METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CUTTING THROUGH A FLAT WORKPIECE MADE OF BRITTLE MATERIAL, ESPECIALLY GLASS.

摘要

THE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CUTTING THROUGH FLAT WORKPIECES (1) MADE OF GLASS CAN CUT THROUGH WORKPIECES WITH GREATER THICKNESS, E.G. GLASS PANES WITH A THICKNESS GREATER THAN 0.2 MM, THAN POSSIBLE UP TO NOW WITH A COMPARABLE KNOWN METHOD, WITHOUT MICRO-FRACTURES, GLASS FRAGMENTS OR SPLITTER. IN THE METHOD OF THE INVENTION A HEAT RADIATION SPOT (3) SYMMETRIC TO THE CUTTING LINE (2) IS PRODUCED ON THE WORKPIECE (1). THIS HEAT RADIATION SPOT (3) HAS EDGE PORTIONS (18, 19) WITH ELEVATED RADIATION INTENSITY AND IS MOVED ALONG THE CUTTING LINE (2) AND/OR THE WORKPIECE (1) AND THE HEATED SECTION OF THE CUTTING LINE (2) IS SUBSEQUENTLY COOLED (5). A SCANNER MOTION PRODUCES THE HEAT RADIATION SPOT (3) SO THAT EDGE PORTIONS (18, 19) OF ELEVATED RADIATION INTENSITY COINCIDE WITH A V-OR U-SHAPED CURVE (4), WHICH IS OPEN AT THE LEADING END OF THE HEAT RADIATION SPOT (3). THE PEAK PORTION (16) OF THE V- OR V-SHAPED CURVE (4) ON THE CUTTING LINE (2) IS AT A TEMPERATURE MAXIMUM (17) THAT IS UNDER THE MELTING POINT OF THE WORKPIECE MATERIAL. A CONTROLLER (21, 24, 25) OF THE SCANNING MOTION CONTROLS THE SCANNER IN CIRCULAR CUTTING AND FREEFORM CUTTING SO THAT A CURVED V- OR U-SHAPED INTENSITY DISTRIBUTION (22) WHICH FITS THE CURVED CUTTING PATH ARISES.