Abstract: Devices and methods for bending or cutting implants are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, an instrument can include a rotatable drive shaft that urges first and second portions of a modular bending or cutting template toward one another to bend or cut an implant disposed between the template portions. A linkage assembly can be included to provide a mechanical advantage in urging the template portions toward one another. In some embodiments, an instrument can include a rotatable drive shaft that, depending on direction of rotation, pushes or pulls a first modular template portion with respect to a second modular template portion to bend an implant disposed between the template portions in one direction or another direction. In some embodiments, an instrument can include a worm drive that rotates a cutting wheel with respect to a cutting plate to cut an implant inserted through openings formed in the cutting wheel and the cutting plate.

Abstract: A bending machine is described, which comprises an upper roller and a lower roller, as well as at least one side roller. The side roller is held in a rocker arm, wherein the first end of which is fixed to a movable supporting member, and the second end of which can be supported in a first position relative to the upper and lower rollers. The rocker arm can be moved to a second position by means of the movable supporting member and fixed there with the second end.

Abstract: A conduit bender having a unitary frame is mounted to a wheeled base which provides for transportation of the bender. A braking assembly provides for simplified locking of the wheels to secure the bender in a location. The bender is mounted to the base through a pivoting assembly which allows for bending of conduit in either a horizontal or vertical plane. A circuit is provided for controlling the bending operation. An auto-sensing portion of the circuit receives information regarding the characteristics of the conduit to be bent upon placement of the conduit in the bender. A feedback portion of the circuit is used to provide a precise bending operation.

Abstract: A method is provided for roll-forming a sheet metal strip (35) by driving the sheet metal strip through a row of forming stations (17, 18) having pairs of rollers (19, 20; 29, 30) directed towards each other and both holding the sheet metal strip therebetween and forming the sheet metal strip over roller edges. In every second forming station (12), two angles (41, 42) are gradually formed and in every second forming station two other angles (43, 44) are gradually formed.

Abstract: An articulating surgical rod bender assembly includes first and second support members pivotably connected at an interface, a first drive wheel rotatably attached to the first support member, a second drive wheel rotatably attached to the first support member and coupled with the first drive wheel, and means for rotating the first drive wheel so that rotation of the first drive wheel causes rotation of the second drive wheel to advance a surgical rod through the assembly. The assembly also includes a guide element selectively positionable so that a surgical rod positioned with a first side contacting the first drive wheel, an opposing second side contacting the second drive wheel, and one of the first and second sides contacting the guide element is bent to a desired curvature or radius of curvature by the guide element and the first and/or second drive wheels as is passes through the assembly.

Abstract: A method and apparatus manufactures a closed structure part without flange having a curvature and welded edges along a longitudinal direction of the part and further having a varying cross-sectional shape, from two metal plates. Each of two metal plates provided with a curvature along the longitudinal direction of the plate and provided with both ends in a width direction of the plate, are press-formed such that a folding line is formed at positions corresponding to a non-welded bent edge in a cross section of the part, and stacked on each other vertically such that their bulging sides face outward. Their left ends and right ends in the width direction are mutually welded along the longitudinal direction to form welded edges.

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 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 for detecting a foreign particle trapped between substrates of a liquid crystal display panel, by which a potential short caused by the particle can be made into a short with reliability, and thus it is possible to make a display defect manifest itself that is caused by the particle. The method is for detecting the presence of a foreign particle trapped between flexible substrates (21, 26) of a liquid crystal display panel (20), between the substrates liquid crystals filled, and the method includes making the panel pass between supporting rollers (3) arranged to support one surface of the panel, and a pressing roller (4) disposed at a position opposed to a space between the supporting units and arranged to press the other surface of the panel, bending the panel, and displacing the substrates with respect to each other in their surface directions.

