may be increased. In order to increase the drawable range Ar, the rotatable angles of the mirrors 2a and 2b are increased. Must be increased, and the accuracy and response speed decrease accordingly. In addition, in order to increase the printing / drawing speed, it is necessary to increase the output of the irradiation beam or to increase the moving speed of the mirror, and use the high output laser 1.
Alternatively, it is necessary to use, as the irradiation position control means 2, a high speed and high response control means.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and the first object of the present invention is to effectively utilize the entire drawable range to obtain desired characters / characters.
Mirror position control method and device capable of printing / drawing a graphic pattern on an irradiation target and increasing the printing / drawing amount as compared with the conventional example even when the printing / drawing speed is slow Is to provide.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a mirror position control method and apparatus capable of rapidly moving the irradiation position of the beam to the writing start position and performing rapid printing / drawing. Is.

[0027]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention controls the angle / position of a mirror for reflecting a light beam emitted from a light source to move an irradiated object. In a method of controlling a mirror angle / position in a light irradiator that irradiates a light beam to a body according to a given irradiation pattern, the irradiation target is irradiated from the end side of an irradiation range upstream of the irradiation target in the traveling direction. As a standby position, a point that is a predetermined distance apart depending on the width of the irradiation pattern in the traveling direction of the body, and is a point on a straight line that passes through the approximate center of the end side and is parallel to the traveling direction of the irradiation target, The mirror is made to stand by at the angle / position for irradiating the standby position, and when the irradiation area of the irradiation target falls within the irradiation possible range, the mirror angle / position is controlled according to the movement of the irradiation target while controlling the mirror angle / position. Light beam along the pattern The moved by irradiating a light beam on the irradiated body, when the irradiation along the pattern has been completed, it is obtained so as to stand back mirror to an angle / position of irradiating the standby position.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the angle / position of the mirror that reflects the light beam emitted from the light source is controlled, and the moving object to be irradiated is moved along the given irradiation pattern. In a method of controlling a mirror angle / position in a light irradiator for irradiating a light beam, a midpoint on an end side of an irradiation possible range on an upstream side in a traveling direction of an irradiation target is set as a standby position,
Make the mirror stand by at the angle / position that illuminates the standby position,
When the irradiation area of the irradiation object enters the irradiation possible range, the light beam is moved along the pattern while controlling the mirror angle / position according to the movement of the irradiation object and the light is irradiated to the irradiation object. When the beam is irradiated and the irradiation along the pattern is completed, the mirror is returned to the angle / position for irradiating the standby position so as to stand by.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, an irradiation position control means for irradiating a moving object with a light beam is provided with a rotatable mirror, and the mirror angle / position of the irradiation position control means is controlled. And processing means for controlling the irradiation position of the light beam emitted from the irradiation position control means on the irradiation target,
A position signal output means for outputting the relative position of the irradiation object to the irradiation position control means, and an adder for adding the output of the processing means and the output of the position signal output means to give the addition result to the irradiation position control means. In the mirror angle / position control device in the provided light irradiator, the processing means is provided with a standby position setting means and an irradiation position movement control means for moving and controlling the irradiation position of the light beam. ,
From the edge of the irradiation possible range on the upstream side in the traveling direction of the irradiation target,
Stand-by position is a point that is a predetermined distance that is determined according to the width of the irradiation pattern in the traveling direction of the irradiation target, and that is on a straight line that passes through the approximate center of the edge and is parallel to the traveling direction of the irradiation target. The irradiation position movement control means causes the mirror to stand by at the angle / position for irradiating the standby position based on the output of the standby position setting means, and the irradiation area of the irradiation object enters the irradiation possible range. At this time, a signal for moving the light beam along the pattern is output to the adder, and after the irradiation according to the pattern is completed, the mirror is returned to the angle / position for irradiating the standby position to stand by. It was done.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the invention, an operating means for inputting the width of the irradiation pattern in the traveling direction of the object to be irradiated is provided, and the width of the irradiation pattern input from the operating means. The standby position setting means sets the standby position based on the above. According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the irradiation position control means for irradiating the moving irradiation object with a light beam is provided with a rotatable mirror, and the irradiation position control means controls the mirror angle / position to perform irradiation. Processing means for controlling the irradiation position of the light beam emitted from the position control means to the irradiation object; position signal output means for outputting the relative position of the irradiation object to the irradiation position control means; and output of the processing means. In a mirror angle / position control device in a light irradiator including an adder for adding the output of the position signal output means and giving an addition result to the irradiation position control means, the processing means includes a standby position setting means, An irradiation position movement control means for moving and controlling the irradiation position of the light beam is provided, and the standby position setting means sets a middle point on the end side of the irradiation possible range on the upstream side in the traveling direction of the irradiation target as the standby position. ,Up The irradiation position movement control means causes the mirror to stand by at the angle / position for irradiating the standby position based on the output of the standby position setting means, and when the irradiation area of the irradiation object enters the irradiation possible range, the irradiation position movement control means sets the pattern to the above pattern. A signal for moving the light beam along is output to the adder, and after the irradiation according to the pattern is completed, the mirror is returned to the angle / position for irradiating the standby position to stand by.

