Irradiation control device and irradiation control method

Abstract

To irradiate a recessed part or an inner peripheral part of steel material with a laser beam.SOLUTION: An irradiation control device includes a light source for emitting a laser beam, and a light scanning unit for sequentially switching an irradiation position of the laser beam emitted from the light source along a surface of a recessed part or an inner peripheral part in steel material having the recessed part or the inner peripheral part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] One embodiment of the present invention relates to an irradiation control device and an irradiation control method.

Background Art

[0002] A laser cleaning device that removes an object to be removed on a base material by irradiating it with laser light is known. The laser cleaning device irradiates the object to be removed with laser light, causes the object to absorb and evaporate the energy of the laser light, and peels the object to be removed from the base material by the shock wave and thermal expansion pressure during the irradiation of the laser light.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Existing laser cleaning devices mainly aim to remove objects to be removed on the exposed surface. In contrast, the inner peripheral part of a hollow annular member, the concave part of an engine block, etc. are in deep places, so it is not easy to irradiate them with laser light. Therefore, existing laser cleaning devices have not been effectively utilized for removing deposits such as rust on the concave parts and inner peripheral parts of steel materials. Therefore, one embodiment of the present invention provides an irradiation control device and an irradiation control method that enable laser light to be irradiated onto the concave part or inner peripheral part of a steel material.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] To solve the above problems, according to one embodiment of the present invention, an irradiation control device is provided, comprising a light source that emits laser light, and an optical scanning unit that sequentially switches the irradiation position of the laser light emitted from the light source along the surface of the recess or inner circumference of a steel material having a recess or inner circumference. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0006] [Figure 1] A block diagram showing the schematic configuration of the irradiation control device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] A block diagram showing the schematic configuration of the irradiation control device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] A block diagram showing the schematic configuration of the irradiation control device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 4] A block diagram showing the schematic configuration of the irradiation control device according to the third embodiment. [Figure 5] A schematic external view of the irradiation control device according to the fourth embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0007] Embodiments of the irradiation control device and irradiation control method will be described below with reference to the drawings. The following description will focus on the main components of the irradiation control device, but there may be components and functions of the irradiation control device that are not shown or described. The following description does not exclude any components or functions not shown or described.

[0008] (First embodiment) Figures 1 and 2 are block diagrams illustrating the schematic configuration of the irradiation control device 1 according to the first embodiment. The irradiation control device 1 in Figures 1 and 2 is characterized by sequentially switching the irradiation position of the laser beam emitted from the laser cleaner 2 along the surface of the recess 5 or inner circumference 6 of the steel material 4.

[0009] Laser cleaner 2 is a light source that periodically emits short-pulse laser light in the near-infrared band, for example. A commercially available, general-purpose product can be used for laser cleaner 2. Alternatively, a light source that emits short-pulse laser light may be used instead of laser cleaner 2.

[0010] The steel material 4 irradiated with laser light has recesses 5 or an inner circumference 6. Figure 1 shows an example in which the steel material 4 has recesses 5. The size, shape, and number of recesses 5 are arbitrary. For example, the steel material 4 in Figure 1 may have multiple recesses 5 through which pistons, etc., are inserted and removed, like an engine block. Figure 2 shows an example in which the steel material 4 has an inner circumference 6. The steel material 4 in Figure 2 is a hollow annular member.

[0011] Thus, the irradiation control device 1 according to the first embodiment is not intended to irradiate an exposed flat surface (hereinafter referred to as the exposed surface) with laser light, but rather to irradiate a recess 5 that is recessed from the exposed surface, or an inner circumference 6 located inside the exposed surface, with laser light to modify the surface of the recess 5 or the inner circumference 6. It should be noted that the irradiation control device 1 according to the first embodiment does not exclude the irradiation of the exposed surface with laser light; in addition to irradiating the recess 5 or the inner circumference 6 with laser light, it may also irradiate the exposed surface with laser light.

[0012] Here, modification of the surface of the recess 5 or inner circumference 6 includes not only changing the composition or structure of the recess 5 or inner circumference 6, but also removing any deposits such as rust that have adhered to the surface of the recess 5 or inner circumference 6.