Abstract: A bending machine for helically bending an elongated workpiece (T) has at least three bending rollers (2) that, being rotatable integrally with respective supporting shafts (3) with parallel axes (y), co-operate in bending the elongated workpiece (T). Each bending roller (2) is arranged to shift along its own supporting shaft (3) by way of a prismatic coupling for a limited stroke and to swing with respect to the axis of the supporting shaft (3) by way of a partially spherical body (8) forming a rotary coupling with the supporting shaft (3) in a limited amount of angular displacement according to an arc of meridian of the partially spherical body (8), so that each bending roller (2) is orientated coplanar to the elongated workpiece (T) that takes an inclined position on the basis of a desired helix pitch.

Abstract: A flexible forming device for forming three-dimensional shaped workpieces, comprising a frame, at least two working rollers, one or more working roller driving mechanisms and one or more adjusting mechanisms, wherein the working rollers, the one or more working roller driving mechanisms and the one or more adjusting mechanisms are installed on the frame respectively. At least one of the working rollers is a flexible working roller, which is bendable and adjustable. The forming device need not use mold and can realize the continuous formation of a three-dimensional curved surface of a plate-shaped workpiece, and the gradual formation of a tube-shaped or bar-shaped three-dimensional shaped workpiece. The forming device can save manpower, material and time.

Abstract: A roll forming machine includes a frame supporting a conical drive roll rotatable on a fixed axis, and a conical pinch roll rotatable and movable transversely and angularly toward and away from the drive roll. Transversely movable and angularly adjustable forming rolls are disposed on opposite sides of the pinch and drive rolls, operable to selectively bend a workpiece frictionally held between the pinch and drive rolls and moved by their counter-rotation. The drive and pinch rolls rotate the workpiece about a transverse axis as they move the workpiece through the machine, enabling a consistent and accurate bending of workpieces to desired conical geometries. The machine can employ elongate drive and pinch rolls with guides to selectively place the workpieces along the rolls, to controllably vary the ratio of small-end to large-end radii in shaped pieces. Alternative versions feature a single forming roll, and rolls that alternatively serve the pinching and forming functions.

Abstract: A roll bender machine for bending metal sheets which includes a roller driven in rotation and about which the sheet metal is rolled and at least two backing rollers adapted to receive and bear against a sheet while it is being bent around the roller. The backing rollers are mounted to rotate on a support that is adjustable. The bending roller and backing rollers are each associated with at least one set of devices for compensating their deflection. An arm is mounted on the machine for receiving coiled sheet metal and is provided with a housing in which the bending roller is at least partially received.

Abstract: The pressures provided by several wheels or rollers (18, 20, 22, 24, 30, 32) on various members of a metal panel are controlled to produce a curved panel of desired radius with little or no distortion. Predetermined pressures are used to achieve the desired curvature and increased pressures provide smaller radii of curvature. For metal “U” panels pressure is preferably applied on two members. For seamed metal panels pressure is preferably applied on three members. Additional curvature may be obtained by use of a curving bar (82). Motors (34, 36, 38) drive the wheels, which urge these panel members through the wheels, the wheels having a separation distance less than the original thickness of the metal. This results in the metal of those members being elongated, thereby curving the panel with little or no distortion. Repeatable results are also provided.

Abstract: A high-strength beam includes first and second sections bent in opposite directions as part of a roll-forming process. A frame includes side frame members incorporating the double-bent beam and at least one energy management tube attached to the beam. In one form, the beam is tubular and has a cross-sectional dimension of greater than 25 mm and a material strength of at least about 60 KSI tensile strength. A roll form apparatus includes a roll former device and a sweep station in-line with the roll former device for sweeping the continuous beam in first and second opposing directions. Also, a method of roll-forming comprises steps of: roll-forming a sheet of material into a continuous beam and sweeping first and second sections of the beam in opposite directions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a roll bending device for the control of profile and flatness in the rolling of metal plates or strips. In particular the invention relates to the well known principle of roll bending by using hydraulic cylinders to modify the load distribution between rolls of a rolling mill stand and a rolled stock e.g. a metal plate or a strip in order to control the profile and flatness of the metal plate or strip. A special design to allow safe roll bending even at large roll gauges is presented. The new design allows safe operation even at large roll gauges and high side loads.

