IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,786,991
Granted Patent B2
US 11,786,991 · App. 16/197,990 · Granted Oct 17, 2023

Laser machine using flying body

Inventor: Tadashi Kurosawa (Yamanashi, JP)
Assignee: Fanuc Corporation
B23K26/0884B23K26/032B64C39/024G05D1/0094G05D1/0808G05D1/101G06T7/70B64U2101/00G02B26/101G02B26/105G06T2207/30164
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,786,991
App. No.
16/197,990
Granted
Oct 17, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A laser machine having less constraints on the dimension and shape of a machining object than a laser machine in the related art. The laser machine includes: a flying body capable of floating and moving in a space; a machining head mounted on the flying body and configured to radiate a laser beam; a position/posture detector configured to detect the position and posture of the machining head with respect to a workpiece; a radiation position changer capable of changing the radiation position of the laser beam radiated from the machining head on the basis of the position and posture of the machining head detected by the position/posture detector; and a laser oscillator configured to supply the laser beam to the machining head.

Claims (28)

1. A laser machine comprising:

a flying body configured to float and move in a space;

a machining head mounted on the flying body and configured to radiate a laser beam;

a position/posture detector configured to detect a position and a posture of the machining head with respect to a machining object;

a radiation position changer configured to change a radiation position of a laser beam radiated from the machining head on a basis of the position and the posture of the machining head detected by the position/posture detector, in order to maintain irradiation of the laser beam along a predetermined outline of a joint between a plurality of machining objects even when at least one of the position and the posture of the flying body varies; and

a laser oscillator configured to supply the laser beam to the machining head,

wherein the radiation position changer includes a posture change mechanism comprising a drive mechanism configured to rotate the machining head relative to a main body of the flying body about an axis extending in a generally horizontal direction orthogonal to an axis of the flying body.

2. The laser machine of claim 1 , wherein the position/posture detector includes an imaging device mounted on the flying body and an image processor configured to process an image taken by the imaging device.

3. The laser machine of claim 1 , wherein the machining head includes a laser scanner.

4. The laser machine of claim 3 , wherein the laser scanner includes a galvano mechanism including a plurality of mirrors.

5. The laser machine of claim 1 , wherein the radiation position changer is composed of at least one additional shaft attached to the machining head.

6. The laser machine of claim 1 , wherein the posture change mechanism is configured to change the posture of the machining head with respect to the main body of the flying body.

7. The laser machine of claim 1 , wherein the laser oscillator is connected to the machining head through an optical fiber.

8. The laser machine of claim 7 , wherein the laser machine includes a plurality of the flying bodies, and the optical fiber is provided with a fiber switcher.

9. The laser machine of claim 1 , wherein the laser oscillator is mounted on or in the flying body.

10. The laser machine of claim 9 , wherein a power source configured to supply power to the laser oscillator is mounted on or in the flying body.

11. The laser machine of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of machining objects have different dimensions and shapes.

12. The laser machine of claim 1 , wherein the posture change mechanism is configured to change the posture of the machining head with respect to the main body of the flying body.

13. The laser machine of claim 1 , wherein the posture change mechanism rotates the machining head about the axis extending in the generally horizontal direction by 90 degrees or greater.

14. A laser machine comprising:

a flying body configured to float and move in a space;

a machining head mounted on the flying body and configured to radiate a laser beam;

a position/posture detector configured to detect a position and a posture of the machining head with respect to a machining object;

radiation position changer configured to change a radiation position of a laser beam radiated from the machining head on a basis of the position and the posture of the machining head on a basis of the position and the posture of the machining head detected by the position/posture detector, the radiation position changer including a posture change mechanism configured to change the posture of the machining head with respect to a main body of the flying body, and a laser scanner configured to change a radiation direction of the laser beam along a predetermined outline of a joint between a plurality of machining objects; and

a laser oscillator configured to supply the laser beam to the machining head,

wherein the posture change mechanism has a drive mechanism configured to rotate the machining head relative to the main body of the flying body about an axis extending in a generally horizontal direction orthogonal to an axis of the flying body.

15. The laser machine of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of machining objects have different dimensions and shapes.

16. The laser machine of claim 14 , wherein the drive mechanism rotates the machining head about the axis extending in a generally horizontal direction by 90 degrees or greater.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 4, 2019
From: KUROSAWA, TADASHI
To: FANUC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 047899/0194 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2017-227656 · Nov 28, 2017 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20190160591A1 · May 30, 2019
Cited By (1)
US 12,617,560