Laser cutting machine and method for continuous cutting of sheet metal in a laser cutting machine and method for separating workpieces from waste

Abstract

The present invention provides a laser cutting machine for cutting sheet metal, particularly unwound from a coil or automatically fed in sheets, and a method for cutting and separating waste and workpieces in the laser cutting machine. The cutting machine includes a loading conveyor (2) and an internal conveyor (5) that move linearly in the direction of the X axis, each having a rotary load-bearing element (23, 53) and a slot disposed therebetween. A head unit with a control system dynamically moves over the sheet metal (1) in the slot area (C) in the X, Y, and Z axes according to preset software. At least one side gripper (3) is slidably mounted on at least one side of the body. The internal conveyor (5) is removably connected to an unloading conveyor (10), which is a separate module directly connected to the internal conveyor (5) and moves linearly on both sides along the X direction by the linear drive of the internal conveyor (2). An extraction unit (7) is located in the working area below the loading conveyor (2) and the internal conveyor (5). The cutting machine includes at least one module for collecting the sorted workpieces and / or waste, from where they are discharged from the load-bearing element of the cutting machine's linear conveyor, which operates along the X-axis. All stages and operations occurring in the machine are automated and controlled by external software, i.e., sheet metal movement, laser cutting, movement and rotation of the loading conveyor, movement and rotation of the internal conveyor, workpiece separation, skeleton separation, waste separation - all occur simultaneously and without the need to stop the machine.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The object of the invention is a laser cutting machine for cutting sheet metal, in particular unwound from a coil or automatically fed in sheets, as well as a method for continuous laser cutting of sheet metal in this cutting machine and a method for separating waste and workpieces. [Background technology]

[0002] Known laser cutting machines are structures with elements and units that allow the loading and movement of material to the cutting area, elements and parts that enable the cutting process, and elements and parts that allow the collection of workpieces and waste after cutting is complete. The basic operating element in the cutting area of ​​a cutting machine is the cutting head, which basically consists of a nozzle, a lens, and a focus tracking system. The cutting head of a laser cutting machine moves along a programmed cutting path, with accuracy and speed being among the cutting machine's basic parameters. Laser power has a significant impact on the cut thickness, cutting speed, cutting width, and cut quality. Generally, the higher the laser power, the deeper the cut depth and the faster the cutting speed. The cutting head is suspended from a gate / traverse. The gate unit with the cutting head and control system moves over the surface of the cutting material, which is placed on a table / conveyor, onto which the sheet metal is placed, either unwound from a coil or automatically fed in sheets. The cutting head moves in the X and Y directions, but solutions are known that allow the cutting head to move in the Z direction as well, where the X axis of the cutting machine is defined along the longest side from the inlet of the material to the outlet of the finished product, the Y axis of the cutting machine is defined along the short side of the machine, and the Z axis of the cutting machine is defined as the height of the machine from the base to the top of the machine. The Z axis allows adjustment of the height / thickness of the sheet metal being processed.

[0003] The basic element of the equipment in the loading and feeding area of ​​the cutting material is the cutting table, on which the material is loaded. Small tables are cast iron or aluminum and are fixed structures that support the material being processed during cutting. The table does not have any additional rotating modules. After the cutting process, the workpieces and waste are collected by the operator or by additional equipment such as a robot. In larger cutting machines, the table is a conveyor mounted on a body guide.

[0004] Known laser cutting machines are equipped with an operator's station for performing, monitoring and controlling the entire process, as well as basic peripheral modules for ensuring the operation of the machine, namely a laser radiation source, a laser source cooler and a cutting chamber dust removal device, and furthermore, a laser beam delivery system in which the light beam generated in the light source is transmitted to the cutting head via an optical fiber system.

[0005] The equipment also uses a CNC system that controls the operation of all modules and components, such as the loading and unloading system, laser power control along the X, Y and Z axes, and cutting head feed control, as well as the sheet alignment system, automatic loading and unloading of sheet metal that is unwound from coils and automatically fed in sheets, and automatic unloading of finished workpieces and waste.

[0006] Furthermore, cutting machines use a laser generator cooling system, which converts electrical energy into light energy and dissipates excess heat when the remaining energy is converted into heat, ensuring uniform laser operation and stable operation of the beam delivery system and preventing lens deformation and cracking caused by excessive temperatures. Known cutting machines use air or water cooling systems. Fumes and dust are generated during the cutting process, which can affect not only the quality of the cutting process but also the health of the operator. Therefore, automatic fume and dust removal systems are installed in cutting machines.

[0007] Most of the known cutting machines are of complex construction.

[0008] The EAGLE laser cutting machine includes two tables mounted on a metal sheet, which are formed inside the machine body in the form of a cam. A roller moves along the cam. The table's openwork load-bearing platform, on which the metal sheet rests, is formed by a metal comb. The sheet metal rests against the end of the comb, and the table moves toward the cutting area, which contains a gate unit with a cutting head that slides in the X, Y, and Z directions. The basic elements responsible for the system's feed, including the movement of the table-supporting platform, are a motor (such as a stepper motor or servo motor) and a chain attached to the table. The tables alternate positions, always along the same path: Table 1 rises while Table 2 slides horizontally underneath Table 1. After the exchange, Table 2 becomes Table 1, and vice versa. The cutting method in this cutting machine is based on two tables that change position by passing above and below each other. The entire metal sheet is loaded onto the first table on the comb. At this time, the second table is already inside the machine. The tables remain stationary during cutting. The cutting process takes place above the second table, where the cutting head moves in the X, Y, and Z axes, while the sheet metal with the table remains stationary. When cutting the sheet metal on table 1, the process of unloading the finished cut workpiece and then loading a new sheet occurs. The table exchange involves the tables passing each other in the middle of their path, with table 1 rising on a cam and table 2 sliding horizontally below table 1. After the single operation is completed, table 1 returns to its horizontal position. The unloading or loading process can be manual or automatic, depending on the type of machine. In the known device described, cutting is performed on fixed table elements in the form of metal combs, which can be subject to unintended undercuts during the process, resulting in the accumulation of metal fragments between the combs. Furthermore, the ends of the combs can be welded to the sheet metal, changing the properties of the sheet metal in the area of ​​contact with the combs. The cutting process requires the sheet feeding process to be stopped and is only applicable when cutting a single sheet.

[0009] An apparatus for laser cutting of coiled sheet metal is known from Polish Patent Specification PL 227075 B1. The apparatus includes a table on which the web of coiled sheet metal moves in continuous motion, a gate unit equipped with a laser cutting head, and a control system. The gate unit with the cutting head slides over the table surface in two perpendicular axes in the table plane, X and Y. The table includes a series of support rollers embedded in a table guide and arranged perpendicular to the sheet metal transport direction at a distance equal to or less than the diameter of a single support roller. The support rollers are arranged to rotate freely about their own axes. A tracking table is provided in the table with slots between the support rollers for ejecting the laser-treated material. Meanwhile, the movement of the tracking table along an axis corresponding to the sheet metal movement is integrated with the movement of the gate unit. An essential feature of this invention in this category of apparatus is that the support rollers are slidably fixed and move within the table guide along an axis corresponding to the sheet transport direction, and the support rollers are connected to each other by flexible connectors. In an advantageous implementation of the invention, the support rollers have drives, advantageously electric drives, controlled by the control system, which provide the support rollers with a rotational speed corresponding to the linear speed of the sheet web movement. In another advantageous implementation of the invention, the flexible connectors are tie rods, chains, cables or strings. In a further advantageous implementation of the invention, the support rollers are made of a heat-resistant material, advantageously steel. In an even more advantageous implementation of the invention, the slots of the tracking table have an adjustable width. In this device, there is a single table on which the sheet metal web moves as it is unwound from the coil.The table's load-bearing platform is formed by rotating rollers attached to table guides perpendicular to the sheet travel direction, and between the rollers there is a slot called a tracking table for discharging the laser-treated material, and the movement of the tracking table along an axis coinciding with the sheet metal travel is integrated with the movement of the gate unit, so that the support rollers move slidingly within the table guides along an axis coinciding with the sheet metal transport direction.

