GB1412212A - Foldable tubular container - Google Patents

Abstract

1412212 Collapsible tubes DART INDUSTRIES Inc 2 Jan 1973 [3 Jan 1972] 283/73 Heading B8D [Also in Division B3] A method of producing a collapsible container comprising a foldably settable tubular body having integral neck and shoulder portions which comprise folds of laminate bonded together to provide uniform spiral folds on the exterior surface of the portions and linear folds on the interior surface comprises forming a foldable, laminated tubular wall 30 comprising at least one lamina (34), (38), Figs. 2, 16 (not shown), of plastics material and one lamina (36) of deformable material, crimping portions 72, Fig. 6, of the open end 44, Fig. 3, of the tubular wall, and folding the crimped portions to form neck and shoulder portions 146, 138, Fig. 13, integral with the tubular wall. A mandrel 50 is inserted into the interior of the wall and cooperates with a crimping die assembly 56 having a sleeve 58 supporting a plurality of fingers 62 pivotally held by a ring 64 in notches 66. A die sleeve 70 is slidably movable on die 58 to move fingers 62 inwardly to form a frusto-conical crimp. The portions 72 are then folded using a die 84 having a bore 86 in which a crimp folding die 88 is rotatably mounted. The die is moved in direction B and rotated in direction C to produce folded crimped portions 94, Fig. 10. A male die 98 mounting a die portion 102 which has a frusto-conical recess 104 and portion 108, is inserted into the tubular wall and in cooperation with die 116, having a portion 118 of complementary shape to portion 102, is used to shape the region of the folded crimped portions. A head piece is then applied to the tube, e.g. by in situ injection moulding or forming of a previously injection moulded head piece applied to the tube. A mandrel 128 and the tube 30 are positioned within a punch die (126), Fig. 11 (not shown), having an annular cutting edge (130) which cuts through a strip of hot plastics (132) leaving disc (134) adhering to apices 96 and tube ends 124. The mandrel and tube are then placed in a head forming die 140 and moved downwards in direction of arrow E so that the disc (134) is forced into cavity 142. The die 128 forces folded portions 94 to conform to the die at the tube shoulder 138. A neck-surrounding portion 150, Fig. 15, comprising helical screw thread portions 152 is formed by portions 144 of the die 140. A forming pin 154 produces a product dispensing opening 164. A closure cap 167 engages the screw threads 152 to seal the opening. Lamina (36) may be a metal foil, e.g. Pb, Al, and laminae (34), (38) may be nylon, polyurethane &c.