JP3540545B2

JP3540545B2 - Method and apparatus for producing elastic self-shrinking tube

Info

Publication number: JP3540545B2
Application number: JP14129797A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 豊明田代; 良成羽根; 功高岡; 裕士桜井
Original assignee: THE FURUKAW ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
Current assignee: THE FURUKAW ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
Priority date: 1997-05-30
Filing date: 1997-05-30
Publication date: 2004-07-07
Anticipated expiration: 2017-05-30
Also published as: JPH10329215A

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、ゴム状弾性を有する弾性チューブを拡径状態で拡径保持筒体の外周に支持させた構造の弾性自己収縮チューブを作成する弾性自己収縮チューブの作成方法及び装置に関するものである。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
最近、電線，ケーブル，パイプ等の接続部を保護，絶縁被覆，あるいは補修するために、バーナ等の加熱手段を用いて収縮させる熱収縮チューブの代わりに、加熱手段を用いずに収縮させて被覆できる弾性自己収縮チューブが用いられてきている。
【０００３】
この弾性自己収縮チューブ１は、図１３に示すように、ゴム状弾性を有するシリコーンゴム等よりなる弾性チューブ２を拡径状態で拡径保持筒体３の外周に支持させた構造になっている。拡径保持筒体３は、プラスチック等で、その内径が装着すべき対象物の外径より大きく形成されている。
【０００４】
このような弾性自己収縮チューブ１は、装着すべき対象物の外周に嵌め、弾性チューブ２が装着すべき対象物の被覆すべき位置の外周に存在するように位置決めした状態で、拡径保持筒体３を弾性チューブ２から引き抜くことにより、または拡径保持筒体３を帯状成形体（線を含む）でコイル状に作成しておき、この拡径保持筒体３を分解して帯状成形体として除去することにより、該弾性チューブ２を装着すべき対象物の被覆すべき位置の外周に自己収縮させて密着させることにより装着を行うものである。
【０００５】
本出願人は、このような弾性自己収縮チューブ１の作成するための２つの方法を提案した（特願平７−２７１０２４号，特願平８−２８５２５９号）。
【０００６】
第１の方法を、図１４（Ａ）〜（Ｆ）を用いて説明する。
【０００７】
この第１の方法は、図１４（Ａ）に示すような第１のタイプの拡径治具４を用いる方法である。この拡径治具４は、先端の円錐形状をなすテーパ付きガイド部４ａの後に、拡径保持筒体３の外径より大きい円形断面を持つ拡径支持部４ｂが連設され、これらの表面が潤滑性面として作用するようにこれらテーパ付きガイド部４ａと拡径支持部４ｂが低融点凝固体よりなる潤滑剤としての氷で形成され、且つ拡径支持部４ｂ内に拡径保持筒体３が同軸状に内蔵された構造になっている。なお、拡径保持筒体３の孔内も氷で満たされている。
【０００８】
このような拡径治具４を、その先端のテーパ付きガイド部４ａが上向きとなるように配置する。
【０００９】
この拡径治具４の表面が溶けた状態で、テーパ付きガイド部４ａの先端部分に、図１４（Ｂ）に示すように弾性チューブ２の一端を嵌めて、図１４（Ｃ）（Ｄ）に示すように弾性チューブ２に下降力を加えて、テーパ付きガイド部４ａで弾性チューブ２を拡径させつつ下降させて拡径支持部４ｂ側に移動させ、最終的には図１４（Ｅ）に示すように該弾性チューブ２の全長が拡径治具４内の拡径保持筒体３の外周に対応する位置に存在する状態にする。この状態で、拡径治具４の氷を溶かすと、氷が溶けるにつれて弾性チューブ２が自己収縮して、図１４（Ｆ）に示すように拡径保持筒体３の外周に支持された状態の弾性自己収縮チューブ１が得られる。
【００１０】
第２の方法を、図１５を用いて説明する。
【００１１】
この第２の方法は、図示のような第２のタイプの拡径治具４´を用いる方法である。この拡径治具４´は、先端の円錐形状をなすテーパ付きガイド部４ａの後に、拡径保持筒体３の外径より大きい円形断面を持つ拡径支持部４ｂが連設され、これらの表面が潤滑性面として作用するようにこれらテーパ付きガイド部４ａと拡径支持部４ｂが低融点凝固体よりなる潤滑剤としての氷で形成され、且つ拡径支持部４ｂ内の中空部４ｃに拡径保持筒体３がその一部を外に出すようにして収容された構造になっている。
【００１２】
この拡径治具４´の表面が溶けた状態で、テーパ付きガイド部４ａの先端部分より弾性チューブ２の一端を嵌めて、該弾性チューブ２に力を加えて、テーパ付きガイド部４ａで該弾性チューブ２を拡径させつつ拡径支持部４ｂ側に移動させ、該拡径支持部４ｂを通り過ぎたところで該拡径支持部４ｂの後端部から露出している拡径保持筒体３の外周に自己収縮させ、弾性チューブ２の一端が拡径保持筒体３の外周の先端側の部分に密着固定された状態で、該拡径保持筒体３を矢印方向に移動させることにより弾性チューブ２の他の部分も該拡径保持筒体３の外周に順次密着させて、図１３に示すように拡径保持筒体３の外周に支持された状態の弾性自己収縮チューブ１を得る。
【００１３】
この第２の方法では、低融点凝固体よりなる潤滑剤としての氷の溶け具合が許容範囲であれば、拡径治具４´を繰り返し使用できる利点がある。
【００１４】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
しかしながら、前述したような２つの弾性自己収縮チューブ１の作成方法では、弾性チューブ２の拡径率が例えば３倍〜５倍のように大きい場合、あるいは弾性チューブ２の肉厚が厚い場合には、弾性チューブ２を拡径しつつ拡径治具４，４´の拡径支持部４ｂに嵌めるのに50kg以上の挿入力が必要になり、従来はこの作業を複数の作業員による人力で行っていたので、作業性が悪く、生産性が低い問題点があった。
【００１５】
機械力を用いて挿入作業を行うことも考えられているが、この場合は弾性チューブ２を機械的な把持手段で把持した状態で、拡径治具４，４´の挿入作業を行う必要があり、この機械的な把持手段は拡径治具４，４´が通る際に弾性チューブ２の拡径につれて該機械的な把持手段の把持面を、把持力を低下させずに拡径方向に逃がす必要があり、このため機械的な把持手段の構成が複雑化して装置のコストアップを招いたり、故障が発生し易い問題点があった。
【００１６】
本発明の目的は、自動的に、能率よく作業を行うことができる弾性自己収縮チューブの作成方法及び装置を提供することにある。
【００１７】
本発明の他の目的は、拡径治具が通る際に弾性チューブの拡径につれて把持面を把持力を低下させずに簡単に拡径方向に逃がすことができる簡単な構造の把持具を用いて作業を行うことができる弾性自己収縮チューブの作成方法及び装置を提供することにある。
【００１８】
本発明の他の目的は、弾性チューブの表面に僅かな掴み跡も発生させることなく作業を行うことができる弾性自己収縮チューブの作成方法を提供することにある。
【００１９】
本発明の他の目的は、弾性チューブの拡径率が大きくても、該弾性チューブを支障なく把持して作業を行うことができる弾性自己収縮チューブの作成方法を提供することにある。
【００２０】
本発明の他の目的は、拡径治具芯体の方を繰り返し使用できる構造の拡径治具を用いて作業を行うことができる弾性自己収縮チューブの作成装置を提供することにある。
【００２１】
【課題を解決するための手段】
請求項１に記載の発明では、拡径手段として、先端のテーパ付きガイド部の後に、拡径保持筒体の外径より大きい拡径支持部が連設され、少なくともこれらの表面には潤滑性が付与されており、且つ拡径支持部内に拡径保持筒体を内蔵させた構造の拡径治具を用いる。本発明で、拡径支持部内に拡径保持筒体を内蔵させるさせ方としては、拡径支持部内に拡径保持筒体を全体的に内蔵させてもよく、あるいは部分的に内蔵させてもいずれでもよい。
【００２２】
拡径すべき弾性チューブの外周を、空気圧の増減で把持面が膨脹，収縮する構造のゴム状弾性把持具により把持した状態で、この把持された弾性チューブの中心軸方向の一端部に前述した拡径治具のテーパ付きガイド部を対向させて、ゴム状弾性把持具に対して拡径治具を相互に近付く方向に相対的に圧入操作機構で強制移動させる。
【００２３】
その過程で拡径治具のテーパ付きガイド部を弾性チューブ内に圧入させて該弾性チューブを拡径させると共に該弾性チューブの拡径につれてゴム状弾性把持具の把持面を拡径方向に自動的に追従後退させて把持圧力を高めた状態で、圧入操作機構で強制的に弾性チューブ内に拡径治具を相対的に圧入し、弾性チューブを拡径治具の拡径支持部の外周に拡径状態で存在させてから、拡径保持筒体の外周に弾性チューブを拡径状態で保持させる。
【００２４】
弾性チューブを拡径治具の拡径支持部の外周に拡径状態で存在させてから、拡径保持筒体の外周に弾性チューブを拡径状態で保持させるやり方としては、氷等の低融点凝固体で形成した拡径治具を用いて、この低融点凝固体を溶かすことにより弾性チューブを自己収縮させて拡径保持筒体の外周に弾性チューブを保持させる方法、あるいは拡径治具としてその拡径支持部内の中空部に拡径保持筒体をその一部が外に出すようにして収容された構造のものを用いて、該拡径治具の拡径支持部に位置させた弾性チューブを更に相対的に移動させ、該拡径支持部を通り過ぎたところで該拡径支持部の後端部から露出している拡径保持筒体の外周に該弾性チューブを自己収縮させ、該弾性チューブの一端が拡径保持筒体の外周の先端側の部分に密着固定された状態で、該拡径保持筒体を該拡径治具に対して相対的に移動させることにより弾性チューブの他の部分も該拡径保持筒体の外周に順次密着させ保持させる方法等いずれでもよい。
【００２５】
このように拡径治具，ゴム状弾性把持具，圧入操作機構を用いて、弾性チューブ内に拡径治具を圧入させる作業を行うと、ゴム状弾性把持具による拡径すべき弾性チューブの把持が前述したように良好に行え、しかも圧入操作機構により大きな圧入操作力を容易に与えることができるので、弾性自己収縮チューブの作成作業を、自動的に、能率よく行うことができる。
【００２６】
特に、本発明では、拡径すべき弾性チューブの外周を、空気圧の増減で把持面が膨脹，収縮する構造のゴム状弾性把持具で把持するので、該ゴム状弾性把持具で把持された弾性チューブ内に拡径治具のテーパ付きガイド部を相対的に圧入させる際に、該弾性チューブに拡径治具のテーパ付きガイド部が相対的に圧入されて該弾性チューブが拡径されるにつれて、ゴム状弾性把持具の把持面が拡径方向に自動的に追従して後退され、これによりゴム状弾性把持具が圧縮されて内圧が高まり、その結果、把持圧力が高まり、この状態で強制的に弾性チューブ内に拡径治具が相対的に圧入されることになる。従って、弾性チューブ内に拡径治具を相対的に圧入する際に、ゴム状弾性を有する弾性チューブをゴム状弾性把持具の把持面で確実に把持して作業を自動的に行うことができる。
【００２７】
請求項２に記載の発明では、ゴム状弾性把持具は弾性チューブの軸線方向の異なる部分を把持するように複数配置しておき、これらゴム状弾性把持具で対応部分が把持され得る位置に弾性チューブを配置する。
【００２８】
かかる状態で、拡径治具のテーパ付きガイド部が弾性チューブを拡径しつつ通る箇所に存在するゴム状弾性把持具の把持面を膨脹状態にして弾性チューブを把持させると共に他のゴム状弾性把持具はその把持面を収縮状態にして弾性チューブを把持しないようにする。
【００２９】
