Apparatus for and method of severing a flexible reinforced elastomeric conduit supported on a plurality of elongated end-to-end rigid mandrels

Claim 2

In a machine system for producing a continuous flexible reinforced elastomeric conduit comprising; a plurality of elongated rigid mandrels having connecting means at opposite ends thereof for connecting said mandrels in aligned end-to-end relation; said conduit being supported by associated ones of said mandrels in connected relation during continuous production and movement of said conduit in a rectilinear path; and an apparatus for severing said conduit adjacent each connecting means of each mandrel; the improvement wherein said severing apparatus comprises; a carriage supported for movement along said rectilinear path, said carriage having means supporting the connected mandrels and conduit disposed therearound during said movement on said carriage, a cutter carried on said carriage for movement therewith along said rectilinear path, a support structure supporting said cutter on said carriage for movement in a cutting path transverse said rectilinear path, means on said carriage for detecting said connecting means, pulling means operatively connected to and controlled by said detecting means for pulling the connecting means of an adjoining pair of mandrels apart over said carriage to provide a controlled axial distance between connecting means of said adjoining pair of mandrels, said axial distance being surrounded by a corresponding length of said conduit and having portions of said axial length on opposite sides of said cutting path, and an actuator for moving said cutter along its support structure and cutting path for cutting through said corresponding length of conduit, said severing apparatus serving to cut through the conduit at each end of each mandrel so that each mandrel has a length of conduit therearound which is approximately equal to the length of the mandrel.

Claim 3

A machine system as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising a pair of horizontal ways supporting said carriage for movement along said rectilinear path.

Claim 4

A machine system as set forth in claim 1 in which said cutter comprises a rotary abrasive disc cutter.

Claim 5

A machine system as set forth in claim 3 and further comprising an electric motor for driving said abrasive disc cutter at high speed and thereby provide an efficient cutting action.

Claim 6

A machine system as set forth in claim 1 in which said means on said carriage for detecting said connecting means comprises a pair of cooperating spaced apart magnetic detectors and further comprising a severing apparatus control system having said detectors operatively connected thereto, and electrical connection means operatively connecting said control system to said pulling means and said actuator for said cutter.

Claim 7

A machine system as set forth in claim 1 in which each of said mandrels is made of magnetic material and said connecting means comprises a male connector on one of said mandrels and a female connector on an adjoining mandrel, said connectors being made of a nonmagnetic synthetic plastic material which is readily detected by said detecting means.

Claim 8

A machine system as set forth in claim 5 in which said pulling means comprises a mechanical linkage system having a friction block for engaging a forward one of said mandrels and its surrounding conduit to thereby fasten the forward conduit covered mandrel to said carriage, and means for moving said carriage and a conduit covered forward mandrel clamped thereto at a speed faster than the speed of the adjoining trailing conduit covered mandrel to provide said controlled axial distance between said connecting means of said adjoining pair of mandrels.

Claim 9

A machine system as set forth in claim 7 in which said pulling means comprises an air cylinder for actuating said linkage system to thereby clamp the forward conduit covered mandrel to said carriage, said air cylinder being operated through said control system in response to signals from said detectors.

Claim 10

A machine system as set forth in claim 8 in which said pulling means comprises a carriage traversing mechanism.

Claim 11

A machine system as set forth in claim 9 in which said carriage traversing mechanism comprises a reversible screw and motor system, said screw and motor system comprising a nut assembly fixed to said carriage, a cooperating screw threadedly engaged in said nut assembly, and a reversible motor for rotating said screw such that with rotation thereof a rectilinear movement is provided to said carriage, said motor being operated in response to signals from said control system.

Claim 12

A machine system as set forth in claim 10 in which said nut assembly is an anti-friction nut assembly having recirculating ball bearings.

Claim 13

A machine system as set forth in claim 11 in which said motor comprises a reversible electric motor.

Claim 14

A machine system as set forth in claim 4 in which said support structure supporting said cutter comprises a table assembly supporting said electric motor and cutter, a pair of cylindrical ways fixed to said carriage in spaced parallel relation perpendicular to said rectilinear path, and a pair of table assembly support structures having a pair of bearing surfaces which engage and are slidably supported on said pair of cylindrical ways.

