Abstract: A machine that may allow for notching, flanging if required, and bending of two different materials with different physical profiles and bending parameters and feeding requirements. The machine may process channel letter coil and/or trimcap material. Each type of material may be fed into the machine accurately, notched using one or more different notching methods, flanged, if required, and then bent in the proper shape given the various physical differences of channel letter coil and/or trimcap material. Accordingly, sign manufacturers may automatically notch and bend channel letter coil to produce letter returns and/or trimcap material used to attach the faces to the channel letters using just one single machine.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming a molded object, e.g., a channel letter trim and trimmed face. A shape is stored in a processor. A mold material is held by vacuum on a table, movably supported on a support frame. The table moves to a second position on the support frame, where the mold material is cut into a mold having the stored shape. The table and mold are moved to a third position on the support frame. Heated synthetic material is drawn over the mold by vacuum. After the synthetic material hardens, excess material is cut off, if necessary, and the synthetic material, now in the shape of the mold, is removed from the mold.

Abstract: In a machine for automatically bending a material into the outside skin of a channel letter, a desired configuration of the channel letter is input into a control computer. The computer controls the feed of the strip of metal into the machine for the bending of the metal into the outside skin. Feed assemblies feed the material along a material feed path of the machine. A notching station notches the edge of the material where necessary for purposes of forming flanges in the material and bending the material. A subsequent flange forming station forms the flanges on the edge of the material, when desired. A bending assembly bends the strip of material into the desired form, with the bending arm moving from one side to the other of the material as necessary. The material is cut at a cutting station immediately preceding the bending assembly when the length of the material needed for the formation of the outside skin has been fed to the appropriate point at the cutting station along the material feed path.