# US 6,723,947 B2 · Laser beam hardening device

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- Number: US 6,723,947 B2
- Document ID: US6723947B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 10/122,838
- Filed: 2002-04-15
- Published: 2002-10-24
- Granted: 2004-04-20
- Earliest claimed: 2001-04-20
- Assignees: Yamazaki Mazak Corporation
- Inventors: Toshihiko Inoue; Masaki Itoh; Toshihiko Asari; Naoomi Miyagawa
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6723947B2

## CPC

- B23K 26/10: using a fixed support {, i.e. involving moving the laser beam}
- B23K 26/082: Scanning systems, i.e. devices involving movement of the laser beam relative to the laser head
- B23K 26/1476: {Features inside the nozzle for feeding the fluid stream through the nozzle}
- B23K 26/1482: {Detachable nozzles, e.g. exchangeable or provided with breakaway lines}
- B23K 26/702: {Auxiliary equipment}
- Y10T 483/17: including machine tool or component
- B23K: SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A saddle 18 is movable along a guide means 16 provided, passing through an neighborhood of machining area MA of a plurality of machine tools 1, 2. The saddle 18 is provided with a machining head 33, being free to selectively insert in and retreat from the machining area MA, and a plurality of kinds of nozzles 48 for ejecting laser beam. The nozzle 48 suitable for a portion of workpiece 3, 4 to be hardened is selected so as to attach it to the machining head 33. When hardening is instructed, the nozzle 48 is moved to a desired position with respect to the workpiece 3, 4 in the state of the workpiece 3, 4 located on the machine tool 1, 2, and the laser beam 51 is ejected from the nozzle 48 so as to harden the workpiece 3, 4.

## Claims

### Claim 1

Laser beam hardening device, comprising:
a guide means provided in a horizontal direction;
a saddle provided at said guide means, being free to move along said guide means;
a machining head provided at said saddle, so as to be freely moved and driven upward and downward;
a nozzle attachably and detachably provided at said machining head, being capable of ejecting laser beam;
a magazine provided at said saddle, having a plurality of nozzle holders;
a holding portion for holding said nozzle in said nozzle holder, provided at each of both said nozzle and said nozzle holder,
said nozzle attachably and detachably supported by said nozzle holder through said holding portion; and
driving means for relatively driving said machining head close to or away from said nozzle holder,
whereby said machining head is driven close to or away from said nozzle holder by said driving means, so that said nozzle can be exchanged between said machining head and said nozzle holder.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The laser beam hardening device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said guide means is provided, passing through an upper area of machining areas of a plurality of said machine tools.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The laser beam hardening device as set forth in claim 1, wherein a plurality of said nozzles are provided, and an optical path having different form of ejecting laser beam is formed at each nozzle.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The laser beam hardening device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said machining head is provided so as to be freely selectively inserted in or retreated from said machining areas of a plurality of said machining tools.