WO2017129860A1

WO2017129860A1 - Cutting table and method for working on a platelike material in said cutting table

Info

Publication number: WO2017129860A1
Application number: PCT/FI2017/050037
Authority: WO
Inventors: Leif KÄLDMAN
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-01-29
Filing date: 2017-01-25
Publication date: 2017-08-03
Anticipated expiration: 2018-07-29
Also published as: DE112017000548T5; FI126913B; FI20165057A7

Abstract

The present invention refers to a cutting table (6) and a method for processing plate-like material (8) on a cutting table in cutting equipment (1). This cutting equipment includes a processing unit (3) with a machine frame (4) arranged therein, carrying a cutting head (5) thereby directing a cutting beam onto the plate-like material. The platelike material is arranged on the shuttlelike cutting table (6) provided with support members introduced from a charging unit (2) to the cutting equipment. The cutting table is thereby divided into a primary table (12) and a secondary table (13). In its active position the secondary table is merged with the primary table such that their supporting members form a joint supporting plane. When cutting overflow material and small workpieces from a plate-like material, the secondary table is separated from the primary table and is temporarily moved to a passive position outside the processing area of processing unit (3). When doing the final cutting of a large workpiece from the platelike material, the secondary table (13) is re-joined with the primary table (12).

Description

CUTTING TABLE AND METHOD FOR WORKING ON A PLATELIKE MATERIAL IN SAID CUTTING TABLE

Technical field

The invention relates to the device in the preamble of claim 1 . With such working device, one can automatically cut work pieces of different configurations from various plate-like materials.

The present invention also applies to a method for performing this work according to the preamble of claim 9.

Prior art

The cutting of flat plate-like materials, particularly metal sheets of different thicknesses, in particular cutting systems is well-known. Such work is performed, for example, by means of a laser technique, where one or more cutting heads move across the plate-like material in the longitudinal and trans- verse directions. In order to make this work possible, is common to add a metal plate on a transport base, which in this context is referred to as a cutting table. Such cutting table comprises a grid formed by bearing substantially parallel flanges standing on its edge with a spacing of 40 - 100 mm. The flanges are preferably joined together at their lower edges. This supporting member preferably has support points orientated in a saw tooth configuration in a substantially common plane with respect to the plate-like material, so as to minimize any damage caused to the underlying support member by the cutting work. Such damage is expressed partly in the form of cuts in the supporting member, but also in the build-up of molten residue, referred to as slag, from cutting work performed above said supporting member.

In spite of this saw tooth configuration, damage to the supporting member regularly occurs, which entails the need for replacement. The work is laborious and costly.

This solution in which the metal plate is located on relatively closely spaced supporting members also causes other problems. Usually, it is not difficult in any way to cut workpieces extending over two or more supporting members. These can be cut in their entirety, usually to be picked up mechanically or manually removed from the cutting table after cutting is completed. Work pieces that are only supported by one supporting member, or partially supported by two supporting members, however, are more difficult to cut. If one were to perform the full cutting across the periphery of the workpiece, it is highly likely that it would waver from its supporting member and fall between parallel supporting members, wherefrom it is significantly more difficult to pick up the workpiece. Therefore a small bridge of material is generally provided to connect these small workpieces with the base material. Therefore, the work- pieces must be released in a special manual operation, after which the remains of the bridge must be removed. This is unnecessary and costly additional work.

Presentation of the problem

With the present invention, the problems of known solutions can be essentially avoided. This object is achieved by a cutting table that is, in accordance with the present invention, provided with the characteristic features defined in claim 1 . The cutting table is further utilized in accordance the char- acteristics specified in claim 9. The respective subsequent dependent claims disclose appropriate further developments and variations of the invention that further improve its operation and construction.

The invention is based on the idea of minimizing the number of supporting members located below the plate-like material being worked, thereby facilitating the removal of smaller cut-out portions and also preventing damage to the support members as much as possible.

In the present invention, the term "plate-like material" refers to sheets or plate made of metal having different thicknesses. However, this may also refer to flat materials other than metal. Therefore, the invention can be equally used to cut wood, glass and various mineral and plastic materials as well as metal.

The term cutting beam in turn comprises different forms of thermal or non-thermal techniques by which the plate-like material is worked. Such techniques include laser, plasma and water jet cutting.

