Abstract: Method for press-rolling a mainspring, from a wire comprising a pre-formed eye, utilizing a roller press comprising a first support and guide means exerting a force on the wire in a first contact area located between a second and a third contact area comprised in a second and a third support and guide means, in order to wind, beyond the eye, an accumulation area with an opposite curvature to that of the eye, and wherein, as the wire advances, the position of the first contact area is gradually moved away from the second and third contact areas, to vary the press-rolling radius from a first minimum value to a second maximum value at a neck junction between the accumulation area and the eye.

Abstract: An apparatus forms a sheet into a beam having four exterior walls and a common center leg extending between an opposing two of the walls. The apparatus includes a roll former forming the sheet into the beam cross section, a welding station with top and bottom laser welders, and a weld box fixture having inwardly-biased external mandrels (biased by actuators) and outwardly-biased internal split mandrels (biased by springs) that interact to hold a desired shape of the beam in the weld fixture, and also includes a sweeping unit and cutoff device. By this arrangement, the internal and external mandrels, in combination with a bias of the actuators and springs, control a shape of the beam by flexure and movement of material of the sheet when in the weld box fixture during a welding process of the welder.

Abstract: A roll former for forming a sheet into a continuous multi-tubular reinforcement beam. The roll former includes a first set of rollers that are configured to bend the sheet to form a common center wall in generally perpendicular orientation relative to first and second lateral portions of the sheet that extend in opposing directions from respective first and second radiused ends of the common center wall. The first set of rollers also form radiused edges on the first and second lateral portions. A second set of rollers is configured to form a channel rib longitudinally along each of the first and second lateral portions. A third set of rollers is configured to bend the first and second lateral portions simultaneously and equally to abut the first and second radiused edges with the respective first and second radiused ends of the common center wall to define adjacent tubes of the beam.

Abstract: A contact sensor includes a conductive fabric, an insulative spacer having multiple openings, and a conductive sheet of a sheet-shaped conductor. The insulative spacer is interposed between the conductive fabric and the conductive sheet. Upon contact of a soft object such as a human body portion on the conductive fabric with force equal to or greater than a certain strength, the insulative spacer sinks in the soft object with the conductive fabric interposed therebetween. The conductive fabric is deformable in conformity with insulative pieces of the insulative spacer, such that touching of a portion of the conductive fabric on the conductive sheet provides detection of contact of the soft object.

Abstract: A method to check and control a roller bending machine for continuously bending an elongated workpiece at variable curvature radii in a bending machine using a series of rollers for bending, comprises the steps of measuring the distance of the elongated work piece in a point that is situated downstream the series of rollers for bending in successive instants, calculating a curvature radius of each bend section of the elongated workpiece, comparing the calculated curvature radius with the desired curvature radius and determining a difference between them, calculating the change of position to which an upstream roller has to be subjected in order to annul such a difference and operating the upstream roller on the base of the calculated change of position. A machine embodying the method is also described.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for manufacturing sinuous springs wherein each spring comprises a discrete length of sinuous spring wire having parallel straight bar segments interconnected at their opposite ends by oppositely directed curved connecting segments. This apparatus is operable to adjust the length of the sinuous spring wires exiting the machine without turning off or stopping the machine. An operator need only rotate a handle outside a housing of the machine to increase or decrease the length of the sinuous spring wires exiting the machine.

Abstract: There is provided a method of bending a medical suturing needle curved at different curvature radii in a length direction more reasonably.

Abstract: A machine for bending tubes (1) with small diameters, which are pre-cut and provided with connection systems at both ends. This machine comprises elements (5) for grasping the rear end of the tube (1), elements for entrainment of the grasping elements according to a longitudinal axis, and at least one bending head, comprising two forming rollers (7, 8), each of which has at least one peripheral groove, a folding finger (23), which is associated with a unit (24) for displacement according to a circular path which is centered on an axis (Y) at right-angles to the axis (X), and with a system (29) for displacement in translation according to an axis (Y1) which is parallel to (Y), and guide units for the tube (1), which are disposed upstream and in the vicinity of the forming rollers (7, 8).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of regulating the drive of a multiple drawing machine or drawing device, respectively, as well as to a device for drawing billets. By means of the method it is possible to drive a wet drawing machine such that slip-free operation is also achieved. The device according to the invention comprises a drive regulation suited for slip-free wet operation. By means of the present invention, substantial improvements of the quality of the drawn product, in particular of wires of copper, copper alloys or special materials, respectively, are achieved. The operation substantially is performed automatically, and an automatic adaptation of the device to modified operating conditions, such as modification of the property of the material of the billet, is effected.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for automated control and positioning of a mandrel within a pipe during bending operations. Position detection is accomplished by means of a low frequency electromagnetic signal transmission from a coil placed in close proximity parallel to the pipe outer surface. This signal is detected by a pair of orthogonal receiving coils mounted on the mandrel in close proximity to the pipe inner surface. The phases of the received signals with respect to the transmitted signal and the ratio of the amplitudes of the two received signals is used to estimate the relative position of the transmitter and the receivers. Control of the mandrel along with transmission of reference phase information is accomplished via a high frequency direct sequence spread spectrum radio link between a computer console outside the pipe mounted on the bender and a computer unit mounted inside the pipe on the mandrel.

