GB2188261A - Manufacture of a bead chain - Google Patents

Abstract

In the method (a) at each of equidistant consecutive first segments of a first tube 301 two adjoined flanges 302 connected by a weakened joint are formed by dies 33; (b) the tube 301 is inserted into a second hollow tube 304 of larger diameter; (c) and the tube 304 is pressed by dies 36 to form a series of consecutive second segments constituted of alternate enlarged portions 366 and narrow portions 367, with each narrow portion 367 located between the flanges 302 of a first segment; and (d) each pair of said adjoined flange portions 302 is separated by tapping by a rod 37 along the weakened joint. The tube 301 is bent in a hollow tube- forming member 32, and the second tube is bent in a hollow tube-forming member 35. The resultant chain has beads connected by hollow members. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A method and apparatus for manufacturing a chain of beads The invention relates to a method and apparatus for manufacturing a chain of beads, particularly to a method and apparatus for manufacturing a chain of beads, linking pieces of which are shaped in the form offlanged tubes.

Itis known in the artto provide a chain of beads to serve as an ornament oras a pullstring fora switch for certain articles, such as lamps. Generally, as shown in Fig. 1, such a string has a pluralityofhollow beads 141 and a plurality of solid linking pieces 142 connecting the beads to form a string. In the case ofthe chain's being attached to a lamp, an electric wire 143 must be disposed on an outer surface ofthe chain of beads.

This takes space and is unsightly.

To overcome the abovementioned disadvantage, a need exists to replace the solid linking pieces buy a hollow linking pieces, sothatthe electric wire 143 can be strung through the chain of beads.

An object ofthe invention is to provide a method for manufacturing a chain of beads with hollow linking pieces.

Another object ofthe invention is to provide an apparatus for manufacturing by progressive punching a chain of beads with hollow linking pieces.

According to the invention, a method for manufacturing a chain of beads includes: (a) rollingafirstsheetofchosen material to form a first hollowtube; (b) forming at each of equidistant consecutive first segments ofsaidfirst hollowtubetwo adjoined flange portions which are connected by a weakened joint; (c) rolling asecondsheetofchosen material to form a second hollow tube which is of large diameter than said first hollow tube; (d) inserting said first hollowtube into said second hollowtube;; (e) pressing said second hollowtube to form a series of consecutive second segements constituted of alternate enlarged portions and narrow portions, and in such a mannerthateach narrow portion is located between the flange portions of a first segment; and (f) separating each pair the adjoined flange portions by tapping along the weakened joint.

Also, according tothe invention, an apparatusfor manufacturing a string of beads includes: first means for rolling a first sheet of linking piece material to form first hollowtube, including first guiding groove axially extending through a left end wall ofsaidfirst rolling meansfor receiving said first sheet and a first conical innerspace converging from a first leftinnerinletto afirst right end outlet, wherein said first left inner inlet is capable of receiving said first sheet guided by said firstguiding groove; meansforconveying said firstsheet into said first guiding groove;; a first punching device for forming, at each of equidistant consecutive segments of said first hollow tube transmitted out of said first right end outlet, two adjoined flange portions which are separated by a weakened joint; second means for rolling a second sheet to form a second hollow tube which is of larger diameterthan said first hollow tu be, including a second guiding groove axially extending through a second left end wall of said second rolling meansforreceiving said second sheet, a central inlet provided through the left end wall of second rolling meansfor receiving thefirst hollowtubewith the adjoining flange portionsformed by the first punching device, and a second conical inner space converging from a second left inner inlet to a second right end outlet, wherein said second left end inlet is capable of receiving said second sheet guided by said second guiding groove; means for guiding said first hollow tube having flange portions out of said punching device into and along the axis of said second rolling means; means for moving said second sheet parallelly away from the axis of said second rolling means so that said first hollowtube is surrounded bysaidsecond hollow tube;; a second punching device for pressing said second hollow tu be to form a series of consecutive second segments constituted of alternate enlarge portions and narrow portions, and insuchamannerthateach narrow portion is located between the flange portions of a first segment; and means for separating each pair of the adjoined flange portions bytapping along the weakened joint.

