Laser working apparatus and method of controlling laser working apparatus

• US 20080035619A1
• Filed: 08/13/2007
• Published: 02/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Yoshikawa, Nobuhiro, Hamaguchi, Yuji
• Granted Patent: US 8,168,919 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/121.79
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/04 Automatically aligning, aiming or focusing the laser beam, e.g. using the back-scattered light
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/043 along the beam path, i.e. alignment of laser beam axis relative to laser beam apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/0884 in at least in three axial directions, e.g. manipulators, robots
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1664 characterised by motion, path, trajectory planning
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1671 characterised by simulation, either to verify existing program or to create and verify new program, CAD/CAM oriented, graphic oriented programming systems
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/40519 Motion, trajectory planning
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45138 Laser welding

Abstract

Disclosed is a laser working apparatus including: a laser emitting apparatus provided with a reflector which changes the direction of any one of a laser beam and a visible light; a robot which moves the laser emitting apparatus; and a robot control apparatus which, when laser working is performed, controls the laser emitting apparatus so that the laser beam can draw a predetermined working pattern on the basis of a predetermined working position on a workpiece, and, when an operation checking work is performed, controls the laser emitting apparatus so that the visible light beam can be emitted only to a reference position of the working pattern.

Claims

1. A laser working apparatus comprising:

a laser emitter provided with a reflector which changes a direction of a laser beam;

a mover which moves the laser emitter;

a controller which controls the mover so as to move the laser emitter in accordance with a previously taught movement route, and which controls also the laser emitter so that the laser beam can draw a predetermined working pattern; and

a working position checking controller which controls the mover so as to move the laser emitter in accordance with the movement route, and which also controls the laser emitter so that any one of a laser beam or a visible light which is inputted in the laser emitter can draw a checking pattern indicating a reference position of the working pattern.

2. The laser working apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the working position checking controller draws the checking pattern over the same time period as required for drawing the working pattern when a laser working is performed.

3. The laser working apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the working position checking controller stops movement of the reflector over the same time period as required for drawing the working pattern when laser working is performed.

4. The laser working apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reference position is a central position of the working pattern.

5. The laser working apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the working-position checking controller is provided with two alternative modes including a central position mode in which the central position of the working pattern is drawn as the checking pattern and a working pattern mode in which a pattern same as the working pattern is drawn as the checking pattern.

6. A method of controlling a laser working apparatus which includes laser emitter provided with a reflector which changes the direction of a laser beam and a mover which moves the laser emitter, the method comprising:

when working is performed, causing the mover to move the laser emitter in accordance with a previously taught movement route, and also, controlling the laser emitter so that the laser beam emitted from the laser emitter can draw a predetermined working pattern for working; and

when teaching operations are checked, causing the mover to move the laser emitter in accordance with a previously taught movement route, and also, controlling the laser emitter so that any one of a laser beam and a visible light inputted in the laser emitter can draw a checking pattern indicating a reference position of the working pattern.

7. A laser working apparatus comprising:

means for emitting a laser beam, the means being provided with a reflector which changes a direction of a laser beam;

moving means for moving the laser emitting means;

means for controlling the moving means so as to move the laser emitting means in accordance with a previously taught movement route, and which controls also the laser emitting means so that the laser beam can draw a predetermined working pattern; and

working position checking control means which controls the moving means so as to move the laser emitting means in accordance with the movement route, and which also controls the laser emitting means so that any one of a laser beam or a visible light which is inputted in the laser emitting means can draw a checking pattern indicating a reference position of the working pattern.