A device and method for laser cutting of aluminium profiles

Abstract

The application relates to the technical field of laser cutting, and discloses an aluminum profile laser cutting device, which comprises a base, a sliding table and a fixed table arranged on the two sides of the base respectively, the sliding table is slidably assembled with the base, and the fixed table is fixedly installed; a first chuck is installed on the sliding table and used for clamping the rear end of an aluminum profile; a second chuck is rotatably installed on the fixed table, a through hole for the aluminum profile to pass through is arranged in the center of the second chuck, the first chuck is coaxially centered with the second chuck, and the first chuck is fixedly connected with the second chuck through a fixing rod. The driving rod is arranged on the first chuck, the transmission mechanism and the clamping mechanism are arranged on the second chuck, the automatic clamping and loosening of the clamping mechanism are realized through the stepping movement of the sliding table, an additional power source and independent control are not needed, the automatic switching of "clamping during cutting and loosening during feeding" is realized, and the cutting stability and the feeding smoothness are considered.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of laser cutting technology, and more specifically, to a laser cutting apparatus and method for irregularly shaped hollow aluminum profiles with internal reinforcing ribs. Background Technology

[0002] The internally reinforced hollow aluminum profile (commonly known as reinforced shaped aluminum tube, ribbed hollow aluminum, etc.) has a flat square cross-section on one side and a semi-circular outer contour on the other. The cavity contains integrally extruded vertical reinforcing ribs. It is a custom-made industrial profile, extruded from a single piece of aluminum by an aluminum plant, with the ribs and outer wall made from a single piece of aluminum material, rather than a welded structure. The internal reinforcing rib design significantly improves bending and torsional rigidity while controlling weight (reducing material usage), making it less prone to bending and deformation than ordinary hollow aluminum square tubes of the same weight. However, the presence of internal reinforcing ribs makes it difficult to cut through with a regular saw blade. Therefore, a laser tube cutting machine is required to penetrate both the outer wall and internal ribs in one pass to complete the drilling, cutting, and contouring processes.

[0003] These types of aluminum profiles are commonly used in automated equipment, conveyor frames, beams of testing equipment, all-aluminum furniture, doors and windows, aluminum display racks, etc. The rounded ends are used for corner anti-collision designs, and the internal ribs enhance the load-bearing capacity of the cabinet. They are also used in support components with high requirements for weight, corrosion resistance, and bending resistance, such as brackets for new energy equipment and auxiliary supports for photovoltaic frames.

[0004] In the laser cutting of aluminum door and window profiles, the aluminum profiles are generally held by a front chuck and a rear chuck, with the front end extending below the cutting station. The laser cutting head is located above the cutting station and its position is adjusted by a robotic arm. The spindle drives the chuck and profile to rotate around its own axis. That is, during the cutting process, the profile rotates and the cutting head performs three-axis translation, and the two work together to complete the spatial curve cutting.

[0005] The following are the core challenges in this scenario:

[0006] 1. Front chucks are mostly simple roller clamps, which are not stable enough for cutting. It is difficult to strengthen and tighten the profile during cutting while releasing the clamp on the profile during feeding. Existing clamping mechanisms are either always clamped (cannot feed) or always loose (vibrates during cutting), which cannot balance cutting stability and feeding smoothness.

[0007] 2. During rotary cutting, the cantilever section of the aluminum profile sags and chatters due to its own weight and cutting heat. The cantilever section lacks support, and the asymmetry of the profile cross-section leads to poor dynamic balance, which may cause the cut to shift and affect the cutting accuracy. However, if the cantilever section is directly supported, it is difficult to adapt to the rotational contour of the irregular aluminum profile and it is difficult to effectively stabilize the cantilever section.

[0008] 3. The cross-section of irregular aluminum profiles is asymmetrical (square on one side and semi-circular on the other). During the rotary cutting process, the profile's cross-sectional contour changes continuously, and the support surface of the overhang section also changes accordingly. Conventional fixed supports cannot adapt to this dynamic change, which can easily cause support interference or support failure.

[0009] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a laser cutting device and method for aluminum profiles that can balance cutting clamping and stepping feed, and provide adaptive support and stability for the rotating overhang section. Summary of the Invention

[0010] The present invention aims to solve at least one of the problems described in the background art, and to provide an apparatus and method for laser cutting aluminum profiles.