In the following description, the terms "up", "down", "above", "below" and the like refer to directions in relation to the cutting table or its structural details as shown in the attached figures.

With the arrangement and method described in the present invention, a plurality of significant advantages are achieved over the prior art. This invention provides great advantages, especially in cases where the cut work- pieces are handled mechanically rather than manually. Further advantages and details of the invention become apparent from the description below.

Brief description of the figures

In the following, the invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the drawing, in which

Figure 1 shows a schematic side view of cutting equipment when a cut is started,

Figure 2 also shows a schematic plan view of the cutting equipment according to Figure 1 without the plate-like material in Figure 1 ,

Figure 3 shows a schematic side view of cutting equipment with a secondary table in a parked position outside the working unit,

Figure 4 shows a plan view of the cutting equipment according to Figure 3 without the plate-like material in Figure 3,

Figure 5 shows a schematic side view of a second embodiment of cutting equipment when a cut is started,

Figure 6 also shows a schematic plan view of the cutting equipment according to Figure 5 without the plate-like material in Figure 5,

Figure 7 shows a schematic side view of cutting equipment accord- ing to Figure 5 with a secondary table in a parked position outside the working unit,

Figure 8 shows a plan view of the cutting equipment according to Figure 7 without the plate-like material in Figure 7,

Figure 9 shows a schematic longitudinal cross-section of the cutting table of the invention with both the primary table and the secondary table,

Figure 10 shows a cutting table according to figure 9 when the secondary table is released from the primary table,

Figure 1 1 shows the cutting table according to figure 9 when the secondary table is released and transported away from the cutting equipment processing unit,

Figure 12 shows a schematic cross-section A-A of the cutting table according to Figure 1 or 5 with both the primary table and the secondary table,

Figure 13 shows a schematic cross-section B-B of the cutting table according to Figure 3 or 7 with the secondary table in a parked position,

Figure 14 shows a top plan view of an assembled cutting table of

Figure 1 , for instance, Figure 15 shows the side view of the assembled cutting table of

Figure 14,

Figure 16 shows a schematic cross-section C-C of the assembled cutting table in Figure 14,

Figure 17 shows a detailed view of a preferred embodiment of an actuator in its upper position,

Figure 18 shows a detailed view where the actuator in Figure 17 is in its lower position,

Figure 19 shows a detailed view of a preferred embodiment of a locking member arranged to connect the primary table and secondary table,

Figure 20 shows a top plan view of the primary table,

Figure 21 shows a side view of the primary table of Figure 20, Figure 22 shows a schematic cross-section D-D of the primary table of Figure 20,

Figure 23 shows a plan view of the secondary table,

Figure 24 shows a side view of the secondary table of Figure 23, and

Figure 25 shows a schematic cross-section E-E of the secondary table of Figure 23.

Preferred embodiment

The above figures do not show the cutting table in scale but only serve to illustrate structural solutions of the preferred embodiment and the operation of the embodiment. Herein, the structural parts shown in the figures and denoted with reference numerals correspond to the structural solutions that are presented in the description below and are at the same time indicated by their reference numbers.

One can therefore see cutting equipment 1 schematically illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, and Figures 3 and 4, respectively. In its preferred embodi- ment, such cutting equipment comprises a horizontal charging unit 2 shown on the left side of the image plan. Next to this is a processing unit 3, with a machine frame 4 arranged therein, which carries a cutting head 5, to direct a laser beam, or a cutting beam, towards a cutting table 6 arranged in the processing unit. In this embodiment, a side unit 7 is provided to the right of the processing unit in the image plane. In an alternative embodiment according to Figures 5 to 8, we can on the other hand see said side unit 7 formed as a part of the charging unit 2.

In order to separate workpieces from the plate-like material 8 arranged on the cutting table 6, the cutting head 5 is operated in a conventional matter over the plate-like material in the longitudinal and transverse directions of the cutting equipment. The control of this cutting head is not the subject of this invention and is therefore not described further.

The cutting equipment 1 is provided with one or more driving devices for moving the cutting table 6 between the charging unit 2 and the pro- cessing unit 3. The driving device is not shown in the present figures. The driving device thus moves the cutting table in a direction substantially in accordance with the longitudinal axis of the cutting equipment. The cutting equipment further preferably comprises at least one conveyor 9 for removal of as well the overflow material as cut workpieces from the processing unit of the cutting equipment, cf. Figure 9 or 10.

