US4146380A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for subdividing a gas filled glass tube with a laser
Assignee: American Atomics Corp
•
Filing: 1977-06-30
•
Granted: 1979-03-27
•
Expires: 1997-06-30
Abstract
Abstract A focused laser beam is directed at the wide side surface of a long, sealed, gas-filled, glass tube having a longitudinal axis and an elongated cross section. Repeated relative back and forth movement is introduced between the laser beam and the wide surface of the tube transverse to its longitudinal axis to heat and soften the tube along a cut line until the tube divides to form ends and collapses to seal the divided ends. Preferably, the tube is held in fixed position, while the laser beam is scanned across both of its wide side surfaces. The intensity and/or the velocity of the laser beam are modulated. After the tube divides along the cut line, the divided ends are annealed while still in the tube holder by defocusing the laser beam. In one embodiment, plural simultaneous cuts are made by directing a plurality of focused laser beams onto the tube at spaced intervals along its longitudinal axis.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas E. Caffarella
- 👤 George J. Radda
- 👤 David J. Watts
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 23:16
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01J; H01J9/00; H01J9/40; C; C03; C03B; C03B23/00; C03B23/18; C03B33/00; C03B33/08; C03B33/085; C03B33/0855
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 83
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
A method of subdividing into individual sealed segments a long, sealed glass tube coated on the inside with a luminophor and filled with a radioactive gas, the tube having a longitudinal axis and an elongated cross section with a wide side surface, the method comprising the steps of: directing a laser beam at the wide side surface of the tube in an ambient atmosphere having a higher pressure than the gas in the tube; introducing repeated relative back and forth movement between the laser beam and the wide side surface of the tube transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tube to heat and soften the tube along a cut line until the tube divides to form ends and collapses to seal the divided ends; and annealing the sealed ends with the laser beam after division by reducing the intensity of the beam.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
143 words
A method of subdividing into individual sealed segments a long, sealed glass tube coated on the inside with a luminophor and filled with a radioactive gas, the tube having a longitudinal axis and an elongated cross section with a wide side surface, the method comprising the steps of: directing a laser beam at the wide side surface of the tube in an ambient atmosphere having a higher pressure than the gas in the tube; introducing repeated relative back and forth movement between the laser beam and the wide side surface of the tube transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tube to heat and soften the tube along a cut line until the tube divides to form ends and collapses to seal the divided ends; and annealing the sealed ends with the laser beam after division by reducing the intensity of the beam.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1, additionally comprising the step of increasing the intensity of the laser beam during the relative movement.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 1, in which the relative movement between the laser beam and the tube across the wide side surface is sinusoidal, the velocity of the relative movement being maximum at the middle of the wide side surface and decreasing toward the edges of the wide side surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 3, in which the step of introducing relative movement between the laser beam and the tube comprises holding the tube stationary and moving the laser beam.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
105 words
The method of claim 1, in which the tube has a second wide side surface opposite the first named wide side surface, the method additionally comprising the steps of: directing a second laser beam at the second wide side surface of the tube; and introducing repeated relative back and forth movement between the second laser beam and the second wide side surface of the tube transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tube in alignment with the first named laser beam to heat and soften the tube along the cut line until the tube divides to form ends and collapses to seal the divided ends.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
118 words
A method of producing miniature tubular radioactive light sources by subdividing into individual sealed segments a long, sealed glass tube filled with a radioactive gas, the tube having a longitudinal axis, the method comprising the steps of simultaneously: holding a long glass tube in a stationary position in an ambient atmosphere having a higher pressure than the gas in the tube; moving a laser beam across the surface of the long glass tube along a cut line transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tube to heat and soften the tube until the tube divides to form ends and collapses to seal the divided ends; and decreasing the intensity of the laser beam to anneal the divided ends.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
118 words
