Device and method for flanging a pipe end

Abstract

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

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to a device and a method for flanging a pipe end. The edge of a sheet metal or a pipe end is bent using a suitable device or by hand. This can prevent, for example, sharp cut edges. Flanging can also be used to seal a pipe end. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] Devices for flanging a pipe end are known in principle. Such devices generally have a receiving unit for the workpiece to be flanged. This receiving unit can be rotated about a first axis of rotation. Furthermore, a tool holder is provided, to which at least one flanging roller and at least one beading roller are attached via a common axis. The at least one flanging roller and the at least one beading roller can be rotated about a second axis of rotation along the longitudinal axis of the common axis. The longitudinal axis of the common axis and the axis of rotation of the receiving unit are aligned parallel to one another. Such a device is known, for example, from US Pat. No. 8,495,901 B2. PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Based on this prior art, the object of the invention is to provide an improved device and an improved method for flanging a pipe end so that flanging with as little wear as possible can be achieved.

[0004] The device according to the invention for flanging a pipe end is defined by the features of main claim 1. The method according to the invention for flanging a pipe end is defined by the features of independent claim 8. Useful developments of the invention are the subject of further claims following these claims.

[0005] The device according to the invention for flanging a tube end has a receiving unit for the workpiece to be flanged, as well as at least one longitudinally displaceably mounted flanging punch, which is aligned with the receiving unit. According to the invention, a protective film is positioned between the flanging punch and the receiving unit for the workpiece to be flanged. The film results in only minimal friction between the flanging punch and the tube end to be flanged, so that almost no abrasion is observed. Therefore, the high surface quality of the tube end to be flanged can be maintained. Should small particles nevertheless form, the formed particles can adhere to the protective film and thus do not reach the critical opening area of ​​the workpiece to be flanged. This is particularly important for cartridges for the storage of pharmaceutical active ingredients.

[0006] The low-wear flanging allows for a long overall service life of the individual components of the device according to the invention, allowing for long maintenance intervals. This applies particularly to the flanging die.

[0007] This means that flanging dies can now be used reliably and reproducibly instead of the commonly used flanging rolls. Such roll-bending tools, especially flanging dies, are generally more cost-effective and easier to handle than flanging rolls. Furthermore, the edge quality requirements of the workpiece to be flanged, particularly with regard to cutting quality, are generally lower than with the devices already known in the prior art. In particular, the workpiece to be flanged can be processed dry and without re-greasing.

[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 an empty roll. In this way, a new piece of protective film can be used for each flanging process. This allows particles adhering to the protective film to be gradually removed and prevent them from reaching the critical opening area of ​​a subsequent workpiece. In order to wind and unwind the protective film as effectively as possible, at least a pair of transport rollers can be provided between the continuous roll and the empty roll. In this case, the transport rollers can preferably be positioned immediately before or immediately after the take-up unit. This enables optimal tensioning of the protective film in the area of ​​the take-up unit and thus also in the area of ​​the workpiece to be flanged.

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

[0010] Preferably, the receiving unit can be mounted for longitudinal displacement. This allows the flanging die and the receiving unit to be moved toward and away from each other. Both components are thus at a greater distance from the protective film in their initial position, allowing sufficient space for loading the receiving units with the workpiece to be flanged. At the same time, the protective film only needs to be deflected slightly from its path during the flanging process.

[0011] The flanging punch can preferably have a conical inner contour so that optimal flanging results can be achieved.

[0012] In the method according to the invention for flanging pipe ends, the workpiece to be flanged is first positioned in a receiving unit. A protective film is positioned between this receiving unit and a longitudinally displaceable flanging die. The free edge of the workpiece to be flanged is then flanged inward using the flanging die. The protective film is located between the edge of the workpiece to be bent and the flanging die. This significantly reduces abrasion, allowing more precise flanging results to be achieved with a longer service life of the tools, especially the flanging die. In particular, the flanging results remain identical over the entire service life of the flanging die, so that optimal flanging results are still possible even towards the end of the planned service life.

[0013] Preferably, a primary packaging can be positioned inside the workpiece to be flanged. In this case, the free edge of the workpiece to be flanged is flanged around the edge of the primary packaging. In this case, the primary packaging can be made of a plastic material, for example. The workpiece to be flanged 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 flanging process. Particles adhering to the protective film can thus be removed from the critical area, preventing subsequent contamination of the contents of the workpiece to be flanged.

