Laser cleaning device and cleaning method for workpiece

Abstract

The invention provides a laser cleaning device and method for a workpiece, and relates to the technical field of coating conveying. The device comprises a conveying mechanism and a laser cleaning mechanism above the conveying mechanism, the laser cleaning mechanism comprises a laser, a laser cleaning head, an absorption mechanism and a protective cover, the laser is connected with the cleaning head through an optical fiber, and the protective cover is arranged below the cleaning head. The absorption mechanism is connected with the protective cover, negative pressure can be formed in the cover, waste generated by cleaning is absorbed, and the waste is conveyed to the smoke purifier through the air pipe to be treated. The laser cleaning head is provided with a galvanometer system which can control a laser beam to scan the surface of a workpiece according to a preset path. The conveying mechanism is provided with a track with a two-dimensional code, and accurate positioning is achieved. The device is compact in structure, high in automation degree, capable of effectively removing attachments such as electrophoretic paint and avoiding environmental pollution, and suitable for efficient nondestructive cleaning after the electrophoresis process of a coating workshop.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of coating and conveying technology, and specifically to a laser cleaning device and cleaning method for workpieces. Background Technology

[0002] In the electrophoresis process of the painting workshop, as the conveyor passes through the electrophoresis tank, electrophoretic paint adheres to the surface. This adhered paint can affect the current flow, thus impacting the quality of the electrophoresis process on the car body or causing sparking problems. Traditional methods involve offline manual polishing or polishing with mechanical copper or steel brushes. However, these methods are inefficient, noisy, and can damage the substrate. Copper brushes need frequent replacement, and they often deform after a few uses, making it difficult to guarantee the cleaning effect. Summary of the Invention

[0003] To address the above problems, the present invention provides the following technical solution: a laser cleaning device for workpieces, comprising:

[0004] The system includes a conveying mechanism and a laser cleaning mechanism located above the conveying mechanism. The laser cleaning mechanism includes a laser, a laser cleaning head, an absorption mechanism, and a protective cover. The laser and the laser cleaning head are connected by an optical fiber. The protective cover is located below the laser cleaning head. The absorption mechanism is connected to the protective cover. The protective cover can be used to prevent waste from overflowing. The absorption mechanism can generate negative pressure inside the protective cover to absorb waste.

[0005] Preferably, the laser cleaning head is provided with a mounting plate, and the mounting plate and the mounting bracket are adjustablely connected by bolts; the mounting bracket and the hanger are fixedly connected by bolts.

[0006] Preferably, the laser cleaning head is equipped with a galvanometer system, which can control the laser beam to scan the surface of the workpiece according to a preset scanning path.

[0007] Preferably, the protective cover is mounted on the mounting bracket, the interior of the protective cover is hollow, and the top and bottom of the protective cover are connected.

[0008] Preferably, the absorption mechanism is provided with a smoke purifier and an air duct, with the two ends of the air duct connected to the protective cover and the smoke purifier, respectively; the body of the air duct is fixed on the hanger.

[0009] Preferably, the protective cover has at least one connection hole on its side, which is used to connect to one end of the air duct.

[0010] Preferably, the laser cleaning mechanism is further provided with an air knife, which is fixedly connected to the mounting bracket; the air knife includes a first air knife and a second air knife, the first air knife is disposed above the protective cover to prevent waste from drifting out from the upper part of the protective cover, and the second air knife is disposed below the laser cleaning head to protect the galvanometer system.

[0011] Preferably, the conveying mechanism includes a conveyor and a conveying track, the conveyor and the conveying track are slidably connected, and a QR code is provided on the conveying track.

[0012] Preferably, an operating station and an electrical control cabinet are provided on one side of the conveying mechanism. The electrical control cabinet and the laser are integrated into one unit. The operating station is electrically connected to the conveying mechanism, the electrical control cabinet, and the smoke purifier.

[0013] Preferably, the laser cleaning method for workpieces is characterized by the following steps:

[0014] Place the workpiece to be cleaned onto the conveying mechanism;

[0015] The workpiece is transported to the area below the laser cleaning mechanism via the conveying mechanism;

[0016] The laser cleaning mechanism is activated, and the laser generated by the laser is transmitted to the laser cleaning head via optical fiber. The laser beam is controlled by the galvanometer system to clean the workpiece surface according to a preset scanning path.

[0017] During the cleaning process, the protective cover prevents the waste generated during cleaning from overflowing, while the absorption mechanism creates a negative pressure inside the protective cover to suck in the waste and transport it through the air duct to the smoke purifier for treatment.