A method of producing miniature tubular radioactive light sources by subdividing into individual sealed segments a long, sealed glass tube filled with a radioactive gas, the tube having a longitudinal axis, the method comprising the steps of simultaneously: holding a long glass tube in a stationary position in an ambient atmosphere having a higher pressure than the gas in the tube; moving a laser beam across the surface of the long glass tube along a cut line transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tube to heat and soften the tube until the tube divides to form ends and collapses to seal the divided ends; and decreasing the intensity of the laser beam to anneal the divided ends.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 6, additionally comprising the step of increasing the intensity of the laser beam while moving the laser beam across the surface of the tube.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of subdividing into individual sealed segments a long, sealed glass tube coated on the inside with a luminophor and filled with a radioactive gas, the tube having a longitudinal axis, the method comprising the steps of simultaneously: directing a plurality of laser beams onto the tube at spaced intervals along the longitudinal axis in an ambient atmosphere having a higher pressure than the gas in the tube; and introducing relative movement between the laser beams and the tube across the surface of the tube transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tube to heat and soften the tube simultaneously along a plurality of cut lines at the spaced intervals until the tube divides along each cut line to form ends and collapses to seal the divided ends.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of subdividing into individual sealed segments a long, sealed glass tube coated on the inside with a luminophor and filled with a radioactive gas, the tube having a longitudinal axis, the method comprising the steps of simultaneously: directing a plurality of laser beams onto the tube at spaced intervals along the longitudinal axis in an ambient atmosphere having a higher pressure than the gas in the tube; and introducing relative movement between the laser beams and the tube across the surface of the tube transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tube to heat and soften the tube simultaneously along a plurality of cut lines at the spaced intervals until the tube divides along each cut line to form ends and collapses to seal the divided ends.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 8, in which the step of introducing relative movement between the laser beams and the tube comprises holding the tube in a stationary position and moving the laser beams across the surface of the tube.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 9, in which the tube has an elongated cross section with a wide side surface, and the step of moving the laser beams across the surface of the tube comprises scanning the laser beams back and forth across the wide side surface of the tube.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 10, in which the beams are scanned back and forth across the tube sinusoidally with a maximum velocity at the middle of the wide side surface of the tube and decreasing the velocity toward the edges of the wide side surface of the tube.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 8, additionally comprising the step of annealing the divided ends with the plurality of laser beams after division.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 8, additionally comprising the step of increasing the intensity of the laser beam during the relative movement.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
136 words
A method of subdividing into individual sealed segments a long, sealed glass tube coated on the inside with a luminophor and filled with a radioactive gas, the tube having a longitudinal axis, the method comprising the steps of: directing a focused laser beam at the tube in an ambient atmosphere having a higher pressure than the gas in the tube; introducing relative movement between the laser beam and the tube transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tube to heat and soften the tube along a cut line until the tube divides to form ends and collapses to seal the divided ends; and increasing the intensity of the laser beam during the relative movement to preheat the cut line uniformly to a temperature below the fusion temperature of the tube before division of the tube begins.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
136 words
A method of subdividing into individual sealed segments a long, sealed glass tube coated on the inside with a luminophor and filled with a radioactive gas, the tube having a longitudinal axis, the method comprising the steps of: directing a focused laser beam at the tube in an ambient atmosphere having a higher pressure than the gas in the tube; introducing relative movement between the laser beam and the tube transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tube to heat and soften the tube along a cut line until the tube divides to form ends and collapses to seal the divided ends; and increasing the intensity of the laser beam during the relative movement to preheat the cut line uniformly to a temperature below the fusion temperature of the tube before division of the tube begins.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 14, in which the intensity increasing step increases the intensity of the laser beam continuously during the movement step.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 15, in which the intensity increasing step increases the intensity of the laser beam at a constant rate during the movement step.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
78 words
The method of claim 14, in which the intensity increasing step comprises in the order recited, increasing the intensity of the laser beam to an intermediate level, holding the intensity of the laser beam constant at the intermediate level to preheat the cut line uniformly to a temperature below the fusion temperature of the tube, and further increasing the intensity of the laser beam to a high level to divide rapidly the tube to form the sealed ends.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 14, in which the tube has an elongated cross section with a wide side surface, and the step of introducing relative movement between the laser beam and the tube comprises holding the tube in a stationary position and repeatedly scanning the laser beam back and forth across the wide side surface of the tube.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 18, additionally comprising the step of modulating the velocity of the scanning beam to increase moving from the edges of the wide side surface toward the center of the wide side surface and to decrease moving from the center of the wide side surface toward the edges of the wide side surface.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