Further characteristic features and advantages will emerge more clearly from a detailed description of the invention, given bywayofa non-limiting exampie with reference to the attached drawings in which: Fig. lisa sectional view showing a chain of beads with solid linking pieces according to prior art; Fig. 2 is a elevation view showing an apparatus for manufacturing a chain of beads according to the invention; Fig .3 is a sectional schematic view showing a punching motion of a first punching die set according to the invention; Fig . 4 is a schematic view showing a first hollow tube-forming member of an apparatus for manufacturing a chain of beads according to the invention;; Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing a first lower stationary die of a first punching die set of an apparatus for manufacturing a chain of beads according to the invention; Fig. 6 is a schematic view showing a semi-finished product punched bythe first punching die set shown in Fig. 5 of an apparatus for manufacturing a chain of beads according to the invention; Fig . 7 is a perspective view showing a second lower stationary die of a second punching die set of an apparatus for manufacturing a chain of beads accord ingtothe invention; Fig. 8 is a schematicviewshowing a semi-finished product punched by the second punching die set shown in Fig.7 of an apparatus for manufacturing a chain of beads according to the invention; ; Fig. 9 is a sectional schematic view showing a shaping mechanism adapted to form a chain of beads according to the invention; and Fig. 10 is a sectional view showing a chain of beads with hollow linking pieces manufactured by an apparatus according to the invention.

Referring to Fig. 2, there is shown an apparatus for manufacturing a chain of beads includes a driving mechanism 1,acam mechanism 2 and a shaping mechanism 3. The driving mechanism 1 is capable of driving the cam mechanism 2 so thatthe material being conveyed in the shaping mechanism 3 is punchedtoform a chain of beads, as described hereinafter. Two cams 12 are separatelysecured to a cam draft 11 and each ofthe cams 12 is provided with a pluralityofprojections 121 which are spaced apart equally atan predetermined distace. The cam mechanism 2 includestwo camfollowers21 coupled with the two cams 12 respectively and connected respectively to two punching die sets 33 and 36 contained in the shaping mechanism 3.

The shaping mechanism 3 includes in turn a first roller311, afirst hollowtube-forming member32, a first punching die set 33, a conduit 34, a second roller 312,a second hollowtube-forming member 35, a second punching device 36 and a tapping rod 37.

Accordingly, when two sheets of chosen material which include a first and second sheet are fed to and conveyed bythefirst-and second rollers respectively, a chain of beads will be obtained after tapping by the tapping rod 37. The first roller311 is capable of moving thefirst sheet paral iel Iy away from the axis of thefirsthollowtube-forming member32,similarly, the second rollwe 312 is capable of moving the second sheet parallelly away from the axis ofthe second hollowtube-forming member 35.

The operation ofthe first punching die set 33, which consists of a first upper die 331 and a first lower stationary die 332, is shown in Fig. 3. The cam shaft 11 first drives the cam 12 to rotate, then the projections 121 provided on the cam 12 press the cam follower 21 and the cam follower 21 translates the motion to the first upper die 331 carried thereon, moving ittoward the lower stationary die 332 to finish a punching motion. Sincethe number of the punching motions per revolution ofthe cam 12 is same as the numberof the projections 121 provided thereon, equidistance between the projections leads to equal intervals between the punching motions.

Referring to Fig. 4, the first hollow tube-forming member32includesafirstguiding groove 321 axially extendingthrougha leftendwall ofthe member32for receiving a first sheet 101, an first inner cylindrical space 322 in half of the first hollow tube-form ing member 32 and an first inner conical space 323 converging from a first left inner inlet 324 to a first right end circular outlet 325 of a predetermined inner diameter.The first guiding groove 321 ensures stable horizontal conveyance ofthe first sheet 101, so that when the first sheet 101 contacts the convergent conical inner surface enclosing the first conical space 323, the first sheet 101 will be rolled gradually to form afirst hollowtube 201 (as shown in Fig. 5), the outer diameter of which is same as the inner diameter of the right end outlet 325.

Similarly, referring to Fig. 9, the second hollow tubeforming member 35 also has a second guding groove 351, a second innner cylindrical space 352 and a second inner conical space 353, which is connected with the second inner cylindrical space 353 and which converges from a second left inner inlet 354 to a second right end outlet 355; wherein the second right end outlet 355 has a larger diameterthan that ofthe first right end outlet 325, thereby, a second sheet 102 will also be rolled gradually to form a second hollow tube 202 by the second hollowtube-forming member 35. Additionally, the second hoilow tube-forming member35 includes a central circular inlet 356 disposed above the second guiding groove 351.

Referring to Fig. 5, a body 333 ofthe first lower stationa rydie 332 is provided with a semicircular groove 334 having a plurality offlange-forming portions 335 spaced apart equally from each other; furthermore, the third, subsequently, each flangeforming portion 335 is provided with a central cutting edge 336 so as to form two flange portions. Afirst semi-finished product 301 will havetheshapeshown in Fig. 6 afterthefirst hollowtube 201 is punched by thefirst punching die set 33. As shown in Fig. 6, adjoined double flange portions 302 are formed intermittently on thefirstsemi-finished product301, the connecting portions 303 between adjoined double flange portions 302tapering to form a central weakened joint.The first semi-finished product 301 formed bythefirst punching die set 33 is transmitted to the second hollowtube-forming member35 through the conduit 34 (as shown in Fig. 9). Thefirst semi-finished product 301 is then inserted through the central inlet 356 and the second hollow tube 202 is formed around it.

