JPH1052785A - Optical axis covering device of laser beam machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical axis covering device of a laser beam machine which is inexpensive and capable of following the high speed machining. SOLUTION: When a work is laser beam machined by moving a laser beam machining head to the prescribed position, the laser beam LB which is oscillated by a laser beam oscillator and advanced in a duct 29 is converted in direction by a bend mirror 31 which is moved inside the duct 29 as the laser beam machining head is moved and led to the laser beam machining head. Because the duct 29 is constantly closed by fire-retarding elastic members provided on each side of an opening part 37 though the opening part is provided in the duct, the laser beam LB is not leaked outside. The laser beam LB which is converted in direction by the bend mirror 31 in the duct 29 is integrated with the bend mirror 31, and led outside of the duct 29 by an optical axis pipe 43 extending to the outside of the duct 29 from a space between the elastic members, and reaches the laser beam machining head.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical axis cover device of a laser beam machine for protecting an optical path as a processing head moves in the laser beam machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a laser beam machine, a laser beam oscillated by a laser oscillator is guided to a machining head by changing the course by a plurality of bend mirrors, and irradiates a workpiece to perform laser machining.

Referring to FIG. 7, conventionally, the optical path of the laser beam LB has a bellows 101 for safety of operation.
Are protected by such a protective member. Generally, the bellows 101 is provided between the bend mirror 103 and the bend mirror, and a space 105 for passing the laser beam LB is provided at the center. Also, bellows 1
Numeral 01 is movably provided on the guide member 107 so as to follow the movement of the bend mirror 103 accompanying the movement of a laser processing head (not shown).

[0004]

However, in such a conventional technique, there is a problem that the bellows 101 cannot follow the movement of the laser processing head during high-speed processing, so that high-speed processing cannot be performed.

[0005] The bellows 101 is a guide member 107.
There is also a risk of being caught by the device, which is also a problem from the viewpoint of ensuring work safety. Furthermore, since the bellows 101 are expensive, there is a problem that the optical axis cover device becomes expensive.

An object of the present invention is to provide an optical axis cover device of a laser beam machine which is inexpensive and can follow high-speed machining.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical axis cover device for a laser beam machine, wherein the direction of a laser beam oscillated by a laser oscillator is changed by a bend mirror. A laser processing machine that guides a laser processing head and performs laser processing on a predetermined position of a work by moving the laser processing head. The laser processing machine includes the bend mirror movably and has an opening on a side where the direction is changed by the bend mirror. A duct having a portion, a flame-retardant elastic member provided from both sides of the opening to the center of the opening to close the opening, and a duct which is integrally provided on a side of the bend mirror where the direction is changed. An optical axis pipe that guides a laser beam to the outside of the duct by passing between the elastic members on both sides at the center of the opening. The one in which the features.

Therefore, when performing laser processing on a workpiece by moving the laser processing head to a predetermined position, the laser beam oscillated by the laser oscillator and traveling inside the duct is moved inside the duct along with the movement of the laser processing head. The direction is changed by the moving bend mirror and guided to the laser processing head. Since the duct is always closed by the flame-retardant elastic member, the laser beam does not leak outside. The laser beam whose direction has been changed by the bend mirror inside the duct is provided integrally with the bend mirror, guided by an optical axis pipe extending from between the elastic members to the outside of the duct, and reaches the laser processing head.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, an optical axis cover device for a laser beam machine is provided with an air purge for supplying clean air to the inside of the duct according to the first aspect.

Therefore, since the inside of the duct is cooled and the pressure is higher than that of the outside, it is possible to prevent foreign matter from entering from outside.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the optical axis cover device for a laser beam machine, the flame-retardant elastic member according to the first aspect is a sheet-like member.

