An apparatus for cutting a pipe being advanced through the apparatus, the pipe being made from thermoplastic material, comprising:
- a heating device including a heating element configured for circumferentially heating localized axial portions of the pipe at a predetermined operating temperature;
- a cutting device including a blade configured for cutting the heated localized axial portions of the pipe,
- a first carriage and a second carriage, both axially movable along an axial direction parallel to an axial extension of the pipe;
- wherein the heating device is attached to the first carriage to be movable with the first carriage, and the cutting device is attached to the second carriage to be movable with the second carriage;
- wherein the first carriage and the second carriage are independently axially movable relative to each other, as well as to a speed of advancement of the pipe;
- first and second actuators operatively connected with the first and second carriages respectively for moving the first and second carriages;
- an electronic command and control unit configured for independently controlling the first and second actuators, to independently move the first and second carriages along the axial direction, to allow the heating device and the cutting device to operate simultaneously on two separate localized axial portions of the pipe;
- the electronic command and control unit configured to control the cutting device, the heating device, and the first and second actuators to independently move the first and second carriages, as follows:
- to move the first carriage and heating device closer toward the second carriage and heating device forward along the axial direction;
- to move the second carriage and cutting device forward along the axial direction;
- to space apart the second carriage and cutting device from the first carriage and heating device along the axial direction;
- to move the first carriage and heating device rearward along the axial direction;
- to move the second carriage and cutting device rearward along the axial direction.