Patent GB-924199-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in the formation of tubular bodies
IPC: B31B3/36
Filed: 1961-12-08
Abstract: 924,199. Making tubes. FRANK M. SAYFORD CO. Dec. 8, 1961 [Dec. 12, 1960], No. 43999/61. Class 99(2). Apparatus for forming tubular bodies from preformed blanks of flexible materials comprises body forming means having a blankreceiving recess and an opening for feeding the blank into the recess, means for feeding the blank endwise into the recess, means for urging the blank snugly against the walls of the recess to form the tubular body, and means for securing adjoining edges of the formed tubular body one to the other to complete formation of the body. As shown, the apparatus comprises blank feeding means 11, forming means 12, transporting and sealing means 13 for the formed cups, and cup body removing and stacking means 14, and is driven by an electric motor coupled by a belt 15 to a pulley 16 on a main power distribution shaft 17 which includes power take-off worm gears 18, 19 and 20. Blank feeding means. The means 11 comprises a circular plate 21 secured to a member 24 carried by a frame element 25 which includes L-shaped elements that slidably engage tracks 27 forming part of the machine base 10; for adjusting the apparatus and for the purpose of maintenance the member 25 is displaced longitudinally of the base by a rack 28 and pinion 29 rotatable by a crank 30, the worm gears 19, 20 being slidably mounted on the shaft 17. The plate 21 has an outer peripheral portion which is dished upwardly and carries the cup blanks 32; a portion of the plate is removed at 33 to accommodate the blank means 12. The blanks 32 are placed in the apparatus in the form of three individual stacks and moved about the periphery of the plate by three sets of blank retaining and feeding means 34 each comprising pairs of arms 35, 36 secured to a central plate 37 secured to a shaft 40 which extends through the member 24 and carries a gear 19<SP>1</SP> which meshes with the worm gear 19. The stacks of cup blanks are carried continuously about the plate 21 and each time a stack passes over the cut-out 33 the lowermost blank is picked up by the cupforming apparatus to form a cup body. Cup body forming means. A reciprocable block 40 having a central conical or tapered opening 41 which determines the outside diameter and configuration of the cup body cooperates with a conical vacuum feeding roller 42 which feeds successive blanks into the opening, and the block is secured to a carriage 43 slidably mounted on a pair of rods 44 supported by a U-shaped member 45 having an elongated slot in the under-side thereof and carried on brackets 47 attached to the frame member 46. The block remains fixed relative to the cup sealing and transporting means 13. The surface of the roller 42 is formed with vacuum ports 50 and the roller carries a drive gear 51, the assembly being rotatably carried on a horizontal shaft having an air outlet for the purpose of applying suction to the roller. The vacuum roller assembly is continuously rotated during operation of the machine by a worm gear 20 and worm wheel, the latter being carried by a shaft 55 mounting a gear 56 which meshes with a gear 57 the rotation of which drives, through gear 59, shaft 60, bevel gears 61, 62, shaft 63 and gear 64, the gear 51. Operation of the roller 42 is phased with the angular displacement of the stacks of blanks 32 so that as a stack of blanks is fed past the edge 33<SP>1</SP> of the opening 33 in plate 21 a set of vacuum ports 50 engages and grips the leading edge of the lowermost blank 32, and as rotation of the roller continues the blank is fed downwardly and through a side opening 41<SP>1</SP> in the block 40; at this point a second set of vacuum ports 50 continues holding engagement with the blank and urges the blank further into the conical opening 41, this action continuing until the edges of the blank are in overlapping relationship. The block 40 is then moved away from the blank feeding apparatus 11 and into engagement with the mandrel 48, periodic reciprocation of the mandrel being accomplished by a lever 66 pivotally engaging the carriage 43. The lever 66 is pivotally secured to a rod 71 which is pivotally secured to an arm 74 secured on a vertical shaft 75 carried within a sleeve 75<SP>1</SP>, the arm 74 being oscillated by an arm 76. An arcuate link 78 connected to a fixed pivot 79 is pivoted to the arm 76 and includes a cam follower roller 80 which rides in a cam slot 81 of a cam wheel 82 carried on a shaft 83 mounting a worm wheel 18<SP>1</SP> which meshes with the worm gear 18. A clamping arm 65 moves through the opening 41<SP>1</SP> in the side of the block 40 to press the edges of the cup body firmly one against the other, and at this point the block 40 is moved away from the mandrel 48 and into a position preparatory to the reception of the next blank 32 to be formed into a cup body; during this interval the means 13 is automatically indexed to bring the next successive mandrel into position to complete the formation of the next successive cup body. Cup body sealing and transporting means. The mandrels 48 are carried by a hub 84 on a shaft 85 to the lower end of which is fitted a slotted indexing wheel 88 having radially disposed slots, a cam wheel or pin 89 successively enters each slot and displaces the cam wheel through an angle of 60 degrees so that the mandrels are successively indexed into position. Each mandrel is provided with a clamp 65 which is moved into engagement with a cup body on the mandrel and remains in engagement with the body until just prior to removal of the finished body from the apparatus. The clamps 65 each consist of an arm 90 pivotally secured to a bracket 92, and a cam 94 functions in synchronism with the indexing of the head 84 to operate the clamps. An arm 97 provided with a cam wheel 98 and secured to the arm 90 of each clamp cooperates with the cam 94, and a spring 99 urges the arm towards the associated mandrel. The cam 94 is operated by a vertical shaft 101 extending through the hub 84 and carrying a lever pivotally attached to a link reciprocated by an arm carried on the shaft 83. The cup body is preferably provided with a temperature and pressure responsive adhesive along one edge prior to placement on the feeding means so that on formation of the cup body the adhesive lies between the overlying edges, and each mandrel has an insert enclosing a heating element connected to an insulated slip ring on the hub 84 and on to which the overlapped edges are pressed by the clamp. Cup body extracting mechanism. Three spring fingers 113 are moved over a mandrel 48 until the inwardly formed end portions 114 of the fingers pass the enlarged end of the cup body, the members 113 then being moved outwardly away from the mandrel to carry the body off the mandrel. The fingers are supported on one or more supports 116 mounted on a carriage 115 reciprocated by a link 117 pivotally secured to a lever 119 rotatably carried by a vertical shaft 75 which is rotated by the links 76 and 78, the latter having a cam follower driven by the cam wheel 82. In modifications, (a) the block 40<SP>1</SP>, Fig. 19, has a longitudinal sector of width greater than 90 degrees removed from the block and two auxiliary rollers, 123 carried on a shaft 124 are held by springs 127 in engagement with the vacuum roller 42, and the sealing means or clamp has an inner face covered with felt or other resilient padding and curved to conform to the desired configuration of the cup body; a tapered guide 132 ensures proper engagement of the extending portion of the cup body with the sealing means or clamp, and (b) the mandrel 48<SP>1</SP>, Fig. 24, is hollow and has a central transverse member 136 carrying an angularly movable ball 137 secured to a rod 140 which cooperates with an opening 139 in a plate 138 to limit angular motion of the mandrel, this arrangement ensuring accurate alignment of the mandrel with the cavity in the block 40 and with the clamp 142 the clamping head of which is in the shape of a quadrant having an opening for a heating element 147.