Progressive laser blanking device for high speed cutting

A progressive laser blanking device for high-speed cutting of coil stock material, the device comprising:

• a first support frame extending from a first end to a second end along a first longitudinal axis;
• a first conveyor supported by the first support frame and moving in a recurring loop in a forward direction between the first end and the second end, the first conveyor supporting a strip of coil stock material;
• a first pinch roll assembly located adjacent to the first end, the first pinch roll assembly feeding a strip of coil stock material in the forward direction from an associated coil onto the first conveyor;
• at least one first gantry supported above the first conveyor, each first gantry located between the first end and the second end, each first gantry having a second longitudinal axis that is transverse to the first longitudinal axis;
• at least one first laser head suspended from each first gantry, each first laser head moveable along the second longitudinal axis;
• a second support frame extending from a third end to a fourth end along a third longitudinal axis, the second support frame located adjacent to the second end of first support frame and aligned with the first support frame such that the first longitudinal axis and the third longitudinal axis are substantially collinear;
• a second conveyor supported by the second support frame and moving in a recurring loop in a forward direction between the third end and the fourth end, the second conveyor supporting the strip of coil stock material;
• a second pinch roll assembly located adjacent to the third end, the second pinch roll assembly assisting the movement of the strip of coil stock material in the forward direction from the first conveyor to the second conveyor;
• a second gantry supported above the second conveyor, the second gantry located on a forward side of the second pinch roll assembly, the second gantry having a fourth longitudinal axis that is transverse to the third longitudinal axis;
• a second laser head suspended from the second gantry moveable along the fourth longitudinal axis, the second laser head completing a cut separating a portion of the strip of coil stock material from the remainder of the strip of coil stock material.

A laser blanking device for cutting rapidly fed coil stock material, the device comprising:

• a conveyor extending along a first longitudinal axis from a first end to a second end, the conveyor supporting a strip of coil stock material while the strip of coil stock material moves along the first longitudinal axis in a forward direction from the first end to the second end;
• a first pinch roll assembly located adjacent to the first end, the first pinch roll assembly feeding a strip of coil stock material in the forward direction from an associated coil onto the conveyor;
• at least two gantries supported above the conveyor, each gantry having a second longitudinal axis that forms an angle greater than 0 degrees and less than or equal to 90 degrees with the first longitudinal axis;
• at least one laser head suspended from each gantry, each laser head moveable along the second longitudinal axis;
• a second pinch roll assembly located toward the second end, the second pinch roll assembly assisting the movement of the strip of coil stock material in the forward direction;
• wherein the first and second pinch roll assemblies apply tension to the strip of coil stock material in a direction of the first longitudinal axis;
• wherein the device performs multiple laser cutting operations simultaneously on the strip of coil stock material as the strip of coil stock material moves along the longitudinal axis of the device;
• and wherein a first gantry of the at least two gantries is located intermediate the first pinch roll assembly and the second pinch roll assembly, and a second gantry of the at least two gantries is located between the second pinch roll assembly and the second end, the laser head suspended from the second gantry completing a cut through the strip of coil stock material that separates a portion of the strip of coil stock material from the remainder of the strip of coil stock material.