US2300567A - Tube wall juxtaposing mechanism - Google Patents

Description

NOV. 3, 1942. HALLEAD 2,300,567

.TUBE-WALL JUXTAPOSING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 16, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l 7,1" 7 I INVENTOR- 1 16-61 ME/ V/l. HALLEAD.

ATTORNEYS.

1942- M. HALLEAD Q 2,300,567

TUBE-WALL JUXTAPOSING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 16} 1959 E'Sheets-Sheet 2 lmu 5 E g E E "21 Z8 T 2a r I (Ii /W INVENTOR. IVE/E V/L HILLEAD.

ATTORNEYS.

"//////////I//////I//I///I////// Patented Nov. 3, 1942 UNITE ST v FFlQE TUBE WALL JUXTAPOSING MECHANISM Application January 16, 1939, Serial No. 251,145

14 Claims.

In closing collapsible tubes after filling, it has been usual to flatten or fishtail the ends of the tubes by members which enter the ends of the tubes from above. The tubes are frequently filled and closed as part of a continuous series of oper-' ations in which the tubes are carried cap side down in holders on a conveyor, and at various stations are subjected to cleaning, filling, closing and other operations. Thus, at one station, by way of example, fingers have been caused to enter the tube from above, and the fingers have then been drawn apart, so as to form the tube end into an initial fishtail. Thereafter the juxtaposition of the tube wall portions is completed by clamplike members which move in from the sides.

The use of fishtailing means which enter the tube has certain serious disadvantages. In spite of all precautions taken in filling the tubes, the

entering fingers or other means frequently pick up some of the filling material. This condition occurs especially when tubes are given a fat fill; and is troublesome even when tubes are to be closed by folding over the juxtaposed tube walls and crimping them orusing a sealing clip.

The collection of material by the spreader fingers is cumulative, and smeary closures are frequently produced. Also there is an important cleaning problem, as will be evident.

However, when the tubes are to be sealed by welding together the juxtaposed end portions of the walls, it is vital that the juxtaposed portions beabsolutely' free from foreign matter, including the material filled'into the tubes, or good welds and anhermetic seal cannot be obtained. Not only must the tubes be filled with precaution against splashing or stringing-out of the contents, but they must also be fishtailed in such a way as to prevent the rise of the material between the walls. And-the use of members'entering the ends' of the tubes; which members may pick upmaterial, is likely to result in a long succession-of imperfect welds, even where they do not tend-to pick up material cumulatively.

A fundamental object of my invention, therefore; isthe provision of a means and method for shaping the ends of tubes so that the tube'walls may be juxtaposed, all without the use of any members which enterthe tubes.

The ancillary objects of my invention will be set forth hereinafter, or will be clear to one skilled in th'e'artupon reading these specifications; and I accomplish these objects by that certain conlowed out to form sockets into struction and arrangement of parts of which I 55 shall now describe an exemplary embodiment. Reference is made to the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 illustrates my improved preformer as used in forming the chisel type tube closure seen in Figure 4.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the preformers in closed position.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the tube after removal from the preformers.

Figure 4 shows the finished tube with the'bot tom seal and fold in conventional manner.

Figure 5 shows the device of Figure 1 combined with means for producing the fat-fill tube of Figures 8 and 9.

Figure 6 is a perspective View of a member used in obtaining the fat-fill.

Figure '7 shows the tube after leaving the mechanism of Figure 5, and also indicates straightedged flattening members.

Figures 8 and 9 are elevational views of a fatfill tube. I

Figure 10 shows a preferred form of mechanism for actuating the preformers, the mechanism here being in open or at rest position.

Figure 11 shows the mechanism of Figure 10 just before the resilient preformers begin to collapse the open end of the tube.

It is not generally possible successfully to collapse or fishtail the ends of tubes by merely bringing against them straight edged members from the outside. Clamping members may be relied uponto juxtapose the tube walls, but usually only after they have been so far shaped as to be capable of being squeezed together accurately. I have found that I can shape the ends of tubes without the use of members entering them if I employ curved resilient members as hereinafter taught. Figures 1 to 9 inclusive illustrate such members and their actions and results in a diagrammatic way. Referring to these figures, l illustrates a collapsible tube which may be thought ofas held in cap side down position in a holder on a conveyor. The numerals 2 and 3 indicate operating members, which are to be moved inwardly or toward each other during the shaping of the tube, as shown by the arrows. These operating members hold the formers 4 and 5, which are of a resilient material. I have found a resilient material like rubber to'be best for my purpose although other materials may likewise be employed. In the form illustrated;

the' heads of the operating members are hole which integral, button-like portions of the formers are engaged; This is a practical and convenient construction;

but it may be varied as will be obvious. In the form shown, the members are held in assembled relationship by pins 3, which may be readily withdrawn when it is desired to change the preforming elements.

