And Actuation Of Cutter In Timed Relation To Deflector Or Work Movement Patents (Class 72/132)
  • Patent number: 10556265
    Abstract: A coiling machine includes a material guide, first pin, second pin, pitch tool, cutting tool, heating device, temperature sensor, and controller. A material is bent between the first pin and the second pin to form an arc part between the first pin and the second pin. The controller select control data corresponding to the temperature of the material from a plurality of control data corresponding to a processing temperature. Then, the positions of the first pin and the second pin are controlled such that a radius of curvature of the arc part increases when the temperature of the material increases, and the position of the cutting tool is controlled such that a gap between the center of curvature of the arc part and the cutting tool increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Furuse, Yusuke Kumagawa
  • Patent number: 8978434
    Abstract: A method for making a variable pitch spring (9), in which a spring wire (1) is bent using bending lugs (5, 6) so as to impart a spiral configuration thereto, a gap is formed between the turns by placing, between the turns being formed, the beveled side of a rotary disc (2) having a rotation synchronized with the spring wire supply, the disc (2) having a beveled profile that varies along the periphery of the disc, and the spring wire is cut (3) at the end of the formation of each spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Ressorts Huon Dubois
    Inventor: Serge Huon
  • Patent number: 8915110
    Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention relate to arcuate saddles typically used to anchor and suspend insulated or non-insulated pipes. Rounded corners on the saddles facilitate comfortably introducing and placing the saddles into hangers as well as improving use. Certain embodiments of the present invention involve methods of manufacturing arcuate saddles with rounded corners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Buckaroos, Inc.
    Inventors: Randy Lee Moore, Jeff Rebholz, Kevin Romsey, Carl Schmalzried, Mark Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 8820132
    Abstract: A material to be formed, which is uncoiled by an uncoiler from a coil while controlled against meandering, is adjusted in inclination angle by an approach angle adjuster and guided into a separator-forming mill. The material to be formed is introduced and pressurized between rolls in the mill so as to continuously form a separator. The separator formed by the mill is discharged and tension controlled by a pinch roll device with opposite widthwise ends of the separator being pinched. The separator discharged by the pinch roll device is cut without stopping the same by a flying shear at portions with no passages formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: IHI Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuhiro Tazoe
  • Patent number: 8763437
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a roll former with rolls configured to form a structural beam from sheet material, and a sweep unit for longitudinally sweeping a beam in any of vertical, horizontal, or combination directions. The sweep unit has a first pair of forming rolls positioned to engage first opposing sides of the structural beam and has a second pair of forming rolls positioned to engage second opposing sides of the structural beam. The sweep unit movably supports the first and second pairs of forming rolls so that any selected one of the forming rolls continuously engages an associated side of the structural beam while an associated one of the forming rolls opposing the selected one forming roll moves downstream and around the selected one forming roll. This provides a very stable beam-bending condition promoting dimensional stability during the sweeping process, and hence dimensional accuracy and repeatability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Shape Corp.
