Plural Or Complex Apparatus (e.g., With Plural Operations) Patents (Class 72/306)
  • Patent number: 5357778
    Abstract: An automatic reinforced bar bending apparatus comprising a dispensing machine, a feeding machine, and a bending machine is provided. The apparatus is operated in such a manner that the dispensing machine dispenses from a large number of reinforced bars a predetermined quantity and delivers the same to conveying arms of the feeding machine in sequence. A number of toothed wheels and driving chains of the feeding machine smooth and transfer the reinforced bars to the bending machine for bending, whereby multiple reinforced bars are continuously bent into square frames with reduced time and labor. Before the reinforced bars are conveyed to the bending machine, they are also accurately counted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1994
    Inventor: Wen-Sheng Tsai
  • Patent number: 5343727
    Abstract: A panel bender which can remarkably improve productivity in a bending process, and can feed in and out works having different widths with a single conveyer without causing interference between a main body and the conveyer has a construction in which a plurality of main bodies (1) are provided at opposite positions across a conveyer (16) for feeding the work (A) to a working position within the panel bender, each of the main bodies being movable in a back and forth direction with respect to the other by a back and force feeding device (13). The conveyer (16) disposed between the main bodies is adapted to expand and contract in the width direction in cooperation with back and forth movement of the main bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1994
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Komatsu Seisakusho
    Inventor: Hisao Osaka
  • Patent number: 5321968
    Abstract: An integral, one piece tubular product with a threaded end for mating with threaded connectors is produced by preforming a series of compression and expansion operations on the end of a tubing blank to provide a sufficiently thick wall structure for the formation of rolled threads, and to directly form an external hex head surface for the application of wrenching forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1994
    Inventors: Henry T. Poole, James O. Crout, Larry A. Joy
  • Patent number: 5307659
    Abstract: The machine includes a U-shaped pincer (12) with a pair of arms (14, 16) which carry a V-sectioned linear punch (P) and a V-sectioned linear die (D) respectively. The punch (P) is fixed and the die (D) is movable. The U-shaped pincer (12) is mounted so that it can rotate both about a bending axis (V) coincident with the edge of the punch (P) and about a horizontal pivoting axis O which intersects the bending axis (V). A clamp (10) is adapted to grip an upper edge of a piece (W) of sheet metal so that a region thereof to be bent lies in a vertical suspension plane (B) lying between the arms (14, 16) of the U-shaped pincer (12) and containing the bending axis (V). The U-shaped pincer (12) and the clamp (10) are capable of relative movement both in a vertical direction (Z) and in a horizontal direction (X) perpendicular to the horizontal pivoting axis (O).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Assignee: Amada Company, Limited
    Inventor: Franco Sartorio
  • Patent number: 5297415
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a length of tubing into a curved, unbalanced and non-uniform shape continuously bends the tubing and then changes the cross-sectional shape along the length of the tubing to eliminate springback and provide a stable part with shape retention The apparatus includes relatively movable upper and lower half die shoes A form post, a forming steel subassembly, a plurality of slides and driver posts are positioned on the shoes in juxtaposed relationship. A clamp holds a length of tubing against the form post. Movement of the die shoes towards each other shifts the slides to continuously bend the tube about the form post. After the bending operation, the cross-sectional shape of the tubing is changed from a generally circular shape towards an oval or generally rectangular shape. A pressure is applied to induce stresses which eliminate springback and provide a stable part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventor: John L. Hendricks
  • Patent number: 5291771
    Abstract: A wire bending apparatus includes both a robot provided with a device for gripping and rotating a wire, and a suitable number of program-controlled benders. The robot grips a wire and supplies a portion of the wire to be bent to the program-controlled benders. The robot is rotated through a predetermined angle while gripping the wire according to a direction in which a next portion of the wire is to be bent, after which the wire is supplied to the program-controlled bender to bend the wire such that the wire is ultimately bent into a predetermined shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1994