[0018] After cleaning is completed, the workpiece is sent out of the cleaning station by the conveying mechanism.

[0019] The application employs the above technical solution and has at least the following beneficial effects:

[0020] Due to the adoption of the above technical solution, the laser cleaning device for this workpiece has advantages such as compact structure, high degree of automation, good cleaning effect, and environmental friendliness. The all-fiber transmission laser system has a stable optical path, galvanometer scanning enables high-speed and precise cleaning, and the protective cover and negative pressure absorption system effectively control contamination. It is suitable for various industrial cleaning scenarios such as electrophoretic paint cleaning, coating removal, and surface activation.

[0021] It should be understood that the above general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only, and do not limit this application. Attached Figure Description

[0022] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0023] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 2 This is an application side view provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the absorption mechanism provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the laser cleaning mechanism provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] In the diagram: 1. Conveying mechanism; 2. Laser cleaning mechanism; 3. Hanger; 4. Smoke purifier; 5. Air duct; 6. Operating station; 7. Electrical control cabinet; 101. Conveyor; 102. Conveying track; 201. Laser; 202. Laser cleaning head; 203. Protective cover; 204. Mounting plate; 205. Mounting bracket; 206. First air knife; 207. Second air knife. Detailed Implementation

[0028] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the technical solutions of this invention will be described in detail below. Obviously, the described embodiments are merely some embodiments of this invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this invention, all other implementation methods obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this invention.

[0029] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of an embodiment of the present invention is shown. This embodiment relates to a laser cleaning device for workpieces, mainly used for cleaning electrophoretic paint adhering to the conveyor after the electrophoresis process in a painting workshop. It replaces traditional manual or mechanical grinding methods, achieving efficient, non-destructive, and automated cleaning operations. The device performs non-contact cleaning of the workpiece surface using a laser cleaning head. Combined with a protective cover and a negative pressure absorption system, it effectively collects fumes and waste generated during the cleaning process, avoiding environmental pollution and equipment damage.

[0030] Example 1: A laser cleaning device for workpieces, such as Figure 1 As shown, it includes:

[0031] Conveying mechanism 1 is used to carry and transport the workpiece to be cleaned;

[0032] The laser cleaning mechanism 2, which is located above the conveying mechanism 1, is used for laser cleaning of the workpiece surface;

[0033] The laser cleaning mechanism 2 includes a laser 201, a laser cleaning head 202, an absorption mechanism, and a protective cover 203;

[0034] The laser 201 and the laser cleaning head 202 are connected by optical fiber to realize the transmission of laser energy;

[0035] The protective cover 203 is located below the laser cleaning head 202, surrounding the cleaning area to prevent waste and fumes generated during the cleaning process from spilling out;

[0036] The absorption mechanism is connected to the protective cover 203 and is used to create a negative pressure inside the protective cover 203 to absorb and transport the cleaning waste to the purification equipment.

[0037] Specifically, in this embodiment, the conveying mechanism 1 includes a conveyor 101 and a conveying track 102. The conveyor 101 is slidably connected to the conveying track 102, enabling precise positioning and movement along the track. A QR code is provided on the conveying track 102, and the conveyor 101 is equipped with a barcode scanner. By scanning the QR code, position feedback and positioning control are achieved, ensuring that the workpiece accurately stops at the cleaning station.

[0038] The aforementioned laser 201 is a fiber laser with an output wavelength range of 1060-1080nm and a maximum output power of not less than 500W. It has both continuous and pulsed operating modes, which can be adjusted according to the cleaning process requirements. The laser 201 is integrated with the electrical control cabinet 7, incorporating a cooling system, power module, and control interface. Its compact structure facilitates installation and maintenance.

[0039] The laser cleaning head 202 is connected to the mounting bracket 205 via a mounting plate 204. The mounting plate 204 has round holes, and the position of the laser cleaning head 202 in the vertical direction can be finely adjusted by bolts to adapt to cleaning needs at different heights and angles. The mounting bracket 205 is fixed to the hanger 3 by bolts. The hanger 3 is a gantry or cantilever structure that supports the entire laser cleaning mechanism 2.

[0040] The laser cleaning head 202 integrates a galvanometer system, which consists of two sets of high-speed galvanometer mirrors and a focusing lens. The galvanometer mirrors can be deflected by a control system, enabling rapid and precise scanning of the laser beam on the workpiece surface. The scanning range can reach 200mm × 200mm, and the scanning speed is no less than 5m / s. The galvanometer system can perform full-coverage cleaning of the workpiece surface according to preset paths such as grid, spiral, or vector paths.