[0013] The irradiation control device 1 in Figure 1 comprises an optical scanning unit 7 and a scanning system movement support unit 8. The optical scanning unit 7 in Figure 1 sequentially switches the irradiation position of the laser beam emitted from the laser cleaner 2 along the surface of the recess 5 or inner circumference 6 of the steel material 4. Typically, the optical operation unit irradiates the entire area of ​​the recess 5 or inner circumference 6 of the steel material 4 with laser beam. The surface of the recess 5 or inner circumference 6 of the steel material 4 is modified by irradiation with laser beam.

[0014] The optical scanning unit 7 in Figure 1 has a reflective member 9. The reflective member 9 reflects the laser light emitted from the laser cleaner 2. The reflected laser light is irradiated onto the recess 5 or inner circumference 6 of the steel material 4. By sequentially switching the normal direction of the reflective surface of the reflective member 9 relative to the propagation direction of the laser light emitted from the laser cleaner 2, the propagation direction of the laser light reflected by the reflective member 9 can be sequentially changed.

[0015] The reflective member 9 is rotatable around a rotation axis. The rotation axis is, for example, a hollow annular cylindrical member 10. The reflective member 9 is attached to one end of the cylindrical member 10. The hollow portion of the cylindrical member 10 functions as an optical waveguide for propagating the laser light emitted from the laser cleaner 2.

[0016] The other end of the cylindrical member 10 is joined to the reflector rotating part 11. The cylindrical member 10 and the reflector rotating part 11 rotate and move together as a single unit. A belt 12 is stretched across the reflector rotating part 11, and this belt 12 is also stretched across the rotating shaft 13a of the first motor 13. The belt 12 rotates in accordance with the rotation of the rotating shaft 13a of the first motor 13, the cylindrical member 10 rotates in accordance with the rotation of the belt 12, and the reflector 9 rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the cylindrical member 10. Laser light propagating through the hollow part of the cylindrical member 10 is irradiated onto the reflector 9. When the cylindrical member 10 rotates, the normal direction of the reflective surface of the reflector 9 with respect to the propagation direction of the laser light propagating through the hollow part of the cylindrical member 10 changes, so the reflection direction of the laser light irradiated onto the reflector 9 changes. As a result, the reflection direction of the laser light irradiated onto the reflector 9 changes by an angle of 360 degrees during one rotation of the cylindrical member 10. In other words, the reflective member 9 reflects the laser light that has propagated through the hollow portion of the cylindrical member 10 in the direction normal to the outer surface of the cylindrical member 10.

[0017] The scanning system movement support unit 8 in Figure 1 moves the laser cleaner 2 and the optical scanning unit 7 together along the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical member 10. In this specification, the direction along the rotation axis of the reflective member 9, i.e., the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical member 10, is referred to as the first direction X.

[0018] The scanning system movement support part 8 is joined with the reflecting member rotating part 11 so as to be rotatable, and the first motor 13 and the laser cleaner 2 are joined thereto. The scanning system movement support part 8 moves in the longitudinal direction of the lead screw part 15 (the first direction X) along with the rotation of the lead screw part 15 that extends in the longitudinal direction (the first direction X) of the cylindrical member 10 by means of a ball screw (not shown). A belt 16 is wound around an end part of the lead screw part 15, and this belt 16 is also wound around the rotation shaft 17a of the second motor 17. When the rotation shaft 17a of the second motor 17 rotates, the lead screw part 15 rotates via the belt 16. When the lead screw part 15 rotates, the scanning system movement support part 8 moves in the longitudinal direction (the first direction X) of the lead screw part 15 by means of the ball screw inside the scanning system movement support part 8. Thereby, the reflecting member rotating part 11, the cylindrical member 10, and the reflecting member 9 that are rotatably supported by the scanning system movement support part 8 move in the first direction X.

