Installation and method for manufacturing drip irrigation pipes
AssigneeThe Thomas Machines S.A.
InventorEberhard Kertscher
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Abstract
The invention concerns an installation for manufacturing a drip irrigation pipe (8) formed of a pipe (8) provided with drippers (4), including a dripper feed station (37), followed by an extrusion station (10), including an extrusion head (14) producing a tubular blank (22) and means for welding the drippers (4) to the inner wall of said blank (22), characterized in that the dripper welding means (4) include a support surface (50) and a counter-support surface (56) between which the drippers (4) are pressed against said tubular blank (22) so as to be welded thereto, said support (50) and counter-support (56) surfaces being arranged upstream of the calibrating means (24).
Claims4
A method of manufacturing a drip irrigation pipe formed of a pipe provided with drippers, comprising the following main steps:
- providing a dripper feed station, and an extrusion station including an extrusion head, calibrating means and means for welding the drippers to the inner wall of said pipe,
- continuously forming a tubular blank using said extrusion head,
- calibrating said tubular blank using calibrating means,
- conveying said drippers inside the tubular blank using the dripper feed station, and
- welding said drippers to said tubular blank formed upstream of said calibrating means using said welding means, wherein said drippers are welded inside said extrusion head.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.