Abstract: The pressures provided by several wheels or rollers (18, 20, 22, 24, 30, 32) on various members of a metal panel are controlled to produce a curved panel of desired radius with little or no distortion. Predetermined pressures are used to achieve the desired curvature and increased pressures provide smaller radii of curvature. For metal “U” panels pressure is preferably applied on two members. For seamed metal panels pressure is preferably applied on three members. Additional curvature may be obtained by use of a curving bar (82). Motors (34, 36, 38) drive the wheels, which urge these panel members through the wheels, the wheels having a separation distance less than the original thickness of the metal. This results in the metal of those members being elongated, thereby curving the panel with little or no distortion. Repeatable results are also provided.

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 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: A method of manufacturing an aluminum alloy wheel, comprising the steps of producing an elongated strip of alloy blank with a desired cross-section by squeezing an alloy material, pre-curving the two ends of said blank into arcs, placing one end of said blank between an upper main roller and a lower main roller of a rolling machine to hold said blank, when said blank is being held by said upper main roller and said lower main roller and being driven back and forth along the longitudinal direction, approaching two auxiliary rollers of said rolling machine toward the two sides of said upper main roller to push said blank, so that said blank follows the curve established by a holding point between said upper main roller and said lower main roller and pushing points of said auxiliary rollers to progressively coil into the shape of the desired aluminum alloy wheel.

Abstract: In a method and a device for producing curved lengths of spring band steel in order to produce precisely toleranced, dimensionally stable bending radii, the spring band steel (10) pass through a bending unit (20), which is comprised of three support points (23-25) spaced apart from one another, and passes through a reverse bending unit (22), which is disposed after the bending unit (20) in the advancing direction of the spring band steel (10) and is comprised of a fourth support point (32), and in a cutting unit (21), the curved and recurved lengths of spring band steel (11) are cut from the spring band steel (10). The central support point (24) of the bending unit (20) and the fourth support point (32) of the reverse bending unit (22) are embodied so that they can be moved and are controlled in their advancing in relation to the spring band steel (10) by means of a numerical control unit (20) in accordance with predetermined programs (FIG. 1).

Abstract: A method and a device are proposed which accurately and efficiently form a pipe with a bending machine only, without using any correcting devices. A plate having holes is fed into a bending machine in which under an upper roll, lower rolls parallel thereto are arranged, and a pipe is formed during a rough forming step and a fine forming step. In the rough forming step, bending is performed so that the plate will have a required diameter at hole portions. In the fine forming step, the hole portions are not pressed for bending while other portions are rolled so as to become closer to a required diameter to form the pipe.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming an arch is architectural panels including a drive section and an arching section. Each of the drive section and arching section have at least one roller and cooperating follower with the rollers being adapted to engage the underside of the panel with a groove in the followers accepting side legs of the panel. In a preferred embodiment, two cooperating followers float along a common shaft in association with each roller.

Abstract: A method and apparatus produces a roll formed bumper member comprising of a metal material. The bumper member has a predetermined transverse cross section and a predetermined curvature. A strip bumper structure is fed into a forming assembly along a line level. The bumper structure has the predetermined transverse cross section and an essentially straight longitudinal configuration. The forming assembly has a driven support roller and a pair of driven cooperating flexing rollers. A first roller of the pair of flexing rollers is positioned to deflect the bumper structure out of the line level. A second roller of the pair of flexing rollers is mounted to revolve about the first roller. The support roller and the pair of cooperating flexing rollers are driven for feeding the bumper structure between the pair of cooperating and counter rotating flexing rollers.

Abstract: A surgical rod curving method and apparatus is disclosed, wherein a rod curving force is applied to the rod by a rod curving element while the rod is moved in a lengthwise direction relative to the rod curving element. In this manner a smooth curve is induced into the rod, wherein there is substantially no localized stress points induced into the rod. Additionally, by rotating a previously curved rod about an axis corresponding to a lengthwise direction of the rod, and reapplying a curving force, a non-planar curve is induced in the surgical rod.

