Patent GB-1516130-A (GB)
Title: Device for perforating work-pieces by means of electron beams
IPC: H01J37/31
Filed: 1975-10-13
Abstract: 1516130 Perforating by electron beam STEIGERWALD STRAHLTECHNIK GmbH 13 Oct 1975 [16 Oct 1974] 41797/75 Heading B4B A device for perforating workpieces, e.g. shoe upper blanks, comprises an electron beam 68 mounted in a work chamber 2 adapted to be evacuated by means of, e.g. pumps 4, 5, input and output devices 30, 32 for moving unperforated and perforated workpieces 36 and 40 respectively to and from a transport track 42 extending between the input and output devices and passing through the work chamber, a plurality of carriages movably mounted on the track to convey the workpieces through the chamber and means to move a respective carrier, when aligned with the electron beam, in various directions such that the workpiece is perforated over a predetermined area. As shown in Fig. 1, the workpiece 36, e.g. a shoe upper, is first connected by suitable fasteners to a template 48 which determines the area to be perforated and the composite unit then moved in direction of arrow 34 to a position in which it is coupled to a conveyor band 58. The unit is then transported by the band to a position in which the unit is allowed to drop on to a respective carriage 44 on an inclined track 42, the carriage then rolling down towards the work chamber 2; the carriage is allowed to enter the chamber by opening an air-lock device 14, 16. The movement of the carriage is stopped by a solenoid-operated plunger 62a when the carriage is correctly aligned with the electron beam 68. In this position the carriage is raised vertically from the track by means of reciprocable plungers 70 mounted in a support vertically movable on a guide 74, Fig. 2, mounted on a carriage 76 itself movable on a rail 78; by means of the plunger and carriage 76, the workpiece carriage 44 is moved in two directions so that the desired area is perforated by the electron beam. After perforation, the carriage 44 is lowered on to the track and allowed after release of the plunger 62a to roll towards the exit of the chamber 2. The track continues to a delivery point wherein the perforated workpiece and template is removed from the carriage 44 and the template moved to the inlet station ready for connection to an unperforated workpiece. Instead of the track being inclined, the carriage could be moved therealong by means of a chain and suitable cams thereon. In the modification shown in Fig. 3, the workpiece and template carriers 344 are in the form of cylinders which roll on the track and which, when they arrive, individually, in line with the electron beam are tilted into the vertical position to be acted on by the beam; in this position, the carriage is rotated by a drive 351, 359 to allow the beam to cover the desired area of perforation; a pair of templates may be hinged together so as to hold a pair of workpieces on the carriage; the hinged templates are carried to an assembly position by a suitable conveyor (549), Fig. 5 (not shown). In the further modification shown in Fig. 7, a workpiece carrier 744 is arranged for perforating rigid workpieces 736a, 736b, 736c, e.g. turbine blades, the workpieces being held at one edge by fasteners 753 which can be rotated to enable the respective workpieces to be directed at different angles to the electron beam.