JP2015157297A - Welding head, laser welding apparatus, and gas nozzle for welding head - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To significantly reduce a frequency of replacements of a protective glass 35 by reducing a deposit amount of spatter S onto the protective glass 35.SOLUTION: The emission side of a collimator lens 17 inside a welding head body 7 is provided with a galvano-scanner 21, and a tip of the welding head body 7 is detachably provided with a protective glass 35 that covers an emission opening 9 of the welding head body 7. The three-dimensional workpiece side than the protective glass 35, in the welding head body 7, is provided with an annular air nozzle 37. An annular first nozzle slit hole 51 is so formed as to surround an optical axis of a laser beam LB, in an inner peripheral part of the air nozzle 37. A second nozzle slit hole 53 of small hole form is so formed as to surround the optical axis of the laser beam LB in a part outside in a radial direction than the first nozzle slit hole 51, in the air nozzle 37.

Description

  The present invention relates to a welding head or the like that is used in a laser processing apparatus that performs laser welding on a workpiece such as a three-dimensional workpiece and irradiates a laser beam toward a welding portion of the workpiece.

  In general, a welding head in a remote laser processing apparatus (an example of a laser processing apparatus) such as a welding robot includes a hollow welding head main body. Further, the welding head main body has an emission opening for emitting laser light on the distal end side, and is optically connected to a laser oscillator that oscillates the laser light. A galvano scanner is disposed in the welding head main body, and the galvano scanner deflects laser light oscillated from a laser oscillator in two orthogonal directions (first scanning direction and second scanning direction). It scans and it radiate | emits to the radiation | emission opening part side of a welding head main body. Furthermore, the protective glass which covers the output opening part of a welding head main body is provided in the front-end | tip part of a welding head main body so that attachment or detachment is possible.

  By the way, the opening area of the exit opening of the welding head is set to be large according to the range of the laser beam deflection scanning by the galvano scanner, and accordingly, the area of the protective glass is large and the spatter easily adheres to the protective glass. ing. In addition, compared to spot welding, the distance (work distance) between the welding head and the welded portion of the three-dimensional workpiece is large, and fume tends to stay between the welding head and the three-dimensional workpiece. Therefore, in order to suppress the adhesion of spatter to the protective glass and the retention of fumes between the welding head and the three-dimensional workpiece, the following techniques have been developed.

  That is, the first is the prior art (conventional example 1) described in Patent Document 1, and as shown in FIG. 5A, the protective glass in the welding head main body 103 of the welding head 101 according to the conventional example 1. On the three-dimensional workpiece W side from 105, an air curtain 107 for ejecting curtain-shaped air A is provided so as to cover the surface of the protective glass 105. In addition, an air nozzle 109 is provided in the vicinity of the air curtain 107 in the welding head main body 103 to eject air A toward the welding spot Wa of the three-dimensional workpiece W.

  The second is the prior art (conventional example 2) described in Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3, as shown in FIG. 6A, in the welding head main body 113 of the welding head 111 according to the prior art. An annular air nozzle 117 that ejects air A toward the traveling direction side of the laser beam LB is provided on the three-dimensional workpiece W side from the protective glass 115. The air nozzle 117 has an air passage 119 that can be connected to an air supply source (not shown). The air nozzle 117 is formed with an annular nozzle slit hole 121 for ejecting air A toward the traveling direction side of the laser beam LB and toward the optical axis side of the laser beam LB. Is communicated with the air passage 119.

JP 2006-142383 A JP 2012-76111 A International Publication 2008/037310 Pamphlet

  However, when laser welding is performed on the three-dimensional workpiece W using the welding head 101, if the shape of the three-dimensional workpiece W is complicated, air A is ejected from the air nozzle 109 toward the welding portion Wa of the three-dimensional workpiece W. Even if it does not reach the welding spot Wa of the three-dimensional workpiece W, it may be impossible to suppress fume retention between the welding head 101 and the three-dimensional workpiece W. In such a case, even if an external blower (not shown) is used, fume retention between the welding head 101 and the three-dimensional workpiece W cannot be sufficiently suppressed. Therefore, the fume interferes with the laser beam LB, the welding conditions (processing conditions) change, and it is difficult to stably perform laser welding on the three-dimensional workpiece W (first problem). There is.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5B, when laser welding is performed on the three-dimensional workpiece W from the side, the spatter S scatters to the welding head 101 side while drawing a parabola from the welding portion Wa of the three-dimensional workpiece W. There are things to do. In such a case, even if the curtain-shaped air A is ejected from the air curtain 107 so as to cover the surface of the protective glass 105, adhesion of the sputter S to the protective glass 105 cannot be suppressed. Therefore, there is a problem (second problem) that the amount of spatter S attached to the protective glass 105 increases and the replacement frequency of the protective glass 105 increases.

