Laser Welding Machine

Abstract

To provide a laser welder configured so that a mirror can be easily moved in a longitudinal direction inside an emitting part.SOLUTION: A laser welder comprises a laser torch 3 to which a laser beam oscillated from a laser beam oscillator 5 is transmitted through an optical fiber part 8 and which emits the transmitted laser beam. The laser torch 3 makes a mirror 28 refract the laser beam emitted from the optical fiber part 8 into a cylindrical emitting part 17 through a cylindrical handle part 18, makes a collecting lens 27 collect the refracted laser beam, and emits the laser beam through a front end portion of the emitting part 17. A mirror holding part 31 holding the mirror 28 is fitted into a rear-side cylinder portion 25 of the emitting part 17 so that the portion can move in a longitudinal direction thereof. A rear end portion of the mirror holding part 31 is made to protrude from the rear-side cylinder portion 25 of the emitting part 17. In a state where a second lid member 20b of a cover 20 covering the emitting part 17 and the handle part 18 is opened, the rear end portion of the mirror holding part 31 can be operated to be moved in the longitudinal direction with respect to the emitting part 17 through a second opening part 20d of the cover 20.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a laser welder having a laser torch that an operator holds in his / her hand to perform laser welding. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, some laser welding machines have a laser torch that an operator holds in his / her hand to perform laser welding. In this laser torch, a laser beam emitted from a laser beam oscillator is guided inside through an optical fiber, and the focused laser beam is emitted from a nozzle at the tip to weld the workpiece (for example, see Patent Document 1).

[0003] The laser torch of the laser welding machine described in Patent Document 1 has a laser torch body (emitting part) to the bottom of which a nozzle is connected, and a grip part (handle part) that is connected to the side of the emitting part and is held by the operator. One end of an optical fiber is connected to the handle part, and a laser beam oscillator is connected to the other end of the optical fiber. An emission switch (switch part) for operating the laser beam oscillator is provided on the handle part, and a collimating lens is provided inside the handle part. A condenser lens and a bend mirror (mirror) located above the condenser lens are arranged inside the torch body part.

[0004] In the above-mentioned laser welding machine, a laser beam is emitted from the nozzle of the laser torch as follows. That is, a laser beam oscillated from a laser beam oscillator is guided into the inside of the handle of the laser torch via an optical fiber and refracted into a parallel beam by a collimating lens. The parallel beam is guided into the torch body of the laser torch, reflected by a mirror toward a condenser lens, and condensed by the condenser lens to be emitted from the nozzle of the laser torch. In this way, in the above-mentioned laser welding machine, a worker can weld multiple workpieces with the laser beam emitted from the nozzle of the laser torch while holding the handle in his or her hand. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-220690 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] Generally, in laser welding machines having a laser torch, the nozzle of the laser torch is often configured to be replaceable, and there are various shapes with different nozzle tip diameters and lengths to the tip, and the nozzle is selected according to the welding contents. Therefore, every time the nozzle is replaced, it is necessary to fine-tune the position of the nozzle and the position of the optical axis of the laser light so that they are appropriate. In other words, it is necessary to perform a task of matching the center of the laser light emission hole of the nozzle with the position of the optical axis of the emitted laser light, that is, a so-called centering.

[0007] During laser welding, an assist gas such as an inert gas (air) is sprayed from the laser beam emission hole of the nozzle toward the welding position of the workpiece. If the optical axis of the laser beam is not positioned at the center of this sprayed air, the air will not be sprayed evenly toward the welding position of the workpiece, which may result in a decrease in welding quality.

[0008] The laser torch of the laser welding machine described in Patent Document 1 does not have a mechanism for moving the position of the condenser lens or mirror in a direction intersecting the optical axis of the laser light. Therefore, until the centering work is completed, the worker must repeatedly disassemble the components of the torch body, adjust the positions of the condenser lens or mirror, and reassemble the components of the torch body, which causes a problem of poor welding workability.

[0009] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT An object of the present invention is to provide a laser welder capable of easily moving a mirror in the front-rear direction inside an emission section. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention comprises the following configurations 1 to 9. [Configuration 1] A laser light oscillator; an optical fiber section through which a laser beam oscillated from the laser beam oscillator is transmitted; a laser torch that emits the laser light transmitted by the optical fiber portion, The laser torch has a cylindrical emission section from a front end of which laser light is emitted, a cylindrical handle section that is provided on a rear end side of the emission section in a state of extending downward and to which the optical fiber section is connected, and a switch section that causes the laser light oscillator to oscillate a laser light, The emission section has a mirror that refracts the laser light emitted from the optical fiber section into the handle section into the emission section, and a condensing lens that condenses the laser light refracted by the mirror, A laser welding machine that welds a workpiece with a laser beam emitted from a front end of a laser torch while an operator is holding a handle portion of the laser torch, a mirror holding part that is fitted into the inside of the rear end of the emission part so as to be movable in the front-rear direction, the mirror is held in a state in which it can move in the front-rear direction integrally with the mirror holding part, and the rear end of the mirror holding part protrudes from the rear end of the emission part.

