Inventors:
Eugene S. Swanson - Rockford IL
Joel M. Winters - Rockford IL
Assignee:
Rockford Machine Tool Co. - Rockford IL
International Classification:
B23P 1102
B23P 1900
Abstract:
A method for assembling sheet metal pipes, and a machine for carrying out the method which comprises assembling a pipe from a preformed pipe blank into a finished pipe without permanently deforming the pipe blank material. The method comprises the steps of folding of a preformed pipe blank, having a male lock joint member along one longitudinal edge and a female lock joint member along the other longitudinal edge so as to move the longitudinal edges toward each other, and then inserting the male lock joint member into the female lock joint member, with the spring tension created in the pipe blank due to the folding action effecting a locking action between the two lock joint members. The pipe snapper machine includes a pair of idler rollers and a pair of drive rollers aligned with the idler rollers for receiving a leading end of a pipe blank and moving the male lock joint member along one longitudinal edge of the blank form into a female lock joint member along the adjacent longitudinal edge of the pipe blank into locking engagement. The machine includes an entrance pipe guide and an exit pipe guide is provided.
