Method and apparatus for folding a tubular length of hose material to form a package

{
  "publication_number": "US4265439A",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A",
  "title": "Method and apparatus for folding a tubular length of hose material to form a package",
  "abstract": "A method and apparatus for folding a tubular length of hose material to form a package with superposed layers comprising feeding an axial length of material past a pulling device onto a retaining guide, clamping the material against the guide and axially displacing the pulling device to pull a further length of material and fold the same onto the first length of material clamped to the guide. The clamping action on the material is then released and the retainer guide is withdrawn and positioned adjacent the now folded material. The pulling device is withdrawn from the fold by axially displacing the same in reverse direction to its original position and the steps are repeated to form successive folds of material to constitute the superposed layers of the package.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A method of folding a tubular length of hose material to form a package with superposed annular layers, said method comprising the steps of feeding a first length of tubular hose material longitudinally past a pulling device onto a retaining guide such that the tubular hose is held open and said first length extends annularly, said device being longitudinally and transversely movable and being in an initial position when the hose material is fed therepast, clamping the material to said guide, displacing said pulling device to pull a further length of tubular hose material and fold the same as an annular layer onto the first length of tubular material clamped to said guide, releasing the clamping of the material to said guide, withdrawing the retaining guide from between said first length of material and said annular layer and positioning the guide adjacent the outer surface of the annular layer, withdrawing the pulling device by longitudinally displacing the same in reverse direction to its initial position and repeating the above steps to form successive annular folds of material to constitute the superposed annular layers of the package.",
    "2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pulling device has opposite sides and the retaining guide is positioned on a first side of the pulling device when the material is clamped to the retaining guide, said retainer guide upon withdrawal being laterally displaced to a position on the opposite side of the pulling device before being placed adjacent the folded material.",
    "3. A method as claimed in claim 2 comprising laterally displacing the retaining guide after withdrawal of the pulling device to laterally displace the folded material, the lateral displacement of the retainer guide being of a magnitude to move the retainer guide to a position corresponding to placement of the retainer guide on said first side of the pulling device.",
    "4. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the package has inner and outer annular surfaces and the successive folding of the material is effected from the outer surface of the package towards the inner surface of the package.",
    "5. A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the retaining guide and the pulling device form corners in the superposed annular folds of the material of the package such that the package has a polygonal outer configuration and a hollow interior configuration of star shape with a plurality of points corresponding to said corners and wherein the folds of the material are stretched over the points.",
    "6. A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the longitudinal lengths of material are formed into annular folds which are all of equal circumferential extent whereby the folds are progressively expanded from the inner surface to the outer surface of the package.",
    "7. Apparatuus for folding a tubular length of hose material to form a package with superposed annular folds, said hose material having inner and outer surfaces, said apparatus comprising reciprocably movable pulling means having opposite sides and positioned to permit passage of one of the surfaces of the hose material in open annular formation on one side of the pulling means, retaining means movable in reciprocation in first and second mutually perpendicular directions adjacent the other of the surfaces of said openn annular material, means for moving said retaining means in a first direction of reciprocation from a first position on a first side of the pulling means to a second position on an opposite side of said pulling means, locking means for clamping the hose material against the retaining means in said first position, means for moving said locking means between a first position in which the hose material is clamped against the retainer means and a second position in which the hose material is released from the retainer means, and means for moving said pulling means from a first release position to a second operative position to form an annular fold in the hose material when the material is clamped by the locking means and retainer means.",
    "8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said pulling means and retaining means successively overlap one another to form a succession of superposed annular folds.",
    "9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein said means which moves said retaining means acts to move said retaining means in a reciprocal stroke in the second direction of reciprocation in the course of reciprocal movement of said retaining means in going from said first to said second positions thereof.",
    "10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said retaining means acts to displace the formed fold in traveling from the second position to the first position.",
    "11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said second direction of reciprocation of the retaining means is parallel to the direction of reciprocation of the pulling means.",
    "12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 comprising means for adjusting the stroke in reciprocation of said pulling means for adjusting the height of the folds of the material in the package.",
    "13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said retaining means and pulling means are shaped to form corners in the annular folds of the material of the package, such that the package has a polygonal outer configuration and a hollow interior configuration of star shape with a plurality of points aligned with said corners, said annular folds of material being stretched by said pulling means over the retaining means at said points."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "This is a divisional of application Ser. No. 776,652 filed Mar. 11, 1977 now U.S. Pat. No. 4,134,892.\n\nThe present invention relates to methods and apparatus for the manufacture of a package made of a flexible material which is mainly made up of a hose of any diameter, where the wall of the hose in the package is embedded as folds placed one over the other seen from the center line of the package.\n\nA package according to the invention will look like a more or less regular star or toothed wheel with radially embedded folds so that the hose forms axial wall elements.\n\nAccording to known technology, a hose of the type mentioned can be embedded in a package by means of radial winding in overlapping layers as described in the Swedish Patent published application No. 7116859-5. In this way a relatively compact hose package is obtained, which entails that a long hose can be embedded within a small volume.\n\nWhen the hose is unfolded from such a package a relative torsional movement is required, however, between the package and the unfolded hose, and a special arrangement may be necessary in order to accomplish this movement. In order to eliminate drawbacks of this type, a hose has even been stored, according to known technology, in such a way that it is led onto a pin, where it formed a mainly torus-shaped package through irregular folding and shirring.\n\nHoses embedded in such a way that the least possible space is needed for the storage are desirable for various applications such as packing of goods, for instance in connection with handling of waste.",
  "cpc": [
    "B65B 63/04",
    "B65D 65/02",
    "B65D 85/14",
    "B65H 45/20",
    "Y10S 493/94"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B65B 63/04",
    "B65D 65/02",
    "B65D 85/14",
    "B65H 45/20"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Platmanufaktur AB"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Sture Sundberg"
  ],
  "filing_date": "1978-05-22",
  "publication_date": "1981-05-05",
  "grant_date": "1981-05-05",
  "priority_date": "1976-03-17",
  "application_number": "US-90795678-A",
  "family_id": "26656705",
  "cited_by_count": 12,
  "citations": [
    "US2497786A",
    "US2855830A",
    "US3279784A",
    "US4106398A"
  ]
}