[0041] The protective cover 203 has a square or cylindrical structure, made of aluminum alloy or stainless steel, with an internal hollow design and a through-hole at the top and bottom to facilitate laser beam penetration and waste material intake. The protective cover 203 is fixed to the mounting bracket 205 with bolts, and one or more connection holes are provided on its side wall for connecting the air duct 5. In this embodiment, two sets of symmetrically arranged connection holes are provided.

[0042] The absorption mechanism includes a smoke purifier 4 and an air duct 5. The air duct 5 is a flexible or rigid pipe, with one end sealed to the connection hole of the protective cover 203 and the other end connected to the inlet of the smoke purifier 4. The smoke purifier 4 has a built-in multi-layer filtration system, including a pre-filter, a high-efficiency filter, and an activated carbon adsorption layer, which can effectively remove particulate matter and harmful gases from the smoke, with a purification efficiency of not less than 99%. The air duct 5 is fixed to the hanger 3 with pipe clamps to prevent it from falling off due to vibration or movement.

[0043] During laser cleaning, a protective cover 203 covers the surface of the workpiece, forming a semi-enclosed space. After the fume purifier 4 is activated, a negative pressure is formed in the air duct 5, which draws in the cleaning fumes, dust, and other waste materials. These materials are then transported through the air duct 5 to the fume purifier 4 for purification. The purified gas is then discharged into the atmosphere or recycled.

[0044] To further improve waste collection efficiency, this embodiment may also include a first air knife 206 above the protective cover 203. The first air knife 206 is fixed by a mounting bracket 205, and its air outlet is tilted downwards to form an airflow barrier, preventing lightweight waste and dust from escaping from the top of the protective cover 203. Simultaneously, a second air knife 207 is provided below the laser cleaning head 202, with its air outlet facing the surface of the galvanometer system lens, used to blow away any micro-dust that may adhere to the lens, thus protecting the galvanometer system.

[0045] The operator station 6 is located on one side of the conveyor mechanism 1 and features a touchscreen human-machine interface with an integrated control system. The operator station 6 is electrically connected to the conveyor mechanism 1, the electrical control cabinet 7, the fume purifier 4, and other equipment, enabling centralized control and status monitoring of the entire cleaning process, including laser parameter setting, cleaning path programming, conveyor positioning control, and purification system start-up and shutdown.

[0046] Example 2 differs from Example 1 in that the laser cleaning mechanism 2 does not include an air knife system, making it suitable for cleaning applications where waste splash control is not critical or the workpiece surface is relatively flat. In this configuration, the height and shape of the protective cover 203 can be further optimized, employing a lightweight design to reduce the complexity of the mechanism.

[0047] The conveyor mechanism 1 can adopt a roller type or chain plate type conveyor belt, which is suitable for online cleaning in continuous production lines. The conveyor 101 can be equipped with clamps or positioning fixtures to accommodate the fixing and conveying of workpieces of different shapes.

[0048] The galvanometer system of the laser cleaning head 202 can use a telecentric scanning lens to achieve a larger cleaning area, while ensuring the consistency of the focused spot of the laser beam on the workpiece surface and improving the cleaning uniformity.

[0049] The control system can integrate a vision positioning module, which uses a camera to identify the position of the workpiece and the contaminated area, enabling adaptive cleaning path planning and further improving cleaning accuracy and efficiency.

[0050] The laser cleaning apparatus for the above-mentioned workpiece includes the following steps in its cleaning method:

[0051] The workpiece to be cleaned is placed on the conveyor 101 of the conveying mechanism 1;

[0052] The conveyor mechanism 1 is started by the operation station 6. The conveyor 101 moves along the conveyor track 102. The workpiece is accurately transported to the cleaning station below the laser cleaning mechanism 2 by scanning the QR code for positioning.

[0053] When the laser cleaning mechanism 2 is started, the laser output from the laser 201 is transmitted to the laser cleaning head 202 via optical fiber. The galvanometer system controls the laser beam to clean the adhering substances on the workpiece surface according to the preset scanning path.

[0054] During the cleaning process, the protective cover 203 covers the cleaning area to prevent waste from overflowing; at the same time, the smoke purifier 4 is activated, and a negative pressure is formed inside the protective cover 203 through the air duct 5 to draw in and purify the generated smoke and particulate matter.

