An apparatus for welding together at least one pair of thermoplastic hoses, said apparatus having an open position and a closed position, said apparatus comprising:
- a first clamping unit having:
- two first clamping jaws;
- and
- a first intermediate piece being positioned between said first clamping jaws and being configured to define first through-passages, said first through-passages being located between said respective first clamping jaws and said first intermediate piece;
- said first clamping jaws being capable of being linearly shifted relative to each other from and to the open and closed position, wherein said first through-passages are provided for inserting the at least one pair of thermoplastic hoses parallel to each other in said first through-passages in the open position, and wherein said two first clamping jaws are provided for squeezing the at least one pair of thermoplastic hoses transverse to each other in the direction of their common positional plane in the closed position, said first intermediate piece being provided for separating the at least one pair of thermoplastic hoses from each other in the closed position;
- a second clamping unit being aligned with said first clamping unit, said second clamping unit having:
- two second clamping jaws;
- and
- a second intermediate piece being positioned between said second clamping jaws and being configured to define second through-passages, said second through-passages being located between said respective second clamping jaws and said second intermediate piece;
- said second clamping jaws being capable of being linearly shifted relative to each other from and to the open and closed position, wherein said second through-passages are provided for inserting the at least one pair of thermoplastic hoses parallel to each other in said second through-passages in the open position, and wherein said two second clamping jaws are provided for squeezing the at least one pair of thermoplastic hoses transverse to each other in the direction of their common positional plane in the closed position, said second intermediate piece being provided for separating the at least one pair of thermoplastic hoses from each other in the closed position;
- a heatable blade for cutting through the at least one pair of thermoplastic hoses at a location between said first clamping unit and said second clamping unit and for creating at least two pairs of cut thermoplastic hoses having respective melted edges, wherein at least one pair of said cut thermoplastic hoses is located in said first clamping unit and at least one pair of said cut thermoplastic hoses is located in said second clamping, unit;
- wherein each one of said two first clamping jaws comprises an inner and an outer clamping jaw, said inner clamping jaws being respectively held by said outer clamping jaws;
- and
- wherein said inner clamping jaws and said first intermediate piece are capable of being turned together inside of and in relation to said outer clamping jaws during the closed position for transposing locations of said at least one pair of cut thermoplastic hoses in said first clamping unit, and for effecting the welding of said respective melted edges of said at least one pair of cut thermoplastic hoses located in said first clamping unit with said respective melted edges of said at least one pair of cut thermoplastic hoses located in said second clamping unit.