US4317256A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Expandable mandrel device for longitudinal shirring of flexible tubular material
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1980-01-16
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Granted: 1982-03-02
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Expires: 2000-01-16
Abstract
Abstract A tubular mandrel device for longitudinally shirring flexible tube materials such as used in making sausage casings and the like. A tubular mandrel is formed by a plurality of parallel spring elements secured at one end and distributed in a cylindrical path around the axis of the mandrel. A control member moves axially within the tubular mandrel. Cam members fixed to the inside of the spring elements of the tubular mandrel cooperatively engage raised and lowered surfaces on the control member such that by moving the control member axially, the spring elements of the tubular mandrel are expanded outwardly.
Inventors
- 👤 Henricus H. H. Senders
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 11:47
CPC Classifications
A; A22; A22C; A22C13/00; A22C13/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
A device for the longitudinal shirring of a flexible tube material such as synthetic gut used in making sausage casings, comprising: a tubular mandrel formed by at least three generally parallel rod-like elongated spring elements, secured at one end and distributed in a cylindrical path around the axis of the mandrel, and expanding means within the tubular mandrel for expanding the elongated elements radially outwardly by urging the said elongated elements radially outwardly at the location along the axis of the tubular member at which the shirring takes place.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
89 words
A device for the longitudinal shirring of a flexible tube material such as synthetic gut used in making sausage casings, comprising: a tubular mandrel formed by at least three generally parallel rod-like elongated spring elements, secured at one end and distributed in a cylindrical path around the axis of the mandrel, and expanding means within the tubular mandrel for expanding the elongated elements radially outwardly by urging the said elongated elements radially outwardly at the location along the axis of the tubular member at which the shirring takes place.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A device according to claim 1, said expanding means comprising an axially movable control member within the tubular mandrel, and cam means for urging the spring elements radially outwardly upon axial movement of the control member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
78 words
A device according to claim 2, said cam means comprising cam members attached to the inside of the spring element, and said control member including a low surface and a raised surface, each positioned to cooperate with each cam member, such that when the cam members cooperate with their respective low surfaces the tubular mandrel is in its normal position and when the cam members cooperate with their respective raised surfaces, the spring elements are expanded radially outwardly.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device according to claim 3, wherein the spring elements are constructed from round wires of spring steel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device according to claim 4, wherein said cam members are secured to circumferential sections of the round wires.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device according to claim 5, wherein pairs of round wires are secured to a single cam member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
A device according to claim 3, said control member having a generally uniform cross section which forms the high surface and said control member having a recessed portion which cooperates with each said cam member to form the low surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
A device according to claim 7, said cam members having tapered ends, and said cooperating recess or recesses being tapered from the low surface up to the high surface, whereby the cam members can move smoothly, axially, between the low and high surfaces.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
A device according to claim 2, wherein the spring elements, at the free end of the mandrel, which is the end opposite from said one end, are secured to a front centering sleeve which at the same time serves as a guide for the control member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device according to claim 9, wherein the spring elements are secured at said one end within a rear centering sleeve.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device according to claim 10, including a guide sleeve at said one end on the outside of the control member and securing the spring elements between it and the said rear centering sleeve.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
60 words
A device according to claim 11, wherein the rear centering sleeve is located within the bore of a holding support having a length such that the frontal surface of the support facing towards the free end of the mandrel is located within the shirring location of the mandrel, thus forming a supporting surface for the tube material to be shirred.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
A device according to claim 2, including a housing having means for supporting said one end of the spring elements and for supporting the control member for limited axial movement relative to the housing and the spring elements.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
68 words
A device according to claim 13, said control member being of generally uniform cross-section and having one or more recesses at the shirring location, and said spring elements having cam members fixed to the inside of the spring elements and normally located within the recess or recesses, and which ride up beyond the recesses to expand the spring elements radially outwardly upon longitudinal movement of the control member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
77 words
A device according to claim 14, said spring elements being secured at the free end of the mandrel to a front centering sleeve which at the same time serves as a guide for the control member and at their rear ends within a rear centering sleeve, and including a guide sleeve at said one end and located on the outside of the control member and securing the spring elements between it and the said rear centering sleeve.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-03-01 | 1985-08-31 | 1986-03-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-03-01 | 1989-08-31 | 1990-03-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-03-01 | 1993-08-31 | 1994-03-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |