JP7809748B2 - Laser marking device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a laser marking device, and in particular to a laser marking device that enables marking work during building construction to be performed easily, quickly, and efficiently.

Conventionally, when constructing a building, it is necessary to mark out the exact vertical and horizontal positions on concrete, wood, plywood, steel plates, etc., which serve as the reference for construction. For this purpose, marking devices that use laser beams, such as those disclosed in Patent Document 1, have been used.

A conventional method for attaching a lighting fixture to a ceiling using this marking device will now be described.
First, the procedure is to mark the ground mark 1 on the floor. Specifically, this is done by marking the opening dimensions (e.g., 120 x 1250) in the ceiling along with a + mark on the floor, as shown in Figure 7. Next, the laser marking device 2 shown in Figure 8 is placed in line with this ground mark 1. A laser beam is emitted from the laser marking device 2 in the vertical direction. The laser beam draws lines on the X and Y axes on the ceiling 33, intersecting the irradiation point O. As a result, as shown in Figure 9, this laser beam also hits the bar 3 on the ceiling substrate.

Next, workers use a scale, ruler, etc. to mark out the opening dimensions as shown by the dashed line 5 in the diagram, using the irradiation point O and the X-axis and Y-axis lines as reference points. To mark out the opening dimensions, the worker faces the ceiling and measures and draws lines across the X-axis at 60 cm intervals. They also measure and draw lines across the Y-axis at 625 cm intervals. After marking out the opening, a portion of the bar 3 is cut according to the opening. A ceiling finish such as a board is then attached to the underside of the bar 3.

Next, the laser marking device 2 is again positioned in line with the ground mark 1. Then, as shown in Figure 10, X-axis and Y-axis lines are drawn on the finished ceiling surface 35 using a laser beam. Next, using a scale, ruler, etc., the worker marks out the opening dimensions shown by the dashed line 7 in the figure on the finished ceiling surface 35, based on the irradiation point O and the X-axis and Y-axis lines. A portion of the finished ceiling surface 35 is then cut according to this opening. This makes it possible to install lighting fixtures, etc., using the opening shown by the dashed line 5 in Figure 8 and the opening shown by the dashed line 7 in Figure 9.

Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open Publication No. 3-88678

The marking work mentioned above is done by multiple workers working together while facing the ceiling. This work must be done twice, once for the base and once for the finished surface. This makes the construction work tedious, time-consuming, and difficult, and is one of the reasons why construction workers work long hours.

The present invention was made in consideration of these conventional problems, and aims to provide a laser marking device that enables marking work during building construction to be performed easily, quickly, and efficiently.

For this reason, the present invention (Claim 1) is a laser marking device installed in accordance with a ground mark written on a predetermined plane, and is characterized by comprising a laser light source that generates laser light, an object onto which the laser light generated by the laser light source is irradiated, a distance measurement means that optically measures the distance to the object, dimension and graphic shape data relating to a desired shape , a calculation means that calculates the irradiation direction of the laser light based on the shape data , the distance measured by the distance measurement means , and the marked portion of the object (point O) that corresponds to the ground mark , a laser light irradiation direction control means that irradiates the laser light in the irradiation direction calculated by the calculation means, and the shape of the graphic having the dimensions described above is drawn on the surface of the object by the laser light irradiated from the laser light irradiation direction control means.

The direction of laser light irradiation is calculated based on the shape data and the distance measured by the distance measuring means. The laser light is then emitted in the direction of irradiation calculated here. By controlling the direction of laser light irradiation, a figure with the desired dimensions is drawn on the target object. This makes marking work easy and quick. Even if this work is performed twice, once for the base and once for the finished surface, it reduces the burden on the worker.

Furthermore, the present invention (Claim 2) is an invention of a laser marking device, characterized in that the shape data is data read from an external mobile terminal.

Data such as design drawings can be stored on the mobile device, and shape data can be saved along with this data, or downloaded via the Internet. The shape data can then be read out for marking out when needed. The required shape data can also be selected from multiple types of shape data.

Furthermore, the present invention (claim 3) is a laser marking device invention that is configured with an adjustment means for manually adjusting the movement value along the shape of the figure, or for manually adjusting the irradiation direction of the laser light emitted from the laser light irradiation direction control means.

By allowing manual adjustment, highly accurate marking work can be performed even in buildings with different ceiling heights or uneven floor surfaces.

Furthermore, the present invention (claim 4) is a laser marking device that is equipped with a leveling adjustment means that enables automatic leveling relative to the floor surface.