[0011] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention proposes a laser cutting device for aluminum profiles, comprising: a base; a slide table and a fixed table, respectively disposed on both sides of the base, the slide table being slidably assembled with the base, and the fixed table being fixedly installed; a first chuck, mounted on the slide table, for clamping the rear end of the aluminum profile; a second chuck, rotatably mounted on the fixed table, the second chuck having a through hole in its center for the aluminum profile to pass through, the first chuck and the second chuck being coaxially aligned and fixedly connected by a fixing rod; and a laser cutting head, disposed above the side of the second chuck away from the first chuck, for laser cutting the overhanging section of the aluminum profile. A clamping mechanism, mounted on the second chuck, is used to clamp the aluminum profile; a support bracket, disposed on the fixed platform and located in front of and below the cutting station, is used to support the free end of the aluminum profile; wherein, a drive rod is mounted on the first chuck, and a movable hole corresponding to the position of the drive rod is opened on the second chuck, a transmission mechanism is disposed in the movable hole, and the free end of the drive rod extends into the movable hole and is connected to the clamping mechanism through the transmission mechanism; when the slide table drives the first chuck to step forward, the drive rod drives the clamping mechanism to switch between the clamping state and the releasing state through the transmission mechanism.

[0012] As a further optimization of the present invention, the transmission mechanism includes a transmission rack and a transmission gear. The transmission rack is mounted on the drive rod, and the transmission gear is mounted on the input end of the clamping mechanism. The transmission rack meshes with the transmission gear. There are multiple transmission racks, which are evenly distributed along the length direction of the drive rod. The spacing between adjacent transmission racks is consistent with the step distance of the fixed-length cutting.

[0013] Preferably, multiple transmission racks intermittently drive the transmission gears, thereby achieving periodic locking of the clamping mechanism, with the action sequence precisely corresponding to the step distance of the fixed-length cutting.

[0014] As a further optimization of the present invention, the clamping mechanism includes a first bidirectional lead screw assembly and a second bidirectional lead screw assembly. Both the first bidirectional lead screw assembly and the second bidirectional lead screw assembly have two movable ends, and a clamping roller is installed on each of the movable ends. The lead screw shaft ends of the first bidirectional lead screw assembly and the second bidirectional lead screw assembly extend to the outside of the housing of the second chuck, and a transmission gear is installed on each of the lead screw shaft ends.

[0015] Preferably, the transmission racks on the two drive rods drive the corresponding transmission gears respectively, so as to realize independent control of the two clamping mechanisms.

[0016] As a further optimization of the present invention, the clamping mechanism includes a first bidirectional lead screw assembly and a second bidirectional lead screw assembly. Both the first bidirectional lead screw assembly and the second bidirectional lead screw assembly have two movable ends, and a clamping roller is installed on each movable end. The input ends of the first bidirectional lead screw assembly and the second bidirectional lead screw assembly are close to each other and are connected by a bevel gear set. The transmission gear is installed on the input shaft end of one of the first bidirectional lead screw assembly and the second bidirectional lead screw assembly.

[0017] Preferably, two bidirectional lead screw assemblies are driven synchronously by a single transmission gear via a bevel gear set, resulting in a more compact structure.

[0018] As a further optimization of the present invention, a first cylinder is installed on both sides of the upper end of the support frame, and the outer ends of the piston rods of the two first cylinders are opposite each other and each is equipped with a limit plate; a groove is provided in the center of the upper end face of the support frame, and a second cylinder located below the groove is also installed inside the support frame, the outer end of the piston rod of the second cylinder extends upward into the groove and is equipped with a floating plate, and the floating plate is vertically slidably assembled with the inner wall of the groove.

[0019] Preferably, the length of the floating plate is not less than the cross-sectional length of the aluminum profile, and in the initial state, the upper end face of the floating plate is flush with the upper end face of the support frame; the limiting plate has a chamfer on the side near the second chuck, which facilitates the re-feeding of the aluminum profile after one cut and insertion between the two limiting plates.

[0020] As a further optimization of the present invention, the tail of the second cylinder has an air inlet and two air outlets. The two air outlets are connected to the air inlet of the tail of the first cylinder on the corresponding side through flow channels provided inside the two sides of the support frame. A spring is also provided in the groove. The spring is fitted on the piston rod of the second cylinder, and the two ends of the spring are connected to the lower end face of the floating plate and the bottom surface of the groove, respectively.

[0021] Preferably, when the aluminum profile rotates and pushes the floating plate downward, the piston of the second cylinder moves down and evenly discharges the tail gas to both sides. The gas is discharged to the tail of the first cylinder on the corresponding side through the flow channel, so that the piston of the first cylinder drives the piston rod to move outward, thereby driving the limiting plate to move closer to the aluminum profile, realizing adaptive following support; the spring is compressed when the floating plate moves down, and provides a restoring force when the aluminum profile rotates back to its original position.

[0022] As a further optimization of the present invention, a flexible pad is provided on the side of the limiting plate near the aluminum profile, and the side of the limiting plate near the second chuck has a chamfer.