  On the other hand, when laser welding is performed on the solid workpiece W using the welding head 111, the air A ejected from the nozzle slit hole 121 merges on the optical axis of the laser beam LB, and Even if the shape of the three-dimensional workpiece W is complicated, the retention of fumes between the welding head 111 and the three-dimensional workpiece W can be sufficiently suppressed. Therefore, fume does not interfere with the laser beam LB, laser welding can be stably performed on the three-dimensional workpiece W, and the above-described first problem does not occur.

  However, as shown in FIG. 6B, when laser welding is performed on the three-dimensional workpiece W from the side, even if the air A is ejected from the nozzle slit hole 121, the welding point Wa of the three-dimensional workpiece W is The traveling direction (spattering direction) of the spatter S scattered to the welding head 5 side while drawing a parabola cannot be changed to a direction away from the welding head 5 side, and adhesion of the spatter S to the protective glass 115 cannot be suppressed. Therefore, there is a second problem that the amount of spatter S attached to the protective glass 115 increases and the replacement frequency of the protective glass 115 increases.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a welding head, a laser welding apparatus, and the like having a novel configuration that can solve not only the first problem but also the second problem.
The welding head and laser welding apparatus according to the present invention are not limited to those equipped with a galvano scanner, but refer to various types of welding heads and laser welding apparatuses of the type in which the emission opening of the welding head main body is covered with protective glass. is there.

  A first feature of the present invention is a laser welding apparatus that is used in a laser welding apparatus that performs laser welding on a workpiece (including a three-dimensional workpiece) and irradiates a laser beam toward a welding portion of the workpiece. A hollow welding head main body having an emission opening for emitting light, optically connected to a laser oscillator that oscillates laser light, and detachably provided at a tip of the welding head main body, A protective glass that covers the emission opening of the welding head main body, a gas passage that is provided on the workpiece side of the protective glass in the welding head main body and that can be connected to a gas supply source inside, and is in the direction of laser beam traveling And a first nozzle hole for ejecting gas toward the optical axis side of the laser beam is formed so as to surround the optical axis of the laser beam, and the first nozzle hole communicates with the gas passage, and A second nozzle hole for ejecting a gas along the traveling direction of the laser beam is formed to surround the first nozzle hole at a portion radially outward from the nozzle hole (radially outside the gas nozzle). The gist of the invention is that the two nozzle holes communicate with the gas passage and have an annular gas nozzle that ejects gas toward the traveling direction side of the laser beam.

  In the specification and claims of the present application, “arranged” means not only directly disposed but also indirectly disposed through another member. is there. The term “provided” means that it is indirectly provided via another member in addition to being directly provided. Further, “gas” means an inert gas such as air or nitrogen. Further, the “gas nozzle” may be divided into a first gas nozzle in which a first nozzle hole is formed and a second gas nozzle in which a second nozzle hole is formed, in addition to a single gas nozzle. .

  According to the first feature, the welding head is moved relative to the workpiece to be positioned at a position corresponding to the welding location of the workpiece. Then, laser light is oscillated by the operation of the laser oscillator and transmitted to the welding head side. Then, the laser beam transmitted to the welding head side is irradiated with the laser beam from the welding head (the emission opening of the welding head main body) toward the welding position of the workpiece via the protective glass. Thereby, laser welding can be performed on the workpiece.

  During laser welding, by supplying gas from the gas supply source to the gas passage, gas is ejected from the first nozzle hole toward the laser beam traveling direction and toward the optical axis of the laser beam, Gas is ejected from the second nozzle hole along the traveling direction of the laser beam. Then, the gas ejected from the first nozzle hole merges on the optical axis of the laser beam and travels toward the welding position of the workpiece, and the gas ejected from the second nozzle hole is the optical axis of the laser beam. While surrounding the gas that merges above, it goes to the periphery of the welded part of the workpiece.