Therefore, the optical axis pipe integrally provided on the bend mirror extends to the outside of the duct through the space between the flame-retardant sheet members provided from both sides to the center of the opening at the opening of the duct. Therefore, the optical axis pipe moves while expanding between the sheet-like members with the movement of the bend mirror.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the optical axis cover device for a laser beam machine, the flame-retardant elastic member according to the first aspect is a brush-like member.

Accordingly, the optical axis pipe provided integrally with the bend mirror extends to the outside of the duct through the flame-retardant brush-like member provided from both sides to the center of the opening at the opening of the duct. Accordingly, the optical axis pipe moves while pushing between the brush-like members as the bend mirror moves.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, there is provided an optical axis cover device for a laser beam machine, wherein the flame-retardant elastic member according to the first aspect is a flat bellows-like member.

Accordingly, the optical axis pipe provided integrally with the bend mirror passes between the flame-retardant flat bellows-like members provided from both sides of the opening of the duct to the center of the opening to the outside of the duct. Since it extends, the optical axis pipe moves while pushing and expanding between the flat bellows-like members with the movement of the bend mirror.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 4 to 6 show a three-axis light moving type laser beam machine 1. In the laser beam machine 1, X-axis guide rails 7 are provided in the X-axis direction on both left and right outer sides (upper and lower outer sides in FIG. 4) of the processing table 5 on the machine base 3.

On each of the X-axis guide rails 7, saddles 9 which can be moved and positioned in the X-axis direction along the X-axis guide rails 7 are provided.
An X-axis carriage 11 is provided between them.

The X-axis carriage 11 is provided with a Y-axis guide rail 13 in the Y-axis direction, and the Y-axis carriage 15 moves on the Y-axis guide rail 13 in the Y-axis direction.
It is provided so that positioning is possible. The Y-axis carriage 15 is provided with a laser processing head 17 that can move up and down in the Z-axis direction.

Therefore, the X-axis carriage 11 moves in the X-axis direction along the X-axis guide rail 7, and the Y-axis carriage 1
5 moves in the Y-axis direction along the Y-axis guide rail 13,
Further, the laser processing head 17 moves up and down from the Y-axis carriage 15 in the Z-axis direction to perform laser processing.

On the other hand, a laser oscillator 19 is located near the machine base 3.
Is provided. A column 2 is provided above the X-axis guide rail 7 (here, the X-axis guide rail 7 on the lower side in FIG. 4).
An X-axis duct 23 supported by 1 is provided in the X-axis direction, and is connected to the laser oscillator 19 by a connecting pipe 25.

The details of the X-axis duct 23 will be described later.
An X-axis bend mirror 27 that moves in the X-axis direction integrally with the X-axis carriage 11 is provided inside. The X-axis bend mirror 27 converts the direction of the laser beam LB upward in FIG. Leading to the carriage 11.

The X-axis carriage 11 has a Y-axis duct 2 inside.
Inside the Y-axis duct 29, a Y-axis bend mirror 31, which moves in the Y-axis direction together with the laser processing head 17 to change the direction of the laser beam LB in the Z-axis direction, is movable. Is provided.

As a result, the laser beam LB whose direction has been changed by the X-axis bend mirror 27 through the X-axis duct 23 passes through the Y-axis duct 29 of the X-axis carriage 11 and is provided inside the Y-axis duct 29. The direction is changed downward by the Y-axis bend mirror 31, and the workpiece W is irradiated from the laser processing head 17 to perform laser processing.

FIG. 1 shows an optical axis cover device 3 according to the present invention.
3 is shown. In FIG. 1, the optical axis cover device 33 provided in the Y-axis duct 29 of the X-axis carriage 11 is shown as an example.

Referring to FIG. 1A, the Y-axis duct 29 has a rectangular cross section having a space 35 through which the laser beam LB passes, and an opening 37 is provided on the bottom surface. Left and right heat-resistant flame-retardant sheets 39L and 39R each having a certain degree of elasticity from the left and right side surfaces to the center of the opening are attached to the opening 37.
Nine openings 37 are closed. The heat-resistant and flame-retardant sheets 39L and 39R are provided obliquely downward so as not to interfere with the laser beam LB.

