Patent ID: 6209607
Filing Date: 2001-04-03
Classification: B29C,B29L

Abstract:
An apparatus for defining a winding drum that is rotatable about a drum axis to helically wind an extruded strip of thermoplastic from an extruder around the perimeter of said drum to form a conduit having an inner diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of said drum, said apparatus comprising:a rotatable drive mechanism;an axially elongated hub structure mounted on said drive mechanism so as to rotate about said drum axis upon operation of said drive mechanism;a plurality of rollers; anda plurality of plates having support structures that receive opposite ends of said rollers to removably support said rollers on said hub structure in a cylindrical array at a predetermined radial displacement from said drum axis in order to define said outer diameter of said drum;said plates including a plurality of pairs of interchangeable plates that are interchangeable on said hub structure while said hub structure remains mounted on said drive mechanism, said pairs including a first pair of interchangeable plates configured to support a first number of said rollers on said hub structure at a first radial displacement from said drum axis, and a second pair of interchangeable plates configured to support a second, greater number of said rollers on said hub structure at a second, greater radial displacement from said drum axis.