  In short, since the first nozzle hole is formed in the gas nozzle so as to surround the optical axis of the laser beam, and the first nozzle hole communicates with the gas passage, the first nozzle hole is ejected from the first nozzle hole of the gas nozzle. Gases that have joined together on the optical axis of the laser beam travel toward the welded part of the workpiece. Thereby, even if the shape of a workpiece | work is complicated, the retention of a fume between the said welding head and the said workpiece | work can fully be suppressed.

  Further, the second nozzle hole is formed in a portion of the gas nozzle outside the first nozzle hole in the radial direction so as to surround the optical axis of the laser beam, and the second nozzle hole communicates with the gas passage. Therefore, the gas ejected from the second nozzle hole is directed to the peripheral portion of the workpiece welding portion while surrounding the gas that merges on the optical axis of the laser beam. As a result, when laser welding is performed on the workpiece from the side, even if the spatter scatters to the welding head side while drawing a parabola from the welding portion of the workpiece W, the moving direction of the spatter is changed to the welding head side. The direction can be changed.

  The gist of a second feature of the present invention is that a laser welding apparatus for performing laser welding on a workpiece includes the welding head having the first feature.

  According to the 2nd characteristic, there exists an effect | action similar to the effect | action by a 1st characteristic.

  A third feature of the present invention is an annular gas nozzle that is used in the welding head according to the first feature and ejects gas toward the traveling direction side of the laser beam, and a gas passage that can be connected to a gas supply source therein. And a first nozzle hole for ejecting gas toward the gas nozzle central axis (the central axis of the gas nozzle) is formed so as to surround the gas nozzle central axis, and the first nozzle hole communicates with the gas passage And a second nozzle hole for ejecting gas along a gas nozzle central axis direction (a direction of the gas nozzle central axis) to a portion radially outward from the first nozzle hole (radially outer side of the gas nozzle). The gist is that the nozzle hole is formed so as to surround one nozzle hole, and the second nozzle hole communicates with the gas passage.

  When the gas nozzle having the third feature is used for the welding head, the same effect as that of the first feature is achieved.

  According to the present invention, even if the shape of the workpiece is complicated, the retention of fume between the welding head and the workpiece can be sufficiently suppressed, so that the fume does not interfere with the laser beam and welding is performed. Laser welding can be stably performed on the workpiece while keeping the conditions (processing conditions) constant.

  Further, when laser welding is performed on the workpiece from the side, even if the spatter scatters toward the welding head while drawing a parabola from the welding portion of the workpiece, the moving direction of the spatter deviates from the welding head. Since it can change to a direction, the adhesion amount of the sputter | spatter to the said protective glass can be reduced, and the replacement frequency of the said protective glass can be reduced significantly.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a welding robot according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig.2 (a) is sectional drawing of the air nozzle which concerns on embodiment of this invention, FIG.2 (b) is a figure which shows the arrow view part IIB in Fig.2 (a). FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 shows a case where laser welding is performed from the side of a three-dimensional workpiece using the welding head according to the embodiment of the present invention, the welding head according to Conventional Example 1, and the welding head according to Conventional Example 2. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the number of processes and the number of spatters. FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating a welding head according to Conventional Example 1, and FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating a problem when laser welding is performed using the welding head according to Conventional Example 1. FIG. 6A is a diagram illustrating a welding head according to Conventional Example 2, and FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating a problem when laser welding is performed using the welding head according to Conventional Example 2.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a welding robot 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is one of remote laser welding apparatuses that perform laser welding on a three-dimensional workpiece W supported by a table (not shown). This is a 6-axis articulated robot. Further, the welding robot 1 has a robot hand 3 on the distal end side, and the robot hand 3 is provided with a welding head 5 that irradiates a laser beam LB toward the welding portion Wa of the three-dimensional workpiece W. Yes. The three-dimensional workpiece W is formed by abutting a plurality of metal workpieces, and the welding location Wa of the three-dimensional workpiece W is a butted portion of the plurality of metal workpieces. The robot hand 3 corresponds to a moving means that can move in the direction of approaching and separating from the three-dimensional workpiece W from the side.

  And the specific structure of the welding head 5 which concerns on embodiment of this invention is as follows.

