Adaptable support element for supporting a tube or profile in a tube and profile processing machine

Abstract

Support element (10) for supporting a tube or profile in a tube and profile processing machine (M), in particular for laser processing of tubes and profiles, wherein the support element (10) comprises: - a main body (14) with a channel-shaped outer section (16) that defines a receiving cavity (12) for the tube or profile, - an outer layer (18) covering the receiving cavity (12) and designed to come into contact with the tube or profile when it rests on the support element (10), and - an intermediate layer (20) arranged between the outer layer (18) and the outer section (16) of the main body (14) to support the outer layer (18), wherein the intermediate layer (20) is designed as an elastically deformable structure to act as a shock-absorbing layer.

Description

Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a pipe and profile processing machine in general, in particular for laser processing (for example, laser cutting) of pipes and profiles.

[0002] More precisely, it relates to a support element for supporting a tube or profile during processing in one of the aforementioned machines, wherein the support element preferably has a receiving cavity for the tube or profile, the cross-section of which forms a profile with variable shape and in particular an arc profile with variable radius, so that it can be adapted to tubes and profiles with cross-sections of different geometries and dimensions. State of the art

[0003] In tube and profile laser processing machines, the tube or profile to be processed is typically gripped at its rear end by the gripping elements of a workpiece slide and guided into the processing area by a support and guidance device. There, a processing head performs the intended processing of the tube or profile using a focused laser beam. The gripping elements of the workpiece slide define a machine feed axis along which the longitudinal axis of the tube or profile is aligned during processing. Meanwhile, the support and guidance device supports and guides the tube or profile near the processing head, thereby ensuring the alignment of its longitudinal axis with the machine feed axis.Typically, the workpiece slide is movable along the longitudinal axis of the tube or profile to control its feed motion and is also equipped with rotary control elements to control its rotation about its longitudinal axis. The support and guide device, on the other hand, is mounted in a fixed position on the machine bed in front of or behind (with respect to the feed direction of the tube or profile) the machining head. To ensure proper support of the tube or profile being machined along its entire length and to prevent or at least minimize any deviation of the tube's or profile's longitudinal axis from the machine's feed axis, the machine is usually equipped with support devices between the workpiece slide and the support and guide device. Such support devices may include an adjustable support element, i.e.,A support element with a receiving cavity for the tube or profile, which has a variable-shaped profile in cross-section (i.e., in a cross-sectional plane perpendicular to the feed axis of the machine) so that it can be adapted to tubes and profiles with cross-sections of different shapes and dimensions. Such a support element is preferably rotatably mounted about a horizontal axis of rotation, which extends transversely to the tube or profile being processed and is arranged in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tube or profile, so that by rotating the support element about its axis of rotation, the cross-section of the receiving cavity can be selected whose profile is best suited to supporting the processed tube or profile.

[0004] For example, Italian patent no. 1380352 and European patent EP 3670069 B1 disclose the use of a support element with a receiving cavity having a cross-sectional profile with a variable radius depending on the angular position of the support element about the aforementioned axis of rotation. In this case, the receiving cavity is typically shaped such that the radius of the arc profile increases continuously or stepwise when the support element is rotated in a predetermined direction.

[0005] Particularly when machining slender tubes or profiles, which tend to exhibit pronounced bending vibrations due to rapid accelerations during both the translational movement along the feed axis and the rotational movement around this axis—vibrations which the workpiece slide transmits to the tube or profile during machining—such support elements are also used as damping elements to at least partially dampen the vibrations of the tube or profile being machined. However, the damping properties of known support elements are rather limited, resulting in less than satisfactory machining quality.Therefore, a support element is required that not only supports the pipe or profile to be machined during its advancement to the machining head and possibly during its rotation around its own axis, but also more effectively dampens the bending vibrations to which the pipes or profiles, especially slender pipes or profiles, are subjected during machining.

[0006] In machining machines for large and therefore heavy pipes and profiles, these support elements are typically mounted to the corresponding structures using intermediate springs to allow some movement of the support elements in a vertical transverse plane, i.e., in a plane perpendicular to the feed axis of the machine, so that any movements of the pipe or profile due to its high inertia do not cause damage to the components of the fastening structures on which the support elements are mounted. Summary of the invention

[0007] This invention aims to provide a support element for supporting a tube or profile during processing in a tube or profile processing machine, in particular a tube and profile laser processing machine (for example, laser cutting), which, compared to the known technology, has a better performance with regard to its damping capacity of bending vibrations of the tube or profile to be processed.

[0008] These and other problems are comprehensively solved according to the invention with a support element according to the attached independent claim 1.

[0009] Advantageous embodiments of the support element according to the invention are defined in the dependent claims, the disclosure content of which is understood to be an integral part of the following description.

