Apparatus for forming tapered spiral tubes

Apparatus for forming tapered spiral tubes from metal strips, comprising:

• a spiral tube forming system for forming a metal strip into a spiral tube;
• a strip infeed system adapted for feeding a metal strip to the tube forming system and further adapted for pivotal movement relative to the tube forming system to vary the angle therebetween;
• a motor drive system operatively connected to the strip infeed system for effecting said pivotal movement;
• and a computer system operatively connected to the motor drive system for operating the motor drive system to selectively vary the diameter of the forming tube.

Apparatus for forming tapered spiral tubes from metal strips, comprising:

• a tube forming system for forming a metal strip into a spiral tube, said tube forming system comprising cooperating lead roll, buttress roll and mandrel sets;
• a strip infeed system adapted for feeding a metal strip to the lead roll set of said tube forming system;
• the strip infeed system and said tube forming system being oriented at an angle Θ) therebetween;
• the strip infeed system being mounted on wheels for pivotal movement relative to said tube forming system to vary the angle Θ;
• a motor drive system operatively connected to the strip infeed system for effecting said pivotal movement;
• and a computer system operatively connected to the motor drive system for operating the motor drive system to selectively vary the diameter of the forming tube.