A safety guard for a laser cutting machine

Abstract

The application discloses a kind of laser cutting machine safety protection device, it is related to cutting protection technical field, including machine tool, gantry movement mechanism being erected on machine tool, cutting head and laser generator being installed on the crossbeam of gantry movement mechanism;Further include: enclosure component, set in the periphery of machine tool, for carrying out enclosure to the periphery of machine tool;Blocking component, set in the inside of machine tool located in gantry movement mechanism, form blocking from side after rising, to prevent plate material is extracted or moved unexpectedly;Detection assembly.The application cooperates with multiple components by setting hierarchical protection logic, effectively solve the scald risk caused by plate material overheating during laser cutting in background art, laser direct damage risk and the problem of low safety of existing passive protection;Both can guarantee plate processing stability when working, avoid plate misplacement caused by non-personnel object, can also be fully isolated from danger by active physical blocking when personnel approach.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of cutting protection technology, specifically to a safety protection device for a laser cutting machine. Background Technology

[0002] Laser cutting machines are commonly used sheet metal processing equipment in the industrial field. They typically include a machine tool, a gantry motion mechanism mounted on the machine tool, a cutting head mounted on the crossbeam of the gantry motion mechanism, and a laser generator. The laser generator transmits laser light to the cutting head through optical fiber. Driven by the gantry motion mechanism, the cutting head moves along the machine tool table, thereby cutting the sheet metal to be cut placed on the support frame at the top of the machine tool. It is widely used for high-precision cutting of metal and non-metal sheets.

[0003] During the operation of a laser cutting machine, laser cutting generates a large amount of heat, causing the temperature of the material to be cut and the material that has just been cut to rise sharply. At the same time, if the high-energy laser output from the cutting head directly shines on the operator, it can cause burns. In addition, the movement of the gantry motion mechanism during machine operation also poses a risk of mechanical collision. All of these factors threaten the personal safety of the operator.

[0004] In existing technologies, to reduce the aforementioned risks, some laser cutting machines are equipped with automatic shutdown systems. These systems control the laser generator to stop working or the machine tool to pause operation when a sensor detects that an operator is approaching the laser cutting area. However, such systems can only prevent direct laser damage to operators and cannot prevent operators from touching the still-hot sheet material before or after the machine stops, resulting in frequent burn accidents. Furthermore, this type of protection is passive, only pausing the equipment before a danger occurs, without forming an active physical barrier. The safety of the protection is low, and it is difficult to fully guarantee the safety of operators and the stability of the processing process. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a safety protection device for laser cutting machines to solve the problems mentioned in the background art.

[0006] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows:

[0007] A safety protection device for a laser cutting machine includes a machine tool, a gantry motion mechanism mounted on the machine tool, a cutting head and a laser generator mounted on the crossbeam of the gantry motion mechanism, the laser generator being connected to the cutting head via an optical fiber; a support frame on top of the machine tool is configured as a liftable structure, the support frame being used to place the sheet metal to be cut; it also includes: a barrier component, disposed around the perimeter of the machine tool for enclosing the machine tool's perimeter; a blocking component, disposed inside the gantry motion mechanism of the machine tool, which, when raised, forms a blockage from the side to prevent the sheet metal from being unintentionally extracted or moved; a detection component, including an array of photoelectric sensors arranged around the machine tool for detecting whether an object enters the working area; an identification component, including an infrared temperature sensor mounted on the machine tool for identifying the temperature characteristics of approaching objects; a data comparison component, for receiving signals from the detection component and the identification component, and determining whether the approaching object is a person based on a preset temperature threshold; and a protection control component, for generating a protection command based on the comparison result information from the data comparison component, and transmitting the generated protection command to an execution component, the execution component including one or a combination of the barrier component and the blocking component.

[0008] By adopting the above technical solution, and through the setting of hierarchical protection logic and the collaborative work of multiple components, the risks of burns caused by overheating of the sheet metal during laser cutting, the risk of direct laser damage, and the low safety of existing passive protection are effectively solved in the background technology. It can not only ensure the processing stability of the sheet metal during operation and avoid misalignment of the sheet metal caused by non-personnel objects, but also completely isolate the danger through active physical barriers (enclosure components, blocking components) when personnel approach. At the same time, the protective actions are optimized for special scenarios during the cooling period, taking into account both safety protection and processing efficiency, and improving the overall safety of the laser cutting machine.

[0009] A further improvement of the technical solution of the present invention is as follows: the enclosure component includes side frames symmetrically and fixedly connected to both sides of the machine tool, with a transition seat rotatably connected between the inner sides of the side frames, and a tilting motor fixedly installed on the outer sides of both side frames, the output end of the tilting motor being fixedly connected to the rotating shaft of the transition seat; a transmission seat is fixedly connected to one side of the transition seat, and lifting seats are fixedly connected to both ends of the transmission seat, with a screw rotatably connected inside each lifting seat, and a lifting slider threadedly connected to the outside of the screw, the lifting slider being slidably connected to the lifting seat, an end seat fixedly connected to one side of the lifting slider, a railing rotatably connected between the two end seats located on the same side of the machine tool, a rotating rod rotatably connected between the two sides of the inner wall of the transmission seat, two bevel gears fixedly connected to the outside of the rotating rod, one end of the screw extending into the interior of the transmission seat and fixedly connected to a bevel gear, the bevel gear at the end of the screw meshing with the bevel gear outside the rotating rod, and a lifting motor fixedly connected to one side of the transmission seat, the output end of the lifting motor extending into the interior of the transmission seat and fixedly connected to the rotating rod.

[0010] By adopting the above technical solution, the fence components are equipped with two levels of protection functions: "low-level simple protection" and "high-level enhanced protection" photoelectric sensors, through the coordinated control of the flipping motor and the lifting motor. The low-level protection, when there is no intrusion, balances safety and ease of operation, avoiding the obstruction of observation and operation by fixed fences. The high-level protection, when personnel intrude, can effectively increase the blocking height, forcing personnel to go around the high railings to access the panels, greatly reducing the probability of personnel touching high-temperature panels or approaching laser areas. This solves the problems of insufficient flexibility, energy waste and operational obstruction of existing fence protection, and improves the adaptability and practicality of protection.