    Assignees: Yashawa & Company, Ltd., Sindai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiro Tomo, Hiroyuki Ito, Nobumitsu Sakakibara
  • Patent number: 5211046
    Abstract: An apparatus of and a method for forming a multistage hollow pipe comprising the steps of arranging a hollow pipe on a plurality of molds composed of an upper mold, first, second, third forming molds for subjecting the hollow pipe to drawing process, axially applying a compressive force, which is greater than the force forming multistage bulges on the hollow pipe, to the hollow pipe for forming the multistage hollow pipe, removing the processed multistage hollow pipe and other molds from the first forming mold, releasing the clamping of the processed multistage hollow pipe by the second and the third forming molds, and taking out the processed multistage hollow pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1993
    Assignee: Kyosan Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masayuki Inagaki
  • Patent number: 5186036
    Abstract: An electric cable bending device for bending an exposed portion of core wire of electric cable having a coating member mounted on a non exposed portion of said core wire has a clamping unit, a vertical hot press, a horizontal hot press, and a vertically supporting unit. The clamping unit clamps the electric cable such that the exposed portion of core wire is located at a position under the vertical hot press and between the supporting unit and the horizontal hot press. By the down stroke of the vertical hot press, the exposed core is heated and bent perpendicularly. The supporting unit supports the cable against a pushing force generated during the stroke of the horizontal hot press, while the perpendicularly bent exposed core is heated and bent back toward another end of the electric cable. As a result, thus bent core wire is firmly and tightly bent in a U-shape for ensuring the complete electrical contact with the terminal lug which will be provided in the following process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1993
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Satoshi Kamada
  • Patent number: 5182932
    Abstract: Apparatus for bending steel bars to form concrete reinforcement elements, having a device (3, 4; 18) for feeding bars to a transfer device (8), by means of which in each case one group of bars can be inserted in two bending frames or stations, (2, 2'), each having members (11, 12) for bending the bars in transverse direction the transfer device having at least one pair of operation-controlled gripper tongs (10) which can be swivelled from a first position, in which they receive a plurality of bars from the bar feed device, and clamp the bars, into a second position, in which they insert the bars into the gap between the bending members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1993
    Assignee: EVG Entwicklungs-u Verwertungs-Gesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventors: Gerhard Ritter, Klaus Ritter, Gerhard Schmidt
  • Patent number: 5125254
    Abstract: A substantially rectangular metal blank is formed about a mandrel (76) to provide a very open shell (28) having a pair of axially extending lips (20c,20t) separated by a distance sufficient to permit a prewound spool (10) or other product to be inserted radially, laterally into the shell prior to closing the shell about the spool or other product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1992
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Stephen M. Reinke, Robert F. Allen, Paul E. Bailey, Thomas A. Cipolla, James C. Foote, Jr., Robert L. Huseby, Thomas E. Stark
  • Patent number: 5113683
    Abstract: A pipe bending machine having two bending heads is endowed with two bending heads (9, 10), that each can move in the initial direction of pipe to be bent (12), each also being endowed with a bending tool that operates in a bending plane whose orientation can be modified. At least one of the bending heads (9, 10) can also move in a plane perpendicular to the initial direction of pipe (12) and holds clamping mechanism (27, 29) of the pipe, offset from the longitudinal axis of the head. In this way the head can be moved away from initial axis (11) of the pipe, the associated clamping mechanism (27, 29) in this case moving into such axis and being able to hold pipe (12) temporarily therein. This arrangement makes it possible to execute very closely-spaced bends in the median area of the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1992
    Assignee: Eaton Leonard Picot S.A.
