Laser beam machining apparatus, focus positioning device for laser beam machining apparatus, and converged laser beam diameter measuring device

• US 5,948,292 A
• Filed: 01/30/1998
• Issued: 09/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Miyagawa, Hirokazu, Sato, Shinji, Tanaka, Hisao, Usui, Akaru
• Primary Examiner(s): MILLS, GREGORY L
• Application Number:
  US09/016,308
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• Field of Search: 219/121.6, 219/121.67, 219/121.7, 219/121.75, 219/121.82, 219/121.84, 219/121.63
• US Class Current: 219/121.82
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/037 by pressing on the workpiece, e.g. pressing roller foot
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/046 Automatically focusing the laser beam
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/064 by means of optical elements, e.g. lenses, mirrors or prisms
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/0846 for moving elongated workpieces longitudinally, e.g. wire or strip material
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/14 using a fluid stream, e.g. a jet of gas, in conjunction with the laser beam; Nozzles therefor B23K26/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/1476 Features inside the nozzle for feeding the fluid stream through the nozzle
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/702 Auxiliary equipment

Abstract

The laser machining apparatus according to the present invention holds a plate-formed work W giving tension thereto, and comprises a driver base/a work base driving the work in the axial direction, a converging lens for a laser beam L, a laser machining head moving in a direction in which the laser beam L is focused onto the work, an upper work holding member having a nozzle for laser beam irradiation integrated thereto, a bellows for relatively and displaceably connecting the laser machining head and the upper work holding member in the focusing direction, and a lower fixed base/a highly slippery plate located and fixed at a position corresponding to a center of the nozzle, and the work is held between the upper work holding member and the lower fixed base/a highly slippery plate at a position adjacent to the laser beam machining position.

Claims

1. A laser beam machining apparatus, comprising:

a driver base for supporting a work giving the work a tensile force and moving the work in a horizontal direction;

a laser machining head, having an optical converging element for a laser beam, movable in a vertical direction in which the laser beam is focused on the work;

an upper work holding member having a nozzle for irradiating the laser beam;

a hollow telescopic contact member for connecting said laser machining head and said upper work holding member, wherein said laser machining head and said upper work holding member are movable relative to each other in the vertical direction; and

a lower fixed base fixed at a position corresponding to a central position of said nozzle;

wherein the work is held between said upper work holding member and said lower fixed base at a position adjacent to a laser machining position.

2. A laser beam machining apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a tapered through-hole, widening in a direction opposite to a side irradiated by the laser beam, is provided at a position irradiated by the laser beam on said lower fixed base.

3. A laser beam machining apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said upper work holding member has a cylindrical form and a slit for exhausting an assist gas.

4. A laser beam machining apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a surface of at least one of said upper work holding member and said lower fixed base, said surface facing to a work, is made from a surface material with high slipperiness.

5. A laser machining apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said driver base includes a rotary driver base.

6. A laser beam machining apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said driver base includes a pair of tension rollers for creating a tensile force of predetermined strength to the work to move the work in the horizontal direction.