Honeycomb Working Support for Uniform Laser Cutting Suction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vacuum platforms in the paper industry suffer from inefficient and uneven suction, leading to unwanted displacement of sheet materials during cutting, inadequate removal of fumes and dust, and laser beam reflections that cause burns and blackening, affecting processing accuracy and worker health.
Innovation Solution
A working support system with an intermediate depression chamber and a honeycomb structure with ridges and depressions, coupled with a conveyor belt, provides uniform suction and efficient fume evacuation, disperses laser reflections, and maintains sheet material positioning accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional vacuum platforms with honeycomb structures are used, then sheet material can be held during cutting, but suction is uneven and causes displacement of the sheet material
Solution Approach 1:
The vacuum platform is segmented into multiple independent vacuum chambers arranged in a grid pattern, each chamber independently controlled. This segmentation allows for localized vacuum adjustment to compensate for sheet material displacement and achieve uniform suction distribution across the entire working surface.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the vacuum platform are assigned different vacuum levels based on local requirements. The system dynamically adjusts vacuum pressure in specific chambers to match the local characteristics of the sheet material, ensuring optimal holding force and uniform suction distribution across the entire working surface.
2Reliability
If traditional vacuum platforms are used, then sheet material can be held, but fumes and dust are not efficiently removed
Solution Approach 1:
A dedicated fume extraction system is introduced as an intermediary component between the laser cutting process and the environment. The system includes extraction nozzles positioned near the cutting zone, connected to a vacuum extraction unit that captures and removes fumes and dust generated during cutting, preventing their accumulation in the working environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses pneumatic principles with a vacuum extraction unit connected to the vacuum chambers. The same vacuum pressure used for holding the sheet material also drives the removal of fumes and dust through strategically positioned extraction openings, efficiently evacuating harmful particles from the cutting zone.
3Productivity
If traditional vacuum platforms are used, then cutting can be performed, but laser beam reflections cause burns and blackening
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful reflected laser radiation is extracted and removed from the working area using specialized extraction nozzles positioned to capture reflections before they can reach the sheet material or operators. This extraction system isolates and removes the harmful factor while preserving the beneficial cutting process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system converts the harmful reflected laser energy into a useful feature by using the reflections to indicate cutting progress and quality. The extracted reflections are directed to a detection system that provides real-time feedback on the cutting process, transforming a harmful factor into a beneficial monitoring tool.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Ensures precise and accurate sheet material positioning, minimizes burns and blackening, and enhances processing efficiency by preventing fume stagnation and turbulence, improving the working environment and product quality.
Implementation Method 1
Vacuum platforms or tables are used, by exploiting the vacuum principle to firmly hold sheet materials against the working support during processing
Implementation Method 2
an intermediate depression chamber disposed between the honeycomb structure and the vacuum chamber. The lower surface of the intermediate depression chamber has a plurality of suction holes which fluidically connect the vacuum chamber with the cells of the honeycomb structure
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a working support (10) and a conveyor belt (100) comprising the working support (10) for a laser cutting and/or marking operation. The working support (10) includes at least one vacuum chamber (1) fluidically connected to at least one vacuum element (2), a honeycomb structure (3) comprising a plurality of cells (30) and disposed spaced from the vacuum chamber (1), and an intermediate depression chamber (21) disposed between the honeycomb structure (3) and the vacuum chamber (1). The lower surface (22) of the intermediate depression chamber (21) has a plurality of suction holes (13) which fluidically connect the vacuum chamber (1) with the cells (30) of the honeycomb structure (3). The upper surface (33) of the honeycomb structure (3) comprises ridges and depressions and the honeycomb structure may consist of a plurality of corrugated metal sheets welded together.