Abstract: The bending device 25 comprises a positioning jig 10 having a clearance opening 8 formed therein for passing an elongate material 1, fixed to a device body, and a movable bending jig 28 having a clearance opening 30 formed therein for passing the material 1, provided at a position to which the material 1 is supplied from the positioning jig 10. The bending jig 28 is attached to a dome portion 26 which is part of a rotating member 24 rotated along a spherical surface having the center on the material 1 passing through the positioning jig 10. As the rotating member 24 rotates along the spherical surface, the bending jig 28 moves along the spherical surface. As a result, the material 1 is bent by being supplied with its supply direction changed from the positioning jig 10.

Abstract: In a long member bending apparatus having a bending head and a material supply unit, the bending head is composed of a base plate having a guide pipe, which includes a guide hole for passing a long member, at the center thereof, a movable plate having a die, which applies a bending force to the long member supplied from the guide pipe forward, disposed at the center thereof, and six extendable units including hydraulic cylinders interposed between the base plate and the movable plate and universal joints disposed to both the ends of each hydraulic cylinder, thereby a parallel link mechanism is arranged that executes a motion of a total of six degrees of freedom including three degrees of freedom of translational movement and three degrees of freedom of rotation by expanding and contracting the hydraulic cylinders to set the position (distance, offset), inclination, and the like of the movable plate with respect to the base plate.

Abstract: A surgical rod curving method and apparatus is disclosed, wherein a rod curving force is applied to the rod by a rod curving element while the rod is moved in a lengthwise direction relative to the rod curving element. In this manner a smooth curve is induced into the rod, wherein there is substantially no localized stress points induced into the rod. Additionally, by rotating a previously curved rod about an axis corresponding to a lengthwise direction of the rod, and reapplying a curving force, a non-planar curve is induced in the surgical rod.

Abstract: In a pipe forming process using bending rolls, load applied to an upper roll is reduced to suppress the deflection of the upper roll, thereby suppressing creation of large end gap at the longitudinal center of the pipe, thus enabling production of high-strength, thick-walled elongated pipes. This is achieved either by (1) setting the roll spacing L between lower rolls to a value greater than the sum of the diameter Dwu of the upper roll 34 and the diameter Dwl of each of the lower rolls 32, and setting the amount S of tightening of the upper roll 34 with respect to the lower rolls 32 to a value greater than the radius Rwl of each of the plural rolls; or by (2) effecting pipe forming work on the sheet material such that the spacing L of the lower rolls 32 satisfies the following condition: (Dp+Dwl)>L≧0.

Abstract: A portable workpiece bending apparatus selectively bends an elongated workpiece at selected portions of the workpiece along its length. The apparatus allows transaxial loading and unloading of the workpiece. The apparatus includes a frame. Three rollers are rotatably mounted on the frame. Each of the rollers is engageable with a workpiece, while the workpiece moves along its length to bend the workpiece as it moves along its length. An actuator is connected to one of the rollers for re-positioning that one roller relative to the other two rollers to allow the roller to be disposed from an operative position engageable with the workpiece to a spaced apart position from the other two rollers. Positioning of the one roller to the spaced apart position allows the workpiece to be positioned for engagement with the rollers for bending by moving the workpiece transverse to its direction of movement.

Abstract: A method for bending a metallic flanged member includes the steps of applying a compressive force to a flange 2 of a metallic flanged member 1 in a direction that intersects a longitudinal direction of the metallic member for compression plastic deformation of the flange, and thereafter bending the metallic flanged member 1 along a flanged side thereof in such a manner that the flanged side of the metallic flanged member is situated on an inner side of a bending process, and an apparatus for use with the same method.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and multistation device for folding profiles. The folding stations (1, 11, 15, 16, 17) required are modules mounted interchangeable and adjustable on a common machine body (2), which permits quick and simple adaption to the folding requirements. It is thus possible, with one single machine, to implement a whole series of folding processes. With regard to the machine operation, such stations are selected as needed, fitted and set depending on folding criterion.