Similarly,the body362 ofthesecond lower stationary die 363, as shown in Fig. 7, is provided with an elongate groove 364 having a series of consecutive segments 365 which, moving from the left end ofthe groove 364, are gradually shaped increasingly in the form of a half-bead, with the right-most segment forming a complete hemisphere.

Accordingly, a second semi-finished product 304 has the shape shown in Fig. 8 afterthesecond hollow tube 202 is punched by the second punching die set 36. The second semi-finished product 304 has a series of consecutive segments constituted by alternate enlarged portions 366 and narrow portions 367, each narrow portion 367 is located at non-flange portions of the consecutive linking pieces.

Finally, as shown in Fig. 9, it will be seen thatthe tapping rod 37 is arranged beyondthe right end ofthe second punching die set 36 so as to tapthe final second semi-finished product 304 transmitted out of the second punching die set 36.This will cause all of the adjoined double flange portions 302 to separate along their central weakened joint and form a chain 40 of beads, as shown in Fig. 10, which includes a plurality of hollow beads 402 and hollow linking pieces 401 being shaped in the form of flange tube and capable of receiving other elongate articles.

With the invention thus explained, it is apparentthat various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. It is therefore intended that the invention be limited as indicated in the appended claims.

Claims (9)

1. A method for manufacturing a chain of beads comprising the steps of: (a) forming at each of equidistant consecutive first segments of a first hollowtube two adjoined flange portions which are connected by a weakened joint; (b) inserting said first hollow tube into a second hollowtubewhich islargerthansaidfirsthollowtube; (c) pressing said second hollow tube to form a series of consecutive second segments constituted of alternate enlarged portions and narrow portions, and in a mannerthat each narrow portion is located between the flange portions of a first segment; and (d) separating each pairoftheadjoinedflange portions by tapping along the weakened joint.

2. A method as claimed in Claim 1,further comprising a step, implemented before step (a), of rolling a first sheet of a chosen material to form said first hollowtube.

3. A method as claimed in Claim 1 ,further comprising a step, implemented before step (b), of rolling a second sheet of a chosen material to form said second hollow tube.

4. A method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said enlarged portions are oval-shaped.

5. Aapparatusformanufacturing achainofbeads comprising: first meansfor rolling a first sheetto form first hollowtube,including afirstguiding groove axially extending through a left end wall of said rolling means for receiving said first sheet and a first conical inner surface converging from a first left inner inlet to a first right end outlet, wherein said first left end inlet is capable of receiving said first sheet guided by said first guiding groove; means for conveying said first sheet into said first guiding groove; a first punching device for forming, at each of equidistant consecutive segments of said first hollow tube transmitted out of said right end outlet, two adjoining flange portions which are connected bya weakened joint;; second meansfor rolling a second sheet to form a second hollow tube which is of largerdiameterthan said first hollow tube, including a second guiding groove axially extending through a left end wall of said second rolling means for receiving said second sheet, a central inlet provided through the left end wall of said second rolling means for receiving the first hollowtubewith the adjoining flange portions formed bythefirst punching device, and a second conical inner surface converging from a second left inner inlet to a second right end outlet, wherein said second left inner inlet is capable of receiving said second sheet guided by said second guiding groove;; meansforguidingsaidfirsthollowtubewithflange portions out of said first punching device into and along the axis of said second rolling means; meansforconveying said second sheet in a direction parallelly away from the axis of said second rolling means so that said firsthollowtube is surrounded by said second hollowtube; a second punching device for pressing said second hollow tu be to form a series of consecutive second segments constituted by alternate enlarged portions and narrow portions, and in such a manner that each narrow portion is located between the flange portions of a first seg ment; and meansforseparating two adjoined flange portions by tapping along the weakened joint.

6. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 5, wherein said first punching device comprises a cam shaft, a cam secured to said cam shaft, a rod disposed longitudinally under said cam and capable of receiving longitudinal lineardisplacementthereby,a upper punching die mounted securely at the lower end of said rod and a lower stationary punching die mounted under said upper punching die.

7. An apparatus as claimed in ClaimS, wherein said means for conveying said first sheet into said first guding groove conprises a roller.

8. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 5, wherein said meansforguiding said first hollowtube with flange portions out of said first punching device into and along the axis of said second rolling means comprises a conduit.

9. A method and apparatus for manufacturing a chain of beads substantially as herein before de scribe with reference to the accompanying drawings.