Laser marking device

Abstract

To perform laser marking in which distortion is suppressed, while conveying a container having a substantially cylindrical shape using a rotor.SOLUTION: Convenance means includes: container holding means 12 which is provided on the outer periphery of a main rotor R1 and holds a container 1; container rotating means 13 for rotating the container 1 held by the container holding means 12; and container moving means 14 for moving the container holding means 12 in a radial direction of the main rotor R1. During a period during which the main rotor R1 conveys the container 1 in a laser beam irradiation range where the laser beam irradiation means 4 emits a laser beam L, the container moving means 14 moves the outer peripheral surface of the container 1 on a linear irradiation route in plan view, and the container rotating means 13 rotates the container 1 so that a position where marking is performed in a marking region A of the container 1 sequentially faces the irradiation position of the laser beam L by the laser beam irradiation means 4.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a laser marking device, and more particularly to a laser marking device that performs laser marking by laser light on a marking area set on a container.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, labels displaying product names, raw materials, etc. have been attached to containers such as plastic bottles. Instead of attaching such labels, it has been proposed to perform printing by laser marking by irradiating the container with laser light. As a laser marking device for performing such laser marking, there is known one including a conveying means for conveying a container and a laser light irradiation means for irradiating the container conveyed by the conveying means with laser light (Patent Document 1). The laser light irradiation means of Patent Document 1 includes a laser oscillator that irradiates laser light, a reflection mirror that reflects the laser light, and a drive motor that rotates the reflection mirror. The laser light irradiated from the laser oscillator is reflected by the reflection mirror, and the laser light is scanned by rotating the reflection mirror with the drive motor. A so-called galvano system is adopted. In the above galvano system, since the laser light irradiation range of the laser light is set by the swing angle of the reflection mirror, in Patent Document 1, the container is conveyed so as to pass through the laser light irradiation range, and laser marking is performed on the surface of the container.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Here, in Patent Document 1, the above-described container is conveyed linearly by a conveyor, and the above-described container has a substantially rectangular cross-section and is conveyed in a state where a required plane is directed toward the laser light irradiation means. On the other hand, Patent Document 1 also mentions laser marking on a cylindrical container. In this case, the marking area set on the outer peripheral surface of the container is a curved surface in the shape of a cross-sectional arc based on the cross-sectional shape of the container. In this case, in the laser marking device of Patent Document 1, when laser light is irradiated onto the marking area having the above-described curved surface, there is a difference in the irradiation distance of the laser light between the center and both ends of the marking area, so problems such as distortion occurring in the printing or the printing becoming insufficient occur. Also today, as a conveying means for conveying a container, one having a plurality of container holding means on the outer periphery of a rotating body is known. However, when a container is conveyed using such a rotating body, the conveying path becomes arc-shaped, so a difference occurs in the irradiation distance of the laser light depending on the position of the container, and printing defects as described above are assumed. In view of such problems, the present invention provides a laser marking device capable of performing laser marking with reduced distortion while conveying a container having a substantially cylindrical shape using a rotating body.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] That is, the laser marking device according to the invention of claim 1 includes a conveying means for conveying a container and a laser light irradiation means for irradiating laser light onto the container conveyed by the conveying means, and laser light is scanned in a direction intersecting the conveying direction of the container onto a marking area set on the container, and laser marking is performed by irradiating while following the conveying direction of the container. In the laser marking device, the conveying means includes a rotatable rotating body, container holding means provided on the outer periphery of the rotating body for holding the container, container rotating means for rotating the container held by the container holding means, and container moving means for moving the container holding means in the radial direction of the rotating body. While the laser light irradiation means irradiates a laser light irradiation range, during the rotation body transporting the container, the container moving means moves the outer peripheral surface of the container in a linear path or an arc-shaped path opposite to the outer periphery of the rotating body in a plan view, and the container rotating means rotates the container so that the marking position in the marking area of the container sequentially faces the irradiation position of the laser light by the laser light irradiation means 4.

Advantages of the Invention

[0006] According to the above invention, even when a container having a substantially cylindrical shape is transported by a transport means provided with a rotating body, the outer peripheral surface of the container is moved in a linear path or an arc-shaped path opposite to the outer periphery of the rotating body by the container moving means, and at the same time, by rotating the container by the container rotating means, the marking position in the marking area of the container can be sequentially directed to the laser irradiation position of the laser light irradiation means. Thereby, since the laser light irradiation means irradiates the laser light so as to follow the marking area on the outer peripheral surface of the moving container while rotating, it is possible to suppress the difference in the irradiation distance of the laser light as in the case of performing laser marking on a flat surface, and the distortion of the laser marking can be suppressed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0008] Regarding the following illustrated embodiments, FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a laser marking device 2 that performs printing (laser marking) on the side surface of a container 1 with laser light. A filling device and a capping device are provided on the upstream side of the laser marking device 2, and the container 1 filled with a beverage is supplied to the laser marking device 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the container 1 is composed of a main body portion 1a filled with a beverage and a cap 1b attached to the upper portion of the main body portion 1a. In the present embodiment, the main body portion 1a is formed in a cylindrical shape having a circular cross-section. In the present embodiment, a marking area A is set on the side surface of the container 1. This marking area A includes a first marking area A1 for displaying a logo mark of a product, a second marking area A2 for displaying a manufacturer, raw materials, etc., and a third marking area A3 for displaying other matters and expiration dates, etc., which are set in the vertical direction. The laser marking device 2 of the present embodiment performs laser marking on the marking areas A1 to A3, respectively. Note that the main body portion 1a of the container 1 does not necessarily have a strictly cylindrical shape, and some irregularities such as grooves may be formed on the outer surface. Also, the cross-sectional shape may be a rectangular shape such as a square cross-section or a hexagonal cross-section.

[0009] The laser marking device 2 includes a conveying means 3 for conveying the container 1 and a laser light irradiation means 4 for irradiating the container 1 conveyed by the conveying means 3 with a laser light L, and these are controlled by a control means (not shown) composed of a computer or the like. The conveying means 3 includes a plurality of rotating bodies R, and includes a main rotating body R1 on which laser marking is performed by the laser light irradiation means 4, and a supply rotating body R2 and a discharge rotating body R3 provided on the upstream side and the downstream side in the conveying direction of the main rotating body R1. On the upstream side of the supply rotating body R2, a supply conveyor 3a for supplying the container 1 filled with the beverage is provided, and on the downstream side of the discharge rotating body R3, a discharge conveyor 3b for discharging the container 1 on which the laser marking has been completed is provided. On the outer peripheral portions of the supply rotating body R2 and the discharge rotating body R3, pockets capable of accommodating the container 1 at equal intervals are formed, and using these pockets, the container 1 is transferred to and taken out from the main rotating body R1.

[0010] FIG. 3 shows a side view of the III-III portion in FIG. 1, that is, the portion where the laser light irradiation means 4 is provided on the main rotating body R1. The main rotating body R1 has a lower rotating table 11A and an upper rotating table 11B having a disk shape, and on the outer peripheries of these rotating tables 11A and 11B, container holding means 12 for holding the container 1 are provided at equal intervals. Further, the laser marking device 2 of the present embodiment includes container rotating means 13 for rotating the container holding means 12 and container moving means 14 for moving the container holding means 12 in the radial direction of the main rotating body R1.

[0011] The lower rotating table 11A and the upper rotating table 11B rotate about a rotation axis (not shown), and rotate synchronously with the supply rotating body R2 and the discharge rotating body R3 via gears (not shown). The container holding means 12 includes a support plate 21 provided on the lower rotating table 11A for supporting the container 1 from below, a top locator 22 provided on the upper rotating table 11B for supporting the container 1 from above, and a lifting cylinder 23 for lifting and lowering the top locator 22. The container 1 is supplied to the support plate 21 from the supply rotating body R2. When the container 1 is positioned on the support plate 21, the top locator 22 that has been retracted upward until then is lowered by the lifting cylinder 23, and the container 1 is clamped from above and below by fitting into the cap 1b.

[0012] A rotating shaft 21a is provided at the lower part of the support plate 21, and the rotating shaft 21a is rotatably supported with respect to a lower swing plate 24A that constitutes a container moving means 14 described later. Further, the container rotating means 13 composed of a servo motor is fixed to the lower part of the lower swing plate 24A. A gear 21b is provided at the lower end of the rotating shaft 21a, and it meshes with a gear 13a provided on the container rotating means 13. Thus, the support plate 21 is configured to rotate by the driving force of the container rotating means 13. On the other hand, the top locator 22 is rotatably attached to a lifting shaft 22a and is vertically movably supported with respect to an upper swing plate 24B that constitutes the container moving means 14. Further, the lifting cylinder 23 is fixed to the upper swing plate 24B. And the servo motor that constitutes the container rotating means 13 is controlled by the control means, and the container 1 held by the container holding means 12 can be rotated at an arbitrary speed. With such a configuration, when the top locator 22 is fitted to the cap 1b and the container 1 is held, the container rotating means 13 rotates the support plate 21, so that the container 1 can be rotated at a predetermined speed.