An air purge 41 is provided in the Y-axis duct 29.
Is provided to always cool the inside of the Y-axis duct 29 by sending clean air, and to prevent foreign substances such as dust from entering the inside.

Inside the Y-axis duct 29, a Y-axis bend mirror 3 that moves in the Y-axis direction integrally with the Y-axis carriage 15
1, the Y-axis bend mirror 31 changes the direction of the laser beam LB that has traveled in the Y-axis duct 29 in the Y-axis direction (right direction in FIG. 1A) in the Z-axis direction (FIG. 1).
(A) (middle and lower direction).

The Y-axis bend mirror 31 is integrally provided with an optical axis pipe 43 extending downward. The optical axis pipe 43 penetrates between the left and right heat-resistant and flame-retardant sheets 39L and 39R and has a Y-axis duct. 29, the laser beam LB having its direction changed by the Y-axis bend mirror 31
To the laser processing head 17.

From the above results, the Y-axis bend mirror 3 can be used in a state where the leakage of the laser beam LB is prevented by an inexpensive device.
Since 1 can move inside the Y-axis duct 29 at high speed, high-speed laser processing becomes possible. Further, since clean air is always supplied to the inside of the Y-axis duct 29 by the air purge 41, the Y-axis duct 29 can be cooled and foreign substances can be prevented from entering from outside.

FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the optical axis cover device according to the present invention. In the optical axis cover device 45, left and right flame retardant brushes 47L and 47R are provided instead of the left and right heat-resistant flame retardant sheets 39L and 39R in the optical axis cover device 33 described above. Other structures are the same as those of the above-described optical axis cover device 33, and therefore, the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

The flame-retardant brushes 47L and 47R are provided obliquely downward so as not to interfere with the laser beam LB, and extend from both sides to the center of the opening so as to always close the opening 37 of the Y-axis duct 29. Things.

Therefore, when the optical axis pipe 43 moves with the movement of the Y-axis bend mirror 31, it moves while pushing the flame retardant brushes 47L and 47R on both sides.

With the above configuration, the same effects as those of the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

FIG. 3 shows still another embodiment of the optical axis cover device according to the present invention. In the optical axis cover device 49, the optical axis cover device 3 described above is used.
The left and right flat bellows 5 are used instead of the heat-resistant flame-retardant sheets 39L and 39R and the flame-retardant brushes 47L and 47R in 3 and 45.
1L and 51R are provided. Other structures are the same as those of the above-described optical axis cover device 33, and therefore, the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

The flat bellows 51L and 51R are provided obliquely downward so as not to interfere with the laser beam LB, and extend from both sides to the center of the opening so as to always close the opening 37 of the Y-axis duct 29. is there.

Accordingly, when the optical axis pipe 43 moves with the movement of the Y-axis bend mirror 31, the left and right bellows 51 move.
It moves while pushing and spreading L and 51R.

Even with the above configuration, the same effects as in the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be implemented in other modes by making appropriate changes. That is, in each of the above-described embodiments, the Y-axis duct 29 provided inside the X-axis carriage 11 has been described, but the same can be applied to the X-axis duct 23. In this case, the opening 37 of the X-axis duct 23 is provided on the side and the elastic members 39, 47, 51 are also provided on the side, and the optical axis pipe 43 provided on the X-axis bend mirror 27 is provided.
Are also provided in the horizontal direction.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, a duct having a rectangular cross section is used, but the duct is not limited to this.