    Inventors: Richard D. Heinz, Bryan E. Gould
  • Patent number: 8707749
    Abstract: A roll forming system and a roll forming method are disclosed. The roll forming system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a bending unit provided with synchronizing means moving a synchronizing table in keeping pace with a forming speed of a shaped beam along a process line, clamping means clamping both sides of the shaped beam, position conversion means converting a position of the shaped beam between a cutting position and a bending position, cutting means cutting one side of the shaped beam by a cutting wheel, and a bending means stretch-bending the shaped beam to have a predetermined curvature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Sungwoo Hitech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mun-Yong Lee, Dong-Kyu Kim
  • Patent number: 8607607
    Abstract: A system and a method for feeding wire material to a rotary compaction press are provided. In some embodiments the method includes the steps of feeding a wire strand of material to a location adjacent a cutting surface; moving the cutting surface, thereby causing the cutting surface to cut the wire strand of material into a wire pellet of material; and transporting the wire pellet of material to adjacent a die table of a rotary compaction press. In some embodiments the system includes a wire exit aperture. A cutting disc may be provided adjacent the wire exit aperture and may have a plurality of wire cutting surfaces and adjacent wire notches. The cutting disc may be rotatable, thereby causing the wire cutting surfaces to sequentially pass over the wire exit aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Elizabeth-Hata International
    Inventors: Richard A. Sanderson, Scott Brady
  • Patent number: 8505351
    Abstract: A three dimensional shape core mass is manufactured by machining a ribbon or tape of any material with various slots, channels, or holes of any shape before the ribbon or tape is spooled or layered onto a layering template or spooler. The machining is adjusted so the slots, channels, or holes of any shape extend in a radial or stacked direction perpendicular to the axis of spooling rotation or the plane of layering but with any curve or straight line and with any stacked length. For example, core masses that are manufactured as described are suitable as magnetic cores for high frequency rotating or linear transformers or for rotors and for stators of rotating or linear electric machines when an appropriate magnetic material is used, such as magnetic metal or amorphous metal ribbon or tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Inventor: Frederick William Klatt
  • Patent number: 8333093
    Abstract: The invention is based on a method of producing bent spring elements from a spring steel strip (14), wherein a feed unit (16) delivers the spring steel strip (14) from a supply roll (12) to a bending unit (32) having at least three bending rollers (34) and a reverse bending roller (36), of which at least one bending roller (34) and the reverse bending roller (36) can be adjusted transversely to the spring steel strip (14) by bending motors (60, 62), and wherein a cutting-off unit (44) adjoins the bending unit (32), said cutting-off unit (44) cutting off the spring steel strip (14) into individual spring elements by means of cutting-off tools (46, 48; 76, 78). It is proposed that the cutting-off tools (46, 48; 76, 78) be movable in the longitudinal direction of the spring steel strip (14) in a numerically controlled manner and that they be synchronized with the feed movement of the spring steel strip (14) during the cutting-off operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Josef Kleckner, Julius Mazurkiewicz, Paul Criel
  • Publication number: 20120125065
    Abstract: A roll forming system and a roll forming method are disclosed. The roll forming system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a bending unit provided with synchronizing means moving a synchronizing table in keeping pace with a forming speed of a shaped beam along a process line, clamping means clamping both sides of the shaped beam, position conversion means converting a position of the shaped beam between a cutting position and a bending position, cutting means cutting one side of the shaped beam by a cutting wheel, and a bending means stretch-bending the shaped beam to have a predetermined curvature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: SUNGWOO HITECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mun-Yong LEE, Dong-Kyu Kim
  • Patent number: 8151614
    Abstract: A cutoff unit for cutting a variably swept continuous beam extending from a roll forming mill includes a pickup subassembly for tracking a shape of the continuous beam, and a cutoff subassembly that engages and supports sides of the continuous beam while a blade slices transversely through the continuous beam. A controller connected to the roll forming mill and to the cutoff unit controls the cutoff unit to allow pass through of the continuous beam, and is configured to actuate the pickup and then actuate the blade to cut the continuous beam into longitudinally symmetrical beam segments, each having a center section (swept or not) and with mirror-image equally-swept end sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Shape Corp.
