Device for receiving a workpiece, and a laser or plasma cutting apparatus

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (10), having features of claim (1), for receiving at least one workpiece for a laser or plasma cutting apparatus, and to a laser or plasma cutting apparatus, having features of claim (11), comprising such a device (10).

Description

[0001] Title : Device for holding a workpiece and a

[0002] Laser or plasma cutting device

[0003] Description

[0004] The invention relates to a device for receiving at least one workpiece for a laser or plasma cutting device with features of claim 1 and to a laser or plasma cutting device with such a device with features of claim 11.

[0005] To cut a workpiece using a laser, the workpiece is typically placed on a support device. The support device typically consists of a plurality of support bars arranged side by side. The support bars typically have prongs on which the workpiece is positioned or placed. Such a support device is disclosed in DE 10 2011 106 469 A1.

[0006] During the cutting process of the workpiece, slag residues build up on the support device. This device must therefore be disassembled, cleaned, and / or replaced regularly. The disassembly, cleaning, and assembly of such a support device is highly complex and therefore time-consuming and costly. It is also desirable for the support device to have the longest possible service life, for example, to extend the time between cleaning or replacement cycles of the support device as much as possible.

[0007] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a device for receiving at least one workpiece for a laser or plasma cutting device and a laser or plasma cutting device with such a device, wherein the above disadvantages are eliminated.

[0008] The above object is achieved by a device for receiving at least one workpiece for a laser or plasma cutting device having the features of claim 1.

[0009] The device comprises at least two support bars for placing the workpiece. In other words, the workpiece is placed or positioned on the support bars. The support bars are each plate-shaped and elongated (i.e. in the form of a bar). The support bars each have a first end, a second end opposite the first end and a support bar height. The support bars can be arranged parallel to one another. The support bars are each oriented along a longitudinal direction and arranged next to one another. The support bars can each have prongs on which the workpiece can be positioned or placed.

[0010] At least two adjacent support strips are connected to one another by means of at least one strut. The strut has a strut height that is less than the support strip height. The strut and the support strips can be arranged with their respective lower edges (with respect to the direction of gravity) on the same plane. The support strips can be connected to one another by means of several, in particular by means of at least three, struts.

[0011] In this case, the strut height or the support rail height refers to the extension of the strut or support rails transverse to the longitudinal direction, in particular along the direction of gravity. In other words, this refers to the extension of the strut or support rails from their respective lower edge to their respective highest point (relative to the direction of gravity). In the case of support rails, the highest point can be the upper end of the prong(s) relative to the direction of gravity.

[0012] This means the device can be implemented using simple means. The device or individual components of the device can be exchanged or replaced quickly, easily and cost-effectively. This reduces the downtime of the laser or plasma cutting device. Because the strut height is lower than the support rail height, the struts are further apart from the workpiece arranged on the support rails and therefore from the cutting process carried out on the workpiece. This reduces wear on the struts and thus increases the service life of the device.

[0013] The device is particularly suitable for laser or plasma cutting devices with a power output of 24 kW (kilowatts) or greater. At such high power levels, the device or its components are gradually destroyed (wear). Due to the lower strut height compared to the support bar height, the device's service life can be increased.

[0014] The device is inherently rigid, particularly due to the interconnection of the support rails by means of struts. The support rails can therefore be easily handled and replaced. Due to their inherent rigidity, the support rails can have a significantly higher support rail height or a significantly larger cross-section (e.g., 50% higher than state-of-the-art support rails). This allows for increased resistance, higher load-bearing capacity, and a correspondingly longer service life of the device.

[0015] According to a further development of the device, the strut height can be less than or equal to half the support bar height. The strut height can be less than or equal to one-third of the support bar height. The strut height can be 40 mm (millimeters). This allows the distance of the struts from the workpiece and the stability of the device to be optimally adjusted.

[0016] According to a further development of the device, the support rail height can be at least 90 mm. The support rail height can in particular be 96.5 mm.

[0017] This allows support strips with a high resistance and a high load-bearing capacity and thus a correspondingly longer service life of the device to be achieved.

[0018] According to a further development of the device, the strut can be connected to the support strips by means of connecting elements. The connecting elements can be rivets, in particular blind rivets, and / or screws.

