Laser marker

Abstract

To provide a laser marker capable of shortening a work distance.SOLUTION: The laser marker 100 is a device that performs processing such as printing on an object W to be processed with a laser beam, and includes an emitting section 20 that generates and emits a laser beam, a mirror 32, and a galvano scanner 50 that reflects the laser beam emitted from the emitting section 20 toward the mirror 32 and scans the surface of the object W with the laser beam reflected by the mirror 32.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a laser marker. [Background technology]

[0002] Laser markers have been known for some time. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a laser marker device that irradiates an irradiation area with laser light to perform processing on a workpiece according to a predetermined processing pattern. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2023-042498 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Incidentally, there is a demand for shorter work distances (the distance from the laser marker head to the work).

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has an object to provide a laser marker that can further shorten the working distance. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] (1) The laser marker of the present invention is characterized by comprising an emission unit that generates and emits laser light, a first mirror, and a galvanometer scanner that reflects the laser light emitted from the emission unit toward the first mirror and scans the laser light reflected by the first mirror over the surface of an object.

[0007] (2) In the laser marker described in (1) above, it is preferable that the first mirror is larger than the galvanometer mirror of the galvanometer scanner.

[0008] (3) In the laser marker of (1) above, the galvanometer scanner has a first galvanometer mirror for scanning the laser light in a first direction on the surface, and a second galvanometer mirror for scanning the laser light in a second direction on the surface perpendicular to the first direction, and it is preferable that the first mirror is located on one side of the galvanometer scanner in the first direction, is parallel to the second direction, and is tilted with respect to a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and perpendicular to the second direction.

[0009] (4) In the laser marker of (3) above, it is preferable that the first mirror is arranged from one side to the other side of the first galvanometer mirror and the second galvanometer mirror in the second direction, and from one side to the other side of the first galvanometer mirror and the second galvanometer mirror in the third direction.

[0010] (5) The laser marker of (1) above preferably includes a second mirror that reflects the laser light emitted from the emission unit toward the galvanometer scanner, and the galvanometer scanner preferably reflects the laser light emitted from the emission unit and reflected by the second mirror toward the first mirror.

[0011] (6) In the laser marker of (5) above, the galvanometer scanner has a first galvanometer mirror for scanning the laser light in a first direction on the surface and a second galvanometer mirror for scanning the laser light in a second direction on the surface perpendicular to the first direction, and it is preferable that the first mirror is located on one side of the galvanometer scanner in the first direction and the second mirror is located on one side of the galvanometer scanner in the second direction.

[0012] (7) In the laser marker of (5) above, the galvanometer scanner has a first galvanometer mirror for scanning the laser light in a first direction on the surface and a second galvanometer mirror for scanning the laser light in a second direction on the surface perpendicular to the first direction, and it is preferable that the first mirror is located on one side of the galvanometer scanner in the first direction and the emission part is located on one side of the second mirror in the first direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a laser marker that can further shorten the working distance. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a laser marker according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a first perspective view showing the inside of the laser marker of FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a second perspective view showing the inside of the laser marker of FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 5. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] A laser marker 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a laser marker 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a first perspective view showing the interior of the laser marker 100 of FIG. 1. In FIG. 2, the top panel 11 and side wall portions 14 and 16 are not shown. FIG. 3 is a second perspective view showing the interior of the laser marker 100 of FIG. 1. In FIG. 3, a part of the housing 41, a part of the housing 51, and a part of the support body 31 are further omitted from the state of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. 4. In FIGS. 4 and 5, the internal structure of the motor 53, the motor 55, the lens 62, etc. are not shown.

[0017] The laser marker 100 is a device that uses laser light (see the thick lines in FIGS. 4 and 5) to perform processing such as printing on an object W (see FIG. 5) that is the target of processing. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the laser marker 100 includes a housing 10, an emission unit 20, a first reflecting unit 30, a second reflecting unit 40, a galvanometer scanner 50, a first optical unit 60, a second optical unit 70, and a support plate 80. For example, these components constitute the head of the laser marker 100, and the laser marker 100 may further include a main body (not shown) connected to the head via an electric wire (not shown) or the like, and the head may scan the laser light over the surface of the object W based on a control signal from the main body to perform processing on the object W.

[0018] The housing 10 houses the emission unit 20, the first reflecting unit 30, the second reflecting unit 40, the galvanometer scanner 50, the first optical unit 60, and a support plate 80. The housing 10 has a top plate 11, a bottom plate 12, and side wall portions 13, 14, 15, and 16.

[0019] The top plate portion 11 and the bottom plate portion 12 extend in a first direction (X-axis direction in FIG. 1, etc.) and a second direction (Y-axis direction in FIG. 1, etc.) perpendicular to the first direction, and face each other in a third direction (Z-axis direction in FIG. 1, etc.) perpendicular to the first direction and perpendicular to the second direction. The bottom plate portion 12 has an opening 12a that opens in the third direction. The side wall portions 13 and 14 extend in the second and third directions and face each other in the first direction. The side wall portions 15 and 16 extend in the first and third directions and face each other in the second direction.

[0020] The emission unit 20 generates and emits laser light. Various known devices can be used as the emission unit 20. For example, the emission unit 20 includes a light source for generating excitation light, a solid-state laser crystal for generating a fundamental wave based on the excitation light, a nonlinear optical crystal for generating UV laser light by modulating the fundamental wave, and a housing for accommodating these components.

[0021] The emission unit 20 is disposed on the bottom plate 12. The emission unit 20 is located on one side of the second reflecting unit 40 in the first direction (the positive side in the X-axis direction in FIG. 1, etc.). Specifically, an emission opening 21 of the emission unit 20, which emits the laser light to the outside of the emission unit 20, is located on one side of the mirror 42 of the second reflecting unit 40 in the first direction. The emission unit 20 emits the generated laser light from the emission opening 21 toward the other side in the first direction (the negative side in the X-axis direction in FIG. 1, etc.).

[0022] The second reflecting section 40 reflects the laser light emitted from the emitting section 20. The second reflecting section 40 has a housing 41 and a mirror .

[0023] The housing 41 houses a mirror 42. The housing 41 is supported by a support plate 80 fixed to the bottom plate portion 12.

[0024] The mirror 42 is an example of a second mirror that reflects the laser light emitted from the emission unit 20 toward the galvanometer scanner 50. The reflecting surface 42a of the mirror 42 is located on the other side of the emission port 21 in the first direction, and on one side of the galvanometer mirror 54 of the galvanometer scanner 50 in the second direction (the positive side in the Y-axis direction in FIG. 1, etc.). The reflecting surface 42a is parallel to the third direction and is disposed at an angle with respect to the second direction, and reflects the laser light toward the other side in the second direction (the negative side in the Y-axis direction in FIG. 1, etc.).

[0025] The galvanometer scanner 50 reflects the laser light emitted from the emission unit 20 toward the mirror 32, and scans the laser light reflected by the mirror 32 over the surface of the object W. In this embodiment, the galvanometer scanner 50 reflects the laser light emitted from the emission unit 20 and reflected by the mirror 42 toward the mirror 32. The galvanometer scanner 50 includes a housing 51, a galvanometer mirror 52, a motor 53, a galvanometer mirror 54, and a motor 55.

[0026] The housing 51 accommodates the galvanometer mirror 52 and the galvanometer mirror 54. The housing 51 is supported by a support plate 80.

[0027] The galvanometer mirror 52 is an example of a first galvanometer mirror for scanning the laser light in the first direction on the surface of the object W. The galvanometer mirror 52 reflects the laser light reflected by the galvanometer mirror 54 toward the mirror 32. The galvanometer mirror 52 is located on the other side of the reflecting surface 32a of the mirror 32 in the first direction, and on one side of the galvanometer mirror 54 in the third direction (the positive side in the Z-axis direction in FIG. 1, etc.). The galvanometer mirror 52 can be rotated by the motor 53 about a rotation axis extending in the second direction. By rotating the galvanometer mirror 52, the irradiation position of the laser light on the surface of the object W moves in the first direction.

[0028] The galvanometer mirror 54 is an example of a second galvanometer mirror for scanning the laser light in the second direction on the surface of the object W. The galvanometer mirror 54 reflects the laser light reflected by the mirror 42 toward the galvanometer mirror 52. The galvanometer mirror 54 is located on the other side of the reflecting surface 42a of the mirror 42 in the second direction and on the other side of the galvanometer mirror 52 in the third direction (the negative side in the Z-axis direction in FIG. 1, etc.). The galvanometer mirror 54 can be rotated by a motor 55 about a rotation axis that is perpendicular to the second direction and extends in a direction inclined with respect to the first direction. By rotating the galvanometer mirror 54, the irradiation position of the laser light on the surface of the object W moves in the second direction.

[0029] The first reflecting unit 30 reflects the laser light reflected by the galvano scanner 50. The first reflecting unit 30 has a support 31 and a mirror 32.

[0030] The support 31 supports the mirror 32. The support 31 is provided so as to cover the space between the mirror 32 and the support plate 80 from one side in the second direction, so as to cover the space from the other side in the second direction, and so as to cover the space from one side in the third direction.

