Laser Protective Funnel with Safety Contact and Focus Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laser processing devices require a special gas supply and lack safety contact elements, limiting user-friendliness and allowing laser activation without a protective funnel in place.
Innovation Solution
A protective funnel with a manually adjustable focus point, safety contact elements, and an air guidance system that includes a suction nozzle and adjustable components to ensure the laser beam is contained and only activated when the funnel is properly positioned on the workpiece, along with a quick-change mechanism for easy replacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a protective funnel is used without safety contact elements, then the device structure is simpler, but the laser can be activated without the protective funnel in place creating safety hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements safety contact elements that provide feedback to the control system about the protective funnel's position. When the funnel is properly positioned on the workpiece, the contact elements are actuated and send a signal to the control system, which then enables laser activation. This feedback mechanism ensures the laser can only operate when the protective funnel is in place, resolving the safety hazard without significantly complicating the funnel structure itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces safety contact elements as intermediary components between the protective funnel and the laser activation system. These contact elements act as mediators that verify the funnel's proper positioning before allowing laser operation. This intermediary mechanism adds minimal structural complexity while effectively ensuring safety by preventing laser activation when the funnel is missing or improperly positioned.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a special gas supply system is added to the laser device, then smoke and debris can be removed more effectively, but the device complexity and handling difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the gas supply system into the existing protective funnel structure, allowing the funnel to serve multiple functions: physical protection of the work area, containment of smoke and debris, and delivery of gas flow for smoke extraction. This multi-functionality approach eliminates the need for separate dedicated gas supply components, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining effective smoke removal capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the gas supply functionality with the protective funnel structure by integrating gas inlet openings and flow channels directly into the funnel body. This merging of functions allows the same structural element (the protective funnel) to simultaneously provide physical protection and smoke extraction, thereby reducing device complexity while effectively addressing harmful factors like smoke and debris.
3Device complexity
If the focus point is fixed in the protective funnel, then the structure is simpler, but the laser cannot be properly focused on different materials or engraving depths
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a movable focus point mechanism within the protective funnel, allowing the laser focus to be dynamically adjusted along the optical axis. This dynamic adjustment capability enables proper focusing on different materials and engraving depths while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure. The focus point can be moved to different positions within the funnel's working range to accommodate various processing requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the focus adjustment function from the main protective funnel structure by providing independent adjustment mechanisms that allow the focus point to be moved along the optical axis. This segmentation allows for simple, localized adjustments without requiring complex restructuring of the entire funnel system, thereby maintaining structural simplicity while achieving the necessary adaptability for different materials and depths.
4Reliability
If safety contact elements are added to the protective funnel, then laser activation safety is improved, but the protective funnel structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The safety contact elements are designed to provide simple binary feedback (contact made/not made) to the control system, rather than requiring complex sensing mechanisms. This feedback approach ensures laser activation safety by confirming the funnel's proper positioning while maintaining relatively simple funnel structure. The contact elements are integrated into the funnel body in a way that adds minimal structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The safety contact elements are designed to be automatically actuated by the protective funnel's own positioning on the workpiece, without requiring additional sensors or complex detection systems. When the funnel is properly placed, its weight and position naturally actuate the contact elements, which then provide the safety signal. This self-service mechanism improves laser activation safety while keeping the funnel structure relatively simple.
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
Enhances user-friendliness by allowing easy adjustment of the focus point and ensuring the laser beam is only activated when the protective funnel is in place, protecting the optical components from smoke and splashes while maintaining safety.
Implementation Method 1
an extraction device in the form of an extraction nozzle is arranged, which keeps the material particles evaporating from the workpiece being processed away from the optics or lens
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a protective housing (2) for a laser device (1), in particular a galvo laser, comprising at least one connecting element (24) for connection to a laser head (11) of the laser device (1), a guide region (25) and a safety contact element (20) which is preferably located at the opposite end to the connecting element (24). The guide region (25) is designed for adjusting a focal point of a laser, in particular for setting a total length (34) thereof, and/or the guide region (25) has at least one protective cover (44) for an air inlet opening (42), which cover is located in the region of the connecting element (24) and is intended for preventing a laser beam (8) from exiting the air inlet opening (42).