Patent Publication Number: US-2022216663-A1

Title: Laser processing apparatus

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a Continuation Application of International Application No. PCT/JP2020/004510 claiming the conventional priority of Japanese patent Application No. 2019-175213 filed on Sep. 26, 2019. The disclosures of Japanese patent Application No. 2019-175213 and International Application No. PCT/JP2020/004510 are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to a laser processing apparatus applied to cooling a laser emission unit. 
     Conventionally, there are proposed various techniques related to the laser processing apparatus mentioned above. For example, there is known a laser optical apparatus where a laser beam source unit is provided on an entire gantry, and a casing encloses a laser beam source of the laser beam source unit. One end of each of an air intake duct and an air exhaust duct made of a flexible material is connected to the casing. The air intake duct is flexed appropriately with its other end being opened in a cover member while the other end of the air exhaust duct is connected to an air exhaust fan provided in the cover member. By virtue of this, an air flow for preventing the laser beam source from temperature increase is secured. 
     SUMMARY 
     However, in the above described technique, no consideration is made for a control member which controls the laser beam source unit, although the control member generates heat. Even though the control member is cooled by the air flow for preventing the laser beam source from temperature increase, this is no more than a secondary cooling such that the control member cannot be cooled sufficiently. Therefore, the temperature inside the casing increases due to the influence of the heat emitted from the control member, such that the laser beam source unit is liable to insufficient cooling. 
     Accordingly, the present disclosure is made in view of the above situation, and an object thereof is to provide a laser processing apparatus facilitating improvement of the cooling efficiency for the laser emission unit and the control member. 
     The present specification discloses a laser processing apparatus including:
         a laser emission unit configured to emit laser beam;   a control member configured to control the laser emission unit;   a casing in which the laser emission unit and the control member are accommodated; and   a pipe through which compressed gas supplied from outside of the casing flows in a branched manner, the pipe being provided in the casing,   wherein the pipe includes a first branch pipe arranged with a leading end for jetting the compressed gas facing the laser emission unit, and a second branch pipe arranged with a leading end for jetting the compressed gas facing the control member.       

     According to the present disclosure, the laser processing apparatus is capable of facilitating improvement of the cooling efficiency for the laser emission unit and the control member. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a laser marker according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is another perspective view showing the same laser marker. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing the same laser marker without an outer cover. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic view for explaining a piping system for compressed air in the same laser marker. 
         FIG. 5  is a view showing an enlarged part A of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 6  is another view showing the enlarged part A of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 7  is a front view showing the same laser marker without the outer cover. 
         FIG. 8  is a plan view showing the same laser marker without the outer cover. 
         FIG. 9  is a view showing the cross section cut up along the line IX-IX of  FIG. 7  of the same laser marker without the outer cover. 
         FIG. 10  is a view showing the cross section cut up along the line X-X of  FIG. 8  of the same laser marker without the outer cover. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view showing the same laser marker with a silencer being disassembled. 
         FIG. 12  is another perspective view showing the same laser marker with the silencer being disassembled. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Hereinbelow, an explanation will be made on a laser marker of the present disclosure, based on an embodiment having made the same in a concrete manner, referring to the accompanied drawings. In the drawings used for the following explanation, part of the basic configuration may be omitted in illustration, and the ratio in size and the like may not be necessarily correct for each illustrated part. In the respective drawings, a front/rear direction D 1 , an up/down direction D 2  and a left/right direction D 3  are presented as indicated in each drawing. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a laser marker  1  of this embodiment is dust-proof and water-proof, including a first body  3 , a second body  5 , and a third body  7 . From the third body  7 , laser beam R is emitted for marking (printing) processing. The laser beam R is oscillated and emitted from a laser emission unit  9  provided inside the first body  3 , reflected from a reflecting mirror  11  provided inside the second body  5 , and finally scanned and collected by a galvanic scanner  13  and an fθ lens  15  provided inside the third body  7  (see  FIGS. 9 and 10 ). 