[0031] The mirror 32 is an example of a first mirror and reflects the laser light reflected by the galvanometer scanner 50 toward the target W. The mirror 32 is located on one side of the galvanometer mirrors 52 and 54 of the galvanometer scanner 50 in the first direction. The reflecting surface 32a of the mirror 32 is larger than the reflecting surfaces of the galvanometer mirrors 52 and 54. The reflecting surface 32a is parallel to the second direction and tilted with respect to the third direction. One end of the reflecting surface 32a in the third direction is located on the other side in the first direction than the other end of the reflecting surface 32a in the third direction. The reflecting surface 32a is provided from one side to the other of the galvanometer mirrors 52 and 54 in the second direction, and from one side to the other of the galvanometer mirrors 52 and 54 in the third direction.

[0032] The first optical unit 60 includes a support 61 and a lens 62 .

[0033] The support 61 supports the lens 62. The support 61 is supported by a support plate 80.

[0034] The lens 62 transmits the laser light reflected by the galvano scanner 50. The laser light transmitted through the lens 62 is reflected by the mirror 32. For example, the lens 62 is an fθ lens.

[0035] The second optical section 70 has a support body 71 and a transparent member 72 .

[0036] The support 71 supports the transmitting member 72. The support 71 is disposed in the opening 12a and is supported by the bottom plate portion 12.

[0037] The transmitting member 72 transmits the laser light reflected by the mirror 32. The laser light transmitted through the transmitting member 72 is irradiated onto the object W. For example, the transmitting member 72 is a transparent member made of glass or the like.

[0038] The laser marker 100 as described above, for example, accepts input of characters to be printed on the object W from a user, and rotates the galvanometer mirrors 52 and 54 in accordance with the input characters to scan the laser light over the surface of the object W, thereby printing the characters on the surface of the object W. Note that instead of characters, a barcode, a two-dimensional code, a figure, or the like may be formed on the surface of the object W.

[0039] Furthermore, in order to ensure the optical path length of the laser light to the object W, the laser marker 100 needs to be installed at a certain distance from the object W, but in the laser marker 100, the laser light reflected by the galvano scanner 50 is reflected by the mirror 32 before being irradiated onto the surface of the object W, so the optical path length to the object W can be made longer compared to when the laser light reflected by the galvano scanner is irradiated onto the surface of the object W without being reflected by a mirror. Therefore, the laser marker 100 can be installed closer to the object W than when the laser light reflected by the galvano scanner is irradiated onto the surface of the object W without being reflected by a mirror, and therefore the space required for installing the laser marker 100 can be kept from becoming too large.

[0040] As described above, the laser marker 100 in the above-mentioned embodiment of the present invention comprises an emission unit 20 that generates and emits laser light, a mirror 32, and a galvanometer scanner 50 that reflects the laser light emitted from the emission unit 20 toward the mirror 32 and scans the laser light reflected by the mirror 32 over the surface of the object W.

[0041] According to this, by reflecting the laser light from the galvano scanner 50 and then from the mirror 32 before irradiating the object W, the optical path length of the laser light to the object W can be made longer, so the laser marker 100 can be positioned closer to the object W. Therefore, the working distance can be made shorter.

[0042] Furthermore, in the laser marker 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention described above, the mirror 32 is larger than the galvanometer mirrors 52 and 54 of the galvanometer scanner 50 .

[0043] This allows the laser light to be scanned over a wider area on the surface of the object W.

[0044] Furthermore, in the laser marker 100 in the embodiment of the present invention described above, the galvanometer scanner 50 has a galvanometer mirror 52 for scanning the laser light in a first direction on the surface of the object W, and a galvanometer mirror 54 for scanning the laser light in a second direction on the surface, and the mirror 32 is located on one side of the galvanometer scanner 50 in the first direction, is parallel to the second direction, and is tilted relative to the third direction.

[0045] This allows the optical path length of the laser light to the target object W to be increased while preventing the laser marker 100 from becoming larger in the third direction, thereby allowing the working distance to be shortened while preventing the space required to install the laser marker 100 from becoming larger in the third direction.

[0046] Furthermore, in the laser marker 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention described above, the mirror 32 is arranged from one side to the other of the galvanometer mirrors 52 and 54 in the second direction, and from one side to the other of the galvanometer mirrors 52 and 54 in the third direction.

[0047] This allows the laser light to be scanned over a wider area on the surface of the object W.

[0048] Furthermore, the laser marker 100 in the embodiment of the present invention described above is provided with a mirror 42 that reflects the laser light emitted from the emission section 20 toward the galvanometer scanner 50, and the galvanometer scanner 50 reflects the laser light emitted from the emission section 20 and reflected by the mirror 42 toward the mirror 32.