[0031]

According to the first and fourth aspects of the present invention, depending on the width of the irradiation pattern in the traveling direction of the irradiated object from the end side of the irradiation possible range on the upstream side in the traveling direction of the moving irradiated object. A point on a straight line that is a predetermined distance away from the end side and that is substantially parallel to the traveling direction of the irradiation target, and is set as a standby position. When the irradiated area of the irradiated object enters the irradiation possible range, the light beam is moved along the pattern while controlling the mirror angle / position according to the movement of the irradiated object. Irradiate the illuminator with a light beam,
When the irradiation according to the pattern is completed, the mirror is returned to the angle / position for irradiating the standby position so as to stand by. Therefore, the entire drawable range (irradiable range) is effectively used to obtain a desired value. A character / graphic pattern can be printed / drawn on the work, and even if the printing / drawing speed is slow, the printing / drawing amount can be increased compared to the conventional example.

Further, since the standby position is a point on a straight line which passes through the approximate center of the end side of the irradiation range and is parallel to the traveling direction of the object to be irradiated, the irradiation start position of the pattern from the standby position. It is possible to move to (writing start position) in a short time. Further, since printing / drawing is started immediately when the irradiated area of the irradiated body enters the irradiation range, even if the position / pattern for printing / drawing is changed, the standby position It is possible to make the time for moving from the pattern irradiation start position to the substantially same time.

Further, as in the invention of claim 4, an operating means for inputting the width of the irradiation pattern in the traveling direction of the irradiation object is provided, and the standby position is set based on the width of the irradiation pattern input from the operating means. By setting, it is possible to set the optimum standby position according to the irradiation pattern. According to the second and fifth aspects of the present invention, the mirror is set at an angle / position for irradiating the standby position, with the midpoint on the end side of the irradiation range on the upstream side in the traveling direction of the irradiation target being the standby position. As described above, the desired character / graphic pattern is printed / drawn on the work by effectively utilizing the entire drawable range (irradiable range) as in the first and third aspects of the invention. It is possible to obtain the effect such as being possible, and the standby position can be set without considering the size of the pattern and the like, and the processing can be simplified.

[0034]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a marking device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG.
The same components as those shown in FIG. 2 are designated by the same reference numerals, and in this embodiment, the operator console 8 is provided, and the operator console 8 allows the operator to print / draw characters / graphics. You can set the size.
Further, the CPU 5 is provided with a means 5a for holding a standby position setting parameter, a standby position setting means 5b, an irradiation position movement control means 5c, and a pattern data signal sending means 5d.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the standby position of the mirror for starting printing / drawing in this embodiment. In this embodiment, since printing / drawing is performed on the moving work W,
The standby position described above is moved from the center coordinates of the work W to the upstream side in the traveling direction of the work W. That is, as shown in the figure, the standby position of the mirror is the drawable area Ar.
The position A is on the upstream side of the (irradiable range) and is such that the printing / drawing at the beginning of writing does not extend beyond the drawable range Ar. For example, the width of the pattern in the traveling direction is 10 m
If it is m, it is 2 mm to 3 mm further than the width as shown in the figure.
It is desirable to set it at a position of about 12 to 13 mm from the upstream end of the drawable range Ar in consideration of a margin.

