Glass tube cutting
AssigneeJames A. Jobling & Company Limited
InventorsDerek Obersby, Thomas Kenneth Allen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus for cutting glass tubing transverse to its length comprises a laser, an optical system for directing the laser along a full circumferential line around the tubing without rotating the tubing and means for forming a point of weakness on the circumferential line so that the stress generated by the laser beam causes the tube to be cut. The optical system includes a mirror located within a tubular casing arranged to be inserted within the glass tubing to be cut.
Claims18
A method of cutting glass tubing transverse to its length, which method comprises:
- forming a point of weakness on a surface of the tube at a required cutting position;
- directing radiation at the tube so that sufficient stress is created in the glass to cause a fracture to run around a circumferential line passing through said point of weakness;
- and generating said radiation by
- causing a laser beam of a wave length which is absorbed by the glass to converge from a position outside the tube whereby the beam is focused onto the glass,
- directing the laser beam longitudinally along the tube, and
- deflecting the direction of the beam so that the beam is focused fully incident on said circumferential line around the tube passing through the point of weakness without rotating the tube.
Apparatus for cutting glass tubing transverse to its length, which apparatus comprises:
- support means for a length of tubing to be cut;
- a laser source for emitting a laser beam of a wavelength which is absorbed by the glass;
- and
- an optical system arranged to direct the laser beam around a full circumferential line at a required cutting position without rotating the tube when the tube is held by the support means;
- said optical system including
- beam converging means located outside the tube and arranged to focus the beam onto the glass, beam directing means for directing the beam longitudinally along the tube, and
- beam deflecting means for deflecting the beam so that the beam is focused fully incident on said circumferential line;
- whereby stress may be generated around the circumference to cause the fracture to run around the tube from a point of weakness formed in the tube on said circumferential line.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.