Abstract: A bowing press apparatus which includes a subassembly. The subassembly comprises a housing, a mandrel supported by the housing, a wiper plate connected to said housing and capable of pivoting with respect to said mandrel, and an actuator that exerts a force against the wiper plate, causing the wiper plate to pivot. An overbender capable of pivoting with respect to the mandrel and the wiper plate may be connected to the wiper plate. An actuating device that exerts a force against the overbender and causes it to pivot also may be included.

Abstract: A variable radius bowing press including a mandrel, a mandrel support and a subassembly. The subassembly comprises a housing, a wiper plate capable of pivoting with respect to the mandrel, and an actuator that exerts a force against the wiper plate, causing the wiper plate to pivot. An overbender capable of pivoting with respect to the mandrel may be connected to the wiper plate. An actuating device may be provided that exerts a force against the overbender and causes the over bender to pivot. The apparatus may include two substantially similar subassemblies capable of synchronized operation.

Abstract: An apparatus for fabricating arched wooden structures such as headers for window and door jambs, said apparatus comprising a mandrel table having a planar bed from which a plurality of rigid arms upwardly extend. Each of the arms is movable on the bed so that the arms can be positioned to define and form in conjunction with each other an arcuate shaped mandrel about which wooden planks are to be bent into arched structures. A clamp secures a long work piece at its center to the mandrel intermediate the ends of the mandrel and a flexible steel band is wrapped tightly and progressively about the mandrel on either side of the clamp to bend each end section of the work piece about and conform it to the shape of the mandrel.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for fabricating arcuate structural members is disclosed, the apparatus including a frame structure (12) having a mandrel (26) mounted thereto, the mandrel having a variable radius. A resilient band (80) is provided for compressing the arcuate member against the mandrel. The method involves the steps of placing adhesive between individual lamina 91 and then progressively applying pressure against the laminae while they are in place adjacent the mandrel progressively from one end of the assembled laminae to the opposite end, utilizing the resilient band.

Abstract: A wood bending and laminating fixture for forming curved millwork members, particularly such members utilized to construct windows having curved tops. An adjustable height platform receives interchangeable plywood form plates of a variety of desired shapes and sizes, and a rack from which a belt is suspended is forced away from the platform with a hydraulic jack in order to draw the belt against the periphery of the forming plates in order to bend and apply pressure to the workpiece between the forming plates and the belt. Movable rods are received in a series of holes in rack arms in order to move the points within the rack from which the belt is suspended and shorten or lengthen the working length of the belt. A bout former makes possible formation of curved workpieces which include a reverse curve.

Abstract: An adjustable radius wood laminate bending and gluing fixture for forming curved wood workpieces from laminate stacks by compressing the laminate stacks between two flexible bands which are drawn against adjustably positionable stanchions which define the desired curve by their position in radial slots on a stanchion supporting bed. Tension is applied to bands in order to draw them against the stanchions by cables which pass from the bands over laterally positionable cranes using hydraulic cylinders. Hydraulic cylinders are also used to reposition the cranes in the course of modifying the fixture set-up in order to produce workpieces having a different size or shape. A ruler affixed to the bed center point may be rotated about that center in order quickly and conveniently to establish stanchion position for production of workpieces having a semi-circular form.