Abstract: A method of preparing a sheet of material for bending along a bend line includes the step of forming at least one displacement in the thickness direction of the sheet of material, the displacement including a flat zone substantially parallel to the sheet of material with a portion of the periphery of the flat zone extending along and adjacent to the bend line, and including an angled transition zone interconnecting the flat zone with a remainder of the sheet of material. The forming step is preferably accomplished using one of a stamping process, a punching process, a roll-forming process and an embossing process. A sheet of material suitable for bending using the process also is disclosed, as are the use of coatings, shin guards and displacing the area of the sheet between bending inducing slits.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to an automated handling device for handling a forged piece during a forging press. A method in accordance with an implementation of the present invention involves positioning the workpiece between two tools in a predetermined shaping position in at least one working region of a shaping machine (positioning step), particularly one that operates percussively, moving the tools of the shaping machine relative to one another and shaping the workpiece between the tools during at least one shaping step, holding the workpiece in its shaping position by at least two handling devices during each shaping step, and thus also when the tool(s) strike the workpiece, and automatically controlling or regulating by mutual coordination the motions and positions of at least two handling devices by use of at least one control device.

Abstract: Cold extrusion procedures for obtaining metal elements such as for example bushings, nuts or other elements with dead or through holes, screws, standard and special shape extruded or pressed products, etc. on a machining center comprising a series of hydraulic presses connected to each other with an automatic movement system. The final drilling or shearing of the elements is advantageously carried out by a dedicated drilling or shearing unit, working at high speed, which can consist of a vertical mechanical press. The use of the plant comprising several hydraulic presses together with the rapid drilling or shearing unit makes it possible to achieve a high level of productivity.

Abstract: A drawbench (11, 111) of a wire (13), unwinding from a reel (14) and pulled step by step by an utilizing machine (15) of drawn wire, said drawbench (11, 111) having an unusually high productivity and comprising a drawing die (17) guided in a mobile manner on a frame (16), a device (18, 118) for moving said die (17) along a drawing stroke, rearming means (19) of said device (18, 118), said rearming means (19) comprising the die (17).

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for fixing a bending tool (34), said tool comprising a retaining groove (38). The system comprises a clamping body (12) able to collaborate with one of the fixing surfaces of the tool and a tool clamp (20) mounted to pivot, said clamp being able to adopt a first tool clamping position and a second position for mounting/dementing the tool, and a tool retaining member comprising a plurality of elastically deformable blades (58), each blade comprising a first end (58a) secured to the clamping body, a running part (58b), a second end (58c) comprising at least a first angled part (64) angled toward to the tool with respect to the running part and a second angled part (66) angled in the opposite direction so that said angled parts, when said blade is at rest, are held elastically in the groove of the tool.

Abstract: A method and device for checking clearance between a stamping die includes a template representative of relative movement between the stamping die and end tool. A template including a surface representing movement of the end tool relative to the stamping die is positioned relative to the stamping die. The position is indicative of a location of the end tool during operation of the stamping die. Contact between the template and the stamping die along the surface representing movement indicates potential contact between the end tool and the stamping die during operation.

Abstract: The equipment for producing a corrugate fin is capable of forming corrugated sections by one closing action. The equipment comprises: a plurality of punches respectively having projections, each of which is upwardly projected from an upper face of the punch and has a side slope face; a pair of cam blocks being capable of relatively moving close and away each other, the cam blocks respectively having pressing sections, which are capable of moving along the side slope faces and contacting the projections; and a cam plate relatively moving the cam blocks close or away each other. Positions of the side slope faces of the projections are different so as to make the pressing sections contact the projections in order, and the cam blocks move the punches toward the die in order by one closing action of the blocks.

Abstract: A method of forming an aircraft nacelle nose lip segment. The method includes bending a sheet of metal into a substantially U-shaped workpiece having a spanwise axis, opposed first and second ends, and opposed first and second edges. The method further includes placing the workpiece over a substantially flexible first mandrel, stretching the workpiece in a spanwise direction between the first and second ends, and wrapping the workpiece and first mandrel together about a curved die while stretching the workpiece. The workpiece is thereby plastically deformed to have a first shape. The method may further include removing the workpiece from the first mandrel, and placing the workpiece over a substantially rigid second mandrel that substantially corresponds in shape to the first shape of the workpiece. The workpiece is stretched over the second mandrel in a chordwise direction that is substantially transverse to the spanwise axis of the workpiece, thereby further plastically deforming the workpiece.

Abstract: A punching machine installed in the machine base of a roller shape forming machine in a metal working system and controlled to punch holes on a metal sheet material being delivered through the roller shape forming machine during operation of the roller shape forming machine. The punching action, i.e., the cycling of the closing and opening actions of the punch mold of the punching machine is set to match with the delivering speed of the metal sheet material in the roller shape forming machine so that the punching operation of the punching machine is continued during processing operation of the roller shape forming machine.

Abstract: A tool for gripping, clamping or holding an object, wherein the tool has a handle portion, a linkage portion and a working portion, and wherein the working portion includes two workpiece contacting surfaces, at least one of the surfaces shaped to generally conform to at least a portion of the outer surface of a workpiece to be clamped, gripped or held. In some embodiments, at least one of the workpiece contacting surfaces is adapted to provide a treatment to a workpiece being clamped, gripped or held.