  The welding head 5 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a hollow welding head main body 7. The welding head main body 7 has an emission opening 9 for emitting laser light LB on the distal end side. doing. Further, a connector 11 is provided at the base end of the welding head main body 7, and one end portion of the transmission fiber 13 is connected to the connector 11, and a laser beam is connected to the other end portion of the transmission fiber 13. It is optically connected to a fiber laser oscillator (an example of a laser oscillator) 15 that oscillates LB. In other words, the welding head body 7 is optically connected to the fiber laser oscillator 15 via the connector 11 and the transmission fiber 13.

  A collimating lens 17 is disposed in the welding head body 7 so as to be movable in the optical axis direction of the laser beam LB. The collimating lens 17 converts the laser beam LB emitted from the transmission fiber 13 into parallel light. To do. In other words, the collimating lens 17 converts the laser light LB oscillated from the fiber laser oscillator 15 into parallel light.

  A galvano scanner 21 is disposed on the exit side of the collimating lens 17 in the welding head body 7, and the galvano scanner 21 deflects the laser light LB oscillated from the fiber laser oscillator 15 and emitted from the collimating lens 17. The beam is scanned and emitted to the emission opening 9 side of the welding head main body 7. The galvano scanner 21 can be rotated by driving the first galvano motor 23 and can be rotated by driving the first galvano mirror 25 that deflects and scans the laser beam LB in the first scanning direction, and the second galvano motor 27. And a second galvanometer mirror 29 that deflects and scans the laser beam LB in the second scanning direction. A reflection mirror 31 is disposed between the collimating lens 17 and the first galvanometer mirror 25 in the welding head body 7.

  An Fθ lens 33 is disposed between the emission opening 9 in the welding head body 7 and the galvano scanner 21, and the Fθ lens 33 collects the laser beam LB that has been two-dimensionally scanned by the galvano scanner 21. It is something that shines. Moreover, the protective glass 35 which covers the radiation | emission opening part 9 of the welding head main body 7 is provided in the front-end | tip part of the welding head main body 7 so that attachment or detachment is possible. Further, an annular air nozzle (an example of a gas nozzle) 37 that ejects air toward the traveling direction side of the laser beam LB is provided through the bracket 39 on the three-dimensional workpiece W side of the protective glass 35 in the welding head body 7. Yes.

  Then, the specific structure of the air nozzle 37 which is the principal part of the welding head 5 is demonstrated.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2A and 2B, the air nozzle 37 integrally joins the annular first nozzle constituent member 41 and the annular second nozzle constituent member 43 with mounting bolts (not shown) or the like. It is made. The air nozzle 37 has an annular air passage (an example of a gas passage) 45 therein, and the air passage 45 has a pipe 49 connected to an air supply source (an example of a gas supply source) 47 such as a fan. It can be connected via. Note that the air nozzle 37 may be constituted by one member instead of integrally joining two annular members (the first nozzle constituting member 41 and the second nozzle constituting member 43).

  Between the vicinity of the inner peripheral portion of the first nozzle constituent member 41 and the inner peripheral portion of the second nozzle constituent member 43, the laser beam LB travel direction side and the laser beam LB optical axis side (air nozzle central axis side) An annular first nozzle slit hole 51 (an example of a first nozzle hole) for ejecting air A toward the center is defined so as to surround the optical axis (air nozzle central axis) of the laser beam LB. In other words, the annular first nozzle slit hole 51 is formed in the inner peripheral portion of the air nozzle 37 so as to surround the optical axis of the laser beam LB. The first nozzle slit hole 51 communicates with the air passage 45. The size of the first nozzle slit hole 51 is obtained by interposing an annular shim (not shown) or the like surrounding the air passage 45 between the first nozzle constituent member 41 and the second nozzle constituent member 43. May be adjustable. Further, instead of the annular first nozzle slit hole 51, a plurality of small first nozzle holes (not shown) arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction, or arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction. A plurality of arc-shaped first nozzle slit holes (not shown) may be formed.

  In the vicinity of the inner peripheral portion of the second nozzle constituting member 43, a plurality of small second nozzle holes 53 for ejecting air along the traveling direction of the laser beam LB (air nozzle central axis direction) are the first nozzles. It is formed so as to surround the slit hole 51. In other words, the second nozzle hole 53 having a small hole surrounds the optical axis of the laser beam LB at a position radially outside the first nozzle slit hole 51 in the air nozzle 37 (outside in the radial direction of the air nozzle 37). Are formed at intervals in the circumferential direction. The plurality of second nozzle holes 53 communicate with the air passage 45. Instead of the plurality of small second nozzle holes 53 arranged in the circumferential direction, an annular second nozzle slit hole (an example of the second nozzle hole, not shown), or spaced in the circumferential direction. A plurality of arc-shaped second nozzle slit holes (not shown) arranged side by side may be formed. Further, instead of the plurality of second nozzle holes 53 being formed in the air nozzle 37 in which the first nozzle constituent member 41 and the second nozzle constituent member 43 are integrally joined, another air nozzle having a larger diameter than the air nozzle 37 is provided. It may be formed (not shown).