    Inventors: Richard D. Heinz, James H. Dodd, Wayne L. Ferris
  • Patent number: 8061171
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and machine for producing a slotted wound core (50). The machine includes a punch arrangement (16) arranged to punch apertures in a length of material (12a), a mandrel (22) for receiving the punched material, a control means and a mandrel indexing means. The positioning of the punch arrangement (16) and the mandrel (22) is fixed and the mandrel (22) is arranged to be rotated by the mandrel indexing means after each operation of the punch arrangement so that a roll of punched material is formed on the mandrel (22). The mandrel (22) is rotated by an amount (&ggr;) determined by the control means. The control means determines the indexed amount so that selected apertures punched in the length of material align with one another when the material (12a) is rolled onto the mandrel (22) so that the aligned apertures form respective slots (52) of a desired configuration in the core (50).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: In Motion Technologies
    Inventors: Dean James Patterson, Steven Peter Camilleri, Lyell Douglas Embery
  • Patent number: 7677071
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for roll forming metal components including substantially channel-shaped members for use in a building structure. The apparatus includes a support frame assembly having front and rear portions. A mechanism is provided for selectively feeding at least one metal strip into the support frame assembly, the metal strip having a pair of side edges and a center web. A plurality of driver roll elements are mounted along the support frame assembly and are adapted to move the metal strip through the frame assembly. Finally, a plurality of spaced idler forming rolls are mounted for free rotation in pairs along the support frame assembly. The idler forming rolls are adapted to simultaneously air form the side edges of the metal strip into angularly extending side flanges by urging the side edges in opposing directions from the center web as the metal strip is moved along the frame assembly by the driver roll elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: BH Legacy, LLC
    Inventor: William C. Heirich
  • Patent number: 7654123
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and machine for producing a slotted wound core (50). The machine includes a punch arrangement (16) arranged to punch apertures in a length of material (12a), a mandrel (22) for receiving the punched material, a control means and a mandrel indexing means. The positioning of the punch arrangement (16) and the mandrel (22) is fixed and the mandrel (22) is arranged to be rotated by the mandrel indexing means after each operation of the punch arrangement so that a roll of punched material is formed on the mandrel (22). The mandrel (22) is rotated by an amount (&ggr;) determined by the control means. The control means determines the indexed amount so that selected apertures punched in the length of material align with one another when the material (12a) is rolled onto the mandrel (22) so that the aligned apertures form respective slots (52) of a desired configuration in the core (50).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: In Motion Technologies Pty. Ltd.
    Inventors: Dean James Patterson, Steven Peter Camilleri, Lyell Douglas Embery
  • Patent number: 7530249
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Shape Corp.
    Inventors: Bruce W. Lyons, Bryan E. Gould, James H. Dodd, Richard D. Heinz
  • Publication number: 20090100889
    Abstract: A cutoff unit for cutting a variably swept continuous beam extending from a roll forming mill includes a pickup subassembly for tracking a shape of the continuous beam, and a cutoff subassembly that engages and supports sides of the continuous beam while a blade slices transversely through the continuous beam. A controller connected to the roll forming mill and to the cutoff unit controls the cutoff unit to allow pass through of the continuous beam, and is configured to actuate the pickup and then actuate the blade to cut the continuous beam into longitudinally symmetrical beam segments, each having a center section (swept or not) and with mirror-image equally-swept end sections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Inventors: Richard D. Heinz, James H. Dodd, Wayne L. Ferris
  • Patent number: 7392681
    Abstract: To easily adjust and change a locus of a leading end (an endless locus) of a cutter, a wire rod cutting apparatus of spring manufacturing machine has structure so that a slide may vertically slide via a connection rod by rotating a rotation shaft, and a cutter mounting oscillating arm can oscillate laterally via a sliding element by oscillating the connection rod, so that the locus thereof in the oscillating arm can be set to a predetermined shape which is endless in a front view and different between an outward and a homeward routes, by sliding the slide and oscillating the oscillating arm by actuation of the actuating apparatus and that a lateral oscillating amount of the oscillating arm can be changed by changing the position of the sliding element, to change the locus of the cutter leading end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Shinko Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsuhide Tsuritani
  • Patent number: 7353680
    Abstract: The compression spring former disclosed by the present invention contains an external diameter mechanism, spacing mechanism, wire-feeding mechanism, cutting mechanism, length-detecting mechanism, sorting mechanism, and microcomputer control mechanism. Within the working range, specific springs can be formed simply by inputting the parameters describing the external diameter, spacing, roll number, and other allowance requirements. The control mechanism has a built-in length detecting and automatic sorting mechanism, which can modify the spring spacing according to different free heights, ensuring the allowance of free height. The cutter has a working mode for repeated cutting. The lowest point of the cutter shaft is set to “0” degrees for cutting the springs. If the cutter swings from positive 20 degrees to negative 20 degrees, or from negative 20 degrees to positive 20 degrees, the spring will be cut. That is to say, a spring is produced in every rotation of 40 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Inventor: Jin-Tarng Huang
