Apparatus for fabricating cylindrical tubes for raising and transplanting seedlings of farm crops

Claim 2

Apparatus for fabricating a tubular paper pot assembly for raising and transplanting seedlings comprising: means for arranging a plurality of like flattened paper tubes side-by-side parallel to one another in the same plane and moving them lengthwise in parallel paths, means for applying adhesive to one side only of each of said flattened tubes for approximately one half of its width, means for thereafter directing said flattened tubes laterally in converging paths to bring them into an overlapping relation with each tube other than the laterally outermost tubes underlying an adjacent tube on one side approximately half its width and overlying an adjacent tube on the opposite side approximately half its width, reguLating and guiding means thereafter engaging both sides of said flattened tubes to keep said tubes in correct overlapping relationship and preventing said tubes from being displaced either transversely or vertically, means for thereafter pressing said overlapped tubes together to form a two-layer assembly in which the lower face of one flattened tube is adhered directly to the upper face of an adjacent flattened tube on one side for approximately half the width of the tube and the upper face of said tube is adhered directly to the lower face of an adjacent flattened tube on the opposite side for approximately half the width of the tube and, means for intermittently cutting said assembled and adhered tubes transversely of the length of said tubes into predetermined lengths equal to the desired height of said paper pots.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said regulating and guiding means comprises a panel having slits through which said flattened tubes pass and are guided, said slits being arranged in stairstep manner with adjacent slits overlapping by one-half their width.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 1, in which said directing means comprises sets of rollers engaging said flattened tubes respectively and shifting them laterally.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 3, in which each set of rollers comprises a roller for twisting the respective flattened tube 90 degrees to change its direction of travel to a direction laterally of said row of flattened tubes and a second roller for untwisting said respective tube and changing its direction of travel back to a longitudinal direction.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for forming strips of material into said flattened tubes and feeding said flattened tubes continuously to said arranging means.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 1, in which said regulating and guiding means comprises L-shaped channel members which prevent lateral deflection of the tubes and associated protruding lugs which prevent vertical deflection of the tubes.

Claim 8

Apparatus for fabricating a tubular paper pot assembly for raising and transplanting seedlings comprising: means for arranging a plurality of like flattened paper tubes parallel to one another and moving them lengthwise, means for applying adhesive to one side of each flattened tube for approximately one half of its width, means for directing said flattened tubes in converging paths to bring them into an overlapping relation with each intermediate tube underlying an adjacent tube on one side approximately half its width and overlying an adjacent tube on the opposite side approximately half, said directing means comprising a plurality of cones, one for each said flattened tube, said cones being arranged end-to-end in series on a shaft and having cone angles progressively increasing from one side to the other of said row of flattened tubes, said cones engaging said tubes respectively and shifting them laterally, regulating and guiding means engaging both sides of said flattened tubes to keep said tubes in correct overlapping relationship and preventing said tubes from being displaced either transversely or vertically, means for pressing said overlapped tubes together to adhere the lower face of one flattened tube directly to the upper face of an adjacent flattened tube on one side for approximately half the width of the tube and to adhere the upper face of said tube directly to the lower face of an adjacent flattened tube on the opposite side for approximately half the width of the tube and, means for intermittently cutting said assembled and adhered tubes transversely of the length of said tubes into predetermined lengths equal to the desired height of said paper pots.

Claim 9

Apparatus for fabricating a tubular paper pot assembly for raising and transplanting seedlings comprising: means for arranging a plurality of like flattened paper tubes parallel to one another and moving them lengthwise, means for applying adhesive to one side of each flattened tube for approximately one half of its width, means for directing said flattened tubes in converging paths to bring them into an overlapping relation with each intermediate tube underlying an adjacent tube on one side approximately half its width and overlying an adjacent tube on the opposite side approximately half, said directing means comprising a plurality of cones, one for each said flattened tube, said cones being arranged end-to-end in series on a shaft and having cone angles progressively increasing from one side to the other of said row of flattened tubes, said cones engaging said tubes respectively and shifting them laterally, regulating and guiding means engaging both sides of said flattened tubes to keep said tubes in correct overlapping relationship and preventing said tubes from being displaced either transversely or vertically, means for pressing said overlapped tubes together to adhere the lower face of one flattened tube directly to the upper face of an adjacent flattened tube on one side for approximately half the width of the tube and to adhere the upper face of said tube directly to the lower face of an adjacent flattened tube on the opposite side for approximately half the width of the tube and, means for intermittently cutting said assembled and adhered tubes transversely of the length of said tubes into predetermined lengths equal to the desired height of said paper pots.