DE102021123644A1 - Device for separating workpieces - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for separating a workpiece (6) by means of a laser beam (8) on a support table (9), the laser beam (8) being directed below the workpiece (6) through a gap (10) into a free space (7), wherein a cylindrical tube located in the axis of the laser beam (8) is arranged in the free space (7) below the gap (10) and into which the laser beam (8) enters centrally, wherein in the entry area (12 ) of the tube (11) nozzles (17) for injecting water (18) are arranged in such a way that in the longitudinal direction of the laser beam (8) located in the tube (11) the water (18) swirls towards the other end (13) of the Tube (11) moves. Metal sparks below the gap (10) can thus be safely extinguished.

Description

The invention relates to a device for separating a workpiece by means of a laser beam on a support table, the laser beam being directed through a gap into a free space underneath the workpiece.

With a laser cutting device, the light beam is guided from the generator via deflection mirrors to the material plate lying on a support table. The support table consists of a metal frame into which so-called webs are hung at a small distance to form the support surface. A newer type of support table is the vario table from the WO 2003/016004 A1 and EP 1 695 802 A1 where you can cut into the open without disturbing webs.

With both support tables, the thick laser light beam is focused with glass lenses exactly above the material plate to form a pin-thin light beam and cuts the material. With and without inert gas, fine glowing metal particles are swept down in a cloud of metal dust.

The present invention is therefore based on the object of proposing a possibility with which the glowing metal particles (metal sparks) can be extinguished.

According to the invention, this object was achieved by a device having the features of claim 1 . Further advantageous configurations can be found in the dependent claim.

According to the invention, a cylindrical tube located in the axis of the laser beam is then arranged in the free space below the gap. This tube has an upper open end associated with the gap and an opposite lower open end. The laser beam enters centrally into the upper open end and exits through the lower open end. In the entrance area of the upper end of the pipe there are nozzles for injecting water. These nozzles are arranged in such a way that, in the longitudinal direction of the water jet in the pipe, the water moves in a whirling manner towards the other end of the pipe. The water swirls around the laser beam up to the end of the tube and then flows out. In order for a vortex to be generated, the arrangement of the nozzles must be such that they are neither perpendicular to the laser beam nor tangential to a radius around the laser beam. A semi-tangential arrangement of the nozzles should be the most appropriate. So that the water turbulence is generated downwards in the pipe from the start, it is expedient to incline the nozzles at an angle relative to the horizontal, with an inclination angle of the order of 15° being sufficient. If protective gas is used during the cutting process with the laser beam, the gas flow will already tear the vortex through the pipe. In this case, the nozzles would not necessarily have to be inclined relative to the horizontal. However, it is convenient for universal use.

According to a further embodiment of the device, a nozzle ring with a circular interior is arranged in the inlet area of the pipe. A circumferential channel with at least one inlet is arranged in this nozzle ring, from which branch off nozzle channels directed into the interior of the nozzle ring and ending there. The circumferential channel can be formed by the inner wall of the tube. The nozzle ring has an outer and an inner diameter, the circumferential channel and the nozzle channels being arranged between the outer and the inner diameter and opening into the circular interior space having the inner diameter. The outer diameter can correspond to the outer or inner diameter of the tube. The nozzles or nozzle channels, as described above, are to be arranged in relation to the circular interior space.

With the device according to the invention it is thus possible to successfully extinguish and transport away metal sparks present under the gap. The removal takes place at the end of the water-forming water flow.

The features and combinations of features mentioned above in the description and the features and combinations of features mentioned below in the description of the figures and/or shown alone in the figures can be used not only in the combination specified in each case, but also in other combinations or on their own. Not all features of claim 1 have to be realized in order to carry out the invention. Individual features of the independent claims can also be replaced by other disclosed features or combinations of features. All of the features and/or advantages resulting from the claims, the description or the drawing, including structural details, spatial arrangement and method steps, can be essential to the invention both on their own and in a wide variety of combinations. In the figures, the same or similar components are identified with the same or similar reference symbols.

• 1 eine schematische seitliche Darstellung mit einem Auflagetisch mit variablen Auflageflächen (Variotisch) und einem Löschrohr in einer Schnittdarstellung; und
• 2 eine schematische Darstellung eines Schnitts durch das Löschrohr im Bereich des Düsenrings.

The invention is explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment. They represent:

• 1 a schematic side view with a support table with variable support surfaces (vario table) and an extinguishing tube in a sectional view; and
• 2 a schematic representation of a section through the extinguishing pipe in the area of the nozzle ring.

The representation in 1 shows in the area of the two first deflection devices 1, 2, a transport chain 3 and a workpiece 6 located on support surfaces 4, 5 of a support table 9 and a free space 7 formed by the first deflection devices 1, 2 into which a laser beam 8, which cuts through the workpiece 6 has, reached. The first and the second support surface 4, 5 are formed by a link belt, not shown, which is transported with the transport chain 3, as in the WO 2003/016004 A1 and EP 1 695 802 A1 is described.. At least the first deflection devices 1, 2 are in 1 Y-direction shown movable, so that the gap 10 formed between the first deflection devices 1, 2 is movable in the Y-direction. The laser beam 8 is both in the Y direction and perpendicular to it (from the image plane of the 1 out) movable in the X-direction. Due to the synchronous movement of the gap 10, the laser beam 8 can always act undisturbed in the gap 10. In the free space 7 below the gap 10 there is shown an extinguishing tube 11 which is arranged coaxially to the laser beam 8 and into which the laser beam 8 enters at the end 11 facing the gap 10 and exits at the other end 12 . A vertical suction pipe 14 is located below the pipe 11 in the exemplary embodiment. At the upper end 11 there is a nozzle ring 15, which forms an interior space 16 with its inner diameter, into the nozzle channels 17 arranged on the circumference of the interior space 16 for the exit of water 18 flow. The nozzle channels 17 are inclined at an angle relative to the horizontal and are connected to a circumferential ring channel 19 at the other end. In the exemplary embodiment, a wall of the channel 19 is formed by the inner wall of the tube 11. The ring channel 19 is connected to a corresponding water supply, not shown.

The 2 shows the nozzle ring 15 in a schematic section with the ring channel 19 and various nozzle channels 17 which are arranged half-tangentially to the arc-shaped inner space 16 .

Reference List

1

deflection device

3

transport chain

5

bearing surface

7

free space

9

support table

11

Pipe

13

lower end

15

nozzle ring

17

nozzle channel

19

ring canal

2

deflection device

4

bearing surface

6

workpiece

8th

laser beam

10

gap

12

top end

14

suction pipe

16

inner space

18

Water

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of documents cited by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent Literature Cited

• WO 2003016004 A1 [0002, 0011]
• EP 1695802 A1 [0002, 0011]

Claims (2)

Device for separating a workpiece (6) by means of a laser beam (8) on a support table (9), the laser beam (8) being directed below the workpiece (6) through a gap (10) into a free space (7), characterized that in the free space (7) below the gap (10) there is arranged a cylindrical tube which is located on the axis of the laser beam (8) and into which the laser beam (8) enters centrally, wherein in the entry area ( 12) of the tube (11) nozzles (17) for injecting water (18) are arranged in such a way that in the longitudinal direction of the laser beam (8) located in the tube (11) the water (18) swirls towards the other end (13) of the tube (11) moves. device after claim 1 , characterized in that in the inlet area (12) of the tube (11) a nozzle ring (15) with a circular interior (16) is arranged, which has a circumferential channel (19) with at least one inlet and from which into the interior ( 16) of the nozzle ring (15) and branch off nozzle channels (17) ending there.

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