  • Patent number: 7340931
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Inventor: Sen-Jung Chuang
  • Publication number: 20070240472
    Abstract: A torsional vibration damper includes a plurality of coil springs which are each received in a pair of windows of respective takeoff side and drive side transmission elements. Each spring has a pair of opposed final turns separated by a plurality of intermediate turns, wherein each final turn is against a circumferential boundary of a respective window. Each final turn has a tip area which is in contact with an adjacent intermediate turn, the final turn being separated from the adjacent intermediate turn by a first distance which increases from the tip area to a maximum value within a predetermined angle ? following the tip area. This maximum value, in a load-free state of the springs, is essentially the same as a second distance separating adjacent intermediate turns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Publication date: October 18, 2007
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Erwin Wack
  • Patent number: 7114359
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing bent spring rails from an endless spring band. The method is characterized by the following steps: continuous bending of a section of spring band; cutting the bent section of spring band into a spring rail; discontinuous reverse bending to reduce the internal stresses of the bent, cut-to-length spring rail by subjecting the spring rail to at least one reverse bending force and/or heat-treating the cut-to-length spring rails, the heat treatment being a low-temperature treatment in this case, preferably at a temperature of less than 200 *C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Valeo Systemes d'Essuyage
    Inventors: Oliver Lenzen, Gerald Pachur, Oliver Blumenstock
  • Patent number: 7055356
    Abstract: To easily adjust and change a locus of a leading end (an endless locus) of a cutter, a wire rod cutting apparatus of spring manufacturing machine has structure so that a slide may vertically slide via a connection rod by rotating a rotation shaft, and a cutter mounting oscillating arm can oscillate laterally via a sliding element by oscillating the connection rod, so that the locus thereof in the oscillating arm can be set to a predetermined shape (refer to a two-dot chain line in FIG. 1) which is endless in a front view and different between an outward and a homeward routes, by sliding the slide and oscillating the oscillating arm by actuation of the actuating apparatus and that a lateral oscillating amount of the oscillating arm can be changed by changing the position of the sliding element, to change the locus of the cutter leading end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Shinko Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsuhide Tsuritani
  • Patent number: 7043951
    Abstract: To provide a wire rod forming machine for which it is possible to increase the production speed above that of the prior art. In the ring-forming machine 10 of the present configuration, between the respective edges 42 and 51 of the moving die 40 and the fixed punch 50, a prescribed location of the belt-shaped wire rod 90 is sheared and the ring 91 is cut off from the belt-shaped wire rod 90. Then, by pushing the ring 91 that was cut off with the moving die 40, the ring is forcibly removed from the forming tools 31, 32 and 33. Therefore, the speed of removal of the ring 91 can be coupled to the acceleration of the manufacturing speed and increased, allowing the production speed to be improved compared to that of the prior art. In addition, since the ring 91 that is cut off from the belt-shaped wire rod 90, pushed by the moving die 40, moves to the end side of the shaft shaped chute 34 to be collected, transport to the next process becomes easy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignees: Minebea Co. Ltd, Asahi - Seiki Manf. Co.
    Inventors: Takashi Suzuki, Shigeo Nishimura, Eiichi Kobayashi, Kazunori Sawayama
  • Patent number: 6295853
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for cutting spiral pipe is disclosed. The pipe cutting apparatus includes a driving mechanism that imparts rotation to a knife located inside the spiral pipe via a drive element, such as a drive shaft. The method includes forming a spiral pipe from a strip of material received at a forming head of a spiral pipe former, engaging a driving mechanism attached to a first knife positioned substantially inside the inner circumference of the pipe forming head to impart rotation to the first knife, and cutting the spiral pipe with the first knife by bringing a second knife positioned substantially outside the outer circumference of the forming head into overlapping contact with the first knife.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Lindab AB
    Inventor: Wilhelmus P. H. Castricum
  • Patent number: 6125676
    Abstract: A control system for controlling a rod mill wherein a general-purpose motor can be used together with servomotors in controlling the operational sequence of processes, wherein the time required for going through all the processes can be reduced, and wherein the control system can function without imparting any extra load on a controller incorporated therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Inventor: Toshikazu Okuno
  • Patent number: 6062054
    Abstract: A first large drive gear for slider driving mechanisms and a second large drive gear for a tool rotating driving mechanism are disposed coaxially with an axis of a wire feeding quill and in parallel with a rear surface of a front base frame panel, and a single small drive gear and a plurality of small driven gears corresponding to a plurality of wire working units are disposed around each of these large drive gears. A plurality of slider driving mechanisms and at least one tool rotating driving mechanism are operated with a single common servomotor respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Asahi-Seiki Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Norifumi Abiru, Eiji Obayashi
  • Patent number: 6000264
    Abstract: A spring forming machine includes a machine frame, a movable member, and a driving mechanism. The driving mechanism comprises a slide plate seat, a slide plate and a cam wheel. When fitting an eccentric pin unit and a filler within a horizontal slide slot in the slide plate, the slide plate seat rotates on the machine frame, and the slide plate moves on the slide plate seat so as to move the movable member along an elliptical path upon actuation. When locking the slide plate seat and removing the filler, the cam wheel moves the eccentric pin unit so as to move the slide plate on the slide plate seat and thus to move the movable member along a straight path upon actuation. When locking the slide plate seat and removing the eccentric pin unit and the filler, a follower shaft can be mounted removably on the slide plate in contact with the cam wheel to permit a straight movement of the movable member on the machine frame upon actuation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Tzyh Ru Shyng Automation Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yi-Shan Chang
  • Patent number: 5927124
    Abstract: An apparatus for bending and cutting metal tubing includes a support base and a number of components attached thereto. A bend die is rotatably attached to the support base, and is pivotally movable about a pivot axis. The bend die has a tube-receiving peripheral groove, and a first blade guide slot formed therein to receive a first portion of a blade therein. The apparatus also includes a pressure die which is movably attached to the support base, including a reciprocally movable first pressure applicator, and a follower slide which is slidably attached to the first pressure applicator. The follower slide clamps against a portion of tubing, substantially opposite the bend die. The follower slide also has a second blade guide slot formed therein, to recieve a second portion of the blade. The apparatus further includes a movable bend arm assembly for contacting and bending a tubing workpiece against the bend die. A blade holder is attached to the support base for holding and supporting a blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Adaptive Motion Control Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: M. Craig Webster
  • Patent number: 5860305
    Abstract: A pipe cutter having dual outer knives and a method of using the same is disclosed. The outer knives are mounted on knife positioners capable of swinging the outer knives into a pipe in an arc to overlap with a knife positioned inside the pipe. The method includes the step of simultaneously swinging the outer knives into a continuously rotating pipe in an arc having a rotational direction opposite the rotational direction of the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: Lindab AB
    Inventor: Wilhelmus P. H. Castricum
  • Patent number: 5761943
    Abstract: A method and arrangement of making helical springs from a wire, includes a winding machine for coiling the wire strand to a finished spring. Disposed upstream of the winding machine is a wire gage for measuring a diameter of the wire strand at a predetermined spot of a conical section of the advancing wire strand and producing a control signal commensurate with the registered diameter. The winding machine includes a cutting tool which is actuated in response to the registered control signal, with a new spring coiling cycle being initiated at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Allevard Federn GmbH
    Inventor: Alfred Blasius
  • Patent number: 5727435
    Abstract: Apparatus for cutting, from a continuously extending sinuously formed wire, a variably selected predetermined length thereof having a plurality of sinuously formed generally identical coils, which apparatus comprises a frame, a mechanism on said frame for severing the sinuously formed wire, a track on said frame for guiding travel of the sinuously formed wire to the wire severing mechanism, and a control connected to the wire severing mechanism and including a sensing circuit for generating countable electrical pulses in response to wire travel relative to the wire severing mechanism, and a counting circuit operable to receive the countable electrical pulses and, in response to receipt of a predetermined number thereof, to generate an actuating signal effective to cause action of the wire severing mechanism to sever the wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Frank L. Wells Company
    Inventor: Horst F. Wentzek
  • Patent number: 5636541
    Abstract: An improved apparatus for forming and cutting spirally formed pipe, particularly spiral pipes having a diameter of approximately one inch or less, is disclosed. The device for slitting the spiral pipe into sections includes a first knife that is positioned inside the spiral pipe and a second knife positioned outside of the pipe. A support sleeve is also positioned outside of the pipe and is in a fixed radial position with respect to the pipe. The inner and outer knives and the support sleeve move axially with the pipe as the pipe is severed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Assignee: Lindab AB
    Inventor: Wilhelmus P. H. Castricum
  • Patent number: 5609055
    Abstract: An apparatus for simultaneously cutting and notching a pipe includes an upper knife assembly having a pipe cutting knife and notch cutting knives with cutting edges adjacent a surface of the pipe and a lower knife assembly having a pipe cutting knife and notch cutting knives with cutting edges adjacent an opposite surface of the pipe. A method for cutting and notching a pipe includes stopping the axial and rotational movement of a pipe and moving the lower knife assembly into an overlapping relation with the upper knife assembly. The notch cutting knives are also moved into a cutting position and the axial and rotational pipe movement is resumed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Assignee: Spiral-Helix, Inc.