85 words
The method of claim 18, in which the holding step comprises holding the tube at two spaced apart positions along the longitudinal axis on opposite sides of the laser beam, the method additionally comprising the steps of: defocusing the laser beam after formation of the sealed ends to impinge upon the sealed ends; and introducing relative movement between the laser beam and the tube transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tube during the defocusing step until the sealed ends of the tube are annealed.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 14, in which the introducing step introduces repeated relative back and forth movement between the laser beam and the tube.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 21, in which the step of introducing repeated relative back and forth movement between the laser beam and the tube comprises holding the tube stationary and moving the laser beam.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 14, in which the step of introducing relative movement between the laser beam and the tube comprises holding the tube stationary and moving the laser beam.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
125 words
A method of subdividing into individual sealed segments a long, sealed glass tube coated on the inside with a luminophor and filled with a radioactive gas, the tube having a longitudinal axis, the method comprising the steps of: directing a laser beam at the tube in an ambient atmosphere having a higher pressure than the gas in the tube; introducing relative movement between the laser beam and the tube transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tube to heat and soften the tube along a cut line until the tube divides to form ends and collapses to seal the divided ends; and changing the velocity of the relative movement between the laser beam and the tube to uniformly heat the glass along the cut line.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
125 words
A method of subdividing into individual sealed segments a long, sealed glass tube coated on the inside with a luminophor and filled with a radioactive gas, the tube having a longitudinal axis, the method comprising the steps of: directing a laser beam at the tube in an ambient atmosphere having a higher pressure than the gas in the tube; introducing relative movement between the laser beam and the tube transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tube to heat and soften the tube along a cut line until the tube divides to form ends and collapses to seal the divided ends; and changing the velocity of the relative movement between the laser beam and the tube to uniformly heat the glass along the cut line.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
98 words
The method of claim 24, in which the step of introducing relative movement between the laser beam and the tube introduces repeated relative back and forth movement between the laser beam and one side of the tube to define a scan path, and the step of changing the velocity of the relative movement increases the velocity of the relative movement moving from the edges of the scan path toward the middle of the scan path, and decreases the velocity of the relative movement moving from the middle of the scan path toward the edges of the scan path.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 24, in which the step of changing the velocity of the relative movement comprises introducing repeated sinusoidal back and forth movement.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 24, in which the introducing step comprises introducing repeated relative back and forth movement between the laser beam and the tube.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 27, in which the step of introducing repeated relative back and forth movement between the laser beam and the tube comprises holding the tube stationary and moving the laser beam.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 24, in which the step of introducing relative movement between the laser beam and the tube comprises holding the tube stationary and moving the laser beam.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
150 words
A method of subdividing into individual sealed segments a long, sealed glass tube coated on the inside with a luminophor and filled with a radioactive gas, the tube having a longitudinal axis, the method comprising the steps of: holding the tube at two spaced apart positions along the longitudinal axis; directing a laser beam at the tube between the holding positions in an ambient atmosphere having a higher pressure than the gas in the tube; introducing relative movement between the laser beam and the tube transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tube; focusing the laser beam during an initial portion of the moving step to heat and soften the tube along a cut line until the tube divides to form ends and collapses to seal the divided ends; and defocusing the laser beam during a final portion of the moving step of anneal the divided ends of the tube.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
150 words
