Abstract: The present invention provides a multi-layered corrugated cylindrical tubular structure formed from a strip (10) of material having one edge reduced in diameter by a step portion (16) and reduced in length by corrugations (18). The strip may be formed on a forming arrangement comprising confronting corrugating rollers (74, 76) having regions formed with corrugating undulations of differing height and an un-corrugated portion.

Abstract: A device (1) for forming rolled bar (3) bundles which allows to obtain perfectly tidy and super compact bundles, in which the bars (3) are perfectly aligned with one another without twisting, tangling or overlapping, both inside and outside the bundle, conferring an excellent shape and regular appearance to the same. A process for forming rolled bar bundles by using the aforesaid device is also described.

Abstract: In a system for producing a helical stator, a stator core strip is provided having a base portion with spaced tangs extending from the base portion. The strip is driven in a feed direction toward a bending region. At the bending region the strip is bent with an outside pressure member positioned to apply pressure at an outside edge of the strip base portion and with an inside pressure wheel having a plurality of teeth. A backstop surface of the teeth contact an inside edge of the base portion between adjacent tangs to support the base portion as the strip is bent by the outside pressure member. A winding arbor receives the bent strip to collect multiple turns of the bent strip to form the helical stator.

Abstract: A diaphragm-actuated pressure differential switch assembly includes a blade spring for switching an electrical circuit. The blade spring comprises a proximal end portion configured for electrically conductive attachment to an electrical terminal, a plurality of flexible tension arms extending from the proximal end portion, a pressure contact region configured to accept transmission of a physical force to bend at least one of the plurality of flexible tension arms, a distal end portion integral with the flexible tension arms, the distal end portion including an electrical contact, and a compression spring integral with the distal end portion extending generally proximally from the distal end portion, the compression spring including a first leg and a second leg. Methods of constructing and using the diaphragm-actuated pressure differential switch assembly and the blade spring are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rod capable of securely connecting pedicle screws in a pedicle screw system for correcting a damaged or transformed spine and a method and an apparatus for fabricating the same and, more particularly, to a flexible pedicle rod with superelasticity in order to provide a flexibility to a fixation between spine segments and a method and an apparatus capable of fabrication the same in mass production.

Abstract: A spring-forming control system and its control method for a spring forming machine in which the spring-forming control system uses a host computer to provide graphical spring parameter setting, program modification, and dragline-method program modification graphical interfaces that are selectively switchable on a display monitor. After setting of spring processing parameters through the spring parameter setting interface, a trial production is done subject to a spring parameter auto-generation software built in the spring-forming control system, and then the production is started if the trial meets the requirements, or the spring processing parameters are modified through the spring parameter setting interface, program modification interface, or dragline-method program modification interface if the trial does not meet the requirements, and then a further trial production is performed till the shaped spring meets the requirements.

Abstract: A method of forming a flexible conduit including: providing an elongated flexible metallic strip having a central portion disposed between a first and a second end portion, wherein at least a portion of the central portion includes a cross-sectional thickness TC which is less than a maximum cross-sectional thickness TM of the elongated shaped strip; rolling the first end portion in a first direction and the second end portion in a second direction generally opposite the first direction to form a shaped flexible strip; and helically winding the shaped flexible strip upon itself.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a blank for producing a screw-tube conveyor in the form of a cylindrical rotary tube (110) with an internal screw spiral (120) for conveying and mixing a bulk material. To simplify the method and to create even long screw-tube conveyors with small diameters in relation to their length, it is proposed according to the invention first to produce a one-piece blank, which comprises a base portion in the basic form of a parallelogram and having laterally mounted fins. In a second method step, the fins are then bent, preferably by 90°, with respect to the base portion. In a third method step, the base portion (112) is then bent along bending lines (115i) in such away that the base portion forms a helical casing portion (111) of the rotary tube (110) and the previously bent-round fins (122) form segments of the screw spiral (120) arranged inside the rotary tube (110). The invention also relates to a screw-tube conveyor produced in this way.

Abstract: In a system for producing a helical stator, a stator core strip is provided having a base portion with spaced tangs extending from the base portion. The strip is driven in a feed direction toward a bending region. At the bending region the strip is bent with an outside pressure member positioned to apply pressure at an outside edge of the strip base portion and with an inside pressure wheel having a plurality of teeth. A backstop surface of the teeth contact an inside edge of the base portion between adjacent tangs to support the base portion as the strip is bent by the outside pressure member. A winding arbor receives the bent strip to collect multiple turns of the bent strip to form the helical stator.