[0010] A method for laser cutting of a metal sheet unwound from a coil is also known from Polish invention description PL 227075 B1, which comprises the following steps: a) a table on which a web of sheet metal is placed; b) the sheet metal web is moved in a continuous motion along the surface of the table, a series of support rollers mounted on bearings, arranged perpendicular to the sheet metal conveying direction at regular intervals not greater than the diameter of one support roller; c) A gate unit equipped with a laser cutting head moves over the table surface, d) a tracking table is moved and a slot is provided for ejecting the laser treated material and is disposed between the support rollers; e) The desired pattern set by the control system is cut out by the laser beam emitted from the laser cutting head, and steps (b), (c), (d) and (e) are performed simultaneously, and the movement of the tracking table along the axis coinciding with the movement of the sheet is integrated with the movement of the gating unit.

[0011] An essential feature of this method is that support rollers embedded in the table guides and connected by flexible connectors slide along axes coinciding with the sheet transport direction, so that the gate unit moves over the entire table surface. In an advantageous implementation of the invention, the support rollers have drives, advantageously electric drives, controlled by the control system, which provide the support rollers with a rotational speed corresponding to the linear speed of the sheet web movement. In another advantageous implementation of the invention, the flexible connectors are tie rods, chains, cables or strings. In another advantageous implementation of the invention, the slots in the tracking table have an adjustable width.

[0012] International Patent Application No. WO2012034923A discloses a method for laser cutting preset parts and an apparatus for implementing the method. The apparatus comprises a table on which a sliding gate moves, on which a laser cutting head is mounted. The gate design allows the laser cutting head to move in two axes, enabling laser cutting of any two-dimensional shape limited by the range of movement of the gate. The workpiece to be cut, such as a thin metal sheet, is placed on the table on a protruding openwork surface so that the sheet metal rests only on the individual points of each protrusion. This design of the table surface allows for the ejection of material emitted from the side opposite the impact of the laser beam to prevent damage to the other surface of the cut sheet. An apparatus with suction cups is used for loading. The suction cups pick up the sheet metal and transport it to the processing area. A second set of comb-shaped carriers lifts all cut workpieces and skeletons from the processing area and moves them further to an unloading area, where an operator sorts and collects the workpieces. This solution does not allow cutting a continuously fed sheet metal without stopping, and the openwork surface becomes dirty with the ejected molten cutting material, requiring a complex and time-consuming cleaning process at a later stage.

[0013] German Patent Application Publication No. 102004034256 discloses a system for laser cutting thin materials. The system generally includes two belt feeders arranged in such a way that a slot exists between the end of the first belt feeder and the end of the second belt feeder, allowing for the removal of material released during laser cutting. The belt feeders are designed so that said slot can move along the transport direction of the web of material being processed. This movement is synchronized with the movement of a gate on which the laser cutting head is mounted so that the slot is always under the laser beam from the cutting head. The gate with the laser cutting head provides two perpendicular movements. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0014] Technical Problems to be Solved: Existing equipment and methods for laser cutting sheet metal do not form an integrated, monolithic structure including the elements of the unloading area, cutting area, and cut material collection area, nor do they guarantee the separation of waste and workpieces in terms of size. Collecting workpieces with known equipment requires additional collection equipment or tables. Conveyor tables with comb load-supporting platforms are prone to burning and deterioration due to high temperatures and contamination by dust and waste generated during cutting. This results in frequent replacement of the load-supporting elements. Known cutting equipment and methods also do not provide for the separation and collection of workpieces and waste, including the separation of large and small workpieces and waste, without stopping the machine during the ongoing process. It is also not possible to automatically separate and remove individual workpieces or waste from the cutting area while the cutting process is in progress. Sheet feeding and cutting often involve instances of sheet deviation from the trajectory along the X-axis, slippage on the conveyor's load-supporting elements, i.e., instability of the sheet's position on the conveyor during operation.

[0015] The objective of this invention is to develop a universal, integrated, fully automatic, software-controlled apparatus and method for continuous cutting of sheet metal, both from coils and in sheet form. The apparatus and method provide a continuous and stable feeding and cutting process, ensuring the separation and collection of workpieces and waste. All operations—feeding, moving, cutting, and the separation and removal of workpieces, waste, and skeletons after the cutting process—are performed simultaneously and continuously without machine shutdown. All guides and movable elements should be connected to the cutting machine body, and the possibility of moving the sheet metal in both directions along the X-axis increases processing efficiency. Furthermore, the apparatus and method ensure the possibility of simultaneously separating waste and workpieces into large and small pieces, as well as the possibility of separating individual workpieces and waste without interrupting or pausing the material feeding process, the optimal size of the cutting work area, cutting head operation in three directions, and the ability to use the appropriate maximum power of the laser source for the maximum sheet thickness. Cut openwork parts need to be transported without mixing or snagging elements to ensure smooth and unobstructed sorting. The solution must minimize the amount of human effort required for the separation and collection of workpieces and waste, and ensure sheet metal cutting that minimizes the amount and size of waste. [Means for solving the problem]

[0016] The laser cutting machine according to the invention, in particular for continuous cutting of sheet metal unwound from a coil or automatically fed in sheets, is characterized in that a loading conveyor slidably mounted on an internal linear guide of the cutting machine body is equipped with rotary load-bearing elements which rotate in both circumferential directions in accordance with set software, an internal conveyor mounted on the same guide behind the loading conveyor is equipped with rotary load-bearing elements which rotate in the circumferential direction in accordance with set software, while a slot constituting the cutting area is located between the end of the loading conveyor and the start of the internal conveyor, and at the end of the conveyor which forms the slot there is a fixed support with an upper outer edge, the distance between the outer edges of the supports determines the width of the cutting slot, a cutting head unit which moves dynamically above the sheet in the slot area in the X, Y and Z axes in accordance with set software, and at least one-sided grippers which are slidably mounted on at least one side of the cutting machine body but which move linearly in both directions along the X direction, and which move the sheet metal. The cutting machine is characterized in that the internal conveyor holds the edge of the sheet metal at any selected moment in the process from loading the sheet metal to the very end of cutting at a location necessary to ensure accuracy, positioning, and stability of the cutting; the internal conveyor is detachably connected to the unloading conveyor, which is a separate module directly connected to the internal conveyor and moves linearly in both directions along the X direction by the linear drive of the internal conveyor, and includes a rotary load-supporting element of the unloading conveyor; meanwhile, in the working area below the loading conveyor and the internal conveyor, there is an extraction unit consisting of left and right extract collection modules arranged symmetrically along the separator at the bottom of the cutting machine, and the rotary left and right load-supporting elements extract gas and dust from the air channel and from the pipe channel; the cutting machine includes at least one module for collecting the separated workpieces and / or waste, and this module is where these workpieces and / or waste are discharged from the load-supporting element of the linear conveyor of the cutting machine operating along the X axis.

