KR102368325B1 - Laser condensing head unit and laser processing machine having the same - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is a laser condensing head unit. The laser condensing head unit of the present invention is connected to a robot arm to perform laser welding or cutting in three dimensions and comprises: a laser condensing head unit emitting a laser beam; a mounting bracket connected to an end of the robot arm; and an impact absorbing unit connecting the laser condensing head unit and the mounting bracket to each other to absorb an impact by an external force applied to the laser condensing head unit in directions including a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. According to the present invention, the impact absorbing unit including a first impact absorbing block, a second impact absorbing block, a first elastic unit, and a second elastic unit is provided to absorb an impact applied to the laser condensing head unit, particularly a laser nozzle in directions parallel with a virtual plane including the first direction and the second direction when carrying out laser processing work in three dimensions to prevent damage to the laser condensing head unit and a workpiece.

Description

Laser condensing head unit and laser processing machine including the same

The present invention provides a laser condensing head unit capable of further preventing damage to a laser condensing head unit, in particular, damage to internal optical components due to a collision with an object in the process of performing laser welding or cutting in three dimensions, and a laser condensing head unit including the same It is related to the laser processing machine.

In general, a laser processing apparatus processes a workpiece by a laser beam in such a way that a welding or cutting operation is performed using a laser processing head. For this purpose, the laser machining head is positioned in a way that is relatively suitable for the workpiece. Positioning is performed through a gap adjusting device, but the gap between the nozzle member and the workpiece must be stably maintained even when the laser processing head moves. However, when the laser processing head moves and processes the workpiece, a collision between the laser processing head and the workpiece may occur.

When the laser processing machine is driven, the condensing head and the workpiece frequently collide. This is due to the operator's mistake, such as incorrect input of the program, or when the object (thin plate, etc.) is twisted due to thermal deformation during laser processing. A phenomenon that causes a collision with the head occurs. In particular, in the case of a three-dimensional laser processing machine using a robot, the collision of the condensing head occurs more frequently.

When the laser condensing head collides, optical parts or nozzles installed therein are relatively low-strength products, so they are easily damaged and cause loss. In addition, in the case of a multi-axis control laser processing machine of a robot, since it is necessary to process a three-dimensional product, the collision between the object and the condensing head occurs more frequently, and the intensity of the collision increases, unlike the two-dimensional laser.

Currently, there is a technology in which a structure such as a spring that can absorb an impact with an object while performing laser processing in two dimensions is mounted near the nozzle portion of the condensing head. When an external force is applied to the light collecting head, there is a problem that the shock absorption cannot be properly performed.

Accordingly, the present applicant proposes a new structure capable of absorbing more than a certain amount of impact applied to the laser condensing head due to a collision with an object in the process of performing laser welding or cutting in three dimensions.

Republic of Korea Patent Publication No. 10-1142543 (Notice on May 08, 2012)

The present invention has been devised to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and in the process of performing laser welding or cutting in three dimensions, the laser condensing head part is damaged due to a collision with an object, in particular, internal optical parts are damaged. An object of the present invention is to provide a laser condensing head unit and a laser processing machine including the same, which can further prevent damage to optical parts and reduce economic and time losses due to the need for re-installation of new parts.

According to an aspect of the present invention, as being connected to a robot arm to perform laser welding or cutting in three dimensions, a laser condensing head unit for irradiating a laser beam; a mounting bracket connected to an end of the robot arm; and to absorb an impact caused by an external force applied to the laser condensing head in a direction including a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, connecting the laser condensing head and the mounting bracket A laser condensing head unit including an impact absorbing portion is provided.

The shock absorbing part is connected to be movable in the first direction with respect to the mounting bracket, and a first shock absorbing part is interposed between the mounting bracket and the mounting bracket to absorb an external force acting in the first direction. block; and one side connected to the first shock absorbing block to be movable in the second direction and the other end connected to the laser condensing head, an external force acting in the second direction between the first shock absorbing block and the first shock absorbing block It may include a second shock absorbing block interposed with a second elastic portion for absorbing the.