Abstract: A spring manufacturing apparatus 100 comprises: a wire feeder 300; a wire guide 320 for guiding the wire; tool units 400B and 400D, a plurality of which can be slidable toward a spring forming space; a grip unit 500 having face-to-face fingers arranged to be adjacent to an end portion of the wire guide for gripping part of an yet-to-be-cut spring that has been formed primarily into a partially finished shape in the spring forming space; grip driving units 520 and 530 for executing reciprocal motion of the grip unit which is parallel to the wire axis line and rotational motion of the grip unit on the wire axis line; and an arm unit 540 extended forward from the forming table for holding the grip unit and grip driving unit through a holder 550 fixed to the end portion of the arm.

Abstract: A quill supporting member supporting a quill may include a movable body, e.g. Z-axis movable body that moves in a Z-axis direction of an XYZ orthogonal coordinate system representing a shaft core of the quill as an Z-axis. A tool holder supporting member supporting a tool holder for holding a tool may include the other movable bodies, e.g. an X-axis movable body that moves in an X-axis direction and a Y-axis movable body that moves in a Y-axis direction. Therefore, the quill is shortened in the Z-axis direction, and a contact area is reduced between a guide path of the quill and a wire rod.

Abstract: A spring manufacturing apparatus comprises a tool support (30, 40, 50) which supports a tool in a way that the tool can be slid toward the spring forming space. A plurality of the tool supports can be arranged in a radial pattern from the spring forming space on the forming table. The apparatus also comprises a driving force transmission unit (70), attached to the tool support on the forming table, which transmits driving force to the tool support for sliding the tool. The tool support includes first and second tool supports for driving a tool by different driving methods. The first tool support (30) comprises a first driving mechanism (32) that transmits driving force of a common driving axis to the tool. The second tool support (40) comprises a second driving mechanism (41) that transmits driving force of the driving axis to the tool.

Abstract: A spring manufacturing apparatus comprises a tool support (30, 40, 50) which supports a tool in a way that the tool can be slid toward the spring forming space. A plurality of the tool supports can be arranged in a radial pattern from the spring forming space on the forming table. The apparatus also comprises a driving force transmission unit (70), attached to the tool support on the forming table, which transmits driving force to the tool support for sliding the tool. The tool support includes first and second tool supports for driving a tool by different driving methods. The first tool support (30) comprises a first driving mechanism (32) that transmits driving force of a common driving axis to the tool. The second tool support (40) comprises a second driving mechanism (41) that transmits driving force of the driving axis to the tool.

Abstract: This invention provides an apparatus for manufacturing a helical part by feeding a wire W toward a pointing tool 21 and pushing the wire W against the pointing tool 21 to forcibly wind the wire. The apparatus comprises: a feed roller 12 for feeding the wire W toward the pointing tool 21; a wire feeding motor 111 for rotatably driving the feed roller; a grindstone tool unit 30, which holds a discoid grindstone 31 rotatable and movable, for cutting the wire W by the rotating discoid-grindstone 31; and a CPU 100 for controlling the wire feeding motor 111 and grindstone tool unit 30 to move the discoid grindstone 31 on a plane which is substantially perpendicular to a coil growing direction of the helical part and to cut the wire W in a direction which is substantially perpendicular to the coil growing direction.

Abstract: Providing a coil spring manufacturing machine capable of adjusting the shape of a manufactured spring with fixing a wire feeding unit, followed by moving a shaping tool mounting member, attached to one or a plurality of movable members, in the front-rear, left-right, and/or up-down direction of the wire feeding direction. The shaping tool mounting member may be moved in all the three directions. Each movable member is provided with a drive source for driving the movable member.

Abstract: The spring winding machine (1) comprises a measuring device (25a) with a measuring sensor (27) which is arranged in front of the shaper (11) with respect to the conveyor direction of the wire (13) to be shaped. The activation of the shaper (11) is changed by the measured variables of the measuring sensor (27) with respect to a predefined activation function (K1) in a manner such that the shaped wire has the desired spring properties.

Abstract: A swing bar is connected to a slide by attaching a first pivot to one end of the swing bar, and a bending die is mounted to the other end. A connecting piece is provided on the upper surface of the swing bar, and a second pivot capable of freely turning is inserted into a through-hole formed in the connecting piece, and then fitted into a guide groove formed parallel to the wire feeding direction in a guide member mounted to a second bending unit. Motors are connected to the slide and the second bending unit, respectively.