[0010] In summary, the invention is based on the idea of ​​providing a support element that includes: - a main body whose channel-shaped outer section defines a receiving cavity for the tube or profile, - an outer layer that covers the receiving cavity and is intended to come into contact with the pipe or profile when it rests on the support element, and - An intermediate layer between the outer layer and the channel-shaped outer section of the main body to support the outer layer, wherein the intermediate layer is designed as an elastically deformable structure to act as a shock-absorbing layer. By using such an intermediate layer, a support element with high damping capacity for bending vibrations of the tube or profile can be created, which is supported by the support element during machining.

[0011] In one embodiment, the intermediate layer is designed as a three-dimensional lattice structure with a plurality of interconnected unit cells. Preferably, the support element, or at least its intermediate layer, is manufactured using additive manufacturing technologies (or 3D printing). By controlling the design parameters of the lattice, such as the thickness of the arms or the size and geometry of the unit cells, an intermediate layer with predefined mechanical properties can be created. Furthermore, by varying the parameters within the same lattice, it is possible to create zones of the intermediate layer with different mechanical responses, depending on the variation of the aforementioned parameters.

[0012] Advantageously, thanks to additive manufacturing, the intermediate layer of the support element can achieve geometric complexity levels that would be impossible to reproduce with conventional manufacturing technologies, especially subtractive technologies, where the component is created by removing material from a semi-finished product. While simple truss structures can certainly be produced using conventional manufacturing technologies such as CNC machining, welding, or casting, additive manufacturing allows for the more cost-effective printing of highly complex truss structures in a single solution.

[0013] Preferably, the outer layer is manufactured as a separate part from the intermediate layer and is detachably connected to the outer section of the main body in a suitable manner. This allows only the outer layer to be replaced in case of wear or damage, without having to replace the rest of the support element. Furthermore, different materials can be used for the outer layer and the intermediate layer, selected according to the required properties of these two parts of the support element. For example, the outer layer can be made of steel, which, due to its wear-resistant properties, is used in the machining of pipes or profiles (e.g., structural steel), or of a polymeric material, which, due to its lower hardness properties, is used in the machining of pipes or profiles (e.g., stainless steel, aluminum, or another "sensitive" material.

[0014] The intermediate layer and the outer section of the main body of the support element are preferably made in one piece, particularly from plastic. In this case, both are preferably manufactured using additive manufacturing technologies (or 3D printing).

[0015] Even more preferably, the intermediate layer and the entire main body of the support element are made in one piece, particularly from plastic. In this case, both are preferably manufactured using additive manufacturing processes (or 3D printing).

[0016] The subject matter of this invention is further a pipe and profile processing machine, in particular a laser processing machine (for example, laser cutting) for pipes and profiles, with at least one support element of the aforementioned type according to the attached claim 12. Brief description of the characters

[0017] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become clear from the following purely exemplary and non-limiting description with reference to the accompanying drawings. These show: - Fig. 1 a perspective view, which also partially shows schematically an example of a pipe and profile processing machine, in particular a pipe and profile laser cutting machine, on which a support element can be attached according to the invention; - Fig. 2 a perspective view of a support element according to an embodiment of the present invention; - Fig. 3 an axial cross-sectional view of the support element in Fig. 2 and - Fig. 4 a perspective view of only the outer layer of the support element in Fig. 2. Detailed description

[0018] In Fig. 1. M is generally used as a designation for a pipe and profile processing machine, which in this case is a pipe and profile laser cutting machine, but which can also be another type of pipe and profile processing machine in which the pipe or profile to be processed must be supported over its entire length or part thereof.

[0019] The machine M comprises, in a manner known per se, a processing head W for performing processing operations (in the present embodiment consisting of cutting operations, but also other types of processing, such as welding operations), in particular by means of a focused laser beam B on a tube or profile (in the illustrated example on a tube with a circular cross-section, which is designated by T). Even if the in Fig. Since the pipe T shown in Figure 1 is a pipe with a circular cross-section, the machine M can also process pipes with a cross-section of any other shape, for example square or rectangular, as well as profiles or beams of any shape, for example C-profiles, T-profiles, IPE-profiles, HEA-profiles, etc.

[0020] The machine M further comprises a workpiece slide (not shown, but of a known type) equipped with gripping means configured to grip the tube or profile at one end (rear end). These gripping means define an x-feed axis of the machine, with which the longitudinal axis of the tube or profile is aligned during machining. During machining, the tube or profile is advanced by the workpiece slide along the x-feed axis in the direction of the machining head W and, if necessary, rotated about this axis. The machine M further comprises a support system for supporting the tube or profile during machining, preferably not only before but also after the machining head W.This support system comprises a variety of support devices S, each of which is provided with a support element 10 configured to provide a support surface for the tube or profile on which it can slide during machining due to the feed movement of the tube or profile along the feed axis x and possibly due to the rotation movement of the tube or profile about the feed axis x.

