Loop machine for helically winding strip

Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture – Methods – Surface bonding and/or assembly therefor

Patent

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Details

156425, 156428, 242 722, 264281, B29C 5300

Patent

active

054683220

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to apparatus for winding strip and in particular it relates to the winding of strip into tubular objects where the convolutions of the helix are joined to form a tubular object of indefinite length.
In machines already in use for this purpose it is customary to wind a plastics strip onto a rotating mandrel or to provide an annulus of rollers in the form of a roller cage assembly, which curves the strip into helical form when driven into the annulus by drive means, together with roller means for joining together the adjacent edges of the convolutions of the wound strip so as to form joining means which extends along a helical path. The joining means may comprise male and female locking formations integrally formed along opposite edges of the strip or a separate joining strip may be used as is known in the art.
Prior art pipe winding machines are generally of complex construction, are costly to manufacture and are of cumbersome size which makes transportation and on-site installation of the machine difficult. For example, in the relining of sewer pipes, the machine must be lowered down through man-hole openings which can be quite small and subsequently installed in a confined space at the base of the man-hole where accessibility is limited.
Another disadvantage of prior art pipe winding machines which employ an annulus of rollers, is that the winding process may sometimes be stopped because of the winding strain so induced during the winding process. In the event that the winding process is stopped, the outer periphery of the wound tube flows into the space between the rollers thus creating a "wavy" nature on the outer wall of the pipe. This also creates a problem when start-up is commenced due to a "brake" effect caused by the undulations.
The present invention seeks to address at least some of these problems.
The object of the present invention is to provide a machine of this general type, the construction of which is extremely simple, inexpensive, compact and allows the machine to be readily transported and handled for on-site operations.
Another object of this invention is to provide a pipe winding machine which is capable of handling tube forming plastics strip of varying widths to produce tubes or pipes of the same diameter.
Broadly according to this invention therefore, apparatus for helically winding tubes or pipes from tube forming plastics strip comprises: a winding head formed by a fixed rigid approximately ring-shaped metal band, the inner surface of said band forming a spiral path along which the strip is directed when the apparatus is in use, said head having a free leading edge which extends axially thereof and which constitutes the leading end of the spiral path; strip guide means to guide the strip to feed into the leading end of said spiral path; roller means extending axially of the head and adjacent said leading edge for driving the strip around said spiral path, and for joining together adjacent edges of the strip when thus driven; power means for driving said roller means, whereby during operation of the apparatus, the tube forming strip is driven around said path in frictional engagement with said metal band inner surface, maintaining intimate contact therewith, to thereby form a cylindrical helix the convolutions of which are joined along adjacent edges.
Preferably, engagement means is provided on the head for urging the strip convolutions in the direction of winding. This can be important when the strip is under severe load within the head, to ensure that the helix angle is maintained during winding.
Preferably, the roller means comprises a pair of vertically spaced parallel drive rollers, one above and one below the leading edge of the metal band, the rollers extending approximately axially of the head. Preferably, the upper one of said rollers comprises a joining roller arranged to join together the adjacent edges of the strip (being fed into the machine) and the last formed convolution.
In some embodiments of the invention, the strip guide means is designed

REFERENCES:
patent: 4977931 (1990-12-01), Menzel
patent: 4995929 (1991-02-01), Menzel
patent: 5108283 (1992-04-01), Show et al.

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