Apparatus and method for crimping pipe ends

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (10) for crimping a pipe end (12), comprising a receiving unit (20) for a workpiece (14) to be crimped and at least one crimping punch (30) which is mounted in a longitudinally displaceable manner and which is aligned with the receiving unit (20). According to the invention, a protective film (40) is positioned between a crimping punch (30) and a receiving unit (20) for a workpiece (14) to be crimped. The invention further relates to a method for crimping a pipe end (12), in which first the workpiece (14) to be crimped is positioned in the receiving unit (20). Next, the protective film (40) is positioned between the receiving unit (20) and a crimping punch (30) which is mounted in a longitudinally displaceable manner, and then the free edge (12) of the workpiece (14) to be crimped is crimped inwards by means of the crimping punch (30).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a device and a method for crimping pipe ends. Here, the edge of a metal sheet or pipe end is bent using a corresponding device or manually. This prevents, for example, sharp cut edges. The pipe end can also be closed by crimping. Background Art

[0002] Devices for crimping pipe ends are generally known. Typically, such devices include a receiving unit for a workpiece to be crimped. The receiving unit is rotatable about a first rotational axis. Furthermore, a tool holder is provided, to which at least one crimping roller and at least one flanging roller are attached via a common shaft. The at least one crimping roller and the at least one flanging roller are rotatable about a second rotational axis along the longitudinal axis of the common shaft. The longitudinal axis of the common shaft and the rotational axis of the receiving unit are oriented parallel to one another. Such a device is known, for example, from US Pat. No. 8,495,901 B2. Summary of the Invention

[0003] Based on this previously known prior art, the object of the present invention is to provide an improved device and an improved method for crimping pipe ends, which allow crimping to be achieved with the lowest possible wear.

[0004] The device according to the invention for crimping a pipe end is characterized by the features of independent claim 1. The method according to the invention for crimping a pipe end is characterized by the features of the parallel independent claim 8. Appropriate developments of the invention are the subject matter of the subsequent claims.

[0005] The device for crimping tube ends according to the present invention comprises a receiving unit for the workpiece to be crimped and at least one crimping punch supported so as to be longitudinally movable and aligned with the receiving unit. According to the present invention, a protective film is arranged between the crimping punch and the receiving unit for the workpiece to be crimped. Due to the protective film, only minimal friction occurs between the crimping punch and the tube end to be crimped, resulting in virtually no wear. This ensures a high surface quality of the tube end to be crimped. If even a small amount of particle formation occurs, these particles can adhere to the protective film and thus prevent them from entering critical opening areas of the workpiece to be crimped. This is particularly important for canisters used to store and preserve pharmaceutical active substances.

[0006] This low-wear crimping can achieve a long service life for the individual components of the device according to the invention overall, thereby enabling long maintenance intervals. This applies in particular to the crimping punch.

[0007] This means that instead of the conventional crimping rollers, crimping punches can now also be used reliably and reproducibly. Compared to crimping rollers, such roll bending tools, such as crimping punches in particular, are generally more economical and easier to operate. Furthermore, the requirements for the edge quality of the workpiece to be crimped, especially with regard to the quality of the cut, are generally lower than with the devices known from the prior art. In particular, the workpiece to be crimped can be processed dry and without re-oiling.

[0008] The protective film can preferably be stored on a continuous roll. In this case, the protective film can be gradually pulled off the continuous roll and wound onto a blank roll. In this way, a new section of protective film can be used for each hemming process. Particles adhering to the protective film can thus be gradually removed and prevented from reaching the critical opening area in the subsequent workpiece. In order to be able to wind and unwind the protective film as efficiently as possible, at least one pair of conveyor rollers can be located between the continuous roll and the blank roll. In this case, the conveyor rollers can preferably be positioned directly in front of or directly behind the receiving unit. The conveyor rollers ensure that the protective film has optimal tension in the area of ​​the receiving unit and, therefore, also in the area of ​​the workpiece to be hemmed.

[0009] In principle, the protective film can consist of polyethylene (PE), felt, cotton, or paper, for example. Preferably, the protective film can be made of or coated with polyvinyl fluoride. Such protective films have particularly good sliding and adhesion properties.

[0010] The receiving unit is preferably mounted so that it can be displaced longitudinally. This allows the crimping punch and the receiving unit to be moved toward and away from each other. In their starting position, both components are thus at a greater distance from the protective film, so that there is sufficient space for loading the receiving unit with the workpiece to be crimped. At the same time, during the crimping process, the protective film only needs to be slightly deflected from its path.

[0011] The crimping punch can preferably have a conical inner contour, so that an optimal crimping result can be achieved.

[0012] In the method for curling a pipe end according to the present invention, the workpiece to be curled is first positioned in a receiving unit. A protective film is positioned between the receiving unit and a curling punch that is mounted so as to be displaceable in the longitudinal direction. Subsequently, the free edge of the workpiece to be curled is curled inwards using the curling punch. The protective film is then located between the edge of the workpiece to be bent and the curling punch. This significantly reduces wear, allowing for more precise curling results while extending the service life of the tool, in particular the curling punch. This curling result remains consistent throughout the entire service life of the curling punch, allowing for optimal curling results even at the end of its planned service life.

[0013] The primary packaging (primary packaging) can preferably be positioned in the workpiece to be crimped. In this case, the free edge of the workpiece to be crimped is rolled around the edge of the primary packaging. In this case, the primary packaging can be made, in particular, of a plastic material. In this case, the workpiece to be crimped can be designed, for example, as an aluminum can or a steel can.