[0021] With reference to the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 Each support element 10 has a receiving cavity 12 in a manner known per se, which can partially receive a tube or profile to be machined (not shown) in order to not only support the tube or profile vertically, but also to hold it laterally and to prevent or at least limit any oscillation or deviation of the longitudinal axis of the tube or profile with respect to the feed axis x of the machine during machining.

[0022] Preferably, the support element 10 is an adaptable type, i.e., capable of adapting to tubes and profiles of different shapes and sizes. In this case, the receiving cavity 12, as in the embodiment proposed here, has a profile with a variable shape in cross-section (i.e., in a cross-sectional plane perpendicular to the feed axis x of the machine), in particular an arc profile with a variable radius, in order to be adaptable to tubes and profiles with cross-sections of different shapes and dimensions. In particular, the receiving cavity 12 is shaped such that the arc profile radius of its cross-section changes continuously or stepwise along the receiving cavity.In the embodiment proposed here, for example, the arc profile radius in the cross-section of the receiving cavity 12 increases continuously or stepwise in a certain direction, so that with a corresponding orientation of the support element 10, the most suitable profile of the receiving cavity 12 can be selected for the shape and / or dimensions of the tube or profile to be processed.

[0023] The support element 10 comprises a main body 14 with a channel-shaped outer section 16, which forms the receiving cavity 12. According to a preferred embodiment (not shown), the main body 14 can further comprise a plurality of connecting arms that connect a central section of the body to the outer section 16. This preferred embodiment of the main body 14 was achieved by applying generative design methods; however, various other embodiments are conceivable.

[0024] The main body 14 is preferably mounted on a shaft (not shown), which in turn is supported on a corresponding support structure (also not shown) so that it can be rotated about an axis of rotation y that lies in a transverse plane, i.e., in a plane perpendicular to the feed axis x of the machine. The axis of rotation y is preferably horizontally oriented, but can also be inclined at a certain angle to the horizontal. In this way, by rotating the shaft on which the main body 14 is mounted, the profile of the receiving cavity 12 can be selected that is best suited for contact with the pipe or profile to be machined. Advantageously, the main body 14 is manufactured in one piece, for example from plastic, and in particular by means of additive manufacturing techniques (or 3D printing).The support element 10 further comprises an outer layer 18, which covers the receiving cavity 12 and comes into contact with the pipe or profile to be supported, and an intermediate layer 20 between the outer layer 18 and the outer section 16 of the main body 14.

[0025] The outer layer 18 can be designed as a separate component from the intermediate layer 20. In this case, it is expediently attached to the outer section 16 of the main body 14 and is preferably removable so that, in the event of wear or damage, only the outer layer 18 needs to be replaced without having to replace other parts of the support element 10. Furthermore, different materials can be used for the outer layer 18 and the intermediate layer 20, selected according to the required properties of these two parts of the support element 10.The outer layer 18 can, for example, consist of steel, which is used in the processing of pipes (e.g., made of structural steel) due to its wear-resistant properties, or of a polymeric material, which is used in the processing of pipes (e.g., made of stainless steel, aluminum, or another "sensitive" material) due to its lower hardness properties. However, the outer layer 18 can also consist of a different material, such as a composite material.

[0026] The outer layer 18 has a thickness of, for example, 2 to 10 mm. The thickness of the outer layer 18 can be constant over the entire extent of this layer or vary from zone to zone.

[0027] In the embodiment proposed here, the outer layer 18 is connected to the outer section 16 of the main body 14 by a plurality of mechanical connecting elements, in particular by screws (not shown), each of which is inserted into a corresponding hole 22 in a fastening projection 24 formed by the outer layer 18. However, other connection methods are also possible to detachably connect the outer layer 18 to the outer section 16.

[0028] The intermediate layer 20 was designed as an elastically deformable structure (i.e., a structure that can deform after being loaded but returns to its undeformed state once the loading is removed) to act as a shock-absorbing layer, i.e., a layer with vibration and shock-absorbing properties. The intermediate layer 20 can, for example, be designed as a structure with a geometry and / or density such that it exhibits vibration and shock-absorbing properties. As shown in the Fig. 2 and Fig.As shown in Figure 3, the intermediate layer 20 is designed as a three-dimensional truss structure with a multitude of interconnected unit cells. In particular, the three-dimensional truss structure forming the intermediate layer 20 is designed to give this layer high vibration-damping properties. As a result, the support element 10 performs better than in known techniques with regard to its ability to dampen vibrations to which the pipe or profile being processed is subjected. The intermediate layer 20 can also be designed to meet additional requirements, for example, regarding stiffness, weight, heat transfer capacity, etc. For instance, the intermediate layer 20 can have a so-called "Voronoi" structure, which is known for its energy-absorbing properties.

[0029] In particular, if the intermediate layer 20 is designed as a three-dimensional truss structure, this layer is preferably manufactured using additive manufacturing technologies (or 3D printing). Thanks to additive manufacturing, the three-dimensional truss structure of the intermediate layer 20 can achieve a degree of geometric complexity that would not be reproducible with conventional manufacturing technologies, especially so-called subtractive technologies, in which the component to be manufactured is obtained by removing material from a semi-finished product.

[0030] The intermediate layer 20 has a thickness of, for example, 2 to 10 mm, particularly 4 to 7 mm. The thickness of the intermediate layer 20 can be constant over the entire extent of this layer or vary from zone to zone.

[0031] However, the intermediate layer 20 can be designed not only as a three-dimensional truss structure, but also, for example, as an air bearing, made of rubber or another polymeric material with vibration-damping properties, or comprise a variety of gel bearings.

[0032] The intermediate layer 20 and the outer section 16 of the main body 14 can be made of plastic in one piece, particularly if the intermediate layer 20 is formed from a three-dimensional rib structure. In this case, both are preferably manufactured using additive manufacturing technologies (or 3D printing). Even more preferably, the intermediate layer 20 and the entire main body 14 are made of plastic in one piece and, in this case, are advantageously both manufactured using additive manufacturing processes (or 3D printing). For example, one of the following materials can be used as the plastic: polyamide 12 (PA12), carbon fiber-reinforced polyamide 6 (PA6), polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polycarbonate (PC), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), and polyetherimide (PEI).However, other materials can also be used, especially those with good mechanical properties that are suitable for additive manufacturing.

[0033] The present invention has been described with reference to its preferred embodiment. Of course, other embodiments may be provided which share with the inventive core defined in the appended claims as well as in the following claims. QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] IT 1380352

[0004] EP 3670069 B1

[0004]

Claims

[1] Support element (10) for supporting a tube or profile in a tube and profile processing machine (M), in particular for laser processing of tubes and profiles, wherein the support element (10) comprises: - a main body (14) with a channel-shaped outer section (16) that defines a receiving cavity (12) for the tube or profile, - an outer layer (18) covering the receiving cavity (12) and designed to come into contact with the tube or profile when it rests on the support element (10), and - an intermediate layer (20) arranged between the outer layer (18) and the outer section (16) of the main body (14) to support the outer layer (18), wherein the intermediate layer (20) is designed as an elastically deformable structure to act as a shock-absorbing layer. [2] Support element according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate layer (20) is designed as a three-dimensional truss structure and comprises a plurality of interconnected unit cells. [3] Support element according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the intermediate layer (20) consists of plastic. [4] Support element according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the intermediate layer (20) and the outer section (16) of the main body (14) are made in one piece. [5] Support element according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the intermediate layer (20) and the entire main body (14) are made in one piece. [6] Support element according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate layer (20) is made of rubber or another polymeric material with vibration-damping properties. [7] Support element according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate layer (20) is designed as an air bearing or comprises several gel bearings. [8] Support element according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the outer layer (18) is designed as a part separate from the intermediate layer (20) and is detachably connected to the outer section (16) of the main body (14). [9] Support element according to claim 8, wherein the outer layer (18) forms a plurality of fastening attachments (24), each having a corresponding hole (22) and being connected to the outer section (16) of the main body (14) by a corresponding plurality of mechanical connecting elements, in particular threaded connecting elements, each being inserted into one of the holes (22). [10] Support element according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the receiving cavity (12) has a profile with variable shape in cross-section, in particular an arc profile with variable radius. [11] Support element according to claim 10, wherein the receiving cavity (12) is shaped such that the radius of the arc profile of its cross-section varies continuously or stepwise along the receiving cavity (12). [12] Tube and profile processing machine, in particular for laser processing of tubes and profiles, comprising: - a processing head (W), - Gripping means designed to grasp the tube or profile to be processed at one end and to advance the tube or profile along a feed axis (x) towards the processing head (W) and / or to rotate it about the feed axis (x), and - a support system designed to support the tube or profile during machining before and / or after the machining head (W) and allowing the tube or profile to slide relative to the support system as a result of the translational movement of the tube or profile along the feed axis (x) and / or the rotational movement of the tube or profile about the feed axis (x), wherein the support system comprises at least one support element (10) according to any of the preceding claims.