By doing the above, writing can be started from the end of the irradiation range (drawable range), and the number of printing / drawing can be maximized. Further, by setting the standby position of the mirror at the coordinate center of the character / graphic pattern, it is possible to reduce the time delay of the movement of the character / graphic pattern to the writing start point (irradiation start position). The standby position of the mirror can be set to point B in the figure. In this case, depending on the characters / graphics to be printed / drawn, the movement time of the mirror to the writing start point is slightly longer than that when the standby position of the mirror is set to point A.
The number of prints / drawings can be maximized.

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 are diagrams for explaining the operation of this embodiment when the standby position of the mirror is set as described above. As described with reference to FIG. 15 above, as shown in FIG. 3A, the work W is conveyed in the X direction by the conveyor 4 and enters the drawable range Ar of the irradiation position control means 2. The length of W in the X-axis direction is WL, and the length of the drawable range Ar in the X-axis direction is DL. Further, the edge of the work W on the downstream side in the transport direction is WE
1. The edge on the upstream side in the transport direction is WE2. An edge on the upstream side of the drawable range Ar in the transport direction is designated as AE2, and an edge on the downstream side of the drawable range Ar in the transport direction is designated as AE1.

In the figure, the work position when a part of the work W enters the drawable range Ar (the work W in the figure
1) and the edge WE2 of the work is at a distance L2 from the edge AE2 of the drawable range Ar (the edge WE1 of the work).
Indicates a work (work W2 in the figure) at a distance L1 from the edge AE2 of the drawable range Ar.

Here, in order to facilitate understanding,
The width of the pattern printed on the work W in the X-axis direction is the work W
Suppose it is small enough for the size of. If the above assumption is made, the standby positions A and B of the mirror shown in FIG. 2 substantially coincide with each other, and the standby position A (standby position B) is shown in FIG.
As shown in (a), the edge AE2 of the irradiation possible range Ar
When the workpiece W is supplied, the mirror moves from the irradiation angle of the point A to the irradiation angle of the writing start position (irradiation start position) of the print / drawing pattern, and at this point the laser 1 Is turned on and printing / drawing is started on the work W. The case where the width of the pattern in the X-axis direction is large will be described later.

Here, as in FIGS. 15 (b) and 15 (c),
Consider a case where character patterns P1 and P2 are printed on a work W as shown in FIGS. That is, one line is printed while moving the laser beam in the Y-axis direction of the work W (direction orthogonal to the traveling direction of the work W), and then the irradiation position of the laser beam is set to 1 upstream of the moving direction of the work W. The next line is printed by moving by the line, and the required number of lines are printed with line breaks in the same way.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the movement locus of the laser beam irradiation point in the present embodiment when characters are printed on the workpiece based on the premise shown in FIG. 3, in which the horizontal axis represents time and the vertical axis represents drawing. It is the distance from the edge AE2 of the possible range Ar. In the figure, time t1 is the time when the print position of the pattern P2 on the work W reaches the edge AE2 of the drawable range Ar, and time t2 is the time when the print position of the pattern P1 reaches the edge AE2 of the drawable range Ar. And also
Time t3 is the time when the workpiece W reaches the position of W2 in FIG. When the patterns P2 and P1 are printed, the movement of the mirror from the standby position A is started at times t1 and t2, respectively. At this point, the mirror angle is set to the pattern writing start position (irradiation start position). It moves to the irradiation angle and the irradiation of the beam is started.

For example, when printing the pattern P1, first, at time t2, the mirror angle moves from the irradiation angle of the standby position A to the irradiation angle of the writing start position Q1 of the pattern P1 on the work W (note that Since the work W is moving during this time, the actual mirror angle is an angle that takes into consideration the movement of the work W). Then, when the mirror angle reaches the position to irradiate the position Q1, the irradiation of the laser beam is started, and the fixed distance PL from the edge WE1 of the work W is reached.
Keep 1 and print the first line.