As explained above, according to the present invention (claim 1), a calculation means is provided that calculates the direction of laser light irradiation based on shape data and the distance measured by the distance measurement means, and a laser light irradiation direction control means is provided that irradiates laser light in the irradiation direction calculated by the calculation means. As a result, the laser light irradiated from the laser light irradiation direction control means draws a graphic shape with the desired dimensions on the surface of the target object. This makes marking work easy and quick.

A diagram showing the configuration of a laser marking device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Configuration of the laser light irradiation control unit A diagram showing the installation of a laser marking device A diagram showing the shape of an opening drawn on the ceiling for a lighting fixture. Processing flow of the laser marking device according to the embodiment of the present invention A diagram showing the relationship between the movement value and the azimuth angle θ and elevation angle φ Example of marking the ground on the floor An example of a laser marking device aligned with the ground mark A diagram showing how the X-axis and Y-axis lines are drawn on the substrate using a laser beam. A diagram showing the appearance when X-axis and Y-axis lines are drawn on the ceiling finish surface by a laser beam.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below. A configuration diagram of a laser marking device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figure 1. In Figure 1, a laser light generating unit 11 generates laser light. An object distance measuring unit 13 automatically measures the height to the ceiling, for example, using infrared rays or laser light. In other words, it is possible to automatically measure the height of the ceiling substrate or ceiling board surface.
However, the measurement target is not limited to height. It may be horizontal distance, etc. The height data automatically measured by the target distance measurement unit 13 is sent to the calculation unit 15. The calculation unit 15 performs calculations necessary for controlling the irradiation of the laser light based on the height data sent from the target distance measurement unit 13 and the aperture shape data described below.

The operation unit 17 is equipped with buttons for starting and stopping the laser marking device 10 and for switching between automatic and manual modes. The laser light emission control command data calculated by the calculation unit 15 is sent to the laser light emission control unit 19, which controls the laser light emission based on this data. As described below, the calculation unit 15 converts the position coordinates of the laser light emission point into a rotation angle relative to the swing motor.

2 shows the configuration of the laser light irradiation control unit 19. In Fig. 2, the laser light emitted from the laser light generating unit 11 is reflected by a mirror 25 installed at the head of the swing motor 23. At this time, the swing motor 23 swings the laser light in the Y-axis direction of the ceiling surface 31 by a predetermined angle.
The laser light is then further reflected by a mirror 29 attached to the head of a swing motor 27 disposed at an angle of 90 degrees from the swing motor 23. The mirror 29 is swung by a predetermined angle by the swing motor 27 in the X-axis direction defined on the ceiling surface 31. The laser light reflected by the mirror 29 strikes the ceiling surface 31, and is made to appear as an afterimage of light having an aperture shape 34 by successively controlling the mirrors 25 and 29.

The external command device 30 is, for example, a mobile terminal such as a touch panel, mobile phone, smartphone, or PC on which construction drawing data is saved. Predetermined application software is installed on the external command device 30. Processing dimension data, including the opening shape (e.g., rectangular or round) required for embedding lighting fixtures, air conditioning equipment, and the like, and their dimensions, is transmitted from this application software to the calculation unit 15 via Bluetooth. However, this opening shape may be any free-form shape. Furthermore, the opening shape and its dimensions may be transferred to the terminal as Excel data created on a PC. This opening shape and dimension data may also be directly input to the mobile terminal.
Based on this transmitted data, a rectangular or other light frame of predetermined dimensions is projected onto the ceiling or the like via the laser light irradiation control unit 19 .
It should be noted that a function that enables automatic level adjustment may be added to this laser marking device 10. This level adjustment can be performed, for example, by emitting infrared rays or the like (not shown) from the bottom of the laser marking device 10 and adjusting the difference between the direction of irradiation toward the floor surface and the direction of reflected light from the floor surface, or by emitting infrared rays or the like toward the floor surface from multiple points on the bottom and adjusting the distance from the floor surface.

Next, a construction method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.
As shown in Figure 3, the laser marking device 10 is installed in line with the ground mark 1 marked on the floor. When the laser marking device 10 is started using the operation unit 17, the target distance measurement unit 13 automatically measures the height h to the ceiling.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 4, an opening shape 34 for constructing an opening for a lighting fixture is drawn on the bar 3 around point O by irradiating it with a laser beam, for example, as shown by the two-dot chain line in the figure.
The worker can mark out the opening shape 34 by tracing the light line with a marker or the like. The same can be done for both the base work and the ceiling finish surface work.

Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described.
Figure 5 shows the processing flow of the laser marking device according to an embodiment of the present invention. When a command to start processing is issued, first, in step 1 (abbreviated as S1 in the figure, the same applies below), processing dimensional data relating to the opening shape is read from the external command unit 30. The processing dimensional data may be an outline drawing of any shape, or a numerical string of length and width dimension data in the case of a rectangle, or diameter data in the case of a circle.