Abstract: A flexible drill shaft for drilling lateral boreholes comprising: a helical outer wire coil spring; and at least one inner helical wire coil spring residing concentrically within the outer coil spring, with the coils of adjacent springs having an opposite pitch; wherein the wire forming each helical spring has a cross section such that when the drill shaft is in a straight alignment there is planar contact between adjacent coils of the spring.

Abstract: A medical apparatus is fabricated by providing a coil that has a plurality of primary loops along a longitudinal direction, and for each of one or more of the primary loops, forming one or more secondary loops on the primary loop.

Abstract: The compression spring former disclosed by the present invention contains an external diameter mechanism, spacing mechanism, wire-feeding mechanism, cutting mechanism, length-detecting mechanism, sorting mechanism, and microcomputer control mechanism. Within the working range, specific springs can be formed simply by inputting the parameters describing the external diameter, spacing, roll number, and other allowance requirements. The control mechanism has a built-in length detecting and automatic sorting mechanism, which can modify the spring spacing according to different free heights, ensuring the allowance of free height. The cutter has a working mode for repeated cutting. The lowest point of the cutter shaft is set to “0” degrees for cutting the springs. If the cutter swings from positive 20 degrees to negative 20 degrees, or from negative 20 degrees to positive 20 degrees, the spring will be cut. That is to say, a spring is produced in every rotation of 40 degrees.

Abstract: A spring manufacturing apparatus with a reduced number of driving sources, yet capable of adjusting the relative positions among the bending dices with higher precision when manufacturing a spring is to be provided. A second bending dice mounting slider and a third bending dice mounting slider are symmetrically located about a center line extended from a moving direction of a first bending dice mounting slider. An arm mechanically connects the first bending dice mounting slider and the second bending dice mounting slider, or the first bending dice mounting slider and the third bending dice mounting slider, so that either of a driving source that drives the second bending dice mounting slider or a driving source that drives the third-bending dice mounting slider moves the first bending dice mounting slider, thus to determine a winding direction of a wire for manufacturing a spring.

Abstract: A spring manufacturing apparatus comprises a tool support (30, 40, 50) which supports a tool in a way that the tool can be slid toward the spring forming space. A plurality of the tool supports can be arranged in a radial pattern from the spring forming space on the forming table. The apparatus also comprises a driving force transmission unit (70), attached to the tool support on the forming table, which transmits driving force to the tool support for sliding the tool. The tool support includes first and second tool supports for driving a tool by different driving methods. The first tool support (30) comprises a first driving mechanism (32) that transmits driving force of a common driving axis to the tool. The second tool support (40) comprises a second driving mechanism (41) that transmits driving force of the driving axis to the tool.

Abstract: A spiral winder is disclosed adapted to implement a new method for spirally winding a product of indefinite length, such as pipe, into a coil for packaging and/or transport to an end user. The spiral winder consists primarily of a rotor assembly (1) supporting a caster (7) such that product fed along the rotary axis to the caster (7) as the rotor (1) rotates is guided to the outlet from the caster to be deposited onto a pallet in the form of a planar spiral. By vertically indexing the pallet and reversing a radial motion of the caster outlet layers of planar spirals can be produced as a self supporting coil without the necessity of any internal mandrel or external retaining drum. By careful control of the stresses in the product as it passes to and from the caster (7) fragile product such as thin walled heat exchanger pipe can be coiled rapidly.

Abstract: Winding machine for rolled or drawn wire/rod with turn clutch device for automatic winding of the type comprising a reel with a mandrel and base flange and an external mobile containment counter flange, wherein the counter flange is openable to allow the axial extraction from the mandrel of the reel of the completed coil, the flange of base comprising a recess to receive the head of the wire/rod to be wound, with an overturned trapezoidal annular recess with corresponding reduction towards the base for auto-clamping the wire/rod to start winding without requiring pincers.

