Laser Protection Wall Shadowed Opening Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laser processing machines require manual operation of doors or gates to access the danger region, which is time-consuming and inconvenient, and automatic door systems are expensive and often delay access, while also not providing adequate protection against scattered laser radiation.
Innovation Solution
A laser protection wall with shadowed openings that do not require sealing to ensure laser safety, allowing barrier-free access to the danger region, combined with a monitoring system that automatically switches off the laser processing head when the area is entered, eliminating the need for manual door operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual doors or gates are used to access the danger region, then laser safety is maintained, but access becomes time-consuming and troublesome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes doors and gates from the laser protection wall, extracting the barrier function while maintaining safety through shadowed openings. The opening itself is taken out from the wall structure and positioned in a shadowed region, eliminating the need for mechanical door systems while preserving laser radiation containment.
Solution Approach 2:
The shadowed region acts as an intermediary space that allows optical access while maintaining laser safety. The shadowed opening serves as a mediator between the safe external region and the dangerous internal region, permitting light transmission for monitoring and setup operations without allowing harmful laser radiation to escape.
2Ease of operation
If automatic door opening systems are installed, then access is facilitated, but cost increases and access delays persist
Solution Approach 1:
The patent completely removes the door system from the laser protection wall, eliminating automatic door mechanisms entirely. The opening is integrated directly into the wall structure in a shadowed region, extracting the access function from the door system and embedding it in the wall geometry itself.
3Reliability
If the laser protection wall is made completely closed, then laser safety is maximized, but access to the danger region is blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a shadowed opening with specific geometric properties in the laser protection wall. The opening has dimensions and positioning that ensure it remains in the shadowed region where scattered laser radiation does not reach, allowing optical access while maintaining safety. The local geometry of the shadowed region provides different properties (safe for access) compared to the rest of the closed wall.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the third dimension (vertical positioning) to create the shadowed opening. By positioning the opening at a specific height and angle in the vertical dimension, the scattered laser radiation (which travels horizontally) cannot reach it. This dimensional approach allows the opening to be safe without compromising the closed nature of the wall in the horizontal plane.
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
This configuration provides safe, efficient, and user-friendly access to the danger region by eliminating the need for manual door operation and ensuring continuous laser safety without additional barriers, reducing downtime and increasing operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the at least one opening is completely shadowed by the laser protection wall or completely shadowed with the cooperation of the laser protection wall from the laser radiation which is emitted radially from the processing zone
Data Source
AI summary
A laser processing machine arrangement includes a laser processing head for laser processing a workpiece, the workpiece comprising a processing zone from which laser radiation is emitted radially during operation of the laser processing head, a laser protection wall that surrounds the laser processing head and a danger region disposed around the laser processing head, the laser protection wall shielding the laser radiation that is emitted radially from the processing, and at least one opening in the laser protection wall, through which the danger region can be entered, wherein the laser protection wall and the at least one in the laser protection wall are arranged in such a manner that the at least one opening is completely shadowed by the laser protection wall or is completely shadowed with cooperation of the laser protection wall from the laser radiation during operation of the laser processing head.