[0055] After cleaning is completed, the laser 201 and the purification system are turned off, and the conveying mechanism 1 sends the workpiece out of the cleaning station to enter the next process.

[0056] Due to the adoption of the above technical solution, the laser cleaning device for this workpiece has advantages such as compact structure, high degree of automation, good cleaning effect, and environmental friendliness. The all-fiber transmission laser system has a stable optical path, galvanometer scanning enables high-speed and precise cleaning, and the protective cover and negative pressure absorption system effectively control contamination. It is suitable for various industrial cleaning scenarios such as electrophoretic paint cleaning, coating removal, and surface activation.

[0057] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and not to limit them; although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features; and these modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A laser cleaning device for workpieces, characterized in that, include: The conveying mechanism (1) and the laser cleaning mechanism (2) are arranged above the conveying mechanism (1). The laser cleaning mechanism (2) includes a laser (201), a laser cleaning head (202), an absorption mechanism and a protective cover (203). The laser (201) and the laser cleaning head (202) are connected by an optical fiber. The protective cover (203) is arranged below the laser cleaning head (202). The absorption mechanism is connected to the protective cover (203). The protective cover (203) can be used to prevent waste from overflowing. The absorption mechanism can generate negative pressure on the inside of the protective cover (203) to absorb waste.

2. The laser cleaning apparatus for workpieces according to claim 1, characterized in that: The laser cleaning head (202) is provided with a mounting plate (204), and the mounting plate (204) and the mounting bracket (205) are connected in an adjustable manner by bolts; the mounting bracket (205) and the hanger (3) are bolted together and fixed.

3. The laser cleaning apparatus for workpieces according to claim 2, characterized in that: The laser cleaning head (202) is equipped with a galvanometer system, which can control the laser beam to scan the surface of the workpiece according to a preset scanning path.

4. The laser cleaning apparatus for workpieces according to claim 2, characterized in that: The protective cover (203) is mounted on the mounting bracket (204). The interior of the protective cover (203) is hollow, and the top and bottom of the protective cover (203) are connected.

5. The laser cleaning apparatus for workpieces according to claim 4, characterized in that: The absorption mechanism is equipped with a smoke purifier (4) and an air duct (5). The two ends of the air duct (5) are respectively connected to the protective cover (203) and the smoke purifier (4); the pipe body of the air duct (5) is fixed on the hanger (3).

6. The laser cleaning apparatus for workpieces according to claim 5, characterized in that: The protective cover (203) has at least one connection hole on its side, which is used to seal and connect with one end of the air duct (5).

7. The laser cleaning apparatus for workpieces according to claim 3, characterized in that: The laser cleaning mechanism (2) is also provided with an air knife, which is fixedly connected to the mounting bracket (205); the air knife includes a first air knife (206) and a second air knife (207). The first air knife (206) is located above the protective cover (203) and can be used to prevent waste from floating out from the upper part of the protective cover (203). The second air knife (207) is located below the laser cleaning head (202) and can be used to protect the galvanometer system.

8. The laser cleaning apparatus for workpieces according to claim 5, characterized in that: The conveying mechanism (1) is provided with a conveyor (101) and a conveying track (102). The conveyor (101) and the conveying track (102) are slidably connected. A QR code is provided on the conveying track (102). The conveyor (101) can scan the QR code to locate itself on the conveying track (102).

9. The laser cleaning apparatus for workpieces according to claim 8, characterized in that: An operating station (6) and an electrical control cabinet (7) are provided on one side of the conveying mechanism (1). The electrical control cabinet (7) and the laser (201) are integrated. The operating station (6) is electrically connected to the conveying mechanism (1), the electrical control cabinet (7), and the smoke purifier (4).

10. A laser cleaning method for workpieces, employing the laser cleaning apparatus for workpieces as described in any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that, The steps of the method include: The workpiece to be cleaned is placed on the conveying mechanism (1); The workpiece is transported to the area below the laser cleaning mechanism (2) via the conveying mechanism (1); The laser cleaning mechanism (2) is activated, so that the laser generated by the laser (201) is transmitted to the laser cleaning head (202) via optical fiber, and the laser beam is controlled by the galvanometer system to clean the workpiece surface according to the preset scanning path; During the cleaning process, the protective cover (203) prevents the waste generated during cleaning from overflowing. At the same time, the absorption mechanism creates a negative pressure inside the protective cover (203), sucking in the waste and transporting it through the air duct (5) to the smoke purifier (4) for treatment. After cleaning, the workpiece is sent out of the cleaning station by the conveying mechanism (1).

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