When the printing of the first line is completed, the mirror angle moves to the position where the writing start position Q2 of the next line is irradiated, and the next line is printed in the same manner as above. Then, when the printing of the pattern P1 is completed, the mirror angle returns to the angle for irradiating the standby position A, and waits for the next irradiation target to be conveyed. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the movement locus of the beam irradiation position in this embodiment when the printing speed for printing is fast or the line length of the pattern for printing is short.

When the printing speed for printing is high or the line length of the pattern for printing is short, the printing position of the next line of the work W can be drawn even after the printing of the first line is completed, as shown in FIG. Since it does not come within the range, during time t1,
After printing / drawing, the process waits for time t2, and when the print position of the next line of the work W is within the drawable range, printing of the next line is started.

FIG. 6A shows the movement locus of the irradiation position of the beam when the standby position is the point A in FIG. 2 when the width of the pattern in the X-axis direction is wide as shown in FIG. FIG. 3B is a diagram showing the position of the work W when the mirror angle moves to the pattern writing start position Q1. In the figure, the pattern P3 is shown as a rectangle for easy understanding.

In the figure, LL1 is the drawable range Ar
From the edge AE2 to the standby position A (12 to 13 mm in FIG. 2), LL2 is the character width (10 mm in FIG. 2), and LL3 is the edge WE1 of the work W when printing / drawing on the work W is started. And the edge AE2 of the drawable range Ar, LL4 is the edge WE of the work W
It is the distance from 1 to the print / drawing pattern.

As shown in the figure, in this case, when the distance between the edge WE1 of the work W and the edge AE2 of the drawable range Ar reaches LL3, the mirror angle is set to the standby position A.
Is moved to a position where the pattern writing start position Q1 is irradiated, the beam irradiation is started from the position Q1, and the pattern P3 is printed / drawn on the work W. If the standby position is set to point B in FIG. 2 (a point substantially at the center of the edge AE2 in FIG. 6B), the mirror stands by at the position where point B in FIG. Move to the writing start position Q1. Therefore, rather than waiting at position A,
The movement time of the mirror slightly increases.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a beam movement locus in the case where the printing / drawing direction on the work W is the same as the traveling direction of the work W (the direction opposite to that in FIGS. 3 and 4). That is, as shown in FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C, the work W
When printing / drawing on the screen, after the printing / drawing of the first line is completed, the irradiation position of the mirror is the edge AE of the drawable range Ar.
2 shows a case where the print head is moved in a direction away from 2 and printing / drawing of the next line is performed, and other aspects are the same as those in FIGS. 3 and 4 described above.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 7, the irradiation position of the mirror moves in the direction approaching the edge WE1 of the work W each time a line feed occurs. Therefore, the irradiation position of the mirror reaches the upper limit of the drawable range Ar earlier than in the case of FIGS. 3 and 4, and the printable / drawable character / graphic pattern amount is as shown in FIG.
It is slightly smaller than in the case of FIG.

9 and 10 are diagrams showing the relationship between the output of the position signal output circuit 7 and the movement timing of the character pattern to the writing start position (irradiation start position). 9 shows the case where the width is comparatively small, FIG. 9 shows the case where the standby position of the mirror is point A, and FIG. 10 shows the case where the standby position is point B. Further, in the figure, LL
1 is the distance between the standby position A and the edge AE2 of the drawable range Ar, and LL2 is the character width in the traveling direction of the work W described above.

As shown in FIGS. 9 (b) and 10 (b),
When the work W enters the drawable range Ar and the distance between the edge WE1 of the work W and the edge AE2 of the drawable range Ar reaches the distance LL3 at which the pattern to be printed can be written on the work W, the mirror angle is set to the standby position A. Alternatively, it moves from the irradiation angle of B to the irradiation angle of the writing start point Q1, and the printing / drawing of the character / graphic pattern is started.

That is, at the time t1 when the output of the position signal output circuit 7 for outputting the signal corresponding to the position of the edge WE1 of the work W reaches the value a1 corresponding to the distance LL3, the standby position A (or B) of the mirror is obtained. From the start to the writing start position Q1, the printing / drawing of the character pattern is started. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the relationship between the output of the position signal output circuit 7 and the movement timing of the character pattern to the writing start position Q1 when the character pattern is large. LL1 is the standby position A and the edge AE2 of the drawable range Ar. Distance, LL
2 is the character width in the traveling direction of the work W described above.

