Laser Cutting Component Recovery with Segmented Offcut Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for separating and recovering laser-processed components from sheet materials are not efficient, particularly when dealing with inner and marginal offcuts, as they do not facilitate continuous processing.
Innovation Solution
A separation and recovery apparatus equipped with a laser blanking apparatus, first and second electromagnetic conveyors, and a robot to efficiently transport and remove inner and marginal offcuts, allowing for continuous operation and precise handling of components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a laser cutting mechanism is used to cut sheet material into products and peripheral residual offcut, then cutting precision is improved and burr is reduced, but continuous taking out of components becomes difficult particularly when inner and marginal offcuts are present
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the sheet material into three distinct parts: component, inner offcut, and marginal offcut. This segmentation allows each part to be handled separately through dedicated mechanisms - the marginal offcut drops by gravity, the component is suctioned and held by robot arm, and the inner offcut is managed separately. This resolves the contradiction by enabling continuous processing of each segment type through appropriate mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a robot arm as an intermediary between the laser cutting mechanism and the discharge conveyor. The robot arm acts as a mediator that picks up the component from the placing portion and transfers it to the discharge conveyor, enabling continuous component removal while the laser continues cutting. This intermediary mechanism resolves the bottleneck in continuous taking out.
2Ease of operation
If a robot arm is used to suction and hold the product component, then precise component handling is achieved, but the complexity of the taking out system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges multiple functions into the robot arm: it serves as both the suction/holding mechanism for the component and the transfer mechanism to the discharge conveyor. Additionally, the peripheral residual offcut dropping mechanism is merged with the existing placing portion structure. This consolidation reduces overall system complexity while maintaining precise component handling capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The robot arm is designed with multi-functionality, serving as both the picking mechanism and the transferring mechanism. The discharge conveyor also serves dual purposes by receiving both the component from the robot arm and the inner offcut from the laser cutting mechanism. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, thereby reducing system complexity.
3Device complexity
If the peripheral residual offcut is allowed to drop by its own weight, then the taking out process is simplified, but control over the dropping process and timing becomes limited
Solution Approach 1:
The peripheral residual offcut is designed to drop by its own weight through gravity, utilizing the self-service principle. The offcut naturally detaches and falls into the discharge conveyor without requiring active suction or mechanical manipulation. This simplifies the mechanism while maintaining adequate control through the positioning of the placing portion and the timing synchronized with the laser cutting cycle.
Solution Approach 2:
The placing portion is positioned at a height that creates a gravitational potential difference, allowing the peripheral residual offcut to drop naturally by weight. This equipotentiality approach uses gravity as the driving force, simplifying the mechanism while maintaining control through proper positioning and timing synchronization with the laser cutting process.
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
Enables continuous and efficient separation and recovery of components, reducing material waste and improving productivity by allowing for precise control over the transportation and handling of components and offcuts.
Implementation Method 1
a laser blanking apparatus cutting a flat plate-like sheet material with a laser beam
Implementation Method 2
a first electromagnetic conveyor magnetically attracting the component to a lower face, and a second electromagnetic conveyor receiving the component handed from the first electromagnetic conveyor and magnetically attracting the component to a lower face
Data Source
AI summary
To provide a separation and recovery apparatus and a method of taking out a component using the same, the apparatus being capable of dividing a sheet material into a component, an inner offcut located inside the component, and a marginal offcut located on an edge side of the component, and efficiently continuously taking out the component among them.The present invention is a separation and recovery apparatus 100 and a method of taking out the component X1 using the same, the apparatus being provided with: a laser blanking apparatus 10 cutting a flat plate-like sheet material with a laser beam and dividing the sheet material into a component X1, an inner offcut X2 located in isolation inside the component X1, and a marginal offcut X3 opened and located on an edge side of the component; a first transporting conveyor 20 dropping the marginal offcut X3 into a scrap chute P while transporting the component X1, the inner offcut X2, and the marginal offcut X3; a robot 30 taking out and removing the inner offcut X2 on the first transporting conveyor 20; and a second transporting conveyor 40 transporting the component X1.