[0023] Preferably, the flexible pad is made of a flexible elastic material that undergoes elastic deformation during the rotation of the aluminum profile to adapt to changes in the profile of the irregular cross section, so that the aluminum profile can remain stable during rotation and avoid scratches on the surface of the aluminum profile.

[0024] The present invention also provides a method for laser cutting aluminum profiles, applied to the apparatus described in any of the above claims, comprising the following steps:

[0025] S1: The rear end of the aluminum profile is clamped and fixed by the first chuck, and the front end of the aluminum profile passes through the through hole of the second chuck and extends to the cutting station.

[0026] S2: The slide table drives the first chuck and aluminum profile to move forward step by step. The drive rod moves synchronously with the first chuck. When the drive rod moves for the first time, the drive rod drives the clamping mechanism to clamp the aluminum profile through the transmission mechanism.

[0027] S3: Start the laser cutting head and, in conjunction with the rotation of the aluminum profile, perform laser cutting on the overhanging section of the aluminum profile;

[0028] S4: After one cut is completed, the drive rod moves again with the first chuck, the transmission mechanism loses the drive input of the drive rod, the clamping mechanism releases the clamp on the aluminum profile, and the aluminum profile can move forward step by step;

[0029] S5: When the overhang of the aluminum profile reaches the specified length, the drive rod will once again link with the transmission mechanism to drive the clamping mechanism to lock during the rotary cutting process, and at the same time complete the axial feed after the cutting is completed.

[0030] S6: Repeat steps S3 to S5 until all cutting processes are completed.

[0031] As a further optimization of the present invention, in step S2, when the transmission rack meshes with the transmission gear, the transmission rack drives the transmission gear to rotate, thereby driving the first bidirectional lead screw assembly and the second bidirectional lead screw assembly to run, driving the corresponding two clamping rollers to move closer to each other, thereby achieving two clamping of the aluminum profile.

[0032] In step S4, after a cut is completed, the transmission rack continues to move forward with the drive rod. The last tooth of the transmission rack drives the transmission gear to rotate a small angle, causing a slight elastic deformation of the rubber layer on the surface of the clamping roller. Then, the transmission rack disengages from the transmission gear, the clamping mechanism loses its locking force, and the aluminum profile pushes the two clamping rollers outward until the next transmission rack engages with the transmission gear again.

[0033] As a further optimization of the present invention, in step S3, when the aluminum profile rotates from a horizontal state to a vertical state, the downward rotating end of the aluminum profile pushes the floating plate downward. The floating plate moves down along the groove, causing the piston rod of the second cylinder to drive the piston downward, discharging the gas at the tail of the second cylinder evenly to both sides. The gas is discharged to the tail of the first cylinder on the corresponding side through the flow channel, causing the piston of the first cylinder to drive the piston rod to continue to move outward, thereby driving the limiting plate to move closer to the aluminum profile. The flexible pad undergoes elastic deformation during the rotation of the aluminum profile to adapt to the rotation process of the aluminum profile.

[0034] Compared with the prior art, the above-mentioned laser cutting device and method for aluminum profiles have the following advantages:

[0035] 1. This invention sets a drive rod on the first chuck and a transmission mechanism and a clamping mechanism on the second chuck. The automatic clamping and loosening of the clamping mechanism is achieved by using the stepping motion of the slide table. No additional power source or independent control is required. It realizes the automatic switching of "clamping during cutting and loosening during feeding", which takes into account both cutting stability and feeding smoothness.

[0036] 2. This invention achieves periodic locking of the clamping mechanism by intermittent meshing of the transmission rack and transmission gear, combined with multiple equally spaced transmission racks, which precisely corresponds to the step distance of fixed-length cutting, and the timing of the action is accurate and reliable.

[0037] 3. This invention supports the free end of the aluminum profile through a support frame and utilizes the linkage structure of a floating plate, a second cylinder, a first cylinder, and a limiting plate to achieve adaptive support and stability of the overhanging section during the rotational cutting of the aluminum profile: when the aluminum profile rotates and causes the floating plate to move downward, the gas discharged from the second cylinder drives the first cylinder to push the limiting plate closer to the aluminum profile, and the flexible pad undergoes elastic deformation to adapt to the change in the profile of the irregular cross section, ensuring that the aluminum profile is always effectively supported during the rotation process and avoiding cut offset.

[0038] 4. This invention utilizes a passive adaptive structure of the support frame, eliminating the need for additional sensors and control systems. It achieves automatic following support that changes with the rotational contour of the aluminum profile using pneumatic linkage, resulting in an ingenious structure and high reliability.

[0039] Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0040] Figure 1 This is a front view of the present invention.