Abstract: A computer controlled roll-forming apparatus is adapted to provide a repeating pattern of different longitudinal shapes to a continuous beam “on the fly” during the roll-forming process. A sweep station on the apparatus includes a primary bending roller tangentially engaging the continuous beam along the line level and an armature for biasing the continuous beam against the primary bending roller for a distance partially around a downstream side of the primary bending roller to form a sweep. Further, actuators adjustably move the armature at least partially around the downstream side of the primary bending roller between at least first and second positions for imparting multiple different longitudinal shapes into the continuous beam. In one form, the apparatus also includes a coordinated cut-off, so that when separated into bumper beam segments, the ends of the individual beam segments have a greater sweep than their center sections.

Abstract: A crimp tool and a method of assembling the crimp tool. The crimp tool is formed by a pair of handle plates forming a moveable handle and a pair of frame plates forming a fixed jaw and a fixed handle. The tool also includes a moveable jaw, and a transmission by which the moveable jaw is driven towards and away from the fixed jaw. The handle and frame plates respectively are mutually held in juxtaposition by having edge portions snugly received in handle and frame shells. The tool is assembled by stacking the plates of the moveable handle and the components of the moveable jaw and the link, as well as the frame plates, and then inserting the stack into the frame shell, which preferably has a tubular portion into which the jaw portion of the stack is inserted.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a hollow metal ball bat includes forming a shell into a tubular shape using a pilger mill. The wall thickness of the tube shell is reduced by drawing the tube shell with the draw bench. A handle section and a taper section are created using the pilger mill. The handle is drawn through a draw bench, and the handle and taper sections are swaged.

Abstract: A crimping tool is provided for crimping upon on a shielded data cable a plug connector having a body portion, and a cable shield clamping portion that is initially angularly arranged in an open loading position, characterized by the provision of a pair of operating handles that are pivotally connected for relative movement from an open position toward a partially closed intermediate position, thereby to displace the cable shield portion toward a crimping position in alignment with the plug connector body portion. A crimping arrangement is subsequently operable upon displacement of the handles from the intermediate position to the closed position to crimp not only the clamping portion concentrically about the outer circumferential surface of the shielded data cable, but also the region at the end of the plug connector body portion adjacent the clamping portion, thereby to crimp the female contacts of the plug connector onto the bare conductors of the cable.

Abstract: A metallic separator according to a first embodiment is formed by obtaining a blank by rolling a metallic material having conductive inclusions, and removing a surface of the blank by 2% or more of the thickness of the blank. A metallic separator according to a second embodiment is formed by pressing a metallic plate so as to have a cross section including ridges and grooves alternatively, and removing parts of the ridged portions so as to make flattened surfaces. A metallic separator having conductive inclusions in its metal texture according to a third embodiment is formed by blasting a liquid containing two or more kinds of abrasives having different particle diameters to a blank after it has been rolled. A metallic separator having conductive inclusion in its metal texture according to a fourth embodiment is formed by blasting a passivation treatment liquid mixed with abrasives to the separator.

Abstract: A machine is process monitored and controlled for continuous bending of long products to a predetermined radius by using three parallel contact-free distance meters (laser transmitters) and by measuring the distances to the bent surface on the product, by calculating the actual bending radius based on the fixed distances between the meters and the measured distances, and controlling the adjustment of the machine in response to the relation between the calculated actual radius and the desired radius. The machine comprises a processor for performing said calculation and controlling the bending device.

Abstract: The powered pipe cutter and the pipe flaring tool both have a piston slidably mounted in a cylinder. The cylinder has a top end closed by a top end plug. A crimped cartridge bore in the top end plug communicates with a gas expansion chamber. A bolt and firing pin assembly are attached to the cylinder top end. The pipe cutter includes a shear housing with a pipe passage connected to the rod end of the cylinder. A shear plate is connected to the piston and moves with the piston to shear pipes. The pipe flaring tool includes a pipe clamp assembly with a pipe passage and a female flaring surface connected to the cylinder rod end. A male flaring surface on the piston cooperates with the female flaring surface to flare pipe ends.

Abstract: The present invention provides a work transfer device for transferring a work between adjoining pressing machines including a work holder (30) for holding a work W, a carrier (23) provided between the adjoining pressing machines (10) and capable of being linearly moved in a direction orthogonal to a work transfer direction with a driving mechanism, and a swinging body (71) with a swinging center shaft thereof provided on this carrier (23) and capable of being driven for swinging by a swinging mechanism (84) along the work transfer direction, and the work holder (30) is provided in the swinging body (71). Because of this configuration, it is not necessary to secure a trajectory for swiveling like in a robot arm type of transfer device, not to extend a lift beam up to a position close to a slide like in the feeder type of transfer device, so that it is not necessary to widen a clearance between uprights (12) and a tandem press (1) can be size-reduced as a whole.

Abstract: A protective sheet loader may comprise a first roller, a second roller, a sheet of material spanning between the first and second rollers, and a loading mechanism. A portion of the sheet of material may be loaded into the crimping chamber of an apparatus for reducing the size of a medical device. A medical device may be placed within the crimping chamber such that the sheet of material forms a barrier between the walls of the crimping chamber and the medical device and prevents cross-contamination between the medical device and the crimping device. After a crimping step is completed, the medical device and the contaminated portion of the sheet of material may be removed from the crimping chamber, and a clean portion of the sheet of material may be loaded into the crimping chamber.

Abstract: A corrugated sheet member bending machine is disclosed to include a base frame, a housing pivotally supported on the base frame and turnable within 90-degrees to fit different workpiece insertion angles and different workpieces, a set of drive rollers mounted on a wheel shaft and rotatable by a motor, a set of driven rollers pivotally supported on a sliding plate movable relative to the drive rollers by a hydraulic cylinder, a bottom die fixedly mounted inside the housing at the bottom, and a movable upper die movable by a hydraulic cylinder for stamping on the inserted workpiece against the bottom die to curve the workpiece.