Laser workstation with endless loop conveyor and coordinated access doors

A laser processing unit, comprising:

• a workpiece loading station;
• a workpiece unloading station;
• a laser workstation including a laser robot operable to perform a laser operation on a workpiece;
• wherein the laser workstation is located between the workpiece loading station and the workpiece unloading station;
• a flexible endless loop extending from the workpiece loading station through the laser workstation and configured to deliver the workpiece from the workpiece loading station to the laser workstation;
• a first stationary wall section separating the laser workstation from the workpiece loading station at a proximal side of the laser workstation;
• a second stationary wall section offset from the first stationary wall section at a distal side of the laser workstation opposite the proximal side;
• a first movable door mounted on the first stationary wall section and movable between an open position and a closed position, and configured to form a laser light-tight seal with the first stationary wall section;
• a second movable door mounted on the second stationary wall section and movable between an open position and a closed position, and configured to form a laser light-tight seal with the second stationary wall section;
• and
• a seal projection attached to the flexible endless loop for concurrent movement with the workpiece, wherein the seal projection forms a laser light-tight seal with the first movable door when the workpiece is located in the workpiece loading station and the first movable door is in its closed position, and forms a laser light-tight seal with the second movable door when the workpiece is located in the laser workstation and the second movable door is in its closed position, and wherein the seal projection is configured as an upwardly-facing channel for receiving a lower edge of the first movable door within said channel and subsequently receiving a lower edge of the second movable door within said channel wherein the flexible endless loop comprises a driven belt having an upper belt portion and a lower belt portion and the belt revolves during operation of the laser processing unit,
• the laser processing unit further comprising a plurality of further seal projections attached to the belt for concurrent movement with the workpiece, and
• during a revolution of the belt, each of the seal projections is moved by the upper belt portion to form respective laser light-tight seals with the first movable door and subsequently with the second movable door, and is recirculated by the lower belt portion.