[0017] It is advantageous if the rotary load-bearing elements of the loading conveyor and the internal conveyor are brush belts.

[0018] It is advantageous if the loading conveyor and the internal conveyor are linearly driven by a magnetic linear motor mounted on the inner wall of the cutting machine body between the guides of the loading conveyor and the internal conveyor, and on the side wall there is a handle with a mounting plate, on which a carriage cooperating with the body guide is fixed, thereby allowing linear movement of the conveyors in both directions in the X direction.

[0019] It is advantageous if the upper surfaces of the fixed supports of the loading conveyor and the internal conveyor are equipped with rollers that reduce the friction of the sheet metal movement.

[0020] It is advantageous if the cutting head unit mounted on the traverse moves linearly in the X direction along the cutting head guide and traverse guide mounted on the cutting machine body.

[0021] It is advantageous if the cutting head guide and the traverse guide are mounted in the body above the guides of the loading conveyor and the internal conveyor and above the gripper guide, and their drive is provided by magnetic motors of the cutting head and the traverse arranged between the linear guide of the cutting head and the traverse guide.

[0022] It is advantageous if the grippers are slidably mounted along the entire length of linear guides mounted in the body above the linear guides of the loading conveyor and the internal conveyor, and a block of magnetic motors drives the grippers between the gripper guides.

[0023] It is advantageous if the gripper is a unified structural unit and includes, at the front, jaws that hold the sheet metal on its edge, which are arranged in a gripper cover and are opened and closed by an actuator, and, at the rear, two rows of carriages on the gripper mounting plate that cooperate with the gripper guides when moving, and a power cable clip.

[0024] It is advantageous if the gripper is attached to only one side of the body.

[0025] It is advantageous if the cutting machine is equipped with three grippers.

[0026] It is advantageous if the rotary load-bearing element of the unloading conveyor has the form of a rotating belt which rotates towards a rotating belt which rotates towards the outside of the machine where the material is collected or discharged.

[0027] It is advantageous if the load-bearing elements of the left and right conveyors of the extraction unit are steel belts.

[0028] It is advantageous if the exhaust air channel is divided by an inner partition into air chambers having hinged outer walls on both sides, and outside the air chambers on both sides, pipe channels having inlet openings with flaps run through them, positioned at heights corresponding to each air chamber, the flaps are opened and closed using an actuator mechanism while extracting gas and dust from the selected chamber, and above the selected chamber, a cutting head is currently positioned, and the outer partitions of the air channels determine the cutting working range according to the set software.

[0029] It is advantageous if the cutting machine comprises three lateral collection modules operating along the Y axis, the first lateral module collecting small waste materials being arranged at the end of the left conveyor of the extraction unit, the second lateral module collecting small workpieces being arranged at the end of the right conveyor of the extraction unit, and the third lateral module collecting large workpieces and large waste materials and skeletons being arranged at the end of the unloading conveyor.

[0030] It is advantageous if the lateral module for collecting the workpieces and waste material is a belt conveyor, and the workpieces and waste material fall onto the load-bearing elements of the belt conveyor during the continuous process of cutting and separating large and small workpieces, large and small waste material, and skeletons, respectively.

[0031] It is advantageous if the unloading conveyor has a screw shape, which allows for a wider range of movement.

[0032] The method for continuous laser cutting of sheet metal in the above-mentioned laser cutting machine, which is unwound from a coil or fed in sheet form, is characterized in that the sheet unwound from a coil or fed in sheet form is placed on a rotary load-bearing element of a loading conveyor, the sheet is gripped by its edge by a gripper and moved together with the conveyor and the gripper along the X-axis under the laser head into the interior of the machine, and at the same time, the internal conveyor equipped with a rotary load-bearing element moves towards the loading conveyor in such a way that between the end of the loading conveyor equipped with a fixed support and the start of the internal conveyor equipped with a fixed support there is a technological slot along the Y-axis of the conveyor constituting a cutting area having a width, and when the outer edge of the sheet is placed on the load-bearing surface of the internal conveyor beyond the slot area, the sheet is supported by two fixed supports of the loading conveyor and the internal conveyor, and the laser head starts the cutting process, which takes place only in the area of ​​the cutting slot, the sheet metal is supported on both sides by fixed supports, while the head with the laser source and traverse moves in the X-axis according to the set software, The laser head moves on the supported sheet metal in three directions, Y and Z. The width of the working range of cutting and head movement determines the position of the external partition of the air channel of the extraction unit, which has an air chamber located in the cutting machine space under the loading conveyor and internal conveyor, so that in the first stage of cutting, small waste is cut out, the sheet metal moves with the gripper, the loading conveyor and internal conveyor move along the machine on the left part of the extraction unit, the laser head b starts cutting out the small waste, and the small waste falls onto the left conveyor of the extraction unit. Then, the workpiece is transported to the outside of the machine via the lateral collection conveyor, and the sheet metal is cut with the gripper. In the second stage, the loading conveyor and the internal conveyor move along the machine on the second right part of the extraction unit, and the laser head starts cutting the small workpiece. The small workpiece falls onto the right conveyor of the extraction unit and is transported to the outside of the machine via the lateral collection conveyor. Then, the large waste WL is cut out from the remaining parts of the sheet metal. The laser head continues to move on the slot, and the large waste after cutting outIt is placed on the surface of the rotary load-bearing element of the internal conveyor and further conveyed to a discharge conveyor integrated with the internal conveyor, which has the same linear movement along the X-axis as the internal conveyor, and then falls onto a lateral collection conveyor for large waste and skeletons, followed by cutting out large workpieces from the remaining parts of the sheet metal, which after being cut out are placed on the surface of the rotary load-bearing element of the internal conveyor and further conveyed to a discharge conveyor integrated with the internal conveyor, the next stage of cutting is to cut out the skeletons from the remaining parts of the sheet metal, and the skeletons are then cut out and After that, the metal is placed on the surface of the rotating load-bearing element of the internal conveyor, and is further transported to the unloading conveyor integrated with the internal conveyor with the load-bearing element, which moves linearly along the X-axis similar to the internal conveyor, and then falls onto the lateral collection conveyor for large waste and skeletons. All steps and operations occurring within the machine are automated and controlled by external software, i.e., sheet metal movement, laser cutting, movement and rotation of the loading conveyor, movement and rotation of the internal conveyor, workpiece separation, skeleton separation, waste separation, all occur simultaneously, without the need to stop the machine.

[0033] It may be advantageous to temporarily increase the rotational speed of the load-bearing elements of the internal conveyor to separate the large cut-out waste material, large workpieces and skeletons from the remaining sheet metal.

[0034] It is advantageous if the large workpiece is placed within the skeleton, the skeleton is cut into pieces, and after the skeleton is cut from the large workpiece, an internal conveyor accelerates the belt rotation to move the large workpiece together with the skeleton, moving the large workpiece away from the remaining large element sheet metal parts that have not yet been cut.

[0035] In the case of sheet metal unwound from a coil, the cutting process can continue until there is no more sheet in the coil.

[0036] If the machine is not being fed with sheet metal unwound from a coil, it is possible to load additional ready sheet metal onto the loading conveyor. After cutting everything from the sheet, the machine returns to the option to load a new sheet. All parts of the machine return to their starting point.

[0037] When cutting large workpieces, the sheet can be made stationary relative to the cutting head by appropriately selecting the movement speeds of the X-axis loading conveyor and inner conveyor and the rotation speeds of their rotary load-bearing elements.

[0038] The cutting and sorting method thus developed makes it possible for the device constituting the subject of the present invention to cut any waste or openwork without the risk of the elements twisting, rotating or overlapping, which would make sorting difficult. The cut openwork elements can be separated from the cut waste and other elements and removed one by one from the machine.

[0039] The completed workpieces can be collected from the collection area automatically via a robotic arm or by an operator.

[0040] The loading conveyor and internal conveyor, together with the grippers, can transport and move the sheet metal from the coil or sheet in two directions in the X axis, which can improve the dynamics and efficiency of the process in the X and Y axes, which is always the biggest challenge due to the weight of the traverse and cutting head.

[0041] The object of the invention is illustrated in the examples of the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0042] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the entire cutting machine from the operator's side with the loading conveyor cover closed and the X, Y and Z axes marked schematically. [Figure 2]FIG. 1 is a side view from the operator's side of a cutting machine constructed with a cover forming a unified cutting machine body, with the skeleton and workpiece loading, cutting and collection areas marked diagrammatically. [Figure 3] Top view of the equipment / cutting machine with the tilting window of the electrical cabinet and the cut workpieces / skeleton on the collection conveyor and the loaded sheet metal on the loading conveyor work surface. [Figure 4] 1 is a perspective view of a cutting machine with a schematic interior view including a conveyor, an extraction system, and a cutting head; FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 shows a view of a machine part with grippers and a lateral collection conveyor from the loading side. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 shows a schematic layout of the basic module of the cutting machine with grippers to stabilize the sheet fed from the coil and the cutting head in place above the cutting slot. [Figure 7] 1 is a diagram of a cutting machine including an extraction unit with an air discharge pipe and internal mounting elements of a cutting head, a conveyor, a gripper associated with a drive element. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the gripper with the jaws open, viewed from the upper right. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a top right perspective view of the gripper with the jaws closed. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a rear perspective view of a gripper having elements for attachment to a guide. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a rectangular view of the gripper unit from the left side with the jaws open. [Figure 12] FIG. 1 is a right side view of the gripper structure and mounting of the machine with the jaws clamped to the sheet metal. [Figure 13] View of the machine from the loading conveyor with three grippers stabilizing the sheet metal. [Figure 14] FIG. 1 is a view of the cut-off machine with the loading conveyor and grippers in the material loading position, the inner and collecting conveyors fully extended, and the first gripper in its maximum position. [Figure 15] FIG. 1 is a view of the cutter with the grippers in position during machine operation, the inner and collection conveyors fully retracted, and the outer grippers holding the sheet on the inner conveyor. [Figure 16] FIG. 1 shows the cutter with the grippers in place during machine operation, the inner and collection conveyors fully retracted, and the outer gripper at the end of the body with the collection conveyor retracted. [Figure 17] FIG. 1 is a schematic overall view of the machine including the internal and unloading conveyors and the uncovered parts of the extraction unit with the air chamber. [Figure 18] 18 is a view of the workpiece of the structure of the joint of the connection of the internal and unloading conveyors of FIG. 17. [Figure 19] 1 is a view of the workpiece with the loading conveyor and inner conveyor supports positioned in the cutting zone and the cutting head mounted above the conveyors in the cutting slot. [Figure 20] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the extraction unit as seen from above. [Figure 21] 1 is a schematic side view of a portion of a cutting machine structure with an extraction unit and a loading conveyor and internal conveyor located above it, and a cutting head in position over the area between the conveyors. FIG. [Figure 22] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of the position of the cutting head and grippers during loading of sheet metal from a coil. [Figure 23] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of the head and gripper positions during sheet metal loading. [Figure 24] 1 is a schematic diagram showing the position of the cutting head and grippers and the outer edge of the sheet metal positioned in the cutting zone resting on the supports of the loading conveyor and inner conveyor. FIG. [Figure 25] 1 is a schematic diagram showing the position of the cutting head and grippers with the sheet metal moved into the laser cutting zone and the outer edge of the sheet metal positioned in the cutting zone resting on the supports of the loading conveyor and internal conveyor. [Figure 26]FIG. 10 shows the moved sheet metal in the cutting zone with the outer edge resting on the supports of the internal conveyor and the cutting head facing away from the cutting slot, ready to cut. [Figure 27] FIG. 10 shows the position of the conveyor head during the process of cutting out small waste materials that fall onto the left conveyor of the extraction unit. [Figure 28] 28 shows the general position of the head unit and cutting slot during the process of cutting out small waste material as in FIG. 27. FIG. [Figure 29] FIG. 10 shows the position of the head and conveyor during the process of cutting out small workpieces that fall onto the right conveyor of the extraction unit. [Figure 30] 29A and 29B show the approximate positions of the head unit and cutting gap during the process of cutting out a small workpiece. [Figure 31] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a sheet having contours of small workpieces cut out during cutting of the small workpieces. [Figure 32] FIG. 10 shows the position of the head and conveyor during cutting of large waste material. [Figure 33] FIG. 10 shows the position of the head and conveyor while cutting large waste material during separation by the unloading conveyor. [Figure 34] 1 is a diagram of sheet metal with the sheet pictorially representing the large cut-out workpiece and waste material during cutting of the large workpiece alongside the sheet. [Figure 35] FIG. 10 shows the position of the head and conveyor during the process of cutting out the large workpiece during the separation of the large waste, large workpiece and skeleton by the internal conveyor. [Figure 36] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a sheet in the process of cutting waste material from a larger workpiece. [Figure 37] 10 shows the sheet in the process of cutting out the large workpieces thereafter, and the separation of the large workpieces and waste from the remainder of the sheet by the rotation of the internal conveyor brush belt. FIG. [Figure 38]FIG. 10 shows the sheet during cut-out of the large workpieces and separation of the large workpieces and waste from the rest of the sheet by rotation of the internal conveyor. [Figure 39] 1 is a schematic diagram of a cutting machine with large and small workpieces and waste on individual conveyors during the cutting process. FIG. [Figure 40] 39 is a schematic diagram illustrating the separation of the large workpiece and the skeleton during the cutting process in the next stage, in conjunction with FIG. [Figure 41] 1 shows a schematic view of the end of the unloading conveyor discharging large workpieces and skeletons onto a cross conveyor. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0043] The cutting machine as an apparatus is shown in the implementation examples of Figures 1 to 21.

[0044] The method of cutting and separating material in a cutting machine according to the present invention is shown in FIGS.

[0045] A laser cutting machine for cutting sheet metal, all processes of which are automated and controlled by external software, comprises two loading conveyors 2 moving linearly in the X direction and an internal conveyor 5 for transporting the processed material, the loading conveyors 2 being slidably mounted on internal linear guides 27 on both sides of the body, and equipped with a rotary load-bearing element 23 in the form of a brush belt which moves in both directions along the X direction in accordance with these guides and rotates infinitely clockwise or counterclockwise according to the set software.