The machining dimension data may be stored in the external command device 30, or may be data downloaded to the external command device 30 via the Internet. In this case, the external command device 30 may be provided with machining dimension data for multiple types of opening shapes, and the data to be applied at this time may be selected and read from this. Alternatively, this machining dimension data may be stored in a memory unit (not shown) in the laser marking device 10, and the data stored in this memory unit may be read.

In step 2, the target distance measurement unit 13 automatically measures the distance h from the laser marking device 10 to the marking location O. In step 3, the calculation unit 15 sets the initial values (x0, y0, h) of the marking line. In step 5, the calculation unit 15 calculates the azimuth angle θ1 and elevation angle φ1 at this point in time, as shown in Figure 6, using geometric calculations based on (x, y, h). In step 7, the calculation unit 15 saves the relationship between the movement value (x, y, h) and the azimuth angle θ1 and elevation angle φ1 in history data. In step 9, based on this azimuth angle θ1 and elevation angle φ1, the swing motor 23 and swing motor 27 are rotated by a predetermined angle, respectively, to control the mirror 25 and mirror 29.

In step 11, it is determined whether the calculation has completed a full cycle (returned to the initial value) according to the opening shape on the construction drawing. If it has not yet completed a full cycle, proceed to step 13, where the displacement on the X axis or the displacement on the Y axis is moved by the infinitesimal distance δ1 or δ2 according to the opening shape. Depending on the shape, both the infinitesimal distance δ1 and the infinitesimal distance δ2 may be moved. As a result, in step 15, the in-plane movement value (xi, yi, h) at height h is set. The processing from step 5 is repeated for this updated movement value (xi, yi, h).

Then, if it is determined in step 11 that the calculations have been completed in accordance with the opening shape on the construction drawings, the process proceeds to step 19. Then, in subsequent processing, the relationship between the movement values (x, y, h), azimuth θ1, and elevation angle φ1 is read from the historical data at each specified timing, and the laser light is controlled. This is because once the calculations have been completed, no further calculations are required in subsequent processing, and control can be performed quickly by using the historical data.

As a result, a predetermined opening shape 34 is drawn on the ceiling by the laser light. Therefore, the worker can mark out the opening shape simply by tracing it with a marker or the like.
Even when the floor surface is moved to a higher place, the distance h is automatically measured again, the opening shape according to this height is calculated, and this opening shape 34 is drawn on the ceiling surface by the laser light.

Next, we will explain the processing when the ceiling height of a hall, etc. is high. In this case, the laser marking device 10 is placed on a stepladder, etc. It is possible that the stepladder, etc. may be distorted. For this reason, the operation unit 17 is provided with a button to switch between automatic mode and manual mode, and when manual mode is selected, the movement values (x, y, h) can be manually fine-tuned using the application software on the mobile terminal, as well as the azimuth angle θ1 and elevation angle φ1. In this way, when manual mode is selected, the dimensions, etc. input from the mobile terminal are reflected in the projection position. Furthermore, when automatic mode is selected, the processing in Figure 5 is performed automatically.
It should be noted that the present invention can be modified and combined in various ways without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and it goes without saying that the present invention also covers such modifications and combinations.

1 Ground mark 3 Bar 10 Laser marking device 11 Laser light generating unit 13 Target distance measuring unit 15 Calculation unit 17 Operation unit 19 Laser light irradiation control unit 23, 27 Swing motor 25, 29 Mirror 30 External command unit 31, 33, 35 Ceiling surface 34 Opening shape

Claims (4)

A laser marking device installed in accordance with a mark on a predetermined plane,
a laser light source that generates laser light;
an object to be irradiated with the laser light generated by the laser light source;
a distance measuring means for optically measuring the distance to the object;
dimensional and graphic shape data relating to the desired shape;
a calculation means for calculating the irradiation direction of the laser light based on the shape data , the distance measured by the distance measuring means , and the marking portion (point O) of the object corresponding to the ground mark ;
a laser beam irradiation direction control means for irradiating the laser beam in the irradiation direction calculated by the calculation means;
A laser marking device characterized in that the shape of the figure having the dimensions is drawn on the surface of the object by the laser light emitted from the laser light irradiation direction control means. The laser marking device of claim 1, characterized in that the shape data is data read from an external mobile terminal. The laser marking device of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it is equipped with an adjustment means for manually adjusting the movement value along the shape of the figure, or for manually adjusting the direction of the laser light emitted from the laser light irradiation direction control means. The laser marking device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it is equipped with a leveling adjustment means that enables automatic leveling relative to the floor surface.