[0011] Furthermore, through the meshing of the first rack and the transmission gear, the railing achieves a combined vertical upward and outward rotation motion. Considering that personnel can only enter the machine tool from above the railing, and the entry height is limited by the person's height, they must contact the railing to touch the plate. Therefore, when the operator touches the railing, the railing will rotate and be subjected to an outward pushing force (the railing turns in the tangential direction). The outward pushing force can actively push the personnel away from the danger zone, further improving the safety of protection. This solves the contradiction between the protection response speed and the collision risk in the above scheme, and takes into account both the timeliness of protection and the safety of personnel.

[0012] A further improvement of the technical solution of the present invention is that: a fixed rod is fixedly connected between the lower parts of the lifting seats on the same side of the machine tool, and end plates are fixedly connected to both ends of the railing. A partition curtain is rolled up around the part between the two ends of the railing. One end of the partition curtain is fixedly connected to the railing, and the other end is fixedly connected to the fixed rod. The partition curtain is made of transparent PVC material.

[0013] By adopting the above technical solution, the curtain is installed to form a continuous barrier between the railing and the fixed bar during the raising and lowering of the railing. This avoids the risk of pinching injuries caused by the narrowing gap when the railing is lowered, and fills the gaps between the bar-shaped railings to prevent small objects or hands from reaching in through the gaps. The opening and closing of the curtain is synchronized with the movement of the railing, eliminating the need for additional drive components. This simplifies the structure, improves the protective integrity of the enclosure components, and further reduces operational safety risks.

[0014] A further improvement of the technical solution of the present invention is as follows: the blocking component includes a fixed frame fixedly connected to the top of the machine tool, side plates fixedly connected to the bottom of both sides of the fixed frame, two transmission rods rotatably connected between the adjacent sides of the two side plates, two support rods symmetrically fixedly connected to the outside of the transmission rods, a baffle is hinged between the tops of the two support rods on the same side of the fixed frame, and the two transmission rods are connected to each other by a synchronous pulley and a synchronous belt; a support frame is slidably connected to the inside of the fixed frame, a second rack is fixedly connected to the bottom of the support frame, two intermediate gears are rotatably connected to the adjacent sides of the two side plates, and the intermediate gears mesh with the second rack; two driven gears are symmetrically fixedly connected to the outside of the two transmission rods, and the driven gears mesh with the intermediate gears; a blocking motor is fixedly connected to one of the side plates, a driving gear is fixedly connected to the output end of the blocking motor, and the driving gear meshes with one of the intermediate gears.

[0015] By adopting the above technical solution, the linkage structure of the driving gear, intermediate gear, second rack and driven gear enables synchronous control of the support frame descent and the baffle rise, eliminating the need for independent control logic, simplifying the system structure and reducing the probability of failure. At the same time, it ensures that the baffle rises synchronously during the support frame descent, forming a timely lateral barrier to prevent external objects from touching the plate during the gap between their movements, thus ensuring the stability of the laser cutting process and improving the reliability of the collaborative protection between the barrier components and the support frame.

[0016] A further improvement of the technical solution of the present invention is that the diameter of the intermediate gear is larger than the diameter of the driven gear.

[0017] By adopting the above technical solution, and by setting the transmission ratio so that the diameter of the intermediate gear is greater than that of the driven gear, the descent speed of the support frame is lower than that of the baffle. This ensures that the baffle can rise quickly and form a side barrier in time to prevent external objects from touching the plate. At the same time, by slowing down the descent speed of the support frame, it prevents the plate from swaying or shifting due to inertia, ensuring the relative position stability between the plate and the cutting head and ensuring the accuracy of laser cutting. This solves the problem of the conflict between the speed requirements of the two solutions mentioned above, and balances the timeliness of protection and the stability of cutting.

[0018] A further improvement of the technical solution of the present invention is that: the detection component includes four vertically fixed I-beams connected to the four corners of the top of the machine tool; the photoelectric sensor array includes two sets, and both sets of photoelectric sensors are mounted on the I-beams; each set of photoelectric sensors is arranged at intervals along the vertical direction, and the output directions of two adjacent photoelectric sensors are opposite.

[0019] By adopting the above technical solution, photoelectric sensors are vertically spaced on both sides, with adjacent photoelectric sensors outputting signals in opposite directions. This enables the detection component to not only detect whether there is an intrusion, but also to accurately locate the height, left and right positions, and span of the intruding object, providing richer judgment basis for the data comparison component. It effectively reduces misjudgment of small tools, and can also identify situations where multiple people intrude at the same time, avoiding false or missed triggering of protection commands, and improving the accuracy and reliability of intrusion detection.

[0020] A further improvement of the technical solution of the present invention is that: the identification component also includes linear modules symmetrically installed on both sides of the machine tool, and infrared temperature sensors respectively set on the movable parts of each linear module. The linear modules drive the infrared temperature sensors to move along the length direction of the machine tool. The two infrared temperature sensors are respectively fixed on the movable sliders of the two linear modules. The sides of the machine tool are provided with strip grooves through which the infrared temperature sensors pass.

[0021] By adopting the above technical solution, the infrared temperature sensor is moved along the length of the machine tool by a linear module, effectively covering all areas along the length of the machine tool, eliminating temperature detection blind spots, and avoiding missed detections due to insufficient detection range. When a large-span intrusion is detected, the temperature signals at both ends of the span can be accurately collected to accurately identify whether it is a multi-person intrusion, further improving the accuracy of personnel identification. There is no need to set up multiple fixed-point sensors along the length of the machine tool, simplifying the structure, reducing costs, and improving the adaptability and detection flexibility of the identification components.

