Method for manufacturing flexible tube containers

Abstract

An improved method for manufacturing collapsible tube containers for fluid materials, including the known steps of providing a hollow tube, forming an integrated compression-molded shoulder having a dispensing opening, and applying a selectively removable closure. The method includes the novel step of positioning a means for applying the closure in coaxial relation to the tube, and applying the closure while the tube is supported on a mandrel used for supporting the tube during formation of the shoulder, rather than applying the closure at another location.

1 . In the method of manufacturing a flexible tube container, including: the steps of:
 a) providing an extruded length of tubing forming the body of said container, said body having a principal axis;   b) supporting said body upon a mandrel, at a first station;   c) compression molding a shoulder integrally upon an end of said body, said shoulder including a dispensing opening;   d) transferring said body to a second station including a second mandrel;   e) supplying and engaging a removable closure to said shoulder, and;   f) removing said body from said second mandrel; the improvement comprising:   g) providing a capping element adjacent said first station having means for serially providing removable closures to a location axially-aligned with said principal axis of said body, and;   h) said capping element including means for applying an axially-aligned force and a torquing force to successive closures whereby to apply said closures to engage said shoulder to close said dispensing opening.   
     
     
         2 . The improvement in accordance with  claim 1 , having an opening communicating with said dispensing opening in said shoulder and a hingedly interconnected lid member selectively closing said dispensing opening.