The forming elements have an inner surface, i. e., the surface nearest the tube, which is preferably curved, when the member is relaxed, substantially to the curvature of the unformed tube walls. This does not need to be exact however, since tubes of different diameters may be treated without changing forming elements providing the change in diameter is not too great. When the tube is in position, and the elements are brought against it, as clearly shown in Figure 2, the result is to form an initial spreading of the walls of the character shown at I in Figure 3. This is a formation of rounded character in which the tube walls are not fully juxtaposed but in which they have been given a shape such that the juxtaposition may be perfectly done by means of straight-edged clamping members brought in from the sides. Exemplary clamping members are shown in dotted lines at It in Figure 7. The clamping members generally used both in machines which juxtapose and fold over the ends, of tube walls and in machines which juxtapose the walls and weld them together are entirely suitable for this purpose. Where supporting members are not employed, the result is the chisel shaped tube closure shown at 8 in Figure 4.

It will be understood that the shaping of the tube walls may be carried further than the rounded conformation hereinabove described a and also described hereinafter in connection with the so-called fat-fill. I may if desired not only preliminarily shape the tube walls but also fully juxtapose them, which may be done by moving the members carrying the resilient elements further, so that the resilient elements flatten out sufiiciently fully to juxtapose the tube walls, as will be readily understood. This is not usually necessary, however, since clamping means are employed both in connection with welding operations for the tube walls and also in connection with folding devices; and as has been explained, these clamping means may be relied upon to juxtapose the tube walls after they have been given the rounded conformation described and illustrated by me.

To form a fat fill closure, the procedure is essentially the same, but includes the use of supporting means for the tube to determine the lines on which the tube will bend during fishtailing. The supporting means of my co-pending application filed May 24, 1938, entitled Means for preparing collapsible tubes for sealing, Serial Number 209,765, are preferred; but other types may be employed. In Figure 5, I have illustrated the use of the same preforming or shaping means as before, giving them the same index numerals. These are shown in use in connection with supporting means of divided character and comprising supporting parts 9 and If! each provided with an operating member II or l2, One of the supporting members is illustrated in perspective in Figure 6. It will be observed that when the supporting members are brought together, they embrace the tube and act as means to prevent the deformation of the tube walls except along the upper edges of the supporting members, which edges are shaped to define the lines on which the deformation is to occur. In particular, it willbe noted that the portions of the supporting members transverse to their direction of movement are shaped to maintain the substantially cylindrical curvature of the tube walls to a point very close to the fishtail. When the supporting members are used in connection with my preformers, the resultant fishtail (when they are brought together as in Figure 2) is shown at l3 in Figure 7. When the tube walls are collapsed and juxtaposed by the clamps, and a fold made therein, the fishtail appears in end elevation as shown at M in Figure 8 and [5 in Figure 9 in side elevation.

In illustrating a commercial embodiment of my device, I shall describe it as a part of the mechanism of the tube filler, closer, and sealer of the copending application of Fechheimer and myself, entitled Tube filling and sealing means, Serial Number 174,079, filed November 11, 1937; and the mechanism shown in Figures 10 and 11 of this case may be considered as substituted for the tube fishtailing means and station disclosed therein. I have not illustrated in my present drawings such parts of the machine as are not directly connected with the mechanism of this invention. The frame of the machine is indicated at l6. At I1 I have shown a housing covering the mechanism, supporting certain parts thereof, and overlying the conveyor l8 upon which the tubes are held in suitable holders 1%). The mechanism is operated by a cam B on the main cam shaft 20 of the machine. ing operated upon is indicated at 2! In Figures 10 and 11, an arm A, of bell crank shape and pivoted on a suitable support as at 22, bears a cam follower riding in a cam groove in the cam B. The left hand end of the arm A thus is caused to move up and down. The arm A bears at this end a pin A, which engages forklike extensions of bell crank shaped arms C and D. These members are themselves pivoted respectively at C and D to main arms of bell crank shape marked E and F and pivoted to a stationary external support respectively at E and F, Supporting members 9 and H], which are provided with bracket means H are secured thereby to the downward extensions of the main bell crank arms E and F, the use of bolts G making these forming members readily removable when it is desired to change the size of the tubes being treated.