[0022] Due to the adoption of the above technical solution, the technical progress achieved by this invention compared to the prior art is as follows:

[0023] 1. This invention provides a safety protection device for laser cutting machines. By setting up hierarchical protection logic and cooperating with multiple components, it effectively solves the problems of burn risk caused by overheating of the sheet metal during laser cutting, direct laser damage risk, and low safety of existing passive protection in the background art. It can not only ensure the processing stability of the sheet metal during operation and avoid misalignment of the sheet metal caused by non-personnel objects, but also completely isolate the danger through active physical barriers (enclosure components, blocking components) when personnel approach. At the same time, the protective actions are optimized for special scenarios during the cooling period, taking into account both safety protection and processing efficiency, and improving the overall safety of the laser cutting machine.

[0024] 2. This invention provides a safety protection device for a laser cutting machine. Through the coordinated control of a flipping motor and a lifting motor, the enclosure component possesses two levels of protection functions: a "low-level simple protection" photoelectric sensor and a "high-level enhanced protection" photoelectric sensor. The low-level protection during operation without intrusion balances safety and ease of operation, avoiding obstruction of observation and operation by fixed enclosures. The high-level protection during personnel intrusion effectively increases the blocking height, forcing personnel to bypass high railings to access the material, significantly reducing the probability of personnel touching high-temperature materials or approaching the laser area. This solves the problems of insufficient flexibility, energy waste, and operational obstruction in existing enclosure protection, improving the adaptability and practicality of the protection.

[0025] 3. This invention provides a safety protection device for a laser cutting machine. Through the meshing of a first rack and a transmission gear, the railing achieves a combined vertical upward and outward rotation motion. Considering that personnel can only enter the machine tool from above the railing, and the entry height is limited by the person's height, touching the material requires contact with the railing. Therefore, when the operator touches the railing, the railing rotates and is subjected to an outward pushing force (the railing turns tangentially). This outward pushing force can actively push the personnel away from the danger zone, further improving safety. This solves the contradiction between the protection response speed and collision risk in the above solutions, balancing the timeliness of protection and personnel safety.

[0026] 4. This invention provides a safety protection device for a laser cutting machine. By setting up a curtain, a continuous barrier is always formed between the railing and the fixed rod during the raising and lowering of the railing. This avoids the risk of pinching injuries caused by the narrowing gap when the railing is lowered, and fills the gaps between the rod-shaped railings to prevent small objects or hands from reaching in through the gaps. The unrolling and rewinding of the curtain are synchronized with the movement of the railing, eliminating the need for additional driving components. This simplifies the structure while improving the protective integrity of the enclosure components, further reducing operational safety risks.

[0027] 5. This invention provides a safety protection device for a laser cutting machine. By vertically spaced photoelectric sensors on both sides, with adjacent photoelectric sensors outputting signals in opposite directions, the detection component can not only detect whether an object is intruding, but also accurately locate the height, left and right side position, and span of the intruding object, providing richer judgment basis for the data comparison component; effectively reducing misjudgment of small tools, and can also identify situations where multiple people intrude simultaneously, avoiding false or missed triggering of protection commands, and improving the accuracy and reliability of intrusion detection. Attached Figure Description

[0028] The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0029] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the enclosure component of the present invention in its unfolded state;

[0030] Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the enclosure component of the present invention in its unfolded state;

[0031] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional structural diagram of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 4 This is one of the partial cross-sectional structural schematic diagrams of the enclosure component of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 5 This is a second partial cross-sectional structural schematic diagram of the enclosure component of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the fixing frame and support frame of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 7 This is a partial cross-sectional view of the fixing frame and support frame of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 8 This is a partial cross-sectional view of the blocking component of the present invention;

[0037] Figure 9 This is a side sectional view of the overall structure of the present invention;

[0038] Figure 10 For the present invention Figure 7 Enlarged view of point A in the middle.

[0039] In the diagram: 1. Machine tool; 2. Gantry motion mechanism; 3. Cutting head; 401. Side frame; 402. Adapter seat; 403. Tilting motor; 404. Transmission seat; 405. Lifting seat; 411. Lifting motor; 412. Rotating rod; 413. Screw; 414. Lifting slider; 415. End seat; 416. Railing; 417. First rack; 418. Transmission gear; 501. Fixed rod; 502. Partition curtain; 5 03. End plate; 601. Fixing frame; 602. Support frame; 603. Side plate; 604. Transmission rod; 605. Second rack; 606. Central gear; 607. Driven gear; 608. Driving gear; 609. Blocking motor; 610. Support rod; 611. Baffle; 701. I-beam; 702. Photoelectric sensor; 801. Linear module; 802. Strip groove; 803. Infrared temperature sensor. Detailed Implementation

[0040] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the embodiments.

[0041] Example 1

[0042] like Figures 1-10As shown, this invention provides a safety protection device for a laser cutting machine, including a machine tool 1, a gantry motion mechanism 2 mounted on the machine tool 1, a cutting head 3 mounted on the crossbeam of the gantry motion mechanism 2, and a laser generator. The laser generator is connected to the cutting head 3 via an optical fiber. A support frame 602 on top of the machine tool 1 is configured as a liftable structure, used to hold the sheet material to be cut. The device also includes: a perimeter enclosure component, located around the machine tool 1, for enclosing the perimeter of the machine tool 1; and a blocking component, located inside the gantry motion mechanism 2 on the machine tool 1, which, when raised, forms a barrier from the side to prevent the sheet material from being unintentionally extracted. The system includes a detection component, comprising an array of photoelectric sensors 702 arranged around the machine tool 1, for detecting whether an object enters the working area; an identification component, comprising an infrared temperature sensor 803 mounted on the machine tool 1, for identifying the temperature characteristics of an approaching object; a data comparison component, for receiving signals from the detection component and the identification component, and determining whether the approaching object is a person based on a preset temperature threshold; and a protection control component, for generating protection commands based on the comparison results from the data comparison component, and transmitting the generated protection commands to the execution component, wherein the execution component includes one or a combination of two of the following: a enclosure component or a barrier component.