Abstract: In a method for controlling, monitoring and checking a shaping procedure of a shaping machine, in particular riveting machine (R) on a workpiece (27) by means of a plunger (4) which is moved into contact with the workpiece (27), an upper plunger face (9) and/or a lower plunger face (10) for moving the plunger (4) being subjected to pressure, a change in pressure and/or change in force is measured when the plunger (4) strikes against the workpiece (27), in order to determine the start of a shaping operation, in particular the start of a riveting operation.

Abstract: An ovalizer which employs hydraulic cylinders to directly actuate duct forming members for forming round spiral duct to oval. The ovalizer includes a pair of elongated and laterally spaced-apart duct forming members sized to fit within a ductwork section and to bear against opposing interior surfaces of the ductwork section. Spaced longitudinally along and between the duct forming members are a plurality, five in the disclosed embodiment, of double-acting hydraulic cylinder assemblies for selectively forcing the duct forming members apart for forming round duct to oval, and retracting the duct forming members towards each other at the conclusion of a forming operation. A feedback control system ensures that the hydraulic cylinder assemblies extend together at approximately the same rate and stop when a predetermined extended position is reached.

Abstract: A process for controlling a multiple stage drawing machine that implements a direct non-sliding drawing process provides for set-up and production to be automatic and for the variables necessary for process control, especially material speed and applied force, to be derived without establishing contact between the stock material and a sensing device.

Abstract: A terminal crimping device includes an elevating crimper for crimping terminals onto exposed conductors of cables and an anvil positioned opposite to said elevating crimper so that the ascend/descend of the crimper is carried out by a servo motor. The terminal crimping device further includes a height sensor for outputting a crimp height at the time of crimping said terminals, a data storage unit for storing a pressing time range for determination on whether or not terminal crimping is normal and a crimper height value for determination of said pressing time; and determining unit for time measuring the time during which an output from said height sensor is not larger than the crimper height and determining that crimping is normal if the measured time is within said pressing time range. Thus, the determination on whether or not the terminal crimping is normal can be surely made.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recording an operating status of an NC processing machine is provided. Measuring and recording operations can be performed with trial processing and actual processing distinguishing from each other. In order to record the operating status in a case where an NC apparatus is controlled to cause an NC processing machine i.e. a press brake, to perform continuous processing according to a processing program, a processing condition for a work used in previous processing is stored in a memory. A comparison/decision unit decides whether a processing condition for a work used in current processing coincides with the stored processing condition of the work in the previous processing. If the current processing condition coincides with the previous processing condition, a recording unit records the current processing as actual processing.

Abstract: A diagnostic method of diagnosing a press for the presence of any abnormality that deteriorates a quality of a product manufactured by the press, wherein physical value (Fs, Fsi, Ff, Ffi, Fp, Fpi, Xsi, Xei, Xy, Xz, Vx, Gx, Gy, Gz, Temp A, Temp B, Va0, Vf0, Vd0, V, Aa, Ag, Az, Afi, Ps, Pmai, Psa, Paa, Pyai, Peai, Pzai) such as a load generated at a selected portion of the press during operation of the press is detected, and the press is diagnosed for any abnormality, on the basis of the detected physical value, and according to a predetermined reference.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing an arcuate brake shoe from a first strip of material which is to provide a web of the shoe and has a plurality of projections extending from one edge and a second strip which has a plurality of corresponding openings to receive the projections and which is to provide the platform of the shoe. The two strips are secured together with projections and openings engaged and formed into an arcuate shape by passage through a roller arrangement.

Abstract: In a bender (e.g., press brake), work (plate material) can be bent by a bending tool composed of a pair of punch and die. A position detector (17) mounted on a movable side of the bending tool generates a limit point pulse (ULi) whenever the tool reaches a limit point. A timer (29) measures a time interval between the two limit point pulses (ULi). A time compare discriminate section (31) compares the time interval measured by the timer with a reference time interval (TR), and further discriminates the current bending as a trial bending when the time interval is longer than the reference time but as an actual bending when shorter than the reference time. Further, an arithmetic section 33 calculates a sum total number of times of the bending and the sum total time period spent in the bendings, separately in both of the trial and actual bendings. The obtained bending data are displayed or recorded to obtain an accurate man-hour in the bending processing.

