FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See Section 10; rule 13)
TITLE OF THE INVENTION
An Apparatus and Method for processing deformed HMHDPE plastic
tube/section to regain its original shape.
APPLICANTS
BALMER LAWRIE-VAN LEER LTD., an Indian company
having its registered office at Valerex Division,
D-195/2, TTC Industrial Area,M.I.D.C Turbhe,Λ
Navi Mumbai 400 705 Maharashtra, India.
PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION
The following specification describes the invention and the manner in which it
is performed.

FIELD OF INVENTION:
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for processing deformed HMHDPE plastic tube/to regain its original shape. More particularly it related to the processing of deformed tubes to regain its original shape and apparatus developed and used.
BACK GROUND OF INVENTION:
Conventionally for manufacturing of "Swage Body Drum" for manufacturing drums of capacity ranging between 150L to 250L plastic drums a High Molecular High Density Polyethelene is used.
Conventionally the drums are manufactured as per below mentioned sequence of operations.
1. The Drum Body (20) a center part of drum is manufactured by specially developed and continuous pipe extrusion process to obtain the drum body of required quality standards with wall thickness and tube length in a given range of tolerances.
2. The Drum Top (32) and Drum Bottom (33) are manufactured by specially designed moulds using a vertical Flash Moulding Techniques and using unique Injection Moulding Machines.

3. The Drum Top (32) and Drum Bottom (33) are then sequentially assembled with Drum Body (20) using special purpose welding machines under controlled conditions.
4. After fitting the closures the Swage Body Drums (34) are screen printed as per need of the customers on the finished drums.
There is a European Patent bearing Application No.95937210.3 for the
manufacturing of the said Swage Body Drums. The Swage Body Drum (34)
being lighter in weight and having bulk volume incur a huge transportation cost

vis-a-vis selling price of drum when transported to long distances. Thus there is a continuous thrust to cut down transportation cost of drum by an alternative means to remain competitive with market competition.
Also the capital cost of plants and Machinery required to set up manufacturing facilities is very high and hence does not justify and economically viable for investments at different locations such facilities where demand quantities are limited. In order to save capital cost of investments for setting up and maintaining expensive specialised pipe extrusion lines and reduce the high transportation cost per piece when compared with basic selling price of the drum it is essential to invent alternate method or option.
OBJECTS OF INVENTION:
The main object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for processing the deformed drum tubes to regain its original shape for manufacturing the drums.
Another objective of the invention is to provide the high transportation cost per piece when compared with basic selling price of the drum
Yet another objective of present invention is to bundle the drum bodies in set of 10 to 12 tubes by inserting one inside other to reduce the overall cost of transportation and thereby reducing the cost of finished product to longer distances.
Yet another objective of present invention is to provide a cost effective remedy for transportation of drum parts.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS:
According to the present invention
Figure 1: shows an Isometric view and different side views of a heating device in open (A) & close positions (B)

Figure 2: shows an Isometric view and different orthographic views of Rolling &
De-stressing device. Figure 3: shows an Isometric view and different side views of a Cooling Device in
open (A) & close positions (B). Figure 4: shows the Isometric view and orthographic views of drum details. Figure 5: shows the Isometric view and orthographic views of finished Drum. Figure 6: shows the Shapes and contours of Drum body in Bundle of 12 tubes.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
An Apparatus for processing deformed HMHDPE plastic tube/section to regain its original shape comprising at least one heating device configured to remove back polymer memory of de-shaped drum body; at least one rolling device having rotating rollers configured for rotating said drum body under pressure to remove stresses from said drum body and; at least one cooling device configured for uniformly cooling external heated surface of drum body.
The heating device comprises a steel frame (1) fabricated from steel structural material; a pivoted outer sizing heater shell (2) made of steel is fabricated in two halves to facilitate opening and closing of said heating device; said heating device is configured with heating means bifurcated for each half; a temperature controller (6) configured to closely monitor and maintain surface temperature of heater shell (2) for a set value and time to uniformly heat entire external surface of Drum body (20); a guide pipe (4) fitted in center of clevice on the fixture (C) fitted to said steel frame (1) configured for guiding de-shaped drum tube placed in said heating device and avoiding reverse band of drum body (20) during closure of open halve of steel shell (2) and; closing means configured for closure of open halves of steel shell (2); locking means (5) configured for locking two halves to pressurize and bring tube to shape & size of heater shell (2). The heating means comprises of hot liquid/air and/or electrical ceramic heaters (3). The pipe provided is of diameter ranging from 250 mm to 500 mm depending upon the size of the drum tube to be processed. The

closing means are solenoid (7) configured for closure of open halve of steel shell (2) or manual handle lock, pneumatic cylinder, hydraulic cylinder. The locking means (5) are configured to clamp said de-shaped drum body in the heating device to procure uniform cylindrical shape with the outer circumferential surface area of the clamped tube is mating with the inner circumferential surface area of the said heating device customized to uniformly heat entire external surface of the de-shaped drum body.
The heating device is configured to uniformly heat external surface of drum body (20) for residual time based on thickness of the Drum Body (20).
The rolling device comprises a fabricated structural frame (8); fixed rollers (9), de-stressing roller (10) and roller (11) placed at predetermined locations along with roller bearings, chain & spockets connected to the rollers drive unit (12) and; an operating switch (13) provided to start and stop operation. The speed of said rollers is controlled by gear box for mounting of and rolling of heated Drum Body (20). The heated Drum Body (20) is configured to be rotated in a range of 8 to 10 revolutions per minute depending on the temperature and thickness of the heated Drum Body (20). The stressing roller (11) and (10) are configured to remove stress from Drum Body (20) during revolutions and at end of cycle ranging between 55 secs to 65 secs.
The cooling device comprises a fabricated structural frame (14); a outer sizing steel shell (15) in two halves for opening and closing of cooling device and holding distressed drum body (20); plurality of jackets with limpet coils (16) along periphery of steel shell (14); opening and closing means for opening and closure of open halve of outer sizing steel shell (15); Locking arrangement (17) for locking outer sizing steel shell (15) for tightly pressing and providing final shape to Drum Body (20) by uniformly cooling down in controlled conditions and; plurality of limpet coils (16) configured for continuous cooling down of steel shell (15) by

circulating chilled liquid/chilled air or alternatively by water spray. The opening and closing means comprises of solenoid (19) and locking means comprises of manual handle lock, pneumatic cylinder lock alternatively hydraulic cylinder lock. The cooling device is constructed by using the water mist spray to spray it circumferentially from outer and/or inner periphery of the drum tube or by using the cold air jets to cool the drum tube circumferentially from outer and/or inner periphery.
Method for processing deformed HMHDPE plastic tube/section to regain its
original shape comprising steps of
placing and clamping deformed drum body (20) in a specially designed heating
device to acquire uniform cylindrical shape of the outer circumferential area of the
clamped tube to mate with the inner circumferential area of the said heating device
to uniformly heat entire external surface of the de-shaped drum body;
maintaining the surface of heating device in a range of 70 to 120 degree Celsius
and residual time of deformed drum body (20) in fixture for a period of
approximately 60 seconds depending on factors like wall thickness, capacity of
heater or material of the heating surface and/or the material of the deformed drum
tube ranges between 3.4 to 4.3 mm;
removing said heated drum body (20) from the heating device after the completion
of heat cycle and placing immediately into a rolling device;
rotating the drum body with rotating rollers under pressure to remove stresses from
the drum body for range 55 to 65 secs depending on to thickness of tube, capacity
of rolling device, size of rollers or the material of the deformed drum tube and size
of the drum tube and;
removing said de-stressed drum body (20) from the rolling device and is
immediately placing into a specially designed cooling device for uniformly cooling
stress removed drum body external heated surface for a period ranging between 55
secs to 65 secs depending on tube thickness, capacity of cooling device or material

of the cooling surface, the medium used for cooling and the material of the deformed drum tube.
BREIF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION:
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for processing deformed HMHDPE plastic tube/to regain its original shape. More particularly it related to the processing of deformed tubes to regain its original shape and apparatus developed & used.
In order to transport the drums in a cost effective manner transportation of drum parts is done. The drum bodies (20) are bundled in set of 10 to 12 tubes by inserting one inside other to reduce the overall cost of transportation and thereby reducing the cost of finished product to longer distances. By doing so the circular shape of the drum bodies is lost and they take a deformed shape as shown in figure 6. Each of the inserted drum body takes different shape depending upon its position in the bundle. To solve the transportation problem these drum bodies were inserted one inside other, but for assembling the drum bodies for manufacturing into a drum is difficult because of the deformed shape of the drum bodies.
Hence these bundled drum bodies should be initially brought to its original shape by removing the memory of the said deformed bundled HMHDPE tubes permanently by processing them to loose the said memory and achieve a new memory.
For this purpose a specially designed apparatus for processing the deformed bundled tubes for regaining them in their original shape is required.
DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION:

Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for the purpose of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention only, and not for the purpose of limiting the same.
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for processing deformed HMHDPE plastic tube/to regain its original shape. More particularly it related to the processing of deformed tubes to regain its original shape and apparatus developed & used.
In order to transport the drums in a cost effective manner transportation of drum parts is done. The drum bodies (20) are bundled in set of 10 to 12 tubes by inserting one inside other to reduce the overall cost of transportation and thereby reducing the cost of finished product to longer distances. By doing so the circular shape of the drum bodies is lost and they take a deformed shape as shown in figure 6. Each of the inserted drum body takes different shape depending upon its position in the bundle. To solve the transportation problem these drum bodies were inserted one inside other but for assembling the drum bodies for manufacturing into a drum is difficult because of the deformed shape of the drum bodies.
As shown in Figure-6 the tubular drum body (20) of required diameter, length and specified quality standards coming out from continuous extrusion line are inserted in outer tube (20) using flexibility of plastics in sequence of tube (21), ( 22),
(23) (31) In Figure-6 tubes (20-31) are shown inserted one in other. During the
process of tube insertion one inside the other, the each tube acquires a different deformed shape based on the tube location as well as inside space availability and forces generated on side walls of inserted tubes as shown in Figure-6. By this method a set of 10 to 12 tubes form one bundle occupies space of less than one drum and thus facilitates in transporting large nos. of tubes per truck. The bundle of drum body as shown in Figure-6 is transported to scheduled location and can be manually de-stacked easily by pulling tube one by one. The bundle can be

de-stacked by pulling tube no. (31) first and thereafter followed by tubes (30),
(29) upto (21). Each tube removed in such a way remains in different shapes
based on there location in Drum Body Bundle which need to pass through sequence of processes involved and through series of devices like Heating Device, Rolling Device and Cooling Device to restore back to its original shape. These de-stacked tubes can not get assembled unless they pass through all three processes sequentially.
The principal adopted to achieve or bring back de-shaped drum body to its original standards by processing it in three stages is as follows. The de-shaped drum body due to polymer back memory does not come back to its original shape and can not get assembled unless it pass through all three process sequentially.
As a first step to remove back polymer memory de-shaped drum body is placed and clamped in a specially designed Heating Device. The said de-shaped drum body when clamped in the heating device takes uniform cylindrical shape in such a way that the outer circumferential area of the clamped tube is mating with the inner circumferential area of the said heating device to uniformly heat entire external surface of the de-shaped drum body. The surface of heating device is maintained in a range of 70 to 120 degree Celsius and residual time in fixture for a period of approximately 60 seconds for wall thickness ranges between 3.4 to 4.3 mm can precisely be judged by section thickness. However the residual time to heat Drum Body (20) varies based on tube thickness i.e. time taken is proportional to wall thickness of tube also it depends on the other factors like capacity of heater or material of the heating surface and the material of the deformed drum tube. A line diagram of a typical fixture locking arrangement, heaters and its control are shown in the Figure-1.
The heated drum body from the Heating Device after the completion of heat cycle is removed and placed immediately into a Rolling Device having rotating rollers as shown in figure 3. The drum body is kept rotating under pressure to remove

stresses from the drum body which is approximately rotated for range 55 to 65 sees. The time taken is depending on to thickness of tube also it depends on the other factors like capacity of rolling device, size of rollers or the material of the deformed drum tube and size of the drum tube.
The de-stressed drum body is thereafter removed from the rolling device and is immediately placed into a specially designed Cooling Device (Ref: Figure 3) and clamped by Mechanical/Hydraulic or any other means which uniformly cool stress removed Drum Body external heated surface for a period ranging between 55 secs to 65 secs. However, the residual time to cool drum body (20) varies based on tube thickness i.e. time taken is proportional to wall thickness of tube also it depends on the other factors like capacity of cooling device or material of the cooling surface, the medium used for cooling and the material of the deformed drum tube. A line diagram of Rolling Device showing roller configuration, rotating device etc. are shown in the Figure 2. Alternately the cooling device can also be constructed by using the water mist spray to spray it circumferentially from outer and/or inner periphery of the drum tube or by using the cold air jets to cool the drum tube circumferentially from outer and/or inner periphery. A line diagram of Cooling Device having uniformly distributed chilled water pipeline maintain uniform surface temperature in a range of 10 to 18 degree Celsius is shown in a Figure-3.
The De-stressed Drum body when removed from Cooling Device Figure-3 regains its original shape and memory and remains in that form with all back polymer memory of the deformed tube removed and is ready for assembling with other components i.e. Drum Top and Drum Bottom by welding operations to form into a drum.
The Drum Top (32) and Drum Bottom (33) are moulded in Injection Moulding machine using specialised moulds. The "Swage Body Drum" (34) now can be assembled using Drum Top (32) and Drum Bottom (33) and De-stressed Drum body to manufacture the Finish Drum.

HEATING DEVICE:
Heating device comprises of a steel frame (1) fabricated from steel structural material as shown in Figure-1. A pivoted outer sizing heater shell (2) made of steel is fabricated in two halves as shown in Fig. 1 in open and close position of device. This heating device is fitted with heating arrangements bifurcated for each half by hot liquid/air alternately by use of electrical ceramic heaters (3) and temperature controller (6) to closely monitor and maintain surface temperature of heater shell (2) for a set value and time to uniformly heat entire external surface of Drum body (20). A guide pipe (4) ranging 250 mm to 500 mm (depending upon the size of the drum tube to be processed) is fitted in center of device on the channel (C) fitted to said frame which guides de-shaped drum tube when placed in device and avoid reverse band of drum body (20) when open halve of steel shell (2) is closed by using operating switch fitted with solenoid (7) to lock two halves of said heating device heater shell (2) by using locking means (5) such as manual handle lock, pneumatic cylinder, hydraulic cylinder to pressurized in bringing tube to shape & size of heater shell (2). The said de-shaped drum body when clamped in the heating device takes uniform cylindrical shape in such a way that the outer circumferential surface area of the clamped tube is mating with the inner circumferential surface area of the said heating device to uniformly heat entire external surface of the de-shaped drum body. Drum Body's (20) external surface uniformly gets heated up based on residual time required for a given range of temprature based on thickness of the Drum Body (20).
ROLLING & DE-STRESSING DEVICE:
Rolling device comprises of a suitable structural frame (8) fabricated as per Figure-2; the fixed rollers (9), and de-stressing roller (10) and roller (11) are placed at locations shown with roller bearings, chain & spockets connected to the rollers drive unit (12) start and stop operation by operating switch (13). The speed of rollers is reduced by gear box in such a way that the heated Drum Body (20), removed from heating device and placed in

Rolling & De-stressing Device (Fig.-2), rotates in a range of 8 to 10 revolutions per minute. A de stressing roller (11) and (10) remove stress from Drum Body (20) during revolutions and at end of cycle which ranges between 55 secs to 65 secs, a De-stressed Drum body (20) comes out from the device.
COOLING DEVICE
A De-stressed Drum Body (20) removed from rolling & de-stressing device (Fig.2) is placed immediately in cooling device (Fig.-3). A structural frame (14) fabricated as shown in (Fig.-3). A outer sizing steel shell (15) in two halves as shown in open and close view positions jackets with limpet coils (16) all along periphery of steel shell (14). A De-stressed drum Body (20) after removal from rolling and De-stressing device (Fig.-2) placed in Cooling Device (Fig.-3) and open halve of steel shell (15) is thereafter closed by operating switch with solenoid (19) when two halves gets locked by Locking arrangement (17) by manual handle lock, pneumatic cylinder alternatively hydraulic cylinder to tightly pressed and give final shape to Drum Body (20) by uniformly cooling down in controlled conditions. The limpet coils (16) continuously cooled down steel shell (15) by circulating chilled liquid/chilled air or alternatively by water spray. When Drum Body (20) removed from cooling device (Fig.-3) it comes out perfect original shape and remains to the same shape ready to assemble with Drum Top (32) and Drum bottom (33) in special purpose welding machine based on prior art application to make Finished Drum (34).
The foregoing description is a specific embodiment of the present invention. It should be appreciated that this embodiment is described for purpose of illustration only, and that numerous alterations and modifications may be practiced by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is intended that all such modifications and alterations be included insofar as they come within the scope of the invention as claimed or the equivalents thereof.

We claim
1. An Apparatus for processing deformed HMHDPE plastic tube/section to regain
its original shape comprising
at least one heating device configured to remove back polymer memory of de-shaped drum body;
at least one rolling device having rotating rollers configured for rotating said drum body under pressure to remove stresses from said drum body and;
at least one cooling device configured for uniformly cooling external heated surface of drum body.
2. The Apparatus for processing deformed HMHDPE plastic tube/section to regain
its original shape as claimed in claim 1 wherein said heating device comprises
a steel frame (1) fabricated from steel structural material;
a pivoted outer sizing heater shell (2) made of steel is fabricated in two halves to facilitate opening and closing of said heating device;
said heating device is configured with heating means bifurcated for each half;
a temperature controller (6) configured to closely monitor and maintain surface temperature of heater shell (2) for a set value and time to uniformly heat entire external surface of Drum body (20);
a guide pipe (4) fitted in center of device on the fixture (C) fitted to said steel frame (1) configured for guiding de-shaped drum tube placed in said heating device and avoiding reverse band of drum body (20) during closure of open halve of steel shell (2) and;
closing means configured for closure of open halves of steel shell (2);
locking means (5) configured for locking two halves to pressurize and bring tube to shape & size of heater shell (2).
3. The Apparatus for processing deformed HMHDPE plastic tube/section to regain
its original shape as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rolling device comprises

a fabricated structural frame (8);
fixed rollers (9), de-stressing roller (10) and roller (11) placed at predetermined locations along with roller bearings, chain & spockets connected to the rollers drive unit (12) and;
an operating switch (13) provided to start and stop operation.
4. The Apparatus for processing deformed HMHDPE plastic tube/section to regain
its original shape as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cooling device comprises
a fabricated structural frame (14);
a outer sizing steel shell (15) in two halves for opening and closing of cooling device and holding distressed drum body (20);
plurality of jackets with limpet coils (16) along periphery of steel shell (14);
opening and closing means for opening and closure of open halve of outer sizing steel shell (15);
Locking arrangement (17) for locking outer sizing steel shell (15) for tightly pressing and providing final shape to Drum Body (20) by uniformly cooling down in controlled conditions and;
plurality of limpet coils (16) configured for continuous cooling down of steel shell (15) by circulating chilled liquid/chilled air or alternatively by water spray.
5. The Apparatus for processing deformed HMHDPE plastic tube/section to regain its original shape as claimed in claim 2 wherein said heating means comprises of hot liquid/air and/or electrical ceramic heaters (3).
6. The Apparatus for processing deformed HMHDPE plastic tube/section to regain its original shape as claimed in claim 2 wherein said guide pipe provided is of diameter ranging from 250 mm to 500 mm depending upon the size of the drum tube to be processed.

7. The Apparatus for processing deformed HMHDPE plastic tube/section to regain its original shape as claimed in claim 2 wherein said closing means are solenoid (7) configured for closure of open halve of steel shell (2) or manual handle lock, pneumatic cylinder, hydraulic cylinder.
8. The Apparatus for processing deformed HMHDPE plastic tube/section to regain its original shape as claimed in claim 2 wherein said locking means (5) are configured to clamp said de-shaped drum body in the heating device to procure uniform cylindrical shape with the outer circumferential surface area of the clamped tube is mating with the inner circumferential surface area of the said heating device customized to uniformly heat entire external surface of the de-shaped drum body.
9. The Apparatus for processing deformed HMHDPE plastic tube/section to regain its original shape as claimed in claim 2 wherein said heating device is configured to uniformly heat external surface of drum body (20) for residual time based on thickness of the Drum Body (20).
10. The Apparatus for processing deformed HMHDPE plastic tube/section to regain its original shape as claimed in claim 3 wherein the speed of said rollers is controlled by gear box for mounting of and rolling of heated Drum Body (20).
11. The Apparatus for processing deformed HMHDPE plastic tube/section to regain its original shape as claimed in claim 3 wherein said heated Drum Body (20) is configured to be rotated in a range of 8 to 10 revolutions per minute depending on the temperature and thickness of the heated Drum Body (20).
12. The Apparatus for processing deformed HMHDPE plastic tube/section to regain its original shape as claimed in claim 3 wherein said stressing roller (11) and (10) are configured to remove stress from Drum Body (20) during revolutions and at end of cycle ranging between 55 secs to 65 secs.

13. The Apparatus for processing deformed HMHDPE plastic tube/section to regain its original shape as claimed in claim 4 wherein said opening and closing means comprises of solenoid (19) and locking means comprises of manual handle lock, pneumatic cylinder lock alternatively hydraulic cylinder lock.
14. The Apparatus for processing deformed HMHDPE plastic tube/section to regain its original shape as claimed in claim 4 wherein said cooling device is constructed by using the water mist spray to spray it circumferentially from outer and/or inner periphery of the drum tube or by using the cold air jets to cool the drum tube circumferentially from outer and/or inner periphery.
15. Method for processing deformed HMHDPE plastic tube/section to regain its original shape comprising steps of
placing and clamping deformed drum body (20) in a specially designed heating device to acquire uniform cylindrical shape of the outer circumferential area of the clamped tube to mate with the inner circumferential area of the said heating device to uniformly heat entire external surface of the de-shaped drum body;
maintaining the surface of heating device in a range of 70 to 120 degree Celsius and residual time of deformed drum body (20) in fixture for a period of approximately 60 seconds depending on factors like wall thickness, capacity of heater or material of the heating surface and/or the material of the deformed drum tube ranges between 3.4 to 4.3 mm;
removing said heated drum body (20) from the heating device after the completion of heat cycle and placing immediately into a rolling device;
rotating the drum body with rotating rollers under pressure to remove stresses from the drum body for range 55 to 65 secs depending on to thickness of tube, capacity of rolling device, size of rollers or the material of the deformed drum tube and size of the drum tube and;
removing said de-stressed drum body (20) from the rolling device and is immediately placing into a specially designed cooling device for uniformly

cooling stress removed drum body external heated surface for a period ranging between 55 secs to 65 secs depending on tube thickness, capacity of cooling device or material of the cooling surface, the medium used for cooling and the material of the deformed drum tube.