    Inventor: Wilhelmus P. H. Castricum
  • Patent number: 5555758
    Abstract: A length of wire is introduced to a coiling station to form a wire coil which then is fed to a cutting station where the free end of the coil engages a stop. Cutting means sequentially move between non-cutting and cutting positions to cut rings from the coil. The rings are displaced from the cutting station onto a support which includes a portion which receives the gaps in the rings to prevent tangling of the rings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Assignee: Ellison Circlips Group Limited
    Inventors: Michael S. Ellison, Antony G. Hudson
  • Patent number: 5477715
    Abstract: An apparatus includes means for feeding a wire from a fixed outlet against a coiling surface having a variable location in relation to the fixed outlet. The fixed outlet directs the wire in a path and the wire is deflected from the path by the coiling surface to bend the wire. The wire is monitored and output signals indicative of a physical characteristic of the deflected wire are generated. A controller receives the signals and generates control signals as a function thereof. An actuator, responsive to the control signals, adjusts the location of the coiling surface such that the physical characteristics are substantially uniformly maintained during the forming of the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Assignee: Reell Precision Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventor: Mark A. Kempf
  • Patent number: 5477717
    Abstract: A cutting apparatus usable in a machine having a forming head for helically winding a metal strip into a helically wound metal tubing and for issuing the helically wound metal tubing along a defined path. The apparatus includes a first mounting for supporting the forming head, and a carriage guided and longitudinally movable along the first mounting in a direction of travel parallel to the defined path. A cantilever boom has one end mounted to a first end of the carriage and a free end opposite to the one end. The boom extends generally parallel to the direction of travel. A cutting blade is connected to the free end of the cantilever boom and extends in a plane generally perpendicular to the direction of travel. A second mounting is guided with the carriage and is extendible in a direction generally perpendicular to the direction of travel. A rotary shaft is carried by the second mounting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Assignee: Spiro Machines S.A.
    Inventors: Nils O. Skrebergene, Paul H. Brudeli
  • Patent number: 5319833
    Abstract: Apparatus for producing coils of spring steel material comprising an unwinding station, a cutting station, a winding spindle which contains angled gripping wires on its peripheral surface and conveying means for conveying the spring steel material from the cutting station to the winding spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1994
    Assignee: Stop-Choc Schwingungstechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Hans Kohl, Jorg Weinschenk, Martin Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 5305625
    Abstract: A cutoff apparatus is adapted to be positioned adjacent a roll-forming machine, and is particularly adapted for adjustably receiving and cutting bumper-length segments from a swept elongated shape made of high strength steel being extended from the roll-forming machine. The cutoff apparatus includes a carriage with rollers for rollingly engaging the elongated shape to align the carriage with the elongated shape, the carriage being adapted to periodically move with the roll-formed shape for a short distance as the roll-formed shape is being formed. The cutoff apparatus further includes a blade operably mounted to the carriage for cutting segments from the roll-formed shape on the fly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Assignee: Shape Corporation
    Inventor: Richard D. Heinz
  • Patent number: 5285669
    Abstract: A spring manufacturing apparatus for reducing the time from the beginning to the completion of the manufacturing of a spring having a flat end surface and for manufacturing a large amount of springs at a high-speed. Feed rollers 3a and 3b supply wire material 1 to point tools 4a and 4b. When a single spring is formed, laser output portion 7 is moved in an X direction by the spring pitch length and laser irradiation to the wire material 1 is started. At the same time, feed rollers 3a and 3b feed the wire material for one coil of spring to be manufactured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1994
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Itaya Seisaku Sho
    Inventor: Ichiro Itaya
  • Patent number: 5193374
    Abstract: An apparatus for cutting spirally formed pipe is disclosed. The pipe cutting apparatus has an inner knife positioned inside a pipe and an annular outer knife positioned outside the pipe. The inner knife moves from an inner position within the pipe to an outer position where the knife contacts an interior surface of the pipe during the cutting operation. The inner knife also revolves in an annular pattern about the centerline of the pipe such that a cutting edge of the inner knife contacts the entire interior periphery of the pipe during the cutting operation. The annular outer knife has a cutting edge adjacent an exterior surface of the pipe. The outer knife cutting edge surrounds the pipe and is in a position to overlap the inner knife cutting edge. The inner and outer knives move in the axial direction of the pipe during the cutting operation, and the inner knife cooperates with the outer knife to cut the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1993
    Assignee: Spiro America Inc.