The first and second elastic parts may include at least one of a spring, a plastic, and a reinforcing sponge.

Between the mounting bracket and the first shock-absorbing block, each provided between the first shock-absorbing block and the second shock-absorbing block may further include a shock sensor for detecting the mutual approach and separation state.

To guide the relative movement between the mounting bracket and the first shock-absorbing block and the relative movement between the first shock-absorbing block and the second shock-absorbing block, the mounting bracket, the first shock-absorbing block and the second shock-absorbing block A guide rod and a guide groove may be provided.

The laser condensing head includes a parallel light lens, a condensing lens, and a laser nozzle, and the laser nozzle has a relatively small cross-sectional diameter so as to be broken when an external force in a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions is applied. It may include a narrow portion, and may block the external force in the third direction from being transmitted to the parallel light lens and the condensing lens side through the breakage of the narrow portion.

The first direction and the second direction are directions perpendicular to a third direction in which the laser condensing head unit approaches the workpiece, and the shock absorbing unit is located on an imaginary plane including the first direction and the second direction. It is possible to absorb an impact applied to the laser condensing head in a parallel direction.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a laser condensing head unit; and a control unit for controlling driving of the robot arm and driving of a laser oscillator providing a laser beam to the laser condensing head, wherein the control unit receives the value detected by the impact sensor and is determined to be out of a setting range There is provided a laser processing machine, characterized in that stopping the driving of the robot arm and the laser oscillator.

According to the laser condensing head unit of the present invention described above and a laser processing machine including the same, by providing a shock absorbing part including a first shock absorbing block, a second shock absorbing block, a first elastic part and a second elastic part, three-dimensional When performing a laser processing operation on the top, it absorbs the impact applied to the laser condensing head unit, especially the laser nozzle, in a direction parallel to the virtual plane including the first and second directions to prevent damage to the laser condensing head unit and the object to be processed. can be prevented

In addition, it is possible to reliably prevent damage to optical components such as lenses by controlling the driving of the robot arm and the laser oscillator by sensing an external force applied through the impact sensor.

In addition, by providing the narrow portion in the laser nozzle to be broken by an external force, it is possible to prevent the external force in the third direction from being transmitted to the internal optical component in advance.

1 is a perspective view showing a laser processing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention;
2 is a block diagram showing a control relationship of a laser processing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention;
3 is a perspective view showing a laser condensing head unit according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 4 is a side view of Figure 3;
5 is a view showing the plane of FIG. 3, showing the main coupling relationship;
6 to 8 are views showing the shock absorption state of the shock absorber according to the change in the direction of the external force applied to the laser nozzle in the laser condensing head unit according to the embodiment of the present invention;
9 is a view illustrating a state in which a laser nozzle is broken by an external force in a third direction in the laser condensing head unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but will be implemented in a variety of different forms, only these embodiments allow the disclosure of the present invention to be complete, and the scope of the invention to those of ordinary skill in the art completely It is provided to inform you. In the drawings, like reference numerals refer to like elements.

The laser processing machine according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention further prevents the damage of the laser condensing head part, especially the damage of the internal optical parts, due to a collision with an object in the process of performing laser welding or cutting in three dimensions to further prevent the occurrence of optical It is possible to reduce the economic and time loss due to parts breakage and the need to re-install new parts.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to Examples.

1 and 2 , the laser processing machine 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a laser condensing head unit 100 and a control unit 300 .

First, the laser condensing head unit 100 is connected to the robot arm 20 to perform laser welding or cutting in three dimensions, and the laser condensing head unit 110 for irradiating a laser beam, the robot arm 20 at the end It includes a mounting bracket 130 to be connected, and a shock absorbing unit 150 to connect between the laser condensing head unit 110 and the mounting bracket 130 .