[0011] Here, the front-to-rear direction refers to a state in which an operator holds the handle of the laser torch positioned below the emission part, with the front side in the direction of emission from the emission part being defined as "front" and the rear side being defined as "rear." The left-to-right direction refers to a direction that is horizontally perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction, with the operator facing forward, the left side being defined as "left" and the right side being defined as "right." The up-to-down direction is the vertical direction. The front-to-rear direction, left-to-right direction, and up-to-down direction are mutually perpendicular.

[0012] In this configuration, the rear end of the mirror holder protrudes from the rear end of the emission part of the laser torch. By moving the rear end of the mirror holder in the front-rear direction relative to the emission part, the mirror can be moved in the front-rear direction inside the emission part.

[0013] [Configuration 2] 2. The laser welding machine according to claim 1, wherein the emission section has a storage opening provided at a part of its circumference, and a lens storage section that stores the focusing lens so that the focusing lens can be inserted and removed through the storage opening.

[0014] According to this configuration, replacement of the focusing lens can be easily performed by removing the focusing lens stored in the lens storage section through the storage opening of the exit section, and storing a new focusing lens in the lens storage section through the storage opening of the exit section.

[0015] [Configuration 3] The laser torch has a cover that covers the emission portion and the handle portion, the cover is in a state of covering a rear end portion of the mirror holding portion, the cover has a first opening that opens to the outside, a first lid member that opens and closes the first opening, a second opening that opens to the outside, and a second lid member that opens and closes the second opening, the first opening is provided at a position exposing a storage opening of the emission portion when the first cover member is open, The laser welding machine described in configuration 2, characterized in that the second opening is provided on the rear end side of the emission part, and when the second cover member is open, the rear end of the mirror holding part can be moved in the front-rear direction from the second opening to the emission part.

[0016] According to this configuration, by opening the first lid member of the cover, the condenser lens can be taken in and out of the lens storage section through the storage port from the first opening. When the first opening is closed with the first lid member, the first lid member can prevent foreign matter from entering the lens storage section from the outside.

[0017] In addition, since the rear end of the mirror holding part protruding from the rear end of the emission part can be covered with the cover, it is possible to prevent an operator from accidentally touching the mirror holding part during welding work. In addition, by opening the second lid member of the cover, the rear end of the mirror holding part can be accessed from the second opening, and the mirror holding part can be moved in the front-rear direction relative to the emission part.

[0018] [Configuration 4] The laser welding machine according to configuration 2, characterized in that the lens storage section has a first recess for storing the condensing lens and a second recess provided on the front side of the first recess, and a protective lens is stored in the second recess so as to be removable through a storage opening of the lens storage section.

[0019] Normally, spatters generated from the workpiece during welding may enter the emission part from the front end of the emission part. In order to protect the condenser lens from such spatters, a protective lens is arranged in front of the condenser lens inside the emission part. This protective lens needs to be replaced periodically. With this configuration, the protective lens can be stored in the second recess of the lens storage part in front of the condenser lens stored in the first recess of the lens storage part so as to be easily removable and inserted.

[0020] [Configuration 5] A handle portion-side water passage having a handle portion-side water inlet and a handle portion-side water outlet is provided in the handle portion, A water cooling unit that cools the handle portion with water passing through the handle portion side water passage, The water cooling unit is A tank for storing the water; a feed pipe for feeding the water from the tank to the handle portion side water supply port; a return pipe for returning the water from the handle portion side drain port to the tank; a pump that sends the water stored in the tank to the feed pipe, 5. The laser welder according to any one of configurations 1 to 4, wherein the water stored in the tank is maintained within a predetermined temperature range.

[0021] In this configuration, water stored in the tank of the water cooling unit is pumped through a feed pipe from the handle-side water inlet to the handle-side water passage. The water passing through the handle-side water passage can cool the handle of the laser torch. When the handle is cooled, heat is not trapped in the handle of the laser torch during laser welding, and the worker can hold the handle for a longer period of time to perform welding work.

[0022] In addition, water is returned to the tank from the handle-side drain port through the return pipe, and the water stored in the tank is maintained within a predetermined temperature range. This prevents the temperature of the water stored in the tank from exceeding the predetermined temperature range, which would otherwise cause a decrease in the cooling capacity for the handle. Furthermore, even if the temperature at the welding site is low, the water stored in the tank is heated to within the predetermined temperature range when welding work begins, which shortens the preparation time for welding work.

[0023] [Configuration 6] the optical fiber portion has a cylindrical connector attached to an end portion opposite to the laser beam oscillator, the handle portion has a cylindrical socket, and the connector is detachably connected to an inside of the socket, The connector is provided with a connector-side water channel having a connector-side water inlet and a connector-side water outlet, The laser welding machine described in configuration 5, characterized in that a branch feed pipe branching off from the feed pipe is connected to the connector side water supply port, and a branch return pipe branching off from the return pipe is connected to the connector side drain port.

