Welding head
The welding head of the laser welding apparatus addresses the challenge of dust adhesion to the protective glass by using a purge unit with strategically positioned ejection units, enhancing the suppression effect and maintaining laser light output.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2023202475
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2023-11-30
- Publication Date
- 2025-06-11
- Estimated Expiration
- 2043-11-30
AI Technical Summary
Existing laser welding apparatuses face challenges in effectively suppressing the adhesion of dust to the protective glass, leading to reduced laser light output and welding defects.
The welding head incorporates a purge unit with a flow path surrounding the laser light, a supply unit for gas, a first ejection unit that ejects gas towards the inner side of the flow path from the side of the protective glass, and a second ejection unit that ejects gas towards the inner side of the flow path and towards the welding object, enhancing the suppression of dust adhesion.
This configuration significantly improves the suppression effect of dust adhesion to the protective glass, maintaining the laser light output and preventing welding defects.
Smart Images
Figure 2025088046000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a welding head of a laser welding apparatus.
Background Art
[0002] The welding head of a general laser welding apparatus includes a protective glass for preventing the intrusion of dust such as spatter and fume into an optical unit for guiding laser light to a welding object. At this time, when dust adheres to the protective glass, the output of the laser light decreases and welding defects occur.
[0003] Therefore, for example, the welding head of Patent Document 1 ejects gas in the emission direction of the laser light between the protective glass and the welding object to suppress the adhesion of dust to the protective glass.
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0004]
Patent Document 1
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0005] The applicant of the present application has found the following problems. The welding head of Patent Document 1 ejects gas in the emission direction of the laser light between the protective glass and the welding object to suppress the adhesion of dust to the protective glass, but an improvement in the suppression effect of dust adhesion to the protective glass is desired.
[0006] The present disclosure has been made in view of such problems, and realizes a welding head that contributes to an improvement in the suppression effect of dust adhesion to a protective glass.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0007] The welding head according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a welding head of a laser welding apparatus, An optical unit for guiding laser light to an object to be welded, A protective glass disposed on the side of the optical unit in the emission direction of the laser light to prevent dust from entering the interior of the optical unit, A purge unit disposed between the protective glass and the object to be welded, Comprising The purge unit A flow path arranged to surround the laser light emitted from the optical unit, A supply unit for supplying gas to the flow path, A first ejection unit communicating with the flow path and ejecting the gas from the side of the protective glass toward the inner side of the flow path, A second ejection unit communicating with the flow path and ejecting the gas from the side of the object to be welded toward the inner side of the flow path and toward the side of the object to be welded, Having The connection portion between the flow path and the supply unit is disposed between the first ejection unit and the second ejection unit in the emission direction of the laser light, and forms a branch portion that distributes the gas supplied from the supply unit to the side of the first ejection unit and the side of the second ejection unit.
Advantages of the Invention
[0008] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to contribute to an improvement in the effect of suppressing the adhesion of dust to the protective glass.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0009]
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 6
Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
[0010] Hereinafter, specific embodiments to which the present disclosure is applied will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments. Also, for clarity of explanation, the following description and drawings are simplified as appropriate. Here, in the following description, for clarity of explanation, a three-dimensional (XYZ) coordinate system is used for the description.
[0011] <Embodiment 1> Fig. 1(a) is a perspective view schematically showing the welding head of the present embodiment, and Fig. 1(b) is a cross-sectional view taken at the IB-IB position of Fig. 1(a). As shown in Fig. 1(a) and Fig. 1(b), for example, the welding head 1 of the present embodiment includes an optical unit (not shown), a protective glass 2, a purge unit 3, and a cross jet unit 4.
[0012] The optical unit includes lenses, mirrors, etc. so that the laser light incident from the optical fiber can be emitted toward the Z-axis side and irradiate the object to be welded. The protective glass 2 is fixed to the end portion on the Z-axis side of the optical unit in order to prevent the intrusion of dust such as spatter and fume into the optical unit.