    Inventor: Jean Lafrasse
  • Patent number: 5105640
    Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for forming box-shaped sheet metal ducts with Pittsburgh-type seams. The improved method is a continuous process in which the sheet metal is fed from an uncoiler, and after straightening and notching, the leading edge is fed into a single apparatus that performs all of the remaining forming functions. In this single apparatus, the leading edge of the material is formed into the male portion of the Pittsburgh seam, after which the box is formed and then the female portion of the Pittsburgh seam is formed and the material sheared to complete the box section. Using this improved method eliminates the moving of separate parts from one station to another, thereby improving the efficiency of the forming operation and the quality of the resulting box section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1992
    Assignee: Iowa Precision Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Cecil E. Moore
  • Patent number: 5103666
    Abstract: An apparatus for straightening the end of an elongated workpiece which has a longitudinal axis and an elastic limit includes at least three rams arranged symmetrically around the workpiece and around a common axis and are moveable perpendicularly to the axis for deflecting the longitudinal axis of the workpiece into a path of revolution by deforming the workpiece beyond the elastic limit without rotating the workpiece around the axis. A piston cylinder unit is connected to each of the rams for performing a reciprocal stroke movement. The piston cylinder units are selectively controlled so that the piston cylinder units and associated rams perform a phase shifted sinusoidal stroke movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1992
    Assignee: Mannesmann Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Hermann Schroeder
  • Patent number: 5099670
    Abstract: The machine includes a U-shaped princer (12) with a pair of arms (14, 16) which carry a V-sectioned linear punch (P) and a V-sectioned linear die (D) respectively. The punch (P) is fixed and the die (D) is movable. The U-shaped pincer (12) is mounted so that it can rotate both about a bending axis (V) coincident with the edge of the punch (P) and about a horizontal pivoting axis (O) which intersects the bending axis (V). A clamp (10) is adapted to grip an upper edge of a piece (W) of sheet metal so that a region thereof to be bent lies in a vertical suspension plane (B) lying between the arms (14, 16) of the U-shaped pincer (12) and containing the bending axis (V). The U-shaped pincer (12) and the clamp (10) are capable of relative movement both in a vertical direction (Z) and in a horizontal direction (X) perpendicular to the horizontal pivoting axis (O).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1992
    Assignee: Amada Company, Limited
    Inventor: Franco Sartorio
  • Patent number: 5088310
    Abstract: This invention has concentrated on the construction of an extra bending mechanism which by appearing at the right moment, creates wire/rod bends always in relation with the above mentioned line x--x, but within other planes E2, also containing line x--x 15 but distinctly different than plane E1. In this manner it is possible to achieve the construction of wire shapes in three dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1992
    Inventor: Maria Anagnostopoulu
  • Patent number: 5050419
    Abstract: In accordance with the invention, immediately after the completion of the upsetting process using an upset tool to form a pipe end of increased wall thickness, the upset half shells which have been pressed together are opened and the supporting mandrel is withdrawn. After the lifting of the pipe end out of the tool, the longitudinal upset seams formed during the upset operation are rotated through a predetermined angle in a plane to which the axis of the pipe is perpendicular and out of the parting plane of the upset half shells. The pipe end is again pressed into the working plane while maintaining its previous axial position to the tool. After the reintroduction of the supporting mandrel, the pipe end is additionally pressed radially to substantially eliminate the longitudinal upset seams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1991
    Assignee: Mannesmann Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Michael J. Schindler, Wulff-Eckard Von Borcke
  • Patent number: 5042282
    Abstract: A small-diameter metallic conduit bending machine includes a stationary frame. The stationary frame made of bar stock or pipe stock is shaped so as to substantially conform to a finished metallic conduit. The stationary frame includes a bending section which has in its lengthwise direction a curvature smaller than the bend radius of the metallic conduit and in its widthwise direction a guide surface substantially orthogonal to the bend plane of the metallic conduit. A bending member whose outer peripheral surface faces the guide surface is disposed movably toward the stationary frame so that the metallic conduit can be bent so as to lie along the guide surface. The bending member is moved by an actuator when the actuator is in its pulling stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1991
    Assignee: Usui Kokusai Sangyo Kaisha Ltd.
    Inventor: Sadao Kimura
  • Patent number: 4991422
    Abstract: The machine includes a U-shaped pincer (12) with a pair of arms (14, 16) which carry a V-sectioned linear punch (P) and a V-sectioned linear die (D) respectively. The punch (P) is fixed and the die (D) is movable. The U-shaped pincer (12) is mounted so that it can rotate both about a bending axis (V) coincident with the edge of the punch (P) and about a horizontal pivoting axis (O) which intersects the bending axis (V). A clamp (10) is adapted to grip an upper edge of a piece (W) of sheet metal so that a region thereof to be bent lies in a vertical suspension plane (B) lying between the arms (14, 16) of the U-shaped pincer (12) and containing the bending axis (V). The U-shaped pincer (12) and the clamp (10) are capable of relative movement both in a vertical direction (Z) and in a horizontal direction (X) perpendicular to the horizontal pivoting axis (O).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1991
    Assignee: Amada Company, Limited
    Inventor: Franco Sartorio
  • Patent number: 4987760
    Abstract: An apparatus for bending a leaf spring from a generally straight into an arcuate shape has a frame and a lower jaw assembly on the frame including a fixed central jaw having a flat upper face and a pair of normally curved side jaws flanking the central jaw, each formed by a group of shape-defining fingers, and pivotal about an axis generally centrally between them between a position defining an angle of about 180.degree. and a position defining an angle substantially smaller than 180.degree.. An upper jaw assembly on the frame includes a vertically displaceable central jaw having a generally flat lower face above the lower central jaw, a pair of normally curved side jaws flanking the upper central jaw above the lower side jaws and each formed by a group of shape-defining fingers, and structure supporting the upper side jaws for angular movement about generally parallel axes adjacent the upper central jaw. Thus the upper side jaws can be positioned generally parallel to the lower side jaws.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1991
    Assignee: Luhn & Pulvermacher GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Helmut Schulte
  • Patent number: 4961335
    Abstract: A small-diameter metallic conduit bending machine includes a stationary frame which is shaped so as to substantially conform to a finished metallic conduit. A bending member is provided movably toward the stationary frame from thereoutside to bend a metallic conduit. To prevent the bending member from interfering with the metallic conduit which is moving as the result of the bending process of a preceding stage, an actuator is provided to remove the bending member from the moving area of the metallic conduit. That is, the binding member is made movable toward the stationary frame and retractable from the moving area of the metallic conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 9, 1990
    Assignee: Usui Kokusai Sangyo Kaisha Ltd.
