Patent ID: 7273997

Claim:
A laser processing nozzle coupling assembly for connecting a laser processing nozzle to a laser processing head, the assembly comprising: a hollow sleeve; a laser processing nozzle adapted to be removably coupled to the sleeve, wherein the nozzle is displaceable within the sleeve along a longitudinal axis of the sleeve and wherein in a locked position the nozzle is displaceable only in a first direction within the sleeve; a collar for coupling the nozzle to the sleeve, wherein the collar is displaceable along a surface outside the sleeve and wherein the sleeve, the nozzle, and the collar are adapted to cooperate to release the nozzle from the locked position within the sleeve wherein in the locked position of the nozzle, the collar is not movable to release the nozzle and wherein the collar is movable for releasing the nozzle when the nozzle is displaced in the first direction and wherein the nozzle is releasable in a second direction opposite to the first direction when the collar has been moved for releasing the nozzle.