A method of subdividing into individual sealed segments a long, sealed glass tube coated on the inside with a luminophor and filled with a radioactive gas, the tube having a longitudinal axis, the method comprising the steps of: holding the tube at two spaced apart positions along the longitudinal axis; directing a laser beam at the tube between the holding positions in an ambient atmosphere having a higher pressure than the gas in the tube; introducing relative movement between the laser beam and the tube transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tube; focusing the laser beam during an initial portion of the moving step to heat and soften the tube along a cut line until the tube divides to form ends and collapses to seal the divided ends; and defocusing the laser beam during a final portion of the moving step of anneal the divided ends of the tube.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 30, in which the holding step holds the tube in a stationary position.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 30, in which the tube has an elongated cross section with a wide side surface and the step of introducing relative movement between the laser beam and the tube comprises introducing repeated back and forth relative movement across the wide side surface.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 32, additionally comprising the step of modulating the velocity of the relative movement between the laser beam and the wide side surface of the tube.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
96 words
In combination with apparatus for subdividing a long radioactive gas-filled sealed glass tube into individual sealed tube segments by means of a laser beam, a holder for the long tube comprising: a body having an elongated slot in which the tube slidably fits; means for permitting the laser beam to pass through the body to the slot in the region where the long tube is to be subdivided; means for holding the long tube on both sides of the region where it is to be subdivided; and means for pushing the long tube through the slot.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
96 words
In combination with apparatus for subdividing a long radioactive gas-filled sealed glass tube into individual sealed tube segments by means of a laser beam, a holder for the long tube comprising: a body having an elongated slot in which the tube slidably fits; means for permitting the laser beam to pass through the body to the slot in the region where the long tube is to be subdivided; means for holding the long tube on both sides of the region where it is to be subdivided; and means for pushing the long tube through the slot.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
78 words
The combination of claim 34, in which the tube has a rectangular cross section with a width and a thickness, the slot in open along one side to form an open side and a closed side opposite the open side that is wider than the open side, the width of the tube being narrower than the closed side and wider than the open side, and the thickness of the tube being smaller than the depth of the slot.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
35 words
The combination of claim 35, in which the means for permitting the laser beam to pass through the body to the tube comprises an opening through the body to the closed side of the slot.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
44 words
The combination of claim 36, in which the holding means comprises first and second ball plungers on one end of the slot between the open side and the closed side of the slot to urge the tube toward the opposite end of the slot.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
32 words
The combination of claim 37, in which the sliding means comprises a body having a tongue with a cross section matching that of the slot, the tongue being slidable in the slot.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
136 words
A laser glass working system comprising: a laser source that emits a laser beam; a work station remote from the laser source, the work station including a tube holder for holding an elongated glass tube having two flat oppositely disposed side surfaces, the holder having laser access opening means exposing the flat side surfaces of the tube along a region of its length; means for splitting the beam emitted by the laser source into two parts; means for directing the two parts of the beam at the work station from opposite directions so the two parts of the beam directed at the work station from opposite directions pass through the laser access opening means; and means for scanning the two parts of the beam directed at the work station back and forth in the same plane.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
136 words
A laser glass working system comprising: a laser source that emits a laser beam; a work station remote from the laser source, the work station including a tube holder for holding an elongated glass tube having two flat oppositely disposed side surfaces, the holder having laser access opening means exposing the flat side surfaces of the tube along a region of its length; means for splitting the beam emitted by the laser source into two parts; means for directing the two parts of the beam at the work station from opposite directions so the two parts of the beam directed at the work station from opposite directions pass through the laser access opening means; and means for scanning the two parts of the beam directed at the work station back and forth in the same plane.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
68 words
The system of claim 39, in which the scanning means comprises a galvanometer controlled oscillating mirror in the path of each part of the beam, the mirror being deflected by an amount dependent upon the magnitude of the signal applied to a galvanometer, a single source of an oscillating signal, and means for applying the oscillating signal from the single source to both galvanometers for deflecting the mirrors.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 40, additionally comprising a lens for focusing each part of the beam at the work station.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
67 words