A cutting board 6 according to the present embodiment has shuttlelike configuration known per se and comprises supporting members 10 and 1 1 for supporting metal sheets, metal plates or plate-like material 8 to be worked in the cutting equipment 1 . Unlike known solutions, however, the cutting table is two-tiered and comprises an upper primary table 12 and a lower secondary table 13 in accordance with the Figures 14 to16 and 20 to 25, for instance. The secondary table is preferably at least partially surrounded by the primary table in accordance with, for example, Figure 14. Said secondary table is arranged in a detachable manner to the primary table. The secondary table is thus sepa- ratable from the primary table by opening a locking and the secondary table is lowered to a lower position beneath the primary table, where the secondary table is completely released from the primary table. See the image sequence of Figure 9, Figure 10 and Figure 1 1 . In this lower position, the secondary table is free to be moved in the longitudinal or transverse direction of the cutting equipment to be temporally parked in aside unit 7 outside the processing unit. Such a transportation of the secondary table from the processing unit is performed, for example, by a special receiving means.

The transportation of the secondary table to the side unit is also shown in Figures 1 to 4 and Figures 5 to 8. In Figures 1 and 2, the primary and secondary tables 12 and 13 are locked to each other, while in Figures 3 and 4 the secondary table has been released and transported to the side unit 7. Cor- respondingly the primary and secondary tables are locked together in Figures 5 and 6, while in Figures 7 and 8 the secondary table has been released and transported to the side unit.

In the assembled embodiment shown in, for example, Figures 9 and 14, supporting members 10 and 1 1 are provided in cutting table 6 in a number that considerably exceeds the number in an embodiment where the secondary table 13 is detached from the primary table 13 and transported to a temporary parking position in the side unit 7. Cf. Figures 9 and 10. The primary table thus has substantially parallel supporting members 10 in the form of support rails arranged in a direction substantially perpendicular to the transport direction of the cutting table in the cutting equipment 1. These support rails are substantially evenly distributed over the length of the primary table at a distance from each other of 150 to 1000 mm. The distance between the support rails thereby differs significantly from what is customarily used in previously known technol- ogy. The spacing of the support rails is mainly governed by the thickness of the plate-like material 8 to be worked. The secondary table 13, on the other hand, comprises supporting members 1 1 , in the form of flanges that are substantially parallel with each other as well as with the support rails of the primary table. The flanges are thus also orientated in a direction substantially perpendicular to the transport direction of the cutting table in the cutting equipment. These flanges stand on their edges and are located at a distance of 30 to 100 mm from each other. The flanges are substantially evenly distributed over the length of the secondary table, except that the secondary table lacks flanges in positions corresponding to the support rails of the primary table.

The supporting members 10 and 1 1 of the cutting table 6 may have upper edges that are substantially linear, or they may also be saw-toothed or wave-shaped in a direction oriented towards the plate-like material 8 placed on the cutting table. This saw-toothed or wave-shaped upper edge is designed to further minimize the contact area between the material to be worked and the cutting table. In its assembled version, the upper edges or tops of the support members of the primary table and the secondary table of the cutting table thus come to be arranged in a common cutting plan in which the supporting members form a joint supporting plane.

The primary table 12 and the secondary table 13 are arranged to be locked substantially rigidly to each other with separate locking devices 14. These may, for example, be included in a frame 15 provided by the primary ta- ble, cf. Figure 15, or formed in the frame of processing unit 3. These locking devices preferably comprise locking pins 16, which are actuated mechanically, hydraulically, pneumatically, or by a combination of these. Figure 19 shows a preferred embodiment in which the locking pin can, by actuating a spring- loaded lever 17, be shifted between positions where it either, according to the figure, joins the two tables 12 and 13 or detaches the secondary table from the primary table. By locking the primary and secondary tables together, they occupy a position in which the upper edges of the supporting members are arranged in a common cutting plane. In this assembled configuration, the cutting table therefore has the maximum number of the supporting members 10 and 1 1 , and therefore can support even relatively small workpieces.