[0013] As shown in Fig. 1(a) and Fig. 1(b), for example, the purge unit 3 is arranged so as to surround the laser light emitted from the optical unit on the Z-axis side with respect to the protective glass 2, and is configured to eject gas toward the radially inner side of the purge unit 3 in order to suppress the adhesion of dust to the protective glass 2.
[0014] As shown in Fig. 1(a) and Fig. 1(b), for example, the purge unit 3 has a cylindrical shape having a substantially circular through-hole 3a extending in the Z-axis direction and extends in the Z-axis direction. The diameter of the through-hole 3a on the Z-axis + side may be substantially equal to the diameter of the protective glass 2. And the diameter of the through-hole 3a may be reduced as it goes toward the Z-axis - side.
[0015] Fig. 2(a) is a perspective view showing the internal shape of the purge unit in the welding head of the present embodiment, Fig. 2(b) is a view of the Y-axis - side portion of the internal structure of the purge unit of the present embodiment cut at the IB-IB position of Fig. 1(a) as seen from the Z-axis + side, and Fig. 2(c) is a view of the Y-axis - side portion of the internal structure of the purge unit of the present embodiment cut at the IB-IB position of Fig. 1(a) as seen from the Y-axis + side. Fig. 3 is a view showing the conical protrusion of the purge unit in the welding head of the present embodiment.
[0016] As shown in FIGS. 2(a) to 2(c), the purge unit 3 includes a flow path 5, a first ejection part 6, a second ejection part 7, a supply part 8, a dividing part 9, a first guiding part 10, a second guiding part 11, and a conical protrusion 12.
[0017] As shown in FIG. 1(a), the flow path 5 is a cavity formed inside the purge unit 3 and is arranged in the circumferential direction of the purge unit 3. In FIG. 1(a), the gas flow path 5 of the purge unit 3 and the like are shown by solid lines.
[0018] As shown in FIG. 1(b), the first ejection part 6 ejects gas from the end on the +Z axis side of the flow path 5 radially inward of the flow path 5. As shown in FIGS. 2(a) to 2(c), the first ejection part 6 penetrates the purge unit 3 from the flow path 5 radially inward of the flow path 5 and is arranged at the end on the +Z axis side of the flow path 5.
[0019] As shown in FIG. 2(c), the first ejection part 6 is, as an example of a shape capable of ejecting gas when viewed from the radial direction of the flow path 5, a substantially house shape (however, the shape is not limited), and has an ejection port 6a for ejecting gas at the end radially inward of the flow path 5 in the first ejection part 6. A plurality of such first ejection parts 6 are arranged at substantially equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the purge unit 3.
[0020] As shown in FIG. 1(b), the second ejection part 7 ejects gas from the end on the -Z axis side of the flow path 5 radially inward of the flow path 5 and toward the -Z axis side. As shown in FIGS. 1(b) and 2(c), the second ejection part 7 penetrates the purge unit 3 from the flow path 5 radially inward of the flow path 5 so as to incline toward the -Z axis side as it goes radially inward of the flow path 5, and is arranged at the end on the -Z axis side of the flow path 5.
[0021] As shown in Fig. 2(c), the second ejection part 7 has a slit shape that is substantially continuous in the circumferential direction of the flow path 5, and is provided with an ejection port 7a for ejecting gas at the radially inner end of the flow path 5 in the second ejection part 7. At this time, although the detailed functions will be described later, it is preferable that the total area of the ejection ports 6a of the first ejection part 6 is larger than the total area of the ejection ports 7a of the second ejection part 7.
[0022] The supply part 8 supplies gas to the flow path 5. For example, as shown in Fig. 2(a), the supply part 8 penetrates the purge unit 3 from the flow path 5 to the radially outer side of the flow path 5 between the first ejection part 6 and the second ejection part 7 in the Z-axis direction.
