Patent · US Active

Flexible tube aging apparatus and method

US7771186B2 · kind B2 · utility

5Cited by
2References
7Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 4, 2009
Grant dateAug 10, 2010
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 6, 2029

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB29L2023/007
  • WIPO fieldOther special machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An aging apparatus has a roller group consisting of a front roller, a middle roller and a rear roller, and a table for supporting the roller group. The middle roller takes a press state pressing a flexible tube with a constant force and a retraction state staying away from the flexible tube. In aging operation, while the middle roller comes in the press state, the table moves from a start position being a farthest end of the flexible tube to an end position. After the aging operation, the middle roller comes in the retraction state and the table returns to the start position. The aging operation is performed a predetermined number of times on the same flexible tube, so that the flexible tube is bent more largely with increase in the number of execution.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.