[0046] Behind the loading conveyor 2 there is an internal conveyor 5 mounted on the same linear conveyor guide 27, equipped with a rotating load-bearing element 53 in the form of a brush belt, which moves linearly in two directions along the X axis and rotates infinitely clockwise or counterclockwise according to the set software.

[0047] The loading conveyor 2 and the internal conveyor 5 are linearly driven by magnetic linear motors 26 mounted on the inner wall of the machine body between the guides 27 of the loading conveyor 2 and the internal conveyor 5. Both the loading conveyor 2 and the internal conveyor 5 have handles 24 and 55 with mounting plates 28 and 56 on their side walls to which are mounted carriages 25 and 57 which cooperate with the body guides 27 allowing linear movement of the conveyors in both directions in the X direction. The drives of the axes 54 of the rotary load-bearing elements 23 and 53 of both conveyors 2 and 5 are driven by servo drives or motors.

[0048] Between the end of the loading conveyor 2 and the beginning of the internal conveyor 5 is a slot C, which constitutes the cutting area. At the ends of the conveyors forming the slot C are fixed supports 21 and 51, each with an upper outer edge K2 and K5. The distance between the outer edges K2 and K5 of the supports 21 and 51 determines the width S of the cutting slot C. The width S of the cutting slot C is automatically adjusted by the machine software depending on the size of the workpiece to be cut. The laser cutting of the sheet metal takes place only outside the load-bearing elements 23 and 53 of the loading conveyor 2 and the internal conveyor 5, and outside the support surfaces of the cutting slot C. During the cutting and sorting process, the outer edge B of the sheet metal 1 is positioned on the surface of the load-bearing element 53 of the internal conveyor 5.

[0049] The head unit 4, which is mounted on the traverse 41 and equipped with a control system, moves linearly in the X direction along the head guide 42 and traverse guide 44 mounted on the main body above the guide 27 of the conveyor and gripper 37, and is driven by the magnetic motors of the head 43 and traverse 45, which are arranged between the linear guide of the head 42 and the linear guide of the traverse 44. The head 4 moves dynamically on the sheet metal in the X, Y, and Z axes.

[0050] During the cutting process, the loading conveyor 2 and the internal conveyor 5 can move independently of the fixed direction of the sheet metal movement, always supporting the sheet metal. Continuous support of the sheet metal and movement of the slot C between the tables follows the movement of the laser head, and is made possible by accumulating the linear movement of the table and the simultaneous rotational movement of the conveyor's load-bearing elements in the machine's working range R. The accumulation of the conveyor's linear and rotational movements completely eliminates friction between the sheet metal and the conveyor carrier, and the conveyor carrier follows the movement of the sheet metal as the entire conveyor moves. Supporting the sheet metal while cutting enables stable and accurate cutting and material separation. The accumulation of linear and rotational movements also allows the sheet metal to remain stationary relative to the head when cutting large workpieces DD.

[0051] The upper surfaces of the fixed supports 21, 51 of the loading conveyor 2 and the internal conveyor 5 are equipped with rollers 22, 52 that reduce friction during sheet metal movement. The loading conveyor 2 and the internal conveyor 5 can move independently along the X-axis by varying their distance from each other - moving closer or further away from each other. The independent movement of the loading conveyor and the internal conveyor in the X-axis provides the cutting machine with the additional function of separating finished workpieces from waste. The additional movement of the sheet metal in the X-axis accelerates the cutting process. The additional rotation of the internal conveyor 5 can accelerate the separation of the workpieces and separate the individual workpieces one by one.

[0052] Above the linear guides 27 of the internal and loading conveyors, at least on one side of the main body, are additional linear guides 37 for three grippers 3, which hold the edges of the sheet metal 1 where necessary to ensure precision and stabilization of the sheet metal movement, positioning, and cutting at the appropriate moment in the process. The grippers 3 move linearly along the entire length of their guides 37 and are driven by magnetic motors 34, with blocks positioned between them. The grippers 3 move independently and collision-free, positioning themselves according to the software. Depending on the stage of the process, the distance between the grippers and the distance from the first edge T of contact between the sheet metal 1 and the load-bearing element 23 of the loading conveyor to the gripper closest to the loading point vary. Each gripper 3 is a unified structural unit and includes at the front a jaw 32 that holds the sheet metal at its edge, the jaw 32 being arranged in a cover 35 of the gripper 3 and opened and closed by an actuator 31, and at the rear a two-row carriage 33 on a mounting plate 36 of the gripper 3 that cooperates with a guide 37 of the gripper 3 when moving, and a power cable clip 38.

[0053] An electric cable running in a special plastic guide for the electric cable is used to control the movement of the gripper. The guide has wires that follow the movable gripper 3 by bending or stretching.

[0054] The internal conveyor 5 is detachably connected via spacer blocks 104 to the third unloading conveyor 10, which is a separate module in the form of a conveyor having a rotating load-bearing element 101 equipped with a mounting plate 103 from the bottom to the front of the cutting machine body.

[0055] The unloading conveyor 10's rotary load-bearing element 101 has the form of a rotating belt that rotates toward the outside of the machine, where the material is collected or discharged. The collecting conveyor 10, directly connected to the internal conveyor 5, moves linearly in both directions along the X direction, driven by the shaft 102 of the internal conveyor 5. The working area below the loading conveyor 2 and the internal conveyor 5 contains the extraction unit 7, consisting of a left conveyor 71 and a right conveyor 72, symmetrically arranged along the separator 73 at the bottom of the machine. The extraction unit 7 has left and right load-bearing elements 77 and 78 in the form of steel belts for moving small waste materials to the left side of the conveyor and small workpieces to the right side of the conveyor, as well as air channels and pipe channels 76 for extracting gases and dust. The drive of the left conveyor 71 operates in a leftward continuous mode, while the drive of the right conveyor 72 operates in a rightward continuous mode, throwing the material outside the extraction unit. The air channel is divided by inner partitions 75 into air chambers 74 with hinged outer walls 70 on both sides. Each air chamber 74 is connected to an air channel 76 with an inlet opening with a closing flap, located at a height corresponding to the air chamber 74. The inlet flap of a given air channel is opened by an actuator mechanism 79 while gas and dust are extracted from the chamber in which the cutting head 4 is currently located. The outer partitions 70 of the air channels determine the cutting range R. The cutting machine in the system includes three lateral collection modules for collecting workpieces and waste materials. The first lateral module 8, which collects small waste materials OM, is located at the end of the left conveyor 71 of the extraction unit 7. The second lateral module 9, which collects small workpieces DM, is located at the end of the right conveyor 72 of the extraction unit 7. The third lateral module 11, which collects large workpieces DD, large waste materials OD, and skeletons SZ, is located at the end of the outer conveyor 10. The transverse module for collecting the workpieces and waste material is a belt conveyor, onto whose load-bearing elements the workpieces and waste material fall during the continuous cutting process. All moving elements and guides are mounted on a single body.Although not shown, cutting machine peripherals in the form of a laser source 13, a cooler 15, a filtered fan cabinet, a common exhaust duct 7, and the like are attached and cooperate with the machine in a known manner. The machine body includes a roof panel 17 and louvers that function as a loading cover 16. It also includes a utility connection panel 14 and a hinged electrical cabinet door. The machine is also equipped with known control systems, automation components, drives, a laser generator cooling system, an automatic fume and dust removal system, and a laser beam delivery system.

[0056] The control elements connected to the components and elements of the cutting machine, as well as the PC inputs through which the process is programmed according to the set software, are located at the operator's station.