[0014] The protective film can preferably be unwound from a continuous roll. This allows a new, unused area of ​​the protective film to be used for each hemming process. Particles adhering to the protective film can thus be removed from critical areas, preventing subsequent contamination of the contents of the workpiece to be hemmed.

[0015] Further advantages and features of the invention can be gathered from the features further specified in the claims and from the following exemplary embodiments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The present invention will be described and explained in detail below with reference to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0017] Figure 1 shows a schematic side view of the apparatus according to the invention before the hemming process begins;

[0018] Figure 2 A detailed view showing the receiving unit with the workpiece to be crimped and the crimping punch before the crimping process begins; and

[0019] Figure 3 Shows the free edge of the workpiece after curling Figure 2 Detailed picture. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] exist Figure 1 1 shows a schematic side view of a device 10 according to the invention for curling a tube end 12 of a workpiece 14 .

[0021] The device 10 has a receiving unit 20, in which a workpiece 14 to be crimped is positioned. In the present example, the workpiece 14 to be crimped is a cylindrical can made of aluminum. In the present example, a primary package 22 made of plastic material is placed in the workpiece 14. Here, the primary package 22 can be filled with the desired content, usually a pharmaceutical active substance. The primary package 22 has an open edge 24 at its end protruding from the receiving unit 20, so that the primary package 22 is essentially designed as an open container. The workpiece 14 has a tube end 12 in the form of a free edge at its end protruding from the receiving unit 20. The tube end 12 of the workpiece 14 protrudes a little from the open edge 24 of the primary package 22 (see also Figure 2 ). In contrast to the embodiment shown here, the primary packaging 22 can also be omitted. In this case, the contents to be packaged are present directly in the workpiece 14.

[0022] In the present example, the receiving unit 20 is mounted so as to be displaceable in the longitudinal direction 26 (arrow 28 ).

[0023] A crimping punch 30 aligned with the receiving unit 20 is arranged above the receiving unit 20. The crimping punch 30 is mounted so as to be displaceable in the longitudinal direction 26 (arrow 32), so that the crimping punch 30 and the receiving unit 20 can be moved toward each other during the crimping process. The crimping punch 30 has a conical inner contour 34 on its side facing the receiving unit 20, so that the free edge 12 of the workpiece 14 can be bent inwards by means of the crimping punch 30 (see FIG. Figure 3 Here, in the present exemplary case, the free edge 12 of the workpiece 14 is bent onto the open edge 24 of the primary packaging 22 .

[0024] A protective film 40 is positioned between the hemming punch 30 and the receiving unit 20. The protective film 40 is stored on a continuous roll 42 and can be gradually unwound from the continuous roll 42. To this end, in the present example, two pairs of conveyor rollers 44 and 46 are provided. Here, the two pairs of conveyor rollers 44 and 46 are positioned closely next to the receiving unit 20. The protective film 42 can be gradually wound onto a blank roll 48.

[0025] The protective film 42 can be intermittently unwound from the continuous roll 42 and wound onto the blank roll 48. Thus, during each hemming process, a new area of ​​the protective film can be positioned between the hemming punch 30 and the tube end 12 of the workpiece 14. This significantly reduces wear on the workpiece 14 and on the tapered inner contour 34 of the hemming punch 30. This results in a longer service life for the hemming punch 30 and, therefore, for the apparatus 10. Furthermore, more precise results can be achieved when curling the tube end 12 of the workpiece 14.

[0026] Any particles that may occur adhere to the protective film 40 and are removed by transporting the protective film 40 further out of the region of the receiving unit 20. As a result, these particles cannot accidentally enter the interior of the workpiece 14 or the interior of the primary packaging 22 and contaminate the contents there.

Claims

1. A device (10) for crimping a pipe end (12), comprising: - a receiving unit (20) for a workpiece (14) to be crimped, - at least one longitudinally displaceably mounted crimping punch (30), which is aligned with the receiving unit (20), It is characterized by: A protective film (40) is positioned between the crimping punch (30) and the receiving unit (20) for the workpiece (14) to be crimped.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that - said protective film (40) is stored on a continuous roll (42), - the protective film (40) can be pulled out from a continuous roll (42) and can be wound onto a blank roll (48), - The receiving unit (20) and the curling punch (30) are arranged between the continuous roll (42) and the blank roll (48).

3. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that - at least one pair of conveying rollers (44, 46) is provided between the continuous roll (42) and the blank roll (48).

4. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that - The at least one pair of conveying rollers (44, 46) is positioned directly in front of the receiving unit (20) or directly behind the receiving unit.

5. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - The protective film (40) is made of polyvinyl fluoride or coated with polyvinyl fluoride.

6. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The receiving unit (20) is mounted so as to be longitudinally displaceable.

7. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The curling punch (30) has a conical inner contour (34).

8. A method for crimping a pipe end (12), comprising the following steps: a) positioning the workpiece (14) to be crimped in the receiving unit (20), b) positioning the protective film (40) between the receiving unit (20) and the crimping punch (30) mounted so as to be longitudinally displaceable, c) The free edge (12) of the workpiece (14) to be curled is curled inwards by means of a curling punch (30).

9. The device according to claim 8, characterized in that - positioning a primary package (22), in particular a primary package (22) made of a plastic material, in the workpiece (14) to be crimped, - The free edge (12) of the workpiece (14) to be curled is rolled around the edge (24) of the primary packaging (22).

10. The device according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that - The protective film (40) can be unwound from a continuous roll (42).

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