    Inventor: Sadao Kimura
  • Patent number: 4947537
    Abstract: When filling hollow molds, to be bent into spacer frames, with a hygroscopic material, the filling process is interrupted as soon as the material filled into the hollow molding has reached a location of the hollow molding where the latter is to be bent into a corner. At this location, the wall of the hollow molding which subsequently forms the inside in the spacer frame is made to bulge. Then introduction of hygroscopic material into the hollow molding is continued, interrupted at the next location of a corner, the walls are made to bulge, until four locations of the sidewall in the hollow molding have been provided with a bulge, and the hollow molding is completely filled. Also, a device is described suitable for performing the process. This device comprises a stamp (16) for indenting the hollow molding and an ultrasonic sensor which responds to the filling level of the hygroscopic material in the hollow molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1990
    Inventor: Peter Lisec
  • Patent number: 4945747
    Abstract: An apparatus for bending an elongated material in any direction includes a chucking unit, an arm robot having at least three swiveling arm segments, a bending head provided on a free end of the arm segment and a moving device for moving the robot along a line parallel to the chucked material. The bending head is moved by the arm robot perpendicularly toward and away from the material. This facilitates the changing of the bending die to one having a different bending radius to execute bending using various radii. Moreover, since the chucking unit includes an avoiding mechanism for avoiding interference with the arm robot, bending near the center part of the material is also possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 7, 1990
    Assignee: Chuo Electric Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Teruaki Yogo
  • Patent number: 4938050
    Abstract: A small-diameter metallic conduit bending machine comprises a stationary frame segment and a movable or separated frame segment, each including a bending station. Where a metallic conduit seems to interfere with the movable frame segment kept in its normal position when the metallic conduit is bent by a bending member, the movable frame segment is displaced to avoid interference, a subsequent bending work is performed beforehand, and then the subject bending work is performed after the movable frame segment is returned to its normal position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 3, 1990
    Assignee: Usui Kokusai Sangyo Kaisha Ltd.
