Laser Marker Alignment Structure for Accurate Oscillator Replacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing laser markers face challenges in accurately positioning the laser oscillator during replacement to prevent damage to the scanning unit, especially when the laser oscillator is inserted within the scanning unit.
Innovation Solution
The laser marker employs a precise positioning mechanism using guide portions and pins on the base and the laser oscillation unit, allowing the expander of the laser oscillation unit to be accurately aligned and inserted into the scanning unit, ensuring high accuracy and preventing contact with the scanning unit during replacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If the laser oscillator is inserted into the scanning unit for compact design, then device integration is improved, but positioning accuracy deteriorates causing potential damage during replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a positioning pin as an intermediary element that mediates between the laser oscillator and the scanning unit. The positioning pin fits into a positioning hole in the laser oscillator and a corresponding positioning groove in the scanning unit, providing precise positioning without requiring direct complex positioning structures between the two components. This resolves the contradiction by enabling accurate positioning (improving manufacturing precision) while maintaining the integrated compact design (improving area utilization).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the positioning function into distinct components: a positioning pin on the laser oscillator, a positioning hole for receiving the pin, and a positioning groove for guiding the pin. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the laser oscillator can be designed for compact integration while the scanning unit provides the positioning structure, thus resolving the contradiction between integration and positioning accuracy.
2Ease of repair
If the laser oscillator is made detachable for easy replacement, then ease of repair is improved, but positioning stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary positioning action through the positioning pin that is pre-configured on the laser oscillator. Before the laser oscillator is fully installed or replaced, the positioning pin automatically engages with the positioning hole and groove, ensuring correct positioning is established in advance. This preliminary positioning action maintains stability during the detachable replacement process, resolving the contradiction between ease of repair and positioning stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning pin serves as an intermediary that maintains stable positioning relationships even when the laser oscillator is detachable. During replacement, the pin remains on the laser oscillator and guides its reinstallation into the correct position, ensuring positioning stability is preserved throughout the repair process while maintaining ease of replacement.
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a laser marker where positioning of a laser oscillation unit is performed with accuracy with respect to a scanning unit in which an expander of the laser oscillation unit is inserted. A laser marker 1 includes a laser oscillation unit 12, and a base 10 having a scanning unit configured to scan laser light of the laser oscillation unit 12, and an insertion part provided to the scanning unit, an expander 82 of the laser oscillation unit 12 being inserted in the insertion part in a case the laser oscillation unit 12 is mounted. The base 10 has a downstream-side first guide portion 58, and a restriction part 62 configured to restrict sliding of the laser oscillation unit 12 on the base 10. The laser oscillation unit 12 has a downstream-side second guide portion 92 defining a mounting direction MD of the laser oscillation unit 12 by engaging with the downstream-side first guide portion 58 of the base 10, and a contact part 94 in contact with the restriction part 62 of the base 10 in a case the laser oscillation unit 12 is mounted to the scanning unit.