Even when the character width is large, the above-mentioned FIG. 9 and FIG.
As in the case of, the output of the position signal output circuit 7 that outputs a signal corresponding to the position of the edge WE1 of the work W is the edge W.
The movement of the mirror is started at time t2 when the value a2 corresponding to the distance LL3 between E1 and the edge AE2 is reached, and the printing of the character pattern is started. As shown in the figure, when the character width LL2 is large, the edge A of the drawable range Ar is
The distance LL1 from E2 to the standby position A of the mirror is preferably about half the character width LL2. As a result, the mirror can be moved from the position of irradiating the substantially central coordinates of the character / graphic pattern to be printed to the position of irradiating the writing start position Q1, and printing / drawing can be started in a short time.

Even when the character / graphic pattern to be printed has a large width in the work advancing direction, it may be made to stand by at the standby position A or the standby position B shown in FIG. In this case, as compared with the case shown in FIG.
It takes a little longer to move from (or B) to the writing start position Q1. Next, printing / drawing on the work W according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. (1) The operator inputs the width of the drawn character / graphic pattern in the work advancing direction from the operator console 8 as a parameter. The parameter is held in the means 5a for holding the standby position setting parameter of the CPU 5. CP
The standby position setting means 5b of U5 determines the coordinates of the standby position A (or B) shown in FIG. 2 based on the above parameters.

When the width of the character / graphic pattern to be printed / drawn in the work advancing direction is not more than a certain value, as shown in FIG.
The coordinate center A of 13 mm is set as a default value, and the operator does not set the width of the character / graphic pattern in the work advancing direction as a parameter, but automatically sets the coordinate center A as the standby position of the mirror. You may (2) The irradiation position movement control means 5c controls the drawable range Ar.
The mirror angle of the irradiation position control means 2 is controlled so that it becomes the angle for irradiating the standby position A (or B).

Since the pattern signal Sl which is the output of the irradiation position movement control means 5c is added to the position signal Sp which is the output of the position signal output circuit 7 in the adder 6,
The actual mirror angle reciprocates on a straight line in the traveling direction of the work W. (3) Next, the irradiation position movement control means 5c, when the output of the position signal output circuit 7 reaches a value corresponding to the distance (LL3 described above) at which the character / graphic pattern can be printed / drawn on the work W, the pattern data signal. A signal for controlling the mirror angle of the irradiation position control means 2 is output based on the signal from the sending means 5d, and the irradiation position is moved to the writing / writing start position (irradiation start position) of the character / graphic to be printed / drawn. Turn on to start printing / drawing of character / graphic patterns.

The pattern signal Sl output from the irradiation position movement control means 5c of the CPU 5 is the adder 6 as described above.
, The position signal Sp, which is the output of the position signal output circuit 7, is added to the irradiation position control means 2 as the irradiation control signal St, and the character / graphic pattern is the work W.
Printed / drawn on top. (4) When the printing / drawing on the work W is completed, the irradiation position movement control means 5c causes the adder 6 to output a signal that causes the mirror to illuminate the standby position A (or B) in the drawing range Ar. It is output to the irradiation position control means 2 via the, and it waits at that angle until the next work is supplied.

As described above, in the present embodiment, when a character / graphic is printed on a moving work, the standby position of the mirror is set in the irradiation range (drawable range) upstream of the moving direction of the moving body. When the work print / drawing position is moved to the irradiation range (drawable range), printing / drawing is started, so the entire irradiation range (drawable range) is enabled. A desired character / graphic pattern can be printed / drawn on the work by utilizing it, and even if the printing / drawing speed is slow, the printing / drawing amount can be increased as compared with the conventional example.

