Honeycomb Vacuum Support With Intermediate Chamber for Laser Cutting
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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 fume and smoke removal, 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 honeycomb structure, featuring metallic surfaces and ridges, which facilitates uniform air flow, disperses laser reflections, and efficiently evacuates fumes, ensuring precise sheet material positioning and handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a traditional vacuum platform with honeycomb structure directly above vacuum chamber is used, then the structure is simple, but the suction is inefficient and uneven causing sheet material displacement
Solution Approach 1:
The vacuum platform is segmented into multiple functional layers: a base vacuum chamber, an intermediate depression chamber with suction holes, and a honeycomb structure with cells. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function - the base chamber generates vacuum, the intermediate chamber distributes suction uniformly through its holes, and the honeycomb structure provides support while maintaining airflow channels, collectively achieving even suction across the sheet material surface.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediate depression chamber is introduced as a mediator between the base vacuum chamber and the honeycomb structure. This intermediate chamber contains suction holes that fluidically connect the vacuum chamber with the honeycomb cells, acting as a distribution network that evenly spreads the vacuum force across the entire working surface, preventing localized displacement of sheet material.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional vacuum platforms are used, then the structure is straightforward, but fumes and smoke are not efficiently removed affecting worker health and product quality
Solution Approach 1:
The vacuum system is segmented into multiple chambers with dedicated functions. The intermediate depression chamber specifically serves as a fume extraction zone with suction holes positioned to capture smoke and fumes at their source. This segmentation allows efficient fume removal without requiring a completely different system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses pneumatic principles through the vacuum chambers and suction holes to create negative pressure zones that actively draw fumes, smoke, and cutting waste away from the processing area. The fluid dynamic design of the intermediate chamber ensures efficient evacuation of airborne contaminants through controlled airflow patterns.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional vacuum platforms without intermediate chamber are used, then the structure is simpler, but laser beam reflections cause burns on processed material
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate depression chamber features a curved, depression-shaped surface rather than a flat structure. This curvature is designed to deflect and disperse laser beam reflections away from the processed material. The curved surface geometry transforms concentrated reflected beams into scattered, lower-intensity radiation that does not cause burns on the sheet material.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate depression chamber acts as an intermediary element between the vacuum function and laser reflection management. Its curved surface specifically addresses laser reflection issues while its suction holes maintain vacuum functionality, serving dual purposes without requiring separate systems.
4Stability of the object's composition
If honeycomb structure is placed directly on vacuum chamber, then the setup is simpler, but suction uniformity is poor leading to sheet material displacement
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the vacuum generation function (base chamber) from the suction distribution function (intermediate chamber with honeycomb structure). This segmentation allows the intermediate chamber to be optimized specifically for uniform airflow distribution through its suction hole pattern, while the honeycomb structure provides structural support without compromising airflow uniformity.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate depression chamber serves as a mediator that transforms the concentrated vacuum force from the base chamber into a distributed, uniform suction field across the honeycomb structure. This intermediate layer ensures even pressure distribution that prevents sheet material displacement while maintaining the structural integrity provided by the honeycomb design.
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
The system provides precise sheet material positioning, minimizes laser reflections and fume-related issues, enhancing processing accuracy and safety while maintaining machine compatibility.
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
the lower surface of said intermediate depression chamber has a plurality of suction holes which fluidically connect said vacuum chamber with the cells of said honeycomb structure
Implementation Method 3
the lower surface of said intermediate depression chamber is made of metallic material, or in general can be made of a material capable to manage the waste energy of the laser, in particular to reflect the residual radiation of the laser beam in such a manner to disperse it
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The present invention relates to a working support (10) and to a conveyor belt (100) comprising such a working support (10) for laser cutting and/or marking operation, the working support (10) comprising • at least one vacuum chamber (1) connected to at least one vacuum element (2); • a honeycomb structure (3) comprising a plurality of cells (30), which is arranged spaced from the vacuum chamber (1); • an intermediate depression chamber (21) which is defined between said honeycomb structure (3) and said vacuum chamber (1); wherein the lower surface (22) of said intermediate depression chamber (21) has a plurality of suction holes (13) which fluidically connect said vacuum chamber (1) with the cells (30) of said honeycomb structure (3).