[0019] This allows a stable connection between the strut and the support strips to be created using simple means.

[0020] According to a further development of the device, the strut can be made of copper.

[0021] This increases the resistance of the strut to, for example, laser radiation and thus to the cutting process. This can increase the service life of the strut and thus the entire device.

[0022] It is also conceivable that the support rails and / or the

[0023] Struts can be made of steel. This allows for the implementation of stable and inexpensive support rails or struts that can be replaced quickly and cheaply. The use of higher-quality and expensive metals such as copper, which are more resistant to laser radiation (and thus to the cutting process), can then be eliminated.

[0024] A combination of support strips or struts made of steel and / or copper is also conceivable.

[0025] This allows the above advantages of the respective materials to be optimally combined.

[0026] According to a further development of the device, the strut can be arranged at least partially inclined to the longitudinal axis. The strut can be arranged at least partially at an angle of 45° to the longitudinal axis. The strut can be S-shaped or Z-shaped.

[0027] This allows a particularly stable connection to be created between two adjacent support strips.

[0028] According to a further development of the device, the strut can be trapezoidal. At least one trapezoidal angle, in particular two trapezoidal angles, of the trapezoidal strut can each be 45°.

[0029] This allows a particularly stable connection to be created between two adjacent support strips.

[0030] According to a further development of the device, at least two adjacent support strips can be spaced apart from one another. The spacing can be at least 60 mm, in particular 67 mm, more particularly at least 100 mm, preferably at least 500 mm.

[0031] This allows the stability of the device to be further improved.

[0032] According to a development of the device, the device can comprise at least one frame for receiving at least one cassette. The cassette can be formed by at least two, in particular fifteen or sixteen, support strips. At least two adjacent support strips can be connected to one another by means of the at least one strut. A plurality of struts can be arranged between each two adjacent support strips. A plurality of struts can each connect at least two adjacent support strips to one another. The support strips can have a length of approximately 1.5 m (meters).

[0033] This allows at least one cassette to be formed, which can be easily accommodated in the frame and moved by means of the frame. The frame can form a circumferential frame or be made of at least two opposing support elements (e.g., profile strips) that can be fastened in a processing area of ​​a laser or plasma processing device to accommodate the cassettes. The cassettes can be accommodated in a modular manner in the frame and / or exchanged or replaced individually within the frame.

[0034] According to a further development of the device, at least two adjacent support strips of the cassette can be connected to one another by means of several struts. The struts can be arranged in a diamond-shaped or honeycomb pattern.

[0035] This allows a particularly stable cassette to be implemented.

[0036] The above object is further achieved by a laser or plasma cutting device having the features of claim 11. The laser or plasma cutting device comprises at least one device according to the above embodiments.

[0037] With regard to the advantages that can be achieved, reference is made to the relevant information on the device. Further refinements of the laser or plasma cutting device may be made by the measures described in connection with the device and / or those explained below.

[0038] Further features, details and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the wording of the claims and from the following description of embodiments with reference to the drawings. They show:

[0039] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a device for holding at least one workpiece for a laser or plasma cutting device;

[0040] Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device according to Figure 1;

[0041] Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a cassette of the device according to Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a side view of the cassette according to Fig. 3;

[0042] Fig. 5 shows an enlarged section of Figure 2;

[0043] Fig. 6 is a schematic plan view of an S-shaped strut between two adjacent support strips;

[0044] Fig. 7 is a schematic plan view of a trapezoidal strut between two adjacent support strips;

[0045] Fig. 8 shows a section of a perspective view of the device according to a second embodiment and

[0046] Fig. 9 is a perspective view of two support strips, which are connected to one another by means of struts, of the device according to Fig. 8.

[0047] In the following description and in the figures, corresponding components and elements bear the same reference symbols. For the sake of clarity, not all reference symbols are shown in all figures.

[0048] Figure 1 shows a perspective view and Figure 2 a plan view of a device 10 for receiving at least one workpiece for a laser or plasma cutting device.

[0049] The device 10 comprises at least two support strips 12 for placing the workpiece, wherein at least two adjacent support strips 12 are connected to one another by means of at least one strut 22. The device 10 in the present case comprises a frame 32 for receiving at least one cassette 34. The frame 32 can have a size of 1.5 m x 3 m. In the present case, the frame 32 is designed to receive three cassettes 34. The cassettes 34 can be screwed to the frame 32. It is also conceivable for the cassettes 34 to merely lie on the frame 32 and / or to be braced against the frame 32.

