Patent ID: 6127648
Filing Date: 2000-10-03
Classification: B08B,B23K,F16P,Y10T

Abstract:
A scrap removal system for a laser-equipped machine tool having a cutting head which traverses over a cutting zone for performing cutting operations on a workpiece, and having a scrap collection surface underlying the cutting zone for collecting scrap, the scrap removal system comprising in combination:a drive system having a motor driving a pair of lateral drives which extend from a home position outside the cutting zone over the length of the scrap collection surface, the lateral drives being positioned at respective sides of the scrap collection surface but out of the cutting zone;a scraper assembly mounted for translation(a) in one direction from the home position into the cutting zone for performing a cleaning pass over the scrap collection surface from end to end thereof;(b) in the opposite direction to the home position on a retract pass;a first and a second linkage connecting the lateral drives to the scraper assembly for imparting motive force thereto for the cleaning and retract passes;a plow section pivotally attached to the scraper assembly and having a scraper portion in contact with the slag collection surface during the cleaning pass; andthe linkages being connected to lift the scraper portion out of contact with the slag collection surface during the retract pass.