[0043] In this embodiment, through the above-mentioned hierarchical protection logic and the collaborative work of multiple components, the risks of burns caused by overheating of the sheet metal during laser cutting, the risk of direct laser damage, and the low safety of existing passive protection are effectively solved in the background technology. It can not only ensure the processing stability of the sheet metal during operation and avoid misalignment of the sheet metal caused by non-personnel objects, but also completely isolate the danger through active physical barriers (enclosure components, blocking components) when personnel approach. At the same time, the protective actions are optimized for special scenarios during the cooling period, taking into account both safety protection and processing efficiency, and improving the overall safety protection level of the laser cutting machine.

[0044] When the laser cutting machine is operating, the photoelectric sensor array 702 of the detection component continuously detects whether any object enters the working area. The infrared temperature sensor 803 of the identification component then collects the temperature characteristics of the approaching object to determine if it is a person. The data comparison component receives the obstruction signal from the photoelectric sensor array 702 and the temperature signal from the infrared temperature sensor 803: if the temperature signal is within a preset human body temperature threshold range, it is determined that a person is approaching; if it is not within the threshold range, it is determined that it is not a person.

[0045] The gantry motion mechanism 2 includes a linear motion module and a gantry frame fixedly connected to its movable end. A linear motion module is also installed on the gantry frame. The paths of the two linear motion modules are perpendicular to each other. A lifting module is installed on the linear motion module on the gantry frame. The laser cutting head 3 is installed on the movable end of the lifting module.

[0046] Specifically:

[0047] When the laser cutting machine is in operation and detects a non-personnel object approaching, the protection and control components generate instructions to lower the support frame 602 and raise the blocking component, placing the sheet metal in the groove-like space formed by the support frame 602 and the blocking component. This prevents the object from touching the sheet metal and causing misalignment. The main threat from non-personnel objects is misalignment caused by touching the sheet metal. The groove-like space provides physical constraints from above and below (when the support frame 602 lowers) and from the sides (when the blocking component rises), "fixing" the infrared temperature sensor 803 of the sheet metal in a relatively enclosed space. This directly blocks the object's contact path, preventing cutting trajectory deviation or the generation of defective products. The absence of triggering the raising of the enclosure component reduces unnecessary mechanical movement (such as motor energy consumption and structural wear during enclosure raising and lowering) while not hindering the operator's observation of the processing process and emergency operations (such as rapid intervention when material abnormalities are detected), thus balancing protection and processing efficiency.

[0048] When a person is detected approaching during operation, the protective control component, in addition to controlling the movement of the support frame 602 and the blocking components, also controls the raising of the enclosure components to form a high barrier. This forces the operator to walk a longer distance to reach the panel. Combined with the descent of the support frame 602, this prevents the operator's arm from touching the panel, thus avoiding burns or dislodging the panel. The high barrier formed by the raised enclosure components essentially increases the "spatial difficulty" for the infrared temperature sensor 803 to contact the panel (requiring a longer distance and higher obstacles), thus providing more response time for the protective action. This, combined with the grooved space... To secure the sheet material, even if personnel break through the barrier to attempt to touch it, the support frame 602 will lower the sheet material's position, exceeding the normal reach of an arm. This blocks the risk from the "contact probability" aspect of the infrared temperature sensor 803. The retaining of the grooved protection ensures that the sheet material does not shift due to personnel contact, guaranteeing uninterrupted cutting. The superimposed barrier protection prioritizes eliminating the risk of burns to personnel, forming a dual line of defense that "ensures both product quality and personnel safety," avoiding potential loopholes in single protection methods (such as only a barrier or only a grooved design).

[0049] When the laser cutting machine finishes its work and is in the cooling period, and personnel are detected approaching, the protective control component only raises the enclosure component to prevent personnel from touching the high-temperature material, achieving tiered protection. During the cooling period after work, the core risk is only the infrared temperature sensor 803's warning of "burns caused by high-temperature material" (cutting is complete, and material displacement has no substantial impact). Furthermore, during the cooling period, the material has been cut, and the positions of the support frame 602 and the barrier component have no impact on processing quality. Triggering their raising or lowering would lead to unnecessary mechanical wear (such as repeated friction from gear meshing and guide rail sliding), shortening the equipment's lifespan. Frequent actions would also increase energy consumption and potentially affect subsequent material handling efficiency due to delayed mechanical response. Raising only the enclosure component physically prevents personnel from touching the high-temperature material while maintaining the stability of the support frame 602 and the barrier component, reducing mechanical load and balancing safety and equipment economy.

[0050] Preferably, the infrared temperature sensor 803 determines a person to be present when the temperature collected is between 35℃ and 38.5℃. This temperature range is set based on the actual needs of human body temperature detection in industrial settings: Firstly, the normal core body temperature is 36℃ to 37.5℃, but the infrared temperature sensor 803 detects surface temperature, which is affected by ambient temperature (such as slightly lower surface temperature due to clothing in winter, and slightly higher surface temperature due to high ambient temperature in summer) and detection distance (non-contact detection has an error of approximately ±0.5℃). Therefore, the threshold needs to be appropriately relaxed to avoid missed detections—the lower limit of 35℃ can cover the low surface temperature caused by clothing in winter, and the upper limit of 38.5℃ can eliminate false positives caused by high ambient temperature in summer or slight sensor errors. Secondly, this range can effectively distinguish between human bodies and common interfering objects in industrial settings (such as tools at room temperature often having an ambient temperature of 20℃ to 30℃, and small, recently cooled workpieces often having a temperature >40℃). Combined with the judgment of the obstruction position and span by the photoelectric sensor 702, the probability of false positives can be further reduced, ensuring the accuracy of personnel identification and providing a reliable temperature determination basis for the graded protection logic.