My preforming members 4 and 5 are in this instance mounted upon upwardly extending arms I, which are pivoted to the supporting members at I. Rollers M and N, mounted upon arms T,

are adjustably fixed to the arms I by screws 23,.

one of the members being slotted for adjustment. The rollers M and N abut surfaces 24 and 25 on the downward extensions of the bell crank arms C and D. Abutment means 26 and 27 may be provided on the lower extensions of the arms E and F to limit the movement of the arm C in a clockwise direction and of the arm D in a counterclockwise direction. Springs 28 and 29 may be engaged between the arms E and F respectively and the roller support on the forming means. A convenient construction is that illustrated, in which the springs engage'the ends of the studs on which the rollers M and N are mounted.

The construction of the operating elements will now be clear. In operation, as the arm Ais moved upwardly, the bell cranks C and E, and D and F respectively move together until the supporting elements come together and embrace the tube as shown in Figure 11. The preformlng or shaping elements likewise engage the tube as A tube beshown, but the tube has not as yet been shaped. At this point, adjustable stop screws J and K arrest the further upward movement of the inner ends of the bell cranks E and F' by bearing against abutments thereof. The continued. upward movement-of the arm A causesthe arm D to rotate further in a clockwise direction and the arm to rotate further in a counterclockwise direction. The lower extensions of these arms, acting through the surfaces 24 and 25 on the rollers M and N, rock the arms I about their pivots and collapse the preforming members 4 and 5 about the tube end so as to shape it.

By adjusting the distance of the rollers M- and N from the pivot points of thearms I, various degrees of closure may be secured with the preforming elements 4 and 5. By removing the screws G, other assemblies for difierent sized tubes may be readily attached. By varying the distance between the preformers 4 and 5 and the supporting means 9 and [0, various compromises between the fat fill closure and the chisel type closure may be obtained. It will be understood that the cam B is so shaped that the operation of the devices hereinabove described is timed with movements of'the conveyor and the movements of other mechanism for treating the tubes.

Modification may be made in my invention without departing from the spirit of it. Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

l. In apparatus of thecharaeter described, operating means and resilient means attached to said' operating means, said resilient means having engaging portions shaped to conform t'o the walls of a collapsible tube when in substantially circular cross-sectional form, and mounting means, said mounting means being so located as to permit the flexing of said engaging portions so as to flatten them when in engagement with a tube whereby to preform the end portions of a collapsible tube, in combination with means for defining the lines of deformation therein.

2. In apparatus of the character described, a pair of forming elements of resilient character and of substantially semi-circular shape, said members comprising arms forming the semi-circular portions, and a mounting means, and means for bringing said members together about a collapsible tube in such position that the arms embrace said tube, and for thereafter further moving said members relative to each other so as to deform said arms and shape the tube therebetween.

3. In apparatus of the character described, a pair of resilient forming members and a pair of tube supporting members, said resilient forming members having arms adapted to engage the end of a tube, and means for first bringing said several elements against a tube in such a way as to cause said supporting members and said resilient forming members respectively to embrace said tube and for thereafter moving said resilient forming elements further so as to shape said tube.

4. In apparatus of the character described, a pair of bell cranks, means for supporting a collapsible tube to be treated, supporting means on said bell cranks adapted to embrace the end of a collapsible tube in said supporting means when said bell cranks are rotated, a pair of resilient semi-circular tube-shaping elements mounted on said supporting elements by means of arms, and

means for moving said arms independently of the relationship to the walls of said tube and thereafter to shape the walls of said tube.

5'. In apparatus of the character described, a pair of'bell cranks, means for supporting a collapsibletube to be treated, supporting means on I to bring said preforming: members into embracing relationship to the walls of said tube and thereafter to shape the walls. of said tube, said means comprising bell cranks'mounted on said first mentioned bell cranks, and connections between said last mentioned bell cranks and said resilient forming means.