[0041] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the side arrangement structure of the second chuck in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0042] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the side arrangement structure of the second chuck in another embodiment of the present invention;

[0043] Figure 4 This is a front cross-sectional view of the second chuck of the present invention;

[0044] Figure 5 This is a schematic side cross-sectional view of the support frame of the present invention in its first state;

[0045] Figure 6 This is a side sectional view of the support frame of the present invention in its second state.

[0046] Figure Descriptions: 1. Base; 2. Slide table; 3. Fixed table; 4. First chuck; 5. Fixed frame; 6. Second chuck; 7. Fixed rod; 8. Aluminum profile; 9. Robotic arm; 10. Laser cutting head; 11. Support frame; 12. Drive rod; 13. Transmission rack; 14. Transmission gear; 15. First bidirectional lead screw assembly; 16. Second bidirectional lead screw assembly; 17. Clamping roller; 18. First cylinder; 19. Limiting plate; 20. Groove; 21. Second cylinder; 22. Floating plate; 23. Flow channel; 24. Spring; 25. Flexible pad; 26. Guide groove; 27. Bevel gear set. Detailed Implementation

[0047] Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below. Examples of these embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar symbols denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0048] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can mean that the first feature is in direct contact with the second feature, or that the first feature is in indirect contact with the second feature through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0049] See Figure 1 The aluminum profile laser cutting device provided in this embodiment uses a base 1 as the mounting foundation for the entire machine. The upper surface of the base 1 is divided into two functional areas along its length: one side is a movable slide 2, and the other side is a fixed platform 3. The slide 2 is slidably assembled with the base 1 through a linear guide pair. Its movement is driven by an axial distance adjustment mechanism provided on the base 1. This adjustment mechanism adopts a motor-driven lead screw structure to adjust the distance between the slide 2 and the fixed platform 3 to adapt to the processing requirements of aluminum profiles 8 of different lengths.

[0050] A first chuck 4 is installed on the slide table 2. The first chuck 4 is coaxially connected to the main shaft, which is driven to rotate by a motor. A fixed frame 5 is installed on the fixed table 3. A second chuck 6 is rotatably installed on the fixed frame 5 through a bearing. A through hole is opened in the center of the second chuck 6 along the axial direction. The aluminum profile 8 passes through the through hole. The rear end of the aluminum profile 8 is clamped and fixed by the jaws on the first chuck 4, and the front end extends to the side of the second chuck 6 away from the first chuck 4.

[0051] The first chuck 4 and the second chuck 6 are coaxially aligned and connected by multiple fixing rods 7. (See attached image) Figure 2 and Figure 3 In this embodiment, there are four fixing rods 7, which are evenly distributed along the circumference of the aluminum profile 8. The four fixing rods 7 rigidly connect the first chuck 4 and the second chuck 6 into one unit, so that when the first chuck 4 is driven to rotate by the main shaft, the second chuck 6 rotates synchronously, and the aluminum profile 8 also rotates around its own axis.

[0052] A robotic arm 9 is mounted on the upper end of the fixed frame 5. A laser cutting head 10 is mounted on the output end of the robotic arm 9. The laser cutting head 10 is located above the second chuck 6 on the side away from the first chuck 4, that is, above the cutting station. The robotic arm 9 can drive the laser cutting head 10 to perform three-axis translational motion, which is linked with the rotational motion of the aluminum profile 8 to complete the spatial curve cutting.

[0053] A support frame 11 is installed on the side of the fixed table 3 away from the first chuck 4 via a bracket. The support frame 11 is located in front of the cutting station and is used to support and stabilize the free end of the aluminum profile 8.

[0054] One of the core improvements in this embodiment is that the automatic clamping and releasing of the clamping mechanism is achieved by using the stepping motion of the slide 2, without the need for an additional power source.

[0055] Specifically, a drive rod 12 is installed on the side of the first chuck 4 near the second chuck 6. The drive rod 12 extends in a direction parallel to the axis of the first chuck 4. The second chuck 6 has a movable hole corresponding to the position of the drive rod 12. The movable hole passes through the second chuck 6 axially. A transmission mechanism is provided in the movable hole. The free end of the drive rod 12 extends into the movable hole and is connected to the clamping mechanism installed on the second chuck 6 through the transmission mechanism.

[0056] As the slide table 2 moves forward one step, the aluminum profile 8 moves forward at a fixed length, and the drive rod 12 also moves forward synchronously. When the drive rod 12 moves within the movable hole, it drives the clamping mechanism to move through the transmission mechanism. When the drive rod 12 moves for the first time, the transmission mechanism drives the clamping mechanism to clamp the aluminum profile 8, so that the aluminum profile 8 remains stable during the subsequent rotary cutting process.