把持状態にあるゴム状弾性把持具の位置を拡径治具のテーパ付きガイド部が通り過ぎて、次のゴム状弾性把持具の位置に拡径治具のテーパ付きガイド部が通り過ぎると、すぐにその位置のゴム状弾性把持具の把持面を膨脹状態にして弾性チューブを把持させると共にその前のゴム状弾性把持具の把持面を収縮状態にして、掴み替えを行わせる。
【００３０】
このように複数のゴム状弾性把持具を用いて掴み替えを行うと、最初から最後まで掴み状態で作業を終了した場合に起こる、掴まれている部分の弾性チューブが伸びられずにそのまま保持され、掴まれていない部分の弾性チューブが拡径治具の相対的移動につれて伸びる結果、作業終了後の状態で弾性チューブの表面に掴まれた箇所と掴まれていない箇所で掴み跡が生ずるのを防止することができる。
【００３１】
請求項３に記載の発明では、ゴム状弾性把持具の前段に、最小把持径がゴム状弾性把持具より小さい縮径，拡径把持具を配置し、これら縮径，拡径把持具とゴム状弾性把持具で対応部分が把持され得る位置に弾性チューブを配置する。このような縮径，拡径把持具を用いるのは、ゴム状弾性把持具の有効把持範囲が小さく、弾性チューブの元の径から拡径後の径までの把持範囲に対応できない、大きな拡径比の場合で、ゴム状弾性把持具と併用する場合である。
【００３２】
かかる状態で、最初に小径用の縮径，拡径把持具のみで弾性チューブを把持させ、且つゴム状弾性把持具の把持面を膨脹状態にして初期の拡径を行うと、その後はゴム状弾性把持具が働く範囲に入る。
【００３３】
従って、把持状態にある縮径，拡径把持具の位置を拡径治具のテーパ付きガイド部が通り過ぎ、ゴム状弾性把持具の位置も拡径治具のテーパ付きガイド部が通り過ぎて拡径支持部が臨む状態になると、該ゴム状弾性把持具の把持面で弾性チューブを把持させると共に縮径，拡径把持具を開放状態にして、掴み替えを行わせる。
【００３４】
このようにゴム状弾性把持具の他に、最小把持径が該ゴム状弾性把持具より小さい縮径，拡径把持具を用いると、ゴム状弾性把持具だけでは対応できない拡径率の大きい弾性チューブからなる弾性自己収縮チューブを作成することができる。
【００３５】
請求項４に記載の発明では、先端のテーパ付きガイド部の後に、拡径保持筒体の外径より大きい拡径支持部が連設され、少なくともこれらの表面には潤滑性が付与されており、且つ拡径支持部内に拡径保持筒体が内蔵されている構造の拡径治具と、空気圧の増減で把持面が膨脹，収縮して弾性チューブの把持と非把持とを行う構造のゴム状弾性把持具と、拡径治具に対してゴム状弾性把持具を相互に近付く方向に相対的に強制移動させて拡径治具を弾性チューブ内に圧入させる操作を行う圧入操作機構とを備えている。
【００３６】
このように拡径治具，ゴム状弾性把持具，圧入操作機構を用いて、弾性チューブ内に拡径治具を圧入させる作業を行うと、ゴム状弾性把持具による拡径すべき弾性チューブの把持が前述したように良好に行え、しかも圧入操作機構により大きな圧入操作力を容易に与えることができるので、弾性自己収縮チューブの作成作業を、自動的に、能率よく行うことができる。
【００３７】
特に、本発明では、拡径すべき弾性チューブの外周を、空気圧の増減で把持面が膨脹，収縮する構造のゴム状弾性把持具で把持するので、該ゴム状弾性把持具で把持された弾性チューブ内に拡径治具のテーパ付きガイド部を相対的に圧入させる際に、該弾性チューブに拡径治具のテーパ付きガイド部が相対的に圧入されて該弾性チューブが拡径されるにつれて、ゴム状弾性把持具の把持面が拡径方向に自動的に追従して後退され、これによりゴム状弾性把持具が圧縮されて内圧が高まり、その結果、把持圧力が高まり、この状態で圧入操作機構により強制的に弾性チューブ内に相対的に拡径治具が圧入されることになる。従って、弾性チューブ内に相対的に拡径治具を圧入する際に、ゴム状弾性を有する弾性チューブを確実に把持して作業を自動的に行うことができる。
【００３８】
請求項５に記載の発明では、拡径治具は、円錐形のテーパ付きガイド芯体部と、このテーパ付きガイド芯体部の基端にその最大外径に外径を一致させて連設された円筒状の拡径支持芯体部と、テーパ付きガイド芯体部の基端に連設されていて円筒状の拡径支持芯体部の中心を貫通して外に導出されている連結用軸部と、この連結用軸部の外端部に設けられていて圧入操作機構に連結される連結部とを備えた拡径治具芯体と、この拡径治具芯体のテーパ付きガイド芯体部及び拡径支持芯体部の表面を覆って設けられてテーパ付きガイド部と拡径支持部の各表面を形成している潤滑層とを備え、円筒状の拡径支持芯体部内に拡径保持筒体がその一部を外部に突出させて内蔵された構造になっている。
【００３９】
このような構造の拡径治具では、拡径治具芯体を有し、その表面に潤滑層を設けているので、潤滑層が薄くてよく、該潤滑層の形成を容易に行うことができる。また、拡径治具芯体の方は、何回でも再使用することができる。さらに、拡径治具芯体は連結用軸部と連結部とを有するので、圧入操作機構に対する連結を容易に行うことができる。
【００４０】
【発明の実施の形態】
図１（Ａ）〜（Ｄ）乃至図５（Ａ）〜（Ｆ）は、本発明に係る弾性自己収縮チューブの作成装置における実施の形態の第１例を示したものである。
【００４１】
この弾性自己収縮チューブの作成装置は、図１（Ａ）〜（Ｄ）に示すように作業フロアー上に立設された直方体状をした鋼鉄製で縦型の装置フレーム５を有する。この装置フレーム５は、作業フロアー上に固設された四角形の第１の枠体５ａと、この第１の枠体５ａに対して所要の高さで対向する四角形の第２の枠体５ｂと、これら第１の枠体５ａと第２の枠体５ｂとの四隅を連結する縦向きの柱体５ｃとで構成されている。
【００４２】
このような縦型装置フレーム５の上下方向の途中の部分には、四本の縦向きの柱体５ｃに囲まれた空間を横切る形で井桁状をした第１〜第３の把持具取付け台６ａ〜６ｃが溶接により水平向きで上下方向に所定間隔で３段に取付けられている。これら第１〜第３の把持具取付け台６ａ〜６ｃの中央には、後述するゴム状弾性把持具の下部が嵌まる孔７ａ〜７ｃがあけられている。
【００４３】
これら第１〜第３の把持具取付け台６ａ〜６ｃ上の中央には、下部を孔７ａ〜７ｃに嵌めて第１〜第３のゴム状弾性把持具８ａ〜８ｃが相互の軸線を垂直方向に整列させるように位置決めして取付け手段９ａ〜９ｃによりそれぞれ取付けられている。ゴム状弾性把持具の数は、掴み替えができるように２個以上が望ましい。
【００４４】
第１〜第３のゴム状弾性把持具８ａ〜８ｃは、図２に示すように、ステンレス製の筒状ボデイ１０の内面にゴム状弾性体１１の筒部からなる把持面１１ａが挿入され、このゴム状弾性体１１の筒部からなる把持面１１ａの両端から折返された各折返し部１１ｂが筒状ボデイ１０の両端で該筒状ボデイ１０の外面にあてがわれ、これら折返し部１１ｂが筒状ボデイ１０の外面に加締めリング１２で加締められてゴム状弾性体１１が筒状ボデイ１０に気密に取付けられ、これら筒状ボデイ１０とゴム状弾性体１１とで空気圧の増減で把持面１１ａが膨脹，収縮するリング形の袋状体が構成されている。このようなゴム状弾性体１１は、糸入りクロロプレンゴム等で構成することができる。筒状ボデイ１０の外面の長手方向の中央の外周には、周方向に沿って張出した張出し部１３が設けられている。この張出し部１３には、リング形の袋状体内に対する加圧空気の供給と排気とを行う給排気口１４と、複数の取付け用ネジ孔１５とが設けられている。給排気口１４は、筒状ボデイ１０をその厚み方向に貫通して設けられている。各取付け用ネジ孔１５は、筒状ボデイ１０をその厚み方向に貫通しないようにして設けられている。このような構造をした第１〜第３のゴム状弾性把持具８ａ〜８ｃは、張出し部１３の各取付け用ネジ孔１５を利用して図１（Ａ）に示すように個々の取付け手段９ａ〜９ｃにより第１〜第３の把持具取付け台６ａ〜６ｃ上に取付けられている。
【００４５】
第１〜第３のゴム状弾性把持具８ａ〜８ｃには、図示しない共通のコンプレッサーから個々の電磁弁等を介して圧力空気が供給されるようになっている。
【００４６】
このような第１〜第３のゴム状弾性把持具８ａ〜８ｃにより、図１（Ａ）に示すように弾性チューブ２の軸線方向の異なる位置で該弾性チューブ２の把持が個々に行われるようになっている。
【００４７】
第３のゴム状弾性把持具８ｃの下側には、図１（Ａ）に示すように第１〜第３のゴム状弾性把持具８ａ〜８ｃに対して所要の位置に弾性チューブ２を仮止めするための弾性チューブ仮止め機構１６が設置されている。この弾性チューブ仮止め機構１６は、弾性チューブ２の下端を一端で受ける「へ」の字形をした仮止めアーム１６ａと、この仮止めアーム１６ａが揺動自在となるように該仮止めアーム１６ａの屈曲した中間部を第３の把持具取付け台６ｃの下部に対して枢支する枢支具１６ｂと、仮止めアーム１６ａの他端を枢支連結して該仮止めアーム１６ａをその一端が第３のゴム状弾性把持具８ｃの下側で待機する仮止め位置とこの仮止め位置から退避した退避位置とをとるように操作するエアーシリンダーよりなる仮止めアーム操作具１６ｃと、この仮止めアーム操作具１６ｃの基端を装置フレーム５に枢支する枢支具１６ｄとで構成されている。
【００４８】
第１〜第３のゴム状弾性把持具８ａ〜８ｃにより把持された弾性チューブ２の軸線方向の上方には、図１（Ａ）に示すように前述した第２のタイプの拡径治具４´がその中心軸線が第１〜第３のゴム状弾性把持具８ａ〜８ｃの整列軸線に整列する向きでテーパ付きガイド部４ａを下向きにして配置されている。
【００４９】
この拡径治具４´は、図３に示すように円錐形のテーパ付きガイド芯体部１７ａと、このテーパ付きガイド芯体部１７ａの基端にその最大外径に外径を一致させて連設された円筒状の拡径支持芯体部１７ｂと、テーパ付きガイド芯体部１７ａの基端に連設されていて円筒状の拡径支持芯体部１７ｂの中心を貫通して外に導出されている連結用軸部１７ｃと、この連結用軸部１７ｃの外端部に設けられていて後述する圧入操作機構に連結される所要長さの連結部１７ｄと、この連結部１７ｄの途中に直交する向きで突設されている連結突起１７ｅとを備えた拡径治具芯体１７と、この拡径治具芯体１７のテーパ付きガイド芯体部１７ａ及び拡径支持芯体部１７ｂの表面を覆って設けられてテーパ付きガイド部４ａと拡径支持部４ｂの各表面を形成している氷等の低融点凝固体よりなる潤滑層１８とを備え、円筒状の拡径支持芯体部１７ｂ内に拡径保持筒体３がその一部を外部に突出させて内蔵された構造になっている。
【００５０】
拡径保持筒体３としては、本例では図４に示すように、合成樹脂の帯状成形体３ａを螺旋状に巻いて円筒状にすると共に該帯状成形体３ａの隣接するターン間の部分を部分的に融着して、円筒状の形を保持できるようにした形状のものが用いられている。なお、帯状成形体３ａとしては、線も含むものである。
【００５１】
装置フレーム５の第２の枠体５ｂには、図１（Ａ）（Ｂ）に示すように拡径治具４´を弾性チューブ２内に圧入する操作を行うエアーシリンダーよりなる圧入操作機構１９が、その軸線を第１〜第３のゴム状弾性把持具８ａ〜８ｃの整列軸線に整列させて配置されている。この圧入操作機構１９は、シリンダー部１９ａと、このシリンダー部１９ａ内の図示しないピストン部と、このピストン部の動きにつれて動くピストンロッド部１９ｂとを備え、シリンダー部１９ａが第１の枠体５ａに垂直な向きで支持され、ピストンロッド部１９ｂが第１の枠体５ａを貫通して下方に導出され、このピストンロッド部１９ｂの先端の連結部１９ｃに拡径治具４´の連結部１７ｄが図５（Ａ）〜（Ｆ）に示すように連結されて該拡径治具４´が支持されている。ピストンロッド部１９ｂの連結部１９ｃにおいては、その下端に開口させて上向きに設けられていて拡径治具４´の連結用軸部１７ｃにおける先端の連結部１７ｄを挿入する挿入孔１９ｄと、この挿入孔１９ｄに沿って該連結部１９ｃの下端と側面とに開口させて上向きに設けられていて連結部１７ｄの連結突起１７ｅを挿入するための挿入スリット１９ｅと、この挿入スリット１９ｅの途中に直交する向きで設けられたロックスリット１９ｆと、連結部１９ｃの外周に上下動可能に嵌められているロックリング１９ｇと、このロックリング１９ｇの内面に突設されていて通常は挿入スリット１９ｅに嵌まっていてロック時にはロックスリット１９ｆに嵌まり込むロック突起１９ｈと、連結部１９ｃの外周の下部でロックリング１９ｇが抜けないように保持するストッパ１９ｉとを備えている。また、シリンダー部１９ａの側面には、図示しないピストン部の位置を検出することにより拡径治具４´の位置を自動的に検出する複数個の位置センサ２０ａ〜２０ｄが上下方向に位置を違えて取付けられている。