When the locking members 14 release the primary and secondary tables 12 and 13 from each other, the secondary table may be lowered by special actuators 18, which can be moved relative to cutting table 6 in the ver- tical direction, cf. Figures 17 and 18. The actuators are thereby arranged to be guided towards the secondary table. Once at the secondary table 13, the actuators are designed to support the secondary table, for example, by grabbing it or by forming a contact surface beneath the secondary table. Hereafter the locking members 14 may release the primary and secondary tables from each other. The actuators now manoeuvres the secondary table from the top active position thereof to a lower position below the primary table, without any time passing the supporting plane and thus not disturbing the plate-like material 8. In the lower position, the secondary table is hereinafter movable in the horizontal plane without the risk of further contact with parts of the indwelling primary table. When the secondary table reaches the lower position receiving means are activated engaging with the secondary table and removing it from the processing unit 3 of the cutting equipment to a passive position. Of course, the actuator and the receiving means may comprise a single unit, as well as performing the procedure by two separate devices. The secondary table thereby occupies a parked position in the side unit 7, which in the embodiment in Figures 1 to 4 is located to the right of the processing unit and in the embodiment in Figures 5 to 9 is located to the left of the processing unit associated with the charging unit 2, but it may equally as well be in either direction.

In order to prevent a possible displacement of plate-like material 8 arranged on the cutting table 6, the cutting table is preferably provided with grippers 19 that comprise at least two fixing points for grabbing the plate-like material arranged onto the cutting table, and immobilizing the material during its processing. Such grippers are preferably arranged on the cutting table on at least one longitudinal side parallel to the transport direction of the cutting table. Such grippers are schematically shown in Figure 13, for instance.

A plate-like material is thus processed with the present cutting equipment 1 as follows.

The plate-like material 8 is placed on the cutting table 6, which thereby comprises interconnected primary and secondary tables 12 and 13. This loading occurs in the charging unit 2, located to the left of processing unit 3 as shown in Figure 1 . Hereafter the assembled cutting table is transported to the processing unit by a transport means known per se. Once the cutting table is arranged in the processing unit, the secondary table 13 is separated from the primary table 12 and is moved by the receiving means to its passive position. This passive position may be a parking position in the side unit 7 of the cutting equipment, which is located to the right of the processing unit 3 in Figure 3 and to the left of the processing unit in Figure 7.

In an embodiment according to Figures 5 to 6, the separated secondary table is transported to a passive position below a subsequent cutting table 6' in the charging unit 2, where it will be waiting to be transported to the processing unit. To allow for reception of the separated secondary table, said following plate-like material 8' on the cutting table 6' waiting for processing is transported in a substantially vertical direction, thereby making room for the secondary table 13.

The material 8 to be processed is now left in the processing unit 3 only supported by the widely spaced support rails 10 provided by the primary table 12. With the material lying on these support rails, a first cutting is carried out removing residual pieces and other overflow material from the final products. The overflow material is allowed to fall through the large openings between the support rails in the primary cutting table in order to be subsequently transported from the processing unit 3 by the underlying conveyor 9. After the overflow material is removed, the cutting of small parts begins, which also, unlike in previous solutions, are cut completely free from the processed material. The cut small parts also fall through the large openings between the support rails in the primary cutting table. The cut parts are then transported by an un- derlying conveyor out of the processing unit 3 for subsequent picking. Finally, the larger pieces are also cut out. Unlike in the previous two cutting processes, a number of material bridges are left behind at positions where they are calculated not to coincide with the supporting members 1 1 of the secondary table 13.

When only the material bridges for the larger cut portions remain, the secondary table 13 is reunited with the primary table 12 from its passive position. With the denser distribution of supporting members now achieved a final cutting process is undertaken removing the material bridges and entirely separating the larger components from the processed material 8. Now, the larger cut parts are laying fully released on the cutting table 6. Due to the denser distribution of supporting members, it is possible to obtain sufficient support for these larger workpieces, but to avoid excessive contamination of to the supporting members.

After the cutting operation is completed, the cutting table 6 is transported to be unloaded of the finished cut plate with primary and secondary ta- bles 12 and 13 interconnected.

The above description and the related figures are only intended to illustrate the construction and operation of a cutting table according to the present solution. Thus, the solution is not confined merely to the embodiments described above or in the attached claims but a plurality of variations or alter- native embodiments are feasible within the idea described in the attached claims.