[0057] After one cut is completed, the drive rod 12 continues to move with the first chuck 4. The transmission mechanism loses the drive input of the drive rod 12, and the clamping mechanism releases the clamp on the aluminum profile 8, allowing the aluminum profile 8 to continue to advance. When the overhang of the aluminum profile 8 reaches the next specified length, the drive rod 12 again links with the transmission mechanism to drive the clamping mechanism to move, re-clamp, and enter the next round of cutting. This cycle is repeated, realizing the automatic switching of "clamping during cutting and releasing during feeding".

[0058] The specific structure of the clamping mechanism is as follows: a first bidirectional lead screw assembly 15 and a second bidirectional lead screw assembly 16 are installed on the second chuck 6. Their axes are perpendicular to each other, and they are staggered in the axial direction of the second chuck 6. Each of the first bidirectional lead screw assembly 15 and the second bidirectional lead screw assembly 16 has two movable ends, and a rotatable clamping roller 17 is installed on each movable end. When the first bidirectional lead screw assembly 15 drives its two clamping rollers 17 to approach each other, it forms a first clamping force on the rear part of the cantilever section of the aluminum profile 8. When the second bidirectional lead screw assembly 16 drives its two clamping rollers 17 to approach each other, it forms a second clamping force on the rear part of the cantilever section of the aluminum profile 8. The two clamping forces are staggered along the axial direction of the aluminum profile 8, jointly improving clamping stability. The surface of the clamping rollers 17 is covered with a rubber anti-slip layer, which increases friction and prevents scratches on the surface of the aluminum profile 8.

[0059] To ensure the smooth movement of the clamping roller 17, the second chuck 6 is also equipped with a first slide rail opposite to the first bidirectional lead screw assembly 15 and a second slide rail opposite to the second bidirectional lead screw assembly 16. One end of the clamping roller 17 is installed on the movable end of the bidirectional lead screw assembly, and the other end is slidably assembled with the corresponding slide rail to form a two-end support structure.

[0060] The first implementation of the transmission mechanism is as follows:

[0061] See Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 4 In this embodiment, the transmission mechanism adopts a rack and pinion meshing structure. The screw shaft ends of the first bidirectional lead screw assembly 15 and the second bidirectional lead screw assembly 16 both pass through the housing of the second chuck 6, and a transmission gear 14 is installed at the passing end. There are two drive rods 12, which correspond to the two transmission gears 14 respectively. A transmission rack 13 is installed on each drive rod 12, and the transmission rack 13 is located on the side of the drive rod 12 facing the outer peripheral surface of the corresponding transmission gear 14.

[0062] When the drive rod 12 moves axially with the first chuck 4, the transmission rack 13 meshes with the transmission gear 14, driving the transmission gear 14 to rotate, which in turn drives the lead screws of the first bidirectional lead screw assembly 15 and the second bidirectional lead screw assembly 16 to rotate, causing their two movable ends to move closer or further apart, thereby achieving clamping or releasing.

[0063] The transmission rack 13 is not arranged continuously along the entire length of the drive rod 12, but rather multiple independent transmission racks 13 are set and distributed at equal intervals along the length direction of the drive rod 12. The distance between two adjacent transmission racks 13 is equal to the step distance of the fixed-length cutting. In this way, every time the drive rod 12 advances by one step distance, a new transmission rack 13 engages with the transmission gear 14, driving the clamping mechanism to complete one clamping action. After the cutting is completed, the drive rod 12 continues to advance, the transmission rack 13 disengages from the transmission gear 14, the clamping mechanism is released, and the aluminum profile 8 is fed. Then the next transmission rack 13 engages with the transmission gear 14 again, repeating the clamping action. This achieves intermittent driving of the transmission gear 14 and periodic locking of the clamping mechanism.

[0064] The specific operation process is as follows: After the transmission rack 13 contacts the transmission gear 14, the transmission rack 13 drives the transmission gear 14 to rotate, which drives the first bidirectional lead screw assembly 15 and the second bidirectional lead screw assembly 16 to run, so that the corresponding two clamping rollers 17 approach each other. When the transmission gear 14 meshes with the last tooth of the transmission rack 13, the slide 2 steps to the specified length and stops moving forward. At this time, the transmission rack 13 still maintains meshing with the transmission gear 14, and the clamping mechanism maintains effective clamping of the aluminum profile 8.

