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US 8,574,140 B2Granted
Laser nozzle changing device
AssigneeTrumpf Maschinen AG
InventorsWerner Erlenmaier, Frank Schmauder, Armin Felber, Reto Gedeon
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A mechanical device is used to change a laser nozzle of a nozzle mount of a laser processing machine. The mechanical device includes a nozzle magazine with at least one nozzle holder for storing a laser nozzle at a nozzle storage location, and a dirt collector. The nozzle holder is movable by means of a positioning device provided for that purpose or alternatively the dirt collector is movable by means of a positioning device provided for that purpose into a stand-by position defined on the mechanical device. The nozzle holder and the dirt collector can also be transferred to a position remote from the stand-by position with the respective positioning device.
Claims15
A mechanical device for changing a laser nozzle of a nozzle mount of a laser processing machine for processing workpieces, the mechanical device comprising:
- a nozzle magazine having a nozzle holder having physical features configured to hold a laser nozzle;
- and
- a dedicated positioning device configured to move the nozzle holder into a stand-by position towards the nozzle mount of the laser processing machine or into a position remote from the stand-by position, wherein when the nozzle holder is empty and is in the stand-by position, the nozzle holder is able to receive a used laser nozzle from the nozzle mount of the laser processing machine, and when the nozzle holder is holding a substitute laser nozzle and is in the stand-by position, the substitute laser nozzle is able to be mounted on the nozzle mount of the laser processing machine;
- the nozzle magazine also having a dedicated dirt collector that lacks the physical features and that is configured to receive dirt particles produced during laser processing by forming a dirt passage through which dirt can pass and that is distinct from the nozzle holder,
- wherein the dedicated positioning device includes a positioning drive motor that is controlled by a numerical drive control, the dedicated positioning device thus being configured to move the dirt collector with the dirt passage formed thereby into the stand-by position in place of the nozzle holder and into a position remote from the stand-by position,
- wherein the numerical drive control is configured to control the positioning drive motor of the dedicated positioning device in such a way that the dirt passage formed by the dirt collector is moved into the stand-by position in place of the nozzle holder so that the dirt passage is disposed in the stand-by position when a workpiece processing operation is performed by the laser processing machine.
3 more elements
A laser processing machine for processing workpieces, the laser processing machine comprising:
- a nozzle mount for a laser nozzle, and
- a mechanical device configured to change the laser nozzle of the nozzle mount, the mechanical device comprising:
- a nozzle magazine having a nozzle holder having physical features configured to hold a laser nozzle;
- and
- a dedicated positioning device configured to move the nozzle holder into a stand-by position towards the nozzle mount of the laser processing machine or into a position remote from the stand-by position, wherein when the nozzle holder is empty and is in the stand-by position, the nozzle holder is able to receive a used laser nozzle from the nozzle mount of the laser processing machine, and when the nozzle holder is holding a substitute laser nozzle and is in the stand-by position, the substitute laser nozzle is able to be mounted on the nozzle mount of the laser processing machine;
- the nozzle magazine also having a dedicated dirt collector that lacks the physical features and that is configured to receive dirt particles produced during laser processing by forming a dirt passage through which dirt can pass and that is distinct from the nozzle holder,
- wherein the dedicated positioning device includes a positioning drive motor that is controlled by a numerical drive control, the dedicated positioning device thus being configured to move the dirt collector with the dirt passage formed thereby into the stand-by position in place of the nozzle holder and into a position remote from the stand-by position,
- wherein the numerical drive control is configured to control the positioning drive motor of the dedicated positioning device in such a way that the dirt passage formed by the dirt collector is moved into the stand-by position in place of the nozzle holder so that the dirt passage is disposed in the stand-by position when a workpiece processing operation is performed by the laser processing machine.
5 more elements
A laser processing machine for processing workpieces, the laser processing machine comprising:
- a nozzle mount for a laser nozzle, and
- a mechanical device configured to change the laser nozzle of the nozzle mount, the mechanical device comprising:
- a nozzle magazine having a nozzle holder having physical features configured to hold a laser nozzle;
- and
- a dedicated positioning device configured to move the nozzle holder into a stand-by position towards the nozzle mount of the laser processing machine or into a position remote from the stand-by position;
- the nozzle magazine also having a dedicated dirt collector that lacks the physical features and that is configured to receive dirt particles produced during laser processing by forming a dirt passage through which dirt can pass and that is distinct from the nozzle holder,
- wherein the dedicated positioning device includes a positioning drive motor that is controlled by a numerical drive control, the dedicated positioning device thus being configured to move the dirt collector with the dirt passage formed thereby into the stand-by position in place of the nozzle holder and into a position remote from the stand-by position,
- wherein the nozzle holder or the dedicated dirt collector, when located in the stand-by position, is located beneath an opening in a workpiece support member of the laser processing machine, and
- wherein the numerical drive control is configured to control the positioning drive motor of the dedicated positioning device in such a way that the dirt passage formed by the dirt collector is moved into the stand-by position in place of the nozzle holder so that the dirt passage is disposed in the stand-by position when a workpiece processing operation is performed by the laser processing machine.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.