[0013] The container moving means 14 is composed of a lower swing plate 24A and an upper swing plate 24B that are swingably provided on the lower rotating table 11A and the upper rotating table 11B, cam followers 25 provided on these swing plates 24A and 24B, and a cam rail 26 that moves the cam followers 25. The lower swing plate 24A and the upper swing plate 24B are rotatably provided by swing shafts 24a coaxially provided on the upper rotating table 11B and the lower rotating table 11A, respectively. Further, at the tip ends of the lower swing plate 24A and the upper swing plate 24B, the support plate 21 and the top locator 22 that constitute the container holding means 12 are rotatably provided via the rotating shaft 21a and the lifting shaft 22a. The cam follower 25 is provided at the base ends of the swing plates 24A and 24B. The cam rail 26 is provided along the conveyance path of the container 1 and has a cam groove 26a into which the cam follower 25 fits. The cam groove 26a of the cam rail 26 is provided so as to approach or separate in the radial direction with respect to the rotation center of the main rotating body R1. As the cam follower 25 moves along the cam groove 26a with the rotation of the main rotating body R1, the cam follower 25 moves in the radial direction of the main rotating body R1 according to the position of the cam groove 26a, and the swing plates 24A and 24B swing about the swing shaft 24a. As a result, the container 1 held by the container holding means 12 moves in the radial direction of the main rotating body R1, and by adjusting the shape of the cam groove 26a, it is possible to move the container 1 along a required path.

[0014] FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the operations of the swing plates 24A and 24B constituting the container moving means 14 and the path of the container 1 held by the support plate 21 and the top locator 22 constituting the container holding means 12. The container moving means 14 provided on the main rotating body R1 moves the container 1 held by the container holding means 12 along an arc-shaped path while maintaining the same distance from the center of the main rotating body R1, except for the laser beam irradiation range W of the laser beam L by the laser beam irradiation means 4 described later. Specifically, in the section excluding the laser beam irradiation range W of the laser beam L, the cam groove 26a of the cam rail 26 is formed to have the same diameter with respect to the center of the main rotating body R1. As a result, the swing plates 24A and 24B move in a state inclined rearward in the rotation direction with respect to the radiation passing through the center of the main rotating body R1.

[0015] On the other hand, when the container 1 is positioned in the laser beam irradiation range W due to the rotation of the main rotating body R1, the container moving means 14 swings the swing plates 24A and 25B about the swing shaft 24a. Specifically, when the container 1 held by the support plate 21 and the top locator 22 is positioned at the upstream end of the laser beam irradiation range W, the cam groove 26a moves the cam follower 25 radially inward. As a result, the swing plates 24A and 24B swing, the inclination angle with respect to the above-mentioned radiation decreases, and the container 1 (shown as container 1(A)) moves radially outward. Subsequently, when the container 1 moves further, the cam groove 26a moves the cam follower 25 radially outward, whereby the inclination angle of the swing plates 24A and 24B with respect to the above-mentioned radiation increases, and the container 1 (shown as container 1(B)) moves radially inward. Then, when the container 1 is positioned at the downstream end of the laser beam irradiation range W, the cam groove 26a moves the cam follower 25 radially outward again, whereby the inclination angle of the swing plates 24A and 24B with respect to the above-mentioned radiation decreases, and the container 1 (shown as container 1(C)) moves radially outward. In this way, in the laser beam irradiation range W, by adjusting the shape of the cam groove 26a to swing the swing plates 24A and 24B, the container 1 held by the container holding means 12 can be moved linearly rather than in an arc shape in plan view. As a result, as shown in FIG. 6, the outer peripheral surface of the container 1 moves linearly in plan view, and the laser beam L is irradiated from the laser beam irradiation means 4 onto the conveyance path along which the outer peripheral surface of the container 1 moves linearly. Hereinafter, the path along which the outer peripheral surface of the container 1 moves linearly and the laser beam L is irradiated is referred to as the irradiation path S.

