Schott Glas

Schott Spezialglas Gmbh

Schott Ag

Dirk Hauer

Bernd Hoetzel

Berndt Hoetzel

Georg Geissler

Heinz-Georg Geissler

Heinrich Ostendarp

Holger Wegener

Christoph Hermanns

Helmut Larm

Ruediger Hepp

Johannes Wagner

Andrew Blunck

Ralf Steinfartz

Juergen Stein

Thomas Lüttgens

The apparatus for cutting a flat glass work piece along a curved dividing line includes a laser generating a laser beam having a linear beam profile and an optical system with a scanner for producing a curvilinear focal point from the laser beam. The apparatus also moves a cold spot along the curved dividing line following the curvilinear focal point. A trajectory control device controls the position of the curvilinear focal point on the curved dividing line via actuators. A profile control device controls the contour of the curvilinear focal point according to trajectory data from the curved dividing line, so that all points of the curvilinear focal point lie on or coincide with the curved dividing line. The apparatus adjusts the length of the curvilinear focal point by adjusting scanning amplitude of the scanning motion.

Method and device for cutting flat work pieces made of a brittle material

An arrangement for cutting a flat workpiece includes a drive unit for generating a relative movement between the focused laser beam () and the workpiece (). The laser beam induces a thermomechanical stress in the workpiece along the cutting line. A scoring tool () generates an initial score at the start of the cutting line. A 'flying' scoring is provided wherein a unit () moves the scoring tool (). The unit is coupled in a controlled manner to the cutting movement of the laser beam () so that the scoring tool () can be brought into a short-time scoring working engagement with the workpiece () at the start of the cutting movement.

Method and device for cutting a flat workpiece that consists of a brittle material

The cutting of the flat glass plate () into rectangular plates with a predetermined edge length is performed by forming initial cracks at the beginning of cutting lines on the glass plate and moving a laser beam along the cutting lines followed by a cooling spot to induce a thermo-mechanical stress alone the cutting lines. First the glass plate () is cut apart into partial plates () along first parallel cutting lines spaced according to the predetermined edge length. Then the cut apart glass plate is rotated by 90&#xb0; and the partial plates () are moved apart from each other. Subsequently the partial plates that have been moved apart are cut apart alone several parallel second cuts () perpendicular to the first cuts. This method facilitates exact placement of the initial cracks.

Method and device for cutting a flat glass plate into a number of rectangular plates

In the method for cutting flat glass work pieces a laser beam having a linear beam profile followed by a cold spot is moved along a curved dividing line ( ) on the work piece. A linear focal point ( ) is produced on the work piece by scanning the laser beam. Trajectory data from the curved dividing line ( ) is made available during every scanning motion and scanning is controlled so that all points of the curvilinear focal point ( ) lie on or coincide with the curved dividing line ( ). A length of the curvilinear focal point is adjusted according to the curvature of the curved dividing line by adjusting scanning amplitude of the scanning motion. Preferably the laser beam output is adjusted as a function of the length of the curvilinear focal point.

Method and device for the separation of flat workpieces made from a brittle material

To shorten the processing time in modern plants for cutting away pieces or sections from a continously moving endless material, e.g. a glass strip, one after the other by flying cutting the cutting bridge carrying the cutting device ( ) is accelerated until at a speed within a predetermined tolerance range of the feed speed of the continuously running endless material. Then the cutting bridge speed is synchronized for each piece or section to be cutaway and the cutting away of each piece or section takes place after the synchronization. To attain a very high precision cutting the spacing of the front cut edge formed when the previous piece or section is cut away from the cutting device is measured by means of an image-taking device ( ) prior to cutting away of the next piece or section. Then the measured spacing is compared with a set value for the spacing and the speed of the cutting bridge is synchronized or fine tuned according to the comparison prior to cutting away the next piece or section.

Method for continuously cutting away pieces from a continuously moving endless material

Apparatus for continuously cutting away pieces from a continuously moving endless material

The method of making a freeform cut on a work piece made of brittle material, such as glass, includes producing a linear focal point from a laser beam and a cold spot following the linear focal point on the work piece so that at least 60 percent of a laser beam energy output is concentrated at opposite ends of the linear focal point; moving the linear focal point along a specified contour for forming the cut and adjusting a length of the focal point according to a contour line curvature, so that the opposite ends lie on the contour, even when the contour is curved, in order to make the freeform cut. The device for performing this method includes a numerical trajectory control device ( ) for positioning the linear focal point as it moves along the contour and a profile control device ( ) cooperating with the numerical trajectory control device ( ) for controlling a length (S) of the linear focal point ( ).

Method and device for cutting flat work pieces of a brittle material

The method and apparatus for cutting through flat workpieces 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 symmetric to the cutting line is produced on the workpiece. This heat radiation spot has edge portions with elevated radiation intensity and is moved along the cutting line on the workpiece and the heated section of the cutting line is subsequently cooled. A scanner motion produces the heat radiation spot so that edge portions of elevated radiation intensity coincide with a V- or U-shaped curve, which is open at the leading end of the heat radiation spot. The peak portion of the V- or U-shaped curve on the cutting line is at a temperature maximum that is under the melting point of the workpiece material. A controller of the scanning motion controls the scanner in circular cutting and freeform cutting so that a curved V- or U-shaped intensity distribution which fits the curved cutting path arises.

Method and apparatus for cutting through a flat workpiece made of

The method and apparatus for cutting through flat workpieces 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 symmetric to the cutting line is produced on the workpiece. This heat radiation spot has edge portions with elevated radiation intensity and is moved along the cutting line and/or the workpiece and the heated section of the cutting line is subsequently cooled. A scanner motion produces the heat radiation spot so that edge portions of elevated radiation intensity coincide with a V- or U-shaped curve, which is open at the leading end of the heat radiation spot. The peak portion of the V- or U-shaped curve on the cutting line is at a temperature maximum that is under the melting point of the workpiece material. A controller of the scanning motion controls the scanner in circular cutting and freeform cutting so that a curved V- or U-shaped intensity distribution which fits the curved cutting path arises.

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Ingelheim, Germany

Dirk Hauer