Further, by changing the standby position of the mirror according to the width of the pattern to be printed / drawn in the work advancing direction, the time required to move from the standby position to the writing start position (irradiation start position) can be shortened. It is possible to print / draw quickly. In the above embodiment, an example in which a conveyer is used as a means for conveying the work W has been shown, but as the conveyance means for the work W, an XY stage or the like for moving the work W in the X and Y directions is used in addition to the conveyer. You can also

Further, in the above embodiment, the standby position setting means, the irradiation position movement control means and the like can be configured by software or hardware such as an electronic circuit. Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the embodiment of the marking device using the laser is shown, but the present invention can be applied to other devices using a laser such as a laser processing device. Further, the light to be irradiated is not limited to the laser, and it is possible to use other light such as infrared rays and ultraviolet rays depending on the object to be irradiated.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the irradiation position of the laser beam is controlled by controlling the angle of the mirror, but the irradiation position can be controlled in the same manner by controlling the position of the mirror in addition to the angle. You can

[0062]

As described above, in the present invention,
The following effects can be obtained. (1) A point distant from an edge of the irradiation-enabled range on the upstream side in the traveling direction of the moving irradiation object by a predetermined distance determined according to the width of the irradiation pattern in the traveling direction of the irradiation object, and the above-mentioned end The point on a straight line that passes through the approximate center of the side and is parallel to the traveling direction of the irradiation target is set as the standby position, and the mirror is made to stand by at the angle / position that irradiates the standby position, and the irradiation target area of the irradiation target can be irradiated as described above. When entering the range, the light beam is moved along the pattern while controlling the mirror angle / position according to the movement of the irradiation target, and when the irradiation along the pattern is completed, the standby position is changed to the standby position. Since the mirror is returned to the irradiation angle / position for standby, it is possible to effectively use the entire irradiation range (drawable range) to obtain the desired character /
Graphic patterns can be printed / drawn on the work,
Even if the printing / drawing speed is slow, the printing / drawing amount can be increased compared to the conventional example. (2) Since the standby position of the mirror is a point on a straight line that passes through substantially the center of the edge of the irradiation range and is parallel to the traveling direction of the irradiation target, it is possible to move to the irradiation start position of the pattern in a short time. The time required for marking, processing, etc. can be shortened. In addition, since printing / drawing is started immediately when the irradiated area of the irradiated object enters the irradiation range, even if the printing / drawing position / pattern changes, the mirror standby The time required to move from the position to the irradiation start position of the pattern can be substantially the same. (3) The standby position can be determined without considering the size of characters, etc., by making the mirror stand by at a position that irradiates the approximate center of the end side of the irradiation range upstream of the irradiation target. , The processing can be simplified. (4) Depending on the irradiation pattern, operating means for inputting the width of the irradiation pattern in the traveling direction of the irradiation object is provided, and the standby position of the mirror is set based on the width of the irradiation pattern input from the operating means. The mirror can be set to the optimum standby position.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a standby position for starting printing / drawing.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a relationship between a work and a drawable range and a print pattern.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a movement locus of a beam irradiation position when printing is performed at a high printing speed.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a movement trajectory of a beam when the width of the pattern in the X-axis direction is wide.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a beam movement trajectory when the printing direction and the traveling direction are the same.

8 is a diagram showing a relationship between a work and a drawable range and a printing direction in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a relationship between an output of a position signal output circuit and movement of a beam.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a relationship between a position signal output circuit output and beam movement.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a relationship between an output of a position signal output circuit and movement of a beam.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a configuration of a marking device for marking a moving body.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of irradiation position control means.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a relationship between movement of a work and an irradiation position.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a relationship between a work and a drawable range and a print pattern.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an operation of a conventional example.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a case where the printing speed is slow and printing cannot be performed on the work.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Laser 2 Irradiation Position Control Means 2a X Axis Mirror 2b Y Axis Mirror 2c X Axis Scanner 2d Y Axis Scanner 4 Conveyor 4a Conveyor Driving Mechanism 5 CPU 5a Means for Holding Standby Position Setting Parameters 5b Standby Position Setting Means 5c Irradiation Position Movement Control Means 5d Means for transmitting a pattern signal 6 Adder 7 Position signal output circuit 8 Operator console

