Laser machining head for machining a workpiece by means of a laser beam

• US 6,777,646 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2002
• Issued: 08/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Precitec GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Precitec GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Schubert, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vy, Hung T
• Application Number:
  US10/200,188
• Publication Number:
  US 20030019855A1
• Time in Patent Office: 756 Days
• Field of Search: 219/121.67, 219/121.6, 219/121, 372/14
• US Class Current: 219/121.75
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/04 Automatically aligning, aiming or focusing the laser beam, e.g. using the back-scattered light

Abstract

A laser machining head for machining a workpiece by a laser beam. The head has a head housing through which the laser beam passes along a central axis. A carrier member for a lens optics system for focusing the laser beam is mounted on the head housing and is displaceable relative to the latter in the direction of the central axis. A first setting device includes a cable connected to the carrier member and a cable drum connected to the head housing for winding up the cable in order to move the carrier member towards the head housing. A second setting device causes the carrier member to be displaced in the direction away from the head housing, with the second setting device being separate from the first setting device.

Claims

1. A laser machining head for machining a workpiece by means of a laser beam, comprising:

a head housing through which the laser beam passes along a central axis;

a carrier member for a lens optics system for focusing the laser beam, said carrier member being mounted on the head housing and displaceable relative to the latter in the direction of the central axis;

a first setting device including a cable connected to the carrier member and a cable drum connected to the head housing, the cable extending from the carrier member to the cable drum only to be wound up thereon, in order to move the carrier member towards the head housing; and

a second setting device for displacing the carrier member in the direction away from the head housing, said second setting device being separate from the first setting device.

2. The laser machining head according to claim 1, wherein the second setting device is a compression spring arranged between the head housing and the carrier member.

3. The laser machining head according to claim 1, wherein the second setting device is a hydraulic device for the hydraulic displacement of the carrier member.

4. The laser machining head according to claim 1, wherein the head housing and the carrier member form a hermetically sealed inner chamber to which an excess pressure for the pneumatic displacement of the carrier member can be applied.

5. The laser machining head according to claim 4, wherein the excess pressure is suitable for displacing the carrier member and is constantly available in the inner chamber.

6. The laser machining head according to claim 5, wherein the second setting device has a blow-off valve so that in the event of a displacement of the carrier member by the first setting device a further rise in pressure in the inner chamber is prevented.

7. The laser machining head according to claim 4, wherein the excess pressure in the inner chamber is suitable for displacing the carrier member and is available only for a period of time which is needed for displacing the carrier member along a predetermined path.

8. The laser machining head according to claim 4, wherein the cable, the cable drum and a drive provided for them are arranged in the inner chamber.