Device for cutting sheet metal plates out of a sheet metal strip

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10722981-B2
Application number	US-201615746641-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 28, 2016
Priority date	Sep 15, 2015
Publication date	Jul 28, 2020
Grant date	Jul 28, 2020

Abstract

A device for cutting sheet metal plates out of a sheet metal strip includes a laser cutting device moving back and forth in a transport direction of the sheet metal strip and a y-direction running perpendicular to the transport direction, a first conveyor belt having first end moving back and forth together with the laser cutting device in the transport direction, a second conveyor belt having a second end opposite the first end and moving back and forth in the transport direction. The first and second ends are moved such that a laser beam generated by the laser cutting device is directed towards a gap formed between the first and second ends and extending in the y-direction. In order to avoid adhesions to an underside of the sheet metal strip, at least one support strip and/or the dust discharge shaft is provided with a ventilation device for ventilating the gap.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A device for cutting sheet metal plates out of a sheet metal strip ( 1 ), comprising:
a laser cutting device ( 2 ) that can move back and forth in a transport direction (T) of the sheet metal strip ( 1 ) as well as in a y-direction running perpendicular to the transport direction,
a first conveyor belt whose first end ( 7 ) can be moved back and forth together with the laser cutting device ( 2 ) in the transport direction (T),
a second conveyor belt having a second end ( 8 ), which is opposite the first end ( 7 ) and which can be moved back and forth in the transport direction (T),
wherein the first ( 7 ) and the second end ( 8 ) are moved in such a way that a laser beam (L) generated by the laser cutting device is directed towards a gap (S) formed between the first ( 7 ) and the second end ( 8 ) and extending in the y-direction,
wherein a screen ( 18 ) movable back and forth in the y-direction concurrently in alignment with the laser beam (L) is provided in the gap (S),
wherein a dust discharge shaft ( 9 ) extends in a discharge direction (A) pointing away from an underside (U) of the sheet metal strip ( 1 ),
wherein the dust discharge shaft ( 9 ) is provided with a ventilation device for ventilating the gap (S), and
wherein the ventilation device comprises ventilation apertures ( 14 a , 14 b ), which penetrate the dust discharge shaft ( 9 ).

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the screen ( 18 ) is formed from metal members ( 25 , 26 ) connected pivotably to one another, of which first metal members ( 25 ) have covers ( 27 ) and a second metal member ( 26 ) has an aperture ( 20 ) for the passage of the laser beam (L).

3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the screen ( 18 ) is formed from a toothed belt ( 23 ) or a stainless steel belt, which are provided with an aperture ( 20 ) for the passage of the laser beam (L).

4. The device according to claim 1 , wherein a drive device ( 21 ) is provided, by means of which the screen ( 18 ) can be moved back and forth.

5. The device according to claim 1 , wherein a first support means having a first support strip ( 3 ) is provided at the first end ( 7 ) of the first conveyor belt and a second support means having a second support strip ( 4 ) opposite the first support strip ( 3 ) is provided at the second end ( 8 ), so that the gap (S) is formed between the first ( 3 ) and the second support strip ( 4 ).

6. The device according to claim 1 , wherein an upper side of the first and/or second conveyor belt facing the sheet metal plate forms a first movement plane (BE 1 ) in the transport direction (T) which is arranged above a second movement plane (BE 2 ) of the screen ( 18 ) in the y-direction, wherein the second movement plane (BE 2 ) is formed by a screen upper side (Ob) of the screen ( 18 ) facing the laser cutting device.

7. The device according to claim 1 , wherein a support face ( 11 a , 11 b ) of the support strips ( 3 , 4 ) facing the laser cutting device forms a first movement plane (BE 1 ) in the transport direction (T) which is arranged above a second movement plane (BE 2 ) of the screen ( 18 ) in the y-direction, wherein the second movement plane (BE 2 ) is formed by a screen upper side (Ob) of the screen ( 18 ) facing the laser cutting device.

8. The device according to claim 5 , wherein the dust discharge shaft ( 9 ) extends from at least one of the support strips ( 3 , 4 ) in a discharge direction (A) pointing away from the laser cutting device ( 2 ).

9. The device according to claim 5 , wherein the at least one support strip ( 3 , 4 ) is provided with a ventilation device ( 12 , 13 a , 13 b , 13 c , 14 a , 14 b ) for ventilating the gap (S).

10. The device according to claim 9 , wherein the ventilation device ( 12 , 13 a , 13 b , 13 c , 14 a , 14 b ) comprises ventilation channels ( 12 , 13 a , 13 b , 13 c ), which are provided in the support face ( 11 a , 11 b ) of the support strip ( 3 , 4 ).

11. The device according to claim 10 , wherein the ventilation channels ( 12 , 13 a , 13 b , 13 c ) extend over a length (Lg 1 ) of the support face ( 11 a , 11 b ) extending in the transport direction (T).

12. The device according to claim 10 , wherein the ventilation channels ( 12 , 13 a , 13 b , 13 c ) run parallel or at an incline to the transport direction (T).

13. The device according to claim 9 , wherein the ventilation apertures ( 14 a , 14 b ) penetrate the support strips ( 3 , 4 ).

14. The device according to claim 10 , wherein a fan ( 16 ) is provided for supplying air to the ventilation channels ( 12 , 13 a , 13 b , 13 c ) and/or ventilation apertures ( 14 a , 14 b ).

15. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the dust discharge shaft ( 9 ) has a cross-section that widens in the discharge direction (A).

16. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the support strips ( 3 , 4 ) and/or the dust discharge shaft ( 9 ) are/is made of copper or an alloy containing substantially copper.

17. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the dust discharge shaft ( 9 ) is connected to a container (B) for collecting cutting dust (Ss).

18. The device according to claim 5 , wherein the dust discharge shaft ( 9 ) is connected only to one of the two support strips ( 3 , 4 ).

19. The device according to claim 5 , wherein the dust discharge shaft ( 9 ) is formed by two walls ( 10 a , 10 b ) extending in the discharge direction (A), wherein at least one of the walls ( 10 a , 10 b ) is attached to one of the support strips ( 3 , 4 ).

20. The device according to claim 14 , wherein the ventilation apertures ( 14 a , 14 b ) connected to the fan ( 16 ) are provided in the edge region of the dust discharge shaft ( 9 ) in order to form an air sword.

Assignees

• Schuler Automation Gmbh & Co Kg
• Schuler Pressen Gmbh

Inventors

• Summerer Matthias
• Seitz Alexander

Classifications

• B23K26/702

  Auxiliary equipment · CPC title

• B26D1/60

  and is mounted on a movable carriage · CPC title

• B23K26/02

  Positioning or observing the workpiece, e.g. with respect to the point of impact; Aligning, aiming or focusing the laser beam · CPC title

• B26D1/605

  for thin material, e.g. for sheets, strips or the like · CPC title

• B23K37/0408

  for planar work · CPC title