     Inside the first body  3 , air cooling is performed by way of taking in compressed air from an air intake port  17 , and discharging the air from an exhaust port  19  or a silencer  21 . Note that the air intake port  17  is connected with an unshown air compressor provided separate from the laser marker  1 , via a pipe. The compressed air supplied from the air compressor is taken into the first body  3  from the air intake port  17 . The air intake port  17  and the exhaust port  19  are pipe joints of one-touch type. The first body  3  is shaped into an approximate cuboid elongate in the front/rear direction D 1 , including a base member  23  and an outer cover  25 . The base member  23  and the outer cover  25  are fixed with screws  27 . 
     In the laser marker  1  of this embodiment, although many of its components (for example, the outer cover  25  and the like) are fixed with the screws in a removable manner, detailed explanation is omitted. Note that the screws for fixation are in a plurality of types. 
     Hereinbelow, referring to the drawings and the like showing the first body  3  where the outer cover  25  is removed, the first body  3  will be explained. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the base member  23  includes a base plate  23 A, a back plate  23 B, and a front plate  23 C. The back plate  23 B is provided to stand up from the rear end of the base plate  23 A. The back plate  23 B is provided with the air intake port  17 , the exhaust port  19 , the silencer  21 , and the like. The front plate  23 C is provided to stand up from the front end of the base plate  23 A. The front plate  23 C is provided with the second body  5  (and the third body  7 ). 
     On the base plate  23 A, the laser emission unit  9  is arranged along the front/rear direction D 1  and, on the left side of the laser emission unit  9 , a galvanic substrate  29 , a main substrate  31 , a power unit  33  and the like are arranged. The galvanic substrate  29  is a substrate for controlling the galvanic scanner  13 . The main substrate  31  is a substrate for controlling the laser marker  1  and is fixed on the base plate  23 A via a metallic bracket  32 . The bracket  32  is bent into an approximate L shape as viewed from the front/rear direction D 1 , and fixed with the main substrate  31  on the left surface at the other side than the laser emission unit  9 . The power unit  33  is provided to supply electric power to the laser marker  1 . 
     The laser emission unit  9  is covered by an inner cover  35 . The inner cover  35  is shaped into an approximate cuboid elongate in the front/rear direction D 1 , and its lower side, front side and rear side are all open. When the inner cover  35  is fixed on the base plate  23 A along the front/rear direction D 1 , then a space is formed in the inner cover  35  to accommodate the laser emission unit  9  therein and let the front side and the rear side be open. 
     Inside the first body  3 , a left surface  35 A of the inner cover  35  partitions the space into a first space S 1  and a second space S 2 . That is, inside the first body  3 , the first space S 1  is the right part from the left surface  35 A of the inner cover  35  whereas the second space S 2  is the left part from the left surface  35 A of the inner cover  35 . The laser emission unit  9  and the like are arranged in the first space S 1 . The galvanic substrate  29 , the main substrate  31  (and the bracket  32 ), the power unit  33 , and the like are arranged in the second space S 2 . By virtue of this, between the laser emission unit  9  and the main substrate  31  (and the bracket  32 ), the left surface  35 A of the inner cover  35  is interposed. 
     The second space S 2  is in communication with the first space S 1  at both sides in the front/rear direction D 1  in which the left surface  35 A of the inner cover  35  extends. The back plate  23 B, where the exhaust port  19  and the silencer  21  are provided, is arranged at the rear side among the two sides in the front/rear direction D 1  where the first space S 1  and the second space S 2  are in communication. On the other hand, the front plate  23 C is arranged at the front side among the two sides in the front/rear direction D 1  where the first space S 1  and the second space S 2  are in communication. 
     A pipe  37  shown in  FIG. 4  is provided in the first body  3 . The pipe  37  is adapted to schematically show a system where the compressed air flows. The compressed air is taken into the first body  3  from the air intake port  17 . The system of the pipe  37  will be explained below. Note that a specific configuration of the pipe  37  will be described later. The pipe  37  is configured for the compressed air to flow therethrough and constructed from a main pipe  39 , a first branch pipe  41 , a second branch pipe  43 , and a third branch pipe  45 . One end of the main pipe  39  is connected to the air intake port  17 . The other end of the main pipe  39  serves as a first branch point  47 . The internal diameter of the main pipe  39  is, for example, 5 mm. The main pipe  39  is branched into the first branch pipe  41  and the second branch pipe  43  at the first branch point  47 . 