【００５２】
図１に示すように、第３のゴム状弾性把持具８ｃの下側で装置フレーム５には、拡径治具４´が抜け出す位置に作業員を含めた他の物体が存在しているか否かを安全のために検出する第１，第２の光電スイッチからなるセンサ２４ａ，２４ｂが設けられている。
【００５３】
更に、装置フレーム５には、この装置の自動制御を行うための制御盤２５が取付けられ、拡径治具４´の位置を間接的に検出するセンサ２０ａ〜２０ｄ等からの検出信号が入力されて、所定のタイミングで、可動部である第１〜第３のゴム状弾性把持具８ａ〜８ｃの制御部，弾性チューブ仮止め機構１６，圧入操作機構１９等に制御信号が与えられるようになっている。
【００５４】
次に、このような弾性自己収縮チューブの作成装置による弾性自己収縮チューブの作成方法を、前述した本発明の各図及び図６（Ａ）〜（Ｃ），図７を参照して説明する。
【００５５】
まず、弾性チューブ仮止め機構１６の仮止めアーム１６ａの先端部が、第３のゴム状弾性把持具８ｃの中心軸線の下に図１（Ａ）に示すような位置に存在する姿勢に仮止めアーム操作具１６ｃで制御して、該仮止めアーム１６ａをその姿勢で待機させる。
【００５６】
次に、第１〜第３のゴム状弾性把持具８ａ〜８ｃ内にシリコーンゴムよりなる拡径すべき弾性チューブ２を第１のゴム状弾性把持具８ａ側から挿入して、その下端を前述した仮止めアーム１６ａの先端部で仮止めして待機させる。
【００５７】
かかる状態で、第１〜第３のゴム状弾性把持具８ａ〜８ｃ内に各給排気口１４から加圧空気を送り込み、各ゴム状弾性体１１の把持面１１ａを図６（Ａ）に示すように膨らませて拡径すべき弾性チューブ２を、図１（Ａ）に示すようにその軸線方向に異なる位置で把持させる。
【００５８】
拡径すべき弾性チューブ２の第１〜第３のゴム状弾性把持具８ａ〜８ｃによる把持が完了した時点で、仮止めアーム操作具１６ｃの制御により仮止めアーム１６ａを図１（Ａ）に矢印で示す方向に退避させる。
【００５９】
次に、圧入操作機構１９のピストンロッド部１９ｂの先端（下端）の連結部１９ｃに、図１（Ａ）に示すように拡径治具４´の連結用軸部１７ｃの先端の連結部１７ｄを連結して該拡径治具４´を支持させる。
【００６０】
この連結作業は、図５（Ａ）〜（Ｆ）に示すようにして行う。
【００６１】
まず、図５（Ａ）（Ｂ）に示すようにロックリング１９ｇを上に上げた状態で、拡径治具４´の連結用軸部１７ｃにおける先端の連結部１７ｄを、ピストンロッド部１９ｂの下端の連結部１９ｃにおける挿入孔１９ｄに挿入する。この時の挿入長の適宜な長さの設定により、拡径治具４´がぶれないピストンロッド部１９ｂの下端に連結されることになる。このような連結部１７ｄの挿入の完了状態で、連結突起１７ｅはロックスリット１９ｆに対向した位置に存在している。
【００６２】
次に、図５（Ｃ）（Ｄ）に示すように拡径治具４´側をその軸線の回りに回転させて連結突起１７ｅをロックスリット１９ｆ側に移動させる。
【００６３】
かかる状態で、図５（Ｅ）（Ｆ）に示すようにロックリング１９ｇをストッパ１９ｉに当たる位置まで下降させる。この位置では、ロック突起１９ｈはロックスリット１９ｆに対向した位置にあって連結突起１７ｅが挿入スリット１９ｅの位置に戻らないようにロックしている。
【００６４】
かかる状態で、圧入操作機構１９を作動させて拡径治具４´を強制的に下降させる。
【００６５】
この過程で、拡径治具４´の先端のテーパ付きガイド部４ａが、図６（Ｂ）に示すように拡径すべき弾性チューブ２内に、これを拡径しつつ圧入される。弾性チューブ２に対する圧入時に、テーパ付きガイド部４ａの表面の氷よりなる潤滑層１８の表面が室温で溶けてぬれていて、滑かな氷面の潤滑作用により、テーパ付きガイド部４ａの弾性チューブ２に対する拡径圧入がスムーズに行われることになる。
【００６６】
第１のゴム状弾性把持具８ａの位置で、図６（Ｂ）に示すようにテーパ付きガイド部４ａが弾性チューブ２内を拡径しつつ移動する際には、テーパ付きガイド部４ａの移動に伴う弾性チューブ２の拡径につれて第１のゴム状弾性把持具８ａの把持面、即ちゴム状弾性体１１の把持面１１ａが拡径方向に押し付けられて追従して後退され、これにより第１のゴム状弾性把持具８ａのゴム状弾性体１１が圧縮されて内圧が高まり、その結果、弾性チューブ２に対する把持圧力が高まり、この状態で強制的に弾性チューブ２内に拡径治具４´が更に圧入されても該弾性チューブ２は外れないでテーパ付きガイド部４ａが該弾性チューブ２内を移動することになる。従って、弾性チューブ２内に拡径治具４´を圧入する際に、ゴム状弾性を有する弾性チューブ２を確実に把持して作業を自動的に行うことができる。
【００６７】
第１のゴム状弾性把持具８ａの位置を拡径治具４´のテーパ付きガイド部４ａが通り過ぎると、図６（Ｃ）に示すように弾性チューブ２は該拡径治具４´の拡径支持部４ｂにより拡径状態で保持されており、この拡径された弾性チューブ２が第１のゴム状弾性把持具８ａで把持されている。
【００６８】
第２，第３のゴム状弾性把持具８ｂ，８ｃの箇所でも同様の動作が行われることになる。なお、第１のゴム状弾性把持具８ａの把持力が１個でも充分ならば、第２，第３のゴム状弾性把持具８ｂ，８ｃは作動させなくてもよい。
【００６９】
拡径治具４´の拡径支持部４ｂを通り過ぎたところの弾性チューブ２は、図７に示すように該拡径支持部４ｂの後端部から露出している拡径保持筒体３の外周に自己収縮し、該弾性チューブ２の一端が拡径保持筒体３の外周の先端側の部分に密着固定される状態となる。この状態で該拡径保持筒体３が下降移動を続けると、弾性チューブ２の他の部分も該拡径保持筒体３の外周に順次密着保持されて、図１３に示すように拡径保持筒体３の外周に弾性チューブ２が拡径状態で支持された弾性自己収縮チューブ１が得られる。
【００７０】
この状態になると、拡径治具４´は図１（Ａ）に示すように第３のゴム状弾性把持具８ｃの下方に抜け出た状態になる。
【００７１】
かかる状態になったならば、該拡径治具４´を圧入操作機構１９のピストンロッド１９ｂから取り外し、該ピストンロッド１９ｂを待機位置まで上昇させる。この状態では、該ピストンロッド１９ｂは第１〜第３のゴム状弾性把持具８ａ〜８ｃの位置からも抜け出ているので、第１〜第３のゴム状弾性把持具８ａ〜８ｃから加圧空気を抜き、ゴム状弾性体１１の把持面１１ａを収縮状態（後退）にして、弾性自己収縮チューブ１を取り出す。
【００７２】
このような拡径治具４´の各段階の位置を、圧入操作機構１９のシリンダ部１９ａ内の図示しないピストンの動きを位置センサ２０ａ〜２０ｄで検出して前述したように図示しない制御盤からの指令を可動部に与えることにより、各工程の作業の自動制御が行われるようになっている。
【００７３】
拡径治具４´は、その潤滑層１８の氷が使える範囲内で、再使用して弾性自己収縮チューブ１の形成作業を繰り返し行う。
【００７４】
なお、図４に示すような帯状成形体３ａの筒状成形体よりなる拡径保持筒体３を用いて形成した弾性自己収縮チューブ１の場合には、装着すべき対象物の外周に該弾性自己収縮チューブ１を嵌めて、この装着すべき対象物に対して拡径状態の弾性チューブ２を所定の位置に位置決めした状態で、該拡径保持筒体３の帯状成形体３ａの一端を自身の内側を通して引き取ると、該帯状成形体３ａが拡径状態の弾性チューブ２から順次抜き取られて拡径保持筒体３が順次崩れてなくなり、これにつれて拡径保持筒体３が崩れてなくなった箇所の弾性チューブ２の部分が自己収縮して装着すべき対象物の外周に密着することになり、装着すべき対象物の外周での拡径保持筒体３の撤去作業を容易に行うことができる。
【００７５】
図８（Ａ）（Ｂ）は、ゴム状弾性把持具による弾性チューブ２の把持の仕方の他の例を示したものである。
【００７６】
この例では、ゴム状弾性把持具が２つで、即ち第１，第２のゴム状弾性把持具８ａ，８ｂで弾性チューブ２を把持する場合について説明する。
【００７７】
この場合にも、第１，第２のゴム状弾性把持具８ａ，８ｂは弾性チューブ２の軸線方向の異なる部分を把持するように配置しておく。
【００７８】
かかる状態で、図８（Ａ）に示すように拡径治具４´のテーパ付きガイド部４ａが弾性チューブ２を最初に拡径しつつ通る箇所に存在する第１のゴム状弾性把持具８ａの把持面１１ａを膨脹状態（前進状態）にして弾性チューブ２を把持させると共に第２のゴム状弾性把持具８ｂはその把持面１１ａを収縮状態（後退状態）にして弾性チューブ２を把持しないようにする。
【００７９】
次に、図８（Ｂ）に示すように把持状態にある第１のゴム状弾性把持具８ａの位置を拡径治具４´のテーパ付きガイド部４ａが通り過ぎて、第２のゴム状弾性把持具８ｂの位置も拡径治具４´のテーパ付きガイド部４ａが通り過ぎると、その位置のゴム状弾性把持具８ｂの把持面１１ａを膨脹状態にして弾性チューブ２を把持させ、次にその前の第１のゴム状弾性把持具８ａの把持面１１ａを収縮状態にして、掴み替えを行わせる。
【００８０】
このように複数のゴム状弾性把持具８ａ，８ｂを用いて掴み替えを行うと、最初から最後まで掴み状態で作業を終了した場合に起こる、掴まれている部分の弾性チューブ２が拡径治具４´の移動につれて伸びられずにそのまま保持され、掴まれていない部分の弾性チューブ２が拡径治具４´の移動につれて伸びる結果、図９に示すように作業終了後の状態で弾性チューブ２の表面にゴム状弾性把持具８ａで掴まれた箇所が凹部２ａとなり、掴まれていない箇所が凸部２ｂとなる、掴み跡が発生するのを防止することができる。このような掴み跡は、ごく微小で性能上問題にはならないが、製品の価値を減ずることになる。
【００８１】
図１０及び図１１（Ａ）（Ｂ）は、本発明に係る弾性自己収縮チューブの作成装置における実施の形態の第２例を示したものである。
【００８２】
この弾性自己収縮チューブの作成装置では、前述した第１，第２のゴム状弾性把持具８ａ，８ｂの配列方向の前段に、即ち第１のゴム状弾性把持具８ａの前段に、最小把持径がこれら第１，第２のゴム状弾性把持具８ａ，８ｂより小さい縮径，拡径把持具２１が装置フレーム５に支持されて配置されている。この縮径，拡径把持具２１は、拡径すべき弾性チューブ２の周方向に120 °間隔で放射状に配置されたエアシリンダよりなる個別グリップ操作器２２ａ，２２ｂ，２２ｃと、これら個別グリップ操作器２２ａ〜２２ｃのピストンロッドの先端で前進，後退の操作が行われる個別グリップ２３ａ，２３ｂ，２３ｃとで構成されている。その他の構成は、前述した実施の形態の第１例と同様である。
【００８３】
このように第１，第２のゴム状弾性把持具８ａ，８ｂの配列方向の前段に、最小把持径がこれらゴム状弾性把持具８ａ，８ｂより小さい縮径，拡径把持具２１を設けると、第１，第２のゴム状弾性把持具８ａ，８ｂだけでは対応できない拡径比の大きい弾性チューブ２からなる弾性自己収縮チューブ１を作成する際に、最初に弾性チューブ２が小径過ぎて第１，第２のゴム状弾性把持具８ａ，８ｂでは把持できないときは、最小把持径が第１，第２のゴム状弾性把持具８ａ，８ｂより小さい縮径，拡径把持具２１で該弾性チューブ２を把持させて作業を開始し、該弾性チューブ２の外径が大きくなった段階で第１，第２のゴム状弾性把持具８ａ，８ｂにより把持させることができる。
【００８４】
この際に、第１のゴム状弾性把持具８ａでは、予め把持面１１ａを膨脹させておくことにより拡径治具４´の通過により弾性チューブ２の把持が行える。拡径治具４´のテーパ付きガイド部４ａが第１のゴム状弾性把持具８ａを通過したら、縮径，拡径把持具２１の各個別グリップ２３ａ〜２３ｃを後退させて掴み替えを行う。次に、テーパ付きガイド部４ａが第２のゴム状弾性把持具８ｂの位置を通過したら、該把持具８ｂの把持面１１ａを膨脹状態にして該把持具８ｂで弾性チューブ２を掴み、次に第１のゴム状弾性把持具８ａの把持面１１ａを収縮状態にして、掴み替えを行わせる。
【００８５】
なお、この場合には、最初、縮径，拡径把持具２１を縮径状態にしておき、拡径治具４´のテーパ付きガイド部４ａが第１のゴム状弾性把持具８ａを通過したら該把持具８ａの把持面１１ａを膨脹状態にして弾性チューブ２を把持させることもできる。その後の掴み替えは同様にして行う。