Abstract: To improve a spring processing performance, a spring manufacturing machine is structured such that a rotating casing (26) is rotated around a common center line (C1), a final wire rod guide (17) is rotated around the common center line (C1), a wire rod feeding unit (12) is moved forward and backward by an actuating apparatus (53), and the actuating apparatus (53) is constituted by a motor (55) which has a reversible rotation shaft (56) with an axis directed to the lateral direction, an oscillating arm (57) which is oscillated forward and backward by the motor (55), a projection (58) which is provided in a free end of the oscillating arm (57) and opposes to the center line (C1) of a wire rod passage of a final wire rod guide (17), and an annular body (60) which has an annular groove (59) fitted to the projection (58) and is fitted to a hollow shaft (48).

Abstract: A wire-stranded hollow coil body (1) has a multitude of coil line elements (2) stranded along a predetermined circular line to form a flexible wire tube having a central axial hollow portion (3), the flexible wire tube is stranded under a strand-turn resistant load and heat treated to remove a residual stress upon formation so as to provide a high rotation-following capability and a high straightness. Further, a method provides a way to strand the coil line elements (2) under a strand-turn resistant load while heat treating the coil line elements (2).

Abstract: In order that a moving locus of a leading end of a tool 55 provided to a tool mounting device 54 is aligned with a direction orthogonal to a center line W of a wire rod passage (not shown) of a final wire rod guide 13, a tool operating apparatus 22 has a position adjusting table 23 movable forward and backward and movable to optional positions within a virtual vertical plane parallel to a front wall 5 of an upper portion 2B of a fixed machine casing 2, a rotating body 46 provided to the position adjusting table 23 rotatably around a rotation center line C parallel to the center line W of the wire rod passage of the final wire rod guide 13, and a tool mounting device 54 provided in the rotating body 46 movably in parallel in a direction orthogonal to the rotation center line C.

Abstract: The invention relates to a coiled composite sheet material far brazing, the composite sheet material having a structure comprising a substrate, the substrate including an aluminium substrate and/or an aluminium alloy substrate, on at least one side coupled to a carrier layer having a thickness of at most 150 ?m and additionally a polymer being homopolymers of olefin, or a copolymer of an olefin and a non-olefinic comonomer copolymerizable with the olefin being vinyl monomer, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid and/or acetic acid as a carder filled with a brazing flux material.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for the continuous coating and fabrication of spiraled steel rebar product for concrete structures. Specifically, methods and systems are provided by which linear uncoated rebar is supplied to a polymeric (preferably, epoxy) powder-coating unit whereby a substantially uniform coating layer of a polymeric material is applied onto the uncoated rebar to form a linear coated rebar; and thereafter the linear coated rebar is bent into a spiraled steel rebar product. The bending unit employed to bend the linear coated rebar includes a series of bending wheels having separated upstream and downstream bending wheels and a central bending wheel which is disposed between and below these upstream and downstream bending wheels. By bringing the linear coated rebar into contact with the series of bending wheels, the rebar may be bent gently into spiraled steel rebar product without damage to the polymeric surface coating.

Abstract: A coil spring forming machine for forming a coil spring having a dimensional characteristic, such as a coil diameter and a coil pitch, includes a frame, a control tool movably mounted on the frame, and a control mechanism mounted on the frame and coupled to the control tool. The control mechanism is operable to move the control tool to vary the dimensional characteristic. The control mechanism includes first and second cam surfaces and a cam follower assembly selectively engageable with either of the first and second cam surfaces to vary the dimensional characteristic depending on which cam surface is engaged.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for the continuous coating and fabrication of spiraled steel rebar product for concrete structures. Specifically, methods and systems are provided by which linear uncoated rebar is supplied to a polymeric (preferably, epoxy) powder-coating unit whereby a substantially uniform coating layer of a polymeric material is applied onto the uncoated rebar to form a linear coated rebar; and thereafter the linear coated rebar is bent into a spiraled steel rebar product. The bending unit employed to bend the linear coated rebar includes a series of bending wheels having separated upstream and downstream bending wheels and a central bending wheel which is disposed between and below these upstream and downstream bending wheels. By bringing the linear coated rebar into contact with the series of bending wheels, the rebar may be bent gently into spiraled steel rebar product without damage to the polymeric surface coating.

Abstract: A method and machine for selectively manufacturing wire springs from two different wires by feeding the wires through a pair of continuously rotatable opposed feed rollers, which rollers are operative to feed only one of the wires at a time into engagement with a coil forming mechanism having a pair of coil forming tools. The tools are selectively positionable for engagement with one or the other of the two wires depending upon which of the two wires is being fed into the coil forming mechanism.

