Inventors:
Charles Horn - late of Dayton OH
William R. Jenkins - Dayton OH
Assignee:
Vulcan Tool Company - Dayton OH
International Classification:
B21J 1308, B21K 164
Abstract:
Apparatus for converting short tubular elements into nuts, fittings, sleeves, or other annular fasteners or couplers comprises means defining a plurality of stations including a receiving station and a plurality of working stations. Each tubular element must be positioned in each station in the course of its conversion. The receiving station is constructed to establish a predetermined orientation of each tube received thereby. Mechanism is provided for automatic and successive transfer of the tube elements from the receiving to the following stations, in series relation. Tooling is provided in essentially coaxial alignment with each of the tube elements at each working station. The tooling in each working station is arranged to apply endwise of the tool element in the path thereof and/or, at least in part, along the length and axially thereof to produce a change in configuration and/or dimension of at least a part of the tube element while maintaining its originally provided interior cross section along at least a portion of its length. The transfer mechanism is normally displaced from the receiving and working stations and includes means for engaging tubular elements simultaneously in each of a plurality of stations and to simultaneously carry each engaged tube element from one to the next following stations in each repetitive cycle of its movement. Cycling of the tube elements from one to another station is effected in a rapid and precise substantially linear pattern of movement.