The laser condensing head unit 110 receives the laser beam oscillated from the laser oscillator 30 and irradiates it toward the object to be processed, and as shown in FIG. 4 , the laser beam transmitted from the laser oscillator 30 through an optical cable. A collimated light lens 111 that forms parallel light so as not to spread, a condensing lens 112 that condenses a laser beam in the form of parallel light to reduce the size of the laser beam, a protective window 113, a laser nozzle 114, etc. include

Here, it is already known that the collimating lens 111 and the condensing lens 112 must always maintain an accurate alignment for laser beam irradiation accuracy. In this case, the alignment state is changed or severe damage occurs, so a shock-absorbing structure is required.

The mounting bracket 130 is connected to the end of the robot arm 20 so as to be movable in the same direction as the end of the robot arm.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 to 5 , the shock absorbing unit 150 connects between the laser condensing head unit 110 and the mounting bracket 130 , and is attached to the laser condensing head unit 110 . It is connected to absorb an impact applied when an external force is applied in a direction including a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. Through this shock absorption, as described above, it is possible to minimize the change in the alignment state of the various lenses, damage, and the like.

The present invention is made by laser cutting or welding in three dimensions, and for the convenience of explanation and illustration below, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 to 5, the first direction is the x direction and the -x direction, Two directions are defined as a y direction and a -y direction, and a third direction to be described later is defined as a z direction.

The third direction (z direction) means a direction in which the laser condensing head unit 110 approaches the object 40 to be processed, and the first direction and the second direction are respectively perpendicular to the third direction. That is, the shock absorbing unit 150 is made to absorb the shock applied to the laser nozzle 114 in a direction parallel to a two-dimensional virtual plane including the x-direction and the y-direction, and is substantially applied in the z-direction. It can be difficult to absorb the shock absorber in the z-direction, which will be described later.

Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 to 5 , the shock absorbing unit 150 includes a first shock absorbing block 151 and a second shock absorbing block 152 .

The first shock-absorbing block 151 is connected to be movable in a first direction (x-direction, -x-direction) with respect to the mounting bracket 130 , and an external force acting in the first direction between the first shock-absorbing block 151 and the mounting bracket 130 . A first elastic part 153 for absorbing the is interposed.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 6 to 8 , the first shock absorbing block 151 is substantially connected to the mounting bracket 130 through the first elastic part 153 , and is attached to the laser condensing head 110 . When an external force acts in the x-direction and the -x-direction, it moves in a direction approaching or spaced apart from the mounting bracket 130 . In other words, the first elastic part 153 provided between the mounting bracket 130 and the first shock-absorbing block 151 is an impact applied to the laser condensing head 110 due to an external force in the x-direction and -x-direction. It can absorb and buffer over a certain amount.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the relative movement between the mounting bracket 130 and the first shock absorbing block 151, that is, the first shock absorbing block 151 with respect to the mounting bracket 130 is x A guide rod 154 and a guide groove 155 are provided in the mounting bracket 130 and the first shock absorbing block 151 to be slidably movable in the -x direction, respectively. The installation positions of the guide rod and the guide groove can be changed from each other.

The second shock absorbing block 152 is connected to be movable in the second direction (y direction, -y direction) with respect to the first shock absorbing block 151, and the first shock absorbing block 151 is disposed between the first shock absorbing block 151 A second elastic part 156 for absorbing an external force acting in two directions is interposed. One side of the second shock absorbing block 152 is connected to the first shock absorbing block 151 through the second elastic part 156 , and the other side is connected to the laser condensing head unit 110 .