     The internal diameter of the first branch pipe  41  is, for example, 5 mm. A second branch point  49  is provided midway in the second branch pipe  43 . The second branch pipe  43  is branched into the third branch pipe  45  and another part of the second branch pipe  43  at the second branch point  49 . The second branch pipe  43  has such an internal diameter of 5 mm, for example, as from the first branch point  47  to the second branch point  49 , and such an internal diameter of 2.5 mm, for example, as from the second branch point  49  to a leading end  43 A. The internal diameter of the third branch pipe  45  is, for example, 5 mm. A leading end  41 A of the first branch pipe  41 , the leading end  43 A of the second branch pipe  43 , and a leading end  45 A of the third branch pipe  45  are open from which the compressed air taken from the air intake port  17  is jetted. 
     A specific explanation will be made for such system of the pipe  37 . As shown in  FIGS. 5 to 7 , to the air intake port  17 , a conduit tube  51 , an electromagnetic valve  53 , a conduit tube  55 , and a first branch joint  57  are connected in the same order as written herein. The electromagnetic valve  53  is a so-called on/off valve. The first branch joint  57  is a pipe joint of one-touch type branched in three directions. The pipe part from the air intake port  17  to the first branch joint  57  (the respective conduit tubes  51  and  55 ) correspond to the main pipe  39 . That is, the electromagnetic valve  53  is provided midway in the main pipe  39 , and the first branch joint  57  is provided at the first branch point  47 . The compressed air in the main pipe  39  is controlled by the electromagnetic valve  53  for flowing and stop of the flowing. 
     A conduit tube  59  and a left nozzle  61  are connected to the first branch joint  57  in the same order as written herein. The conduit tube  59  corresponds to the first branch pipe  41 . That is, the leading end  41 A of the first branch pipe  41  is provided with the left nozzle  61 . 
     Further, a conduit tube  63 , a second branch joint  65 , and a conduit tube  67  are connected to the first branch joint  57  in the same order as written herein. The second branch joint  65  is a pipe joint of one-touch type branched in three directions. Each of the conduit tubes  63  and  67  corresponds to the second branch pipe  43 . That is, the second branch point  49  is provided with the second branch joint  65 . 
     A conduit tube  69  and a right nozzle  71  are connected to the second branch joint  65  in the same order as written herein. The conduit tube  69  corresponds to the third branch pipe  45 . That is, the leading end  45 A of the third branch pipe  45  is provided with the right nozzle  71 . 
     Henceforth, the respective conduit tubes  51 ,  55 ,  59 ,  63 ,  67 , and  69  correspond to the pipe  37 . 
     The left nozzle  61  and the right nozzle  71  are positioned at the rear side of the laser emission unit  9  in the first space S 1 , being directed to the laser emission unit  9 . The laser emission unit  9  is shaped into an approximate cuboid elongate in the front/rear direction D 1 . Among the six surfaces of the laser emission unit  9 , the left surface and the right surface are provided with a left heat sink  73  and a right heat sink  75 , respectively. The heat sinks  73  and  75  each have a plurality of plate-like fins arranged along the front/rear direction D 1 . Each of the heat sinks  73  and  75  is arranged between the inner cover  35  and the laser emission unit  9 . The left nozzle  61  is directed to the left heat sink  73  while the right nozzle  71  is directed to the right heat sink  75 . 
     The conduit tube  67  is arranged to pass above the power unit  33  in the second space S 2  at the left side of the left surface  35 A of the inner cover  35 . Further, as shown in  FIGS. 8 to 10 , the conduit tube  67  passes through as far as between the left surface  35 A of the inner cover  35  and the bracket  32 . The pipe joint  77  of one-touch type is connected to the leading end of the conduit tube  67 . That is, the pipe joint  77  is connected to the leading end  43 A of the second branch pipe  43 . 