[0019] In this way, while moving in the first direction X, the reflecting member 9 rotates around the first direction X. Thereby, the reflecting member 9 can irradiate the entire area of the recess 5 of the steel material 4 with laser light. In the irradiation control device 1 of FIG. 2, the reflecting member 9 is disposed inside the inner peripheral part 6 of the steel material 4 having a hollow structure. By providing the cylindrical member 10 and the reflecting member rotating part 11 for rotating the reflecting member 9, and by providing the scanning system movement support part 8 for moving the reflecting member 9 in the first direction X, it becomes possible to irradiate the entire area of the inner peripheral part 6 of the steel material 4 having a hollow structure with laser light. [[ID=Z]]

[0020] By irradiating the recess 5 of the steel material 4 in FIG. 1 or the inner peripheral part 6 of the steel material 4 in FIG. 2 with laser light, the surface of the recess 5 or the inner peripheral part 6 of the steel material 4 can be modified. More specifically, the object to be removed attached to the recess 5 or the inner peripheral part 6 of the steel material 4 absorbs the energy of the laser light and evaporates, and the object to be removed can be peeled off from the recess 5 or the inner peripheral part 6 by the shock wave and the thermal expansion pressure during the irradiation of the laser light.

[0021] Thus, in the first embodiment, the reflecting member 9 is disposed in the recess 5 or the inner peripheral portion 6 of the steel material 4. While rotating the second motor 17 to move the reflecting member 9 along the propagation direction of the laser beam (the first direction X), the first motor 13 can be rotated to rotate the reflecting member 9 around the propagation direction of the laser beam. As a result, the entire area of the recess 5 or the inner peripheral portion 6 of the steel material 4 can be irradiated with the laser beam, and the surface of the recess 5 or the inner peripheral portion 6 can be modified.

[0022] (Second Embodiment) In the second embodiment, the steel material 4 is moved without moving the light scanning unit 7.

[0023] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the irradiation control device 1 according to the second embodiment. In FIG. 3, the same reference numerals are given to the components common to FIGS. 1 and 2, and the following description will focus on the differences.

[0024] The irradiation control device 1 in FIG. 3 includes a fixed support portion 21 instead of the scanning system moving support portion 8 in FIG. 1. Further, the irradiation control device 1 in FIG. 3 includes a steel material moving support portion 22. Furthermore, the irradiation control device 1 in FIG. 3 does not include the second motor 17, the belt 16, the lead screw portion 15, and the ball screw portion in FIG. 1.

[0025] The fixed support portion 21 rotatably supports the reflecting member rotating portion 11 and supports the first motor 13 and the laser cleaner 2. The position of the fixed support portion 21 is fixed.

[0026] The steel material movement support unit 22 moves the steel material 4 in a direction at least along the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical member 10. Typically, the steel material movement support unit 22 moves the steel material 4 in three axial directions XYZ. The three axial directions XYZ are, for example, directions that are 90 degrees apart from each other. The steel material movement support unit 22 moves the steel material 4 in three axial directions XYZ in synchronization with the rotation of the reflector member rotation unit 11. This makes it possible to equalize the optical path length from the laser light reflected by the reflector member 9 to the recess 5 or inner circumference 6. More specifically, the steel material movement support unit 22 can move the steel material 4 in three axial directions XYZ such that the optical path length from the laser light irradiation position of the reflector member 9 to the irradiation position of the recess 5 or inner circumference 6 of the steel material 4 is equal whether the laser light reflected by the reflector member 9 propagates in a predetermined direction or in a direction other than the predetermined direction.

[0027] For example, if the recess 5 or inner circumference 6 of the steel material 4 is longer in the front-to-back direction of the paper than in the vertical direction of Figure 3, the scanning system movement support unit 8 in Figures 1 and 2 cannot maintain a constant optical path length for the laser beam irradiated onto the recess 5 or inner circumference 6 of the steel material 4. However, in the irradiation control device 1 in Figure 3, the steel material movement support unit 22 can move the steel material 4 in three axes XYZ, so even if the recess 5 or inner circumference 6 has an arbitrary shape, the laser beam can be irradiated over the entire area of ​​the recess 5 or inner circumference 6 with a constant optical path length.

[0028] Figure 3 shows an example of irradiating a recess 5 of the steel material 4 with laser light, but the irradiation control device 1 according to the second embodiment can also irradiate the inner circumference 6 of the steel material 4 with laser light, similar to Figure 2.