[0023] As shown in Fig. 2(a), the supply part 8 is arranged at three or more locations (four locations in Fig. 2(a)) at substantially equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the flow path 5. At the radially outer end of the flow path 5 in such a supply part 8, a gas supply pipe 13 is connected as shown in Fig. 1(b).
[0024] At this time, the connection part 14 between the flow path 5 and the supply part 8 forms a branch part that distributes gas to the +Z-axis side which is the side of the first ejection part 6 and the -Z-axis side which is the side of the second ejection part 7. Here, although the detailed functions will be described later, it is preferable that the supply part 8 is arranged on the side of the first ejection part 6 between the first ejection part 6 and the second ejection part 7 in the Z-axis direction.
[0025] As shown in Fig. 2(a), when viewed from the Z-axis direction, the dividing part 9 divides the flow path 5 into independent chambers 15 in which each supply part 8 is arranged substantially at the center in the circumferential direction of the flow path 5. That is, the dividing part 9 is arranged substantially at the center between the adjacent supply parts 8 in the circumferential direction of the flow path 5 when viewed from the Z-axis direction.
[0026] Therefore, for example, in the illustrated example of Fig. 2(a), the dividing part 9 is arranged at four locations at substantially equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the flow path 5 when viewed from the Z-axis direction, and divides the flow path 5 into four independent chambers 15. The dividing part 9 includes, for example, a first dividing wall 9a and a second dividing wall 9b.
[0027] The first partition wall 9a extends in the Z-axis direction as shown in Fig. 2(a), although its detailed shape will be described later, and is formed in the purge unit 3 so as to reach from the end on the +Z side of the flow path 5 to the vicinity of the end on the -Z side. As a result, a slit is formed in the flow path 5 by the first partition wall 9a.
[0028] The second partition wall 9b extends in the Z-axis direction inside the flow path 5 as shown in Fig. 2(a), for example, and reaches from the end on the -Z side of the first partition wall 9a to the end on the -Z side of the flow path 5. The shape of the second partition wall 9b may be any shape that can divide the flow path 5.
[0029] The first guiding portion 10 guides the gas supplied to the flow path 5 to the +Z side, which is the side of the first ejection portion 6. The first guiding portion 10 is formed, for example, on both circumferential surfaces of the flow path 5 in the first partition wall 9a as shown in Fig. 2(a), and is an inclined portion (although it may be a curved portion) formed so as to widen in the circumferential direction of the flow path 5 as it goes toward the -Z side.
[0030] The second guiding portion 11 guides the gas supplied to the flow path 5 to the -Z side, which is the side of the second ejection portion 7. The second guiding portion 11 is arranged on the -Z side with respect to the first guiding portion 10 as shown in Fig. 2(a), for example.
[0031] The second guiding portion 11 is formed, for example, on both circumferential surfaces of the flow path 5 in the first partition wall 9a as shown in Fig. 2(a), and is an inclined portion (although it may be a curved portion) formed so as to widen in the circumferential direction of the flow path 5 as it goes toward the +Z side.
[0032] As a result, the gas supplied to each independent chamber 15 of the flow path 5 can be smoothly guided to the first ejection portion 6 and the second ejection portion 7, respectively. At this time, for example, a substantially rhombic portion may be formed on the first partition wall 9a by the first guiding portion 10 and the second guiding portion 11.
[0033] Here, the first guiding portion 10 and the second guiding portion 11 can be arranged on the +Z side with respect to the supply portion 8 in the Z-axis direction, for example, as shown in FIG. 2(a). However, the arrangements and shapes of the first guiding portion 10 and the second guiding portion 11 are not limited, as long as they can guide the gas to the side of the first ejection portion 6 and the side of the second ejection portion 7, respectively.
[0034] As shown in FIG. 3, the conical protrusion 12 protrudes from the radially inner surface of the flow path 5 in the purge unit 3 toward the radially outer side of the flow path 5, and is arranged to face the supply portion 8 in the radial direction of the flow path 5. The conical protrusion 12 has a reduced diameter as it extends toward the radially outer side of the flow path 5. Thereby, the gas supplied to each independent chamber 15 of the flow path 5 through the supply portion 8 can be smoothly diffused radially.
