Method and apparatus for forming openings in polymeric tubing

Apparatus for automatically and continuously producing openings of selected diameter and spacing in hollow, thin-walled, unperforated polymeric tube material, the apparatus comprising:

• first means for continuously moving the unperforated tube material along an axis in a first direction from a tube receiving station to a tube discharging station;
• a drill head having axially-spaced end walls and at least one actuatable tool for forming an opening in the wall of said tube material, the drill head being adapted to position a length of unperforated tubing between the end walls and move from said receiving station to said discharging station when said length of unperforated tube material is positioned between the end walls;
• and
• second means for automatically moving said drill head in said first direction and oppositely in a second direction, said second means being operable to move said drill head in unison with said tube material and in said first direction to said tube discharging station whereat said tube is discharged and thereafter to move said drill head in said second direction to said tube receiving station whereat to receive a new length of unperforated tube material and to repeat the process,
• said second means operating to actuate said at least one tool and form an opening in said length of tubing while said drill head is moving in said first direction and from said tube receiving to said tube discharging station.

Apparatus for perforating corrugated multi-wall tubing as the tubing passes along an axial path thereof, the apparatus comprising:

• a drill head having an inlet end wall spaced from an outlet end wall and an array of actuatable tools between said end walls, said drill head being movable between a tube receiving station and a tube discharging station,
• first means for advancing a length of tubing between said tube receiving and tube discharging stations, the advancing of said tubing positioning a length of tubing between the end walls of said drill head,
• second means for moving the drill head between said tube receiving and tube discharging stations and in unison with the length of tubing between the end walls of said drill head, and
• third means for actuating said actuatable tools while the drill head is moving between said tube receiving and tube discharging stations.