Abstract: An apparatus (400) for facilitating the removal of a tube stub from a drum includes an arbor (401) configured to extend within the tube stub to be removed, and a circular, rotating cutter (402) protruding from the arbor (401). The cutter (402) is configured to score an internal surface of the tube stub along an axial direction of the tube stub. A controller (403) associated with the apparatus (400) controls the axial and rotational movement of the arbor (401) to create one or more cuts in the tube stub to facilitate removal of the tube stub from the drum.

Abstract: Apparatus for and a method of handling flexible tubes, for example in the production of a liner for a cargo container to provide a tubular attachment on the liner. A tube 16 in the form of a web of flexible material is drawn over a support 39 mounted on a carrier 29,30, the support having a greater area than that of the opened-out tube and being tilted to the radial plane (FIG. 2) during the drawing action. The support is then moved to the radial plane (FIG. 4) so as to stretch the tube 16 in the region of the support whereafter the tube is cut from the web, in the vicinity of the support. The support 39 is moved to a further processing station (FIG. 8), carrying the cut off tube 16, whereat the tube is released from the support 39 by tilting the support once more and withdrawing the support from the tube. The support is then returned to its initial position ready for another cycle of operation.

Abstract: A tube-forming device for notching and/or punching a tubular work piece includes a work piece holder to hold the tubular work piece, a tool insertable into an end of the work piece; a tool holder to hold the tool, and a dual action cam assembly to alternately drive the tool in first and second directions to engage the tool with first and second sides of the work piece.

Abstract: An automatic tube shearing system of the type requiring no shearing blades comprising an automatic two-stage tube feed mechanism and a bladeless shear. The feed mechanism comprises a tube loader, a pinch roller type initial drive, a selectively engageable main roller drive and an intermittent drive including a gripper which operates in a precision fashion to feed tube through the shear apparatus. The shear apparatus is of the type requiring tooling, both externally and internally of the tubing to prevent deformation during the bladeless shear operation. The internal tooling comprises a mandrel having a position stabilization rod extending along the tube end feed path and equipped with a pair of spaced apart latches which operate in a complemental fashion to permit tube lengths to be fed onto the mandrel rod and later fed through the shear without ever unlocking the stabilization rod and losing the proper positioning of the mandrel.

Abstract: An applicator wheel and guide system are provided in order to accurately align and position web material, either as discrete lengths or as a continuous strip, to articles or a continuous web. Specifically, the guide system includes a lateral edge guide disc rotatable with the applicator wheel which exhibits an edge guide surface at a first point along the periphery of the wheel applicator to precisely laterally align the web material and which moves radially inward from the surface of the applicator wheel at an application point so as not to obstruct the application of the web material to the articles or continuous web moved at a constant rate thereby. Moreover, the guide system includes the provision of an air bar for forming a loop in the supplied strip of web material prior to handling by the wheel applicator. The air bar eliminates roller inertia and guarantees consistent lengths of discrete lengths of web material to be applied to articles or a web when used on a wobbler arm.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises axially aligned punches 1 and 2 which are operated to cooperate with dies 3 and 4 to trim the flanged ends of a tubular article. The dies are formed in two halves which are opened to allow an article to be positioned at the work station and are then closed around the ends of the article. The punches, dies, and an article delivering mechanism are driven in timed relation from a motor 5.

Abstract: A method of cutting a piece of pipe from a length of pipe in a cutting plane by gripping the length of pipe directly adjacent the cutting plane and displacing the piece of pipe with respect to the length of pipe in the cutting plane, comprises applying a radially outwardly directed and a radially inwardly directed pressure against the length of pipe and the piece of pipe in the cutting plane and at both sides thereof, simultaneously applying an axial pressure, the pressures generating a stress amounting to at least 70% of the yield point of the material of the pipe, and maintaining the pressures during the entire cutting operation. A device for carrying out this method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A mandrel apparatus for a tube cutting machine in which the mandrel apparatus is moved into the open end of the tubing advancing along the feed axis of the tubing as the tubing is moved by the feed means into a cutting position. The mandrel apparatus includes a stop member which is mounted for movement between a stop position in which it is positioned across the tube feed path at a location along the feed axis between a rest position of the mandrel and the cutting station and a clear position in which it is pivoted upwardly clear of the feed path. The mandrel apparatus further includes a stripper member having a stripper surface positioned along the feed axis across the feed path between the stop position of the stop member and the rest position of the mandrel.

Abstract: In tube-shearing apparatus of the kind employing relatively transversely moving apertured dies and an internal supporting mandrel, the mandrel comprises an elastomeric body which is compressed axially with the high force to expand it radially against the tube wall such as to form not merely an internal support but effectively a supporting shear blade inside the tube. This allows clean shearing also of tubes having internal protuberances such as welding seams.