【００８６】
図１２（Ａ）（Ｂ）は、ゴム状弾性把持具の他の例を示したものである。このゴム状弾性把持具８は、円筒状をなす筒状ボデイ１０の内周に、120 °間隔でチューブ状の第１〜第３のゴム状弾性体１１Ａ〜１１Ｃが該筒状ボデイ１０の軸線方向に沿って固定された構造になっている。このような第１〜第３のゴム状弾性体１１Ａ〜１１Ｃには、同じ内圧になるように圧力が制御されて加圧空気が供給されて把持面が膨脹状態になったり、その加圧空気の排出が行われて把持面が収縮状態になったりするようになっている。
【００８７】
このようなゴム状弾性把持具８では、その長さを長くすることが簡単である。また、このゴム状弾性把持具８は、図１（Ａ）に示したと同様に把持すべき部材である弾性チューブ２をその長手方向の複数箇所で把持するようにすることもできる。特に、このゴム状弾性把持具８のように筒状ボデイ１０の内周に、その周方向に間隔をあけて複数個のゴム状弾性体が存在する構造では、例えば把持すべき部材である弾性チューブ２の外周にその周方向に間隔をあけて突出部が長手方向に沿って突出されているような場合でも、各突出部を隣接するゴム状弾性体の間の隙間に存在させるようにして把持させることにより、支障なく把持を行わせることができる。
【００８８】
なお、図１４（Ａ）に示すような第１のタイプの拡径治具４を、図１（Ａ）〜（Ｄ）に示す弾性自己収縮チューブの作成装置で用いる場合には、図３に示すものと同様に金属製等の強度のある連結用軸部１７ｃを設けて圧入操作機構１９に連結すればよい。このタイプの拡径治具４では、図１４（Ａ）〜（Ｆ）で説明したように該拡径治具４の拡径支持部４ｂの外周に弾性チューブ２が全体的に拡径状態で支持された状態になった段階で、圧入操作機構１９による圧入動作を停止させる。
【００８９】
また、拡径治具４，４´で用いる低融点凝固体よりなる潤滑剤としては、弾性チューブ２や拡径保持筒体３を構成する材料が溶けたり変質しない温度範囲で溶解するものであれば、各種のものを使用できる。低融点凝固体の融点は、弾性チューブ２がシリコーンゴム製の場合は、−60℃以上であることが望ましい。低融点凝固体の融点が−60℃未満になると、シリコーンゴムの弾性率が１ＭＰａ未満になり、弾性チューブ２が変形し難くなるからである。
【００９０】
また、表面に潤滑性が付与されている拡径治具４，４´としては、前述したものに限定されるものではなく、テーパ付きガイド部４ａと拡径支持部４ｂとの表面が潤滑性の高いテトラフロロエチレン等の素材で構成されているもの、あるいは後から潤滑剤を塗布したもの、あるいはテーパ付きガイド部４ａと拡径支持部４ｂとの表面に後から潤滑性フィルムまたは潤滑性シートを被覆したものも用いることができる。
【００９１】
更に、図１（Ａ）〜（Ｄ）に示す弾性自己収縮チューブの作成装置では、第１〜第３のゴム状弾性把持具８ａ〜８ｃの方を固定し、拡径治具４´の方を可動としたが、本発明はこれに限定されるものではなく、拡径治具４´（４）の方を固定とし、第１〜第３のゴム状弾性把持具８ａ〜８ｃの方を可動として圧入操作機構で拡径治具４´（４）の方に強制移動させるようにすることもできる。
【００９２】
【発明の効果】
本発明では、拡径すべき弾性チューブの外周を、空気圧の増減で把持面が膨脹，収縮する構造のゴム状弾性把持具により把持した状態で、該ゴム状弾性把持具に対して拡径治具を相互に近付く方向に相対的に圧入操作機構で強制移動させて、その過程で拡径治具のテーパ付きガイド部を弾性チューブ内に圧入させて該弾性チューブを拡径させると共に該弾性チューブの拡径につれてゴム状弾性把持具の把持面を拡径方向に自動的に追従後退させて把持圧力を高めた状態で、圧入操作機構で強制的に弾性チューブ内に拡径治具を相対的に圧入するので、弾性チューブの拡径につれて後退移動させつつ把持する複雑な機械的構成の把持具を用いずに、弾性自己収縮チューブの作成を行うことができる。
【００９３】
特に、本発明のように拡径治具，ゴム状弾性把持具，圧入操作機構を用いて、弾性チューブ内に拡径治具を圧入させる作業を行うと、ゴム状弾性把持具による拡径すべき弾性チューブの把持が前述したように良好に行え、しかも圧入操作機構により大きな圧入操作力を容易に与えることができるので、弾性自己収縮チューブの作成作業を、自動的に、能率よく行うことができる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】（Ａ）〜（Ｄ）は本発明に係る弾性自己収縮チューブの作成装置における実施の形態の第１例を示したもので、（Ａ）は該装置の縦断正面、（Ｂ）は（Ａ）のＡ方向矢視図、（Ｃ）は（Ａ）でゴム状弾性把持具及び取付け手段を外した状態のＢ−Ｂ線断面図、（Ｄ）は（Ａ）のＣ−Ｃ線断面図である。
【図２】図１で用いているゴム状弾性把持具の構造を示す一部縦断側面図である。
【図３】図１で用いている拡径治具の縦断面図である。
【図４】（Ａ）は図１で用いている拡径保持筒体の正面図、（Ｂ）は（Ａ）の右側面図である。
【図５】（Ａ）（Ｃ）（Ｅ）は図１で用いている圧入操作機構の連結部と拡径治具の連結部との連結箇所における連結過程を示す正面図、（Ｂ）は（Ａ）のＤ−Ｄ線断面図、（Ｄ）は（Ｃ）のＥ−Ｅ線断面図、（Ｆ）は（Ｅ）のＦ−Ｆ線断面図である。
【図６】（Ａ）（Ｂ）（Ｃ）は本発明でゴム状弾性把持具により把持した弾性チューブに拡径治具を圧入する過程を縦断して示した説明図である。
【図７】本発明で弾性チューブに拡径治具を圧入して拡径した状態で、該拡径状態の弾性チューブを拡径保持筒体に密着移行させる過程を示す縦断面図である。
【図８】（Ａ）（Ｂ）はゴム状弾性把持具による弾性チューブの把持の仕方の他の例を示す説明図である。
【図９】ゴム状弾性把持具による弾性チューブの掴み替えを行わない場合に弾性チューブの表面状態を示す縦断面図である。
【図１０】本発明に係る弾性自己収縮チューブの作成装置における実施の形態の第２例を示す要部正面図である。
【図１１】（Ａ）は第２例の装置で弾性チューブの掴み替えを行う状態を示す説明図、（Ｂ）は第２例の装置で用いている拡径，縮径把持具の概略構成を示す正面図である。
【図１２】（Ａ）（Ｂ）はゴム状弾性把持具の他の例を示したもので、（Ａ）は（Ｂ）のＧ−Ｇ線断面図、（Ｂ）は（Ａ）の横断面図である。
【図１３】弾性自己収縮チューブの一例を示す縦断面図である。
【図１４】（Ａ）〜（Ｆ）は拡径治具を用いて弾性自己収縮チューブを作成する過程を示す説明図である。
【図１５】他の拡径治具を用いて弾性自己収縮チューブを作成する過程を示す説明図である。
【符号の説明】
１弾性自己収縮チューブ
２弾性チューブ
２ａ凹部
２ｂ凸部
３拡径保持筒体
３ａ帯状成形体
４，４´ 拡径治具
４ａテーパ付きガイド部
４ｂ拡径支持部
５縦型装置フレーム
５ａ第１の枠体
５ｂ第２の枠体
５ｃ柱体
６ａ〜６ｃ第１〜第３の把持具取付け台
７ａ〜７ｃ孔
８ａ〜８ｃ第１〜第３のゴム状弾性把持具
９ａ〜９ｃ取付け手段
１０筒状ボデイ
１１ゴム状弾性体
１１ａ把持面
１１ｂ折返し部
１２加締めリング
１３張出し部
１４給排気口
１５取付け用ネジ孔
１６弾性チューブ仮止め機構
１６ａ仮止めアーム
１６ｂ枢支具
１６ｃ仮止めアーム操作具
１６ｄ枢支具
１７拡径治具芯体
１７ａテーパ付きガイド芯体部
１７ｂ拡径支持芯体部
１７ｃ連結用軸部
１７ｄ連結部
１７ｅ連結突起
１８潤滑層
１９圧入操作機構
１９ａシリンダー部
１９ｂピストンロッド部
１９ｃ連結部
１９ｄ挿入孔
１９ｅ挿入スリット
１９ｆロックスリット
１９ｇロックリング
１９ｈロック突起
１９ｉストッパ
２０ａ〜２０ｄ位置センサ
２１縮径，拡径把持具
２２ａ〜２２ｃ個別グリップ操作器
２３ａ〜２３ｃ個別グリップ
２４ａ，２４ｂセンサ
２５制御盤[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for producing an elastic self-shrinkable tube for producing an elastic self-shrinkable tube having a structure in which an elastic tube having rubber-like elasticity is supported on the outer periphery of a diameter-expanding holding cylinder in an expanded state.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Recently, in order to protect, insulate, or repair the connection of electric wires, cables, pipes, etc., instead of using a heat-shrinkable tube that shrinks using a heating means such as a burner, shrink the coating without using a heating means. Elastic self-shrinking tubing has been used.
[0003]
As shown in FIG. 13, the elastic self-contracting tube 1 has a structure in which an elastic tube 2 made of silicone rubber or the like having rubber-like elasticity is supported on the outer periphery of a large-diameter holding cylinder 3 in a large-diameter state. . The enlarged diameter holding cylinder 3 is made of plastic or the like, and has an inner diameter larger than an outer diameter of an object to be mounted.
[0004]
Such an elastic self-shrinkable tube 1 is fitted on the outer periphery of an object to be mounted, and is positioned so that the elastic tube 2 is located at the outer periphery of a position to be covered of the object to be mounted. The body 3 is pulled out from the elastic tube 2 or the expanded diameter holding cylinder 3 is formed into a coil shape by a band-shaped molded body (including a wire), and the expanded diameter holding cylinder 3 is disassembled to form a band-shaped molded body. The elastic tube 2 is attached by causing the elastic tube 2 to self-shrink and adhere to the outer periphery of the position to be covered of the object to be attached.
[0005]
The present applicant has proposed two methods for producing such an elastic self-shrinking tube 1 (Japanese Patent Application Nos. 7-271024 and 8-285259).
