Abstract: A bent product having a three-dimensionally bent portion intermittently or continuously in the lengthwise direction is manufactured by supporting a steel pipe at a first position A while feeding it in the lengthwise direction, locally heating the steel pipe being fed at a second position B, cooling the heated portion of the steel pipe at a third position C, and varying the position of a gripping means, which grips the steel pipe in a region D downstream of the third position C, in a three-dimensional direction including the feed direction of the steel pipe in a workspace including a space on the upstream side of the third position C in the feed direction of the steel pipe to impart a bending moment to the heated portion of the steel pipe.

Abstract: A bending apparatus has (a) a first manipulator which feeds a hollow metal blank of closed cross section in its lengthwise direction, (b) a second manipulator which supports a first support means disposed at a first position and a metal blank while feeding it, a heating means disposed at a second position downstream of the first position in the blank feed direction for heating all or part of the circumference of the blank, and a cooling means disposed at a third position downstream of the second position for cooling a portion of the heated blank, and (c) a third manipulator which constitutes a second support means disposed at a fourth position downstream of the third position in the feed direction of the blank and which moves two-dimensionally or three-dimensionally while supporting at least one location of the metal blank to bend the metal blank into a desired shape.

Abstract: A positioning apparatus and a working system which can position a workpiece with better accuracy at a lower cost and in a reduced space even when the workpiece is heavy are provided. The positioning apparatus has 3 robot arms (1)-(3) each having an arm and an actuator which drives the arm, a mounting platform (5) which is supported by the ends of the three robot arms (1)-(3), a securing jig (6) which secures a workpiece W which is mounted on the mounting platform (5) to the mounting platform (5), and a controller (9) which controls the operation of each of the actuators.

Abstract: A bending apparatus has (a) a first manipulator which feeds a hollow metal blank of closed cross section in its lengthwise direction, (b) a second manipulator which supports a first support means disposed at a first position and a metal blank while feeding it, a heating means disposed at a second position downstream of the first position in the blank feed direction for heating all or part of the circumference of the blank, and a cooling means disposed at a third position downstream of the second position for cooling a portion of the heated blank, and (c) a third manipulator which constitutes a second support means disposed at a fourth position downstream of the third position in the feed direction of the blank and which moves two-dimensionally or three-dimensionally while supporting at least one location of the metal blank to bend the metal blank into a desired shape.

Abstract: A three-dimensionally bending machine comprises a supporting unit to support a workpiece and a feeding unit to feed the workpiece from an upstream side of the workpiece. A heating and cooling unit, provided around the outer circumference of a portion of the workpiece downstream of said supporting unit heats the portion of workpiece in a temperature range for plastic deformation and quenches and rapidly cools the deformed workpiece. A three-dimensionally movable unit, provided downstream of said heating and cooling unit, supports the metal material and controls the supporting position and/or the moving speed of the metal material to apply the bending moment in association with a feed amount, a heating amount, and a cooling amount of the workpiece. Even when a high-strength workpiece is bent, a workpiece having excellent shape fixability and uniform hardness distribution can be made, especially for application to sophisticated automobile parts.

Abstract: A bent member having a bent portion with an extremely small bend radius is manufactured by supporting a rectangular tube by a first support means disposed at a first position A while performing relative feeding of the rectangular tube in its lengthwise direction, locally heating the rectangular tube by a heating means disposed at a second position B, cooling the rectangular tube by a cooling means disposed at a third position C, and at the time of working, applying a shear force to the heated portion of the rectangular tube with a shear force applying means 14 disposed in a downstream region D by moving the device 14 two-dimensionally or three-dimensionally simultaneously in the feed direction of the rectangular tube and in a direction generally parallel to a transverse cross section in the lengthwise direction of the rectangular tube which was heated by the heating means.

Abstract: A positioning apparatus and a working system which can position a workpiece with better accuracy at a lower cost and in a reduced space even when the workpiece is heavy are provided. The positioning apparatus has 3 robot arms (1)-(3) each having an arm and an actuator which drives the arm, a mounting platform (5) which is supported by the ends of the three robot arms (1)-(3), a securing jig (6) which secures a workpiece W which is mounted on the mounting platform (5) to the mounting platform (5), and a controller (9) which controls the operation of each of the actuators.