[0057] This configuration of the cutting machine allows a continuous cutting and sorting process to be maintained and the small workpieces DM, large workpieces DD, small waste OM, large waste OD and skeletons SZ to be automatically discharged without the need to stop the machine.

[0058] An example of the process of cutting sheet metal and separating workpieces and waste materials in the above-mentioned cutting machine is shown in Figures 22 to 41.

[0059] The sheet metal 1, unwound from a coil or automatically fed in sheets 1, is placed on a loading conveyor 2 equipped with a rotary load-bearing element 23. The sheet metal 1 is automatically loaded into the cutting machine via a feeder or feeding manipulator, known as an external device of the machine.

[0060] The sheet metal 1 on the loading conveyor 2 is gripped by its edges by three grippers 3 mounted in series on the same guide 37 inside the body on one side, with the first gripper located closest to the beginning of the loading conveyor and the third gripper located furthest away. The distance between the edge T where the loading conveyor 2 and the sheet metal come into contact and the first gripper 3 is D1, the distance between the first gripper S and the second gripper S is D1, the distance between the second gripper S and the third gripper S is D3, and the distance between the first gripper S and the third gripper S is D4. In the process of feeding the sheet metal from the coil, the outer edge B of the sheet metal 1 is the edge that first comes into contact with the surface of the load-bearing element 23 of the loading conveyor 2 at the first edge T where the sheet metal comes into contact with the load-bearing element 23 of the loading conveyor 2.

[0061] The contact edge T of the sheet metal fed in sheet form coincides with the edge of the sheet opposite the outer edge B which is located closest to the beginning of the loading conveyor 2 when loaded.

[0062] The grippers move linearly along these guides throughout the X-axis of the cutting machine. Holding the sheet metal by the edges with the grippers helps to accurately position the sheet metal throughout the cutting process and support the movement of the sheet metal along the X-axis. During the cutting process, some grippers 3 release their clamping jaws 32, move to new positions along the edge of the sheet metal, and then clamp their jaws to the edge of the sheet metal in the new position.

[0063] The two outermost grippers 3 always simultaneously hold the sheet metal, while the intermediate gripper releases the sheet and moves towards the first gripper, grasping it in a position that ensures its gradual movement towards the machine exit. After the sheet metal is clamped by the intermediate gripper, the first gripper releases its jaws and moves the appropriate distance towards the load. After the first gripper has moved and clamped its jaws 32 in a new position, the third gripper releases its jaws and moves towards the second gripper to the appropriate location. The process is repeated cyclically in the same way, allowing the sheet metal to be moved in the following way: grab, move, release between moves, grab, move. The principle for moving the sheet is: two gripper units always clamp the sheet, and once the two grippers have held the sheet, the third gripper releases it and allows it to be repositioned.

[0064] During the final cutting process, the sheet is held by only one gripper at its edge. However, during the individual stages of the cutting process and the separation of the workpiece, waste material, and skeleton, the grippers move with the sheet metal and can change their holding position relative to each other, or one of the grippers can stop holding the sheet metal as the sheet shortens. In the case of sheet metal fed from a coil, all grippers hold the sheet metal and move relative to each other.

[0065] 22 and 24 show diagrammatically the position of the gripper and head during loading and cutting of sheet metal fed from a coil.

[0066] 23 and 25 show diagrammatically the position of the gripper and head during sheet loading and sheet metal cutting.

[0067] The sheet metal 1, placed on the loading conveyor 2 and held by the grippers 3, moves together with the conveyor and the grippers along the X-axis into the machine under the laser cutting head 4. At the same time, an internal conveyor 5 equipped with a rotary load-bearing element 53, which moves parallel to the X-axis along the machine and is used to collect the material and skeleton cut from the sheet metal, moves onto the loading conveyor 2 in such a way that a technological slot C, constituting the cutting area with a width S, is defined between the end of the loading conveyor 2 equipped with a fixed support 21 with an outer edge K2 parallel to the conveyor's Y-axis and the start of the internal conveyor 5 equipped with a fixed support 51 with an outer edge K5. The conveyors can be very close to each other at the front, but they do not come into contact with each other throughout the entire cutting process.

[0068] 14-16 show exemplary positions of the loading conveyor 2, inner conveyor 5, and unloading conveyor 10, and gripper 3, at various stages of the cutting process.

[0069] In the loading stage shown in Figure 14, the first gripper 3 is positioned closest to the start of the internal conveyor at a minimum distance D1 from the contact edge T, and the internal conveyor 2 and the unloading conveyor 10 are fully extended. During operation of the cutter at the time shown in Figure 15, the gripper 3 initially holds the sheet 1 on the internal conveyor, and its distance D1 from the edge T increases. During operation of the cutter at the time shown in Figure 16, with the external conveyor and the collecting conveyor fully retracted, the third gripper is at its maximum position at the end of the body, and the collecting conveyor 10 is retracted. When the outer edge B of the sheet metal is positioned beyond the slot area C on the load-bearing surface 53 of the internal conveyor 5, it is supported on two fixed supports 21 and 22 of the loading conveyor 2 and internal conveyor 5, and at this point the head begins the cutting process, which is carried out only in the area of ​​the slot cutting C, the sheet metal is supported on both sides by fixed supports, and the head with the laser source and traverse moves over the supported sheet 1 in three directions X, Y and Z according to the set software, and the width of the cutting working range R determines the position of the external partition 75 of the air channel of the extraction unit 7 with the air chamber 74, which is located in the cutting machine space below the loading conveyor 2 and internal conveyor 5. Figures 19 and 21 show detailed views of the cutting area and the position of the main elements during cutting, and Figure 26 shows a schematic diagram. In the first stage of cutting, small waste OM is cut out, the sheet metal 1 together with the gripper and the loading conveyor and the internal conveyor moves along the machine on the first left part 71 of the extraction unit 7, the head 4 starts cutting the small waste OM, the small waste OM falls onto the left conveyor 71 of the extraction unit 7 and is transported outside the machine via the lateral collection conveyor 8 for small waste OM, and Figures 27 and 28 show diagrams and schematic diagrams of the position of the head 4 and cutting slot C when cutting the small waste OM. In the second cutting stage, the sheet metal 1, together with the gripper and the loading and internal conveyors, moves along the machine onto the second right part 72 of the extraction unit 7, and the head 4 begins cutting the small workpieces DM, which fall onto the right conveyor 72 of the extraction unit 7 and are transported outside the machine via the lateral collection conveyor 9 for the small workpieces DM. Figures 29 and 30 show diagrams and schematic views of the position of the head 4 and the cutting slot C when cutting out the small workpieces DM, and Figure 31 shows a view of the sheet with the small workpieces. The dimensions of the DM and OM are selected in relation to the width S of the cutting slot C, the working dimensions of the load-bearing elements 77 and 78 of the conveyors on the left and right sides 71 and 72 of the extraction unit 7, which are located under the air chamber 74 of the air channel, and the dimensions of the load-bearing elements of the lateral collection conveyors for the small workpieces 9 and waste 8, which are located at the ends of the left and right conveyors 71 and 72. The next stage of cutting is to cut out the large waste OD from the remaining part of the sheet metal 1. After cutting, the large waste OD is placed on the surface of the rotating load-bearing element 53 of the internal conveyor 5 and is further transported to the unloading conveyor 10 integrated with the internal conveyor 5, which performs the same linear movement along the X-axis as the internal conveyor 5, and then falls onto the lateral collection conveyor 11 for the waste OD and skeleton SZ. In order to separate the cut-out large waste OD, the rotational speed of the load-bearing element 53 of the internal conveyor 5 is increased for a while. Figures 32 and 33 show diagrams and schematic illustrations of the head 4 and the position of the cutting slot C during cutting and separation of the large waste OD.The next stage of cutting is to cut out the large workpiece DD from the remaining part of the sheet metal 1. After cutting, the workpiece DD is placed on the surface of the rotary load-bearing element 53 of the internal conveyor 5 and further transported to the unloading conveyor 10 integrated with the internal conveyor 5. Further, the separation and transfer of the workpiece from the sheet metal 1 is achieved by temporarily increasing the rotational speed of the load-bearing element 53 of the internal conveyor 5. During cutting of the large workpiece DD, the sheet metal 1 can be kept stationary relative to the head by appropriately selecting the movement speed of the loading conveyor 2 and the internal conveyor 5 in the X-axis and the rotational speed of their rotary load-bearing elements 23 and 53. Figure 34 shows a diagram of the sheet with the large workpiece and waste material during cutting of the large workpiece DD, and Figures 35, 36, 37, and 38 show the positions of the conveyor and the head during the separation process using the internal conveyor 5. The next stage of cutting is to cut out the skeleton SZ from the remaining part of the sheet metal 1. After being cut out, the skeletons are placed on the surface of the rotating load-bearing element 53 of the internal conveyor 5 and are further transported together with the load-bearing element 101 integrated with the internal conveyor 5 to the unloading conveyor 10, which makes a linear movement along the same X-axis as the internal conveyor 5, and further falls onto the waste and skeleton lateral collection conveyor 11. In order to separate the cut-out skeletons, the rotational speed of the load-bearing element 53 of the internal conveyor is increased for a while.