[0042]

As described above, in the optical axis cover device of the laser processing machine according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the laser processing head performs the laser processing on the workpiece by moving to the predetermined position, the laser oscillator is used. The laser beam that is oscillated and proceeds inside the duct is changed in direction by a bend mirror that moves inside the duct as the laser processing head moves, and is guided to the laser processing head. At this time,
Since the duct is always closed by the flame-retardant elastic member, the laser beam does not leak outside. Also,
The laser beam whose direction has been changed by the bend mirror inside the duct is provided integrally with the bend mirror and guided by an optical axis pipe extending from between the elastic members to the outside of the duct to reach the laser processing head. Moves between elastic members provided from both sides of the opening, so that high-speed movement is possible. Accordingly, high-speed laser processing becomes possible.

In the optical axis cover device of the laser processing machine according to the second aspect of the present invention, since air is supplied by air purge, the inside of the duct is cooled and the pressure is higher than that of the outside, so that foreign matter from the outside is Can be prevented from entering.

In the optical axis cover device for a laser beam machine according to the third aspect of the present invention, the optical axis pipe provided integrally with the bend mirror is formed in a flame-retardant sheet shape provided on both sides at the opening of the duct. Since the optical axis pipe extends to the outside of the duct through between the members, the optical axis pipe moves while pushing and expanding between the sheet-like members as the bend mirror moves.
Therefore, the bend mirror can be moved at high speed, and the apparatus is inexpensive.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the optical axis cover device of the laser beam machine, the optical axis pipe integrally provided with the bend mirror is provided with a flame-retardant brush formed from both sides at the opening of the duct. Since it extends to the outside of the duct through the space between the members, the optical axis pipe moves while pushing between the brush-like members as the bend mirror moves.
Therefore, the bend mirror can be moved at high speed, and the apparatus is inexpensive.

In the optical axis cover device for a laser beam machine according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the optical axis pipe provided integrally with the bend mirror is provided with a flame-retardant flat bellows provided from both sides at the opening of the duct. Since the optical axis pipe extends between the flat members to the outside of the duct, the optical axis pipe moves while pushing between the flat bellows-like members as the bend mirror moves. Therefore, the bend mirror can be moved at high speed, and the apparatus is inexpensive.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view and a sectional view showing an optical axis cover device of a laser beam machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view and a sectional view showing another embodiment of the optical axis cover device of the laser beam machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view and a sectional view showing still another embodiment of the optical axis cover device of the laser beam machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a laser processing machine to which the optical axis cover device of the laser processing machine according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 5 is a front view as viewed from a direction V in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side view as viewed from a direction VI in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing an optical axis cover device of a conventional laser beam machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 17 Laser processing head 19 Laser oscillator 23 X-axis duct (duct) 27 X-axis bend mirror (bend mirror) 29 Y-axis duct (duct) 31 Y-axis bend mirror (bend mirror) 33, 45, 49 Optical axis cover device 37 Opening Part 39 Heat-resistant flame-retardant sheet (elastic member) 41 Air purge 43 Optical axis pipe 47 Flame-retardant brush (elastic member) 51 Flat bellows (elastic member) LB Laser beam

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A laser processing machine for converting the direction of a laser beam oscillated by a laser oscillator by a bend mirror, guiding the laser beam to a laser processing head, and performing laser processing on a predetermined position of a work by moving the laser processing head. A duct that movably contains the bend mirror and has an opening on a side that is changed in direction by the bend mirror; and a flame-retardant duct provided from both sides of the opening to the center of the opening to close the opening. An elastic member, an optical axis pipe that is provided integrally on a side of the bend mirror where the direction is changed and penetrates between the elastic members on both sides at the center of the opening to guide the laser beam to the outside of the duct; An optical axis cover device for a laser beam machine, comprising: 2. An optical axis cover device for a laser beam machine according to claim 1, further comprising an air purge for supplying clean air into said duct. 3. The optical axis cover device for a laser beam machine according to claim 1, wherein said flame-retardant elastic member is a sheet-like member. 4. The optical axis cover device for a laser beam machine according to claim 1, wherein said flame-retardant elastic member is a brush-like member. 5. The optical axis cover device for a laser beam machine according to claim 1, wherein said flame-retardant elastic member is a flat bellows-like member.