[0051] Example 2

[0052] like Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 5As shown, based on Embodiment 1, the present invention provides a technical solution: Preferably, the enclosure component includes side frames 401 symmetrically fixedly connected to both sides of the machine tool 1, with adapter seats 402 rotatably connected between the inner sides of the side frames 401, and a tilting motor 403 fixedly installed on the outer sides of both side frames 401. The output end of the tilting motor 403 is fixedly connected to the rotating shaft of the adapter seat 402; a transmission seat 404 is fixedly connected to one side of the adapter seat 402, and lifting seats 405 are fixedly connected to both ends of the transmission seat 404. A screw 413 is rotatably connected inside the lifting seat 405, and a lifting slider 414 is threadedly connected to the outside of the screw 413. The lifting slider 414 is connected to the lifting... The lowering seat 405 is slidably connected, and an end seat 415 is fixedly connected to one side of the lifting slider 414. A railing 416 is rotatably connected between the two end seats 415 on the same side of the machine tool 1. A rotating rod 412 is rotatably connected between the two sides of the inner wall of the transmission seat 404. Two bevel gears are fixedly connected to the outside of the rotating rod 412. One end of the screw 413 extends into the inside of the transmission seat 404 and is fixedly connected to a bevel gear. The bevel gear at the end of the screw 413 meshes with the bevel gear at the outside of the rotating rod 412. A lifting motor 411 is fixedly connected to one side of the transmission seat 404. The output end of the lifting motor 411 extends into the inside of the transmission seat 404 and is fixedly connected to the rotating rod 412.

[0053] The above solution only clarifies that the function of the enclosure component is to enclose the perimeter of the machine tool 1, but does not limit its specific structure. In the existing technology, the enclosures of laser cutting machines are mostly fixed height or single lifting structure. Fixed height enclosures may obstruct operation and observation when there is no foreign object intrusion. Single lifting structure still needs to be fully raised when there is no personnel intrusion, which not only wastes energy, but also affects the convenient operation during the processing. It cannot achieve graded protection according to different scenarios, and there is a problem of insufficient protection flexibility.

[0054] In this embodiment, through the coordinated control of the flipping motor 403 and the lifting motor 411, the enclosure component has two levels of protection: "low-level simple protection" and "high-level reinforced protection". The low-level protection when there is no intrusion takes into account both safety and ease of operation, avoiding the obstruction of observation and operation by the fixed enclosure. The high-level protection when personnel intrusion occurs can effectively increase the blocking height, forcing personnel to go around the high railing 416 to touch the board, which greatly reduces the probability of personnel touching the high-temperature board or approaching the laser area. This solves the problems of insufficient flexibility, energy waste and operational obstruction of existing enclosure protection, and improves the adaptability and practicality of protection.

[0055] Furthermore, when the laser cutting machine is working and there is no foreign object intrusion, the external controller controls the start of the flip motor 403, which drives the adapter 402, transmission seat 404 and lifting seat 405 to flip up to the top of the machine tool table. At this time, the lifting motor 411 does not work, the screw 413 remains stationary, and the lifting slider 414 and the end seat 415 and railing 416 connected to it are in the initial low position. Only the flipped lifting seat 405 and the low railing 416 form simple protection, which does not obstruct operation and observation.

[0056] When the detection component detects a person approaching, the lifting motor 411 starts, and its output end drives the rotating rod 412 inside the transmission seat 404 to rotate. The bevel gear outside the rotating rod 412 meshes with the bevel gear at the end of the screw 413, causing the screw 413 to rotate. This, in turn, drives the lifting slider 414, which is threaded to it, to slide vertically along the lifting seat 405. The lifting slider 414 drives the end seat 415 and the railing 416 to rise synchronously, forming a high-barrier structure higher than the initial position, thereby enhancing protection.

[0057] like Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 5 As shown, preferably, the enclosure component also includes a first rack 417 fixedly connected to one side of the lifting seat 405, and both ends of the railing 416 extend into the end seat 415 connected thereto and are fixedly connected to a transmission gear 418, the transmission gear 418 meshing with the first rack 417.

[0058] In the above scheme, the fence component is designed to prevent personnel from being injured and triggering the action. However, if the railing 416 rises too quickly, it may easily injure personnel. Therefore, in order to avoid injury to personnel, it is necessary to control the rising speed of the railing 416. However, personnel intrusion usually occurs quickly, so the protection response will be delayed and it will be unable to stop personnel intrusion in time. There is a limitation that protection safety and response speed are difficult to balance.

[0059] In this embodiment, the meshing of the first rack 417 and the transmission gear 418 enables the railing 416 to achieve a combined vertical upward and outward rotation motion. Considering that personnel can only enter the machine tool 1 from above the railing 416, and the height of entry is limited by the height of the person, it is necessary to contact the railing 416 to touch the plate. Based on this, when the operator touches the railing 416, the railing 416 will be pushed outward (the railing 416 turns in the tangential direction) as it rotates. The outward pushing force can actively push the personnel away from the danger zone, further improving the safety of protection. This solves the contradiction between the protection response speed and the collision risk in the above scheme, and takes into account both the timeliness of protection and the safety of personnel.

[0060] Specifically, the first rack 417 fixed on one side of the lifting seat 405 meshes with the transmission gear 418 extending from the end of the railing 416 into the end seat 415. When the lifting motor 411 drives the lifting slider 414 to vertically raise the end seat 415 and the railing 416, the transmission gear 418 at the end of the railing 416 rotates along the first rack 417 as the railing 416 rises. Since the first rack 417 is fixed on the lifting seat 405, the rotation direction of the transmission gear 418 is limited by the tooth direction of the first rack 417, so that the railing 416 rotates around its own axis while rising vertically, and the rotation direction ensures that the tangential direction of the top of the railing 416 is outward relative to the machine tool 1. When the operator touches the railing 416 during its rise, the outward tangential movement tendency of the top of the railing 416 will exert an outward pushing force on the operator's hand or body.