    Inventor: Sadao Kimura
  • Patent number: 4922741
    Abstract: A stator coil former is separated into forming sections and block supports. The forming sections are preferably separated into three sections: a cell bend forming section, an involute forming section and a lead bend forming section. The cell and lead bend forming sections may be repeatedly used while the involute forming section is individually designed. The supports for the forming sections preferably include supporting the cell bend forming section on a platen which supports the center portion of the stator coil, a working table for directly supporting the involute forming section, and an auxiliary table, supported by the working table, for supporting the lead bend forming section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1990
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Joseph W. Bridges, Homer W. Luzader, Chandrakant P. Amin
  • Patent number: 4901555
    Abstract: A hemming apparatus for hemming the peripheral part of a work usable for a motorcar in the form of a door, a bonnet or the like includes a lower anvil on which the work is placed, an upper anvil adapted to support the peripheral part of the work from the above, a presser for supporting the peripheral part of the work from the lower side, a link arm of which one end is operatively connected to the lower end of a second hydraulic cylinder, a shaft of the link arm being turnably supported at a middle part thereof by a frame, a preliminary bending punch for primarily preliminarily bending the peripheral part of the work and a main bending punch for secondarily bending the peripheral part of the work. The lower end of the preliminary bending punch is operatively jointed to the link arm via a joint member at one end of the ink arm, while the lower end of the main bending punch is operatively jointed to the link arm via a joint member at an opposite end of the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1990
    Assignee: Hiroshima Press Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koji Shimoichi
  • Patent number: 4885926
    Abstract: An apparatus for the production of spacer frames (44) by bending hollow moldings comprises two bending heads (12) displaceably arranged along a plate (10); with the aid of these bending heads, a hollow molding fed thereto can be bent into a spacer frame (44). At the rim of the plate (10) of the bending apparatus (1) lying in opposition to the bending heads (12), a conveyor slide (50) is provided which transports the hollow moldings, bent into a spacer frame (44), to a transfer device (60), this transfer device (60) lifting the spacer frames (44) conveyed thereto off the plate (10) and transfer them into a welding unit (5) for welding together the free ends (45) of the hollow molding bent into a spacer frame (44).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1989
    Inventor: Peter Lisec
  • Patent number: 4875355
    Abstract: A machine for transforming zigzag wire to the slotted tubular form ready for use as a binding element comprises means for feeding a strip of zigzag wire longitudinally, means for arresting the feed of each prong of the wire strip as it reaches a shaping station, means for clamping each prong at that station and means at the station for shaping each clamped prong. The shaping means comprises two or more forming tools mounted on rollers which are driven by drive shafts, at least one roller being angularly adjustable relative to its drive shaft. This allows the operation of the forming tools to be synchronized so that symmetrical shaping of the zigzag wire is achieved. The feed means are rotary and means are provided whereby the feed of each prong is arrested for at least one eighth of each revolution of the rotary feed means. The shaping of the zigzag strip is facilitated and improved since the strip is held stationary for a relatively long period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1989
    Assignee: James Burn International Ltd.
    Inventor: Leonard W. N. Jones
  • Patent number: 4856315
    Abstract: The bending machine for the production of rectangular sheet metal panels includes a vertically traversing blank holder which is formed of a plurality of blank-holding elements, two end elements and two spacers, a fixed counterblade, two opposing blades fixed to a vertically traversing C support and structure for positioning the metal sheet to be bent on the counterblade. There are provided on the machine programming elements traversing along the blankholder to vary the side extension of said blankholder according to the dimensions of the metal sheet to be bent. There is also provided the possibility of expanding and contracting the blankholder sidewise at the beginning and at the end respectively of the bending operation of a long side of the metal sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1989
    Assignee: Salvagnini Transferica S.p.A.
    Inventor: Guido Salvagnini
  • Patent number: 4854150
    Abstract: A novel method and apparatus for forming stabilizer bars for engine driven land vehicles starting from tubular or rod steel stock material to provide predetermined shapes which are hardened by heat treating, forming and quenching into permanent forms. The method comprises of heating bar ends and forging in forging presses so that one of the eyed ends after heating to 1150.degree.-1240.degree. C. for forging and piercing is formed. The same series of heating, forging and piercing steps are carried out at the other end to thereby provide a new strengthened eyehole structure at each end. The bar is then heated and formed on a forming table. The heating is carried out at 870.degree.-910.degree. C. and the bending on the forming table is carried out. A drain aperture is pierced in the side of the tubular stock to drain the quenching oil which enters the tube during quenching after forming the stabilizer bar. The novel forming board is provided with twelve cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1989
    Assignee: Rockwell International Suspension Systems Company
    Inventors: Peter A. Brown, Kenneth N. Jenkins, Paul A. Pouget
  • Patent number: 4845972
    Abstract: A method for working at least one end of a steel pipe by upsetting and pressing which comprises an external upset portion having an outer taper being shaped by upset forging, the portion then being pressed by an internal upset die so as to displace the outer taper to an internal upset portion having an inner taper and then internal upset forging being applied by the internal upset die, thereby forming accurately the length of the inner taper and the curvature of a starting point of the portion having the inner taper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1989
    Assignee: Nippon Steel Corp.