[0035] The +Z side end of the purge unit 3 is fixed to the -Z side end of the optical unit through the protective glass 2 in a state where the center of the through hole 3a of the purge unit 3 is arranged on the optical path of the laser beam as viewed from the Z-axis direction, and the flow path 5 of the purge unit 3 surrounds the protective glass 2.
[0036] The cross jet unit 4 is configured to eject gas toward the +X side, for example, in order to suppress the adhesion of dust to the protective glass 2. Here, since the cross jet unit 4 is not an essential part of the present disclosure, the description will be limited to a simple explanation.
[0037] The cross jet unit 4 includes a nozzle 16 and a flow-through portion 17, for example, as shown in FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b). The nozzle 16 is arranged to eject gas toward the +X side. In FIG. 1(a), the gas flow path of the nozzle 16 and the like are shown by solid lines.
[0038] The flow-through portion 17 has a substantially scoop shape extending in the X-axis direction, for example, as shown in FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b), and the +X side portion of the flow-through portion 17 has a tapered shape that inclines toward the +Z side as it extends toward the +X side when viewed from the Y-axis direction.
[0039] As shown in FIG. 1(b), the circulation section 17 includes a passing section 17a through which the laser light passes, an intake section 17b that takes in outside air, and an exhaust section 17c that exhausts gas inside the circulation section 17, and a nozzle 16 is fixed to the portion of the circulation section 17 on the negative side of the X-axis with respect to the passing section 17a.
[0040] The end portion on the Z-axis + side of the cross jet unit 4 is fixed to the end portion on the Z-axis - side of the purge unit 3, with the center of the passing portion 17a of the circulation portion 17 positioned on the optical path of the laser light when viewed from the Z-axis direction, as shown in, for example, Figures 1(a) and 1(b).
[0041] Such a cross jet unit 4 is configured to take in outside air from intake portion 17b into the inside of circulation portion 17, while ejecting gas from nozzle 16 toward the +X-axis side, thereby ejecting dust that has entered inside circulation portion 17 from exhaust portion 17c. However, the configuration of cross jet unit 4 is not limited, and it may be configured in any way as long as it can eject gas so as to cross the laser light.
[0042] Next, a state in which the welding head 1 of the present embodiment welds the objects to be welded will be described. When welding the objects to be welded with the welding head 1, for example, while the welding head 1 moves to the negative side of the Y axis, the laser light is emitted from the optical unit to irradiate the objects to be welded, thereby welding the objects to be welded.
[0043] At this time, dust enters the inside of the circulation section 17 through the passage section 17a and the intake section 17b of the circulation section 17, but the purge unit 3 sprays gas radially inward of the flow path 5, and the cross jet unit 4 sprays gas toward the X-axis + side, thereby preventing the dust from adhering to the protective glass 2.
[0044] Next, a comparison between the airflow analysis result of the purge unit 3 in the welding head 1 of the present embodiment and the airflow analysis result of the purge unit of the comparative shape will be described. FIG. 4(a) is a diagram showing the airflow analysis result of the purge unit of the comparative shape at the position corresponding to the IB-IB position in FIG. 1(a), and FIG. 4(b) is a diagram showing the airflow analysis result of the purge unit of the present embodiment at the IB-IB position in FIG. 1(a).
[0045] Here, the purge unit 101 of the comparative shape is configured such that a plurality of ejection portions 102 that eject gas to the +Z axis side are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the purge unit 101. When such a purge unit 101 of the comparative shape is used in the welding head 100, as shown in FIG. 4(a), an airflow A1 toward the +Z axis side due to the gas ejected from the ejection portion 102 to the +Z axis side within the purge unit 101 and an airflow A2 toward the -Z axis side when the gas contacts the protective glass 2 cause a vortex V to occur.