[0024] According to this configuration, the connector attached to the end of the optical fiber section can also be cooled by water using the water-cooling section that cools the handle section with water. This further cools the handle section, prevents heat from building up in the handle section that the operator holds, and further extends the continuous operation time of laser welding.

[0025] [Configuration 7] The laser welding machine according to configuration 5 or 6, wherein a plurality of the laser torches and the water cooling units are provided, one water cooling unit is provided corresponding to each of the laser torches, and a handle portion of the laser torch is cooled by the corresponding water cooling unit.

[0026] In this configuration, the handle of each laser torch is cooled by its corresponding water-cooling unit, which allows various welding operations to be performed independently and simultaneously for each laser torch, improving the efficiency of welding operations.

[0027] [Configuration 8] A wire supply unit supplies one or more wire-shaped welding materials to the laser torch, The laser torch has a nozzle attached to a front end of the emission part and a wire holder attached to the emission part, and a laser beam is emitted from the front end of the nozzle; 8. The laser welder according to any one of configurations 1 to 7, wherein the wire holder guides the welding material supplied from the wire supply unit forward of a front end portion of the nozzle.

[0028] In this configuration, one or more wire-shaped welding material supplied from the wire supply unit is guided to the front of the front end of the nozzle via the wire holder, so that during welding, the welding material is stably supplied to the welded portion of the workpiece, enabling stable bead formation in the welded portion of the workpiece and improving the mechanical strength of the welded portion of the workpiece.

[0029] [Configuration 9] 9. The laser welding machine according to configuration 8, wherein the wire supply unit is provided for each of the laser torches.

[0030] In this configuration, for example, even if a plurality of laser torches are provided, the thickness and number of wire-shaped welding materials can be changed in the welding performed by each laser torch. Effect of the Invention

[0031] The laser welding machine of the present invention can adjust the fore-aft position of the mirror inside the emission section and adjust the up-down position of the optical axis of the laser light by moving the rear end of the mirror holding section in the fore-aft direction relative to the emission section, making it possible to facilitate the centering operation described above. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0032] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a laser welding machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway side view showing a laser torch and a connector of a laser welding machine; [Diagram 3] Cross-sectional view showing the laser torch of a laser welding machine [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a first cover member of a laser torch of a laser welding machine is opened. [Diagram 5] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a second cover member of a laser torch of a laser welding machine is opened. [Figure 6] (a) is a partially cutaway cross-sectional view showing a state before a mirror adjustment part of a laser torch is moved forward and backward, and (b) is a partially cutaway cross-sectional view showing a state after a mirror adjustment part of a laser torch is moved forward and backward. [Figure 7] A side view of the laser torch with the cover removed, showing the gas lines and electrical cable connections. [Figure 8] Cross-sectional view taken along line AA in Figure 7. [Figure 9] Cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. [Figure 10] Cross-sectional view taken along line CC in Figure 7. [Figure 11] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a laser welding machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 12] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a laser welding machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0033] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A laser welder according to a first embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG.

[0034] As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the housing 2 includes a laser oscillator 5, a water cooling unit 6, and a control unit 7 inside. The laser oscillator 5 oscillates a laser beam under the control of the control unit 7. An optical fiber unit 8 is optically connected to the laser oscillator 5. The laser beam oscillated by the laser oscillator 5 is transmitted to the laser torch 3 via the optical fiber unit 8 (see Fig. 2). The laser beam oscillated from the laser oscillator 5 is a fiber laser. The output of the fiber laser is preferably within a range of 100 to 2000 W. The wavelength of the fiber laser is preferably within a range of 1060 to 1080 nm.

[0035] The water cooling unit 6 has a tank 9 that stores cooling water W for cooling the laser torch 3, a feed pipe 10 that feeds the cooling water W in the tank 9 to the laser torch 3, a return pipe 11 that returns the cooling water W from the laser torch 3 to the tank 9, and a pump 12 that feeds the cooling water W in the tank 9 to the feed pipe 10. The tank 9 is provided with a heater 9a that heats the cooling water W stored therein, and a chiller 9b that cools the cooling water W stored therein. The cooling water W stored in the tank 9 is maintained within a predetermined temperature range (for example, 25°C to 30°C) using the heater 9a and the chiller 9b based on the control of the control unit 7.

[0036] The feed pipe 10 has a branch feed pipe 10a that branches off at a position closer to the laser torch 3. The branch feed pipe 10a is connected to a connector 13 of the optical fiber unit 8, which will be described later. The return pipe 11 has a branch return pipe 11a that branches off from a position closer to the laser torch 3. The branch return pipe 11a is connected to a connector 13 of the optical fiber unit 8, which will be described later.

[0037] A connector 13 is attached to the end of the optical fiber unit 8 on the side opposite to the laser light oscillator 5 (the laser torch 3 side). The connector 13 is a cylindrical metal member, and is detachably connected to the handle unit 18 of the laser torch 3. The end of the optical fiber unit 8 on the laser torch 3 side is held by a sleeve (not shown) at the position of the cylindrical axis inside the connector 13. The connector 13 has a connector-side water passage 13a formed between its inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface of the optical fiber unit 8, and a connector-side water supply port 13b and a connector-side drain port 13c that communicate with the connector-side water passage 13a. A branch feed pipe 10a is connected to the connector-side water supply port 13b via a pipe joint. A branch return pipe 11a is connected to the connector-side drain port 13c via a pipe joint.

[0038] The housing 2 is provided with a gas pipe 14 for supplying a shielding gas to the laser torch 3, and an electric cable 15 connected to an external power source for supplying power to the laser torch 3. The shielding gas is an inert gas, and for example, nitrogen gas or argon gas can be used. The gas pipe 14 is connected to a gas cylinder (not shown) filled with the shielding gas, and the amount of the shielding gas supplied is controlled by the control unit 7.

[0039] The optical fiber section 8, the feed pipe 10, the return pipe 11, the gas pipe 14 and the electric cable 15 extending from the upper part of the housing 2 are bundled together and covered by a flexible cable cover 16 having a cylindrical shape.

[0040] The laser torch 3 has a cylindrical emission section 17 from which laser light is emitted from the front end, a cylindrical handle section 18 that is integrally formed at a position near the rear of the emission section 17, a switch section 19 that operates the laser light oscillator 5, a resin cover 20 that covers the emission section 17 and the handle section 18, and a nozzle 21 that is removably attached to the front end of the emission section 17.

[0041] 3, emission section 17 is a metallic cylindrical member having a longitudinal axis S. Emission section 17 is formed integrally with a front cylinder section 22, a lens housing section 23, a mirror housing section 24, and a rear cylinder section 25. Front cylinder section 22, lens housing section 23, mirror housing section 24, and rear cylinder section 25 are aligned in this order from the front side in the front-to-rear direction.

[0042] The front cylinder portion 22 has an inner peripheral surface 22a and a male thread portion 22b provided on the outer peripheral surface. The inner peripheral surface 22a is a cylindrical surface centered on the axis S. A collet 21a that holds the rear end of the nozzle 21 is housed inside the front cylinder portion 22. With the collet 21a housed inside the front cylinder portion 22, a collet nut 21b is screwed to the male thread portion 22b. The rear end portion of the nozzle 21 is chucked to the collet 21a by the collet nut 21b. At this time, the nozzle 21 is in a state of protruding forward from the front cylinder portion 22. A nozzle tip 21c is detachably attached to the front end (tip) of the nozzle 21.

[0043] A wire holder 40 is fixed to the lower part of the front cylinder portion 22. The wire holder 40 guides one or more wire-shaped welding materials Y supplied from the wire supply unit 4 to the front of the nozzle tip 21c of the nozzle 21.

[0044] As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the lens storage section 23 has an inner peripheral surface 23a, and a first recess 23b and a second recess 23c that communicate with the inside of the inner peripheral surface 23a. The inner peripheral surface 23a is a cylindrical surface centered on the axis S. The first recess 23b and the second recess 23c have a storage opening that opens upward, and are arranged side by side in the front-rear direction perpendicular to the axis S. The first recess 23b and the second recess 23c have a rectangular cross section perpendicular to the axis S. The lower surfaces (bottom surfaces) of the first recess 23b and the second recess 23c are located below the inner peripheral surface 23a.

[0045] A first holder 26a having a protective lens 26 attached thereto is fitted removably inside the first recess 23b. With the first holder 26a fitted inside the first recess 23b, the protective lens 26 intersects with the axis S so that the thickness direction is the front-rear direction. A second holder 27a having a condenser lens 27 attached thereto is fitted removably inside the second recess 23c. With the second holder 27a fitted inside the second recess 23c, the condenser lens 27 intersects with the axis S so that the thickness direction is the front-rear direction.

[0046] The mirror housing portion 24 has an inner peripheral surface 24a. The inner peripheral surface 24a is a cylindrical surface centered on the axis S. The inner diameter of the inner peripheral surface 24a is larger than the inner diameter of the inner peripheral surface 23a of the lens housing portion 23. A mirror 28 that refracts the laser light is disposed inside the mirror housing portion 24.

[0047] As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the rear cylinder portion 25 has an inner peripheral surface 25a and opens to the rear. The inner peripheral surface 25a is a cylindrical surface centered on the axis S. The inner diameter of the inner peripheral surface 25a is larger than the inner diameter of the inner peripheral surface 24a of the mirror housing portion 24. A female screw 25b is provided in the upper part of the rear end portion of the rear cylinder portion 25 along the vertical direction. A mirror adjustment portion 29 is fitted into the interior of the rear cylinder portion 25 from the rear. The mirror adjustment portion 29 has a sleeve 30 and a mirror holding portion 31 fitted into the sleeve 30 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction.

