05/168871

01/22/1974

08/04/1971

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Schiefler Tool & Engineering, Inc. (Grand Rapids, MI)

72/305

72/320, 72/420, 72/428

B21D5/04; B21D43/00; B21D11/04

72/298,305,319,320,322,10,31,420,426,428

2638141	Sheet metal bending brake	May 1953	Skinner et al.
1030416		June 1912	McCabe
3456323	POSITIONING DEVICE	July 1969	Huyvaert
1192797		July 1916	Salmon
2965148	Bending press	December 1960	Oeckl
3662584	SHEET METAL FORMING APPARATUS	May 1972	Jones

Herbst, Richard J.

Keenan M. J.

Price, Heneveld, Huizenga & Cooper

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows

1. A metal bending apparatus comprising: a frame; first and second support means mounted on said frame; a bed mounted on each of said support means upon which a sheet of metal can be laid; a mandrel mounted on each of said support means over which the metal is to be bent; said mandrels facing away from one another; each of said mandrels being positioned above its respective bed; clamping means operably connected to each of said mandrels for forcing said mandrels into clamping position on a sheet of metal on said beds; a wing mounted on each of said supports, adjacent said bed, for pivotal movement with respect to said bed and said mandrel; means mounted on each of said supports for pivoting said wing into said mandrel to thereby bend said metal into said configuration of said mandrel; said first support being mounted for slidable movement on said frame; means for moving said first support from a first fixed position, located towards said second support, to a second fixed position, located away from said second support, said support moving means moving said first support to said first position after a sheet of metal has been bent and to said second position after a bent sheet has been removed said second support being mounted for slidable movement on said frame towards and away from said first support; means for adjusting the position of said second support such that the distance between said supports can be varied.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising: said wing rotating means including a gear mounted on said wing, transversely thereof; a worm engaging the teeth of said gear; drive means operably connected to said worm for rotating said worm, thereby turning said gear.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 in which: said wing is carried in a plurality of semicircular disks, said disks resting on said rollers; means restraining movement of said disks off said rollers.

4. A metal bending apparatus comprising: a bed on which sheet metal is laid; a mandrel having at least a portion of its cross-sectional configuration corresponding to the configuration desired for the metal to be bent; said mandrel being positioned above said bed, on top of the sheet of metal; a wing mounted adjacent said bed for pivotal movement with respect thereto; said wing having a configuration capable of mating abutment with said mandrel; means for pivoting said wing into said mandrel to thereby bend said metal into the said configuration of said mandrel; means for moving a sheet of metal into position on said bed, said moving means including: a pusher slidably mounted on a helical track, said track being oriented such that at one end, said pusher lies on its side, below the level of a sheet of metal resting at the level of said bed and such that as said pusher moves along said track, it stands up and engages the end edge of a sheet of metal; means for moving said pusher fore and aft along said track.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 which includes an end stop for positively indexing a sheet of metal on said bed, said end stop comprising: a limit switch having a switch lever extending into the path of a traveling sheet of metal; means for raising or lowering said limit switch to thereby raise or lower said lever out of or into the path of the metal.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 which comprises: slide ways mounted on said frame, said first and second supports being mounted on said slide ways.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 in which conveyor means are mounted on said slide ways between said supports for conveying a sheet of metal onto said beds.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 which includes centering means mounted on each of said supports for centering a bent sheet of metal with respect to said supports when said first support is in said first position.

9. A metal bending apparatus comprising: a frame; first and second support means mounted on said frame; a bed mounted on each of said support means upon which a sheet of metal can be laid; a mandrel mounted on each of said support means over which the metal is to be bent; said mandrels facing away from one another; each of said mandrels being positioned above its respective bed; clamping means operably connected to each of said mandrels for forcing said mandrels into clamping position on a sheet of metal on said beds; a wing mounted on each of said supports, adjacent said bed, for pivotal movement with respect to said bed and said mandrel; means mounted on each of said supports for pivoting said wing into said mandrel to thereby bend said metal into said configuration of said mandrel; side gauges mounted on each of said supports for guiding a sheet of metal into position on said beds, each of said side gauges comprising: roller means for contacting the edge of a sheet of metal; means for moving said roller means to a first guide position for guiding said metal while it is moving, and for retracting said roller means just before said metal is bent.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 which includes means for moving a sheet of metal into position on said bed, said means comprising: a pusher slidably mounted on a helical track, said track being oriented such that at one end, said pusher lies on its side, below the level of a sheet of metal resting at the level of said bed and such that as said pusher moves along said track, it stands up and engages the end edge of a sheet of metal; means for moving said pusher fore and aft along said track.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 which includes an end stop for positively indexing a sheet of metal on said bed, said end stop comprising: a limit switch having a switch lever extending into the path of a traveling sheet of metal; means for raising or lowering said limit switch to thereby raise or lower said lever out of or into the path of the metal.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 in which: each said mandrel having a portion of its cross-sectional configuration corresponding to the configuration desired for the metal to be bent, said cross-sectional portions facing away from one another; said wing including a tool having a configuration capable of mating abutment with said mandrel, for matingly abutting said mandrel; means for detachably mounting said tool to said wing; and means for detachably mounting said mandrel to said apparatus whereby said mandrel and said tool can be replaced by a mandrel and tool of different, mating configurations.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 comprising: said wing being mounted on a plurality of rollers for rotational movement thereon; said means for pivoting said wing including means for rotating said wing on said rollers.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 comprising: said wing rotating means including a gear mounted on said wing, transversely thereof; a worm engaging the teeth of said gear; drive means operably connected to said worm for rotating said worm, thereby turning said gear.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 in which: said wing is carried in a plurality of semicircular disks, said disks resting on said rollers; means restraining movement of said disks off said rollers.