[0046] Therefore, when the purge unit 101 of the comparative shape is used in the welding head 100, it is easy for the cross jet unit 103 to draw dust into the through portion 101a of the purge unit 101, and the dust that has entered the through portion 101a of the purge unit 101 cannot be discharged well.
[0047] On the other hand, when the purge unit 3 of the present embodiment is used in the welding head 1, as shown in FIG. 4(b), the gas ejected from the first ejection portion 6 facing each other in the radial direction of the flow path 5 collides at substantially the center of the through portion 3a of the purge unit 3 and separates into a first airflow A11 toward the +Z axis side and an airflow A12 toward the -Z axis side. The first airflow A11 toward the +Z axis side removes the dust adhering to the protective glass 2, and the airflow A12 toward the -Z axis side discharges the dust from the through portion 3a of the purge unit 3.
[0048] At this time, as shown in FIG. 4(b), since the air pressure in the through-hole 3a of the purge unit 3 decreases due to the airflow A12 directed toward the Z-axis - side, a second airflow A13 directed toward the Z-axis + side is generated. However, since the gas is ejected from the second ejection portion 7 radially inward of the flow path 5 and toward the Z-axis - side, the intrusion of dust into the through-hole 3a of the purge unit 3 can be suppressed.
[0049] Therefore, when the purge unit 3 of the present embodiment is used in the welding head 1, compared with the case where the purge unit 101 of a comparative shape is used in the welding head 100, the intrusion of dust into the through-hole 3a of the purge unit 3 can be suppressed, which can contribute to an improvement in the effect of suppressing the adhesion of dust to the protective glass 2.
[0050] As described above, in the welding head 1 of the present embodiment, since the purge unit 3 has, in addition to the first ejection portion 6, a second ejection portion 7 that ejects gas radially inward of the flow path 5 and toward the Z-axis - side, the intrusion of dust into the through-hole 3a of the purge unit 3 can be suppressed. For example, compared with the case where the purge unit 101 of a comparative shape is used in the welding head 100, the effect of suppressing the adhesion of dust to the protective glass 2 is high.
[0051] Moreover, in the welding head 1 of the present embodiment, since the flow path 5 is divided by the dividing portion 9 into independent chambers 15 in which the respective supply portions 8 are arranged substantially at the center in the circumferential direction of the flow path 5, gas collides between the supply portions 8 adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction of the flow path 5 in the flow path 5, and the gas ejected from the first ejection portion 6 near the portion where the gas collides can be suppressed from being ejected more strongly than the gas ejected from the other first ejection portions 6.
[0052] Therefore, the strength of the gas ejected from the first ejection portion 6 can be made substantially uniform, and the turbulence of the airflow in the through-hole 3a of the purge unit 3 can be suppressed. Thereby, the unevenness of the adhesion of dust to the protective glass 2 can be suppressed.
[0053] In addition, in the welding head 1 of the present embodiment, since the purge unit 3 includes the first guiding portion 10, the second guiding portion 11, and the conical protrusion portion 12, gas can be smoothly guided to the first ejection portion 6 and the second ejection portion 7 respectively, and a decrease in the flow velocity of the gas can be suppressed. Therefore, the effect of suppressing the intrusion of dust into the through portion 3a of the purge unit 3 and the effect of suppressing the adhesion of dust to the protective glass 2 can be improved.
[0054] Since gas flows toward the side where it is easily ejected, in the welding head 1 of the present embodiment, when the total area of the ejection ports 6a of the first ejection portion 6 is larger than the total area of the ejection ports 7a of the second ejection portion 7, the flow rate of the gas ejected from the first ejection portion 6 can be made larger than the flow rate of the gas ejected from the second ejection portion 7.
[0055] In addition, in the welding head 1 of the present embodiment, when the supply unit 8 is arranged on the side of the first ejection portion 6 between the first ejection portion 6 and the second ejection portion 7 in the Z-axis direction, the flow rate of the gas ejected from the first ejection portion 6 can be made larger than the flow rate of the gas ejected from the second ejection portion 7.