[0029] Thus, in the irradiation control device 1 according to the second embodiment, a fixed support part 21 is provided instead of the scanning system movement support part 8 in Figures 1 and 2, eliminating the need to provide the second motor 17, belt 16, lead screw part 15, and ball screw part in Figure 1, thus simplifying the configuration. Furthermore, since a steel material movement support part 22 is provided that allows the steel material 4 to be moved in three axial directions XYZ, laser light can be irradiated over the entire area of ​​any shape and size recess 5 or inner circumference 6 with a constant optical path length.

[0030] The steel material movement support unit 22 does not necessarily need to move the steel material 4 in all three axes (X, Y, Z); it is sufficient if it can move the steel material 4 in the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical member 10. If the cross-sectional shape of the recess 5 or inner circumference 6 in the cross-section of the steel material 4 in the depth direction of the paper is a small circle, the steel material movement support unit 22 can irradiate the entire area of ​​the recess 5 or inner circumference 6 with a nearly constant optical path length if it can move the steel material 4 only in the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical member 10. Therefore, the steel material movement support unit 22 does not necessarily need to move the steel material 4 in all three axes (X, Y, Z); it is sufficient if it can move the steel material 4 in at least one axis.

[0031] (Third embodiment) The third embodiment involves rotating an annular steel material 4 having a hollow section.

[0032] Figure 4 is a block diagram illustrating the schematic configuration of the irradiation control device 1 according to the third embodiment. In Figure 4, components common to Figures 1 to 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the differences will be explained below. The irradiation control device 1 in Figure 4 includes a reflective member fixing part 23 instead of the reflective member rotating part 11 in the irradiation control device 1 according to the first and second embodiments. The reflective member fixing part 23 is fixed to the scanning system movement support part 8. The scanning system movement support part 8 has the same structure as in Figure 1 and moves in the left-right direction (first direction X) in Figure 4 along the lead screw part 15 via a ball screw part. The lead screw part 15 is stretched between the rotating shaft 17a of the second motor 17 and a belt 16, and when the second motor 17 rotates the rotating shaft 17a, the lead screw part 15 also rotates accordingly.

[0033] Furthermore, the irradiation control device 1 shown in Figure 4 is equipped with a steel material rotating unit 24 for rotating the steel material 4. The steel material rotating unit 24 rotates the steel material 4 along the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical member 10. The steel material rotating unit 24 has a chuck 25 that grips the outer circumferential surface of the hollow annular steel material 4, and a rotating mechanism unit 26 that rotates the steel material 4 gripped by the chuck 25. The rotating mechanism unit 26 rotates the steel material 4 gripped by the chuck 25 around the central axis of the steel material 4.

[0034] The reflective member 9 in Figure 4 is movable in the left-right direction (first direction X) of Figure 4, but it cannot rotate around the longitudinal circumference of the cylindrical member 10. Instead, the steel material 4 rotates along the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical member 10. This allows the laser light reflected by the reflective member 9 to irradiate the entire inner circumference 6 of the steel material 4, similar to the first embodiment.

[0035] Figure 4 shows an example of irradiating an annular steel material 4 having a hollow portion with laser light, but as shown in Figures 1 and 3, it is also possible to irradiate a steel material 4 having a recess 5 with laser light. In this case, with the outer circumferential surface of the steel material 4 gripped by the chuck 25, the rotating mechanism 26 rotates the steel material 4 along its outer circumferential surface.

[0036] Thus, in the third embodiment, by rotating the steel material 4 having the recess 5 or inner circumference 6, the entire area of ​​the recess 5 or inner circumference 6 of the steel material 4 can be irradiated with laser light, similar to the case where the reflective member 9 is rotated.

[0037] (Fourth embodiment) The fourth embodiment involves using a fiberscope to irradiate the recess 5 or inner circumference 6 of the steel material 4 with laser light. The steel material 4 is, for example, an annular curved member having a hollow portion.

[0038] Figure 5 is a schematic external view of the irradiation control device 1 according to the fourth embodiment. The irradiation control device 1 in Figure 5 is equipped with a fiberscope 31 that can be inserted into or removed from the recess 5 or inner circumference 6 of the steel material 4.

