LASER PROCESSING INSTALLATION WITH INTEGRATED LOADING/UNLOADING OF WORKPIECES AND LASER MOTION CUTTING UNIT MOUNTED ON A SAME RAIL TRACK

摘要

A machine tool installation for laser cutting of sheet workpieces has a workpiece support (16), an elongated machine frame (10) providing an arm (18) extending over the workpiece support (16), and a track on the arm which extends longitudinally of the frame (10). A motion unit (20) is suspended from the track and mounted for movement therealong, and there is drive assembly for moving the motion unit (20) bidirectionally along the track. A laser cutting unit is mounted on the motion unit (20) and includes a laser cutting head movable thereon along an axis perpendicular to the track on the machine frame (10). A loading unit (22) is provided at a loading station adjacent one end of said machine frame (10) for lifting and transporting a sheet workpiece above the plane of the upper surface of the workpiece support (16) and the loading assembly is moveable on the track on the frame (10). An unloading unit (24) is provided at a parts receiving station adjacent the other end of the machine frame (10) for lifting the cut workpieces and skeleton (28) from the workpiece support, and it is moveable on the track to transport the cut workpieces to the parts receiving station. The motion unit (20) is releasably coupled to the loading (22) and unloading (24) units for movement therewith along the track on the machine frame (10).