    Inventors: Eizo Takeuchi, Hisamitsu Miyoshi, Keiichiro Mori
  • Patent number: 4843861
    Abstract: A bending machine comprises a plurality of bending units arranged to make bends in a common plane. The bending units are adjustably mounted to adjust the separation thereof in the common plane. Apparatus for holding and turning a workpiece about a predetermined axis is mounted between the bending units so that the predetermined axis is aligned or alignable with the common plane. The apparatus comprises a plurality of jaw members rotatable in unison about the predetermined axis. Each jaw member is axially open ended, has a central socket and a mouth extending from said socket to interrupt the periphery of the jaw member. The jaw members are interconnected and mounted to rotate in unison about the predetermined axis when at least one thereof is driven by a driving mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1989
    Assignee: Langbow Limited
    Inventor: Geoffrey T. Langley
  • Patent number: 4836005
    Abstract: An apparatus for bending hollow moldings into spacer frames (44) for insulating glass comprises two bending heads (12) displaceably arranged along the rim of a plate (10), a clamp (13) being provided between these bending heads for the hollow molding to be bent into the spacer frame (44). In this apparatus, a device (20) is provided for feeding hollow moldings which extends in parallel to the rim of the plate (10) at which the bending heads (12) are arranged. Furthermore, a gripper (30) is provided in the plane of symmetry of the clamp (13) for transferring the hollow moldings from the conveying device (20) into the clamp (13) and the bending heads (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1989
    Inventor: Peter Lisec
  • Patent number: 4827753
    Abstract: An elongate member former is characterized by three-way powered forming movement and is composed of a main frame and a moveable die table mounted on the main frame and adapted to carry a die for being urged against the member to form the member into a predetermined shape. Carriage ways are carried on the main frame and first and second carriages mounted are on the carriage ways in spaced-apart relation on opposing sides of the die table. Member holders are carried by each of the first and second carriages for holding opposite ends of a member to be formed. Tensioners are carried by each of the first and second carriages for placing the member being formed under a predetermined tension. The first and second carriages rotate for applying a twisting forming movement to the member and the first and second carriages move the member holders vertically along a line perpendicular to the direction of tension application on the member for applying a nontwisting bend to the member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1989
    Assignee: The Cyril Bath Company
    Inventor: Edward E. Moroney
  • Patent number: 4805436
    Abstract: An apparatus for bending a metal pipe having a small diameter includes a pipe retaining mechanism and bending units. The pipe retaining mechanism comprises a pair of chucks consisting of a split pattern provided on a support. One of the chucks is fixed and the other is mounted on the distal end of a piston rod of a cylinder device in such a manner that it opposes the one of the chucks. The bending units are provided on the support on two sides of the pipe retaining mechanism in the crosswise direction thereof, and has forming rolls supported to fixtures on the support on two sides of the extension of the axis of the pipe retaining mechanism, as well as press rolls which are pivotal about the forming rolls. The support is fixed to the upper end of a drive shaft rotated in cooperation with a piston rod of a cylinder device on a base, so that the bending apparatus on the support can be pivoted on the plane of the support during bending process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1989
    Assignee: Usui Kokusai Sangyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shigeru Saegusa
  • Patent number: 4804077
    Abstract: A system for processing both ends of tubes, such a nuclear fuel rod cladding tubes. A conveyor, adjustable for different length tubing, supports and transversely moves the tubes to tube-end-processing sites. The conveyor is spaced up at the first-tube-end-processing sites to create first access areas. First-tube-end-processing machines have bases with a portion placed underneath the conveyor in these first access areas. The first machines have tube-end-processing modules movably mounted on the bases to accommodate different length tubing. The system also includes second-tube-end-processing machines having tube-end-process modules positioned at the second-tube-end-processing sites. The modules process the tube ends with such operations as deburring, attaching fittings for flush etching the tubes, etc. Preferably, the modules are aligned for the system to process both ends of a tube simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1989
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventor: Clarence D. John, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4803879
    Abstract: There is provided a new and useful slip lock forming apparatus comprising a support structure, a forming die mounted on the support structure, a clamping mechanism mounted on the support structure and comprising a pair of clamping members movable between an open and a closed position for holding a workpiece in position relative to the die, a press mechanism mounted on the structure and comprising a pair of pressing surfaces at least one of which is movable relative to the other between a first position in which the surfaces are in contact and a second position in which the surfaces are spaced from each other, and a forming bar mounted on the structure and movable between a retracted position and an extended position for forming a workpiece around the die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1989
