Method and apparatus for cutting tubing
AssigneeThe Vulcan Tool Company
InventorsTerry R. Suitts, Rick L. Kelly
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for cutting tubing in which uncut tubing is fed over punches connected to an arbor extending the length of a machine from a cutting head. The cutting head includes dies operative with the punches to cut the tubing into tubing pieces. Lengths of tubing are received by a carriage and cut into the tubing pieces. The carriage is capable of detecting the leading edge of the tubing and the trailing edge of the tubing. The lengths of tubing and tubing pieces have a unidirectional material flow to the end of the apparatus.
Claims15
An apparatus for cutting lengths of tubing into tubing pieces, the apparatus comprising:
- feed means for feeding the lengths of tubing from a front end of the apparatus;
- carriage means for receiving the lengths of tubing, the carriage means including a first detection means for detecting the leading edge of the tubing and a second detection means for detecting the trailing edge of the tubing;
- cutting head means for cutting the lengths of tubing into the tubing pieces, said cutting head means having fixed and movable punches with a predetermined alignment with fixed and movable dies, said cutting head means further having an input side for receiving the lengths of tubing to encircle said punches, and an output side from which tubing pieces exit the cutting head means;
- an arbor connected to one of the punches and extending from the output side of the cutting head;
- and
- transport means for receiving the tubing pieces and moving the tubing pieces to an end of the apparatus remote from the cutting head means whereby the lengths of tubing and tubing pieces have a unidirectional material flow from the feed means to past a rear end of the apparatus.
An apparatus for cutting tubing, the apparatus comprising:
- feed means for feeding the tubing;
- carriage means for receiving the lengths of tubing, the carriage means including a first detection means for detecting the leading edge of the tubing and a second detection means for detecting the trailing edge of the tubing;
- a cutting head having fixed and movable punches in a predetermined alignment within fixed and movable dies for cutting the tubing into tubing pieces, said tubing entering the cutting head on an input side, encircling said punches, and exiting the cutting head on an output side;
- an arbor having a front end connected to one of the punches and extending from the output side of the cutting head;
- first means for securing the arbor to maintain the predetermined alignment of the one of the punches with the dies;
- and
- second means for securing the arbor to maintain the predetermined alignment of the one of the punches with the dies;
- transport means for advancing cut tubing pieces along said arbor past a rear end of said arbor.
A process for providing a unidirectional flow of tubing on a tube cutting machine from an input side of a cutting head to an end of the machine remote from an output side of the cutting head, said cutting head including a punch contiguous with an arbor extending from the output side of the cutting head to the end of the machine, the process comprising the steps of:
- (a) securing the arbor at a first point a predetermined distance from the cutting head;
- (b) feeding tubing into the input side of the cutting head to encircle the punch;
- (c) receiving the lengths of tubing on a carriage, the carriage including a first detection means for detecting the leading edge of the tubing and a second detection means for detecting the trailing edge of the tubing;
- (d) cutting the tubing to produce a tubing piece on the arbor on the output side of the cutting head;
- (e) transporting a tubing piece from a first location past the first point to a second location in the proximity of the end of the machine to discharge the tubing piece from the machine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.