[0048] A circumferential groove 30a and a key groove 30b are provided on the outer circumferential surface of the front portion of the sleeve 30, and an O-ring is fitted in the circumferential groove 30a. A plurality of (two in this embodiment) female threads 30c are provided in the upper part of the rear portion of the sleeve 30, lined up in the front-rear direction. Each female thread 30c passes through the sleeve 30. A fixing screw 30d is screwed into each female thread 30c, and the mirror holder 31 is fixed to the sleeve 30 by the screwing of the fixing screws 30d.

[0049] The front portion of the sleeve 30 is fitted inside the rear cylinder portion 25, and an O-ring ensures airtightness between the inner peripheral surface 25a of the rear cylinder portion 25 and the sleeve 30. In the sleeve 30, a male screw member 25c serving as a key member is screwed into the female screw 25b of the rear cylinder portion 25, and the male screw member 25c engages with the key groove 30b. This engagement prevents the sleeve 30 from coming off the rear cylinder portion 25.

[0050] The mirror holding part 31 is cylindrical and has a built-in rotation actuator (not shown). The mirror 28 is held at a predetermined angle with respect to the axis S at the front end of the mirror holding part 31. This rotation actuator rotates (swings) the mirror 28 around the axis S within a predetermined angle range (for example, within a range of ±2.5 degrees with respect to a virtual line in the vertical direction). The mirror 28 is disposed in the mirror housing part 24 and refracts the laser light emitted from the optical fiber part 8 to the inside of the handle part 18 into the inside of the emission part 17. As shown in Figs. 6(a) and 6(b), the mirror holding part 31 can adjust the vertical position of the optical axis of the laser light to be refracted into the inside of the emission part 17 by moving the mirror holding part 31 in the forward and backward directions relative to the sleeve 30. To move the mirror holding part 31 in the forward and backward directions relative to the sleeve 30, the fixing screw 30d is loosened from the female screw 30c. As shown in Fig. 7, the mirror holding part 31 is connected to the electric cable 15 wired along the outside of the handle part 18.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 3, the handle portion 18 is provided integrally with the lower portion of the mirror housing portion 24 of the emission portion 17, extending downward and backward. The handle portion 18 is a metallic cylindrical member. An optical path 18a through which the laser light passes is provided inside the handle portion 18. A cylindrical socket 32 ​​is fixed to the lower end of the handle portion 18. The optical path 18a and the inside of the socket 32 ​​are in communication with each other, and the connector 13 is detachably attached to the socket 32. A collimating lens 18g is provided inside the optical path 18a. The collimating lens 18g collimates the laser light emitted from the optical fiber portion 8 into the optical path 18a.

[0052] As shown in Figures 8 and 9, the handle portion 18 is provided with a handle portion-side water passage 18b and a gas supply passage 18c in a portion forward of the light path 18a. The handle portion-side water passage 18b is provided on one side in the left-right direction (the right side in this embodiment) along the length of the handle portion 18. As shown in Figure 10, the handle portion-side water passage 18b branches off at the lower part of the handle portion 18, and has a handle portion-side water supply port 18d and a handle portion-side drain port 18e at the branched ends. The feed pipe 10 is connected to the handle portion-side water supply port 18d, and the return pipe 11 is connected to the handle portion-side drain port 18e.

[0053] The gas supply passage 18c is provided on the other side in the left-right direction of the handle portion 18 (the left side in this embodiment). The gas supply passage 18c has a gas supply port 18f provided on the upper part of the handle portion 18. The gas supply port 18f is connected to the gas piping 14. As shown in FIG. 7, the gas supply passage 18c is connected from the upper part of the handle portion 18 to the inside of the front side cylinder portion 22 through the lower part of the mirror housing portion 24 and the lower part of the lens housing portion 23. By providing the gas supply passage 18c, the shielding gas pressurized into the gas pipe 14 is supplied into the front side cylinder portion 22 and ejected from the tip of the nozzle 21.

[0054] As shown in Fig. 5, cover 20 is a resin member that covers emission portion 17, handle portion 18, and mirror holding portion 31. As shown in Fig. 4, cover 20 has a first opening 20c provided above lens housing portion 23 of emission portion 17, and a first lid member 20a that opens and closes first opening 20c. First opening 20c is provided at a position where storage openings of first recess 23b and second recess 23c of lens housing portion 23 are exposed when first lid member 20a is open.

[0055] 5, cover 20 has a second opening 20d provided on the rear end side of emission part 17 and a second lid member 20b that opens and closes second opening 20d. Second opening 20d is provided above the rear end of emission part 17. Second opening 20d is provided at a position where a portion from rear side cylinder part 25 of emission part 17 to the rear end of mirror holding part 31 is exposed when second lid member 20b is open.