[0050] A cassette 34 can be formed from at least two support strips 12 which are connected to one another by means of at least one strut 22. In the present case, the two outer cassettes 34 in Figures 1 and 2 (left and right cassette 34) are each formed from fifteen support strips 12, with two adjacent support strips 12 being connected to one another by means of a plurality of struts 22. The middle cassette 34 in Figures 1 and 2 is formed from sixteen support strips 12, with two adjacent support strips 12 being connected to one another by means of a plurality of struts 22.

[0051] In this case, no struts 22 or connections are provided between the cassettes 34. In other words, the cassettes 34 are not connected to one another. This allows the cassettes 34 to be removed or replaced from the frame 32 in a modular manner, i.e., individually and separately. The cassettes 34 can be secured against being lifted out in the frame 32 by means of a cover (not shown).

[0052] Figure 3 shows a perspective view and Figure 4 a side view of a cassette 34 of the device 10 according to Figure 1. The cassette 34 shown in Figure 3 has fifteen support strips 12, with two adjacent support strips 12 being connected to one another by means of several struts 22. It can therefore be the left or right cassette 34 in Figures 1 and 2.

[0053] The support strips 12 can each be plate-shaped and elongated. The support strips 12 each have a first end 14 and a second end 16 opposite the first end 14. The support strips 12 are each oriented along a longitudinal direction 20 and arranged next to one another. In Figure 4, the longitudinal direction 20 points into the plane of the drawing and is indicated by a cross.

[0054] The support strips 12 have a support strip height 18 and the struts 22 have a strut height 24. The strut height 24 is smaller than the support strip height 18 (cf. Figure 4). In the present case, the struts 22 and the support strips 12 are arranged with their respective lower edges in Figure 4 on the same plane 13. The plane 13 is indicated in Figure 4 by a dashed line.

[0055] The strut height 24 can be less than or equal to half the support bar height 18, in particular less than or equal to one-third of the support bar height 18. In the present case, the support bar height 18 is less than one-quarter of the support bar height 18.

[0056] The support rail height 18 can be at least 90 mm. The support rail height 18 can in particular be 96.5 mm.

[0057] Each strut 22 can be connected to the respective support strips 12 by means of connecting elements 25. The connecting elements 25 can be rivets, in particular blind rivets. It is also conceivable that the connecting elements 25 can be designed as screws. Figure 5 shows an enlarged section of Figure 2.

[0058] In this case, the support strips 12 are spaced 30 apart from one another. The spacing 30 can be at least 60 mm, in particular 67 mm. It is also conceivable that the spacing can be at least 100 mm, in particular at least 500 mm. The spacing 30 is indicated in Figure 5 by a double arrow.

[0059] The struts 22 can be arranged in a diamond-shaped or honeycomb pattern. In this case, the struts 22 are arranged in a diamond-shaped pattern. This allows the force distribution within the cassette 34 to be evened out, thus increasing stability.

[0060] The struts 22 can be made of copper.

[0061] The struts 22 can be arranged at least in some regions at an angle 26 inclined to the longitudinal direction 20. The angle 26 can be 45°. The struts 22 can be trapezoidal. At least one of the trapezoid angles 28 can be 45°.

[0062] In the present case, the device 10 has two different types of struts 22. The device 10 has S-shaped struts 36 and trapezoidal struts 42.

[0063] Figure 6 shows a schematic plan view of an S-shaped strut 36 between two adjacent support strips 12. The S-shaped strut 36 has two fastening sections 38 and a connecting section 40 arranged between the two fastening sections 38. The S-shaped strut 36 is arranged between two adjacent support strips 12 and is connected with its fastening sections 38 to one of the two adjacent support strips 12 by means of connecting elements 25 (see Figure 5).

[0064] The connecting section 40 of the S-shaped strut 36 can be oriented at an angle to the longitudinal direction 20. In the present case, the connecting section 40 of the S-shaped strut 36 is inclined by an angle 26 (in this case 45°) relative to the longitudinal direction 20. The fastening sections 38 of the S-shaped strut 36 are oriented parallel to the longitudinal direction 20.