[0016] And while the container moving means 14 moves the outer peripheral surface of the container 1 along the irradiation path S, the container rotating means 13 rotates the container 1 together with the container holding means 12 counterclockwise so that the positions where actual marking is to be performed in the marking area A set on the outer peripheral surface of the container 1 are sequentially positioned on the irradiation path S. As described below, when the laser beam irradiation means 4 performs marking on the marking area A of the container 1, the container 1 is rotated while the laser beam L is scanned in the longitudinal direction of the marking area A, so that marking is performed in the lateral direction of the marking area A. That is, by the container rotation means 13 rotating the container 1, the position where marking is performed by the laser beam L, that is, the position where the laser beam L is scanned in the longitudinal direction, is sequentially positioned on the irradiation path S, and the marking position is directed to the position where the laser beam L of the laser beam irradiation means 4 is irradiated. As shown in FIG. 6, when the container 1 is located to the right of the illustrated laser beam irradiation range W, the outer peripheral surface of the container 1 located on the irradiation path S at that time becomes the end of the marking area A. Thereafter, as the outer peripheral surface of the container 1 moves along the irradiation path S, the container rotation means 13 rotates the container 1 counterclockwise, and the positions where marking is performed in the marking area A of the container 1 are sequentially positioned on the irradiation path S. Subsequently, when the container 1 moves along the irradiation path S to the center of the laser beam irradiation range W, the container 1 is rotated by the container rotation means 13, so that the center of the marking area A1 is located at the center of the irradiation path S. Then, when the container 1 moves along the irradiation path S to the left of the illustrated laser beam irradiation range W, the container rotation means 13 rotates the container 1, so that the other end of the marking area A is located at the end of the irradiation path S. In this way, while the container 1 is moved from the right to the left in the figure by the main rotating body R1, the outer peripheral surface of the container 1 moves along the irradiation path S that is linear in plan view by the container moving means 14, and the positions where marking is performed in the marking area A formed by the outer peripheral surface of the container 1 are sequentially positioned on the irradiation path S by the container rotation means 13. Here, the rotation speed of the container 1 by the container rotation means 13 can be changed according to the widths of the first to third marking areas A1 to A3 set on the container 1. When the first to third marking areas A1 to A3 are wide, it can be rotated at a high speed, and when they are narrow, it can be rotated at a low speed.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 3, the laser light irradiation means 4 has first to third laser light irradiation means 4A to 4C provided vertically, and these first to third laser light irradiation means 4A to 4C are provided at the heights of first to third marking regions A1 to A3 set in the container 1. Also, as shown in FIG. 4, the first to third laser light irradiation means 4A to 4C are provided at the same position in a plan view. Note that the first to third laser light irradiation means 4A to 4C may be separately arranged along the conveyance path of the container 1.

[0018] A conventionally known galvanometer system as shown in FIG. 5 can be used for the laser light irradiation means 4 of the present embodiment. Although detailed description is omitted, the laser light irradiation means 4 includes a laser oscillator 31 that irradiates laser light L, an X-direction mirror 32 that reflects the irradiated laser light L in the X direction, a Y-direction mirror 33 that further reflects the laser light L reflected by the X-direction mirror 32 in the Y direction, and a condenser lens 34 that condenses the laser light L. The X-direction mirror 32 is rotatably provided by an X-axis motor 32a, and by rotating the X-direction mirror 32 by a predetermined angle by the X-axis motor 32a, the laser light L irradiated from the laser oscillator 31 is scanned in the X direction. Similarly, the Y-direction mirror 33 is rotatably provided by a Y-axis motor 33a, and by rotating the Y-direction mirror 33 by a predetermined angle by the Y-axis motor 33a, the laser light L reflected by the X-direction mirror 32 is further reflected to scan the laser light L in the Y direction. The condenser lens 34 condenses the laser light L reflected by the X-direction mirror 32 and the Y-direction mirror 33 onto the surface of the object 35. By using such a galvanometer system, it is possible to perform laser marking on the surface of a flat object 35 by scanning the laser light L in the X direction and the Y direction.