[0061] Example 3

[0062] like Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, based on Embodiment 2, the present invention provides a technical solution: Preferably, a fixing rod 501 is fixedly connected between the lower parts of the lifting seats 405 on the same side of the machine tool 1, and end plates 503 are fixedly connected to both ends of the railing 416. A curtain 502 is rolled around the part of the railing 416 between the two ends. One end of the curtain 502 is fixedly connected to the railing 416, and the other end is fixedly connected to the fixing rod 501. The curtain 502 is made of transparent PVC material.

[0063] Since the aforementioned railing 416 needs to be raised for protection, during the resetting process of the railing 416, a gradually narrowing gap will form between the railing 416 and the fixed rod 501 at the bottom of the lifting seat 405. If the operator accidentally puts his hand into this gap at this time, a pinching accident may easily occur. Moreover, relying solely on the rod-shaped structure of the railing 416, there are gaps in its blocking area, and small objects or hands may still be able to reach into the danger zone through the gaps between the rods, resulting in insufficient protective integrity.

[0064] In this embodiment, the curtain 502 creates a continuous barrier between the railing 416 and the fixed rod 501 during the raising and lowering of the railing 416. This avoids the risk of pinching injuries caused by the narrowing gap when the railing 416 is lowered, and fills the gaps in the rod-shaped railing 416, preventing small objects or hands from entering through the gaps. The unrolling and rewinding of the curtain 502 are synchronized with the movement of the railing 416, eliminating the need for additional driving components. This simplifies the structure, improves the protective integrity of the enclosure components, and further reduces operational safety risks.

[0065] Specifically, a fixed rod 501 is fixed between the lower part of the lifting seat 405 on the same side of the machine tool 1, and the end plates 503 fixed at both ends of the railing 416 make the curtain 502 form a fixed barrier. When the railing 416 rises and rotates outward under the drive of the lifting motor 411, the distance between the railing 416 and the fixed rod 501 increases. As the railing 416 rotates, the curtain 502 gradually unrolls, filling the space between the railing 416 and the fixed rod 501 to form a continuous barrier. When the railing 416 falls back to its original position, the distance between the railing 416 and the fixed rod 501 decreases, and the curtain 502 rolls up synchronously with the rotation of the railing 416, always remaining between the railing 416 and the fixed rod 501 without any obvious gap.

[0066] like Figure 6 , Figure 7 and Figure 8 As shown, preferably, the blocking component includes a fixed frame 601 fixedly connected to the top of the machine tool 1. Side plates 603 are fixedly connected to the bottom of both sides of the fixed frame 601. Two transmission rods 604 are rotatably connected between the adjacent sides of the two side plates 603. Two support rods 610 are symmetrically fixedly connected to the outside of each transmission rod 604. A baffle 611 is hinged between the tops of the two support rods 610 on the same side of the fixed frame 601. The two transmission rods 604 are connected to each other via a synchronous pulley and a synchronous belt. A support frame 602 is slidably connected to the inner side of the fixed frame 601, providing support. A second rack 605 is fixedly connected to the bottom of the frame 602. Two intermediate gears 606 are rotatably connected to the adjacent side of the two side plates 603. The intermediate gears 606 mesh with the second rack 605. Two driven gears 607 are symmetrically fixedly connected to the outside of the two transmission rods 604. The driven gears 607 mesh with the intermediate gears 606. A blocking motor 609 is fixedly connected to one of the side plates 603. A driving gear 608 is fixedly connected to the output end of the blocking motor 609. The driving gear 608 meshes with one of the intermediate gears 606.

[0067] In this embodiment, the linkage structure of the driving gear 608, the intermediate gear 606, the second rack 605, and the driven gear 607 enables synchronous control of the descent of the support frame 602 and the rise of the baffle 611. This eliminates the need for independent control logic, simplifies the system structure, and reduces the probability of failure. Simultaneously, it ensures that the baffle 611 rises synchronously during the descent of the support frame 602, forming a timely lateral barrier to prevent external objects from touching the plate during the gap between their movements, thus ensuring the stability of the laser cutting process and improving the reliability of the collaborative protection between the barrier component and the support frame 602.

[0068] When the data comparison component triggers the protection command, the blocking motor 609 starts, driving the drive gear 608 to rotate. The drive gear 608 drives the intermediate gear 606 to rotate. The intermediate gear 606 drives the second rack 605 at the bottom of the support frame 602 to slide, causing the support frame 602 to descend along the inner side of the fixed frame 601. On the other hand, the intermediate gear 606 drives the driven gear 607 to rotate, which in turn drives the transmission rod 604 to rotate. The transmission rod 604 drives the support rod 610 to swing, and the support rod 610 pushes the baffle 611 to rise around the hinge point, thus achieving synchronous movement of the support frame 602 descending and the baffle 611 rising.

[0069] like Figure 7 and Figure 10 As shown, preferably, the diameter of the intermediate gear 606 is larger than the diameter of the driven gear 607.

[0070] In the above scheme, the support frame 602 and the baffle 611 are linked by gears. If the transmission ratio between the two is not optimized, the support frame 602 may descend too fast. Since the plate is placed on the support frame 602 when the laser cutting machine is working, the excessively fast descent speed will cause the plate to sway or shift due to inertia, which will lead to the relative position deviation between the plate and the cutting head 3, affecting the cutting accuracy.

[0071] In this embodiment, by setting the transmission ratio such that the diameter of the intermediate gear 606 is greater than the diameter of the driven gear 607, the descending speed of the support frame 602 is lower than the ascending speed of the baffle 611. This ensures that the baffle 611 can rise quickly and form a side barrier in time to prevent external objects from touching the plate. At the same time, by slowing down the descending speed of the support frame 602, the plate is prevented from shaking or displacing due to inertia, ensuring the relative position stability between the plate and the cutting head 3 and ensuring the laser cutting accuracy. This solves the problem of the conflicting speed requirements of the two in the above scheme, and takes into account both timely protection and cutting stability.