Abstract: A wire feeder (300) includes a cross table (302) placed to be movable in the back-and-forth direction along a wire feed direction (D), and upper and lower tables (304, 305) which can move in the up-and-down direction along a direction perpendicular to the wire feed direction with respect to the cross table (302). Feed rollers (320, 321) for feeding a wire are rotatably mounted on the upper and lower tables (304, 305). A wire guide (330) integrally formed from upstream to downstream along the wire feed direction (D) with respect to the feed rollers (320, 321) is placed, together with the feed rollers (320, 321), on a wire axis extending from the cross table 302 to the upper and lower tables (304, 305) to be movable in the back-and-forth direction and up-and-down direction.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a guide wire having at least two different polymeric jackets that impart different handling characteristics to the portions of the guide wire they surround. Preferably, the guide wire may have jackets of different grades of polymer, such as polyurethane 55D and 90A. Alternatively, the guide wire may have jackets of different types of polymers such as polyurethane and polytetrafluoroethylene, or may have a single polymeric jacket with continuously varying properties along its length. The invention also comprises methods of making such guide wires.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making a shaped-spring assembly. The method and apparatus utilizes a spring forming apparatus which facilitates the forming of shaped springs without adversely effecting the characteristics of the spring, and a magazine arrangement which stores and loads shaped springs, while maintaining the shape of the springs. The magazine arrangement further permits the storage of a plurality of the shaped springs without fatiguing a leading edge of the spring. With the apparatus and method of the present invention, it is possible to load empty shaped spring cavities at a select location, such as at a field site, and also have a steady supply of shaped springs available for quick replacement. The forming apparatus is designed so as to easily cooperate and/or be mounted onto the magazine arrangement so as to facilitate the transfer of shape springs which are shaped by the forming apparatus into the magazine arrangement.

Abstract: A guidewire (1) comprising a distal end (2), a shaft portion (4) and a proximal end (3), wherein the shaft portion comprises at least one helically wound group (10) of at least two wires (7,8,9) extending side by side and having a pitch angle in the range of 35° to 76°.

Abstract: A system and method of winding a length of tubing into a coil. The system uses a mandrel to wind a length of tubing into the form of a coil. The length of tubing is both internally pressurized and placed under tension prior to being wound around the mandrel. The tension experienced by the length of tubing causes the tubing to conform to the shape of the mandrel as the mandrel rotates. The internal pressurization of the tubing keeps the diameter of the tubing round as it is deformed around the mandrel. As such, the tubing is prevented from crushing or buckling as it winds around the mandrel.

Abstract: A spring assembly having a coil containing a core and methods and apparatus for manufacturing the same are disclosed. The coil includes a core between reduced portions of the coil. One device for manufacturing the coil includes a coiling machine having an insert device operable with a coiler. The coiler is programmed to form coils of appropriate diameter along the length of the coil, including a diameter sufficiently large to contain the core and two diameters sufficiently small to retain the core in the coil. The insert device transfers the core to the coil after the first small diameter is formed and before the second small diameter is formed. The coil with the core contained between the two small diameters is thereby manufactured in a unified automated process.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved core wire for use in a medical catheter. In one aspect, the invention provides a core wire with a shapeable tip and method of manufacturing the same. A core wire previously made superelastic is subject to additional processing to remove its superelasticity thereby allowing the material to be shapeable to aid in advancing the core wire through a blood vessel or other body cavities. In another aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for securing the core wire to the distal end of an elongated catheter tubular body. The tubular body is mechanically crimped onto the core wire to secure the core wire in place. This crimping method has been found to increase the strength of the bond between the core wire and the catheter tube so that greater pull force is required to break the core wire off from the catheter.

Abstract: Spring coiling machine with a drive, a wire guide, a cutter mechanism and a coiler mechanism, in which the drive is adapted for optionally driving one or other of at least two wires sitting in the wire guide at the same time.

Abstract: An interconnect structure for use with solar cells and like devices which are subject to compressive and/or expansive forces through packaging or in application comprises a flattened spiral of a metal strip. The interconnect is fabricated by first providing a length of metal strip, wrapping the metal strip around a cylindrical or flat mandrel or otherwise folded in a helical pattern, removing the mandrel, and then flattening the metal strip to reduce thickness of the interconnect.