[0056] Therefore, the first air flow A11 and the air flow A12 toward the +Z-axis side in the gas ejected from the first ejection portion 6 can be strengthened, and the effect of suppressing the intrusion of dust into the through portion 3a of the purge unit 3 and the effect of suppressing the adhesion of dust to the protective glass 2 can be improved.
[0057] At these times, while making the flow rate of the gas ejected from the first ejection portion 6 larger than the flow rate of the gas ejected from the second ejection portion 7, the gas supplied from the supply unit 8 may be distributed to the first ejection portion 6 and the second ejection portion 7 so that the intrusion of dust into the through portion 3a of the purge unit 3 can be suppressed by the gas ejected from the second ejection portion 7.
[0058] <Embodiment 2> FIG. 5(a) is a view of the Y-axis side portion of the internal structure of the purge unit of the present embodiment cut at a position corresponding to the IB-IB position in FIG. 1(a), viewed from the Z-axis + side. FIG. 5(b) is a view of the Y-axis side portion of the internal structure of the purge unit of the present embodiment cut at a position corresponding to the IB-IB position in FIG. 1(a), viewed from the Y-axis + side. FIG. 5(c) is a view of the Y-axis side portion of the internal structure of the purge unit of the present embodiment cut at a position corresponding to the IB-IB position in FIG. 1(a), viewed from the Z-axis - side.
[0059] The upper part of FIG. 6 shows the air flow analysis results at the through-hole and the air flow analysis results in the flow path of the purge unit when the purge unit of Embodiment 1 is used as a welding head. The lower part of FIG. 6 shows the air flow analysis results at the through-hole and the air flow analysis results in the flow path of the purge unit when the purge unit of the present embodiment is used as a welding head.
[0060] As shown in the upper and lower parts of FIG. 6, the purge unit 31 of the present embodiment has substantially the same configuration as the purge unit 3 of Embodiment 1. Therefore, duplicate descriptions are omitted, and equal elements are described using the same reference numerals. However, the purge unit 31 is configured to generate a swirling flow in the through-hole 31a.
[0061] Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b) for example, when viewed from the Z-axis + side, the first ejection portion 32 penetrates the purge unit 31 from the flow path 5 toward the inner side in the radial direction of the flow path 5 so as to be inclined in the counterclockwise direction as it goes toward the inner side in the radial direction of the flow path 5 with respect to the radial direction of the flow path 5.
[0062] Then, as shown in FIGS. 5(b) and 5(c) for example, the inclined fins 34 are arranged in the purge unit 31 at a portion immediately before the second ejection portion 33 in the flow path 5. The inclined fins 34 are arranged, for example, in the flow path 5 of the purge unit 31 and are inclined in the counterclockwise direction as they go toward the inner side in the radial direction of the flow path 5 with respect to the radial direction of the flow path 5 when viewed from the Z-axis + side. A plurality of inclined fins 34 are arranged at substantially equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the flow path 5.
[0063] When such a purge unit 31 is used in the welding head, as shown in the airflow analysis result on the lower left side of FIG. 6, compared with the airflow analysis result on the upper left side of FIG. 6 when the purge unit 3 of Embodiment 1 is used in the welding head 1, due to the Coandă effect, it can be understood that a swirling flow entrains the surrounding gas in the through portion 31a of the purge unit 31 and the flow velocity increases.
[0064] Also, when the purge unit 31 of the present embodiment is used in the welding head, since the inclined fins 34 become a resistance to the gas flow in the flow path 5, as shown in the airflow analysis result on the lower right side of FIG. 6, compared with the airflow analysis result on the upper right side of FIG. 6 when the purge unit 3 of Embodiment 1 is used in the welding head 1, the gas supplied from the supply unit 8 is more likely to be guided to the first ejection unit 32.
[0065] Therefore, when the purge unit 31 of the present embodiment is used in the welding head, compared with the case where the purge unit 3 of Embodiment 1 is used in the welding head 1, the effect of suppressing the intrusion of dust into the through portion 31a of the purge unit 31 and the effect of suppressing the adhesion of dust to the protective glass 2 can be improved.