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: A bending machine includes a bending head with three bender rollers, one of which is vertically displaceable with a double-acting cylinder having a cylinder body inside the bending machine frame and below the bending head. A work surface is above the bending head and provided with an opening coaxial with the double-acting cylinder. The work surface includes a support for a tool driven by the cylinder.

Abstract: A device for forming a cutting blade for prints is disclosed. The device of this invention forms cutting blades by appropriately bending and cutting a metal strip into desired blades through integrated work regardless of a difference in the size of metal strips. The device is also provided with changeable jigs, thus being capable of forming bridge notches having different intervals, widths and configurations. The device has one vertically movable bending pin and one swing cutter. The bending pin is capable of quickly bending a metal strip into a desired configuration, while the swing cutter finely and precisely cuts the metal strip into cutting blades. The device also quickly produces high precision cutting blades, thus improving productivity and reducing the cost of the cutting blades.

Abstract: An automated crimping machine for crimping a fitting or end connector onto an end of a cable is made up of segmental die portions which together form a die surface in the desired configuration including cylinder-operated pivot blocks to advance the segmental die portions between an open position and closed crimping position, a plunger assembly axially spaced from the die portions to support the fitting in loosely assembled relation on the cable and to automatically advance in an axial direction into the cavity formed by the die surfaces to cause the fitting to be crimped onto the cable end, following which the segmental die portions are expanded away from the fitting and the crimped fitting removed to permit insertion of the next fitting and cable which is advanced through a guide block into properly aligned relation with the plunger.

Abstract: A bending order which provides a highest possible bending accuracy is determined. First a bending order generating section generates a plurality of bending orders possible for bending operation. Then, whether the bend angle of each bend can be measured in each generated bending order is checked by a measurement judging section. For each bend which has been determined as an objective bend "impossible to measure", a reference bend whose correction value for a die driving amount is to be used for calculating a correction value for the objective bend is set by a correction condition setting section. Weighting is carried out by a weight setting section based on the degree of the correlation between the processing factors of the objective bend and the processing factors of its associated reference bend, and the weights assigned to all the objective bends are summed by a weight sum computing section.

Abstract: The invention relates to a ring bending machine for pipes and metal profile rods comprising two supporting shafts supported in spaced relation to one another in a carrier plate and rotatably driven, and a pressing shaft arranged centrically with respect to the two supporting shafts in a rotatable and adjustable manner, a slender cover housing surrounding the carrier plate, the shafts and their driving means, wherein in front of a first face side of which, on shaft ends protruding from the housing, bending rollers adapted to a profile to be processed and defining a bending plane are arranged. The invention further more relates to a supplementary frame for a ring bending machine.

Abstract: A fastener sorting apparatus is configured to mount on a fastener forming machine and to shunt bent workpieces through a wastegate of the fastener forming machine when the bent workpieces contact a detection ring. The detection ring is electrically-conductive and is coaxially aligned with a part gripper of the forming machine. The ring has an inner diameter slightly larger than an outer diameter of a series of workpieces to be sorted. Either the ring or the gripper are moved so that a workpiece held in the gripper passes through the ring. If the workpiece is bent beyond acceptable limits it will contact the ring, closing an electrical circuit. Closing of the circuit causes a workpiece diverter to shunt the workpieces through the wastegate.

Abstract: Machine for bending pipes or section bars comprising a work table on which two or more powered spindle noses appear, at least one of which is powered to rotate in a direction and at least another is idle or driven to rotate in the opposite direction to the former one; said spindle noses being accessible for mounting/demounting on/from them spindles designed to support respective bender rollers or matrices defining a work area on the work table in order to bend a pipe or a section bar according to fixed or variable radiuses: support means for a counteracting member designed to co-operate with said bender rollers or matrices in a bending operation according to fixed or variable radiuses; said support means being firmly locatable on straight guide means in said work table along an approachment/removal direction of said counteracting member to/from, said work area.