Abstract: A bending apparatus which manufactures a bent metal member with high productivity and excellent dimensional has a first support mechanism, which supports a steel tube while feeding it, a heating mechanism, which heats all or a portion of the steel tube, a cooling mechanism, which forms a high temperature portion in part of the steel tube by cooling a portion of the heater steel tube, a second support mechanism, which imparts a bending moment to the high temperature portion and bends the steel tube to a desired shape by moving two-dimensionally or three-dimensionally while supporting at least a portion of the steel tube, and a deformation preventing mechanism, which prevents deformation of the steel tube. At least one of the second support mechanism and the deformation preventing mechanism has a chuck which has a tubular member with a circular, polygonal, or special transverse cross section for gripping the steel tube.

Abstract: A bending apparatus for manufacturing a bent member from a steel pipe with high dimensional accuracy and high productivity can be installed in a small space with good maintainability. The apparatus has a feed mechanism for feeding a steel pipe in its lengthwise direction, a first support mechanism for supporting the steel pipe while feeding it, a heating mechanism for heating a part or all of the steel pipe being fed, a cooling mechanism for cooling the portion of the heated steel pipe being fed, a second support mechanism for imparting a bending moment to the heated portion of the steel pipe to bend the steel pipe into a desired shape by moving two-dimensionally or three-dimensionally while supporting the fed steel pipe in at least one location, and a deformation preventing mechanism for preventing deformation of the steel pipe. The feed mechanism is a vertically articulated robot having seven axes.

Abstract: To form a through hole at one portion of a side wall, of an expanded portion made by plastically deforming one part of a metal tube radially outward, in a portion where the plate thickness gradually changes, a slide tool is withdrawn from inside a punch hole while applying hydraulic pressure to the inside of the side wall. At the instant of commencing withdrawal of the slide tool, the degree of progress in the shearing for the portions of the side wall matching with the two side edges of the punch hole is made different. Then, the timing for moving from shearing to rupture is made to coincide, so that of the side wall, the portions matching with the punch hole, are made reliably into a blank, and are extracted from the side wall.

Abstract: Using as a vehicle body reinforcing member a bent tube with mixed bends of inward and outward projection according to the present invention makes it possible, during a vehicle body collision, to absorb more energy than and exhibit better impact resistance than a vehicle body reinforcing member that uses one of a known straight tube and a curved tube of radius R entirely. Thus the dimensions (outside diameter, wall thickness) of the steel tube that is used as the vehicle body reinforcing member can be reduced, and the tube shape can be modified, while impact resistance is maintained. Modifying the shape in this manner makes it possible to provide the ever higher required level of vehicle body impact resistance at the same time that it reduces the weight of the vehicle body and lowers the cost. The present invention can therefore be widely used as an occupant protection technology.

Abstract: A bent member having a bent portion with an extremely small bend radius is manufactured by supporting a rectangular tube by a first support means disposed at a first position A while performing relative feeding of the rectangular tube in its lengthwise direction, locally heating the rectangular tube by a heating means disposed at a second position B, cooling the rectangular tube by a cooling means disposed at a third position C, and at the time of working, applying a shear force to the heated portion of the rectangular tube with a shear force applying means 14 disposed in a downstream region D by moving the device 14 two-dimensionally or three-dimensionally simultaneously in the feed direction of the rectangular tube and in a direction generally parallel to a transverse cross section in the lengthwise direction of the rectangular tube which was heated by the heating means.

Abstract: A product intermittently having a bent portion which curves three-dimensionally and a quenched portion is manufactured by performing bending downstream of a support means while feeding a metal material which is supported by the support means from an upstream side towards a downstream side. A portion of the metal material is heated by a heating means downstream of the support means. A bending moment is imparted to the portion of the metal material heated by the heating means to three-dimensionally change the position of a movable roller die which is disposed downstream of the heating means and has a plurality of rolls which feed the heated metal material in the axial direction, and the metal material is quenched by spraying a cooling medium at the portion of the metal material which was heated by a cooling means disposed between the heating means and the movable roller die.