[0049] This allows the optical path length of the laser light to the object W to be further increased, thereby further shortening the work distance.

[0050] Furthermore, in the laser marker 100 in the embodiment of the present invention described above, the galvanometer scanner 50 has a galvanometer mirror 52 for scanning the laser light in a first direction on the surface of the object W, and a galvanometer mirror 54 for scanning the laser light in a second direction on the surface, and the mirror 32 is located on one side of the galvanometer scanner 50 in the first direction, and the mirror 42 is located on one side of the galvanometer scanner 50 in the second direction.

[0051] This allows the optical path length of the laser light to the target object W to be increased while preventing the laser marker 100 from becoming larger in the third direction, thereby allowing the working distance to be shortened while preventing the space required to install the laser marker 100 from becoming larger in the third direction.

[0052] Furthermore, in the laser marker 100 in the embodiment of the present invention described above, the galvanometer scanner 50 has a galvanometer mirror 52 for scanning the laser light in a first direction on the surface of the object W, and a galvanometer mirror 54 for scanning the laser light in a second direction on the surface, the mirror 32 is located on one side of the galvanometer scanner 50 in the first direction, and the emission unit 20 is located on one side of the mirror 42 in the first direction.

[0053] This makes it possible to prevent the laser marker 100 from becoming larger in the third direction, while increasing the optical path length of the laser light to the target object W, thereby making it possible to shorten the work distance.

[0054] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, they are merely illustrative examples and do not limit the present invention, and the specific configurations and the like can be appropriately modified in design. Furthermore, the actions and effects described in the embodiments of the invention are merely a list of the most preferable actions and effects resulting from the present invention, and the actions and effects of the present invention are not limited to those described in the embodiments of the present invention.

[0055] In the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which galvano-scanner 50 reflects the laser light emitted from emission unit 20 and reflected by mirror 42 toward mirror 32, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the emission unit may emit laser light toward the galvano-scanner, and the galvano-scanner may receive the laser light emitted from the emission unit without passing through another mirror and reflect the laser light. [Explanation of symbols]

[0056] 10,41,51 Case 11 Top plate 12 Bottom plate part 12a opening 13, 14, 15, 16 Side wall 20. Exit section 21 Exit 30 1st reflection section 31,61,71 Support 32 Mirror 32a,42a Reflective surface 40 2nd reflection section 42 Mirror 50 Galvanometer Scanner 52,54 Galvanometer mirror 53,55 Motor 60 1st optical department 62 Lens 70 2nd optical department 72 Transparent member 80 Support plate 100 Laser Marker W Object

Claims

1. an emission unit that generates and emits laser light; A first mirror; a galvanometer scanner that reflects the laser light emitted from the emission unit toward the first mirror and scans the laser light reflected by the first mirror over the surface of an object.

2. 2. The laser marker according to claim 1, wherein the first mirror is larger than the galvanometer mirror of the galvanometer scanner.

3. the galvanometer scanner includes a first galvanometer mirror for scanning the laser light on the surface in a first direction, and a second galvanometer mirror for scanning the laser light on the surface in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, 2. The laser marker according to claim 1, wherein the first mirror is located on one side of the galvanometer scanner in the first direction, is parallel to the second direction, and is arranged at an angle with respect to a third direction that is perpendicular to the first direction and perpendicular to the second direction.

4. 4. The laser marker according to claim 3, wherein the first mirror is provided from one side to the other side of the first galvanometer mirror and the second galvanometer mirror in the second direction, and from one side to the other side of the first galvanometer mirror and the second galvanometer mirror in the third direction.

5. a second mirror that reflects the laser light emitted from the emission unit toward the galvano scanner; 2. The laser marker according to claim 1, wherein the galvano scanner reflects the laser light, which is emitted from the emission portion and reflected by the second mirror, toward the first mirror.

6. the galvanometer scanner includes a first galvanometer mirror for scanning the laser light on the surface in a first direction, and a second galvanometer mirror for scanning the laser light on the surface in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the first mirror is located on one side of the galvano scanner in the first direction; 6. The laser marker according to claim 5, wherein the second mirror is located on one side of the galvano scanner in the second direction.

7. the galvanometer scanner includes a first galvanometer mirror for scanning the laser light on the surface in a first direction, and a second galvanometer mirror for scanning the laser light on the surface in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the first mirror is located on one side of the galvano scanner in the first direction; 6. The laser marker according to claim 5, wherein the emission section is located on one side of the second mirror in the first direction.

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