[0056] The laser welder 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is configured as described above. In the laser welder 1, when the second cover member 20b is open, the fixing screw 30d of the sleeve 30 can be loosened by using, for example, a tool 41 to move the mirror holder 31 in the front-rear direction relative to the sleeve 30. Therefore, as shown in Figs. 6(a) and 6(b), the mirror 28 held by the mirror holder 31 can be easily moved in the front-rear direction together with the mirror holder 31. Therefore, in the laser welder 1, the laser light is emitted from the front end of the nozzle 21 of the emission part 17, and it is easy to align the optical axis of the laser light with the center of the opening hole of the nozzle tip 21c according to the shape of the nozzle tip 21c of the nozzle 21, which makes the above-mentioned centering operation easy and improves the workability of welding.

[0057] The laser welding machine 1 is also provided with a lens storage section 23 in the emission section 17. The lens storage section 23 is provided with a first recess 23b and a second recess 23c having a storage opening at an upper portion that is a part of the circumferential direction of the emission section 17. A first holder 26a having a protective lens 26 attached thereto is fitted in a removable manner inside the first recess 23b. A second holder 27a having a condenser lens 27 attached thereto is fitted in a removable manner inside the second recess 23c. Furthermore, the cover 20 has a first opening 20c located above the storage openings of the first recess 23b and the second recess 23c, and a first lid member 20a that opens and closes the first opening 20c. When the first lid member 20a is open, the storage openings of the first recess 23b and the second recess 23c are exposed (see FIG. 4). In this state, the protective lens 26 can be inserted and removed from the first recess 23b via the first holder 26a through the first opening 20c. Moreover, the condenser lens 27 can be inserted into and removed from the second recess 23c via the second holder 27a.

[0058] The laser welding machine 1 is provided with a handle portion-side water passage 18b in the handle portion 18. Water stored in the tank 9 of the water cooling unit 6 is sent from the handle portion-side water supply port 18d to the handle portion-side water passage 18b via the feed pipe 10 by the pump 12. The water passing through the handle portion-side water passage 18b can cool the handle portion 18 of the laser torch 3. As a result, heat is not trapped in the handle portion 18 of the laser torch 3 during laser welding, and the operator can hold the handle portion 18 for a longer period of time to perform welding work.

[0059] In addition, the water cooling unit 6 maintains the water stored in the tank 9 within a predetermined temperature range. This prevents the temperature of the water stored in the tank 9 from exceeding the predetermined temperature range, which would otherwise cause a decrease in the cooling capacity for the handle. Even if the temperature at the welding work site is low, the water stored in the tank 9 is heated to within the predetermined temperature range when welding work is started, which makes it possible to shorten the preparation time for welding work.

[0060] In the laser welding machine 1, the optical fiber section 8 has a cylindrical connector 13 at the end opposite to the laser light oscillator 5, the handle section 18 has a cylindrical socket 32, and the connector 13 is detachably connected to the inside of the socket 32. The connector 13 has a connector-side water passage 13a, and a connector-side water supply port 13b and a connector-side drain port 13c that communicate with the connector-side water passage 13a. A branch feed pipe 10a branching from the feed pipe 10 is connected to the connector-side water supply port 13b. A branch return pipe 11a branching from the return pipe 11 is connected to the connector-side drain port 13c. Therefore, the connector 13 attached to the end of the optical fiber section can also be cooled with water by using the water cooling section 6 that cools the handle section 18 with water.

[0061] The laser welding machine 1 includes a wire supply unit 4 that supplies a wire-shaped welding material Y. The laser torch 3 also has a wire holder 40 attached to the emission unit 17. The welding material Y supplied from the wire supply unit 4 is guided to the tip of the nozzle 21 of the laser torch 3 via the wire holder 40. Therefore, during welding, the welding material is stably supplied to the welded portion of the workpiece, making it possible to form a stable bead at the welded portion of the workpiece and improving the mechanical strength of the welded portion of the workpiece. The wire supply unit 4 shown in FIG. 1 supplies a plurality (two) of wire-shaped welding material Y, but is not limited thereto, and may supply one (single) wire-shaped welding material Y.

[0062] A laser welder 50 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in Fig. 11, this laser welder 50 differs from the above-described first embodiment in that it includes one housing 2, two laser torches 3, two wire supply units 4, two laser light oscillators 5, two water cooling units 6, and two control units 7. The other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, and therefore description thereof will be omitted.

[0063] As shown in FIG. 11, the laser welding machine 50 includes one housing 2, two laser torches 3, and a wire supply unit 4. The housing 2 includes two laser light oscillators 5, two water cooling units 6, and two control units 7 therein. The two control units 7 are provided in the upper part of the housing 2. Of the two control units 7, a first control unit 7a is located on the right side in the left-right direction (the left-right direction of the housing 2) when facing the front part of the housing 2, and a display unit and an operation unit of the first control unit 7a are arranged in the front part of the upper part of the housing 2. In addition, a second control unit 7b of the two control units 7 is located on the left side in the left-right direction of the housing 2, and a display unit and an operation unit of the second control unit 7b are arranged in the front part of the upper part of the housing 2.

[0064] The lower part of the housing 2 is divided into two sections, an upper section and an lower section. In the upper section of the housing 2, a first laser beam oscillator 5a of the two laser beam oscillators 5 and a first water cooling section 6a of the two water cooling sections 6 are arranged. In the lower section of the housing 2, a second laser beam oscillator 5b of the two laser beam oscillators 5 and a second water cooling section 6b of the two water cooling sections 6 are arranged. The temperature of the cooling water W in the tank 9 is displayed on the front section of the housing 2 of the two water cooling sections 6.

[0065] Of the two laser torches 3, the first laser torch 3a is connected to the first laser beam oscillator 5a via an optical fiber unit 8. A handle unit 18 of the first laser torch 3a is cooled by a first water cooling unit 6a. The optical fiber unit 8 of the first laser torch 3a, the feed pipe 10, the return pipe 11, the gas pipe 14, and the electric cable 15 are covered by a cable cover 16. The first laser beam oscillator 5a has its laser beam oscillation controlled by a first control unit 7a.

[0066] Of the two laser torches 3, the second laser torch 3b is connected to the second laser beam oscillator 5b via an optical fiber unit 8. A handle unit 18 of the second laser torch 3b is cooled by a second water cooling unit 6b. The optical fiber unit 8, feed pipe 10, return pipe 11, gas pipe 14 and electric cable 15 of the second laser torch 3b are covered by a cable cover 16. The second laser beam oscillator 5b has its laser beam oscillation controlled by a second control unit 7b.

[0067] The housing 2 is provided with storage recesses 51 on both side surfaces in the left-right direction of the housing 2. As shown in Fig. 12, the storage recesses 51 are recessed inward in the left-right direction of the housing 2 and open outward in the left-right direction. Wheels 52 are provided in each storage recess 51. Each storage recess 51 has a side door 53. The side door 53 is attached so as to be able to open and close between a state in which it covers the outside of the storage recess 51 in the left-right direction and a state in which it opens.

[0068] A cable cover 16 of the first laser torch 3a extends from inside the housing 2 into a storage recess 51 on the right side of the housing 2 in the left-right direction. The cable cover 16 of the first laser torch 3a is wound around a wheel 52, whereby the first laser torch 3a is stored in the storage recess 51 on the right side of the housing 2 in the left-right direction. In this stored state, a side door 53 on the right side of the housing 2 in the left-right direction can be closed.

[0069] A cutout 51a is provided on the front side below the storage recess 51 on the right side of the housing 2 in the left-right direction. The cable cover 16 of the first laser torch 3a passes through this cutout 51a, so that the first laser torch 3a can be taken out of the storage recess 51 with the side door 53 closed. The cable cover 16 of the second laser torch 3b extends from inside the housing 2 into the storage recess 51 on the left side of the housing 2 in the left-right direction. The structure of the storage recess 51 on the left side of the housing 2 in the left-right direction is the same as that of the storage recess 51 on the right side of the housing 2 in the left-right direction, so a description thereof will be omitted.

[0070] The housing 2 has a front door 54. The front door 54 is attached so as to be able to open and close between a state in which it covers the front portion of the housing 2 and a state in which it exposes the front portion of the housing 2. When the front door 54 is open, the temperature of the cooling water W in the tanks 9 of the two water cooling units 6 can be confirmed on a water temperature display unit (not shown).

[0071] The first laser torch 3a and the second laser torch 3b have a wire holder 40. The welding material Y supplied from the first wire supply unit 4a of the two wire supply units 4 is guided to the front end of the nozzle tip 21c of the nozzle 21 of the first laser torch 3a via the wire holder 40. The welding material Y supplied from the second wire supply unit 4b of the two wire supply units 4 is guided to the front end of the nozzle tip 21c of the nozzle 21 of the second laser torch 3b via the wire holder 40.

[0072] In the laser welding machine 50 of the second embodiment configured as described above, the first laser torch 3a cools the handle portion 18 by the corresponding first water cooling unit 6a. The second laser torch 3b cools the handle portion 18 by the corresponding second water cooling unit 6b. Therefore, the first laser torch 3a and the second laser torch 3b can perform various welding operations independently and simultaneously. For example, the first laser torch 3a can be used to perform temporary welding of a workpiece, and the second laser torch 3b can be used to perform main welding of the workpiece after temporary welding. In addition, for example, the first laser torch 3a and the second laser torch 3b can be used to simultaneously perform welding operations of workpieces that are separate members, thereby improving the efficiency of the welding operation.

