Apparatus for forming flexible tubing

An interchangeable mandrel unit for forming a continuous, reinforced, flexible tube from an indefinite length of ribbon material, together with an indefinite length of wire, wherein said mandrel comprises:

• a plurality of angularly disposed cylindrical rollers which are rotatably juxtapositioned relative to each other, each roller being fixed at a given angular displacement with respect to the central longitudinal axis of said mandrel;
• a plurality of fixed annular grooves formed in each roller and arranged in progressive alignment with said fixed grooves of the adjacent rollers, to allow the forming tube to advance axially along said rollers;
• a support plate adapted to be secured in a fixed position and to rotatably support one end of said rollers thereon in a pre-aligned fixed position;
• a nonadjustable truss plate adapted to rotatably support the opposite end of said rollers thereon and being fixed in a predetermined position relative to said support plate;
• a centrally disposed mainstay defining said central longitudinal axis of said mandrel, said mainstay fixedly connecting said support plate and said truss plate together in said fixed predetermined position, whereby said rollers are interposed therebetween at a fixed predetermined angular displacement with respect to said mainstay and said nonadjustable truss plate;
• a first means for journalling said rollers in said support plate, and a second means for journalling said rollers in said truss plate, wherein said first and second journal means are angularly disposed in said respective support plate and truss plate in a fixed manner;
• a first locking means included between said support plate and said mainstay, and a second locking means included between said nonadjustable truss plate and said mainstay, whereby said first locking means prevents movement between said support plate and said mainstay, and said second locking means prevents movement between said mainstay and said nonadjustable truss plate.