Abstract: A manufacturing method for a bent product which can guarantee a high working accuracy and which can provide a large bending angle without damage to the surface condition of a metal material even when a widely varying bent shape is desired or when it is necessary to perform bending of a high strength metal material.

Abstract: A bending apparatus has (a) a first manipulator which feeds a hollow metal blank of closed cross section in its lengthwise direction, (b) a second manipulator which supports a first support means disposed at a first position and a metal blank while feeding it, a heating means disposed at a second position downstream of the first position in the blank feed direction for heating all or part of the circumference of the blank, and a cooling means disposed at a third position downstream of the second position for cooling a portion of the heated blank, and (c) a third manipulator which constitutes a second support means disposed at a fourth position downstream of the third position in the feed direction of the blank and which moves two-dimensionally or three-dimensionally while supporting at least one location of the metal blank to bend the metal blank into a desired shape.

Abstract: A reducing mill includes a plurality of stands disposed along a rolling direction line. The stands each include n rolls (n?3) disposed around the rolling direction line, the n rolls are shifted by 180°/n around the rolling direction line from n rolls included in a preceding stand. The n rolls included in each of the stands excluding the last stand each have a groove having an arch shape. The bottom of the groove has a circular arc shape around the rolling direction line having a first radius in cross section. The distance between the surface of a roll flange portion between the bottom and the edge of the groove and the rolling direction line is longer than the first radius. The distance between the edge of the groove and the rolling direction line is longer than the first radius in the groove of a roll included in the preceding stand.

Abstract: A bending apparatus which manufactures a bent metal member with high productivity and excellent dimensional has a first support mechanism, which supports a steel tube while feeding it, a heating mechanism, which heats all or a portion of the steel tube, a cooling mechanism, which forms a high temperature portion in part of the steel tube by cooling a portion of the heater steel tube, a second support mechanism, which imparts a bending moment to the high temperature portion and bends the steel tube to a desired shape by moving two-dimensionally or three-dimensionally while supporting at least a portion of the steel tube, and a deformation preventing mechanism, which prevents deformation of the steel tube. At least one of the second support mechanism and the deformation preventing mechanism has a chuck which has a tubular member with a circular, polygonal, or special transverse cross section for gripping the steel tube.

Abstract: A bending apparatus for manufacturing a bent member from a steel pipe with high dimensional accuracy and high productivity can be installed in a small space with good maintainability. The apparatus has a feed mechanism for feeding a steel pipe in its lengthwise direction, a first support mechanism for supporting the steel pipe while feeding it, a heating mechanism for heating a part or all of the steel pipe being fed, a cooling mechanism for cooling the portion of the heated steel pipe being fed, a second support mechanism for imparting a bending moment to the heated portion of the steel pipe to bend the steel pipe into a desired shape by moving two-dimensionally or three-dimensionally while supporting the fed steel pipe in at least one location, and a deformation preventing mechanism for preventing deformation of the steel pipe. The feed mechanism is a vertically articulated robot having seven axes.

Abstract: According to a bulging device and a bulging method using a profile element pipe, for example, even when a profile steel pipe having a cross sectional shape varying in the axial direction as in a tapered pipe is hydraulically bulged, a bulging in which an internal pressure loading and an axial pressing are combined with each other can be performed to provide a larger expansion ratio than a conventional case and a joining and socket connection thereof to the other part can also be easily performed.

Abstract: An impact absorber for a vehicle, which has a tubular shape and which is to be disposed between a side member and a bumper beam of the vehicle, so as to be crushed like an accordion in an axial direction thereof upon application of a compressive load thereto, for absorbing an impact energy. (a) The impact absorber has a tubular main body and a pair of attachment plates that are welded to be fixed to respective axially opposite end portions of the tubular main body. (b) The main body has a thin plate portion having a plate thickness smaller than 1.4 mm and constituting an axially intermediate portion of the main body, and a pair of thick plate portions having a plate thickness not smaller than 1.4 mm and provided integrally on axially opposite sides of the thin plate portion, the thick plate portions being arc-welded to be fixed to the respective attachment plates while being held in contact with the respective attachment plates.