Multiple split-beam laser processing apparatus generating an array of focused beams
First Claim
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1. A laser processing apparatus comprising:
- a laser oscillator;
a laser beam splitting and transmitting unit formed of a plurality of optical fibers arranged in a bundle, for splitting a laser beam emitted by said laser oscillator into a plurality of split laser beams and transmitting said split laser beams along respective ones of said optical fibers to respective emission ends of said optical fibers said optical fibers having respective incidence ends thereof disposed mutually closely together, positioned to receive said laser beam, and having said respective emission ends thereof spaced apart at regular intervals;
a split laser beam condensing optical system including a plurality of converging lenses each positioned in relation to a corresponding one of said emission ends, for focusing said split laser beams to produce respective condensed split laser beams;
workpiece support means for supporting a plurality of workpieces in relation to said split laser beam condensing optical system at respective positions for processing all of said workpieces simultaneously by respective ones of said condensed split laser beams;
an original laser beam condensing optical system for condensing an original laser beam emitted by said laser oscillator, to form a condensed laser beam having a value of angle of divergence which is substantially unchanged from an angle of divergence of said original laser beam; and
a beam scrambler formed of a transparent body having an elongated straight cylindrical shape, disposed between said original laser beam condensing optical system and said laser beam splitting and transmitting unit.
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Abstract
A laser processing apparatus includes a plurality of optical fibers formed into a bundle which is shaped such as to efficiently divide a laser beam into a plurality of split beams and transmit the split beams to respective converging lenses to be focused to have a high energy density when incident on respective workpieces. The optical fibers are shaped such as to each have a sufficiently large value of minimum radius of curvature to ensure that a small angle of divergence is maintained for each of the beams emitted from the fibers, thereby ensuring that the converging lenses can be small and inexpensive.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A laser processing apparatus comprising:
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a laser oscillator; a laser beam splitting and transmitting unit formed of a plurality of optical fibers arranged in a bundle, for splitting a laser beam emitted by said laser oscillator into a plurality of split laser beams and transmitting said split laser beams along respective ones of said optical fibers to respective emission ends of said optical fibers said optical fibers having respective incidence ends thereof disposed mutually closely together, positioned to receive said laser beam, and having said respective emission ends thereof spaced apart at regular intervals; a split laser beam condensing optical system including a plurality of converging lenses each positioned in relation to a corresponding one of said emission ends, for focusing said split laser beams to produce respective condensed split laser beams; workpiece support means for supporting a plurality of workpieces in relation to said split laser beam condensing optical system at respective positions for processing all of said workpieces simultaneously by respective ones of said condensed split laser beams; an original laser beam condensing optical system for condensing an original laser beam emitted by said laser oscillator, to form a condensed laser beam having a value of angle of divergence which is substantially unchanged from an angle of divergence of said original laser beam; and a beam scrambler formed of a transparent body having an elongated straight cylindrical shape, disposed between said original laser beam condensing optical system and said laser beam splitting and transmitting unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A laser processing apparatus including a laser oscillator, a plurality of optical fibers arranged for splitting a laser beam emitted by said laser oscillator into a plurality of split laser beams and transmitting said split laser beams along respective ones of said optical fibers to respective emission ends of said optical fibers, a plurality of processing heads respectively connected to said emission ends and having mounted therein respective converging lenses each optically coupled to a corresponding one of said emission ends, and a workpiece table for supporting a plurality of workpieces and enabling arbitrary adjustment of relative positions between said workpieces and processing heads;
wherein each of said workpieces has a work surface thereof positioned slightly farther from a corresponding one of said converging lenses than a focal position of said corresponding converging lens. - View Dependent Claims (8, 10, 11)
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9. A laser processing apparatus including a laser oscillator, a plurality of optical fibers arranged for splitting a laser beam emitted by said laser oscillator into a plurality of split laser beams and transmitting said split laser beams along respective ones of said optical fibers to respective emission ends of said optical fibers, a plurality of processing heads respectively connected to said emission ends, said processing heads having mounted therein respective converging lenses each optically coupled to a corresponding one of said emission ends and each of said processing heads being formed with a nozzle portion having a tip formed with a nozzle aperture through which is emitted a condensed split laser beam produced from the corresponding one of said converging lenses, a workpiece table for supporting a plurality of workpieces respectively adjacent to said processing heads, and means for passing a flow of a gas through each of said processing heads to be ejected through said nozzle aperture thereof;
wherein each of said nozzle portions of said processing heads has formed externally thereon a peripherally surrounding nozzle cover, said nozzle cover having a peripheral annular surface which is substantially coplanar with an end of said tip.
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12. A laser processing apparatus including a laser oscillator, a plurality of optical fibers arranged for splitting a laser beam emitted by said laser oscillator into a plurality of split laser beams and transmitting said split laser beams along respective ones of said optical fibers to respective emission ends of said optical fibers, a plurality of processing heads respectively connected to said emission ends and having mounted therein respective converging lenses each optically coupled to a corresponding one of said emission ends, and workpiece support means for supporting a plurality of workpieces adjacent to said processing heads;
wherein each of said converging lenses is mounted within a corresponding one of said processing heads at a position with respect to a corresponding one of said emission ends whereby a split laser beam emitted from said corresponding emission end has a diameter of divergence, at said position of said converging lens, which is substantially larger than an effective diameter of said converging lens. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A laser processing apparatus comprising:
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a laser oscillator; a first plurality of optical fibers, for splitting a laser beam emitted by said laser oscillator into a plurality of split laser beams and transmitting said split laser beams along respective ones of said optical fibers to respective emission ends said optical fibers, said optical fibers having respective incidence ends thereof positioned with said laser beam incident thereon, and having respective emission ends of said optical fibers spaced apart at regular intervals; a second plurality of optical fibers having respective incidence ends thereof optically coupled to respective ones of said emission ends of the first plurality of optical fibers, for transmitting said split laser beams; and receptacle means for enclosing and fixedly retaining said first plurality of optical fibers in a condition preventing mutual cross-overs among said first plurality of optical fibers, with said incidence ends of said first plurality of optical fibers respectively exposed at an incidence end of said receptacle means and said emission ends of said first plurality of optical fibers respectively exposed at an emission end of said receptacle means. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification