Method and apparatus for producing pipes for drip irrigation

A technique for manufacturing extruded drip irrigation lines including drip irrigation elements having a non-circular cross section comprising the steps of:

• extruding a drip irrigation conduit;
• and
• heat welding discrete drip irrigation elements having a non-circular cross section to a portion of the interior surface of the drip irrigation conduit extending over less than the entire circumference thereof, the step of heat welding including the following steps:
• sequentially feeding discrete drip irrigation elements through the interior of the drip irrigation conduit;
• and
• causing individual drip irrigation elements to establish initial contact with the extruded conduit as the extruded conduit is undergoing linear motion at a first velocity substantially greater than the velocity of the individual drip irrigation element.

A technique for manufacturing extruded drip irrigation lines including drip irrigation elements having a non-circular cross section comprising the steps of:

• extruding a drip irrigation conduit;
• and
• heat welding discrete drip irrigation elements having a non-circular cross section to a portion of the interior surface of the drip irrigation conduit extending over less than the entire circumference thereof, the step of heat welding comprising the following steps:
• sequentially feeding discrete drip irrigation elements through the interior of the drip irrigation conduit;
• causing individual drip irrigation elements to establish initial contact with the extruded conduit as the extruded conduit is being stretched to its final cross sectional dimensions, the velocity of the drip irrigation element upon initial contact being nearly zero;
• and
• completing heat welding of the elements to the conduit when the conduit has substantially reached its final cross sectional dimension.

A technique for manufacturing extruded drip irrigation lines inducing drip irrigation elements having a non-circular cross section including the steps of:

• extruding a drip irrigation conduit;
• and
• heat welding discrete drip irrigation elements having a non-circular cross section to a portion of the interior surface of the drip irrigation conduit extending over less than the entire circumference thereof, the steps of heat welding comprising the following steps:
• sequentially feeding discrete drip irrigation elements through the interior of the drip irrigation conduit;
• and
• causing individual drip irrigation elements to establish initial heat welding contact with the extruded conduit as the extruded conduit is undergoing linear motion at a first velocity which is less than the final velocity of the extruded conduit, said step of causing comprising moving a portion of the individual drip irrigation element with a component of motion transverse to the linear motion of the extruded conduit and into contact with an interior surface thereof.

A technique for manufacturing extruded drip irrigation lines including drip irrigation elements having a non-circular cross section comprising the steps of:

• extruding a drip irrigation conduit;
• and
• heat welding discrete drip irrigation elements having a non-circular cross section to a portion of the interior surface of the drip irrigation conduit extending over less than the entire circumference thereof, the step of heat welding including the following steps:
• sequentially feeding discrete drip irrigation elements through the interior of the drip irrigation conduit;
• and
• intermittently pushing the extruded conduit at a first area with a component of motion transverse to the linear motion thereof into contact with the drip irrigation elements as the extruded conduit is undergoing linear motion at a velocity which is less than the final velocity of the extruded conduit.

A technique for manufacturing extruded drip irrigation lines including drip irrigation elements having a non-circular cross section including the steps of:

• extruding a drip irrigation conduit;
• and
• heat welding discrete drip irrigation elements having a non-circular cross section to a portion of the interior surface of the drip irrigation conduit extending over less than the entire circumference thereof, the step of heat welding including the following steps
• sequentially feeding discrete drip irrigation elements through the interior of the drip irrigation conduit;
• and
• causing individual drip irrigation elements to establish initial contact with the extruded conduit while the extruded conduit has a linear velocity less than its final linear velocity.

Apparatus for manufacturing extruded drip irrigation lines including drip irrigation elements having a non-circular cross section comprising:

• means for extruding a drip irrigation conduit;
• and
• means for heat welding discrete drip irrigation elements having a non-circular cross section to a portion of the interior surface of the drip irrigation conduit extending over less than the entire circumference thereof, the means for heat welding comprising:
• means for sequentially feeding discrete drip irrigation elements through the interior of the drip irrigation conduit;
• means for causing individual drip irrigation elements to establish initial contact with the extruded conduit when the extruded conduit has not yet reached its final cross sectional dimensions;
• and
• means for completing heat welding of the elements to the conduit when the conduit has substantially reached its final cross sectional dimensions.

Apparatus for manufacturing extruded drip irrigation lines including drip irrigation elements having a non-circular cross section comprising:

• means for extruding a drip irrigation conduit;
• means for heat welding discrete drip irrigation elements having a non-circular cross section to a portion of the interior surface of the drip irrigation conduit extending over less than the entire circumference thereof, the means for heat welding comprising:
• means for sequentially feeding discrete drip irrigation elements through the interior of the drip irrigation conduit;
• and
• means for causing individual drip irrigation elements to establish initial contact with the external conduit as the extruded conduit is undergoing linear motion at a first velocity substantially greater than the velocity of the individual drip irrigation element.

Apparatus for manufacturing extruded drip irrigation lines including drip irrigation elements having a non-circular cross section comprising:

• means for extruding a drip irrigation conduit;
• and
• means for heat welding discrete drip irrigation elements having a non-circular cross section to a portion of the interior surface of the drip irrigation conduit extending over less than the entire circumference thereof, the means for heat welding including:
• means for sequentially feeding discrete drip irrigation elements through the interior of the drip irrigation conduit;
• and
• means for causing individual drip irrigation elements to establish initial contact with the extruded conduit while the extruded conduit has a linear velocity less than its final linear velocity.

Apparatus for manufacturing extruded drip irrigation lines including drip irrigation elements having a non-circular cross section comprising:

• means for extruding a drip irrigation conduit;
• and
• means for heat welding discrete drip irrigation elements having a non-circular cross section to a portion of the interior surface of the drip irrigation conduit extending over less than the entire circumference thereof, the means for heat welding comprising:
• means for sequentially feeding discrete drip irrigation elements through the interior of the drip irrigation conduit;
• means for causing individual drip irrigation elements to establish initial heat welding contact with the extruded conduit as the extruded conduit is undergoing linear motion at a first velocity which is less than the final velocity of the extruded conduit, said step of causing comprising moving a portion of the individual drip irrigation element with a component of motion transverse to the linear motion of the extruded conduit and into contact with an interior surface thereof.

Apparatus for manufacturing extruded drip irrigation lines including drip irrigation elements having a non-circular cross section comprising:

• means for extruding a drip irrigation conduit;
• and
• means for heat welding discrete drip irrigation elements having a non-circular cross section to a portion of the interior surface of the drip irrigation conduit extending over less than the entire circumference thereof, the means for heat welding comprising:
• means for sequentially feeding discrete drip irrigation elements through the interior of the drip irrigation conduit;
• and
• means for intermittently pushing the extruded conduit at a first area with a component of motion transverse to the linear motion thereof into contact with the drip irrigation elements as the extruded conduit is undergoing linear motion at a velocity which is less than the final velocity of the extruded conduit.