In the embodiment of the present invention, the first shock absorbing block 151 connects between the mounting bracket 130 and the second shock absorbing block 152 to act on the laser condensing head 110 , in particular the laser nozzle 114 . The first direction (x-direction, -x-direction), the second direction (y-direction, -y-direction) to be able to absorb the impact, as shown in FIG. can be done

That is, as shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the second shock absorbing block 152 is substantially connected to the first shock absorbing block 151 through the second elastic part 156, and the laser condensing head part ( When an external force is applied to 110) in the y-direction and the -y-direction, it moves in a direction that approaches or is spaced apart from the first shock absorbing block 151 . In other words, the second elastic part 156 provided between the first shock absorbing block 151 and the second shock absorbing block 152 is formed by the laser condensing head unit 110 due to external force in the y-direction and -y-direction. It can absorb and buffer the applied shock over a certain period.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5 , the relative movement between the first shock absorption block 151 and the second shock absorption block 152 , that is, the second shock absorption block 152 with respect to the first shock absorption block 151 . ) is provided with a guide rod 157 and a guide groove 158 in the first shock absorbing block 151 and the second shock absorbing block 152 to be slidably movable in the y-direction and -y-direction, respectively. The installation positions of the guide rod and the guide groove can be changed from each other.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the first elastic part 153 and the second elastic part 156 are applied as springs in the related drawings, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, it may be applied as a plastic having elasticity, a reinforced sponge, or the like.

Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 6 to 8 , the shock absorbing unit 150 absorbs the impact applied to the laser condensing head unit 110 in a direction parallel to an imaginary plane including the first direction and the second direction. Absorbable. That is, the shock absorbing unit 150 may buffer external forces in all directions applied to the laser nozzle 114 on the virtual plane to prevent breakage and damage to major components.

In the related drawings, an example is given when an external force acts on the laser nozzle in three directions, but in addition, as described above, the shock absorbing unit 150 includes all directions parallel to the virtual plane including the first direction and the second direction. It can absorb and buffer external forces acting as

As shown in FIG. 5 , the laser condensing head unit 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention further includes an impact sensor 159 .

The shock sensor 159 detects a mutual approach and separation state between the mounting bracket 130 and the first shock absorbing block 151, and between the first shock absorbing block 151 and the second shock absorbing block 152 As provided to do so, it is applicable as a pressure sensor.

The control unit 300 controls the driving of the robot arm 20 and the driving of the laser oscillator 30 that provides a laser beam to the laser condensing head unit 110, and receives the value detected by the impact sensor 159 If it is determined that the setting range is out of range, the robot arm 20 and the laser oscillator 30 are stopped.

The impact sensor 159, that is, the pressure sensor, is located between the mounting bracket 130 and the first shock absorption block 151 facing each other in a state where the detection point is pressed for a certain amount or more, and the first shock absorption block 151 facing each other. ) and the second shock absorbing block 152, the control unit 300 determines the range of the value increased or decreased by a certain amount or more as the setting range using the pressure sensor sensed value sensed in the initial installation state as a reference value.

In other words, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 8 , when the first shock absorbing block 151 approaches the mounting bracket 130 due to the action of an external force in the x direction, the detection value of the pressure sensor increases, and -x When the first shock absorbing block 151 is spaced apart from the mounting bracket 130 due to the directional external force, the detection value of the pressure sensor is decreased. The control unit 300 determines the setting range that can be determined as a minute impact by reflecting the increase/decrease value of the pressure sensor.

When the first shock absorbing block 151 approaches or separates to an extent outside the set range, the control unit 300 determines that a significant external force acts on the laser condensing head unit 110, and the robot arm 20 and the laser oscillator ( 30) is stopped, and a separate warning signal can be generated through warning sound and warning lamp light emission.

The control unit 300 similarly senses the degree to which the second shock absorbing block 152 approaches or separates the first shock absorbing block 151 through the detection value of the pressure sensor, that is, the intensity of the external force, and through this, the above-described In the same manner as the bar, the driving of the robot arm 20 and the laser oscillator 30 is stopped.

