Machine and method for forming continuous tubing

Abstract

A machine for and a method of forming a continuous tubing of flexible material, said tubing being wound in helical fashion and having interlocking edge portions. The machine includes a pair of spaced askew related rollers about which a strip of flexible material is wound, one of the rollers having a plurality of annular fins spaced apart the width of the strip of flexible material to partially receive the strip between portions of adjacent fins. The other of said rollers may have a single annular fin. Guide means contact external surfaces of edge interlocking portions of the wound strip. Both of said rollers are driven at the same speed. In the method of forming such a flexible continuous tube the improvement comprises positively engaging internal surfaces of turns of the strip being wound for advancing the strip in one direction and positively engaging external surfaces of a portion of at least one turn of the strip being wound for guiding the strip on the pair of rollers.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.