The system of claim 41, in which the beam splitting means comprises a beam splitter and a stationary mirror oriented to direct the two parts of the beam parallel to each other on opposite sides of the work station and the oscillating mirrors lie in the parallel paths of the two parts to intercept the two parts and direct them at the work station from opposite directions.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system of claim 42, in which the lenses are located between the beam splitter and the stationarymirror on the one hand and the oscillating mirrors on the other hand in the parallel paths of the two parts of the beam.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
52 words
The system of claim 39, in which the work station additionally includes means for incrementally moving the tube longitudinally in the holder, the moving means being operative during a first time period in which the tube is moving and bein inoperative during a second time period in which the tube in stationary.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 44, additionally comprising means for preventing laser energy from impinging upon the tube during the first period, the laser energy being free to impinge upon the tube during the second period.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 39, in which the work station additionally includes a sealed chamber enclosing the tube holder and means for pressurizing the sealed chamber.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
116 words
A laser working system for cutting along glass tubes at a work station, the system comprising: a laser source that emits a laser beam of variable intensity, remote from the work station; a glass tube holder at the work station; means for directing the laser beam at the tube holder; a source of a periodic signal; means responsive to the periodic signal for producing a corresponding periodic relative movement between the tube holder and the laser beam directed at the tube holder; and means responsive to the periodic signal for varying the intensity of the laser beam to synchronize the laser beam intensity variations to the relative movement between the laser beam and the tube holder.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
116 words
A laser working system for cutting along glass tubes at a work station, the system comprising: a laser source that emits a laser beam of variable intensity, remote from the work station; a glass tube holder at the work station; means for directing the laser beam at the tube holder; a source of a periodic signal; means responsive to the periodic signal for producing a corresponding periodic relative movement between the tube holder and the laser beam directed at the tube holder; and means responsive to the periodic signal for varying the intensity of the laser beam to synchronize the laser beam intensity variations to the relative movement between the laser beam and the tube holder.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 47, in which the source of periodic signals is an electrical sine wave generator.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system of claim 48, in which the means for introducing relative movement between the tube holder and the laser beam comprises means for introducing repeated relative back and forth movement between the laser beam and the tube holder.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system of claim 49, in which the tube holder is fixed to the work station, and the means for introducing relative back and forth movement comprises means for deflecting the laser beam directed at the tube holder back and forth across the tube holder.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 50, in which the means for varying the intensity of the laser beam rises the intensity of the laser beam continuously at a constant rate during a time interval equal to a given number of cycles of the periodic signal.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
81 words
The system of claim 50, in which the means for varying the intensity of the laser beam rises the intensity of the laser beam from a low value to an intermediate value, maintains the intensity of the laser beam at the intermediate value for a time interval equal to a given number of cycles of the periodic signal, and raises the intensity of the laser beam from the intermediate value to a high value at the end of the time interval.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system of claim 52, in which the means for varying the intensity of the laser beam maintains the intensity of the laser beam at the high value for a time interval equal to a given number of cycles of the periodic signal.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system of claim 47, in which the tube holder is fixed to the work station, and the means for introducing relative back and forth movement comprises means for deflecting the laser beam directed at the tube holder back and forth across the tube holder.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
121 words
A laser glass working system comprising: a laser source that emits a laser beam; a work station remote from the laser source adapted to hold a glass tube; means for splitting the beam emitted by the laser source into two parts; means for directing the two parts of the beam at the work station from opposite directions; means for scanning the two parts of the beam directed at the work station back and forth in the same plane; and means for modulating the intensity of the laser beam emitted by the laser source in increasing fashion while scanning the two parts of the beam back and forth to first heat slowly and then cut rapidly the tube at the work station.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
121 words
A laser glass working system comprising: a laser source that emits a laser beam; a work station remote from the laser source adapted to hold a glass tube; means for splitting the beam emitted by the laser source into two parts; means for directing the two parts of the beam at the work station from opposite directions; means for scanning the two parts of the beam directed at the work station back and forth in the same plane; and means for modulating the intensity of the laser beam emitted by the laser source in increasing fashion while scanning the two parts of the beam back and forth to first heat slowly and then cut rapidly the tube at the work station.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 1, in which the modulating means comprises means for increasing the intensity of the laser beam at a constant rate while scanning.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