[0073] Furthermore, in the laser welding machine 50, a first wire supply unit 4a is provided corresponding to the first laser torch 3a, and a second wire supply unit 4b is provided corresponding to the second laser torch 3b. That is, one wire supply unit 4 is provided corresponding to each laser torch 3. Therefore, the first wire supply unit 4a and the second wire supply unit 4b can supply wire-shaped welding material Y of a thickness and number suitable for welding each workpiece to the first laser torch 3a and the second laser torch 3b, respectively. [Explanation of symbols]

[0074] 1 Laser welding machine 2. Chassis 3 Laser torch 3a First laser torch 3b Second laser torch 4 Wire supply unit 4a First wire supply unit 4b Second wire supply unit 5 Laser Oscillator 6 Water cooling section 6a First water cooling section 6b Second water cooling section 7 Control section 8 Optical fiber section 9. Tank 10. Feed pipe 10a Branch feed piping 11 Return piping 11a Branch return pipe 13 Connectors 13a Connector side waterway 13b Connector side water inlet 13c Connector side drain port 14 Gas piping 15 Electrical Cables 16 Cable cover 17. Emitter 18 Handle 18a light path 18b Handle side water channel 18c Gas supply line 18d Handle side water inlet 18e Drain port on handle side 18f Gas supply port 19 Switch section 20 Cover 20a First cover member 20b Second cover member 20c First opening 20d Second opening 21 Nozzle 22 Front cylinder part 23 Lens storage section 23b First recess 23c Second recess 24 Mirror housing 25 Rear cylinder part 26 Protective Lens 26a First Holder 27 Condenser Lens 27a Second holder 28. Mirror 29 Mirror adjustment unit 30 Sleeve 30c female thread 30d Fixing screw 31 Mirror holder 32 Sockets 40 Wire holder 41 Tools 50 Laser Welding Machine S axis Y welding material

Claims

1. A laser light oscillator; an optical fiber section through which a laser beam oscillated from the laser beam oscillator is transmitted; a laser torch that emits the laser light transmitted by the optical fiber portion, The laser torch has a cylindrical emission part from a front end of which a laser beam is emitted, a cylindrical handle portion provided on a rear end side of the emission portion in a state of extending downward and to which the optical fiber portion is connected; a switch unit for causing the laser beam oscillator to oscillate a laser beam, The emission section has a mirror that refracts the laser light emitted from the optical fiber section into the handle section into the emission section, and a condensing lens that condenses the laser light refracted by the mirror, A laser welding machine that welds a workpiece with a laser beam emitted from a front end of a laser torch while an operator is holding a handle portion of the laser torch, a mirror holding part that is fitted into the inside of the rear end of the emission part so as to be movable in the front-rear direction, the mirror is held in a state in which it can move in the front-rear direction integrally with the mirror holding part, and the rear end of the mirror holding part protrudes from the rear end of the emission part.

2. 2. The laser welding machine according to claim 1, wherein the emission section has a storage opening provided at a portion of its circumference, and a lens storage section that stores the condenser lens so that the condenser lens can be inserted and removed through the storage opening.

3. The laser torch has a cover that covers the emission portion and the handle portion, the cover is in a state of covering a rear end portion of the mirror holding portion, the cover has a first opening that opens to the outside, a first lid member that opens and closes the first opening, a second opening that opens to the outside, and a second lid member that opens and closes the second opening, the first opening is provided at a position exposing a storage opening of the emission portion when the first cover member is open, 3. The laser welding machine according to claim 2, wherein the second opening is provided on the rear end side of the emission portion, and when the second cover member is open, the rear end of the mirror holding portion can be moved in the forward and backward directions from the second opening relative to the emission portion.

4. 3. The laser welding machine according to claim 2, wherein the lens storage section has a first recess for storing the condensing lens and a second recess provided in front of the first recess, and a protective lens is stored in the second recess so as to be removable through a storage opening of the lens storage section.

5. A handle portion-side water passage having a handle portion-side water inlet and a handle portion-side water outlet is provided in the handle portion, A water cooling unit that cools the handle portion with water passing through the handle portion side water passage, The water cooling unit is A tank for storing the water; a feed pipe for feeding the water from the tank to the handle portion side water supply port; a return pipe for returning the water from the handle portion side drain port to the tank; a pump that sends the water stored in the tank to the feed pipe, 4. The laser welder according to claim 1, wherein the water stored in the tank is maintained within a predetermined temperature range.

6. the optical fiber portion has a cylindrical connector attached to an end portion opposite to the laser beam oscillator, the handle portion has a cylindrical socket, and the connector is detachably connected to an inside of the socket, The connector is provided with a connector-side water channel having a connector-side water inlet and a connector-side water outlet, 6. The laser welding machine according to claim 5, wherein a branch feed pipe branching off from the feed pipe is connected to the connector side water inlet, and a branch return pipe branching off from the return pipe is connected to the connector side water outlet.

7. 6. The laser welding machine according to claim 5, wherein a plurality of the laser torches and the water cooling units are provided, one water cooling unit is provided corresponding to each of the laser torches, and a handle portion of the laser torch is cooled by the corresponding water cooling unit.

8. A wire supply unit supplies one or more wire-shaped welding materials to the laser torch, The laser torch has a nozzle attached to a front end of the emission part and a wire holder attached to the emission part, and a laser beam is emitted from the front end of the nozzle; 5. The laser welding machine according to claim 1, wherein the wire holder guides the welding material supplied from the wire supply section forward of a front end portion of the nozzle.

9. 9. The laser welding machine according to claim 8, wherein the wire supply unit is provided for each of the laser torches.

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