Claim 15

A machine system as set forth in claim 13 in which said actuator for moving said cutter comprises a quick-acting air cylinder which moves said entire table assembly with said cutter and its driving motor supported thereon.

Claim 16

A machine system as set forth in claim 14 and further comprising stop means associated with said table assembly for stopping the advancing movement of the table assembly once said cutter has been moved a sufficient distance to cut through said conduit.

Claim 17

A machine system as set forth in claim 15 in which said stop means comprises a resilient stop cushion supported at a fixed position on said carriage and a cooperating member fixed to said table assembly.

Claim 18

In a method of producing a continuous flexible reinforced elastomeric conduit comprising the steps of; connecting a plurality of elongated rigid mandrels in aligned end-to-end relation with connecting means at opposite ends thereof; continuously forming and supporting said conduit around associated ones of said connected mandrels; moving said conduit and supporting connected mandrels in a rectilinear path; and severing said conduit adjacent each connecting means of each mandrel; the improvement wherein said severing step comprises, providing a carriage for movement along said rectilinear path, said carriage having means supporting the connected mandrels and conduit disposed therearound during movement on said carriage, supporting a cutter on a cutter support structure carried on said carriage for movement therewith along said rectilinear path, said support structure supporting said cutter on said carriage for movement in a cutting path transverse said rectilinear path, disposing detecting means on said carriage for detecting said connecting means, pulling the connecting means of an adjoining pair of mandrels apart over said carriage with pulling means in response to a control signal from said detecting means, said pulling step providing a controlled axial distance between connecting means of said adjoining pair of mandrels, said axial distance being surrounded by a corresponding length of said conduit and having portions of said axial length on opposite sides of said cutting path, and moving said cutter along its support structure and cutting path to cut through said corresponding length of conduit, said severing step serving to cut through conduit at each end of each mandrel so that each mandrel has a length of conduit therearound which is approximately equal to the length of the mandrel.

Claim 19

In a method of producing a continuous flexible reinforced elastomeric conduit comprising the steps of; connecting a plurality of elongated rigid mandrels in aligned end-to-end relation with connecting means at opposite ends thereof; continuously forming and supporting said conduit around associated ones of said connected mandrels; moving said conduit and supporting connected mandrels in a rectilinear path; and severing said conduit adjacent each connecting means of each mandrel; the improvement wherein said severing step comprises, providing a carriage for movement along said rectilinear path, said carriage having means supporting the connected mandrels and conduit disposed therearound during movement on said carriage, supporting a cutter on a cutter support structure carried on said carriage for movement therewith along said rectilinear path, said support structure supporting said cutter on said carriage for movement in a cutting path transverse said rectilinear path, disposing detecting means on said carriage for detecting said connecting means, pulling the connecting means of an adjoining pair of mandrels apart over said carriage with pulling means in response to a control signal from said detecting means, said pulling step providing a controlled axial distance between connecting means of said adjoining pair of mandrels, said axial distance being surrounded by a corresponding length of said conduit and having portions of said axial length on opposite sides of said cutting path, and moving said cutter along its support structure and cutting path to cut through said corresponding length of conduit, said severing step serving to cut through conduit at each end of each mandrel so that each mandrel has a length of conduit therearound which is approximately equal to the length of the mandrel.

Claim 20

A method as set forth in claim 17 in which said step of providing said carriage for movement along said rectilinear path comprises providing and supporting said carriage on a pair of horizontal ways.

Claim 21

A method as set forth in claim 18 in which said step of supporting said cutter comprises supporting a rotary abrasive disc cutter.

Claim 22

A method as set forth in claim 18 in which said step of disposing detecting means comprises disposing a pair of cooperating spaced apart magnetic detectors and comprising the further step of connecting a severing apparatus control system in operative association with said detectors, pulling means, and actuator to thereby control the operation of said pulling means and actuator in response to signals from said detectors.