US 4,642,083 A · Method and apparatus for making and manipulating inner tubes for use in dry cells or the like

Abstract

Discrete sheets of separator material for use in dry cells are introduced tangentially into an annular clearance between the cylindrical internal surface of an outer tool and the cylindrical peripheral surface of an inner tool, and the inner tool is rotated about its axis while one or more spring-biased rollers urge the sheet in the clearance against its peripheral surface so that the sheet is converted into an inner tube which tends to expand radially and is introduced into an outer tube in response to axial shifting of the inner tool. A shoulder between the inner tool and a support for the inner tool pushes one end face of the inner tube from the clearance, and the inner tube is free to expand radially into contact with the internal surface of the respective outer tube in response to complete expulsion from the outer tool. The inner tool is then rotated in a direction to expand the inner tube prior to extraction of the inner tool from the outer tube, and the inner tube is held against extraction from the outer tube with the inner tool by the adjacent end face of the outer tool.

Claims39

Dependent claims

A method of introducing inner tubes into outer tubes, comprising the steps of converting a series of discrete sheets of flexible material into inner tubes including feeding successive sheets of the series into an annular clearance which is disposed between the internal surface of an outer tool and the peripheral surface of an inner tool, and rotating one of the tools about the axis of the clearance to wind the sheet around the inner tool;

advancing each of the thus obtained inner tubes axially into a discrete outer tube, including moving the inner tool with the inner tube into the respective outer tube;
rotating the inner tool relative to the inserted inner tube in a direction to promote radial expansion of the inner tube and separation of the thus expanded inner tube from the inner tool;
and thereupon extracting the inner tool from the inner tube.

Apparatus for introducing inner tubes into outer tubes, comprising an outer tool having a substantially cylindrical passage;

an inner tool receivable in said passage to define with said outer tool an annular clearance, said outer tool having an inlet extending substantially longitudinally of and communicating with said clearance;
a source of supply of discrete sheets consisting of a flexible material;
means for feeding successive sheets from said source into said clearance by way of said inlet;
means for rotating said inner tool relative to said outer tool about the axis of said clearance so that successive sheets which enter said clearance are converted into inner tubes, said inner tool having a roughened peripheral surface to promote the winding of sheets onto said inner tool;
and means for advancing successively formed inner tubes into discrete outer tubes.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for making and manipulating inner tubes for use in dry cells or the like

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for making and manipulating inner tubes for use in dry cells or the like

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims39