Method of cutting tubular members and apparatus therefor

1. A method of cutting a textile sleeve containing polymeric yarn, comprising:

moving the textile sleeve along a central longitudinal axis into a position to be cut;

providing a heated cutting blade operably connected to an actuator;

actuating the actuator to move the cutting blade conjointly and solely along a straight linear axis; and

bringing a cutting region of the cutting blade into direct cutting engagement with the textile sleeve, wherein the cutting region brought into direct cutting engagement with the textile sleeve is about 2 times greater in length than a diameter of the textile sleeve.

2. The method of claim 1 further including orienting a cutting edge of the cutting blade in oblique relation to the straight liner axis.

3. The method of claim 2 further including orienting the cutting edge to extend between 15 and 30 degrees relative to the straight linear axis.

4. The method of claim 2 further including orienting the cutting edge to extend between 30 and 45 degrees relative to the straight linear axis.

5. The method of claim 1 further including orienting the straight linear axis of cutting blade travel in substantially perpendicular relation to the central longitudinal axis of the textile sleeve.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the textile sleeve has diametrically opposite apexes aligned along the straight linear axis of cutting blade travel, and further including making initial cutting contact with the cutting blade against the textile sleeve in circumferentially spaced relation from the apexes.

7. The method of claim 1 further including clamping the textile sleeve while the cutting blade is in cutting engagement with the textile sleeve.

8. The method of claim 1 further including providing the textile sleeve having a circumferentially discontinuous wall with an open seam extending substantially parallel to the central longitudinal axis.

9. An apparatus for cutting a tubular textile sleeve containing polymeric yarn, comprising:

an actuator moveable over a full stroke along a straight linear axis;

an elongate, heated cutting blade operably connected to said actuator for conjoint movement solely under the influence of said actuator solely along said straight linear axis; and

said elongate cutting blade having a cutting edge extending in oblique relation to said straight liner axis, said cutting edge having a cutting region that is brought into direct cutting contact with the tubular sleeve over the full stroke of said actuator, said cutting region being about 2 times greater in length than a diameter of the tubular textile sleeve.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said cutting edge extends between 15 and 30 degrees relative to said straight linear axis.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said cutting edge extends between 30 and 45 degrees relative to the straight linear axis.