[0072] Specifically, the diameter of the intermediate gear 606 in the blocking component is larger than that of the driven gear 607. According to the gear transmission ratio formula, the speed ratio between the intermediate gear 606 and the driven gear 607 is equal to the inverse ratio of their diameters. That is, when the intermediate gear 606 rotates one revolution, the driven gear 607 rotates multiple revolutions. When the intermediate gear 606 drives the bottom rack of the support frame 602 to slide, the descent speed of the support frame 602 is determined by the speed of the intermediate gear 606 and the pitch of the rack, while the descent speed of the driven gear 607 driving the transmission rod 604, the support rod 610, and the baffle 611 is determined by the speed of the driven gear 607 and the length of the support rod 610. Since the intermediate gear 606 has a larger diameter, its speed is lower than that of the driven gear 607, which makes the descent speed of the support frame 602 less than the descent speed of the baffle 611, thus satisfying their different speed requirements. In this scheme, the ratio of the diameter of the intermediate gear 606 to the diameter of the driven gear 607 can be 2:1, so that the rotational speed of the driven gear 607 is twice that of the intermediate gear 606, thereby slowing down the lifting speed of the lifting frame. In addition, it can also make the rack pass over the driven gear 607 and mesh with the intermediate gear 606.

[0073] Example 4

[0074] like Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, based on Embodiment 3, the present invention provides a technical solution: preferably, the detection component includes four vertically fixed I-beams 701 connected to the four corners of the top of the machine tool 1, and the photoelectric sensor 702 array includes two sets, both sets of photoelectric sensors 702 are mounted on the I-beams 701; each set of photoelectric sensors 702 is arranged at intervals along the vertical direction, and the output directions of two adjacent photoelectric sensors 702 are opposite.

[0075] In this embodiment, by vertically spacing photoelectric sensors 702 on both sides, with adjacent photoelectric sensors 702 outputting signals in opposite directions, the detection component can not only detect the presence of intruding objects but also accurately locate the height, left and right positions, and span of the intruding object. This provides the data comparison component with richer judgment criteria, effectively reducing misjudgments of small tools and identifying simultaneous intrusions by multiple people. This avoids false or missed triggering of protection commands, improving the accuracy and reliability of intrusion detection and providing precise signal support for subsequent graded protection. When an object intrudes, it blocks the beam of the sensor at the corresponding position, and the sensor outputs an obstruction signal. The data comparison component receives the obstruction signals from the sensors on both sides, determines the height and position of the intruding object by the sensor number (corresponding to the vertical height), and judges the left and right span and size characteristics of the object by whether there are obstruction signals on both sides simultaneously and the number of obstructing sensors, providing position and size references for subsequent personnel or object identification.

[0076] Preferably, the photoelectric sensor 702 is an E3Z-T61 through-beam photoelectric sensor 702, with a detection distance of 0.1 to 10 m, NPN output, response time ≤ 1 ms, protection level of IP67, and operating temperature of -25 to 55℃, which can meet the working requirements.

[0077] Example 5

[0078] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, based on Embodiment 4, the present invention provides a technical solution: Preferably, the identification component further includes linear modules 801 symmetrically installed on both sides of the machine tool 1, and infrared temperature sensors 803 respectively disposed on the movable parts of each linear module 801. The linear modules 801 drive the infrared temperature sensors 803 to move along the length direction of the machine tool 1. The two infrared temperature sensors 803 are respectively fixed on the movable sliders of the two linear modules 801. The sides of the machine tool 1 are provided with strip grooves 802 through which the infrared temperature sensors 803 pass.

[0079] Because the detection distance of the non-contact infrared temperature sensor 803 is limited (usually 0.1 to 1 m), while the length of the laser cutting machine tool 1 is usually greater than this detection range, there are temperature detection blind spots at both ends or in the middle of the length of the machine tool 1. When an intruding object (especially a person) approaches the blind spot, the temperature signal cannot be accurately collected, making it difficult to determine whether it is a person, which can easily lead to missed detections in protection.

[0080] In this embodiment, the linear module 801 drives the infrared temperature sensor 803 to move along the length of the machine tool 1, effectively covering all areas along the length of the machine tool 1, eliminating temperature detection blind spots, and avoiding missed detections due to insufficient detection range. When a large-span intrusion is detected, the temperature signals at both ends of the span can be accurately collected to accurately identify whether it is a multi-person intrusion, further improving the accuracy of personnel identification. There is no need to set multiple fixed-point sensors along the length of the machine tool 1, simplifying the structure, reducing costs, and improving the adaptability and detection flexibility of the identification components.

[0081] The linear modules 801 of the identification component are symmetrically installed on both sides of the machine tool 1 and arranged along the length of the machine tool 1. Two non-contact infrared temperature sensors 803 are respectively fixed on the movable sliders of the two linear modules 801. The linear modules 801 and the photoelectric sensors 702 of the detection component are electrically connected to the data comparison component. When the data comparison component receives the obstruction signal of the photoelectric sensor 702, if it determines that the intruder is located in the temperature detection blind zone or the intrusion span exceeds the preset threshold (possibly multiple people), it controls the linear module 801 to start. The linear module 801 drives the movable slider to move along the length of the machine tool 1, so that the infrared temperature sensor 803 moves to the position corresponding to the intrusion area (such as the center point of the blind zone or both ends of the span) and collects the temperature signal at that position. The temperature signal is transmitted to the data comparison component to determine whether it is an intrusion by a person or multiple people.

[0082] Preferably, the non-contact infrared temperature sensor 803 is model MLX90614ESF-BAA. It is ultra-small in size and can be directly installed on the movable slider of the linear module 801 without affecting its movement. It also has high accuracy in the room temperature range and can stably identify human body temperature from 35 to 38.5°C.

