Skid state determination device, skid state determination method, and laser processing system

A laser processing system comprising:

• a laser processing machine configured to process a workpiece with a laser beam;
• a skid table provided with a plurality of skids for supporting the workpiece with a supporting surface formed by top points of a plurality of protrusions;
• a processing pallet configured to be carried into and out from the laser processing machine together with the skid table and the workpiece;
• an imaging device configured to be able to image at least a part of the skid table on the processing pallet at a position of the processing pallet immediately before the processing pallet is carried into the laser processing machine and immediately after the processing pallet is carried out from the laser processing machine;
• and
• a state determination device configured to determine a state of the skids based on image information obtained by imaging the skid table with the imaging device, wherein
• the imaging device is configured to:
• image the skid table from a position above the supporting surface defined by the top points of the plurality of protrusions formed on the plurality of skids, and output first image information;
• image the skid table from a position below the supporting surface, and output second image information;
• and
• image the skid table from above in a vertical direction or from a longitudinal direction of the skid, and output third image information,
• the state determination device executes:
• first determination processing for determining the state of the skids based on the first image information obtained by imaging the skid table with the imaging device;
• second determination processing for determining the state of the skids based on the second image information obtained by imaging the skid table with the imaging device;
• and
• third determination processing for determining a state of spatters deposited on a wall surface of each skid based on the third image information acquired by imaging the skid table with the imaging device.

A skid state determination method to be executed in a laser processing system including:

• a laser processing machine configured to process a workpiece with a laser beam;
• a skid table provided with a plurality of skids for supporting the workpiece with a supporting surface formed by top points of a plurality of protrusions;
• a processing pallet configured to be carried into and out from the laser processing machine together with the skid table and the workpiece;
• an imaging device configured to be able to image at least a part of the skid table on the processing pallet at a position of the processing pallet immediately before the processing pallet is carried into the laser processing machine and immediately after the processing pallet is carried out from the laser processing machine;
• and a state determination device configured to determine a state of the skids based on image information obtained by imaging the skid table with the imaging device, the skid state determination method comprising:
• first determining of determining, by the state determination device, the state of the skids based on the image information obtained by imaging the skid table with the imaging device, before the workpiece is carried onto the skid table;
• and
• second determining of determining, by the state determination device, the state of the skids based on the image information obtained by imaging the skid table with the imaging device, after the processing pallet is carried out from the laser processing machine but before a product obtained by processing the workpiece is carried out from the skid table.