Abstract: A sheet of strip material of metal is coiled into a ring-like member, with a broader surface thereof being oriented in a radial direction. Opposite ends of the sheet of strip material are connected together by a joint. The joint includes a concave portion and a convex portion which are adapted to be engaged with each other against a repulsive force in a circumferential direction. The ring-like member is formed, on the inner periphery thereof, with teeth for engagement with a gear of a transmission, thereby producing a friction plate.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved core wire for use in a medical catheter. In one aspect, the invention provides a core wire with a shapeable tip and method of manufacturing the same. A core wire previously made superelastic is subject to additional processing to remove its superelasticity thereby allowing the material to be shapeable to aid in advancing the core wire through a blood vessel or other body cavities. In another aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for securing the core wire to the distal end of an elongated catheter tubular body. The tubular body is mechanically crimped onto the core wire to secure the core wire in place. This crimping method has been found to increase the strength of the bond between the core wire and the catheter tube so that greater pull force is required to break the core wire off from the catheter.

Abstract: A transmission control system for a wire forming machine includes a slide base and a transmission control device attached thereto. A feed unit is slidably mounted on the slide base and has a screw base mounted thereon. The slide base has a through hole therein and a slot to allow the screw base to move therein and a groove to receive a rail therein. The transmission control device includes a bearing seat received in the through hole of the slide base and a bearing received in the bearing seat. The transmission control device further includes a moving control unit and a power source, the moving control unit connected to the screw base and the power source supplying the power to the moving unit to control the position of the feed unit. The feed unit further includes a horizontal base plate and a vertical support plate. The base plate has a plurality of slides each attached thereto and having a groove to receive the rail and slidably mounted on the slide base. The support plate extends from the base plate.

Abstract: The characteristics of the wire are calculated, the wire having a cross-sectional shape which is substantially uniform along its length and having a length long enough in comparison with a diameter being deformed. The wire is divided into a plurality of elements with predetermined spacing along the length. When the wire is deformed, the shape of the wire after the deformation is determined. In the determined shape, a tangential stiffness equation using the element as a basis is calculated, and the calculated tangential stiffness equation is translated into a tangential stiffness equation using the whole of the wire as a basis. A global stiffness equation representing the whole wire is calculated from the tangential stiffness equation obtained by the translation. A load or a displacement produced in each portion of the wire is calculated from the global stiffness equation and the determined shape of the wire.

Abstract: Wire rings or coils in tubs pass from a cooling conveyor onto a rotatable framework in which the tub carrier can be raised toward a transfer conveyor. The framework is then tilted to deposit the wire ring on the transfer conveyor, whereupon the tub is raised to liberate the wire ring which is displaced onto a conveyor for a subsequent processing station. The framework is rotated again through 180.degree. to align the empty tub with the return conveyor.

Abstract: A stent comprising a coil including a plurality of arcuate sections that alternate directions around a central axis, each arcuate section including a pair of curved turns joined by a cusp, and the cusps of adjacent arcuate sections intermeshing and defining at least one region of overlap, which in turn describes a helix around and along the length of the coil. In the preferred embodiment, there are two regions of overlap, which together describe a double helix. In another preferred embodiment, the stent is bifurcated so as to support a branched vessel or the like.A method for forming a stent, including the steps of providing a flat sheet of material, chemically etching said sheet to form a blank, and forming said blank into a cylindrical coil. The coiling step is preferably carried out on a plurality of rollers.

Abstract: A wire-spiralling machine continuously produces a tubular structure comprising a spiral winding, particularly a pressure-armor layer, from two noninterlocking wires of large cross section delivered from two reels of wire and two locking wires delivered from two reels of locking wire. A motorized rotating circular cage carries the four reels of wire and locking wire at its rear, while the downstream face of the cage supports, on two adjustable-inclination plates, two on-board twin-track caterpillars for dragging the wire. These caterpillars are arranged just upstream of guide and/or bend rolls leading the wires towards their respective lay point.

Abstract: A spring manufacturing machine enhances an efficiency of operation. A desired one of wire passages in wire feeding rollers is aligned with a wire passage in an auxiliary wire guide and a wire passage in a final wire guide by adjusting a position of a forward and rearward movable table with respect to a front wall of a machine frame.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for forming devices including dead-ends and insulator ties from flat and other strips of material, as well as the devices themselves, are disclosed. Components of these devices may be formed continuously from a single strip, avoiding the need to weld or clamp the components together. Forming the devices in this manner reduces the possibility of stresses or non-uniformities forming when the components are joined and permits continuous automatic or semi-automatic manufacture to occur.