    Inventor: Wilhelmus P. H. Castricum
  • Patent number: 4995251
    Abstract: The instant invention is an improvement on a method of making wire coils comprising the steps of rolling a length of wire having a leading end and a trailing end and displacing the wire in a longitudinal travel direction and coiling the wire into succeeding overlapping loops and depositing same onto an upstream conveyor. The loops are transferred from the upstream conveyor to a downstream conveyor and are deposited from the downstream conveyor onto a centering device to form a coil thereon. The downstream conveyor is driven to move the loops at a generally constant slow transport speed but the upstream conveyor is driven to move the loops at a substantially faster transport speed when loops of a portion of the wire having one of the ends are being deposited on the upstream conveyor. Otherwise the upstream conveyor is driven at the same slow speed as the downstream conveyor so that the loops of the end portion will be spaced more in the travel direction than the other loops of the wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1991
    Assignees: Hamburger Stahlwerke GmbH, Schwerdtfeger & Kubicek Systemtechnik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Manfred Reumann, Wolfgang Preiss, Andreas Kubicek
  • Patent number: 4934224
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for monitoring tension of a peeled strip during threading of the strip onto a coil wrapping assembly. Sensors mounted on the coiler assembly monitor strip tension during threading such that a break in the strip triggers shutdown of the machine including withdrawal of the cutting tool from the billet to prevent damage to the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1990
    Assignee: The Gillette Company
    Inventor: Robert L. Brown
  • Patent number: 4934165
    Abstract: A system for controllng the feeding of wire to a workstation for the formation of a coil spring by means of at least one moveable work tool that is disposed at the workstation and that is selectively operated to move to different positions in the formation of a particular spring. The system includes a feed mechanism for feeding wire to the workstation and computer control means for controlling the feed mechanism to optimize the rate of spring making. The computer control means includes an entry means for setting predetermined characteristics regarding wire feed and work tool motion in constructing the particular spring. Work tool motion intervals are defined and the velocity of wire feed is maintained in a predetermined velocity range during the work tool motion interval, increasing in the velocity feed to a velocity greater than the predetermined velocity range outside of this work tool motion interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1990
    Assignee: Sleeper & Hartley Corp.
    Inventors: Russell Philpot, Timothy Hallihan
  • Patent number: 4924684
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming and slitting spirally formed pipe, particularly spiral pipes having a diameter of approximately one inch or less, is disclosed. The pipe forming apparatus includes an enclosed forming head and a mandrel. A continuous strip of metal is driven around the mandrel and inside a lateral bore in the forming head in a helical manner. First and second rollers mounted in the forming head partially form a spiral lockseam. A third roller mounted in the upper portion of the forming head closes the spiral lockseam. The mandrel is both rotatable and pivotable. The device for slitting the spiral pipe into sections includes a first knife that is positioned inside the spiral pipe. This knife is mounted at the end of a rotatable boom, that extends through the mandrel and is positioned inside of the spiral pipe. A second rotatable knife is positioned outside of the pipe. A rotatable support roller is also positioned outside of the pipe, and opposite the outer knife.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1990
    Assignee: Spiro America Inc.