    Inventor: Robert J. Crawford
  • Patent number: 4799373
    Abstract: A bending machine for bending wire, tubing, or other elongate material, comprising a support structure and a bending head which is mounted on the support structure and which is capable of bending such material in a given plane which is fixed relative to the bending head. A feed unit is mounted on the support structure and is arranged to feed such material along a feed axis of the machine to the bending head. The bending head is rotatable about the said feed axis of the machine thereby to enable the machine to bend the material into more than one plane. Furthermore, substantially the whole of the bending head is positioned to one side of the said feed axis of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1989
    Inventor: Ronald E. Benton
  • Patent number: 4781054
    Abstract: A novel method and apparatus for forming stabilizer bars for engine driven land vehicles starting from tubular or rod steel stock material to provide predetermined shapes which are hardened by heat treating, forming and quenching into permanent forms. The method comprises of heating bar ends end forging in forging presses so that one the eyed ends after heating to 1150.degree.-1240.degree. C. for forging and piercing is formed. The same series of heating, forging and piercing steps are carried out at the other end to thereby provide a new strengthened eyehole structure at each end. The bar is then heated and formed on a forming table. The heating is carried out at 870.degree.-910.degree. C. and the bending on the forming table is carried out. A drain aperture is pierced in the side of the tubular stock to drain the quenching oil which enters the tube during quenching after forming the stabilizer bar. The novel forming board is provided with twelve cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1988
    Assignee: Rockwell International Suspension Systems Company
    Inventors: Peter A. Brown, Kenneth N. Jenkins, Pouget, Paul A.
  • Patent number: 4766754
    Abstract: A continuous process for bending long metal rods comprises separating and feeding a bundle of rods and advancing the rods one by one to a rod cutting station downstream, cutting the rods and feeding them to a rod bending station downstream of the cutting station, and subsequently bending the rods and removing them from the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1988
    Assignee: Watt Yang
    Inventor: Sang R. Shiue
  • Patent number: 4766756
    Abstract: A continuous processing machine for bending long metal rods includes a rod bundle handling machine for separating a bundle of rods and advancing the rods one after the other, a rod cutting station and a rod bending station provided downstream of the handling machine for cutting and subsequently bending the rods. Transfer means are provided for transferring the rods from station to station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1988
    Assignee: Watt Yang
    Inventor: Sang R. Shiue
  • Patent number: 4763506
    Abstract: An automatic tube bending machine, in which, an electric motor is adapted to drive a speed reduction multiple-pulley system which in turn powers a synchronous intermittent feeding device to feed tube pieces piece by piece into a moulding seat from a storage rack, the same pulley system also actuates a flywheel, and this flywheel drives a gear system that then spins a crank shaft having two symmetrical crank arms, which in turn move two face to face arranged splines, then this two splines drive their respective gears engaged therewith, and these gears in turn actuate two L-shaped outward bending moulds to rotate; at the other end of the same crank shaft, it is provided with a bevel gear; engaged with another bevel gear system so to drive another crank shaft, in such a manner, these two crank shafts rotate synchronously in opposite directions; in the meanwhile the latter crank shaft drives a sliding seat, on which is provided with an inward bending mould, located in the opposite side of the two L-shaped opposit
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1988
    Inventor: Jun-Lang Zeng
  • Patent number: 4739643
    Abstract: A manufacturing method for a diamond coil for a rotating electric machine comprises bending a straight conductor in a first plane at eight points so as to produce coil leads, coil ends, and coil straight portions. The conductor is next twisted about its longitudinal axis so as to bend the coil ends out of the first plane. The conductor is then bent in two in a second plane, which is perpendicular to the first plane and which includes the longitudinal axis of the conductor, until the two leads of the conductor point in approximately the same direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1988
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kei Kuriyama, Masao Maeda, Sakuhei Ohashi
  • Patent number: 4739642
    Abstract: Tube forming apparatus for forming a tubular part having an enlarged diameter end section at one end with an adjacent short radius bend is disclosed. A straight length of tubing is magnetically positioned between die members and fixedly clamped with opposite ends of the tube projecting from opposite ends of the die. One end of the clamped tube is then enlarged to form the enlarged end section. A magnetic transfer device is engage with the other end of the clamped tubing and, with the die opened, the tube is transferred to a second position between the die members which are closed to clamp the enlarged end section only with the remainder of the tubing projecting from the die. A tightly fitting plug member is seated in the interior of the clamped end section and a bending member the bends the projecting end of the tubing against an anvil formed on one of the die members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1988
    Assignee: Tube Fab of Afton Corp.