[0015] Further advantages and features of the invention can be found in the features further specified in the claims and in the following exemplary embodiment. SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0016] The invention is described and explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiment shown in the drawing. In the drawings: Fig. 1 a schematic side view of the device according to the invention before the beginning of the flanging process, Fig. 2 a detailed view of the receiving unit with the workpiece to be flanged and the flanging punch before the beginning of the flanging process and Fig. 3 a detailed view according to Fig 2 after flanging the free edge of the workpiece. WAYS TO CARRY OUT THE INVENTION

[0017] A schematic side view of the device 10 according to the invention for flanging the pipe end 12 of a workpiece 14 is shown in Fig. 1 shown.

[0018] The device 10 has a receiving unit 20 in which the workpiece 14 to be flanged is positioned. In the present example, the workpiece 14 to be flanged is an aluminum cartridge. In the present example, a primary packaging 22 made of a plastic material is inserted into the workpiece 14. The primary packaging 22 can be filled with the desired content, usually with a pharmaceutical active ingredient. The primary packaging 22 has an open edge 24 at its end protruding from the receiving unit 20, so that the primary packaging 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. This tube end 12 of the workpiece 14 projects slightly beyond the open edge 24 of the primary packaging 22 (see also Fig. 2 ). In contrast to the embodiment shown here, the primary packaging 22 could also be omitted. In this case, the contents to be packaged would be present directly in the workpiece 14.

[0019] In the present example, the receiving unit 20 is mounted so as to be displaceable in the longitudinal direction 26 (arrow 28).

[0020] A flanging punch 30 is arranged above the receiving unit 20 and is aligned with the receiving unit 20. The flanging punch 30 is mounted displaceably in the longitudinal direction 26 (arrow 32), so that the flanging punch 30 and the receiving unit 20 can be moved towards each other during the flanging process. The flanging 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 flanging punch 30 (see Fig. 3). In the present example, the free edge 12 of the workpiece 14 is bent over the open edge 24 of the primary packaging 22.

[0021] A protective film 40 is positioned between the flanging die 30 and the receiving unit 20. The protective film 40 is mounted on a continuous roll 42 and can be gradually unwound from this continuous roll 42. In the present example, two pairs of transport rollers 44, 46 are provided for this purpose. The two pairs of transport rollers 44, 46 are positioned close to the receiving unit 20. The protective film 42 can be gradually wound onto an empty roll 48.

[0022] The protective film 42 can be wound cyclically from the endless roll 42 onto the empty roll 48. This allows a new section of the protective film to be positioned between the flanging punch 30 and the pipe end 12 of the workpiece 14 during each flanging process. In this way, the abrasion on the workpiece 14 and on the conical inner contour 34 of the flanging punch 30 can be significantly reduced. This leads to a longer service life of the flanging punch 30 and thus also of the device 10. Furthermore, more precise results can be achieved when flanging the pipe ends 12 of the workpieces 14.

[0023] Any particles that may occur remain adhered to the protective film 40 and are removed from the area of ​​the receiving unit 20 by the further transport of the protective film 40. This prevents the particles from accidentally entering the interior of the workpiece 14 or the interior of the primary packaging 22 and causing contamination of the contents.

Claims

1. Device (10) for flanging a pipe end (12) - with a receiving unit (20) for the workpiece (14) to be flanged, - with at least one longitudinally displaceably mounted flanging die (30) which is aligned with the receiving unit (20), - characterized in that - a protective film (40) is positioned between the flanging punch (30) and the receiving unit (20) for the workpiece (14) to be flanged.

2. Device according to claim 1, - characterized in that - the protective film (40) is mounted on an endless roll (42), - the protective film (40) can be removed from the endless roll (42) and wound onto an empty roll (48), - the receiving unit (20) and the flanging die (30) are arranged between the endless roll (42) and the empty roll (48).

3. Device according to claim 2, - characterized in that - at least one pair of transport rollers (44, 46) is arranged between the endless roller (42) and the empty roller (48).

4. Device according to claim 3, - characterized in that- that at least one pair of transport rollers (44, 46) is positioned immediately before or immediately after the receiving unit (20).

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, - characterized in that - the protective film (40) consists of a polyvinyl fluoride or is coated with a polyvinyl fluoride.

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

7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, - characterized in that - the flanging punch (30) has a conical inner contour (34).

8. Method for flanging a pipe end (12) with the following method steps a) the workpiece (14) to be flanged is positioned in a receiving unit (20), b) a protective film (40) is positioned between the receiving unit (20) and a longitudinally displaceably mounted flanging punch (30), c) the free edge (12) of the workpiece (14) to be flanged is flanged inwards by means of the flanging punch (30).

9. Method according to claim 8, - characterized in that - a primary packaging (22), in particular a primary packaging (22) made of a plastic material, is positioned in the workpiece (14) to be flanged, - the free edge (12) of the workpiece (14) to be flanged is flanged around the edge (24) of the primary packaging (22).

10. Method according to claim 8 or 9, - characterized in that - the protective film (40) can be unwound from an endless roll (42).

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