    Inventor: Wilhelmus P. H. Castricum
  • Patent number: 4891963
    Abstract: The wire rolling mill has a plurality of roughing stands, a cropping shears, a finishing block, a coiler with a coiler pipe and a coiler drive including a coiler motor and a coiler gear unit and a delivery conveyor for the finished wire deposited in coils. The wire rolling mill also has a controller with a computer which controls the cropping shears with a predetermined rolling program by a computer shear command. The cropping shears cuts away a cropped length from the rolled wire rod workpiece prior to entry in the finishing block defined in the computer shear command thus producing a wire head to be deposited in coils. The cropped length of the wire is put in line with the position of the coiler. The coiler is provided with a rotation angle position transmitter operating with digital pulses which is connected with the controller and whose angular position corresponds to the coiler pipe positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1990
    Assignee: Hamburger Stahlwerke GmbH
    Inventor: Manfred Reumann
  • Patent number: 4873854
    Abstract: A computer controlled wire coiling machine having three separately controllable motors for controlling wire feed, pitch tool operation and diameter tool operation. The machine includes a computer having a keyboard for setting predetermined parameters thereat regarding wire feed, spring pitch and spring diameter in constructing a predetermined spring. Three separate control signals are taken from the computer corresponding respectively to and for operating the three motors to thereby carry out the desired steps in forming the predetermined parameters that have been established.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1989
    Assignee: Sleeper & Hartley Corp.
    Inventors: Frank S. Russell, Timothy J. Hallihan
  • Patent number: 4823579
    Abstract: An apparatus for cutting spirally formed pipe is disclosed. This apparatus has two knives mounted on a boom to be positioned inside of the pipe. The inner knives have cutting edges that are adjacent the inner pipe surface and point in opposite directions. Two knives are also positioned outside of the pipe. Each outer knife is positioned opposite of one of the inner knives. The outer knives are continuously reciprocated toward and away from their respective opposed inner knife. The reciprocating outer knives are maintained in a position clear of the pipe while the spiral pipe is formed. The reciprocating outer knives are moved to a cutting position where their cutting edges move into and out of an overlapping relationship with the cutting edges of their respective inner knives to cut the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1989
    Assignee: Spiro America Inc.
    Inventor: Wilhelmus P. Castricum
  • Patent number: 4798072
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a spring coiling machine, a chuck or tool holder for a coiling machine, and a method of operating a coiling machine, which, in their broadest aspects, utilize two vertically spaced apart arbors of different construction. The first is a stationary form arbor and the second is a lower, retractable cutting arbor. The form arbor is continuously employed to produce the desired radius of curvature, or turn diameter in conjunction with the coiling point, whereas the cutting arbor is normally in a retracted position and is extended into its deployed or cutting mandrel position, only when the coil has been fully formed and it is to be severed. The reciprocating motion of the cutting arbor is preferably effectuated by utilizing the conventional cam controlled features of the machine that are normally used to control the pitch tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1989
    Assignee: Newcomb Spring Corp.
    Inventors: Peter Vanmeggelen, John Jacobson
  • Patent number: 4796451
    Abstract: Apparatus for forming edgewise wound cores from continuous strip stock of a generally thin ferromagnetic material has a means operable generally at an intermittent rate for lancing the strip stock. The lancing means includes continuous driving means for effecting the operation of the lancing means at its intermittent rate and means operable generally for feeding the strip stock to the lancing means and the continuous strip therefrom concomitantly with the intermittent rate. Means arranged to receive the continuous step from the lancing means is operable continuously for deforming the continuous strip generally edgewise thereof into a plurality of generally helical convolutions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1989
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Harold L. Fritzsche
  • Patent number: 4779438
    Abstract: A coil spring making machine wherein the advancing rolls for the wire are driven intermittently by a transmission which receives motion from a timing shaft through the medium of a reciprocable input element and two one-way clutches so simultaneously that the rolls rotate in opposite directions (one clockwise, the other counter clockwise). The knife which severs the wire at intervals so as to separate successive coil springs is driven by the timing shaft through the medium of a chain transmission and a link which causes the knife to travel along an endless circular path and to sever the wire while the advancing rolls are at, or close to, a standstill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1988
    Assignee: Schenker Maschinen AG
    Inventor: Max Frei