Laser processing machine with fluid flow nozzle cleaning device

Abstract

The invention relates to a laser processing machine (11) with a laser processing head (12), with a support grate (16) that defines a support plane (A) for supporting a workpiece (8) to be processed, with a fluid supply device (21) and with a fluid removal device (31). The fluid supply device (21) and fluid removal device (31) are designed to generate a fluid flow (27) under the support plane (A) of the support grate (16). The fluid supply device (21) can be moved with the laser processing head (12).

Claims

1. A laser cutting machine for processing a workpiece comprising: a laser cutting head; a support grate, wherein the support grate defines a support plane configured for supporting a workpiece to be processed by the laser cutting machine; at least one fluid supply device and at least one fluid removal device, wherein the at least one fluid supply device and at least one fluid removal device are configured to generate a fluid flow under the support plane of the support grate capable of removing flue gas and dust generated by the processing of the workpiece; wherein the at least one fluid supply device is additionally configured for a parallel direction of movement with a movement of the laser cutting head, and wherein the at least one fluid supply device further includes at least one nozzle arranged therein or thereon, at least one nozzle cleaning device configured to clean the at least one nozzle.

2. The laser cutting machine according to claim 1, wherein the support grate comprises several grate elements arranged in parallel and spaced apart, and wherein the at least one fluid supply device is configured to generate fluid flow that runs parallel to the grate elements.

3. The laser cutting machine according to claim 1, wherein the at least one fluid supply device and laser cutting head are arranged on a shared bridge, the at least one fluid supply device and the laser cutting head configured and arranged to move relative to the support grate.

4. The laser cutting machine according to claim 1, wherein the at least one fluid supply device is arranged on a guide such that the at least one fluid supply device can move along the support grate.

5. The laser cutting machine according to claim 1, wherein the at least one fluid supply device is configured and arranged to be adjusted relative to the support plane of the support grate.

6. The laser cutting machine according to claim 1, wherein the at least one fluid supply device comprises several nozzles arranged next to one another, wherein several of the several nozzles are further arranged on a shared line, and wherein the shared line is arranged parallel to the support plane of the support grate.

7. The laser cutting machine according to claim 6, wherein the several nozzles are further arranged spaced apart by a distance that is less than a distance between the grate elements.

8. The laser cutting machine according to claim 1, wherein the at least one nozzle is configured to be replaceable and arranged in or on the at least one fluid supply device.

9. The laser cutting machine according to claim 1, wherein the at least one nozzle is configured such that an alignment of said at least one nozzle can be set relative to the at least one fluid supply device.

10. The laser cutting machine according to claim 1, wherein fluid supplied by the fluid supply device is a gas and wherein the fluid supply device is configured to deliver the gas in at least one of, blown in and blown in pulsed.

11. The laser cutting machine according to claim 1, further comprising at least one fluid regulating device configured for regulating at least one of fluid pressure and fluid flow rate.

12. The laser cutting machine according to claim 1, further comprising a protective device configured for at least partially protecting at least the at least one fluid supply device against residue that accumulates during a processing operation.

13. The laser cutting machine according to claim 1, further comprising at least two fluid supply devices arranged at least one of opposite to one another and offset from one another, the at least two supply devices configured and further arranged to move synchronously with each other.

14. The laser cutting machine according to claim 1, wherein the at least one nozzle cleaning device is configured and arranged to clear contaminants present on the nozzle.

15. The laser cutting machine according to claim 1, wherein the at least one nozzle cleaning device is configured to clean automatically.

16. The laser cutting machine according to claim 1, wherein the at least one nozzle cleaning device further comprises at least one brush and the nozzle cleaning device is further configured to move the at least one brush between a parked position and a cleaning position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Just as the technical content of the claims and figures, the reference list is a component of the disclosure. The figures are described in a coherent and overarching manner. The same reference numbers refer to the same components, while reference numbers with differing indices denote functionally identical or similar components.

(2) Shown here on:

(3) FIG. 1 is a cross section through a laser processing machine according to the invention,

(4) FIG. 2 is a detail of FIG. 1,

(5) FIG. 3 is the detail according to FIG. 2 in a perspective view,

(6) FIG. 4 is a detail through a nozzle of the fluid supply device,

(7) FIG. 5 is a schematic section through a variant of a laser processing machine according to the invention,

(8) FIG. 6 is a detail similar to FIG. 2, but with another variant of a fluid supply device,

(9) FIG. 7 is a detail through a nozzle of another fluid supply device,

(10) FIG. 8 is a schematic top view of a fluid supply device and support grate,

(11) FIG. 9 is a schematic top view of a support grate, and

(12) FIG. 10 depicts the cleaning device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(13) The laser processing machine 11 shown on FIG. 1 to 3 is a laser cutting machine with a laser cutting head 12 as the laser processing head. The laser processing machine 11 further encompasses a dust collection space 15, which is covered by a support grate 16. The support grate 16 defines a support plane A for supporting a workpiece 8 to be processed. The support grate 16 encompasses several grate elements 17 that are parallel to each other and spaced apart from each other.

(14) The laser cutting head 12 is arranged on a bridge 14. In order to position the laser cutting head 12 relative to the workpiece 8, the latter can be moved along the bridge 14 as well as with this bridge 14 into a moving direction (double arrow 22) of the laser cutting head 12. The energy is supplied to the laser cutting head 12 via the flexible feeder 13, also referred to as supply chain.

(15) Further provided are a fluid supply device 21 and a fluid removal device 31, which are designed to generate a fluid flow 27 running parallel to the grate elements 17 of the support grate 16 under the support plane A of the support grate 16, and to remove flue gas 28 and dust, for example.

(16) The fluid removal device 31 encompasses a suction tube 32, in which a negative pressure prevails. Alternatively or additionally, at least one ventilator can be provided, which generates a negative pressure in the area of the fluid removal device 31.

(17) The fluid supply device 21 can be moved parallel with the laser processing head 12 in a displacement direction of the latter. In the embodiment shown on FIG. 1, the fluid supply device 21 is to this end situated on the bridge 14, on which the laser processing head 12 is also located.

(18) The fluid supply device 21 exhibits several nozzles 23 arranged one next to the other, which are situated on a shared line. The nozzles 23 are located under the support plane A of the support grate 16.

(19) Each nozzle 23 is replaceably arranged in the fluid supply device 21, and adjustable in its alignment relative to the fluid supply device 21 or the support plane A of the support grate 16 (see FIG. 4).

(20) The supplied fluid is a gas, advantageously air. The air is blown in pulsed. The air is supplied via the supply line 25 to the fluid supply device 21, and routed in the latter to the nozzles 23 via the supply channel 26. For example, the supply channel 26 can here incorporate valves, so as to supply individual nozzles 23 with the fluid or separate them from the latter.

(21) The laser processing machine 11 further exhibits a fluid regulating device 29 for regulating the fluid pressure and/or fluid flow rate.

(22) The fluid supply device 36 shown on FIG. 6 is designed similarly to the fluid supply device 21, but situated on a separate guide (here the guide rail 38). The fluid supply device 36 can be moved along the support grate 16, advantageously together with the laser processing head 12. The fluid supply device 51 can be adjusted relative to the support plane A of the support grate 16 in the direction of the double arrow 37, e.g., swiveled or moved.

(23) Provided in the laser processing machine 41 according to FIG. 5 are two fluid supply devices 51, which are situated opposite each other and can be moved synchronously with each other. For example, the fluid supply devices 51 are each designed similarly to the fluid supply device 21 described above. Each fluid supply device 51 can be swiveled around a respective swiveling axis 52, and hence can be aligned relative to the support plane A of the support grate 16. Pressurized air is used as the fluid, and provided by a compressor 56 of the laser processing machine 41.

(24) Further provided for each fluid supply device 51 is a respective flap-shaped protective device 58. Each protective device 58 can be separately actuated, and is pushed in front of the respective fluid supply device 51 for at least partially protecting against residue of the latter that accumulates during the processing operation.

(25) The fluid removal device 51 is centrally located in the dust collection space 15.

(26) However, this dust collection space 15 could also be divided into several separate segments, wherein a separate fluid removal device is then advantageously situated in each of the segments.

(27) To support the formation of a directed flow, the or each fluid removal device can also be positioned on the side of the dust collection space 15 lying opposite the supply device, and preferably aligned parallel thereto.

(28) In the fluid supply device 71 shown on FIG. 7, the nozzle 73 is mounted in an advantageously elastic mounting body, e.g., one made out of an elastomer, in or on the fluid supply device 71. While supplying the fluid, the nozzle 73 can move in several degrees of freedom.

(29) In the embodiment shown on FIG. 8, the several nozzles 83 of the fluid supply device 81 arranged one next to the other are each spaced apart a distance a less than the distance C between the grate elements 77 of the support grate 75.

(30) Provided in the embodiment according to FIG. 9 are two fluid supply devices 91 and 96, which are situated one opposite the other and offset relative to each other. The nozzles 93 of the fluid supply device 91 and nozzles 98 of the fluid supply device 96 are arranged in such a way that opposing flows are present between the grate elements 17 of the support grate 16. The fluid supply devices 91 and 96 are preferably moved synchronously with each other in this example.

(31) FIG. 10 depicts nozzles 23 configured to be fed by a fluid supply line and arranged on shared line for lateral displacement 22 which brings the nozzles 23 past brushes 102, themselves appropriately mounted on a conventional mount 108. In operation, as the nozzles are brought past the brushes, the brushes sweep away any debris formed on the nozzles.

(32) TABLE-US-00001 Reference List 8 Workpiece 11 Laser processing machine 12 Laser processing head 13 Flexible feeder 14 Bridge 15 Dust collection space 16 Support grate 17 Grate element 21 Fluid supply device 22 Double arrow 23 Nozzle 25 Supply line 26 Supply channel 27 Fluid flow 28 Flue gas 31 Fluid removal device 32 Suction tube 36 Fluid supply device 37 Double arrow 38 Guide 41 Laser processing machine 51 Fluid supply device 52 Swiveling axis 56 Compressor 58 Protective device 61 Fluid removal device 71 Fluid supply device 72 Storage body 73 Nozzle 76 Support grate 77 Grate element 81 Fluid supply device 83 Nozzle 91 Fluid supply device 93 Nozzle 96 Fluid supply device 98 Nozzle A Support plane for 16 C Distance for 77 a Distance for 83