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A light irradiator that controls the angle / position of a mirror that reflects a light beam emitted from a light source, and irradiates a moving irradiation target with the light beam according to a given irradiation pattern. In the method of controlling the mirror angle / position in the above, from the end side of the irradiation possible range on the upstream side in the traveling direction of the irradiation target,
Stand-by position is a point that is a predetermined distance that is determined according to the width of the irradiation pattern in the traveling direction of the irradiation target, and that is on a straight line that passes through the approximate center of the edge and is parallel to the traveling direction of the irradiation target. As a result, the mirror is made to stand by at the angle / position for irradiating the standby position, and when the irradiation area of the irradiation target falls within the irradiation possible range, the mirror angle / position is controlled according to the movement of the irradiation target. While moving the light beam along the pattern to irradiate the irradiation target with the light beam, when the irradiation along the pattern is completed, return the mirror to the angle / position for irradiating the standby position and make it stand by. A method for controlling a mirror angle / position in a light irradiator characterized by the above. 2. A light irradiator that controls the angle / position of a mirror that reflects a light beam emitted from a light source to irradiate a moving irradiation target with a light beam according to a given irradiation pattern. In the method of controlling the mirror angle / position in the above, in the method, the midpoint on the end side of the irradiation range upstream of the irradiation target is set as the standby position, and the mirror is made to stand by at the angle / position at which the standby position is irradiated. When the irradiation area of the irradiation object enters the irradiation possible range, the light beam is moved to the irradiation object by moving the light beam along the pattern while controlling the mirror angle / position according to the movement of the irradiation object. And when the irradiation according to the pattern is completed, the mirror is returned to the angle / position for irradiating the standby position to wait and the mirror angle / position in the light irradiator is controlled. 3. An irradiation position control means for irradiating a moving irradiation object with a light beam, comprising a rotatable mirror, and controlling a mirror angle / position of the irradiation position control means,
Processing means for controlling the irradiation position of the light beam emitted from the irradiation position control means on the irradiation object, position signal output means for outputting the relative position of the irradiation object with respect to the irradiation position control means, and output of the processing means In the controller for mirror angle / position in the light irradiator, which includes an adder for adding the output of the position signal output means and the addition result to the irradiation position control means, the processing means includes standby position setting means and An irradiation position movement control means for moving and controlling the irradiation position of the light beam is provided, and the standby position setting means is arranged such that the standby position is set from the end side of the irradiation possible range on the upstream side in the traveling direction of the irradiation target to the irradiation direction of the irradiation target. Points that are a predetermined distance apart depending on the width of the irradiation pattern,
Moreover, a point on a straight line that passes through the approximate center of the end side and is parallel to the traveling direction of the irradiated object is set as the standby position, and the irradiation position movement control means causes the mirror to wait for the mirror based on the output of the standby position setting means. When the irradiation area / position of the irradiation object is in the irradiation range, the signal for moving the light beam along the pattern is output to the adder, and the pattern is added to the pattern. A mirror angle / position control device in a light irradiator, which returns the mirror to an angle / position for irradiating the standby position and waits after irradiation along the line is completed. 4. An operation means for inputting a width of an irradiation pattern in a traveling direction of an object to be irradiated is provided, and the standby position setting means sets the standby position based on the width of the irradiation pattern input from the operation means. 4. A mirror angle / position control device for a light irradiator according to claim 3. 5. An irradiation position control means for irradiating a moving irradiation object with a light beam, comprising a rotatable mirror, and controlling a mirror angle / position of the irradiation position control means,
Processing means for controlling the irradiation position of the light beam emitted from the irradiation position control means on the irradiation object, position signal output means for outputting the relative position of the irradiation object with respect to the irradiation position control means, and output of the processing means In the controller for mirror angle / position in the light irradiator, which includes an adder for adding the output of the position signal output means and the addition result to the irradiation position control means, the processing means includes standby position setting means and An irradiation position movement control means for moving and controlling the irradiation position of the light beam is provided, and the standby position setting means sets a middle point on the end side of the irradiation possible range on the upstream side in the traveling direction of the irradiation target object as the standby position. Then, the irradiation position movement control means makes the mirror stand by at the angle / position for irradiating the standby position based on the output of the standby position setting means, and the irradiation area of the irradiation object enters the irradiation possible range. At this time, a signal for moving the light beam along the pattern is output to the adder, and after the irradiation according to the pattern is completed, the mirror is returned to the angle / position for irradiating the standby position to stand by. And a mirror angle / position control device for the light irradiator.