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US 2004/0163512 A1Published application
Method and apparatus for processing a tube
OwnerJohn Quigleyinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
When a tube is to be cut into a plurality of sections, a tube feed assembly is operated to rotate the tube and to move the tube along its longitudinal central axis into a work station. The tube and a mandrel move into a telescopic relationship at the work station. The tube feed assembly presses an end of the tube against a stop surface on a stripper at the work station. A plurality of knives are moved into engagement with the tube to cut the tube. Relative movement between the stripper and mandrel separates the sections of the tube from the mandrel. A scrap end section of the tube is directed to a scrap receiving location. Other sections of the tube are directed to a product receiving location.
Claims53
A method of processing a tube, said method comprising the steps of:
- moving a first portion of the tube into a work station,
- cutting the first portion of the tube into a first plurality of sections,
- receiving a scrap section on which an end of the first portion of the tube is disposed at a scrap receiving location,
- receiving sections of the first portion of the tube other than the scrap section at a second receiving location which is separate from the scrap receiving location,
- moving a second portion of the tube into the work station,
- cutting the second portion of the tube into a second plurality of sections, and
- directing the second plurality of sections to the second receiving location which is separate from the scrap receiving location.
4 more elements
A method of processing a tube, said method comprising the steps of:
- moving a tube in a first direction along its longitudinal central axis to move a first portion of the tube into a work station,
- rotating the tube about its longitudinal central axis during movement of the first portion of the tube into the work station,
- cutting the first portion of the tube into a first plurality of sections,
- rotating the tube about its longitudinal central axis during cutting of the first portion of the tube,
- moving the tube in the first direction along its longitudinal central axis to move a second portion of the tube into the work station,
- cutting the second portion of the tube into a second plurality of sections, and
- rotating the tube about its longitudinal central axis during cutting of the second portion of the tube.
4 more elements
A method of processing a tube, said method comprising the steps of:
- moving a tube in a first direction along its longitudinal central axis to move a first portion of the tube and a mandrel into a telescopic relationship at the work station,
- pressing an end of the first portion of the tube against a stop surface at the work station,
- cutting the first portion of the tube into a first plurality of sections while continuing to press the end of the first portion of the tube against the stop surface and while the first portion of the tube and the mandrel are in a telescopic relationship, said step of cutting the first portion of the tube includes forming an end of a second portion of the tube,
- moving the second portion of the tube along its longitudinal central axis in a direction opposite to the first direction to move the second portion of the tube away from the first portion of the tube after performing said step of cutting the first portion of the tube,
- withdrawing the mandrel from the plurality of sections formed by cutting the first portion of the tube,
- moving the second portion of the tube along its longitudinal central axis to move the second portion of the tube and the mandrel into a telescopic relationship at the work station,
- pressing the end of the second portion of the tube against the stop surface at the work station, and
- cutting the second portion of the tube into a second plurality of sections while continuing to press the end of the second portion of the tube against the stop surface and while the second portion of the tube and mandrel are in a telescopic relationship.
5 more elements
A method of processing a tube, said method comprising the steps of:
- moving a tube along its longitudinal central axis to move a first portion of the tube into a work station,
- rotating the tube about its longitudinal central axis during movement of the first portion of the tube into the work station,
- rotating a mandrel, disposed the work station, about the longitudinal central axis of the tube,
- moving the first portion of the tube and the mandrel into a telescopic relationship with the mandrel inside the first portion of the tube while rotating the tube about its longitudinal central axis and while rotating the mandrel about the longitudinal central axis of the tube,
- cutting the first portion of the tube into a first plurality of sections at the work station while the first portion of the tube and the mandrel are disposed in a telescopic relationship and while rotating the tube and the mandrel about the longitudinal central axis of the tube,
- receiving a scrap section on which an end of the first portion of the tube is disposed at a scrap receiving location,
- receiving sections of the first portion of the tube other than the scrap section at a second receiving locating which is separate from the scrap receiving location,
- moving the tube along its longitudinal central axis to move a second portion of the tube into the work station after performing said step of cutting the first portion of the tube,
- rotating the tube about its longitudinal axis during movement of the second portion of the tube into the work station,
- moving the second portion of the tube and the mandrel into a telescopic relationship with the mandrel inside the second portion of the tube while rotating the tube about its longitudinal central axis and while rotating the mandrel about the longitudinal central axis of the tube,
- cutting the second portion of the tube into a second plurality of sections at the work station while the second portion of the tube and the mandrel are disposed in a telescopic relationship and while rotating the tube and the mandrel about the longitudinal central axis of the tube, and
- receiving the second plurality of sections at the second receiving location which is separate from the scrap receiving location.
9 more elements
An apparatus for use in processing a tube, said apparatus comprising:
- a feed assembly which is operable to move the tube along its longitudinal central axis to move a first portion of the tube into a work station,
- a mandrel disposed at the work station and having a central axis which is aligned with the longitudinal central axis of the tube as the first portion of the tube is moved into the work station by said feed assembly, said mandrel and first portion of the tube being movable into a telescopic relationship at the work station,
- a plurality of annular knives disposed in a linear array and rotatable about an axis extending parallel to the longitudinal central axis of the tube,
- a first drive assembly which is connected with said annular knives and is operable to rotate said annular knives about an axis which extends parallel to the longitudinal central axis of the tube, and
- a second drive assembly which is connected with said linear array of annular knives and is operable to move said annular knives into engagement with the first portion of the tube to cut the first portion of the tube into a plurality of sections while said mandrel is disposed in a telescopic relationship with the first portion of the tube and while said annular knives are being rotated by said first drive assembly.
2 more elements
A method of processing a tube, said method comprising the steps of:
- moving a tube along its longitudinal central axis to move at least a first portion of the tube into a work station,
- rotating the tube about its longitudinal central axis during movement of the first portion of the tube into the work station,
- rotating a mandrel, disposed the work station, about the longitudinal central axis of the tube,
- moving the first portion of the tube and the mandrel into a telescopic relationship,
- cutting tube into at least first and second sections with at least one knife while the tube and the mandrel are disposed in a telescopic relationship and while rotating the tube and the mandrel about the longitudinal central axis of the tube, and
- pressing an end of the first portion of the tube against a stop surface at the work station while performing said step of cutting the tube.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.