6. In apparatus of the character. described, a pair of bell cranks, means for supporting a' collapsible tube to be treated, supporting means on said bell cranks adapted to embrace the end of a collapsible tube in said supporting means when said bell cranks are rotated, a pair of resilient semi-circular tube-shaping elements mounted on said supporting elements by means of arms,.and

means for moving said arms independently of the movements: of said supporting members, whereby to bring said preforming members into embracing relationship to the walls of said tube andthereafter to shape the walls of said tube,

- said means comprising bell cranks mounted on said first mentioned bell. cranks, connections between said last mentioned bell cranks and said resilient forming means, said connect-ionscomprising rollers mounted on said arms bearing said resilient forming means and having contact with said second mentioned bell cranks.

7. In apparatus of the character described, a pair of bell cranks pivoted to a support, and having arms extending toward each other and downwardly extending arms, tube contacting supporting means mounted to said downwardly extending arms, a second bell crank pivoted to each of said first mentioned bell cranks, an operating lever means for moving said bell cranks, a connection between said lever and said second mentioned bell cranks, means for causing said several bell cranks to move together .during a portion of their travel, stop means for said first mentioned bell cranks permitting continued movement of said second mentioned bell cranks, and resilient forming means for shaping the end of a collapsible tube and having an operative connection with said second mentioned bell cranks.

8. In apparatus of the character described, a pair of hell cranks pivoted to a support, and having arms extending toward each other and downwardly extending arms, tube contacting supporting means mounted to said downwardly extending arms, a second bell crank pivoted to each of said first mentioned bell cranks, an operating lever means for moving said bell cranks, a connection between said lever and said second mentioned bell cranks, means for causing said several bell cranks to move together during a portion of their travel, stop means for said first mentioned bell cranks permitting. continued movement of said second mentioned bell cranks, and resilient forming means for shaping the end of a collapsible tube and having an operative connection with said second mentioned bell cranks,

movements of said supporting members, whereby t'obring said preformin'g members into embracing said resilient shaping means being mounted upon arms having a pivotal connection with said first mentioned bell cranks, said arms having rollers bearing against said second mentioned bell cranks.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, in which the arms bearing the resilient shaping means are pivoted to the supporting means, and in which the supporting means are detachable from said first mentioned bell cranks, so that said supporting means and shaping means may be interchanged as a unit for tubes of different sizes.

10. A method of preforming the end of a collapsible tube without causing members to enter it, which method comprises engaging the tube when substantially circular with resilient deformable means having surfaces for contacting the tube and shaped to conform to the circular contour thereof, and deforming said means by inward pressure thereon from both sides to the extent of substantially flattening the said contacting surfaces thereof with the tube interposed therebetween, whereby the tube walls are evenly shaped and flattened and brought into substantial juxtaposition.

11. A method of preforming a collapsible tube without causing members to enter it, which comprises engaging the tube when substantially circular with resilient deformable means having operating surfaces shaped to conform thereto, and deforming said means by inward pressure from both sides so as to flatten said operating surfaces, whereby to shape the ends of the tube walls evenly in flattening them, to such an extent that the tube walls may be juxtaposed by clamping means, and thereafter bringing substantially straight-edged clamping means against the shaped portion of said tube walls whereby to juxtapose them.

' 12. In apparatus of the character described, resilient means having engaging surfaces curved to engage the circular walls of a collapsible tube, mounting means for said resilient means and of lesser extent than said resilient means whereby the greater portion of said resilient means are free of said mounting means and capable of de forming under pressure to the extent of permitting substantial flattening of said engaging surfaces, and operating means for said mounting means whereby said resilient means may be caused to act upon the end of a collapsible tube whereby to flatten the walls at said end.

13. A method of preforming the end of a collapsible tube without causing members to enter it, which comprises engaging an open end portion of the tube when substantially circular with resilient deformable means having operating surfaces shaped to conform thereto, engaging the tube with supporting means adjacent the position of the first mentioned engagement, said supporting means shaped to control the lines of deformation during the flattening of the open end of the tube, deforming said resilient means by inward pressure, from both sides so as to flatten said operating surfaces, whereby to spread and shape the ends of the tube walls evenly in flattening them to the extent of substantially flattening the said walls in a fishtail formation, and thereafter bringing substantially straight edged clamping means against the shaped portion of said walls whereby to juxtapose them.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including moving means for said operating means and for said deformation controlling means, and a single cam for actuating said moving means.

MERVIL HAILEAD.

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