[0065] After one cut is completed, the transmission rack 13 continues to move forward with the drive rod 12. The last tooth of the transmission rack 13 drives the transmission gear 14 to rotate a small angle. The rubber layer on the surface of the clamping roller 17 undergoes a small elastic deformation. This elastic deformation capability is used to prevent the transmission mechanism from jamming. Subsequently, the transmission rack 13 completely disengages from the transmission gear 14, the transmission gear 14 loses its lock, and the first bidirectional lead screw assembly 15 and the second bidirectional lead screw assembly 16 lose their locking force. Under the action of the feeding force, the aluminum profile 8 pushes the two clamping rollers 17 outward, and the clamping mechanism is released until the next transmission rack 13 meshes with the transmission gear 14 again, repeating the above clamping process.

[0066] The second implementation of the transmission mechanism is as follows:

[0067] See Figure 3 The difference between this embodiment and the first implementation is that the input ends of the first bidirectional lead screw assembly 15 and the second bidirectional lead screw assembly 16 are close to each other, and their shaft ends pass through the housing and are connected by a bevel gear set 27. The transmission gear 14 is only installed on one of the input shaft ends, and the transmission rack 13 is installed on the side of the drive rod 12 facing the outer circumference of the transmission gear 14.

[0068] When the drive rod 12 moves axially, the transmission rack 13 meshes with the transmission gear 14, causing the transmission gear 14 to rotate. The transmission gear 14 drives the first bidirectional lead screw assembly 15 and the second bidirectional lead screw assembly 16 to operate synchronously through the bevel gear set 27, thereby realizing two clamping of the aluminum profile 8. The number, spacing, and intermittent driving method of the transmission racks 13 are the same as in the first implementation method, and will not be described again.

[0069] See Figure 5 and Figure 6 The support frame 11 is used to support the free end of the aluminum profile 8, and its structure has the ability to adaptively adjust the support position as the profile of the aluminum profile 8 rotates.

[0070] A first cylinder 18 is installed on each of the two upper sides of the support frame 11. The piston rod ends of the two first cylinders 18 are arranged opposite each other. A limiting plate 19 is installed on each piston rod end. The free end of the aluminum profile 8 rests on the upper surface of the support frame 11. The two limiting plates 19 are located on both sides of the aluminum profile 8.

[0071] A groove 20 is provided in the center of the upper end face of the support frame 11. A second cylinder 21 is installed inside the support frame 11 and below the groove 20. The piston rod of the second cylinder 21 extends upward into the groove 20, and a floating plate 22 is installed at its outer end. The floating plate 22 slides vertically with the inner wall of the groove 20. The length of the floating plate 22 is not less than the cross-sectional length of the aluminum profile 8.

[0072] In the initial state, the upper end face of the floating plate 22 is flush with the upper end face of the support frame 11. The side of the groove 20 near the second chuck 6 is open, so that the free end of the aluminum profile 8 can be placed on the floating plate 22 and drive the floating plate 22 to move synchronously when rotating. A spring 24 is provided in the groove 20. The spring 24 is mounted on the piston rod of the second cylinder 21, and its two ends abut against the lower end face of the floating plate 22 and the bottom surface of the groove 20, respectively.

[0073] The second cylinder 21 has an air inlet and two air outlets at the rear of its cylinder body. The air inlet is connected to an external air supply device, and the two air outlets are arranged symmetrically on the left and right sides. They are connected to the air inlet at the rear of the corresponding first cylinder 18 through the flow channels 23 inside the two sides of the support frame 11.

[0074] The limiting plate 19 has a chamfer on the side near the second chuck 6, which makes it easy to insert between the two limiting plates 19 when the aluminum profile 8 is fed again after one cut. The limiting plate 19 has a flexible pad 25 on the side near the aluminum profile 8. The flexible pad 25 is in close contact with the surface of the aluminum profile 8, which not only improves the stability of the overhang section, but also avoids scratching the surface of the aluminum profile 8. The upper end face of the floating plate 22 can also adopt the same flexible pad design.

[0075] The working process of the support frame 11 is as follows:

[0076] See Figure 5 In the initial state, the free end of the aluminum profile 8 rests on the floating plate 22, the cross-section of the aluminum profile 8 is horizontal, and its two sides are respectively attached to the two limiting plates 19.

[0077] When the aluminum profile 8 rotates and transitions from a horizontal to a vertical cross-section, the downward rotating end of the aluminum profile 8 will push the floating plate 22 downward. The floating plate 22 moves downward along the groove 20, which drives the piston rod and piston of the second cylinder 21 to move downward. The piston moves downward and evenly discharges the gas at the tail of the second cylinder 21 to the two air outlets. The gas flows through the flow channel 23 to the tail air inlet of the corresponding side of the first cylinder 18, pushing the piston and piston rod of the first cylinder 18 to move outward, thereby driving the limiting plate 19 to move closer to the aluminum profile 8. Since the flexible pad 25 is a flexible elastic material, it will undergo elastic deformation during this process, thereby adapting to the change in the rotational profile of the aluminum profile 8 and keeping the aluminum profile 8 stable during the rotation.