     The pipe joint  77  is fixed on a projecting piece  78  projecting from the bracket  32  to the right side due to the bracket  32  being partially cut in up, in a state of being directed a little more to the left side than at the rear side (that is, to the side of the bracket  32 ). Between the bracket  32  and the main substrate  31 , two thermal conducting sheets  79 ,  79  are interposed. The thermal conducting sheets  79 ,  79  are each in tight contact with the bracket  32  and in tight contact with heat emitting elements comparatively weak in heat-resisting property among the electric parts mounted on the main substrate  31 . By virtue of this, the main substrate  31  transmits its heat to the metallic bracket  32  via the respective thermal conducting sheets  79 ,  79 . The pipe joint  77  is fixed on the projecting piece  78  of the bracket  32 , as described above, and is directed to the respective thermal conducting sheets  79 ,  79  via the bracket  32 , from the right side of the bracket  32  by way of being directed a little more to the left side than to the rear side (that is, to the side of the bracket  32 ). 
     Inside the first body  3 , the compressed air taken in from the air intake port  17  is jetted out from the left nozzle  61 , the right nozzle  71 , and the pipe joint  77 . The compressed air having jetted from the left nozzle  61  and the pipe joint  77  flows frontward in the first space S 1  between the inner cover  35  and the laser emission unit  9  to hit the front plate  23 C and then flow rearward in the second space S 2  after taking away the heat of the laser emission unit  9  from the respective heat sinks  73  and  75 . 
     The compressed air having jetted from the pipe joint  77  hits the bracket  32  in the second space S 2  so as to flow rearward in the second space S 2  after taking away the heat of the main substrate  31 . 
     In this manner, the air having taken away the heat from the laser emission unit  9  or the main substrate  31  flows rearward in the second space S 2 , and is then discharged out of the first body  3  from the exhaust port  19  or the silencer  21  provided on the back plate  23 B. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 9, 11 and 12 , the silencer  21  includes a silencer body  81 , a first cover member  83 , and a second cover member  85 . The first cover member  83  is bent into a C-shape in a planar view, and its front side, upper side, and lower side are open. The first cover member  83  is fixed on the back plate  23 B to enclose the silencer body  81  which passes through from the front side of the first cover member  83 . The second cover member  85  is shaped into an approximate cuboid, each of right surface and left surface thereof is formed with a slit  87 , and its front side is open. The silencer body  81  and the first cover member  83  are set into the second cover member  85  from the front side, and the second cover member  85  is fixed on the back plate  23 B to enclose the silencer body  81  and the first cover member  83 . 
     By virtue of this, the silencer  21  prevents liquids such as water and the like from flowing into the first body  3  from the silencer body  81 . The air discharged from the silencer body  81  passes above or below the first cover member  83  and through the slit  87  of the second cover member  85  to be discharged out of the first body  3 . 
     As explained above in detail, in the laser marker  1  of this embodiment, the left nozzle  61  of the conduit tube  59  for jetting the compressed air (the leading end  41 A of the first branch pipe  41 ) is arranged to face the laser emission unit  9  while the pipe joint  77  of the conduit tube  67  for jetting the compressed air (the leading end  43 A of the second branch pipe  43 ) is arranged to face the bracket  32  fixing the main substrate  31 . Therefore, in the laser marker  1  of this embodiment, with the wind of the compressed air directly hitting the laser emission unit  9  and the bracket  32  (the main substrate  31 ), exhausting heat is performed by way of forced convection such that improvement of the cooling efficiency is facilitated for the laser emission unit  9  and the bracket  32  (the main substrate  31 ). Note that much the same is true on the right nozzle  71  of the conduit tube  69  for jetting the compressed air (the leading end  45 A of the third branch pipe  45 ). Further, in the laser marker  1  of this embodiment, because the bracket  32  (the main substrate  31 ) is cooled with the wind of the compressed air directly hit thereupon, it is possible to sufficiently cool the laser emission unit  9  without being affected by the heat emitted at the main substrate  31 . 
     Further, in the laser marker  1  of this embodiment, due to the left surface  35 A of the inner cover  35  interposed between the laser emission unit  9  and the bracket  32  (the main substrate  31 ), thermal barrier is applied between the laser emission unit  9  and the bracket  32  (the main substrate  31 ). Therefore, improvement of the cooling efficiency is further facilitated for the laser emission unit  9  and the bracket  32  (the main substrate  31 ). 
     Further, in the laser marker  1  of this embodiment, the first space S 1  where the laser emission unit  9  is arranged is in communication with the second space S 2  where the bracket  32  (the main substrate  31 ) is arranged, on both sides in the front/rear direction D 1  along which the left surface  35 A of the inner cover  35  extends. Further, in the first space S 1 , at the rear side of the laser emission unit  9  in the front/rear direction D 1 , the left nozzle  61  of the conduit tube  59  (the leading end  41 A of the first branch pipe  41 ) is arranged. Further, the exhaust port  19  and the silencer  21  are provided on the back plate  23 B of the first body  3  positioned at the rear side in the front/rear direction D 1 . 
     Therefore, the compressed air having jetted from the left nozzle  61  of the conduit tube  59  (the leading end  41 A of the first branch pipe  41 ) flows frontward from the rear part in the first space S 1  in the front/rear direction D 1  and, further, flows rearward from the front part in the second space S 2  in the front/rear direction D 1  to be discharged out of the first body  3  from the exhaust port  19  or the silencer  21 . In this manner, in the laser marker  1  of this embodiment, the air flowing circularly inside the first body  3  is discharged out of the first body  3  such that exhausting heat is performed efficiently by the forced convection. Note that much the same is true on the right nozzle  71  of the conduit tube  69  (the leading end  45 A of the third branch pipe  45 ) for jetting the compressed air. 
     Further, in the laser marker  1  of this embodiment, in the second space S 2 , the pipe joint  77  of the conduit tube  67  (the leading end  43 A of the second branch pipe  43 ) is directed a little more to the left side than to the rear side (that is, to the side of the bracket  32 ) in the front/rear direction. Therefore, in the second space S 2 , because the compressed air having jetted from the pipe joint  77  of the conduit tube  67  (the leading end  43 A of the second branch pipe  43 ) flows rearward from the front side in the front/rear direction D 1 , the compressed air having jetted from the left nozzle  61  of the conduit tube  59  (the leading end  41 A of the first branch pipe  41 ) flows in the same direction. By virtue of this, with the laser marker  1  of this embodiment, it is possible to stabilize the air flow inside the first body  3 . Nate that much the same is true on the right nozzle  71  of the conduit tube  69  (the leading end  45 A of the third branch pipe  45 ) for jetting the compressed air. 
     Further, in the laser marker  1  of this embodiment, the left nozzle  61  of the conduit tube  59  (the leading end  41 A of the first branch pipe  41 ) is directed to the left heat sink  73  of the laser emission unit  9  whereas the right nozzle  71  of the conduit tube  69  (the leading end  45 A of the third branch pipe  45 ) is directed to the right heat sink  75  of the laser emission unit  9 . Therefore, in the laser marker  1  of this embodiment, the compressed air having jetted from the left nozzle  61  of the conduit tube  59  (the leading end  41 A of the first branch pipe  41 ) flows toward the left heat sink  73  of the laser emission unit  9  whereas the compressed air having jetted from the right nozzle  71  of the conduit tube  69  (the leading end  45 A of the third branch pipe  45 ) flows toward the right heat sink  75  of the laser emission unit  9 , such that heat dissipation is performed efficiently for the laser emission unit  9 . 
     Further, in the laser marker  1  of this embodiment, the thermal conducting sheets  79 ,  79  are each interposed between the main substrate  31  and the bracket  32 . Further, the pipe joint  77  of the conduit tube  67  (the leading end  43 A of the second branch pipe  43 ) is directed to the respective thermal conducting sheets  79 ,  79  via the bracket  32 , from the right side of the bracket  32 . Therefore, if the compressed air has jetted from the pipe joint  77  of the conduit tube  67  (the leading end  43 A of the second branch pipe  43 ), then the compressed air hits the bracket  32  such that it is possible for the compressed air to take away the heat transmitted from the main substrate  31  to the bracket  32  via the respective thermal conducting sheets  79 ,  79 . Further, even if the compressed air has not jetted from the pipe joint  77  of the conduit tube  67  (the leading end  43 A of the second branch pipe  43 ), because the heat is transmitted from the main substrate  31  to the bracket  32  via the respective thermal conducting sheets  79 ,  79 , heat dissipation of the main substrate  31  is still maintained. 
