PLASTIC TUBE BENDING METHOD AND APPARATUS

A plastic tube is bent by advancing the tube to position a desired first bend location of the tube at a bending/cooling station, the bend location of the tube having been previously heated by a tube heating assembly sufficiently for bending. The tube heating assembly is moved to a next desired bend location of the tube. Bending and cooling the tube at the first bend location, and heating the next desired bend location, take place in overlapping time windows, before advancing the tube to position the next desired bend location of the tube at the bending/cooling station. Total cycle time for heating, bending and cooling is thereby substantially reduced compared to carrying out heating, bending and cooling sequentially. The apparatus is controlled by PLC or PC-based programs, which effect movement via servomotors and also control other parameters such as heating and cooling times and temperatures. 1. A method of bending a plastic tube , comprising the steps of:a. advancing the tube to position a desired first bend location of the tube at a bending/cooling station, the bend location of the tube having been previously heated by a tube heating assembly sufficiently for bending;b. moving said tube heating assembly to a next desired bend location of the tube;c. bending and cooling the tube at the first bend location, and heating said next desired bend location with said tube heating assembly sufficiently for bending, such that a time window for said bending and cooling at said first bend location overlaps with a time window for heating at said next bend location;d. advancing the tube to position said next desired bend location of the tube at said bending/cooling station, and rotating the tube if/as necessary for the desired next bend orientation; ande. repeating steps b., c. and d. until all desired bends have been completed;whereby total cycle time for heating, bending and cooling is substantially reduced compared to carrying out heating, bending and cooling sequentially.2 ...

PLASTIC TUBE BENDING METHOD AND APPARATUS

The apparatus has a bending/cooling station mounted on a base. A tube clamping assembly is mounted on the base, movable towards and away from the bending/cooling station and including a tube clamping assembly and a tube rotation assembly. A tube heating assembly is mounted for movement between the bending/cooling station and the tube clamping assembly. Servomotors move the tube clamping assembly and the tube heating assembly, rotate the tube clamping assembly, and actuate bending at the bending/cooling station. The apparatus is controlled by PLC or PC-based programs, which effect movement via servomotors and control other parameters such as heating and cooling times and temperatures. Bending and cooling the tube at a first bend location, and heating the next desired bend location, take place in overlapping time windows, before advancing the tube to position the next desired bend location of the tube at the bending/cooling station. 1. Apparatus for bending a plastic tube by carrying out the steps of:a. advancing the tube to position a desired first bend location of the tube at a bending/cooling station, the bend location of the tube having been previously heated by a tube heating assembly sufficiently for bending;b. moving said tube heating assembly to a next desired bend location of the tube;c. bending and cooling the tube at the first bend location, and heating said next desired bend location with said tube heating assembly sufficiently for bending, such that a time window for said bending and cooling at said first bend location overlaps with a time window for heating at said next bend location;d. advancing the tube to position said next desired bend location of the tube at said bending/cooling station, and rotating the tube if/as necessary for the desired next bend orientation; ande. repeating steps b., c. and d. until all desired bends have been completed; said apparatus comprising:a base;said bending/cooling station mounted on said base, said bending/cooling ...

Plastic tube bending method and apparatus

A plastic tube is bent by advancing the tube to position a desired first bend location of the tube at a bending/cooling station, the bend location of the tube having been previously heated by a tube heating assembly sufficiently for bending. The tube heating assembly is moved to a next desired bend location of the tube. Bending and cooling the tube at the first bend location, and heating the next desired bend location, take place in overlapping time windows, before advancing the tube to position the next desired bend location of the tube at the bending/cooling station. Total cycle time for heating, bending and cooling is thereby substantially reduced compared to carrying out heating, bending and cooling sequentially. The apparatus is controlled by PLC or PC-based programs, which effect movement via servomotors and also control other parameters such as heating and cooling times and temperatures.

Plastic tube bending method and apparatus

Plastic tube bending method and apparatus

A plastic tube is bent by advancing the tube to position a desired first bend location of the tube at a bending/cooling station, the bend location of the tube having been previously heated by a tube heating assembly sufficiently for bending. The tube heating assembly is moved to a next desired bend location of the tube. Bending and cooling the tube at the first bend location, and heating the next desired bend location, take place in overlapping time windows, before advancing the tube to position the next desired bend location of the tube at the bending/cooling station. Total cycle time for heating, bending and cooling is thereby substantially reduced compared to carrying out heating, bending and cooling sequentially. The apparatus is controlled by PLC or PC-based programs, which effect movement via servomotors and also control other parameters such as heating and cooling times and temperatures.

Plastic tube bending method and apparatus

A plastic tube is bent by advancing the tube to position a desired first bend location of the tube at a bending and cooling station, the bend location of the tube having been previously heated by a tube heating assembly sufficiently for bending. The tube heating assembly is moved to a next desired bend location of the tube. Bending and cooling the tube at the first bend location, and heating the next desired bend location, take place in overlapping time windows, before advancing the tube to position the next desired bend location of the tube at the bending and cooling station. Total cycle time for heating, bending and cooling is thereby substantially reduced compared to carrying out heating, bending and cooling sequentially. The apparatus is controlled by PLC or PC-based programs, which effect movement via servomotors and also control other parameters such as heating and cooling times and temperatures.

Plastic tube bending method and apparatus