Patent ID: 8408268

Claim:
Apparatus for forming a cylindrical body from a length of material comprising: (a) a turret having one or more pockets, said turret being rotatable about an axis; (b) a cylindrical mandrel positioned in one or more of said pockets, each of said mandrel being rotatable in said pocket about its own axis, the path followed by the outermost portion of each said mandrel as it is rotated on said turret axis defining a circle, or a segment of a circle; (c) a slot in said mandrel, said slot being parallel to said mandrel axis; (d) a susceptor positioned in said slot; (e) means for hearing said susceptor; (f) a dispenser for feeding a length of material having a leading end and a trailing end to each said mandrel as it rotates about its own axis and is rotated about said turret axis, said leading end and an adjacent portion to said leading end contacting said mandrel and said susceptor followed by said length being wrapped therearound, said trailing end and an adjacent portion of said length overlying a portion of said length adjacent said leading end; said overlying portion bring aligned with and heated by said susceptor; and (g) means for urging said overlying portion into engagement with said susceptor to effect a seal, said means for urging comprising an engagement member and a cam for directing movement of said engagement member toward said trailing end and said susceptor.