[0019] According to the laser light irradiation means 4 having the above configuration, the laser light irradiation range W of the laser light L is defined by the rotation angles of the X-direction mirror 32 and the Y-direction mirror 33. In the present embodiment, with the horizontal direction in the drawing of FIG. 4 as the X direction, the irradiation path S, which is the movement locus of the outer peripheral surface of the container 1 moved by the container moving means 14, is positioned inside the laser light irradiation range W. Here, the center of the laser light irradiation range W and the center of the irradiation path S coincide with each other. Then, print data for the irradiation path S is registered in the control means for controlling the first to third laser light irradiation means 4A to 4C in the same manner as when performing laser marking on the flat object 35 shown in FIG. 5. In other words, in the present embodiment, even though the container 1 has a cylindrical shape, it is possible to perform laser marking using the same print data as that used for a flat surface.

[0020] Hereinafter, the operation of the laser marking apparatus 2 having the above configuration will be described. First, the container 1 in which filling and capping of beverages have been completed is supplied by the supply conveyor 3a constituting the conveying means 3, and the container 1 is delivered to the main rotating body R1 via the supply rotating body R2. In the main rotating body R1, when the container 1 is placed on the support plate 21, the top locator 22 that has been retracted upward until then descends by the elevating cylinder 23 and fits into the cap 1b, whereby the container 1 is held by the container holding means 12. As shown in FIG. 4, the lower swing plate 24A and the upper swing plate 24B constituting the container moving means 14 are arranged inclined with respect to the radiation extending outward from the center of the main rotating body R1, and the container 1 held by the support plate 21 and the top locator 22 constituting the container holding means 12 is moved along an arc-shaped path and moved to the laser light irradiation range W where the laser light irradiation means 4 is provided.

[0021] When the container 1 moves to the laser beam irradiation range W, the container moving means 14 swings the container holding means 12 so that in the laser beam irradiation range W, the outer peripheral surface of the container 1 moves along the irradiation path S set in a straight line in plan view. Also, as shown in FIG. 6, when the container 1 held by the container holding means 12 is located at the right end in the drawing of the laser beam irradiation range W, the end of the marking area A set on the outer peripheral surface of the container 1 will be located at the end of the irradiation path S. And at that moment, the laser beam irradiation means 4 irradiates the laser beam L toward the right end in the drawing of the irradiation path S, that is, the position where the marking is actually performed in the marking area A of the container 1, whereby the laser marking on the container 1 is started.

[0022] After that, as the main rotating body R1 rotates and the container moving means 14 swings the container holding means 1, the container 1 located at the center of the laser beam irradiation range W has its outer peripheral surface moving linearly along the irradiation path S. Also, the container rotating means 13 continues to rotate the container 1, and by sequentially positioning the marking positions in the marking area A at the irradiation path S, the position where the laser beam L is operated is positioned toward the irradiation position of the laser irradiation means 4. Then, the laser beam irradiation means 4 irradiates the laser beam L following the outer peripheral surface of the container 1 moving along the irradiation path S, so that the marking area A is marked.

[0023] Finally, while the main rotating body R1 further rotates and the container 1 is located at the left end in the drawing of the laser beam irradiation range W, the container moving means 14 swings the container holding means 1 to linearly move the outer peripheral surface of the container 1 along the irradiation path S. Also, the container rotating means 13 continues to rotate the container 1 so that the end portion of the irradiation path S coincides with the end portion of the marking area A. Then, the laser light irradiation means 4 irradiates the laser light L following the outer peripheral surface of the container 1 moving along the irradiation path S, thereby completing the printing on the entire marking area A.

[0024] Thus, according to the laser marking apparatus 2 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the container moving means 14 moves the container 1 held by the container holding means 12 in the radial direction of the main rotating body R1, so that the outer peripheral surface of the container 1 can be moved along the irradiation path S set linearly in a plan view. Accordingly, the container rotating means 13 rotates the container 1 so that the positions where actual marking is performed in the marking area A set on the container 1 are sequentially positioned on the irradiation path S, whereby the positions where actual marking is performed can be sequentially directed toward the laser light irradiation positions irradiated with the laser light L of the laser irradiation means 4. Furthermore, the laser light irradiation means 4 irradiates the laser light L following the outer peripheral surface of the container 1 positioned on the irradiation path S, whereby laser marking can be performed on the marking area A set on the container 1. That is, even if the marking area A set on the surface of the cylindrical container 1 is curved, the laser light irradiation means 4 only needs to irradiate the laser light L with respect to the flat irradiation path S, so that the laser light L can be irradiated at the same irradiation distance as in the case of performing laser marking on a flat surface, and a printing result without distortion can be obtained.

