Laser Processing Apparatus Optical Head Grid Arrangement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laser processing apparatuses face challenges in maintaining constant speed conveyance of objects during high-speed processing, leading to processing deviations, especially when using multiple optical heads, due to deflection and meandering issues with thin films and other materials.
Innovation Solution
The laser processing apparatus employs a configuration where optical heads are arranged with a height less than twice the length of the laser light emission in the Z-axis direction, allowing for adjacent arrangement in the X-axis direction and shifting by the laser light's length in the Z-axis direction to minimize processing deviations and maintain productivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If multiple optical heads are arranged to increase laser processing width, then the laser processing width is improved, but the optical heads cannot be arranged in a straight line and must be shifted, causing processing deviation to increase with distance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by arranging optical heads in a two-dimensional grid pattern rather than a one-dimensional straight line. Multiple optical heads are arranged in both the width direction (to increase processing width) and the conveyance direction (to reduce processing deviation). This spatial reconfiguration allows the system to simultaneously achieve wide processing coverage and high precision by distributing optical heads across multiple dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the laser processing system into multiple independent optical heads arranged in a grid pattern. Each optical head processes a specific region independently, and the combined output achieves wide-area high-precision processing. This segmentation allows the system to handle large processing widths while maintaining precision through distributed processing units.
2Productivity
If the object is conveyed at high speed to increase productivity, then the productivity is improved, but it becomes difficult to maintain constant speed, causing processing deviation to increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs preliminary action by pre-positioning multiple optical heads at strategically determined locations before the conveying process begins. The arrangement positions and attitudes of optical heads are calculated in advance based on the object's conveyance characteristics, ensuring that even at high speeds, each optical head processes its designated region accurately without requiring real-time speed adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by making the optical head arrangement adaptable to the conveying speed. The position and attitude of each optical head are determined based on the conveyance speed characteristics, allowing the system to optimize processing precision for different speed conditions. This dynamic configuration enables high-speed conveying while maintaining processing accuracy.
3Device complexity
If a single optical head is used to simplify the system, then the device complexity is reduced, but the laser processing width is limited and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple optical heads into a coordinated processing system where each head handles a specific segment of the processing width. By combining the output of multiple optical heads arranged in a grid pattern, the system achieves wide-area processing capability while maintaining manageable complexity through standardized modular units.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration effectively suppresses processing deviations and ensures good laser processing across multiple optical heads without the need for multiple optical head types, reducing inventory and costs while allowing for increased conveying speed.
Implementation Method 1
a laser processing apparatus that irradiates an object to be irradiated with laser light to heat the object to be irradiated, thereby performing processing
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~4
AI summary
According to an embodiment, a laser processing apparatus, that perform laser processing on an object with laser light, includes a plurality of optical heads. The optical heads each includes a laser head unit that emits a plurality of laser light beams in an arranged manner in a predetermined direction, and an optical system that focuses the emitted plurality of laser light beams on the object conveyed relatively with respect to the laser head unit in a conveying direction intersecting the predetermined direction. The optical heads each includes a first optical head group and a second optical head group in which the optical heads are adjacent to each other in the predetermined direction. The first optical head group and the second optical head group are adjacent to each other in the conveying direction and arranged while being shifted from each other by a predetermined length in the predetermined direction.