  Then, the effect | action and effect of embodiment of this invention are demonstrated.

  By controlling the movement of the robot hand 3 in an appropriate direction, the welding head 5 is moved integrally with the robot hand 3 in an appropriate direction, and is positioned at a position corresponding to the welding location Wa of the three-dimensional workpiece W. Then, the laser beam LB is oscillated by the operation of the fiber laser oscillator 15 and transmitted to the welding head 5 side via the transmission fiber 13. Then, the laser beam LB transmitted to the welding head 5 side is converted into parallel light by the collimator lens 17, and the laser beam LB is deflected and scanned in the first scanning direction and the second scanning direction by the galvano scanner 21. Subsequently, the laser beam LB deflected and scanned in the first scanning direction and the second scanning direction is collected by the Fθ lens 33 and is applied to the three-dimensional workpiece W from the emission opening 9 of the welding head body 7 through the protective glass 35. Irradiation toward the welding spot Wa. Thereby, laser welding (remote laser welding) can be performed on the three-dimensional workpiece W. During the operation of the fiber laser oscillator 15, the welding head 5 may be moved integrally with the robot hand 3 along the welding spot Wa of the three-dimensional workpiece W.

  During laser welding, air A is supplied from the air supply source 47 to the air passage 45 so that the air A is emitted from the first nozzle slit hole 51 toward the laser beam LB in the traveling direction and toward the optical axis of the laser beam LB. While being ejected, air A is ejected from the plurality of second nozzle holes 53 along the traveling direction of the laser beam LB. Then, the air A ejected from the first nozzle slit hole 51 merges on the optical axis of the laser beam LB, travels toward the welding spot Wa of the three-dimensional workpiece W, and is ejected from the plurality of second nozzle holes 53. The air A is directed to the peripheral portion of the welding location Wa of the three-dimensional workpiece W while surrounding the air A that merges on the optical axis of the laser beam LB.

  In short, since the first nozzle slit hole 51 is formed in the air nozzle 37 so as to surround the optical axis of the laser beam LB, and the first nozzle slit hole 51 communicates with the air passage 45, the first nozzle slit hole 51 is ejected from the first nozzle slit hole 51. The air A that has been joined merges on the optical axis of the laser beam LB and travels toward the welding location Wa of the three-dimensional workpiece W. Thereby, even if the shape of the solid workpiece W is complicated, the retention of fume between the welding head 5 and the solid workpiece W can be sufficiently suppressed.

  Further, a plurality of second nozzle holes 53 are formed in the air nozzle 37 at a portion radially outward from the first nozzle slit hole 51 so as to surround the optical axis of the laser beam LB, and the plurality of second nozzle holes 53 are formed in the air passage. 45, the air A ejected from the plurality of second nozzle holes 53 surrounds the air A that merges on the optical axis of the laser beam LB, and around the welded portion Wa of the three-dimensional workpiece W. Will head. As a result, as shown in FIG. 3, when laser welding is performed on the three-dimensional workpiece W from the side, even if the spatter S scatters toward the welding head 5 while drawing a parabola from the welding portion Wa of the three-dimensional workpiece W. The moving direction of the sputter S can be changed to a direction deviating from the welding head 5 side (a direction indicated by a white arrow in FIG. 3).

  Therefore, according to the embodiment of the present invention, even if the shape of the three-dimensional workpiece W is complicated, the retention of fume between the welding head 5 and the three-dimensional workpiece W can be sufficiently suppressed. Interference with LB is eliminated, and laser welding can be stably performed on the three-dimensional workpiece W while keeping the welding conditions (processing conditions) constant.

  In addition, when laser welding is performed on the three-dimensional workpiece W from the side, even if the spatter S scatters toward the welding head 5 while drawing a parabola from the welding portion Wa of the three-dimensional workpiece W, the moving direction of the spatter S is changed. Since it can change to the direction which remove | deviates from the welding head 5 side, the adhesion amount of the sputter | spatter S to the protective glass 35 can be reduced, and the replacement frequency of the protective glass 35 can be reduced significantly.