[0006]
The first method will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0007]
This first method is a method using a first-type diameter expanding jig 4 as shown in FIG. In the diameter-enlargement jig 4, a diameter-enlargement support portion 4b having a circular cross section larger than the outer diameter of the diameter-enlargement holding cylinder 3 is continuously provided after a tapered guide portion 4a having a conical tip. The tapered guide portion 4a and the enlarged diameter support portion 4b are formed of ice as a lubricant made of a low-melting solidified body so that the tapered guide portion 4a functions as a lubricating surface, and the enlarged diameter holding cylinder is provided in the enlarged diameter support portion 4b. 3 has a structure built in coaxially. In addition, the inside of the hole of the large-diameter holding cylinder 3 is also filled with ice.
[0008]
Such a diameter-enlargement jig 4 is arranged such that the tapered guide portion 4a at the tip thereof faces upward.
[0009]
In a state where the surface of the diameter increasing jig 4 is melted, one end of the elastic tube 2 is fitted to the distal end portion of the tapered guide portion 4a as shown in FIG. 14 (B), and FIG. 14 (C) (D). As shown in FIG. 14, a downward force is applied to the elastic tube 2 to lower the elastic tube 2 while expanding the diameter of the elastic tube 2 with the tapered guide portion 4a, and move the elastic tube 2 to the enlarged-diameter support portion 4b. Finally, FIG. As shown in (1), the entire length of the elastic tube 2 is set at a position corresponding to the outer periphery of the large diameter holding cylinder 3 in the large diameter jig 4. In this state, when the ice of the diameter expanding jig 4 is melted, the elastic tube 2 self-shrinks as the ice melts, and is supported on the outer periphery of the diameter expanding holding cylinder 3 as shown in FIG. Is obtained.
[0010]
The second method will be described with reference to FIG.
[0011]
This second method is a method using a second type of diameter expanding jig 4 'as shown. In the diameter-enlargement jig 4 ′, a diameter-enlargement support portion 4 b having a circular cross section larger than the outer diameter of the diameter-enlargement holding cylinder 3 is continuously provided after a tapered guide portion 4 a having a conical tip. The tapered guide portion 4a and the enlarged diameter supporting portion 4b are formed of ice as a lubricant made of a low-melting solidified body so that the surface acts as a lubricating surface, and are formed in the hollow portion 4c in the enlarged diameter supporting portion 4b. The enlarged diameter holding cylinder 3 is housed so that a part of the cylinder 3 is put out.
[0012]
With the surface of the diameter-enlargement jig 4 ′ being melted, one end of the elastic tube 2 is fitted from the distal end portion of the tapered guide portion 4 a, and a force is applied to the elastic tube 2, and the tapered guide portion 4 a is used to apply the force. The diameter of the elastic tube 2 is moved toward the expanded support portion 4b while expanding the diameter of the elastic tube 2. When the elastic tube 2 has passed the expanded support portion 4b, the diameter of the expanded support cylinder 3 exposed from the rear end of the expanded support portion 4b is reduced. The elastic tube is self-contracted to the outer periphery, and the elastic tube 2 is moved in the direction of the arrow in a state in which one end of the elastic tube 2 is fixed in close contact with a portion on the distal end side of the outer periphery of the enlarged tube 3. The other portions 2 are also brought into close contact with the outer periphery of the large-diameter holding cylinder 3 to obtain the elastic self-shrinkable tube 1 supported on the outer periphery of the large-diameter holding cylinder 3 as shown in FIG.
[0013]
The second method has an advantage that the diameter-expanding jig 4 'can be repeatedly used as long as the melting condition of ice as a lubricant composed of a low-melting solidified body is within an allowable range.
[0014]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the method for producing the two elastic self-contracting tubes 1 as described above, when the expansion ratio of the elastic tube 2 is large, for example, 3 to 5 times, or when the thickness of the elastic tube 2 is large, The insertion force of 50 kg or more is required to fit the elastic tube 2 into the diameter-increase support 4b of the diameter-expansion jigs 4 and 4 'while expanding the diameter of the elastic tube 2. Conventionally, this operation is performed manually by a plurality of workers. Therefore, there was a problem that workability was poor and productivity was low.
[0015]
Although it is considered that the insertion operation is performed by using mechanical force, in this case, it is necessary to insert the expansion jigs 4 and 4 ′ in a state where the elastic tube 2 is gripped by mechanical gripping means. This mechanical gripping means causes the gripping surface of the mechanical gripping means to expand in the diameter-expanding direction without decreasing the gripping force as the diameter of the elastic tube 2 increases when the diameter-expanding jigs 4 and 4 'pass. It has to be released, which complicates the structure of the mechanical gripping means, leading to an increase in the cost of the apparatus and a problem in which a failure is likely to occur.
[0016]
An object of the present invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for producing an elastic self-shrinkable tube that can automatically and efficiently perform an operation.
[0017]
Another object of the present invention is to use a gripping tool having a simple structure that allows the gripping surface to be easily released in the diameter-expanding direction without reducing the gripping force as the diameter of the elastic tube expands when the diameter-expanding jig passes. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus for producing an elastic self-shrinkable tube that can perform an operation.
[0018]
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for producing an elastic self-shrinkable tube that can perform an operation without generating a slight grip mark on the surface of the elastic tube.
[0019]
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing an elastic self-shrinkable tube that can hold and operate the elastic tube without any trouble even if the expansion ratio of the elastic tube is large.
[0020]
It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for producing an elastic self-shrinkable tube that can be operated using a diameter-expanding jig having a structure in which a diameter-expanding jig core can be used repeatedly.
[0021]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, as the diameter expanding means, a diameter expanding support portion having a diameter larger than the outer diameter of the diameter expansion holding cylinder is continuously provided after the tapered guide portion at the tip, and at least these surfaces have lubricity. And a diameter-expanding jig having a structure in which a diameter-expanding holding cylinder is built in the diameter-expanding support portion. In the present invention, as a method of incorporating the large-diameter holding cylinder in the large-diameter support portion, the large-diameter holding cylinder may be entirely incorporated in the large-diameter support portion, or may be partially incorporated. Either may be used.
[0022]
In a state where the outer periphery of the elastic tube to be expanded is gripped by a rubber-like elastic gripper having a structure in which a gripping surface expands and contracts due to increase and decrease in air pressure, the above-described one end in the central axis direction of the gripped elastic tube is described above. The tapered guide portion of the diameter-enlargement jig is opposed, and the diameter-enlargement jig is forcibly moved by the press-fitting operation mechanism relative to the rubber-like elastic gripping tool in a direction approaching each other.
[0023]
In the process, the tapered guide portion of the expanding jig is pressed into the elastic tube to expand the elastic tube, and the gripping surface of the rubber-like elastic gripping tool is automatically expanded in the expanding direction as the elastic tube expands. When the gripping pressure is increased by retracting, the press-fitting operation mechanism forcibly press-fits the expanding tube into the elastic tube, and inserts the elastic tube onto the outer periphery of the expanding support of the expanding tube. After being present in the expanded state, the elastic tube is held in the expanded state on the outer periphery of the expanded diameter holding cylinder.
[0024]
A method of holding the elastic tube in the expanded state on the outer circumference of the expansion support jig after the elastic tube is present in the expanded state on the outer circumference of the expansion support portion of the diameter expansion jig is a low melting point such as ice. As a method of holding the elastic tube on the outer periphery of the expanded diameter holding cylinder by self-shrinking the elastic tube by melting this low melting point solidified body using a diameter expansion jig formed of a solidified body, or as a diameter expanding jig The elastic holding member is located in the expanding support portion of the expanding jig by using a structure in which the expanded diameter holding cylinder is housed in a hollow portion in the expanded diameter supporting portion so that a part of the cylindrical member is extended outside. The tube is further moved relatively, and the elastic tube is self-contracted to the outer periphery of the enlarged diameter holding cylinder that is exposed from the rear end of the enlarged diameter support portion after passing through the enlarged diameter support portion, and the elasticity of the elastic tube is reduced. One end of the tube is tightly attached to the tip of the outer periphery of the expanded diameter holding cylinder. In such a state, the other part of the elastic tube is sequentially brought into close contact with the outer periphery of the large diameter holding cylinder by moving the large diameter holding cylinder relative to the large diameter jig. Either may be used.
[0025]
By performing the work of press-fitting the diameter-expanding jig into the elastic tube by using the diameter-expanding jig, the rubber-like elastic gripper, and the press-fitting operation mechanism, the elastic tube to be expanded by the rubber-like elastic gripper is used. As described above, gripping can be performed favorably, and a large press-fitting operation force can be easily applied by the press-fitting operation mechanism. Therefore, the operation of preparing the elastic self-shrinkable tube can be automatically and efficiently performed.
[0026]
In particular, according to the present invention, since the outer periphery of the elastic tube to be expanded is gripped by the rubber-like elastic gripper having a structure in which the gripping surface expands and contracts by increasing or decreasing the air pressure, the elastic gripper held by the rubber-like elastic gripper is used. When the tapered guide portion of the diameter-expanding jig is relatively press-fitted into the tube, the tapered guide portion of the diameter-expanding jig is relatively press-fitted into the elastic tube and the elastic tube is expanded in diameter. The gripping surface of the rubber-like elastic gripping tool is automatically retracted by following the expanding direction, thereby compressing the rubber-like elastic gripping tool and increasing the internal pressure. As a result, the diameter increasing jig is relatively pressed into the elastic tube. Therefore, when the diameter-expanding jig is relatively press-fitted into the elastic tube, the operation can be automatically performed by securely grasping the elastic tube having rubber-like elasticity with the grasping surface of the rubber-like elastic grasping tool. .
[0027]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, a plurality of rubber-like elastic grippers are arranged so as to grip different portions of the elastic tube in the axial direction, and the rubber-like elastic grippers are provided at positions where the corresponding portions can be gripped by the rubber-like elastic grippers. Place tube.
[0028]
In such a state, the gripping surface of the rubber-like elastic gripping tool existing at a position where the tapered guide portion of the diameter-expanding jig passes while expanding the elastic tube is in an expanded state to grip the elastic tube and to perform other rubber-like elasticity. The gripper has its gripping surface in a contracted state so as not to grip the elastic tube.
[0029]
As soon as the tapered guide of the expanding jig passes by the position of the rubber-like elastic gripping tool in the gripping state and the tapered guide of the expanding jig passes by the position of the next rubber-like elastic gripping tool. The gripping surface of the rubber-like elastic gripping tool at that position is expanded to grip the elastic tube, and the gripping surface of the rubber-like elastic gripping tool in front is contracted to perform gripping.
[0030]
As described above, when the gripping is performed using a plurality of rubber-like elastic grippers, when the work is completed in the gripping state from the beginning to the end, the elastic tube of the gripped portion is held as it is without being stretched. As a result, the elastic tube in the non-grabbed part expands with the relative movement of the expanding jig. Can be prevented.
[0031]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, a reduced-diameter and an enlarged-diameter gripping tool having a minimum gripping diameter smaller than that of the rubber-like elastic gripping tool is disposed in front of the rubber-like elastic gripping tool. The elastic tube is arranged at a position where the corresponding portion can be gripped by the elastic gripper. The use of such a diameter-reduced / expanded gripper is such that the effective gripping range of the rubber-like elastic gripper is small, and the gripping range from the original diameter of the elastic tube to the diameter after the expansion cannot be accommodated. In the case of the ratio, it is a case where it is used together with a rubber-like elastic gripping tool.
[0032]
In such a state, first, the elastic tube is gripped only by the small-diameter and large-diameter gripper for small diameter, and the gripping surface of the rubber-like elastic gripper is expanded to perform the initial diameter expansion. It enters the range where the elastic gripper works.
[0033]
Accordingly, the tapered guide portion of the diameter-enlargement jig passes through the position of the diameter-reducing and diameter-enlargement gripping tool in the gripping state, and the position of the rubber-like elastic gripper also passes through the tapered guide portion of the diameter-enlargement jig. When the support portion is in the facing state, the elastic tube is gripped by the gripping surface of the rubber-like elastic gripping tool, and the diameter-reducing and expanding-diameter gripping tool is opened to perform gripping.
[0034]
As described above, if a small-diameter or large-diameter gripping tool having a minimum gripping diameter smaller than that of the rubber-like elastic gripping tool is used in addition to the rubber-like elastic gripping tool, the elasticity having a large diameter expansion rate that cannot be handled by the rubber-like elastic gripping tool alone is used. An elastic self-contracting tube made of a tube can be produced.
[0035]
According to the fourth aspect of the invention, after the tapered guide portion at the distal end, an enlarged-diameter support portion larger than the outer diameter of the enlarged-diameter holding cylinder is continuously provided, and at least these surfaces are provided with lubricity. And a diameter-enlargement jig having a structure in which an enlarged-diameter holding cylinder is built in a diameter-enlarged support portion, and a rubber having a structure in which a gripping surface expands and contracts by increasing or decreasing air pressure to grip and non-grip an elastic tube. And a press-fitting operation mechanism for forcibly moving the rubber-like elastic gripper relative to the diameter-expanding jig in a direction approaching each other to press-fit the diameter-expanding jig into the elastic tube. Have.
