APPARATUS FOR FORMING TUBULAR PRODUCTS AND MANDREL THEREFOR

摘要

An apparatus for forming tubular products from deformable sheets. A mandrel is located in a predetermined mandrel position and sheets are delivered to the mandrel by a sheet transport mechanism, which is arranged to receive a sheet at a first location in which the sheet lies on a first plane and to transport a received sheet to a second location in which the sheet is adjacent the predetermined mandrel position and lies on a second plane. The mandrel may be arranged generally vertically. The mandrel may comprise first and second pivotally interconnected body parts and an expansion actuator mounted on a movable assembly which can be retracted and rotated away from the mandrel during product stripping and advanced into the mandrel to force the two body parts apart and thereby achieve both mandrel expansion and mandrel end support.