[0039] The fiberscope 31 has an insertion section 32 and an operating section 33. The insertion section 32 is inserted into a recess 5 or inner circumference 6 of the steel material 4 and switches the direction of laser beam emission according to the operating instructions of the operating section 33. The insertion section 32 has a flexible section 34, a curved section 35, and a tip section 36, starting from the side closest to the operating section 33. The flexible section 34 is positioned between the operating section 33 and the curved section 35 and is flexible. The curved section 35's curvature can be arbitrarily adjusted by adjusting the pulling direction and pulling force of the wire extending from the operating section 33. The curved section 35 corresponds to the optical scanning section 7. The tip section 36 emits laser beam in a direction along the curvature direction of the curved section 35.

[0040] The operating unit 33 has an operating knob 37 that indicates the curvature direction of the curved section 35. By rotating this operating knob 37, the curved section 35 can be curved in any direction according to the amount of rotation of the operating knob 37.

[0041] Furthermore, a monitoring device 38 can be connected to the operating unit 33 as needed. The monitoring device 38 displays the surface of the recess 5 or inner circumference 6 of the steel material 4, as captured by an imaging device (not shown) attached to the tip 36. The operator can change the curvature direction of the curved section 35 and irradiate the laser beam in the desired direction by operating the operating knob 37 while viewing the monitor screen.

[0042] Figure 5 shows an example in which an operator controls the curvature direction of the curved section 35 by operating the control knob 37, but a function may be provided that allows the curved section 35 to automatically switch the curvature direction continuously in a 360-degree direction. Furthermore, a function may be provided that allows the insertion position of the insertion section 32 to be continuously switched. By providing these two functions, the laser beam can be irradiated over the entire inner circumference 6 of the hollow annular steel material 4.

[0043] Thus, in the fourth embodiment, since the laser beam is irradiated onto the recess 5 or inner circumference 6 of the steel material 4 using the fiberscope 31, the configuration of the irradiation control device 1 can be significantly simplified compared to the first to third embodiments.

[0044] The aspects of this disclosure are not limited to the individual embodiments described above, but include various modifications that a person skilled in the art could conceive, and the effects of this disclosure are not limited to those described above. In other words, various additions, modifications, and partial deletions are possible, as long as they do not depart from the conceptual idea and spirit of this disclosure derived from the claims and their equivalents. [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] 1. Irradiation control device, 2. Laser cleaner, 4. Steel material, 5. Recess, 6. Inner circumference, 7. Optical scanning unit, 8. Scanning system movement support unit, 9. Reflecting member, 10. Cylindrical member, 11. Reflecting member rotation unit, 12. Belt, 13. First motor, 13a. Rotating shaft, 15. Lead screw unit, 16. Belt, 17. Second motor, 17a. Rotating shaft, 21. Fixed support unit, 22. Steel material movement support unit, 23. Reflecting member fixing unit, 24. Steel material rotation unit, 25. Chuck, 26. Rotating mechanism unit, 31. Fiberscope, 32. Insertion unit, 33. Operating unit, 34. Flexible unit, 35. Curved unit, 36. Tip unit, 37. Operating knob, 38. Monitoring device

Claims

1. A light source that emits laser light, An optical scanning unit that sequentially switches the irradiation position of laser light emitted from the light source along the surface of the recess or inner circumference of a steel material having a recess or inner circumference, A curved section having an optical waveguide capable of varying the propagation direction of laser light from the light source, An emission unit is positioned on one end of the curved portion and emits laser light into the recess or the inner circumference in a propagation direction corresponding to the bending direction of the curved portion, An irradiation control device comprising an operating unit positioned on the other end of the curved portion and indicating the bending direction of the curved portion.

2. The irradiation control device according to claim 1, wherein the optical scanning unit modifies the surface of the recess or the inner circumferential portion by irradiation with the laser light.

3. A curved portion having an optical waveguide capable of varying the propagation direction of laser light emitted from a light source is arranged along the surface of the recess or inner circumference of a steel material having a recess or inner circumference. A laser beam is emitted from an emission unit located at one end of the curved portion into the recess or the inner circumference in a propagation direction corresponding to the bending direction of the curved portion. A method for controlling irradiation, wherein an operating unit located on the other end of the curved portion is used to indicate the bending direction of the curved portion.

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