Claims

1. A cutting table (6) in cutting equipment (1), comprising a processing unit (3) with a machine frame (4) arranged therein, carrying a cutting head (5) movable in the longitudinal and transverse directions of the cutting equipment, for directing a cutting beam on to a plate-like material (8) arranged on the shuttlelike cutting table, introduced from a charging unit (2), and being provided with supporting members,

characterized in that

the cutting table (6) comprises a primary table (12) and a secondary table (13) with respective supporting members (10, 11)

wherein the secondary table is detachably arranged to the primary table, such that

the secondary table (13) is arranged to separate from and reunite with the primary table during processing, whereby the secondary table is temporarily movable outside the processing area of processing unit (3), and

the cutting table (6) in its assembled version includes support members (10, 11) in a number that considerably exceeds the number of support members in an embodiment where the secondary table is detached from the primary table, in which

the supporting members form a joint supporting plane.

2. A cutting table (6) according to claim ^ characterized in that the primary table (12) comprises support members (10) in the form of essentially parallel support rails arranged in a direction substantially perpendicular to the transport direction of the cutting table (6) in the cutting equipment (1), whereby

the support rails are substantially evenly distributed over the length of the primary table at a distance from each other of 150 to 1000 mm.

3. A cutting table (6) according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that

the secondary table (13) comprises support members (11) in the form of substantially parallel flanges in a direction substantially perpendicular to the transport direction of the cutting table (6) in the cutting equipment (1), whereby the flanges are distributed substantially evenly across the length of the secondary table at a distance of 30 to 100 mm from each other.

4. A cutting table (6) according to claim 3, characterized in that the flanges of the secondary table (13) are distributed substantially evenly across the length of the secondary table at a distance of 30 to 100 mm from each other.

5. A cutting table (6) according to claim 4, characterized in that the secondary table (13) is arranged such that it does not have the supporting members (11) in positions corresponding to the support rails (10) of the primary table (12).

6. A cutting table (6), according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that

in an assembled configuration the cutting table (6) the primary table (12) and the secondary table (13) comprise supporting members (10, 11) with linear upper edges arranged in a common cutting plane.

7. A cutting table (6), according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that

in an assembled configuration the cutting table (6) the primary table (12) and the secondary table (13) comprise supporting members (10, 11) with linear deviations from the upper edges, such that

the tops of the upper edges of the supporting members are arranged in a common cutting plane.

8. A cutting table (6), according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that

the cutting table (6) comprises at least one gripper (19) to grip the plate-like material (8) arranged on the cutting table.

9. A method for processing a plate-like material (8) on a cutting table (6) in cutting equipment (1), the cutting equipment comprising a processing unit (3) with a machine frame (4) arranged therein carrying a cutting head (5) in order to direct a cutting bean towards the plate-like material arranged on the shuttlelike cutting table (6), introduced from a charging unit (2) and being provided with supporting members provided ,

characterized in that

the cutting table (6) is divided into a primary table (12) and a sec- ondary table (13), whereby

in its active position, the secondary table (13) is merged with the primary table (12) such that their supporting members form a joint supporting plane, and

whereby the secondary table is separated from the primary table and temporarily moved outside the processing area of the processing unit (3) to a passive position for cutting overflow material and small workpieces from the plate-like material (8), and that

the secondary table (13) is re-joined with the primary table (12) before the final cutting of large workpieces from the plate-like material.

10. A method for processing a plate-like material (8) according to claim 9, characterized in that

the primary table (12) and the secondary table (13) are joined to each other by locking devices (14) that can be displaced relative to the cutting equipment (1).

11. A method for processing a plate-like material (8) according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that

the cutting equipment (1) comprises actuators (18), which are moved towards the cutting table (6), thus releasing and receiving the secondary table (13) and lowering it relative to the primary table (12), whereupon

at least one receiving means grips the secondary table and moves it from the processing unit (3).

12. A method for processing a plate-like material (8) according to claim 11, characterized in that

the cutting table (6) is arranged in the processing unit (3) occupying a position above a conveyor (9) arranged to transport free-cut workpieces and scrap from the processing unit (3).

13. A method for processing a plate-like material (8) according to any of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that

at least one gripper (19) is provided in the cutting table (6) to immobilize the plate-like material (8) arranged thereon when beginning the cutting of workpieces therefrom.