[0070] It is advantageous if the large workpieces DD are placed within the skeleton SZ where the skeleton has been cut into small pieces, and after the skeleton SZ has been cut from the large workpieces DD, the internal conveyor 5 accelerates its belt rotation to move the large workpieces DD together with the skeleton SZ away from the remaining large element sheet metal parts that have not yet been cut. In this way, the large details DD and the skeleton SZ are separated from the remainder of the sheet metal.

[0071] Figures 39, 40 and 41 show the positions of the various machine units during the separation of large waste OD, large workpieces DD and skeletons SZ.

[0072] When the rotation of the internal conveyor 5 is accelerated, the remaining sheet metal is held by the side grippers 3, which has the advantage that the sheet metal 1 does not move uncontrollably while simultaneous laser cutting is taking place at different positions on the surface of the sheet metal. The finished workpieces are transported by another belt conveyor 10 to the workpiece collection zone and the skeleton discharge zone to the skeleton SZ collection conveyor 11.

[0073] The completed workpiece is automatically collected from the collection area via the robotic arm.

[0074] When no sheet metal unwound from a coil is fed to the machine, it is possible to load additional ready sheet metal 1 onto the loading conveyor. After cutting everything from the sheet, the machine returns to the option to load a new sheet. All parts of the machine return to their starting point. In the case of sheet metal unwound from a coil, the cutting process can continue without interruption until there is no more sheet on the coil.

[0075] All steps and operations occurring on the machine are automated and controlled by external software, i.e., sheet metal movement, laser cutting, loading conveyor movement and rotation, internal conveyor movement and rotation, workpiece separation, skeleton separation, waste separation - all occur simultaneously and without the need to stop the machine.

Claims

1. 1. A laser cutting machine for continuous cutting of sheet metal, in particular unwound from a coil or automatically fed in sheets, comprising a conveyor with load-bearing elements moving linearly in the direction of the X-axis, with slots between them, a head unit with a control system, and a workpiece and waste collection module, the workpiece and waste collection module being equipped with elements of the control system that enable the implementation of processes of cutting, feeding, loading and transporting the material for collection using the set software, wherein a loading conveyor (2) slidably mounted on an internal linear guide (27) of the cutting machine body is equipped with a rotary load-bearing element (23) that rotates circumferentially in both directions according to the set software, and behind the loading conveyor (2) there is an internal conveyor (5) mounted on the same guide (27) and equipped with a rotary load-bearing element (53) that rotates circumferentially in both directions according to the set software, while the end of the loading conveyor (2) and the start of the internal conveyor (5) are spaced apart. There is a slot (C) between the conveyors (2, 5) that constitute the cutting area, and at the ends of the conveyors (2, 5) that form the slot (C) there are fixed supports (21) and (51) with upper outer edges (E2) and (E5), and the distance between the outer edges (E2) and (E5) of the supports (21) and (51) determines the width (S) of the cutting slot (C), and the head unit (4) dynamically moves over the sheet metal (1) in the slot area (C) in the X, Y, and Z axes according to the set software, while at least one gripper a separate module slidably mounted on at least one side of the cutting machine body (3), linearly moving in both directions along the X direction, and holding the edge of the sheet metal (1) at a location necessary to ensure accuracy and stability in moving, positioning, and cutting the sheet metal (1); the internal conveyor (5) is detachably connected to the unloading conveyor (10), and is directly connected to the internal conveyor (5) to form a separate module linearly moving in both directions along the working space below the loading conveyor (2) and the internal conveyor (5);The laser cutting machine is characterized in that at the bottom of the cutting machine there is an extraction unit (7) consisting of left (71) and right (72) extract collection modules (7) arranged symmetrically along a separator (73) with rotating left (77) and right (78) load-bearing elements, which extracts gases and dust from the air channel and from the pipe channel (76), and the cutting machine includes at least one module for collecting the separated workpieces and / or waste, which constitutes a place where these workpieces are discharged and / or discarded from the load-bearing elements of the linear conveyor of the cutting machine operating along the X-axis.

2. 2. The laser cutting machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotary load-bearing elements (23) and (53) of the loading conveyor (2) and the internal conveyor (5) are brush belts.

3. 2. The laser cutting machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the loading conveyor (2) and the internal conveyor (5) are linearly driven by magnetic linear motors (26) mounted on the inner wall of the cutting machine body between the guides (27) of the loading conveyor (2) and the internal conveyor (5), and have handles (24) and (55) with mounting plates (28) and (56) on the side walls to which carriages (25) and (57) cooperating with the conveyor guides (27) are mounted, thereby allowing linear movement of the conveyors on both sides in the X direction.

4. 2. The laser cutting machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper surfaces of the fixed supports (21) and (51) of the loading conveyor (2) and the internal conveyor (5) are equipped with rollers (22) and (52) that reduce the friction of the sheet metal movement (1).

5. 2. The laser cutting machine according to claim 1, wherein the cutting head unit (4) attached to the traverse (41) moves linearly in the X direction along a cutting head (4) guide (42) attached to the cutting machine body and the traverse (41) guide (44).

6. 6. The laser cutting machine according to claim 1 or 5, characterized in that the cutting head (4) guides (42) and traverse (41) guides (44) are mounted in the body above the guides (27) of the loading conveyor (2) and inner (5) conveyor and above the gripper (3) guide (37), and their drive is provided by magnetic motors of the cutting head (43) and traverse (45) arranged between the linear guides of the cutting head (42) and the traverse guide (44).

