Patent ID: 8841578
Filing Date: 2014-09-23
Classification: B23K

Abstract:
1. A method for operating a laser blanking system for cutting a blank from a stock material, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a laser cutting station comprising a laser moveable along both a longitudinal axis of the system and a transverse axis of the system, a plurality of first support conveyors located on an upstream side of the laser cutting station extending along the longitudinal axis of the system and arranged adjacent to one another along the transverse axis in a substantially parallel, spaced-apart relationship, the first support conveyors each being linearly extensible and retractable along the longitudinal axis of the system independently from one another, and a plurality of second support conveyors located on an downstream side of the laser cutting station extending along the longitudinal axis of the system and being arranged adjacent to one another along the transverse axis of the system in a substantially parallel, spaced-apart relationship, the second support conveyors each being linearly extensible and retractable along the longitudinal axis of the system independently from one another; (b) extending or retracting at least one first support conveyor and at least one second support conveyor of the system to a first processing position; (c) advancing the stock material to a first position at the laser cutting station; (d) performing at least one first laser cutting routine on the stock material with the laser; and (e) advancing a developed blank downstream of the laser cutting station.