Abstract: A breakthrough buffer for a mechanical press (1) includes at least one buffer body (20) disposed between punch slide (2) and lower press frame (7) to cushion punch plate (3) during breakthrough of punch (4) through a workpiece, a timing regulator (40, 70, 90) connected to each buffer body for regulating timing of buffering during breakthrough, and a control system (60) to provide a command signal to this regulator to minimize noise or vibration occurring during the breakthrough. The control system includes a controller (63) which is responsive to the output of noise sensor (61) or vibration sensor (65) during breakthrough. The buffer body can include fluid driven buffer piston (22) in a buffer cylinder (21), with the buffer piston being associated with a guidepost (5). Alternatively, the buffer body can include piston (82) which contacts the guidepost and which is fluid driven (30, 81) in opposition to spring (83).

Abstract: A process for controlling a multiple stage drawing machine that implements a direct non-sliding drawing process provides for set-up and production to be automatic and for the variables necessary for process control, especially material speed and applied force, to be derived without establishing contact between the stock material and a sensing device.

Abstract: A roller-mandrel thrust bending process (RDSB process) is described, serving to bend metal hollow sections. Starting from the known rolling-bending process, where the hollow section to be bent is filled in its interior and is run into a bending station consisting of several bending rollers, the bending of the hollow section is produced by the movement of the bending rollers in the bending plane. To preserve the advantages of core stretching and bending while avoiding the high costs of this process, it is provided according to the invention that the hollow section of the workpiece is filled by a base mandrel and that the workpiece is pushed into the bending station under thrust. Thus the workpiece to be bent is displaced under thrust and under the friction force of the profile rollers over the mandrel stationary in the bending zone and bent in XYZ direction by the bending station.

Abstract: A machine for coiling a sheet metal strip having a pair of lateral flanges joined by a channel shaped rib with oppositely opening lateral grooves where the rib is on the outside of the coil, includes a pair of cooperating fluting rolls between which the strip is fed to flute the flanges, one roll being circumferentially grooved to receive the rib of the strip, and a wedge shaped coiling shoe is positioned to receive the strip from the rolls. The shoe has three strip coiling ramps, two of which bear against the flanges and embrace the rib, and the third bears against the top of the rib. These ramps are positioned to deflect the strip into a coiled configuration. A pair of ears on the coiling shoe enters the oppositely opening lateral grooves and cooperatively with the fluting of the flanges prevents collapse or distortion of the grooves.

Abstract: A system of forming a curve in a substantially planar portion of a fender blank consists of a plurality of components and steps. First and second substantially parallel rollers are provided having selected diameters with a gap therebetween adapted to receive the substantially planar portion of the fender blank. A forming shoe is provided at a forming region on one side of the first and second substantially parallel rollers. A substantially planar portion of the fender blank is inserted in the gap. At least one of the first and second substantially parallel rollers is advanced to rotate a selected length of the substantially planar portion of the fender blank through the gap to the forming region. At least one of the first and second substantially parallel rollers is rotated to retract a selected length of the fender blank from the forming region through the gap at a selected rate, while simultaneously the forming shoe is moved through a selected angle at a selected rate to bear upon the fender blank.

Abstract: A strap coiling mechanism comprising a driven roller one having a serrated peripheral surface, a pinch roller for rotatably mounted at one extremity of a pivoted crank lever 8, said pinch roller being biassed towards the driven roller 1 by means of a compression spring 6 engaging the other end of the crank lever 8 and part of the supporting frame for the mechanism. The driven roller 1 and the pinch roller 4 between them define a nip N into which strapping S to be coiled is introduced. In the event that the strapping includes a Seal' or any other section modulus change, a pinch roller 4 will be deflected away from the driven roller 1 against the action of the spring 6 to allow the seal to pass through the nip N. A deforming roller 3 is rotatably mounted immediately behind the Nip and has a serrated peripheral surface which is engaged by the strapping S to form the strapping into a shelf closing coil C.

Abstract: A machine and method for forming line pipe is disclosed wherein small diameter roll elements not exceeding five times the thickness of the blank form a tube. The roll elements positioned in a pyramid roll assembly are dynamically adjustable toward and away from each other to provide different size line pipe, or similar tubular articles. The segments of the upper roll elements are mounted on cantilever arms, the leading edge of blank being deflected against the upper curved surface of the arms during the final stages of forming. The deflection is maintained within the elastic recovery limit of the metal. A rigid frame mounts the cantilever arm and other components. The frame includes a plurality of vertical bed plates and corresponding upper frame plates and cross tie members. A pusher mechanism pushes the sheet blank through the pyramid roll assembly. A multi-walled tube may be formed by providing the required additional length to the blank and continuation of the forming beyond 360.degree..

Abstract: A method of coiling a flat strip, including the steps of advancing and supporting the strip, forming a partial loop on the leading end thereof while continuing to advance the strip toward an upcoiling nest where the coiling is completed, shearing the advancing strip when the coil attains a predetermined size, completing the coiling of the sheared end thereof, and ejecting the finished coil.