[0066] Note that the inclination directions of the first ejection unit 32 and the inclined fins 34 of the present embodiment are examples, and they may be in the reverse direction. In short, as long as the inclination directions of the first ejection unit 32 and the inclined fins 34 are the same when viewed from the Z-axis direction.
[0067] The present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist. For example, the welding head 1 of the above embodiment includes the cross jet unit 4, but it may be omitted. For example, the configurations of the purge units 3 and 31 in the above embodiment are exemplary. It suffices to include a first ejection unit that ejects gas from at least the end portion on the +Z axis side of the flow path 5 toward the radially inner side of the flow path 5, and a second ejection unit that ejects gas from the end portion on the -Z axis side of the flow path 5 toward the radially inner side of the flow path 5 and toward the -Z axis side.
Explanation of Reference Numerals
[0068] 1 Welding head 2 Protective glass 3 Purge unit, 3a Through-hole 4 Cross jet unit 5 Flow path 6 First ejection unit, 6a Ejection port 7 Second ejection unit, 7a Ejection port 8 Supply unit 9 Partition portion, 9a First partition wall, 9b Second partition wall 10 First guiding portion 11 Second guiding portion 12 Conical protrusion 13 Supply pipe 14 Connection portion 15 Independent chamber 16 Nozzle 17 Flow-through portion, 17a Passage portion, 17b Intake portion, 17c Discharge portion 31 Purge unit, 31a Through-hole 32 First ejection unit 33 Second ejection unit 34 Inclined fin 100 Welding head 101 Purge unit, 101a Through-hole 102 Ejection unit 103 Cross jet unit A1 Airflow toward the +Z axis side A2 Airflow toward the -Z axis side A11 First airflow toward the +Z axis side A12 Airflow toward the -Z axis side A13 Second airflow toward the +Z axis side V Vortex
Claims
1. A welding head of a laser welding apparatus, comprising: an optical unit for guiding laser light to a welding object; a protective glass disposed on the side of the optical unit in the emission direction of the laser light to prevent dust from entering the interior of the optical unit; a purge unit disposed between the protective glass and the welding object; The purge unit includes: a flow path disposed so as to surround the laser light emitted from the optical unit; a supply unit for supplying a gas to the flow path; a first ejection part communicating with the flow path and ejecting the gas from the side of the protective glass toward the inner side of the flow path; a second ejection part communicating with the flow path and ejecting the gas from the side of the welding object toward the inner side of the flow path and toward the side of the welding object; The connection part between the flow path and the supply unit is disposed between the first ejection part and the second ejection part in the emission direction of the laser light, and forms a branch part for distributing the gas supplied from the supply unit to the side of the first ejection part and the side of the second ejection part.
2. A plurality of three or more of the supply units are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the flow path, and the purge unit includes: a dividing part that divides the flow path into independent chambers in which each of the supply units is disposed at the center when viewed in the emission direction of the laser light; a first guiding part that guides the gas supplied to the flow path to the side of the first ejection part; a second guiding part that guides the gas supplied to the flow path to the side of the second ejection part. The welding head according to claim 1.
3. The purge unit includes a conical protrusion protruding from a portion of the flow path facing the supply unit toward the side of the supply unit. The welding head according to claim 1 or 2.
4. The total area of the gas ejection ports in the first ejection part is larger than the total area of the gas ejection ports in the second ejection part. The welding head according to claim 1 or 2.
5. The first ejection part is disposed such that the gas is ejected while being inclined with respect to the radial direction of the flow path when viewed in the emission direction of the laser light. The purge unit includes an inclined fin disposed immediately before the second ejection part such that the gas is ejected from the second ejection part in an inclination direction equal to the ejection direction of the gas ejected from the first ejection part when viewed in the emission direction of the laser light. The welding head according to claim 1 or 2.
Citation Information
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