7. 2. The laser cutting machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the grippers (3) are slidably mounted along the entire length of linear guides (37) attached to the body of the cutting machine above the linear guides (27) of the loading (2) and internal (5) conveyors, and a magnetic motor block (34) drives the grippers (3) between their guides (37).

8. 2. The laser cutting machine according to claim 1, wherein the gripper (3) is a unified structural unit, comprising at the front side jaws (32) for holding the sheet metal on the edge, the jaws (32) being arranged in the gripper (3) cover (35) and being opened and closed by an actuator (31), and at the rear side two rows of carriages (33) on the gripper (3) mounting plate (36) which cooperate with the gripper (3) guides (37) when moving, and a power cable clip (38).

9. 9. A laser cutting machine according to claim 1, 7 or 8, characterized in that the gripper (3) is attached to only one side of the cutting machine body.

10. 10. Laser cutting machine according to claim 1, 7, 8 or 9, characterized in that it is equipped with three grippers (3).

11. 2. The laser cutting machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotary load-bearing element (101) of the unloading conveyor (10) has the form of a rotating belt which rotates towards the outside of the machine where the material is collected or discharged.

12. 2. The laser cutting machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the load-bearing elements (77) and (78) of the left (71) and right (72) conveyors of the extraction unit (7) are steel belts.

13. 2. The laser cutting machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the exhaust air channel (7) is divided by the inner partition (75) into air chambers (74) having hinged outer walls (70) on both sides, and outside the air chambers (74) on both sides there are pipe channels (76) with inlet openings with flaps arranged at heights corresponding to each air chamber (74), the flaps are opened and closed using the actuator (79) mechanism, while extracting gas and dust from the selected chamber in which the cutting head (4) is currently located according to the set software, and the outer partitions (70) of the air channels determine the cutting working range (R).

14. 2. The laser cutting machine according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises three lateral collection modules operating along the Y-axis, wherein a first lateral module (8) for collecting small waste OM is arranged at the end of the left conveyor (71) of the extraction unit (7), a second lateral module (9) for collecting small workpieces DM is arranged at the end of the right conveyor (72) of the extraction unit (7), and a third lateral module (11) for collecting large workpieces DD, large waste OD and skeletons SZ is arranged at the end of the unloading conveyor (10).

15. 15. The laser cutting machine according to claim 14, characterized in that the lateral modules (8, 9, 11) for collecting the workpieces and waste material are belt conveyors having load-bearing elements onto which the large and small workpieces DD and DM, the large and small waste material OD and OM and the workpieces and waste material fall during the continuous process of cutting and separating the skeleton SZ, respectively.

16. 2. The laser cutting machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the unloading conveyor (10) has a screw shape, which allows a large range of movement.

17. 1. A method for continuous laser cutting of sheet metal (1) unwound from a coil or fed in sheet form in a laser cutting machine, comprising the steps of loading the sheet metal, moving the sheet metal to the cutting area, cutting the sheet metal with the laser head, and collecting and / or discharging the cut workpieces and waste, wherein the laser head cutting is performed outside the load-bearing surface of the conveyor, and wherein the sheet metal (1) unwound from a coil or fed in sheet form is loaded into the loading area. The sheet metal (1), resting on the rotary load-bearing elements (23) of the conveyor (2), is gripped by the grippers (3) at its edge and moves together with the conveyor (2) and the grippers (3) along the X-axis into the interior of the machine under the laser head (4), while the internal conveyor (5) equipped with the rotary load-bearing elements (53) moves along the Y-axis of the conveyor, constituting a cutting area with the width (S) between the end of the loading conveyor (2) equipped with the fixed supports (21) and the start of the internal conveyor (5) equipped with the fixed supports (51). The laser head (4) moves in the opposite direction to the loading conveyor (2) so that a lot (C) is present, while the outer edge (B) of the sheet metal (1) is beyond the slot area (C) and on the load-bearing surface (53) of the internal conveyor (5), the sheet metal (1) contacts and supports itself against the two fixed supports (21) and (51) of the loading conveyor (2) and the internal conveyor (5), and the laser head (4) starts the cutting process which is carried out only in the cutting slot area (C), and the sheet metal is supported by the fixed supports (21) and (51) on both sides. The sheet metal (1) is supported by the gripper (3), and a head with a laser source and a traverse moves over the supported sheet (1) in three directions, X, Y, and Z, according to the set software, and the width of the working range (R) of cutting and movement of the head (4) is determined by the position of the outer partition (75) of the air channel of the extraction unit (7), and an air chamber (74) is arranged in the space of the cutting machine under the loading conveyor (2) and the internal conveyor (5), whereby in the first stage of cutting, small waste material (OM) is cut out, and the sheet metal (1) is moved by the gripper (3),together with the loading conveyor (2) and the internal conveyor (5), it moves along the machine on the left part of the extraction unit (7), the laser head starts to cut out the small waste material OM, which falls onto the left conveyor (71) of the extraction unit (7) and is transported outside the machine via the lateral collection conveyor (8), in a second stage of cutting the sheet metal (1), together with the gripper (3), the loading conveyor (2) and the internal conveyor (5), it moves along the machine on the second right part of the extraction unit (7), The laser head (4) starts to cut out the small workpieces DM, which fall onto the right conveyor (72) of the extraction unit (7) and are transported outside the machine via the lateral collection conveyor (9), then the large waste OD is cut out from the rest of the sheet metal (1), the laser head (4) continues to move over the slot (C), and after being cut, the large waste OD lies on the surface of the rotary load-bearing element (53) of the internal conveyor (5) and moves along the X-axis with the same linear movement as the internal conveyor (5). It is further conveyed to an unloading conveyor (10) integrated with the conveyor (5) and further falls onto a lateral collection conveyor (11) of the large waste OD and skeleton SZ, followed by cutting out large details DD from the remaining parts of the sheet metal (1), which, after being cut out, are on the surface of the rotary load-bearing element (53) of the internal conveyor (5) and further conveyed to an unloading conveyor (10) integrated with the internal conveyor (5), and in a next cutting stage, the skeleton SZ is cut out from the remaining parts of the sheet metal (1) and cut out. After being cut, the sheet metal is further transported to a discharge conveyor (10) that is integrated with the internal conveyor (5) with support elements (101) that are arranged on the surface of the rotary load-bearing elements (53) of the internal conveyor (5) and that perform the same linear movement along the X-axis as the internal conveyor (5), and then falls onto a lateral collection conveyor (11) for the large waste OD and skeleton SZ, all steps and actions occurring in the machine are automated and controlled by external software, namely the movement of the sheet metal, laser cutting, movement and rotation of the loading conveyor,A method characterized in that the movement and rotation of the internal conveyor, the separation of the workpieces, the separation of the skeletons and the separation of the waste material are carried out simultaneously, without the need to stop the machine.

18. 18. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that the rotational speed of the load-bearing elements (53) of the internal conveyor is temporarily increased in order to separate the cut-out large waste OD, large workpieces DD and skeletons SK from the remaining sheet metal.

19. 18. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that the large workpieces DD are placed in a skeleton SZ in which the skeleton is cut into small pieces, and after the skeleton SZ has been cut from the large workpieces DD, the internal conveyor 5 accelerates its belt rotation to move the large workpieces DD together with the skeleton SZ and away from the remaining large element sheet metal (1) parts that have not yet been cut.

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