In the present invention, when an external force acts in a direction parallel to the virtual plane including the first direction and the second direction to the laser condensing head unit 110 due to a collision with the object 40, the shock absorbing unit 150 is formed. It is possible to protect the internal optical component by absorbing the impact through the process, and it is possible to prevent damage to the object 40 to be processed. In addition, when the external force applied to the laser condensing head unit 110 is small, the shock absorbing unit 150 can sufficiently absorb the external force, so that the welding or cutting operation can be performed quickly without realigning the optical parts such as the lens. Time and economic loss can be minimized.

In the above, the shock absorption structure for the external force applied to the laser condensing head unit 110 in the first direction (x direction, -x direction) and in the second direction (y direction, -y direction) has been described, and below, the third direction ( z-direction) The structure of absorbing external force due to impact will be described.

The third direction refers to the direction in which the laser nozzle 114 approaches the object 40, and in the present invention, when an external force in the third direction acts on the laser nozzle 114 portion due to a collision with the object to be processed, this impact is avoided. practically does not absorb

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9 , the laser nozzle 114 includes a narrow portion 115 having a relatively small cross-sectional diameter to break when an external force in the third direction is applied. The part 115 is to be broken.

Through such breakage, it is possible to block the third direction external force from being transmitted to the collimating lens 111 and the condensing lens 112. The lenses are quite expensive, whereas the laser nozzles are inexpensive, and additional costs are incurred due to the installation of a new laser nozzle. It can also be seen that it is not large.

In the foregoing, the present invention has been shown and described in connection with preferred embodiments for illustrating the principles of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to the construction and operation as shown and described as such. Rather, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications can be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

10: laser processing machine 20: robot arm
30: laser oscillator 100: laser condensing head unit
110: laser condensing head unit 114: laser nozzle
115: narrow part 130: mounting bracket
150: shock absorbing unit 151: first shock absorbing block
152: second shock absorbing block 153: first elastic part
154: guide rod 155: guide groove
156: second elastic part 159: impact sensor
300: control unit

Claims (5)

It is connected to a robot arm to perform laser welding or cutting in three dimensions,
a laser condensing head for irradiating a laser beam;
a mounting bracket connected to an end of the robot arm; and
An impact connecting between the laser condensing head unit and the mounting bracket to absorb an impact caused by an external force applied in a direction including a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction with respect to the laser condensing head unit comprising an absorbent part;
The shock absorber,
Connected to be movable in the first direction with respect to the mounting bracket, when an external force is applied to the laser condensing head in the first direction, moving in a direction approaching or spaced apart from the mounting bracket, acting in the first direction A first shock-absorbing block for absorbing an external force; and
One side is connected to the first shock absorbing block so as to be movable in the second direction, and the other side is connected to the laser condensing head unit, and when an external force is applied to the laser condensing head unit in the second direction, the first shock A laser condensing head unit comprising a second shock absorbing block for absorbing an external force acting in the second direction while moving in a direction approaching or spaced from the absorbing block. The method of claim 1,
The laser condensing head unit according to claim 1, further comprising an impact sensor provided between the mounting bracket and the shock absorbing part to detect a state of mutual approach and separation. The method of claim 1,
The laser condensing head unit includes a parallel light lens, a condensing lens, and a laser nozzle,
The laser nozzle includes a narrow portion having a relatively small cross-sectional diameter to break when an external force in a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions acts;
The laser condensing head unit, characterized in that the third direction external force is blocked from being transmitted to the collimating lens and the condensing lens through the breakage of the narrow portion. The method of claim 1,
The first direction and the second direction are directions perpendicular to a third direction in which the laser condensing head approaches the workpiece, respectively;
and the shock absorbing unit is capable of absorbing an impact applied to the laser condensing head in a direction parallel to an imaginary plane including the first direction and the second direction. The laser condensing head unit according to claim 2; and
A control unit for controlling driving of the robot arm and driving of a laser oscillator providing a laser beam to the laser condensing head,
The control unit receives the value detected by the impact sensor, and when it is determined that it is outside the set range, the laser processing machine, characterized in that it stops the driving of the robot arm and the laser oscillator.

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