Patent GB-668515-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in machines for making collapsible tubes
IPC: B21D51/36
Filed: 1950-06-05
Abstract: 668,515. Making collapsable tubes. ATF., Inc. June 5, 1950 [June 10, 1949], No. 13999/50. Classes 83 (ii), 83 (iii) and 83 (iv). A machine for forming collapsable tubes from tubular bodies A comprises a turntable T mounting a plurality of tube supports P, means for imparting a step-by-step movement to the turntable to bring each of the supports P successively to a plurality of stations, one constituting a discharge station, holding fingers F to engage the tubes on the supports, and rendered inoperative at the discharge station, and means at the discharge station for removing the tubular bodies from the supports P. Cylindrical supports 52, Figs. 1 and 9, mounted on an intermittently rotated plate 50 receive blanks from a hopper 56 whose lower end is opened at appropriate intervals by a cam and lever operated shutter 62, and carry them in turn to an idle station X, a station XI where the bottom of each tube A is flared by a vertically reciprocating tool 74, Fig. 16, while the top of the tube engages an adjustable stop 90, and a loading station where the tube is ejected from the support 52 on to one of the supports P of the turntable T by a plunger 92, Fig. 20, mounted on a vertically reciprocating ram-rod 96. Each tube is lightly held while in a support 52 by a holding finger which is released by a cam surface when a tube is being received into or discharged from a support; Figs. 13-15 (not shown). The plate 50 is indexed through gearing by a plate 276, Figs. 3 and 6, mounted on the turntable shaft 278, a positive location of the plate 50 at each position being achieved by the engagement with each cylinder 52 in turn of a spring-loaded plunger 290, Fig. 16, carried on a shaft 296 vertically reciprocated by a cam track 306 and bell-crank lever 302. The next index after the loading station aligns the cylinder 52 over an aperture 316, Fig. 9, and an ejector rod 318 reciprocates in and out of the support to remove any tube not successfully loaded on to a mandrel P. A tube A having been deposited on a mandrel P, the table T is indexed by the plate 276, having eight apertures 374 into each of which in turn engages an index pin 378 carried by a crank-arm 376 operated by a cam 390. In order to effect clearance between the magazine and the table T the table is lowered prior to an index step and raised again after the step has been completed. For this purpose a pin 106 on ram 108, Fig. 7, enters a seat 112 in the table to prevent rotation while lowering, the stroke of the ram being such that the pin 106 moves downward out of the seat 112 and allows the table to be indexed. The ram and pin then rise again to engage with the next seat 112 which has been moved to a locking position. Corrugating; rolling.-At the first index of the turntable the tube is positioned at a crimping station and its upper end is crimped, Fig. 24, by ball-ended rods 115, Fig. 23, arranged between relatively rotatable members 610, 612, the member 610 being oscillated to crimp and then free the tube by a segmental gear 126 operated from a cam 132. The table is then indexed to the next station where the cylindrical end portion and about half the crimped portion of the tube are rolled to provide a portion which is formed into the tube neck, Fig. 28. The rolls 134, Figs. 26 and 30, are each carried on a stud 136 mounted on a pivoted arm 138 and spring- urged outwardly from the longitudinal axis of the tube by a spring 144, the assembly being rotatable about the axis of a shaft 150 driven by a pulley 152 splined to the shaft to allow vertical movement of the shaft. A conical cam 154 on the lower end of the shaft is operatively engageable with rollers 156 on the arms 138, downward movement of the cam causing the rolls 134 to move inwardly to engage the tube. A rod 176 rigidly mounted with respect to the frame enters the neck of the tube on upward movement of the table and maintains the inner diameter of the neck during rolling. The next station is an idle station. Forging.-At the station after said idle station the neck is compressed and threaded. The upper part of the tube enters a cavity 179 in a plate 180, Fig. 38, on upward movement of the table, the configuration of the cavity producing the shoulder of the tube by compression of the corrugations formed in the lower crimped portion of the tube. Split dies 182 -operated by adjustable links, Fig. 37 (not shown), from a cam receive the neck, and a shouldered plunger 177 moves downwardly to upset the metal into the thread configurations. The plunger 177 is loosely attached to a piston 322, Fig. 34, vertically reciprocable by toggle links 330 from a cam, and initially adjusted by a turnbuckle 334. Relief springs 356 prevent overloading of the machine should excess material accumulate in the dies. Turning.-At the next station flash is removed from the upper edge of the tube neck by a bevelling knife 210, Figs. 40, 41, carried by an annular sleeve 212 on a plug 214 rotated by a shaft 216 adjustably positioned by a screw mechanism 218 and rotated by a belt-driven pulley 220. The sleeve 212 is capable of limited vertical movement on the plug 214. The cutting mechanism is shrouded and the metal cuttings are blown by an air blast into a bag 232. The next station is an idle station. At the next index movement the mandrel arrives at the discharge station. Spring-loaded, pivoted fingers F which hold the tube on the mandrel P are opened by a cam 408 on upward movement of the table, the upper part of the tube entering simultaneously into a flexible sleeve 236, Fig. 46, which is inflated by air through a valve controlled passage 240, the valve 242 being operated to inflate the sleeve by the engagement of the tube with the valve stem. The valve and sleeve are carried on a bracket 258 carried by the vertically reciprocable shaft 96, Fig. 20, operated from a crank 102. Upward movement of the shaft and downward movement of the table T removes the mandrel P from the tube. A cam follower 262 on the bracket 258 engages a slot 264 whose contour causes the bracket to oscillate about the shaft 96 to position the tube over a discharge shoot and also causes the valve to operate to deflate the sleeve 236 and cause the tube to be released. Each mandrel P comprises a hardened steel bushing 364, Fig. 38, and a rubber sleeve 372. Specification 587,018 is referred to.