Patent ID: 6305624
Filing Date: 2001-10-23
Classification: B03B,H01J,Y02W

Abstract:
System for recycling for the purpose of re-utilizing the components of defective or spent fluorescent tubes, which are made of a straight glass tube, which exhibits a gas filling under low pressure, a coating of a fine luminescent powder applied on the inside circumference of the glass tube and whose two ends exhibit metal connecting bases,comprising a conveying device, on which the fluorescent tubes, which are arranged parallel to each other, adjacent to each other and perpendicular to the conveying device, can be conveyed past processing stations in a substantially horizontal manner,comprising a feed station, which precedes the conveying device in order to feed the delivered fluorescent tubes to the conveying device,comprising a perforating station, where a slit in the glass tube can be produced at least on one end of the fluorescent tubes for the purpose of relieving the negative pressure prevailing in the glass tube,comprising a severing station for severing the sealing and connecting caps from the glass tube of the respective fluorescent tube,comprising a blow-out station, where the phosphor is blown out of the respective glass tube by means of a blast of air along the length of said tube,and comprising a breaking station, where the glass tube can be comminuted into free-flowing fragments,characterized inthat the conveying device can be driven continuouslyand that the perforating station has on at least one end and the severing station has on both ends of the respective fluorescent tubes burner strips with adjacent nozzle orifices, which are arranged close together in a row arranged in a straight line in the conveying direction and which melt the ends of the glass tube into the shape of a slit.