Method for belling plastic pipe

Claim 1

The method for belling thermoplastic pipes, comprising delivering the pipes successively to an initial location adjacent conveyor means which includes a continuously driven endless belt which extends away from the initial location in a direction transverse to the pipe; transferring the pipes successively from the initial location onto the conveyor means by moving each pipe laterally and positioning the pipes on the conveyor means in laterally spaced apart relation; operating the conveyor means to advance each pipe in said direction to a belling station while the pipe is continuously supported by the conveyor means; heating one end portion of each pipe to a softening temperature before the pipe reaches the belling station and while the pipe is suported by the conveyor means; said step of heating one end portion of each pipe being carried out to limit heating to the end portion and thereby maintaining the remainder of the pipe at a temperature below the softening temperature; interrupting lateral movement of each length of pipe when the pipe is at the belling station and, while maintaining the pipe out of operative engagement with the endless belt of the conveying means, aligning the pipe with a belling head at the belling station and effecting relative axial movement between the heated end portion of the pipe and the belling head to engage the heated end portion of the pipe with the belling head and accomplish belling of the end portion; cooling the belled end portion of the pipe and then effecting relative axial movement between the pipe and the belling head to disengage the belling head from the pipe; and then operating the conveyor means to convey the belled pipe laterally to a delivery location.

Claim 2

The method for belling thermoplastic pipes, comprising delivering the pipes successively to an initial location adjacent conveyor means which includes a continuously driven endless belt which extends away from the initial location in a direction transverse to the pipe; transferring the pipes successively from the initial location onto the conveyor means by moving each pipe laterally and positioning the pipes on the conveyor means in laterally spaced apart relation; operating the conveyor means to advance each pipe in said direction to a belling station while the pipe is continuously supported by the conveyor means; heating one end portion of each pipe to a softening temperature before the pipe reaches the belling station and while the pipe is suported by the conveyor means; said step of heating one end portion of each pipe being carried out to limit heating to the end portion and thereby maintaining the remainder of the pipe at a temperature below the softening temperature; interrupting lateral movement of each length of pipe when the pipe is at the belling station and, while maintaining the pipe out of operative engagement with the endless belt of the conveying means, aligning the pipe with a belling head at the belling station and effecting relative axial movement between the heated end portion of the pipe and the belling head to engage the heated end portion of the pipe with the belling head and accomplish belling of the end portion; cooling the belled end portion of the pipe and then effecting relative axial movement between the pipe and the belling head to disengage the belling head from the pipe; and then operating the conveyor means to convey the belled pipe laterally to a delivery location.