Abstract: An automatic stamping machine, which includes a material feed unit controlled to feed metal sheet materials one after another, a locating unit controlled to position metal sheet materials carried from the material feed unit one after another, a conveyer unit controlled to convey metal sheet materials from the locating unit to a material dispensing unit, a material dispensing unit controlled to dispense metal sheet materials from the conveyer unit to a stamping unit one after another at a predetermined time interval, and a stamping unit controlled to stamp metal sheet materials into shape one after another.

Abstract: An automatic roll bending machine for bending metal sheets, sections and the like. The machine includes two or more bending rolls and a driver for causing rotation and/or changing the working positions of the rolls. The driver is operatively connected to an electronic control device that includes a programmable process unit provided with a movable digital control board which can be manually operated by an operator for remotely controlling in a selective manner the movements of each roll and for performing automatic execution of a bending cycle.

Abstract: A method of orienting cans on a continuously rotating machine, in which the machine has a plurality of rotating heads for can bodies (2), each of the heads having a sensor (9) for detecting the orientation of the can body. Each head comprises a mandrel (6), chuck (8) and can carrier (7). In one embodiment, the chuck and mandrel rotate at different speeds. The can body is generally held by the chuck but is transferred to the mandrel in order to impose the required orientation on the can body. In an alternative embodiment, each chuck is driven by an independent motor (15) and orientation is achieved by imposing a motion profile on the chuck to correct any error. An unique mark or series of marks is provided at or around a free edge of the can body so that the sensor can detect the orientation of the can body. Typically these marks are hidden in the finished product by a double seam which joins the can end to the can body.

Abstract: An apparatus for serially making formed parts from a web of deformable material having a plurality of progressive die forming stations for forming multiple parts from the web by advancing the web through each forming station. In one embodiment, the apparatus has a control system for measuring parts formed in the apparatus and adjusting the relationship between first and second die portions of the apparatus to keep the parts formed in the apparatus within predetermined specifications.

Abstract: For the purpose of making it possible to estimate the spring back angle and/or final driving position of the driving die with good accuracy even if there are some variations from lot to lot in the material characteristics values, and thereby achieve bending with extremely high angle accuracy, the actual bending angle is directed at no less than two provisional driving positions of the driving die during the bending of a workpiece. Based on the relationship of the amount of change in the driving amount to the amount of change in the actual bending angle relating to those provisional driving positions, a determination is made of the relationship of the spring back angle to the target bending angle of the workpiece for the respective working conditions of the bending concerned which are stored in advance. From this relationship, a determination is made for the final driving position of the driving die, and the driving die is driven to that determined final driving position.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for the bending of rigid workpieces, particularly tubes, such as those of use in automotive exhaust systems, heat exchangers and aircraft hydraulic systems.

Abstract: A plate scanner-bending device having a plate bed for receiving a printing plate and a plate driver for moving the printing plate along the plate bed is disclosed. At least one scan sensor is located above the plate bed for scanning an image on the printing plate for density, along with at least one register sensor for sensing a register mark on the printing plate. The plate bed has at least one anvil at one end for a bending mechanism for bending the plate.

Abstract: An automatic learning apparatus for a folding machine which automatically measures a folding angle of a member to be folded in advance and stores driving data for the folding machine with respect to a desired folding angle. Thus, the same member to be folded is folded using the previously obtained driving data. Accordingly, the automatic learning apparatus can obtain such driving data with respect to the desired folding angle swiftly and accurately.

Abstract: In order to improve a bending center comprising a bending unit, a loading device with a feed table for receiving a sheet-metal part to be inserted, and a manipulator arrangement, with which the sheet-metal part can be gripped, moved as well as rotated, in such a manner that handling of the sheet-metal part is as error-free as possible with loading times which are as short as possible it is suggested that the loading device have a sensor, with which the position of the sheet-metal part relative to a defined insertion position into the bending unit can be determined, and that the loading device have a control which controls the manipulator arrangement handling the sheet-metal part with respect to the movement in the first and second directions as well as the rotation about the axis of rotation on the basis of the position of the sheet-metal part determined by the sensor in such a manner that the manipulator arrangement inserts the sheet-metal part into the bending unit in the exactly defined insertion position.