Patent Publication Number: US-2013233837-A1

Title: Nozzle assembly for laser cutting apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The exemplary disclosure generally relates to laser cutting apparatus, and particularly to a nozzle assembly for laser cutting apparatus. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Laser cutting apparatuses usually project a laser beam onto a surface of a workpiece to gasify the removed material for forming a predetermined pattern. However, to gasify the removed material, the laser beam needs to have a high energy. The high energy laser beam might deform or damage the workpiece. 
     Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of the nozzle assembly for laser cutting apparatus can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the nozzle assembly for laser cutting apparatus, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of a portion of laser cutting apparatus including a galvo scanning system and a nozzle assembly, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is an assembled view of the portion of laser cutting apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the nozzle assembly shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  show an exemplary embodiment of a portion of a laser cutting apparatus  100  including a galvo scanning system  10  and a nozzle assembly  20 . 
     The galvo scanning system  10  includes a main body  12  and an outlet  14 . A plurality of optical elements (not shown) are positioned in the main body  12 . The laser beam of the laser cutting apparatus  100  can pass through the galvo scanning system  10  and is radiated out of the outlet  14 . 
     The nozzle assembly  20  includes a nozzle  22 , a sleeve  24 , a lens  26  and a latching ring  28 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the nozzle  22  includes a cylindrical portion  222  and a conical portion  224  that are integrally formed together. A step  228  is formed between the cylindrical portion  222  and the conical portion  224 . A through hole  226  is defined in the cylindrical portion  222  and the conical portion  224 . The conical portion  224  defines a mouth  2262 . The laser beam from the outlet  14  can pass through the through hole  226  and the mouth  2262  and is radiated on a surface of a workpiece. The conical portion  224  defines an entrance  229 . A gas supply  29  is connected to the entrance  229 . The gas supply  29  provides a high pressure gas. The high pressure gas is fed into the conical portion  224  from the entrance  229 . A first outer thread  2222  is formed on an outside periphery of the cylindrical portion  222 , and a first inner thread  2224  is formed on an inside periphery of the cylindrical portion  222 . 
     The sleeve  24  includes a first mounting portion  242 , a connecting portion  244 , and a second mounting portion  246 . The first mounting portion  242  is used for connecting the outlet  14  of the galvo scanner system  10 , and the second mounting portion  246  is used for connecting the nozzle  22 . The second mounting portion  246  defines a second inner thread  2462 . The connecting portion  244  is configured for guiding the laser beam. 
     The lens  26  is mounted in the through hole  226 , and one side of the lens  26  abuts against the step  228 . The latching ring  28  defines a second outer thread  282 . The second outer thread  282  of the latching ring  28  is engaged with the first inner thread  2224 , of the cylindrical portion  222 , and abuts against the lens  26 . 
     In assembly, the lens  26  is received into the through hole  226 , and one side of the lens  26  abuts against the step  228 . The second outer thread  282  of the latching ring  28  is threadedly engaged with the first inner thread  2224  and is forced on the lens  26 . The latching ring  28  can prevent the lens  26  from loosening. Then, the nozzle  22  is connected to the second mounting portion  246  of the sleeve  24 . The first mounting portion  242  of the sleeve  24  is connected to the outlet  14  of the galvo scanner system  10 . Thus, the portion of the laser cutting apparatus  100  is finished. 
     In use, the laser beam of the laser cutting apparatus  100  passes through the galvo scanner system  10  to enter the sleeve  24  from the outlet  14 . The connecting portion  244  of the sleeve  24  guides the laser beam to the nozzle  22 . The laser beam from the mouth  2262  of the nozzle  22  is radiated on the workpiece for melting the predetermined portion of the workpiece. The high pressure gas of the gas supply  29  enters the nozzle  22  from the entrance  229  to blow away the molten material to ensure that the molten material is removed from the cut before it resolidifies. The present laser cutting apparatus does not need to gasify the material, and only needs to melt the material. Thus, the present laser cutting apparatus does not require as high level of energy relative to the conventional laser cutting apparatus. 
     It is to be understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.