    Inventor: Robert J. Redman
  • Patent number: 4735075
    Abstract: A bending device for use in an automatic pipe bender comprises a chuck unit for gripping a straight pipe, a bending unit, and a movable unit. The movable unit can move forward and backward longitudinally of the pipe placed in position. A rotary member is mounted to the movable unit so as to be rotatable within a range of 360.degree. in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the pipe. The bending unit is mounted to the rotary member so that the bending unit rotates with the rotary member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1988
    Assignee: USUI Kokusai Sangyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shigeru Saegusa
  • Patent number: 4712406
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for bending tubular workpieces whereby a tube length is placed in front of a template and selectively driven deforming shoes urge the tube into engagement with the same. Where the desired tubular radii of curvature are relatively large the deforming shoes are driven from a stationary mount. Where shorter tubular radii are desired, generally near the tube ends, the deforming shoes are arranged such that they are incrementally translated along a path commensurable with the contour of the template. At each successive increment the deforming shoes perform a bending operation upon the tube such that it may be successively formed into its desired shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1987
    Assignee: W. Eckold AG
    Inventor: Theodor Molz
  • Patent number: 4702097
    Abstract: In order to form materials (18) in a cold state automatically and reproduceably a bending machine (10) is proposed, comprising at least two bending carriages (14, 16), which interact with the material so that one of the bending carriages (14 or 16) constantly holds the material (18) immoveable when the other bending carriage (16 or 14) is bending the material (12) or is being moved along it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1987
    Inventor: Helmut Zahlaus
  • Patent number: 4662204
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for automatically bending tubular materials. The apparatus comprises a bending direction setter which is operative to securely grip a length of tubular material approximately centrally along the length of material. The bending direction setter is operative to rotate the tubular material about its original axis a preselected and carefully controlled amount. The bending apparatus further comprises a pair of automatic benders which are operative to engage the tubing at selected locations on opposed sides of the bending direction setter. The benders are operative to selectively engage the tubing material at a predetermined location therealong and to effect a controlled bend therein. The bending direction setter may rotate the tubular material about its original axis between successive bends carried out by the benders, thereby enabling the tubular material to be bent through three dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1987
    Assignee: Usui Kokusai Sangyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shigeru Saegusa
  • Patent number: 4655069
    Abstract: The present invention provides an automatic machine for curving thin and rectilinear metal elements of the wire, strip or tube type.According to the invention, this machine comprises a nipper (2) adapted for positioning and holding on a first axis (X) a metal element section to be bent, as well as two bending devices (3, 4) movable on each side of the nipper (2) along a rail (7) parallel to the axis (X). Each bending device comprises two jaws (17 and 18) between which the metal element section may be clamped at each stop of the bending device, as well as a bending finger adapted for rotating about an axis perpendicular to the axis (X) in line with the noses of the jaws (17, 18) which form the counter bending parts. According to an essential characteristic of the invention, the nipper (2) may further execute an angular rotation about the axis (X).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1987
    Assignee: Autocoussin
    Inventors: Michel Remy, Jean-Francois Delaite, Guy Woirgard
  • Patent number: 4622836
    Abstract: A golf club loft and lie calibration machine has a fixture with a cavity that exactly matches the back of the golf club head for clamping the golf club head. A pin with a tapered end is inserted into the bore of the golf club's hosel. The angular displacement of the pin is mechanically converted into two components of angular displacement which components are then converted to electrical signals. The electrical signals are processed to determine the deviations from the specified loft and lie angles. The deviation is used to activate hydraulic rams distributed around the fixture to bend the golf club head's hosel and bring the golf club back to specification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1986
    Assignee: MacGregor Golf Company
    Inventors: Dabbs C. Long, Gerald R. Anderson, Dale L. Linman, Thomas M. Moore
  • Patent number: 4604885
    Abstract: A machine for bending elongate material, more particularly tubular members such as brake lines, fuel lines or the like, includes a central clamping device for the elongate material. Bending heads are located on opposite sides of the clamping device, in opposite directions along the axis of the unbent elongate material. Each of the bending heads has a bending die and a counterpressure die that can be swivelled around the axis of the bending die. The bending heads can be moved independently of one another along the axis of the elongate material and can be swivelled around the axis of the elongate material so as to rotate the respective bending planes formed by the respective bending dies and counterpressure dies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1986
    Inventor: Thomas P. Lang