[0036]
By performing the work of press-fitting the diameter-expanding jig into the elastic tube by using the diameter-expanding jig, the rubber-like elastic gripper, and the press-fitting operation mechanism, the elastic tube to be expanded by the rubber-like elastic gripper is used. As described above, gripping can be performed favorably, and a large press-fitting operation force can be easily applied by the press-fitting operation mechanism. Therefore, the operation of preparing the elastic self-shrinkable tube can be automatically and efficiently performed.
[0037]
In particular, according to the present invention, since the outer periphery of the elastic tube to be expanded is gripped by the rubber-like elastic gripper having a structure in which the gripping surface expands and contracts by increasing or decreasing the air pressure, the elastic gripper held by the rubber-like elastic gripper is used. When the tapered guide portion of the diameter-expanding jig is relatively press-fitted into the tube, the tapered guide portion of the diameter-expanding jig is relatively press-fitted into the elastic tube and the elastic tube is expanded in diameter. Then, the gripping surface of the rubber-like elastic gripping tool is automatically retracted following the expanding direction, whereby the rubber-like elastic gripping tool is compressed and the internal pressure is increased. As a result, the gripping pressure is increased. The expansion mechanism is forcibly pressed into the elastic tube relatively by the operation mechanism. Therefore, when the diameter-expanding jig is relatively press-fitted into the elastic tube, the operation can be automatically performed while securely holding the elastic tube having rubber-like elasticity.
[0038]
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the diameter-enlargement jig is connected to the conical tapered guide core and the base end of the tapered guide core so that the outer diameter matches the maximum outer diameter. And a connection extending from the center of the cylindrical enlarged-diameter support core portion and being connected to the base end of the tapered guide core portion. Jig core body provided with a connecting shaft portion and a connecting portion provided at an outer end portion of the connecting shaft portion and connected to the press-fitting operation mechanism, and a tapered portion of the expanding jig core body. A cylindrical enlarged diameter support core including a tapered guide portion and a lubricating layer formed on each surface of the enlarged diameter support portion and provided over the surfaces of the guide core portion and the enlarged diameter support core portion. The structure is such that a large-diameter holding cylinder body is built in the part by protruding a part thereof to the outside.
[0039]
Since the diameter-expanding jig having such a structure has the diameter-expanding jig core body and the lubricating layer provided on the surface thereof, the lubricating layer may be thin and the lubricating layer can be easily formed. it can. In addition, the expanded jig core can be reused any number of times. Further, since the diameter-expanding jig core has the connecting shaft portion and the connecting portion, the connection to the press-fitting operation mechanism can be easily performed.
[0040]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
1 (A) to 1 (D) to 5 (A) to 5 (F) show a first example of an embodiment of an apparatus for producing an elastic self-shrinking tube according to the present invention.
[0041]
As shown in FIGS. 1 (A) to 1 (D), this apparatus for producing an elastic self-contracting tube has a rectangular parallelepiped steel vertical apparatus frame 5 erected on a work floor. The device frame 5 includes a first rectangular frame 5a fixed on the work floor, and a second rectangular frame 5b facing the first frame 5a at a required height. The vertical frame 5c connects the four corners of the first frame 5a and the second frame 5b.
[0042]
The first to third gripper mounting bases are formed in a crosswise shape in such a manner as to traverse the space surrounded by the four vertical pillars 5c in the middle part of the vertical device frame 5 in the vertical direction. 6a to 6c are mounted in three stages at predetermined intervals in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction by welding. Holes 7a to 7c into which lower portions of rubber-like elastic grippers described later are fitted are formed at the centers of the first to third gripper mounting tables 6a to 6c.
[0043]
At the center of the first to third gripper mounting bases 6a to 6c, the lower portions are fitted in holes 7a to 7c, and the first to third rubber-like elastic grippers 8a to 8c are arranged so that their axes are oriented in the vertical direction. And are mounted by mounting means 9a to 9c, respectively. The number of rubber-like elastic grippers is desirably two or more so as to enable re-grip.
[0044]
As shown in FIG. 2, the first to third rubber-like elastic grippers 8 a to 8 c have a gripping surface 11 a formed of a cylindrical portion of a rubber-like elastic body 11 inserted into the inner surface of a stainless steel cylindrical body 10, Each of the folded portions 11b folded from both ends of the gripping surface 11a formed of a cylindrical portion of the rubber-like elastic body 11 is applied to the outer surface of the cylindrical body 10 at both ends of the cylindrical body 10, and these folded portions 11b are A rubber elastic body 11 is crimped to the outer surface of the cylindrical body 10 with a caulking ring 12 to be air-tightly attached to the cylindrical body 10, and the cylindrical body 10 and the rubber elastic body 11 grip the gripping surface by increasing or decreasing air pressure. A ring-shaped bag-like body 11a expands and contracts. Such a rubber-like elastic body 11 can be made of thread-containing chloroprene rubber or the like. On the outer periphery of the outer surface of the cylindrical body 10 at the center in the longitudinal direction, a projecting portion 13 projecting along the circumferential direction is provided. The overhang 13 is provided with a supply / exhaust port 14 for supplying and exhausting pressurized air to and from the ring-shaped bag-like body, and a plurality of mounting screw holes 15. The supply / exhaust port 14 is provided to penetrate the cylindrical body 10 in the thickness direction. Each mounting screw hole 15 is provided so as not to penetrate the cylindrical body 10 in the thickness direction. The first to third rubber-like elastic grippers 8a to 8c having such a structure use the respective mounting screw holes 15 of the overhanging portion 13 to provide individual mounting means 9a as shown in FIG. 9c are mounted on the first to third gripper mounting tables 6a to 6c.
[0045]
Pressurized air is supplied to the first to third rubber-like elastic grippers 8a to 8c from a common compressor (not shown) via individual electromagnetic valves and the like.
[0046]
By using the first to third rubber-like elastic grippers 8a to 8c, the elastic tubes 2 can be individually gripped at different positions in the axial direction of the elastic tube 2 as shown in FIG. It has become.
[0047]
As shown in FIG. 1A, the elastic tube 2 is temporarily placed at a required position with respect to the first to third rubber-like elastic holding members 8a to 8c below the third rubber-like elastic holding member 8c. An elastic tube temporary fixing mechanism 16 for fixing is provided. The elastic tube temporary fixing mechanism 16 includes an "H" -shaped temporary fixing arm 16a that receives the lower end of the elastic tube 2 at one end, and a temporary fixing arm 16a that allows the temporary fixing arm 16a to swing. A pivotal support 16b for pivotally supporting the bent intermediate portion with respect to a lower portion of the third gripper mounting base 6c, and the other end of the temporary fixing arm 16a are pivotally connected to each other so that the temporary fixing arm 16a has one end. A temporary fixing arm operating tool 16c composed of an air cylinder that operates to take a temporary fixing position waiting under the rubber-like elastic gripping tool 8c of FIG. 3 and a retracted position retracted from the temporary fixing position; The operation tool 16c includes a pivot support 16d for pivotally supporting the base end of the operation tool 16c to the apparatus frame 5.
[0048]
As shown in FIG. 1A, the above-described second-type diameter expanding jig 4 is provided above the elastic tube 2 held by the first to third rubber-like elastic holding members 8a to 8c in the axial direction. ′ Is arranged such that its center axis is aligned with the alignment axis of the first to third rubber-like elastic grippers 8a to 8c with the tapered guide portion 4a facing downward.
[0049]
As shown in FIG. 3, the diameter expanding jig 4 'has a conical tapered guide core 17a and a tapered guide core 17a whose outer diameter matches the maximum outer diameter of the base end of the guide core 17a. A continuous cylindrical enlarged diameter support core portion 17b and a tapered guide core portion 17a are connected to the base end and penetrate through the center of the cylindrical enlarged diameter support core portion 17b and go outside. A connecting shaft portion 17c which is led out, a connecting portion 17d of a required length which is provided at an outer end of the connecting shaft portion 17c and is connected to a press-fitting operation mechanism which will be described later, and in the middle of the connecting portion 17d Jig core 17 having a connecting projection 17e projecting in a direction orthogonal to the direction of the axis, and a tapered guide core 17a and a tapered support core 17b of this jig core 17 Are formed so as to cover the surfaces of the tapered guide portion 4a and the enlarged diameter support portion 4b. And a lubricating layer 18 made of a low-melting solidified body such as ice, and the large-diameter holding cylinder 3 is built in the cylindrical large-diameter support core 17b with a part thereof protruding outside. It has a structure.
[0050]
In the present example, as shown in FIG. 4, the synthetic resin band 3a is spirally wound into a cylindrical shape, and a portion between adjacent turns of the band 3a is formed as the enlarged diameter holding cylinder 3. A shape that is partially fused so as to be able to maintain a cylindrical shape is used. Note that the strip-shaped molded body 3a also includes a wire.
[0051]
As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, a press-fitting operation mechanism 19 composed of an air cylinder for press-fitting the diameter-expanding jig 4 ′ into the elastic tube 2 is provided in the second frame 5 b of the device frame 5. However, the axis is aligned with the alignment axis of the first to third rubber-like elastic grippers 8a to 8c. The press-fitting operation mechanism 19 includes a cylinder part 19a, a piston part (not shown) in the cylinder part 19a, and a piston rod part 19b that moves as the piston part moves. The cylinder part 19a is mounted on the first frame 5a. The piston rod 19b is supported in a vertical direction, and the piston rod 19b penetrates through the first frame 5a and is drawn out downward. The connecting part 17d of the diameter increasing jig 4 'is connected to the connecting part 19c at the tip of the piston rod 19b. As shown in FIGS. 5A to 5F, the enlarged diameter jig 4 'is connected and supported. In the connecting portion 19c of the piston rod portion 19b, an insertion hole 19d which is provided to be open at the lower end thereof and is provided upward to insert the connecting portion 17d at the tip of the connecting shaft portion 17c of the diameter-enlargement jig 4 'is provided. An insertion slit 19e, which is open upward at the lower end and the side surface of the connecting portion 19c along the insertion hole 19d, for inserting the connecting protrusion 17e of the connecting portion 17d, and is perpendicular to the insertion slit 19e. A lock slit 19f provided in the same direction as that of the lock ring 19g, a lock ring 19g fitted on the outer periphery of the connecting portion 19c so as to be vertically movable, and a projection provided on the inner surface of the lock ring 19g and usually fitted in the insertion slit 19e. When locked, the lock projection 19h that fits into the lock slit 19f and the lock ring 19g come off at the lower part of the outer periphery of the connecting portion 19c. And a stopper 19i for holding the odd. A plurality of position sensors 20a to 20d are provided on the side surface of the cylinder portion 19a, which automatically detect the position of the diameter-expanding jig 4 'by detecting the position of a piston portion (not shown). Installed.
[0052]
As shown in FIG. 1, whether or not another object including an operator exists in the device frame 5 below the third rubber-like elastic holding tool 8c at a position where the diameter-expanding jig 4 'comes out. Sensors 24a and 24b composed of first and second photoelectric switches for detecting the safety are provided.
[0053]
Further, a control panel 25 for automatically controlling the apparatus is attached to the apparatus frame 5, and detection signals from sensors 20a to 20d for indirectly detecting the position of the diameter expanding jig 4 'are input. At a predetermined timing, control signals are supplied to the control units of the first to third rubber-like elastic grippers 8a to 8c, the elastic tube temporary fixing mechanism 16, the press-fitting operation mechanism 19, and the like, which are movable parts. ing.
[0054]
Next, a method for producing an elastic self-shrinking tube by such an apparatus for producing an elastic self-shrinking tube will be described with reference to the above-described drawings of the present invention and FIGS. 6 (A) to 6 (C) and FIG.
[0055]
First, the distal end of the temporary fixing arm 16a of the elastic tube temporary fixing mechanism 16 is temporarily fixed to a position as shown in FIG. 1A below the central axis of the third rubber-like elastic gripping tool 8c. By controlling the arm operating tool 16c, the temporary fixing arm 16a is caused to stand by in that posture.
[0056]
Next, the elastic tube 2 made of silicone rubber to be expanded is inserted into the first to third rubber-like elastic holding members 8a to 8c from the first rubber-like elastic holding member 8a side. The temporary stop arm 16a temporarily stops at the tip end thereof and waits.
[0057]
In this state, pressurized air is sent from the air supply / exhaust ports 14 into the first to third rubber-like elastic gripping tools 8a to 8c, and the gripping surface 11a of each rubber-like elastic body 11 is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 1A, the elastic tube 2 to be expanded and expanded in diameter is gripped at different positions in the axial direction.
[0058]
When the gripping of the elastic tube 2 to be enlarged by the first to third rubber-like elastic gripping tools 8a to 8c is completed, the temporary fixing arm 16a is moved to the state shown in FIG. Retreat in the direction indicated by the arrow.
[0059]
Next, as shown in FIG. 1A, a connecting portion 17d at the tip of the connecting shaft portion 17c of the diameter increasing jig 4 'is connected to a connecting portion 19c at the tip (lower end) of the piston rod portion 19b of the press-fitting operation mechanism 19. To support the diameter increasing jig 4 ′.
[0060]
This connection operation is performed as shown in FIGS.
[0061]
First, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, with the lock ring 19g raised, the connecting portion 17d at the distal end of the connecting shaft portion 17c of the diameter-expanding jig 4 'is connected to the piston rod portion 19b. It is inserted into the insertion hole 19d in the connecting portion 19c at the lower end. By setting an appropriate insertion length at this time, the expanding jig 4 'is connected to the lower end of the piston rod portion 19b which does not move. When the insertion of the connecting portion 17d is completed, the connecting protrusion 17e is located at a position facing the lock slit 19f.
[0062]
Next, as shown in FIGS. 5C and 5D, the diameter expansion jig 4 'is rotated around its axis to move the connection projection 17e to the lock slit 19f.
[0063]
In this state, the lock ring 19g is lowered to a position where it hits the stopper 19i as shown in FIGS. 5 (E) and 5 (F). In this position, the lock projection 19h is located at a position facing the lock slit 19f, and is locked so that the connecting projection 17e does not return to the position of the insertion slit 19e.
[0064]
In this state, the press-fitting operation mechanism 19 is operated to forcibly lower the diameter expanding jig 4 '.
[0065]
In this process, the tapered guide portion 4a at the tip of the diameter-expanding jig 4 'is press-fitted into the elastic tube 2 whose diameter is to be expanded, as shown in FIG. At the time of press-fitting into the elastic tube 2, the surface of the lubricating layer 18 made of ice on the surface of the tapered guide portion 4a is melted and wet at room temperature, and the lubricating effect of the smooth ice surface causes the elastic tube 2 of the tapered guide portion 4a. Is smoothly performed.
[0066]
At the position of the first rubber-like elastic gripper 8a, when the tapered guide portion 4a moves while expanding in the elastic tube 2 as shown in FIG. 6B, the tapered guide portion 4a moves. As the diameter of the elastic tube 2 increases, the gripping surface of the first rubber-like elastic gripping tool 8a, that is, the gripping surface 11a of the rubber-like elastic body 11, is pressed in the diameter-expanding direction and retreats. The rubber-like elastic body 11 of the rubber-like elastic gripper 8a is compressed to increase the internal pressure. As a result, the gripping pressure on the elastic tube 2 increases, and in this state, the diameter-expanding jig 4 'is forcibly inserted into the elastic tube 2. Is further press-fitted, the elastic tube 2 does not come off, and the tapered guide portion 4a moves inside the elastic tube 2. Therefore, when the diameter-expanding jig 4 ′ is press-fitted into the elastic tube 2, the operation can be automatically performed while securely holding the elastic tube 2 having rubber-like elasticity.
[0067]
When the tapered guide portion 4a of the diameter increasing jig 4 'passes through the position of the first rubber-like elastic holding tool 8a, the elastic tube 2 expands the diameter expanding jig 4' as shown in FIG. The expanded diameter of the elastic tube 2 is held by a diameter support portion 4b, and the expanded elastic tube 2 is gripped by a first rubber-like elastic gripping tool 8a.
[0068]
The same operation is performed at the locations of the second and third rubber-like elastic grippers 8b and 8c. Note that the second and third rubber-like elastic grippers 8b and 8c do not need to be operated if the gripping force of the first rubber-like elastic gripper 8a is sufficient.
[0069]
As shown in FIG. 7, the elastic tube 2 that has passed through the enlarged-diameter support portion 4b of the enlarged-diameter jig 4 'has a large-diameter holding cylinder 3 exposed from the rear end of the enlarged-diameter support portion 4b. The elastic tube 2 is self-contracted to the outer periphery, and one end of the elastic tube 2 is brought into a state of being tightly fixed to a portion on the distal end side of the outer periphery of the enlarged diameter holding cylinder 3. In this state, if the diameter-retaining cylinder 3 continues to move downward, the other portion of the elastic tube 2 is also held in close contact with the outer periphery of the diameter-retention cylinder 3, and the diameter-retaining cylinder 3 is held as shown in FIG. The elastic self-shrinkable tube 1 in which the elastic tube 2 is supported on the outer periphery of the cylindrical body 3 in an expanded state is obtained.
[0070]
In this state, the diameter-expanding jig 4 'comes out below the third rubber-like elastic gripping tool 8c as shown in FIG.
[0071]
When such a state is reached, the diameter increasing jig 4 'is removed from the piston rod 19b of the press-fitting operation mechanism 19, and the piston rod 19b is raised to the standby position. In this state, since the piston rod 19b has also escaped from the positions of the first to third rubber-like elastic grippers 8a to 8c, the compressed air from the first to third rubber-like elastic grippers 8a to 8c is released. The elastic self-contracting tube 1 is taken out with the gripping surface 11a of the rubber-like elastic body 11 in a contracted state (retracted).
[0072]
The position of each stage of the diameter-enlargement jig 4 'is determined by detecting the movement of a piston (not shown) in the cylinder portion 19a of the press-fitting operation mechanism 19 with the position sensors 20a to 20d and using the control panel (not shown) as described above. Is given to the movable part, thereby automatically controlling the operation of each process.
[0073]
The diameter-enlargement jig 4 'is reused within the range where the ice of the lubricating layer 18 can be used, and the operation of forming the elastic self-shrinking tube 1 is repeatedly performed.
[0074]
In the case of the elastic self-shrinkable tube 1 formed by using the expanded diameter holding cylinder 3 made of a cylindrical molded body of the band-shaped molded body 3a as shown in FIG. The self-contracting tube 1 is fitted, and the elastic tube 2 in the expanded state is positioned at a predetermined position with respect to the object to be mounted. When the belt-shaped molded product 3a is pulled out through the inside of the tube, the strip-shaped molded body 3a is sequentially extracted from the elastic tube 2 in the expanded state, and the enlarged-diameter holding cylinder 3 does not sequentially collapse. The part of the elastic tube 2 self-shrinks and comes into close contact with the outer periphery of the object to be mounted, so that the work of removing the large-diameter holding cylinder 3 at the outer periphery of the object to be mounted can be easily performed. .
[0075]
FIGS. 8A and 8B show another example of how the elastic tube 2 is gripped by the rubber-like elastic gripping tool.
[0076]
In this example, a case will be described in which the elastic tube 2 is gripped by two rubber-like elastic grippers, that is, the first and second rubber-like elastic grippers 8a and 8b.
[0077]
Also in this case, the first and second rubber-like elastic grippers 8a and 8b are arranged so as to grip different portions of the elastic tube 2 in the axial direction.
[0078]
In this state, as shown in FIG. 8 (A), a first rubber-like elastic gripping tool 8a existing at a position where the tapered guide portion 4a of the diameter-expanding jig 4 'first passes through the elastic tube 2 while expanding the diameter. The elastic tube 2 is gripped by setting the gripping surface 11a of the elastic tube 2 in an expanded state (forward state), and the second rubber-like elastic gripping tool 8b sets the gripping surface 11a in a contracted state (retracted state) so as not to grip the elastic tube 2. To
[0079]
Next, as shown in FIG. 8 (B), the tapered guide portion 4a of the diameter-expanding jig 4 'passes through the position of the first rubber-like elastic holding tool 8a in the holding state, and the second rubber-like elastic When the tapered guide portion 4a of the diameter increasing jig 4 'also passes through the position of the gripping tool 8b, the gripping surface 11a of the rubber-like elastic gripping tool 8b at that position is expanded to grip the elastic tube 2, and then The gripping surface 11a of the previous first rubber-like elastic gripping tool 8a is brought into a contracted state, and gripping is performed.
[0080]
When the gripping is performed using the plurality of rubber-like elastic gripping tools 8a and 8b in this manner, the elastic tube 2 in the gripped portion, which is generated when the operation is completed in the gripping state from the beginning to the end, is performed by the diameter expansion jig. As a result of the elastic tube 2 being held as it is without being stretched as the tool 4 ′ is moved and being not grasped and being stretched as the diameter expanding jig 4 ′ is moved, as shown in FIG. A portion grasped by the rubber-like elastic grasping tool 8a on the surface of 2 becomes the concave portion 2a, and a portion that is not grasped becomes the convex portion 2b. Such a grip trace is very small and does not cause a problem in performance, but reduces the value of the product.
[0081]
FIGS. 10 and 11A and 11B show a second example of the embodiment of the elastic self-contracting tube forming apparatus according to the present invention.
[0082]
In this apparatus for producing an elastic self-shrinkable tube, the minimum gripping diameter is provided before the first and second rubbery elastic gripping tools 8a and 8b in the arrangement direction, that is, before the first rubbery elastic gripping tool 8a. The first and second rubber-like elastic grippers 8a and 8b are smaller in diameter and larger in diameter than the first and second elastic grippers 8a and 8b. The gripping tool 21 for reducing the diameter and the diameter of the gripper includes individual grip operating devices 22a, 22b, and 22c, which are air cylinders radially arranged at 120 ° intervals in the circumferential direction of the elastic tube 2 to be expanded, and operate the individual grips. Each of the grips 23a, 23b, and 23c is operated to move forward and backward at the tip of the piston rod of each of the vessels 22a to 22c. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment described above.
[0083]
As described above, when the reduced-diameter and enlarged-diameter gripping tools 21 having a minimum gripping diameter smaller than those of the rubber-like elastic gripping tools 8a and 8b are provided at the preceding stage in the arrangement direction of the first and second rubber-like elastic gripping tools 8a and 8b. When producing the elastic self-contracting tube 1 composed of the elastic tube 2 having a large diameter expansion ratio which cannot be dealt with only by the first and second rubber-like elastic gripping tools 8a and 8b, the elastic tube 2 is too small in diameter first. When the first and second rubber-like elastic grippers 8a and 8b cannot grip the elastic member, the minimum gripping diameter is smaller than the first and second rubber-like elastic grippers 8a and 8b, and the elasticity is reduced by the diameter-increased gripper 21. The operation is started by gripping the tube 2, and when the outer diameter of the elastic tube 2 becomes large, the elastic tube 2 can be gripped by the first and second rubber-like elastic gripping tools 8a and 8b.
[0084]
At this time, in the first rubber-like elastic gripping tool 8a, the elastic tube 2 can be gripped by passing through the diameter increasing jig 4 'by expanding the gripping surface 11a in advance. When the tapered guide portion 4a of the diameter-enlargement jig 4 'has passed through the first rubber-like elastic gripper 8a, the individual grips 23a to 23c of the diameter-reduced and diameter-enlargement gripper 21 are retracted to perform grip change. Next, when the tapered guide portion 4a passes through the position of the second rubber-like elastic gripping tool 8b, the gripping surface 11a of the gripping tool 8b is expanded, and the elastic tube 2 is gripped by the gripping tool 8b. The gripping surface 11a of the first rubber-like elastic gripping tool 8a is brought into a contracted state, and gripping is performed.
[0085]
In this case, the diameter-reducing and expanding-diameter gripping tool 21 is first reduced in diameter, and when the tapered guide 4a of the diameter-expanding jig 4 'passes through the first rubber-like elastic gripping tool 8a. The elastic tube 2 can be gripped by setting the gripping surface 11a of the gripping tool 8a in an expanded state. Subsequent gripping is performed in the same manner.
[0086]
FIGS. 12A and 12B show another example of the rubber-like elastic gripping tool. This rubber-like elastic gripping tool 8 has a first to third rubber-like elastic bodies 11A to 11C at 120 ° intervals on the inner periphery of a cylindrical body 10 having a cylindrical shape. The structure is fixed along the direction. Pressurized air is supplied to the first to third rubber-like elastic bodies 11A to 11C so that the inner pressure is controlled to be the same, and the gripping surface is expanded, Is discharged, and the gripping surface is contracted.
[0087]
In such a rubber-like elastic holding tool 8, it is easy to increase its length. In addition, the rubber-like elastic gripping tool 8 can grip the elastic tube 2 which is a member to be gripped at a plurality of locations in the longitudinal direction as shown in FIG. In particular, in a structure in which a plurality of rubber-like elastic bodies are present at an inner periphery of the cylindrical body 10 at intervals in the circumferential direction, such as the rubber-like elastic gripper 8, for example, the elastic member which is a member to be gripped is used. Even in the case where the protrusions protrude along the longitudinal direction at an interval in the circumferential direction on the outer periphery of the tube 2, each protrusion is made to be present in the gap between the adjacent rubber-like elastic bodies. The gripping can be performed without any trouble.
[0088]
When a first type of diameter expanding jig 4 as shown in FIG. 14 (A) is used in the apparatus for producing an elastic self-shrink tube shown in FIGS. 1 (A) to 1 (D), FIG. A strong connecting shaft 17c made of metal or the like may be provided and connected to the press-fitting operation mechanism 19 in the same manner as shown. In this type of the diameter expanding jig 4, as described with reference to FIGS. 14A to 14F, the elastic tube 2 is entirely expanded on the outer circumference of the diameter expanding support portion 4 b of the diameter expanding jig 4. At the stage where it is supported, the press-in operation by the press-in operation mechanism 19 is stopped.
[0089]
Further, as the lubricant composed of the low-melting-point solidified body used in the diameter-expanding jigs 4 and 4 ′, any lubricant can be used in a temperature range in which the material forming the elastic tube 2 and the diameter-expanding holding cylinder 3 does not melt or deteriorate. Various types can be used. When the elastic tube 2 is made of silicone rubber, the melting point of the low melting point solidified body is desirably -60 ° C or higher. If the melting point of the low-melting-point solidified material is lower than −60 ° C., the elastic modulus of the silicone rubber becomes less than 1 MPa, and the elastic tube 2 is hardly deformed.
[0090]
The diameter-enlargement jigs 4 and 4 'whose surfaces are provided with lubricity are not limited to those described above, and the surfaces of the tapered guide portion 4a and the diameter-enlargement support portion 4b have lubricity. Made of a material such as tetrafluoroethylene having a high thickness, or a material coated with a lubricant later, or a lubricating film or a lubricating sheet on the surface of the tapered guide portion 4a and the enlarged diameter support portion 4b. Can also be used.
[0091]
1A to 1D, the first to third rubbery elastic gripping tools 8a to 8c are fixed, and the expanding jig 4 ' Is movable, but the present invention is not limited to this. The expanding jig 4 ′ (4) is fixed, and the first to third rubber-like elastic gripping tools 8 a to 8 c are It is also possible to forcibly move the movable jig 4 '(4) toward the diameter increasing jig 4' (4) by the press-fitting operation mechanism as being movable.
[0092]
【The invention's effect】
In the present invention, the outer circumference of the elastic tube to be expanded is gripped by a rubber-like elastic gripper having a structure in which a gripping surface expands and contracts by increasing or decreasing air pressure. The tools are forcibly moved by a press-fitting operation mechanism relatively in a direction approaching each other, and in the process, the tapered guide portion of the diameter-enlargement jig is pressed into the elastic tube to expand the diameter of the elastic tube. When the gripping surface of the rubber-like elastic gripping tool is automatically followed and retracted in the diameter-expanding direction as the diameter increases, the gripping pressure is increased, and the pressing-in operation mechanism forcibly moves the expanding jig into the elastic tube. , The elastic self-shrinkable tube can be produced without using a gripper having a complicated mechanical configuration for gripping while moving backward as the elastic tube expands in diameter.
[0093]
In particular, when the work of press-fitting the diameter-expanding jig into the elastic tube using the diameter-expanding jig, the rubber-like elastic gripping tool, and the press-fitting operation mechanism as in the present invention, the diameter is expanded by the rubber-like elastic gripping tool. As described above, the elastic tube to be gripped can be satisfactorily gripped, and a large press-in operation force can be easily applied by the press-in operation mechanism, so that the work of creating the elastic self-shrink tube can be performed automatically and efficiently. it can.
[Brief description of the drawings]
1 (A) to 1 (D) show a first example of an embodiment of a device for producing an elastic self-shrinkable tube according to the present invention, wherein FIG. 1 (A) is a longitudinal sectional front view of the device, and FIG. (A) is a view in the direction of arrow A, (C) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in (A), with the rubber-like elastic gripping tool and attachment means removed, and (D) is a CC in (A). It is a line sectional view.
FIG. 2 is a partially longitudinal side view showing a structure of a rubber-like elastic gripper used in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the diameter expanding jig used in FIG.
FIG. 4A is a front view of the enlarged diameter holding cylinder used in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4B is a right side view of FIG.
5 (A), 5 (C) and 5 (E) are front views showing a connecting process at a connecting portion between a connecting portion of the press-fitting operation mechanism and a connecting portion of the diameter increasing jig used in FIG. 1, and FIG. (A) is a sectional view taken along line DD, (D) is a sectional view taken along line EE of (C), and (F) is a sectional view taken along line FF of (E).
FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C are longitudinal sectional views showing a process of press-fitting a diameter increasing jig into an elastic tube gripped by a rubber-like elastic gripper according to the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a process in which the elastic tube in the expanded state is brought into close contact with the large-diameter holding cylinder in a state where the diameter-expanding jig is press-fitted into the elastic tube and the diameter is expanded in the present invention.
FIGS. 8A and 8B are explanatory views showing another example of a method of gripping an elastic tube by a rubber-like elastic gripper.
FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a surface state of the elastic tube when the elastic tube is not re-gripped by the rubber-like elastic gripper.
FIG. 10 is a front view of a main part showing a second example of the embodiment of the apparatus for producing an elastic self-shrinkable tube according to the present invention.
11A is an explanatory view showing a state in which an elastic tube is gripped by the device of the second example, and FIG. 11B is a schematic configuration of a diameter-increase / reduce-diameter gripper used in the device of the second example; FIG.
12 (A) and 12 (B) show another example of a rubber-like elastic gripping device, wherein FIG. 12 (A) is a cross-sectional view taken along line GG of FIG. 12 (B), and FIG. FIG.
FIG. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an example of the elastic self-shrinkable tube.
FIGS. 14A to 14F are explanatory views showing a process of forming an elastic self-shrinkable tube using a diameter-expanding jig.
FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing a process of creating an elastic self-shrinking tube using another diameter expanding jig.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Elastic self-shrink tube
2 Elastic tube
2a recess
2b convex part
3 Large diameter holding cylinder
3a belt-shaped molded body
4,4 'expansion jig
4a Guide part with taper
4b Large diameter support
5 Vertical device frame
5a First frame
5b Second frame
5c pillar
6a-6c First to third gripper mounting bases
7a-7c hole
8a to 8c First to third rubbery elastic grippers
9a-9c Mounting means
10 Cylindrical body
11 Rubbery elastic body
11a gripping surface
11b Folding part
12 Caulking ring
13 Overhang
14 Supply / exhaust port
15 Screw holes for mounting
16 Temporary elastic tube mechanism
16a Temporary fixing arm
16b pivot
16c Temporary fixing arm operation tool
16d pivot
17 Jig core
17a Tapered guide core
17b Large diameter support core
17c Connecting shaft
17d connection
17e Connecting projection
18 Lubrication layer
19 Press-fit operation mechanism
19a cylinder part
19b Piston rod part
19c connection part
19d insertion hole
19e insertion slit
19f lock slit
19g lock ring
19h Lock projection
19i stopper
20a-20d Position sensor
21 Diameter reduction / expansion gripper
22a-22c Individual grip operating device
23a-23c Individual grip
24a, 24b sensor
25 Control panel

Claims

In a method for producing an elastic self-shrink tube for producing an elastic self-shrink tube having a structure in which an elastic tube having a rubber-like elasticity is supported on the outer periphery of an enlarged-diameter holding cylinder in an enlarged state,
As a diameter-expanding means, a diameter-expanding support portion larger than the outer diameter of the diameter-expanding holding cylinder is continuously provided after the tapered guide portion at the distal end, and at least these surfaces are provided with lubricity, and Using a diameter expansion jig having a structure in which the diameter expansion holding cylinder is built in the diameter expansion support portion,
In a state where the outer periphery of the elastic tube to be expanded is gripped by a rubber-like elastic gripper having a structure in which a gripping surface expands and contracts due to increase and decrease in air pressure, the gripped elastic tube has one end in the center axis direction. The tapered guides of the expanding jig face each other,
Forcibly move the expanding jig relative to the rubber-like elastic gripping tool by a press-fitting operation mechanism in a direction approaching each other,
In the process, the tapered guide portion of the diameter-expanding jig is press-fitted into the elastic tube to expand the diameter of the elastic tube, and the gripping surface of the rubber-like elastic gripping tool is expanded in the radial direction as the diameter of the elastic tube increases. In a state where the gripping pressure is increased by automatically retreating, the expanding jig is forcibly pressed into the elastic tube relatively, and the expanding tube is supported by the expanding tube. A method for producing an elastic self-shrinking tube, comprising: causing the elastic tube to be held in the expanded state on the outer periphery of the diameter-expanding holding tubular body after being present in the expanded state on the outer periphery of the portion.

A plurality of rubber-like elastic grippers are arranged so as to grip different portions of the elastic tube in the axial direction, and the elastic tube is arranged at a position where a corresponding portion can be gripped by these rubber-like elastic grippers,
In such a state, the gripping surface of the rubber-like elastic gripper, which is located at a position where the tapered guide portion of the diameter-expanding jig passes while expanding the elastic tube, is expanded and the elastic tube is gripped. The rubber-like elastic gripping device has a gripping surface in a contracted state so as not to grip the elastic tube,
The position of the rubber-like elastic gripping tool in the gripping state passes by the tapered guide portion of the diameter-expanding jig, and the position of the next rubber-like elastic gripping tool also passes by the tapered guide portion of the diameter-expanding jig. And gripping the elastic tube by setting the gripping surface of the rubber-like elastic gripping tool at that position to an inflated state, and setting the gripping surface of the rubber-like elastic gripping tool in front of the rubber tube to a contracted state, thereby performing gripping. The method for producing an elastic self-shrinkable tube according to claim 1, wherein:

At the preceding stage of the rubber-like elastic gripping tool, a reduced-diameter and enlarged-diameter gripping tool whose minimum gripping diameter is smaller than that of the rubber-like elastic gripping tool is arranged. Place the elastic tube at a position where it can be gripped,
In such a state, first, the elastic tube is gripped only by the diameter-reducing and expanding-diameter gripping tool, and the gripping surface of the rubber-like elastic gripping tool is expanded.
The tapered guide portion of the diameter-enlargement jig has passed the position of the diameter-reducing and diameter-enlargement gripper in the gripping state, and the tapered guide portion of the diameter-enlargement jig has passed the position of the rubber-like elastic gripper. 3. The gripping device according to claim 1, wherein in the state, the elastic tube is gripped by a gripping surface of the rubber-like elastic gripping tool, and the reduced-diameter and enlarged-diameter gripping tools are contracted to perform gripping. A method for producing the elastic self-shrinking tube as described above.

In a device for producing an elastic self-shrinkable tube for producing an elastic self-shrinkable tube having a structure in which an elastic tube having rubber-like elasticity is supported on the outer periphery of an enlarged-diameter holding cylinder in an expanded state,
After the tapered guide portion at the distal end, a diameter-expanding support portion larger than the outer diameter of the diameter-expanding holding cylinder is continuously provided, and at least these surfaces are provided with lubricity, and are provided inside the diameter-expanded support portion. A diameter expansion jig having a structure in which the diameter expansion holding cylinder is built in,
A rubber-like elastic gripper having a structure in which a gripping surface expands and contracts by increasing or decreasing air pressure to grip and non-grip the elastic tube;
A press-fitting operation mechanism for forcibly moving the rubber-like elastic gripping tool relative to the diameter-expanding jig in a direction approaching each other to press-fit the diameter-expanding jig into the elastic tube. An apparatus for producing an elastic self-shrinkable tube.

The diameter expanding jig has a conical tapered guide core portion, and a cylindrical diameter expansion support connected to the base end of the tapered guide core portion so that its outer diameter matches the maximum outer diameter. A core portion, a connecting shaft portion which is provided continuously to the base end of the tapered guide core portion, extends through the center of the cylindrical enlarged diameter support core portion, and is led out to the outside; A diameter increasing jig core provided at an outer end of a coupling shaft portion and coupled to the press-fitting operation mechanism; and the tapered guide core portion of the diameter increasing jig core. And a cylindrical lubricating support core including a tapered guide portion and a lubricating layer provided on the surface of the expanding support core portion to form the tapered guide portion and each surface of the expanding support portion. 5. The structure according to claim 4, wherein the enlarged diameter holding cylinder body is built in the part by projecting a part thereof to the outside. Elastic self-shrink tubing of creating apparatus.