Indexer system for use with a plastic pipe butt-fusion machine

An indexer system for use with a plastic pipe butt-fusion machine of the type of having a machine super-structure, parallel horizontal support shafts affixed to said super-structure, a first clamp system on said support shafts for removably grasping an end portion of a first length of plastic pipe, a second clamp system on said support shafts for removably grasping an end portion of a second length of plastic pipe and an actuator system for moving said clamp systems, and thereby plastic pipes grasped therein, towards and away from each other, the indexer system comprising:

• an indexer shaft mounted on said super-structure spaced from and parallel to said support shafts;
• an indexer carriage slidable on said indexer shaft;
• a facer and a heater separately and pivotally secured to said indexer carriage;
• an index cylinder for laterally positioning said indexer carriage to thereby selectably locate said facer and heater between lengths of plastic pipe as secured by said clamp systems;
• and
• a structural beam having opposed vertical side surfaces, the beam being secured to said super-structure and parallel to and spaced from said indexer shaft, said indexer carriage being slidably retained with respect to the structural beam by inner and outer rollers whereby said indexer carriage is retained in predetermined orientation relative to said horizontal support shafts.