Method, line and machine for manufacturing a flexible hose/connector assembly of polymeric material

摘要

A method for manufacturing a hose/connector assembly of polymeric material includes the steps of: providing a flexible hose of a first thermoplastic material; providing the connector of a second thermoplastic material having a hardness greater than the first thermoplastic material and a first end for coupling with a liquid source and a second end with a seat for receiving one end of the hose; translating the end of the flexible hose to engage the seat of the connector; rotating the connector to cause a rotational friction welding with the flexible hose; and periodically comparing the welding torque with the maximum allowable torque for the hose and the connector. The step of rotating the connector with respect to the hose is interrupted if the welding torque is equal to or greater than the maximum allowable torque.

主权项

1. A method of manufacturing a hose/connector assembly of polymeric material, the assembly comprising:
a flexible hose (10) comprising at least one layer (11) made of a first thermoplastic material having Shore hardness according to ISO 868 of 50 ShA to 90 ShA; and a connector (20) made of a second thermoplastic material having Shore hardness according to ISO 868 greater than that of the first thermoplastic material, the first and the second thermoplastic materials being compatible with each other, the connector (20) having a first end (21) configured to be coupled with a liquid source and a second end (22) with a seat (25) configured to coaxially receive an end (14) of the hose (10); the method comprising the steps of: providing the flexible hose (10); providing the connector (20); mutually approaching the flexible hose (10) and the connector (20) so that the end (14) of the flexible hose (10) is inserted into the seat (25) of the connector (20); rotating the connector (20) with respect to the flexible hose (10) to provide a rotational friction welding between the flexible hose and the connector, the rotational friction welding extending along an entire weld interface (28) between said end (14) of said flexible hose (10) and said seat (25) of said second end (22) of said connector (20), a welding torque (Cs) occurring between the flexible hose (10) and the connector (20); and periodically comparing of the welding torque (Cs) with a maximum allowable torque (Cmax) for the flexible hose (10) and the connector (20), the maximum allowable torque (Cmax) being a limit torque at which the connector (20) rotates the flexible hose (10) upon the rotation of the connector with respect to the flexible hose, wherein the step of rotating the connector (20) with respect to the flexible hose (10) is interrupted if the welding torque (Cs) is equal to or greater than the maximum allowable torque (Cmax).