64 words
The system of claim 55, in which the modulating means comprises means while scanning for increasing the intensity of the laser beam to an intermediate level, means for holding the intensity of the laser beam constant at the intermediate level to slowly heat the tube, and means for increasing the intensity of the laser beam to a high level to cut rapidly the tube.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
77 words
The system to claim 55, in which the scanning means deflect the two parts of the beam back and forth responsive to an electrical signal, the system additionally comprising a source of a periodic electrical signal, means for applying the periodic electrical signal to the scanning means to deflect the two parts of the beam accordingly, and means for applying the periodic electrical signal to the modulating means to synchronize the modulation to the periodic electrical signal.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
103 words
A laser working system comprising: a laser source that emits a lase beam; a work station remote from the laser source; means for splitting the beam emitted by the laser source into two parts; means including deflector means for directing the two parts of the beam at the work station from opposite directions for movement in the same plane; a source of an electrical sine wave signal; and means responsive to the source of the electrical signal for controlling the deflector means to deflect the two parts of the beam directed at the work station back and forth in the same plane sinusoidally.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
103 words
A laser working system comprising: a laser source that emits a lase beam; a work station remote from the laser source; means for splitting the beam emitted by the laser source into two parts; means including deflector means for directing the two parts of the beam at the work station from opposite directions for movement in the same plane; a source of an electrical sine wave signal; and means responsive to the source of the electrical signal for controlling the deflector means to deflect the two parts of the beam directed at the work station back and forth in the same plane sinusoidally.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
118 words
The method of claim 10, in which the tube has a second wide side surface opposite the first named wide side surface, the method additionally comprising the step of: directing a second plurality of focused-laser beams at the second wide side surface of the tube at spaced intervals along the longitudinal axis; and introducing repeated relative back and forth movement between the second plurality of laser beams and the second wide side surface of the tube transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tube in alignment with the first named plurality of laser beams to heat and soften the tube along the cut lines until the tube divides to form ends and collapses to seal the divided ends.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 6, additionally comprising the steps of advancing the tube axially relative to the laser beam and repeating the directing, introducing, and annealing steps.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 8, additionally comprising the steps of advancing the tube axially relative to the laser beam and repeating the directing and introducing steps.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 14, additionally comprising the steps of advancing the tube axially relative to the laser beam and repeating the directing, introducing, and increasing steps.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 24, additionally comprising the steps of advancing the tube axially relative to the laser beam and repeating the directing, introducing, and changing steps.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 39, in which the work station includes means for advancing the tube to expose another region of the tube's length.
Claim 77
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 47, in which the tube holder includes means responsive to the periodic signal for incrementally moving the tube longitudinally in the holder.
Claim 78
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 66, in which the means for varying the intensity of the laser beam turns to laser beam off during the incremental movement of the tube.
Claim 79
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system of claim 47, in which the means for varying the intensity of the laser beam rises the intensity of the laser beam continuously at a constant rate during a time interval equal toa given number of cycles of the periodic signal.
Claim 80
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 68, in which the tube holder includes means responsive to the periodic signal for incrementally moving the tube longitudinally in the holder.
Claim 81
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 69, in which the means for varying the intensity of the laser beam turns the laser beam off during the incremental movement of the tube.
Claim 82
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 55, in which the work station includes means for intermittently advancing the tube transverse to the beam scanning.
Claim 83
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 59, in which the work station includes means for intermittently advancing the tube transverse to the plane.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-03-26 | 1982-09-25 | 1983-03-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-03-26 | 1986-09-25 | 1987-03-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-03-26 | 1990-09-25 | 1991-03-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |