Laser processing machine

• US 9,937,590 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2011
• Issued: 04/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bystronic Laser AG (Invico Asset Management AG)
• Original Assignee: Bystronic Laser AG (Invico Asset Management AG)
• Inventors: Cathry, Daniel, Imboden, Ernest, Bugmann, Tobias, Broger, David, Perrin, Thierry
• Primary Examiner(s): STAPLETON, ERIC S
• Application Number:
  US13/703,723
• Publication Number:
  US 20130112671A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,455 Days
• Field of Search: 21912167, 2940709
• 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 26/042 Automatically aligning the laser beam
• 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 26/1494 Maintenance of nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/38 by boring or cutting
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/705 Beam measuring device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49778 with aligning, guiding, or instruction

Abstract

Laser processing machines, such as laser cutting machine (LM), including a work table receiving workpiece (W), and work arm (1) with a laser cutting head (2). Laser cutting head (2) includes nozzle receiving device (7) and nozzle (D). Via nozzle (D) laser beam (11) may be directed onto work piece (W). Machine (LM) includes main drives moving work arm (1) and/or the laser cutting head (2) on X-Y-Z axes to process work piece (W), as well as an alignment unit to adjust laser beam (11). An adjusting station (3) includes receiving unit (31) fixing nozzle (D) and/or the nozzle receiving device (7) during centering of nozzle (D). The alignment unit has head element (5B) in laser cutting head (2). Head element (5B) receives nozzle (D) and/or the nozzle receiving device (7) and is slidable in X-Y directions, via the main drives. Head element (5B) may be fixed in a selected position, within the laser cutting head (2), via clamping device (12) releasable during nozzle centering at adjusting station (3).

Claims

1. A laser processing machine comprising:

a work arm;

a laser cutting head mounted on said work arm;

a nozzle receiver arranged in said work arm;

a nozzle configured to pass a laser beam, said nozzle connected to said nozzle receiver;

an alignment unit for adjusting the laser beam relative to said nozzle, said alignment unit including a head arrangement receiving said nozzle receiver;

an upper head section in said head arrangement;

a nozzle adjusting station, said nozzle adjusting station including a nozzle receiving unit configured to fix said nozzle against movement;

said alignment unit including a releasable clamping device configured to controllably release said nozzle for relative movement relative to said work arm and said laser cutting head;

laser head main drives operatively connected to controllably move said work arm and said laser cutting head relative to said nozzle when said nozzle receiving unit fixes said nozzle against movement and said clamping device releases said nozzle, said laser head main drives operatively connected to controllably move said work arm, said laser cutting head, and said nozzle for laser processing of workpieces; and

,

a lower head section in said head arrangement, said lower head section including a laterally-slidable head piece connected to said nozzle receiver.

2. The laser processing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said head piece is a cylindrical-core piece connected to said nozzle receiver.

3. A laser processing machine as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

said lower head section including an exterior housing operatively connected to said work arm through said upper head section, for movement with said work arm.

4. A laser processing machine as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

said releasable clamping device including an annular piston, said annular piston being arranged in an axially-extending annular space and being moveable between, (a) a first position in which said annular piston fixes said laterally-slidable head piece, and (b) a second position in which said annular piston releases said laterally-slidable head piece.

5. A laser processing machine as claimed in claim 4, further comprising:

said annular piston is pneumatically biased to said second position; and

,

at least one clamping surface is connected to said annular piston to release said laterally-slidable head piece in said second position.

6. A laser processing machine as claimed in claim 4, further comprising:

said annular piston is spring-biased to said first position; and

,

at least one clamping surface is connected to said annular piston to clamp said laterally-slidable head piece in said first position.

7. A laser processing machine as claimed in claim 4, further comprising:

said annular piston is pneumatically biased to said second position, and a first clamping surface is connected to said annular piston to release said laterally-slidable head piece in said second position;

said annular piston is spring-biased to said first position, and a second clamping surface is connected to said annular piston to clamp said laterally-slidable head piece in said first position; and

,

an interior flange of said annular piston forms said first and second clamping surfaces.

8. A laser processing machine as claimed in claim 7, further comprising:

said laterally-slidable head piece has an exterior flange, and said annular piston has an interior flange circumferentially spaced from said exterior flange.

9. A laser processing machine as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

said releasable clamping device includes a clamping unit; and

,

said clamping unit includes at least one spring unit.

10. A laser processing machine as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:

said clamping unit includes three spring assemblies.

11. The laser processing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said laterally-slidable head piece is arranged with a radial play having value in the range of 1.0 to 5.0 mm.

12. The laser processing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said laterally-slidable head piece is integral with said nozzle receiver.

13. A laser processing machine as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a work table for receiving material to be processed.

14. A laser processing machine as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a camera system provided underneath said nozzle receiving unit of said nozzle adjusting station, said camera system having a target for laser beam, said camera system having a removable absorption plate, and said camera system having a camera.

15. A laser processing machine as claimed in claim 14, further comprising:

an image processing unit operatively communicating with said camera to process laser penetration hole images.

16. A laser processing machine beam alignment system comprising:

a work arm;

a laser cutting head mounted on said work arm;

a nozzle receiver arranged in said work arm;

a nozzle configured to pass a laser beam, said nozzle connected to said nozzle receiver;

an alignment unit for adjusting the laser beam relative to said nozzle, said alignment unit including a head arrangement receiving said nozzle receiver;

an upper head section in said head arrangement;

laser head main drives operatively connected to controllably move said work arm and said head arrangement in an X-Y coordinate space relative to said nozzle when said nozzle receiving unit fixes said nozzle against movement and said clamping device releases said nozzle, said laser head main drives operatively connected to controllably move said work arm, said laser cutting head, and said nozzle for laser processing of workpieces;

a nozzle adjustment station disposed in the X-Y coordinate space, said nozzle adjustment station having a nozzle receiving unit fixing said nozzle against movement in the X-Y coordinate space;

said alignment unit including a releasable clamping device configured to controllably release said head arrangement for controlled X-Y coordinate positioning alignment by said at least one main laser head drive, relative to said work arm and said nozzle fixed in said nozzle adjustment station; and

a lower head section in said head arrangement, said lower head section including a laterally-slidable head piece connected to said nozzle receiver.

17. A laser processing machine beam alignment system as claimed in claim 16, further comprising:

a laterally-slidable head piece included in said releasable clamping device;

said releasable clamping device including an annular piston, said annular piston being arranged in an axially-extending annular space and being moveable between, (a) a first position in which said annular piston fixes said laterally-slidable head piece, and (b) a second position in which the said annular piston releases said laterally-slidable head piece.