  And the welding head 5 which concerns on embodiment of this invention, the welding head 101 (refer FIG.5 (b)) which concerns on the prior art example 1, and the welding head 111 (refer FIG.6 (b)) which concerns on the prior art example 2 are used. When laser welding was performed on the three-dimensional workpiece W from the side, the results shown in FIG. 4 could be obtained by summarizing the relationship between the number of processes and the number of spatters. That is, when the welding head 5 is used (in the case of the invention example), the number of spatters is smaller than when the welding head 101 is used (in the case of Conventional Example 1) and the welding head 111 (in the case of Conventional Example 2). It was confirmed that it can be greatly reduced. The number of pulse shots per process was set to 3960 times, and an external blower was used only in the case of Conventional Example 1.

  In addition, this invention is not restricted to description of the above-mentioned embodiment, It can implement in a various aspect. Further, the scope of rights encompassed by the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment.

A Air LB Laser light S Sputter W Solid work Wa Welding location 1 Welding robot 3 Robot hand 5 Welding head 7 Welding head body 9 Outlet opening 11 Connector 13 Transmission fiber 15 Fiber laser oscillator 17 Collimating lens 21 Galvano scanner 23 First galvano motor 25 First Galvano Mirror 27 Second Galvano Motor 29 Second Galvano Mirror 33 Fθ Lens 35 Protective Glass 37 Air Nozzle 41 First Nozzle Constituent Member 43 Second Nozzle Constituent Member 45 Air Passage 47 Air Supply Source 51 First Nozzle Slit Hole 53 First 2 nozzle holes

Claims (5)

In a welding head that is used in a laser welding apparatus that performs laser welding on a workpiece and irradiates a laser beam toward a welding location of the workpiece,
A hollow welding head main body having an emission opening for emitting laser light on the distal end side and optically connected to a laser oscillator for oscillating the laser light;
Protective glass that is detachably provided at the tip of the welding head main body and covers the emission opening of the welding head main body,
Provided on the work side of the welding head body from the protective glass, has a gas passage that can be connected to a gas supply source inside, and jets gas toward the laser beam traveling direction and toward the optical axis of the laser beam A first nozzle hole is formed to surround the optical axis of the laser beam, the first nozzle hole communicates with the gas passage, and the laser beam travels to a position radially outward from the first nozzle hole. A second nozzle hole for ejecting gas along the direction is formed so as to surround the first nozzle hole, the second nozzle hole communicates with the gas passage, and the gas is directed toward the traveling direction side of the laser beam. An annular gas nozzle for ejecting the gas. The first nozzle hole is an annular first nozzle slit hole, a plurality of small hole-shaped first nozzle holes arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction, or a circular arc shape arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction. A plurality of first nozzle slit holes,
The second nozzle holes may be a plurality of small second nozzle holes arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction, an annular second nozzle slit hole, or an arc shape arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction. The welding head according to claim 1, wherein the welding head is a plurality of second nozzle slit holes. In laser welding equipment that performs laser welding on workpieces,
The laser welding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the welding means according to claim 1 or 2 is provided in a moving means that can move in a direction in which the workpiece approaches and separates from the side. In the annular gas nozzle that is used for the welding head according to claim 1 and jets gas toward the traveling direction side of the laser beam.
A gas passage which can be connected to a gas supply source is formed therein, and a first nozzle hole for ejecting gas toward the gas nozzle central axis side is formed so as to surround the gas nozzle central axis, and the first nozzle hole is A second nozzle hole that communicates with the gas passage and is formed in a radially outer portion of the first nozzle hole to eject gas along the gas nozzle central axis direction so as to surround the first nozzle hole; A gas nozzle for a welding head, wherein a second nozzle hole communicates with the gas passage. The first nozzle hole is an annular first nozzle slit hole, a plurality of small hole-shaped first nozzle holes arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction, or a circular arc shape arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction. A plurality of first nozzle slit holes,
The second nozzle holes may be a plurality of small second nozzle holes arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction, an annular second nozzle slit hole, or an arc shape arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction. The gas nozzle for a welding head according to claim 4, wherein the gas nozzle is a plurality of second nozzle slit holes.

Images