[0083] The present invention has been described in detail above. However, modifications or improvements can be made to it, which will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Therefore, any modifications or improvements that do not depart from the spirit of the present invention are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A safety protection device for a laser cutting machine, comprising a machine tool (1), a gantry motion mechanism (2) mounted on the machine tool (1), a cutting head (3) mounted on the crossbeam of the gantry motion mechanism (2), and a laser generator, wherein the laser generator is connected to the cutting head (3) via an optical fiber; characterized in that, The support frame (602) on top of the machine tool (1) is configured as a liftable structure, and the support frame (602) is used to place the plate to be cut; it also includes: The enclosure component is set around the machine tool (1) and is used to enclose the area around the machine tool (1); The blocking component is located inside the gantry motion mechanism (2) of the machine tool (1). After being raised, it forms a block from the side to prevent the plate from being picked up or moved unintentionally. The detection component includes an array of photoelectric sensors (702) arranged around the machine tool (1) for detecting whether an object enters the working area; The identification component includes an infrared temperature sensor (803) mounted on the machine tool (1) for identifying temperature characteristics of objects approaching it; The data comparison component is used to receive signals from the detection component and the identification component, and to determine whether the approaching object is a person based on a preset temperature threshold. A protection control component is used to generate protection instructions based on the comparison results of the data comparison component, and to transmit the generated protection instructions to the execution component. The execution component includes one or a combination of two of the enclosure component or the blocking component. The enclosure component includes side frames (401) symmetrically fixedly connected to both sides of the machine tool (1). A transition seat (402) is rotatably connected between the inner sides of the side frames (401). A tilting motor (403) is fixedly installed on the outer sides of both side frames (401). The output end of the tilting motor (403) is fixedly connected to the rotating shaft of the transition seat (402). A transmission seat (404) is fixedly connected to one side of the transition seat (402). Lifting seats (405) are fixedly connected to both ends of the transmission seat (404). A screw (413) is rotatably connected inside each lifting seat (405). A lifting slider (414) is threaded onto the outside of the screw (413). The lifting slider (414) is slidably connected to the lifting seat (405). An end seat (415) is fixedly connected to one side of the lifting slider (414). A railing (416) is rotatably connected between the two end seats (415) on the same side of the machine tool (1). A rotating rod (412) is rotatably connected between the two sides of the inner wall of the transmission seat (404). Two bevel gears are fixedly connected to the outside of the rotating rod (412). One end of the screw (413) extends into the inside of the transmission seat (404) and is fixedly connected to a bevel gear. The bevel gear at the end of the screw (413) meshes with the bevel gear outside the rotating rod (412). A lifting motor (411) is fixedly connected to one side of the transmission seat (404). The output end of the lifting motor (411) extends into the inside of the transmission seat (404) and is fixedly connected to the rotating rod (412). The blocking component includes a fixed frame (601) fixedly connected to the top of the machine tool (1). Side plates (603) are fixedly connected to the bottom of both sides of the fixed frame (601). Two transmission rods (604) are rotatably connected between the two side plates (603) on the side that are close to each other. Two support rods (610) are symmetrically fixedly connected to the outside of each transmission rod (604). A baffle (611) is hinged between the tops of the two support rods (610) on the same side of the fixed frame (601). The two transmission rods (604) are connected to each other by a synchronous pulley and a synchronous belt. The support frame (602) is slidably connected to the inside of the fixed frame (601). A second rack (605) is fixedly connected to the bottom of the two side plates (603). Two intermediate gears (606) are rotatably connected to the side of the two side plates (603) that are close to each other. The intermediate gears (606) mesh with the second rack (605). Two driven gears (607) are symmetrically fixedly connected to the outside of the two transmission rods (604). The driven gears (607) mesh with the intermediate gears (606). A blocking motor (609) is fixedly connected to one of the side plates (603). A driving gear (608) is fixedly connected to the output end of the blocking motor (609). The driving gear (608) meshes with one of the intermediate gears (606).

2. The safety protection device for a laser cutting machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The enclosure component also includes a first rack (417) fixedly connected to one side of the lifting seat (405), and both ends of the railing (416) extend into the end seat (415) connected thereto and are fixedly connected to a transmission gear (418), the transmission gear (418) meshing with the first rack (417).

3. The safety protection device for a laser cutting machine according to claim 2, characterized in that: A fixed rod (501) is fixedly connected between the lower part of the lifting seat (405) on the same side of the machine tool (1). Both ends of the railing (416) are fixedly connected to end plates (503). A curtain (502) is rolled up around the railing (416) between the two ends. One end of the curtain (502) is fixedly connected to the railing (416), and the other end is fixedly connected to the fixed rod (501). The curtain (502) is made of transparent PVC material.

4. A safety protection device for a laser cutting machine according to claim 3, characterized in that: The diameter of the intermediate gear (606) is larger than the diameter of the driven gear (607).

5. A safety protection device for a laser cutting machine according to claim 4, characterized in that: The detection component includes four vertically fixed I-beams (701) at the four corners of the top of the machine tool (1). The photoelectric sensor (702) array includes two sets, and both sets of photoelectric sensors (702) are mounted on the I-beams (701). Each set of photoelectric sensors (702) is arranged at intervals along the vertical direction, and the output directions of two adjacent photoelectric sensors (702) are opposite.

6. A safety protection device for a laser cutting machine according to claim 5, characterized in that: The identification component also includes linear modules (801) symmetrically installed on both sides of the machine tool (1), and infrared temperature sensors (803) respectively installed on the movable parts of each linear module (801). The linear module (801) drives the infrared temperature sensor (803) to move along the length of the machine tool (1). The two infrared temperature sensors (803) are respectively fixed on the movable sliders of the two linear modules (801). The machine tool (1) has strip slots (802) on both sides through which the infrared temperature sensor (803) passes.

Images