[0025] On the other hand, if the container moving means 14 is not used and the container 1 is conveyed without being moved in the radial direction of the main rotating body R1, the conveyance path of the container 1 becomes arc-shaped. Therefore, at the center of the laser light irradiation range W, the outer peripheral surface of the container 1 approaches the laser light irradiation means 4, and on the upstream side and the downstream side thereof, the container 1 is separated from the laser light irradiation means 4, resulting in different irradiation distances of the laser light L. In addition, when the container 1 is moved without being rotated, since the marking area A of the container 1 has a curved surface, at the center of the marking area A, the center of the container 1 approaches the laser light irradiation means 4, and the laser light L is irradiated perpendicularly to the outer peripheral surface of the container 1. On the upstream side and the downstream side of the marking area A, the laser light irradiation means 4 is separated, and the laser light L is irradiated obliquely with respect to the marking area A. As a result, at the upstream end and the downstream end of the marking area A, the laser marking may be distorted, and since the irradiation distance becomes long, there is also a possibility that the printing becomes thin.

[0026] Also, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, first to third marking areas A1 to A3 are set above and below the container 1, and corresponding first to third laser light irradiation means 4A to 4C are provided. With this configuration, when the first to third laser light irradiation means 4A to 4C perform laser marking on the first to third marking areas A1 to A3, the scanning distance in the vertical direction (Y direction) in FIG. 2, that is, the direction intersecting the conveyance direction of the container 1 can be shortened, so that laser marking can be performed quickly.

[0027] FIG. 7 is for explaining the operation of the laser marking device 2 according to the second embodiment. In the first embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the container 1 moved by the main rotating body R1 is moved in the radial direction of the main rotating body R1 by the container moving means 14, so that the outer peripheral surface of the container 1 is moved along a flat irradiation path S. On the other hand, in the second embodiment, the irradiation path S is moved along an arc-shaped path that bulges in the opposite direction to the arc-shaped conveyance path by the main rotating body R1, that is, an arc that bulges in the opposite direction in a plan view. Also in this case, the container moving means 14 adjusts the shape of the cam groove 26a of the cam rail 26 to make the inclination angles with the radiation by the swing plates 24A and 24B different, thereby moving the container 1 in the radial direction and moving the container 1 along an arc-shaped path. Also in this embodiment, while the container 1 is positioned within the laser beam irradiation range W, the container rotation means 13 rotates the container 1 at a predetermined speed. As a result, the marking area A of the container 1 is sequentially positioned on the irradiation path S, and the laser beam irradiation means 4 irradiates the laser beam L in synchronization therewith. According to the above configuration, by forming the irradiation path S in an arc shape, the irradiation distance of the laser beam L irradiated from the laser beam irradiation means 4 can be made constant. Therefore, laser marking can be performed without reducing the intensity of the laser beam L even at both ends of the marking area A as compared with the first embodiment.

[0028] In the above embodiment, the container moving means 14 moves the container holding means 12 in the radial direction of the main rotating body R1 by swinging the swing plates 24A and 24B, but other methods may be used for the movement. For example, the container moving means 14 may be configured by an actuator that moves it in the radial direction of the main rotating body R1.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0029] 1 Container 2 Laser marking device 3 Conveying means 4 Laser beam irradiation means 12 Container holding means 13 Container rotation means 14 Container moving means A Marking area L Laser beam R1 Main rotating body W Laser beam irradiation range S Irradiation path

Claims

1. A laser marking apparatus comprising a conveying means for conveying a container, and a laser light irradiation means for irradiating the container conveyed by the conveying means with laser light, wherein the laser light is scanned in a direction intersecting the conveying direction of the container while being irradiated while following the conveying direction of the container to perform laser marking on a marking area set on the container. The conveying means includes a rotatable rotating body, a container holding means provided on the outer periphery of the rotating body for holding the container, a container rotating means for rotating the container held by the container holding means, and a container moving means for moving the container holding means in the radial direction of the rotating body. During the rotation of the rotating body for conveying the container, the container moving means moves the outer peripheral surface of the container along a linear or reverse arc-shaped path with respect to the outer periphery of the rotating body in a plan view, and the container rotating means rotates the container so that the positions for marking in the marking area of the container are sequentially directed toward the irradiation positions of the laser light by the laser light irradiation means. The laser marking apparatus is characterized by this.

2. A plurality of the marking areas are set in the vertical direction of the container. The laser marking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the laser light irradiation means is arranged corresponding to the number of the marking areas.

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