Patent ID: 8756780

Claim:
An apparatus for inserting a spigot into a flexible tube, the apparatus including means for supporting and advancing a spigot and means for gripping a flexible tube, while the spigot is inserted therein, the means for gripping including: a pair of jaws movable together for gripping and releasing the tube, with sufficient strength to hold the tube but not crush the same, the jaws being contoured to receive the tube in alignment with the spigot and each jaw having: a main jaw element arranged such that a contour is facing a contour of the other main jaw element; and a movable front part movably mounted against a resistance on the main jaw element at an end of the jaws, the movable part being movable between: a free position extending from its main jaw element into a spacing between the pair of jaws when the jaws are opened; a closed jaw position aligned with the main jaw elements when the jaws are closed with the tube gripped therebetween; and an outward position retracting out from the spacing between the main jaw element and into its main jaw element upon insertion of the spigot into the tube when the tube is between the movable front jaw parts such that under the force of the advancing spigot at least one or both movable parts of the jaws can release sufficiently to allow the spigot to pass into the tube, while retaining the tube in the apparatus; the movable front part of the jaws being tapered at their front edges facing the means for supporting and advancing the spigot, to ease insertion of the spigot.