[0065] Figure 7 shows a schematic plan view of a trapezoidal strut 42 between two adjacent support strips 12. The trapezoidal strut 42 has in this case two outer fastening sections 44 and a central fastening section 46. The trapezoidal strut 42 has a connecting section 48 between the outer fastening sections 44 and the central fastening section 46. The trapezoidal strut 42 is arranged between two adjacent support strips 12 and is connected with its fastening sections 44, 46 to one of the two adjacent support strips 12 by means of connecting elements 25 (cf. Figure 5). The trapezoidal strut 42 is connected with its outer fastening sections 44 to the lower support strip 12 in Figure 7. The trapezoidal strut 42 is connected by its central fastening section 46 to the upper support bar 12 in Figure 7.

[0066] The connecting sections 48 of the trapezoidal strut 42 can be oriented at an angle to the longitudinal direction 20. In the present case, the connecting sections 48 of the trapezoidal strut 42 are each inclined by the trapezoid angle 28 (in the present case 45°) relative to the longitudinal direction 20. The fastening sections 44, 46 of the trapezoidal strut 42 are oriented parallel to the longitudinal direction 20.

[0067] Figure 8 shows a section of a perspective view of the device 10 according to a second embodiment and Figure 9 shows a perspective view of two support strips 12, which are connected to one another by means of struts 22, of the device 10 according to Figure 8.

[0068] The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 7 in the following way:

[0069] In the present case, the device 10 has only trapezoidal struts 42. In the present case, the device 10 does not have S-shaped struts 36.

[0070] Two adjacent support strips 12, which are connected to one another by means of several (in this case four) trapezoidal struts 42, form a support strip package 50 (see Figure 9). Several support strip packages 50 are arranged next to one another and parallel to one another in the frame 32. In this case, no struts 22, 36, 42 are arranged between the respective support strip packages 50.

[0071] The support strips 12 are longer in the present case than the support strips 12 of the device 10 according to the first embodiment. Furthermore, the support strips 12 have a different shape, particularly at their first ends 14 and their second ends 16, than the support strips 12 of the device 10 according to the first embodiment.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Device (10) for receiving at least one workpiece for a laser or plasma cutting device, comprising at least two support bars (12) for placing the workpiece, wherein the support bars (12) are each plate-shaped and elongated, wherein the support bars (12) each have a first end (14), a second end (16) opposite the first end (14) and a support bar height (18), wherein the support bars (12) are each oriented along a longitudinal direction (20) and arranged next to one another, wherein at least two adjacent support bars (12) are connected to one another by means of at least one strut (22, 36, 42), in particular by means of at least three struts (22, 36, 42), wherein the strut (22, 36, 42) has a strut height (24) which is smaller than the support bar height (18).

2. Device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the strut height (24) is less than or equal to half the support bar height (18), in particular less than or equal to one third of the support bar height (18).

3. Device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the support bar height (18) is at least 90 mm, in particular 96.5 mm.

4. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the strut (22, 36, 42) is connected to the support strips (12) by means of connecting elements (25), in particular by means of rivets.

5. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the strut (22) is made of copper.

6. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the strut (22, 36, 42) is arranged at least partially inclined, in particular at an angle (26) of 45°, to the longitudinal direction (20), in particular wherein the strut (36) is S-shaped.

7. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the strut (42) is trapezoidal, in particular wherein at least one of the trapezoid angles (28) is 45°.

8. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least two adjacent support strips (12) have a distance (30) from one another, wherein the distance (30) is at least 60 mm, in particular 67 mm, further in particular at least 100 mm, preferably at least 500 mm.

9. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (10) comprises at least one frame (32) for receiving at least one cassette (34), wherein the cassette (34) is formed by at least two, in particular fifteen, further in particular sixteen, support strips (12), wherein at least two adjacent support strips (12) are connected to one another by means of the at least one strut (22, 36, 42), in particular by means of several struts (22, 36, 42).

10. Device (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that at least two adjacent support strips (12) of the cassette (34) are connected to one another by means of a plurality of struts (22, 36, 42), the struts (22, 36, 42) being arranged in a diamond-shaped or honeycomb-shaped pattern.

11. Laser or plasma cutting device comprising at least device (10) according to one of the preceding claims.

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