     Further, in the laser marker  1  of this embodiment, the conduit tube  69  (the third branch pipe  45 ) has a larger internal diameter (for example, 5 mm) than the conduit tube  67  (for example, 2.5 mm; that is, the part of the second branch pipe  43  from the leading end  43 A of the second branch pipe  43  to the second branch point  49 ). In other words, the conduit tube  67  has a smaller internal diameter (for example, 2.5 mm; that is, one part of the second branch pipe  43  including the leading end  43 A of the second branch pipe  43 ) than the conduit tube  59  (the first branch pipe  41 ; for example, 5 mm). 
     In this manner, in the laser marker  1  of this embodiment, by applying a difference in internal diameter to the respective conduit tubes  59 ,  67  and  69 , the amount of the compressed air, which is jetted from each of the left nozzle  61  of the conduit tube  59  (the leading end  41 A of the first branch pipe  41 ), the pipe joint  77  of the conduit tube  67  (the leading end  43 A of the second branch pipe  43 ), and the right nozzle  71  of the conduit tube  69  (the leading end  45 A of the third branch pipe  45 ), is adjusted according to the heat emitting amount of the laser emission unit  9  and the heat emitting amount of the main substrate  31 . 
     In this embodiment, meanwhile, the laser marker  1  is an example of the “laser processing apparatus”. The left surface and the right surface of the laser emission unit  9  are examples of the “at least two lateral surfaces of the plurality of lateral surfaces constructing the laser emission unit”. The exhaust port  19  and the silencer  21  are examples of the “vent”. The first body  3  is an example of the “casing”. The back plate  23 B is an example of the “lateral surface positioned at the other side in the partitioning direction among the plurality of lateral surfaces constructing the casing”. The main substrate  31  and the bracket  32  are examples of the “control member”. The bracket  32  is an example of the “fixing member”. The left surface  35 A of the inner cover  35  is an example of the “wall”. The second branch point  49  is an example of the “branched position of the third branch pipe”. The left heat sink  73  and the right heat sink  75  are examples of the “plurality of heat sinks”. The left heat sink  73  is an example of the “one heat sink”. The right heat sink  75  is an example of the “other heat sink”. Each of the thermal conducting sheets  79 ,  79  is an example of the “thermal conductive member”. The front/rear direction D 1  is an example of the “partitioning direction”. 
     Note that the present disclosure is not limited to this embodiment but can be changed in various manners without departing from the true spirit thereof. For example, even if either the left nozzle  61  of the conduit tube  59  (the leading end  41 A of the first branch pipe  41 ) or the right nozzle  71  of the conduit tube  69  (the leading end  45 A of the third branch pipe  45 ) is omitted, improvement of the cooling efficiency is still facilitated for the laser emission unit  9  and the bracket  32  (the main substrate  31 ). 
     Further, the respective heat sinks  73  and  75  of the laser emission unit  9  may each have a fin in a shape of needle-point holder or a bellows-like fin, for example, instead of the plurality of plate-like fins. Further, in the laser emission unit  9 , instead of the left heat sink  73  or the right heat sink  75 , an upper heat sink may be provided on the upper surface of the laser emission unit  9 . In such a case, the left nozzle  61  of the conduit tube  59  (the leading end  41 A of the first branch pipe  41 ) or the right nozzle  71  of the conduit tube  69  (the leading end  45 A of the third branch pipe  45 ) is directed to the upper sink. 
     Further, if the exhaust port  19  and the silencer  21  are arranged on the back plate  23 B at the side of the second space S 2 , that is, on the left part of the back plate  23 B, then the first space S 1  and the second space S 2  may be in communication only on the front side in the front/rear direction D 1  in which the left surface  35 A of the inner cover  35  extends. 
     Further, instead of the compressed air, a compressed gas such as nitrogen, helium or the like, for example, may be taken into the air intake port  17 .