US3889617A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for forming tubular bodies having longitudinal side seams
Assignee: Ardagh Metal Packaging Germany GmbH
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Filing: 1974-03-18
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Granted: 1975-06-17
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Expires: 1994-03-18
Abstract
Abstract This disclosure relates to an apparatus for forming from a flat blank a tubular body having a longitudinal side seam. The flat blank is first shaped into the form of an unseamed tubular body, after which the unseamed tubular body is transferred to a transfer mechanism wherein edges of the tubular body to be seamed are moved into spaced relation and thereafter, the expanded unseamed tubular member is moved into position relative to a guide rail whereat the unseamed tubular body is released and the edges thereof are freed to spring back together with the edges engaging the guide rail and positioning the unseamed tubular body with respect thereto. The unseamed tubular body is then moved along the guide rails through a suitable side seam forming mechanism, such as a welding mechanism.
Inventors
- 👤 Uwe J Lorenzen
- 👤 Harald Martens
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 04:43
CPC Classifications
B; B21; B21D; B21D51/00; B21D51/16; B21D51/26; B21D51/2676; B23; B23K; B23K11/00; B23K11/06; B23K11/061; B23K11/062; B23K11/063
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
In an apparatus for handling unseamed tubular bodies wherein the tubular bodies are supplied in unseamed form and the apparatus includes a guide rail having grooves therein for receiving unseamed edges of the tubular bodies, a transfer mechanism including support means for receiving unseamed tubular bodies, expanding means for expanding an unseamed tubular body seated on said support means to move unseamed edges thereof into spaced relation, and feed means for feeding an expanded unseamed tubular body towards said guide rail to a position adjacent said guide rail wherein unseamed edges of a tubular body will engage in the grooves of said guide rail.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
104 words
In an apparatus for handling unseamed tubular bodies wherein the tubular bodies are supplied in unseamed form and the apparatus includes a guide rail having grooves therein for receiving unseamed edges of the tubular bodies, a transfer mechanism including support means for receiving unseamed tubular bodies, expanding means for expanding an unseamed tubular body seated on said support means to move unseamed edges thereof into spaced relation, and feed means for feeding an expanded unseamed tubular body towards said guide rail to a position adjacent said guide rail wherein unseamed edges of a tubular body will engage in the grooves of said guide rail.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein there is a common support for said support means and said expanding means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said expanding means includes a pair of opposed jaws disposed on opposite sides of said support means for cooperation therewith for receiving therebetween an unseamed tubular body and effecting initial positioning thereof relative to said support means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
65 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein mounting means mount said jaws for pivotal movement relative to said mounting means about spaced parallel axes also disposed parallel to said mounting means, actuator means connected to said jaws for effecting pivoting thereof, and holding means carried by said jaws for releasably holding adjacent portions of an unseamed tubular body in contact with said jaws for movement therewith.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said holding means are of a type operative only on an exterior surface of an unseamed tubular body.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said holding means are magnetic means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus includes forming means for forming unseamed tubular bodies from flat blanks in alignment with said transfer means, and means are provided for moving each newly formed unseamed tubular body from said forming means to said transfer means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said forming means includes aligning means for aligning a newly formed unseamed tubular body with said transfer means, said aligning means including a support rail about which an unseamed tubular body is formed and from which the same is suspended.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein there is a seam forming mechanism aligned with said guide rail for forming a side seam in a tubular body, and means for delivering an unseamed tubular body from said guide rail to said seam forming mechanism.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said seam forming mechanism is a welding mechanism.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
The aPparatus of claim 1 wherein said feed means are connected to said support means and said expanding means for moving the same relative to said guide rail in the positioning of an unseamed tubular member relative to said guide rail.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of forming a tubular body having a longitudinal side seam, said method comprising the steps of providing a blank, shaping the blank into unseamed tubular form, expanding the unseamed tubular body to separate edges thereof which are to be joined in forming a side seam, positioning the unseamed tubular body on a guide rail by engagement of the edges of the unseamed tubular body with the guide rail, and using the guide rail as a guide moving the unseamed tubular body through a side seam forming mechanism to form a seamed tubular body.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of forming a tubular body having a longitudinal side seam, said method comprising the steps of providing a blank, shaping the blank into unseamed tubular form, expanding the unseamed tubular body to separate edges thereof which are to be joined in forming a side seam, positioning the unseamed tubular body on a guide rail by engagement of the edges of the unseamed tubular body with the guide rail, and using the guide rail as a guide moving the unseamed tubular body through a side seam forming mechanism to form a seamed tubular body.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2773465A
Cited
US3552629A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-06-16 | 1978-12-16 | 1979-06-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-16 | 1982-12-16 | 1983-06-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-16 | 1986-12-16 | 1987-06-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |