Laser Enclosure Shuttle Structure for Concurrent Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional laser enclosures with pneumatically actuated doors have inefficient material transfer processes, resulting in low 'laser on' time due to sequential operations for door opening, material transfer, and processing, which limits production efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A laser processing unit with movable wall sections that form a light-tight seal concurrently with workpiece transfer, eliminating the need for pneumatically actuated doors and allowing simultaneous material transfer and processing, thereby increasing 'laser on' time and production efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If pneumatically actuated doors are used for material transfer, then laser light-tight sealing is maintained, but cycle time increases and productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelaser light-tight sealingVSAvoidproduction efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by replacing static pneumatically actuated doors with dynamic movable wall sections that can rapidly change position. These wall sections move between a retracted position (allowing material transfer) and an extended position (providing laser light-tight sealing), enabling the system to adapt its configuration based on operational requirements without the delays of pneumatic actuation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The enclosure is segmented into multiple movable wall sections rather than using a single door mechanism. Each wall section can independently move to create sealed or open configurations, allowing material transfer through one section while maintaining sealing at other sections, thereby enabling concurrent operations and improving overall productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If sequential operations (door open, material transfer, door close) are used, then safety is maintained, but laser on time decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesafetyVSAvoidlaser on time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables continuity of useful action by allowing material transfer and laser processing to occur concurrently. The movable wall sections create isolated work cells that can be opened for loading/unloading while other cells remain sealed and operational, eliminating idle time between sequential operations and maximizing laser on time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The laser processing system is divided into multiple independent work cells separated by movable wall sections. This segmentation allows different cells to operate independently - one cell can be open for material transfer while another cell performs laser processing, thereby maintaining continuous productive action without compromising safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If pneumatically actuated doors are used, then material transfer is enabled, but cycle time increases by 3 seconds per operation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial transferVSAvoidcycle time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the pneumatic actuation system with a mechanically actuated movable wall section system. This substitution eliminates the inherent delays of pneumatic systems (compression, actuation, sealing) and allows for faster, more direct mechanical movement of wall sections, reducing the time penalty associated with each material transfer operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS10086471B2Laser enclosure with reciprocally movable shuttle structure, and method of using same

Publication Date: 2018.10.02 LINCOLN GLOBAL INC

AI summary

A laser processing unit includes a workpiece loading station. A laser workstation includes a laser robot operable to perform a laser operation on a workpiece. A track extends from the loading station through the workstation. A first stationary wall section separates the workstation from the loading station at a proximal side of the workstation. A second stationary wall section is offset from the first stationary wall section at a distal side. A first movable wall section forms a laser light-tight seal with the first stationary wall section. A second movable wall section forms a laser light-tight seal with the second stationary wall section. A shuttle is operable to move along the track to deliver the workpiece from the loading station to the workstation. The movable wall sections are supported by the shuttle and move concurrently with the shuttle and the workpiece, as the workpiece is delivered to the workstation.