Apparatus and method for cutting a glass sheet
First Claim
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1. A method of cutting a glass sheet, the method comprising:
- heating a heating element to a heat temperature;
positioning the glass sheet immediately adjacent to the heating element such that a cutting line of the glass sheet is aligned with the heating element;
engaging the glass sheet with a sharp-edged tool without forming a defect in the glass sheet; and
maintaining the glass sheet in position immediately adjacent to the heating element and engaged by the sharp-edged tool without relative motion between the glass sheet and the sharp-edged tool after engaging the glass sheet with the sharp-edged tool, whereby the glass sheet separates along the cutting line.
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Abstract
A method of cutting a glass sheet is disclosed. The method comprises heating a heating element to a heat temperature, which in turn heats a glass sheet along a desired cutting line, to a separation temperature. The glass sheet is subjected to non-destructive pressure at an edge on the cutting line. The non-destructive pressure may be applied by a tool with opposed sharp edges so long as the edges do not nick or otherwise score the glass sheet. A diagonal cutter may be utilized as the sharp-edged tool. After an adequate amount of heating time, the glass sheet will achieve the separation temperature and spontaneously separate along the heated cutting line.
37 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of cutting a glass sheet, the method comprising:
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heating a heating element to a heat temperature; positioning the glass sheet immediately adjacent to the heating element such that a cutting line of the glass sheet is aligned with the heating element; engaging the glass sheet with a sharp-edged tool without forming a defect in the glass sheet; and maintaining the glass sheet in position immediately adjacent to the heating element and engaged by the sharp-edged tool without relative motion between the glass sheet and the sharp-edged tool after engaging the glass sheet with the sharp-edged tool, whereby the glass sheet separates along the cutting line. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of cutting a glass sheet, the method comprising:
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heating a heating element to a heat temperature; suspending the glass sheet immediately adjacent to the heating element, the glass sheet comprising a cutting line and an edge, the cutting line intersecting the edge;
the glass sheet positioned such that the cutting line and the edge are immediately adjacent to the heating element and at least a portion of the cutting line is in direct contact with the heating element;holding the glass sheet at the edge adjacent to the heating element with a sharp-edged tool, the sharp-edged tool comprising two opposed sharp edges, the sharp-edged tool engaging the glass sheet without nicking the glass sheet and being positioned such that the two sharp edges align with the cutting line; maintaining the glass sheet in position immediately adjacent to the heating element to permit the glass sheet to achieve a separation temperature and applying heat asymmetrically to the glass sheet with the heating element along the cutting line, whereby the glass sheet separates along the cutting line. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus for cutting a glass sheet, the apparatus comprising:
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a heating element positionable immediately adjacent to the glass sheet and in alignment with a cutting line of the glass sheet; and a sharp-edged tool comprising a sharp edge engageable with the glass sheet along the cutting line without forming a defect in the glass sheet; wherein applying heat to the cutting line of the glass sheet with the heating element while engaging the glass sheet with the sharp-edged tool without relative motion between the glass sheet and the sharp-edged tool after engaging the glass sheet with the sharp-edged tool causes the glass sheet to separate along the cutting line. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification