Cebal Sa

Emmanuel Bricout

Michel Rebeyrolle

Jacques Benquet

The invention disclosure relates to a process for manufacturing a collapsible tube with a wall containing more than 60% by volume of plastic material from a substantially cylindrical, or tubular, blank. The inside and outside layers of the tubular blank are of polymeric plastic material, and the tube has a skirt and a necked head. In the process a shaping operation is performed where an end portion of the tubular blank is necked by bringing closer together inner and outer tools, thus producing crumpled folding of the end of the tube. Prior to the shaping operation the blank is heated in order to bring the portion of the end portion to be shaped to a temperature at the time of the shaping operation which is at least equal to the melting point of the polymeric plastic material forming of the layers the inside and outside surfaces of the wall of the blank. The polymeric plastic material is thus in a viscous molten state at the time of the shaping operation. By virtue of the shaping operation, the crumpled folds are formed by simply bringing closer together the inner and outer tools so that when the folds are fully crushed between the tools and the folds are completely welded to each other, thereby producing the necked head and shoulder integral with the remaining skirt portion of the previously tubular blank.

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Sainte-Menehould, France

Emmanuel Bricout