[0078] See Figure 6 The aluminum profile 8 has completed the rotation from a horizontal to a vertical cross-section, and the limiting plate 19 and the flexible pad 25 are still in close contact with the surface of the aluminum profile 8.

[0079] The aluminum profile 8 is initially in a horizontal cross-section state. After one rotational cut, it returns to a horizontal cross-section state. Therefore, the subsequent axial feed of the aluminum profile 8 can be directly pushed onto the floating plate 22 without motion interference.

[0080] See Figure 1 The upper surface of the fixed platform 3 is provided with a guide trough 26, which is located between the support frame 11 and the second chuck 6. The guide trough 26 is arranged at an inclination, and its lower end extends to the outside of the base 1. After the workpiece is cut, it can be placed on the upper end of the inclination of the guide trough 26 by the unloading robot or other equipment. The workpiece slides down the inclination to the lower end, realizing centralized collection and processing.

[0081] The working process of the device in this embodiment is as follows:

[0082] The first step is to insert the rear end of the aluminum profile 8 into the first chuck 4 and clamp it with the jaws. The front end of the aluminum profile 8 passes through the through hole of the second chuck 6 and extends to the cutting station.

[0083] In the second step, the slide table 2 drives the first chuck 4 and the aluminum profile 8 to move forward. The drive rod 12 moves forward synchronously with the first chuck 4. The transmission rack 13 meshes with the transmission gear 14, driving the first bidirectional lead screw assembly 15 and the second bidirectional lead screw assembly 16 to move. The clamping rollers 17 move closer to each other, performing two clamping operations on the aluminum profile 8.

[0084] In the third step, the robotic arm 9 drives the laser cutting head 10 to move to the cutting position. The spindle drives the first chuck 4, the fixed rod 7, the second chuck 6 and the aluminum profile 8 to rotate synchronously. The laser cutting head 10 rotates in conjunction with the aluminum profile 8 to perform spatial curve cutting on the overhanging section of the aluminum profile 8. During the cutting process, the support frame 11 provides adaptive support to the free end of the aluminum profile 8.

[0085] Fourth step: After one cut is completed, the drive rod 12 continues to move forward with the first chuck 4, the transmission rack 13 disengages from the transmission gear 14, the clamping mechanism is released, the aluminum profile 8 steps forward to the next specified length, the next transmission rack 13 meshes with the transmission gear 14 again, the clamping mechanism clamps again, and the next round of cutting begins.

[0086] Fifth, repeat steps three and four until all cutting processes are completed. The cut workpieces are collected via guide chute 26.

[0087] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any equivalent substitutions or modifications made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in the present invention, based on the technical solution and inventive concept of the present invention, should be covered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A laser cutting device for aluminum profiles, comprising: Base; A sliding table and a fixed platform are respectively disposed on both sides of the base. The sliding table is slidably assembled with the base, and the fixed platform is fixedly installed. The first chuck is mounted on the slide table and is used to clamp the rear end of the aluminum profile; The second chuck is rotatably mounted on the fixed platform. The center of the second chuck has a through hole for the aluminum profile to pass through. The first chuck and the second chuck are coaxially aligned and fixedly connected by a fixing rod. A laser cutting head is positioned above the second chuck on the side away from the first chuck, and is used to laser cut the overhanging section of the aluminum profile; A clamping mechanism, mounted on the second chuck, is used to clamp the aluminum profile; Its characteristic is that it further includes: A support frame is installed on the fixed platform and located in front of and below the cutting station to support the free end of the aluminum profile. The first chuck is equipped with a drive rod, and the second chuck has a movable hole corresponding to the position of the drive rod. A transmission mechanism is provided in the movable hole. The free end of the drive rod extends into the movable hole and is connected to the clamping mechanism through the transmission mechanism. When the slide table drives the first chuck to step forward, the drive rod drives the clamping mechanism to switch between a clamping state and a releasing state through the transmission mechanism.

2. The laser cutting device for aluminum profiles according to claim 1, characterized in that, The transmission mechanism includes a transmission rack and a transmission gear. The transmission rack is mounted on the drive rod, and the transmission gear is mounted on the input end of the clamping mechanism. The transmission rack meshes with the transmission gear. There are multiple transmission racks, which are evenly distributed along the length of the drive rod. The spacing between adjacent transmission racks is consistent with the step distance of the fixed-length cutting.

3. The laser cutting device for aluminum profiles according to claim 2, characterized in that, The clamping mechanism includes a first bidirectional lead screw assembly and a second bidirectional lead screw assembly. Both the first bidirectional lead screw assembly and the second bidirectional lead screw assembly have two movable ends, and a clamping roller is installed on each movable end. The lead screw shaft ends of the first bidirectional lead screw assembly and the second bidirectional lead screw assembly extend to the outside of the housing of the second chuck, and a transmission gear is installed on each lead screw shaft end.

4. The laser cutting device for aluminum profiles according to claim 2, characterized in that, The clamping mechanism includes a first bidirectional lead screw assembly and a second bidirectional lead screw assembly. Both the first bidirectional lead screw assembly and the second bidirectional lead screw assembly have two movable ends, and a clamping roller is installed on each movable end. The input ends of the first bidirectional lead screw assembly and the second bidirectional lead screw assembly are close to each other and are connected by a bevel gear set. The transmission gear is installed on the input shaft end of one of the first bidirectional lead screw assembly and the second bidirectional lead screw assembly.

5. The laser cutting device for aluminum profiles according to claim 1, characterized in that, The upper end of the support frame is equipped with two first cylinders on both sides. The outer ends of the piston rods of the two first cylinders are opposite each other and each is equipped with a limit plate. A groove is opened in the center of the upper end face of the support frame. A second cylinder located below the groove is also installed inside the support frame. The outer end of the piston rod of the second cylinder extends upward into the groove and is equipped with a floating plate. The floating plate is vertically slidably assembled with the inner wall of the groove.

6. The laser cutting device for aluminum profiles according to claim 5, characterized in that, The second cylinder has an air inlet and two air outlets at the tail end of the cylinder body. The two air outlets are connected to the air inlet at the tail end of the corresponding first cylinder through flow channels provided inside the two sides of the support frame. A spring is also provided in the groove. The spring is fitted on the piston rod of the second cylinder, and the two ends of the spring are connected to the lower end face of the floating plate and the bottom surface of the groove, respectively.

7. The laser cutting device for aluminum profiles according to claim 5, characterized in that, A flexible pad is provided on the side of the limiting plate near the aluminum profile, and the side of the limiting plate near the second chuck has a chamfer.

8. A method for laser cutting aluminum profiles, applied to the apparatus described in any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: S1: The rear end of the aluminum profile is clamped and fixed by the first chuck, and the front end of the aluminum profile passes through the through hole of the second chuck and extends to the cutting station. S2: The slide table drives the first chuck and aluminum profile to move forward step by step. The drive rod moves synchronously with the first chuck. When the drive rod moves for the first time, the drive rod drives the clamping mechanism to clamp the aluminum profile through the transmission mechanism. S3: Start the laser cutting head and, in conjunction with the rotation of the aluminum profile, perform laser cutting on the overhanging section of the aluminum profile; S4: After one cut is completed, the drive rod moves again with the first chuck, the transmission mechanism loses the drive input of the drive rod, the clamping mechanism releases the clamp on the aluminum profile, and the aluminum profile can move forward step by step; S5: When the overhang of the aluminum profile reaches the specified length, the drive rod will once again link with the transmission mechanism to drive the clamping mechanism to lock during the rotary cutting process, and at the same time complete the axial feed after the cutting is completed. S6: Repeat steps S3 to S5 until all cutting processes are completed.

9. The method for laser cutting aluminum profiles according to claim 8, characterized in that, In step S2, when the transmission rack meshes with the transmission gear, the transmission rack drives the transmission gear to rotate, thereby driving the first bidirectional lead screw assembly and the second bidirectional lead screw assembly to run, causing the corresponding two clamping rollers to move closer to each other, thus achieving two clamping of the aluminum profile; In step S4, after a cut is completed, the transmission rack continues to move forward with the drive rod. The last tooth of the transmission rack drives the transmission gear to rotate a small angle, causing a slight elastic deformation of the rubber layer on the surface of the clamping roller. Then, the transmission rack disengages from the transmission gear, the clamping mechanism loses its locking force, and the aluminum profile pushes the two clamping rollers outward until the next transmission rack engages with the transmission gear again.

10. The method for laser cutting aluminum profiles according to claim 8, characterized in that, In step S3, when the aluminum profile rotates from a horizontal to a vertical cross-section, the downward-rotating end of the aluminum profile pushes the floating plate downward. The floating plate moves down along the groove, causing the piston rod of the second cylinder to move the piston downward, discharging the gas at the tail of the second cylinder evenly to both sides. The gas is discharged to the tail of the first cylinder on the corresponding side through the flow channel, causing the piston of the first cylinder to move the piston rod outward, thereby driving the limiting plate closer to the aluminum profile. The flexible pad undergoes elastic deformation during the rotation of the aluminum profile to adapt to the rotation process of the aluminum profile.

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