Method and apparatus for flexible manufacturing a discrete curved product from feed stock
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for manufacturing a discrete curved product from a feed stock, said apparatus comprising:
- a source of heat that is adapted to impose a focused beam of heat on at least one surface of a work piece to cause the surface of the work piece to expand and thereby move in the general direction of the heat source and impart a predetermined radius of curvature to the work piece.
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Abstract
An apparatus for manufacturing a discrete curved product from a feed stock includes a source of heat that is adapted to impose a focused beam of light on at least one surface of a work piece to cause the surface of the work piece to expand and thereby move in the general direction of the heat source so as to impart a predetermined radius of curvature to the work piece. In addition, a method of manufacturing a discrete curved product from feed stock is also disclosed.
42 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An apparatus for manufacturing a discrete curved product from a feed stock, said apparatus comprising:
a source of heat that is adapted to impose a focused beam of heat on at least one surface of a work piece to cause the surface of the work piece to expand and thereby move in the general direction of the heat source and impart a predetermined radius of curvature to the work piece. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus for manufacturing a discrete curved product from a feed stock, said apparatus comprising:
a source of heat that is adapted to impose a focused beam of heat on at least one surface of a work piece, said beam of heat defining a major axis and a minor axis on the work piece where the major axis of said focused beam of heat is disposed substantially transverse to the relative movement of the work piece with respect to the beam of heat, said transverse focused beam of heat imparting a predetermined radius of curvature about said major axis. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of manufacturing a discrete curved product from a feed stock, said method comprising the steps of:
providing a focused beam of heat on at least one surface of a work piece to cause the surface of the work piece to expand and thereby move in the general direction of the heat source and impart a predetermined radius of curvature to the work piece. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
Specification