16. A metal bending apparatus comprising: a bed on which sheet metal is laid; a mandrel having at least a portion of its cross-sectional configuration corresponding to the configuration desired for the metal to be bent and defining a multiple bend surface whereby the sheet of metal is given multiple bends in a single bending operation; said mandrel being positioned above said bed, on top of the sheet of metal; a wing mounted adjacent said bed for pivotal movement with respect thereto; said wing having a configuration capable of mating abutment with said mandrel; means for pivoting said wing into said mandrel to thereby bend said metal into the said configuration of said mandrel; said wing rotating means including a gear mounted on said wing, transversely thereof; a worm engaging the teeth of said gear; drive means operably connected to said worm for rotating said worm, thereby turning said gear.

17. The metal bending apparatus of claim 16 in which said wing is elongated and there are a plurality of semicircular discs, said discs being spaced from one another and being generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of said wing; a set of rollers mounted on said support for each said disc, each set including a plurality of rollers mounted about the circumference of a circle whose radius corresponds approximately to the radius of said semicircular discs; each of said discs being carried on one of said sets of rollers, said sets of rollers being positioned such that said wing is generally adjacent said bed, there being a plurality of said gears on said wing, a worm and worm drive means for each said gear, and governor means for coordinating said worm drive means.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 which comprises: retaining means associated with said wing and engaging said support for preventing said wing and discs from traveling longitudinally and sliding off said rollers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus for bending sheet metal. Specifically, it relates to a type of apparatus known generally in the art as wing benders.

Conventional bending machines can make only a single bend at a time. A sheet of metal is clamped to a bed which includes wings pivotally mounted thereto. When the wings are activated, they pivot upwardly and force the sheet metal to bend around the edge of the clamp. If more than one bend is required in the metal, the sheet of metal must be moves to another machine having wings which pivot at the second bend line.

United States Pat. No. 3,522,722, (O. W. Goff), issued Aug. 4, 1970, discloses and claims a substantial improvement over such prior art wing benders. The wing bender of this patent includes wings whose positions can redily be shifted. Thus it is possible to make a bend at a first bend line and then shift the wings to a second point to make a second bend. However, even this apparatus requires successive operations and is limited in that the metal can be bent only in one direction. In order to bend the metal in opposite directions the metal must be completely removed from the machine and turned over.

Further, the wing support and pivoting means of prior art machines are simply too fragile for heavy duty operation. Thus, there is also a need for a unique pivoting assembly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises an apparatus capable of performing multiple bending on a sheet of metal in a single operation. Further, the metal can be bent in opposite directions in a single operation. The need for removing the sheet of metal from the machine and turning it over is eliminated.

In this invention a sheet of metal is clamped between a bed or platen and a mandrel. The mandrel has a configuration which corresponds to the desired shape for the sheet of metal. A wing is mounted for pivotal movement with respect to the mandrel and includes a configuration which is capable of matingly abutting the mandrel. Means are provided for pivoting the wing to thereby form the sheet of metal in the configuration of the mandrel.

Preferably, the mandrel is removably mounted on the machine and the wing includes means for removably mounting a tool thereon. In this manner, mandrels and tools of different mating configurations can be inserted onto the same piece of apparatus in order that bends of different configurations can be obtained with the same piece of apparatus.

In a preferred aspect of the invention, the pivoting movement of the wing is obtained by mounting the elongated wing in several semicircular disks. The disks in turn are mounted on rollers, the rollers being arranged in a circular fashion about the circumference of a circle having the same radius as the disk. Means are then provided for rotating the wing and the disks, the disks riding on the rollers, such that the wing pivots.

In another aspect of the invention, a wing and mandrel are mounted on each of two supports, with the mandrels facing away from one another. In this manner a single sheet of metal can be bent along two different sides at the same time. Preferably, at least one of the supports is slidable with respect to the other such that different sized sheets of metal can be accommodated.

Thus, the present invention can be utilized to achieve multiple bending of sheet metal in a single operation. The metal can even be bent in opposite directions without removing the sheet of metal and turning it over. These aspects, objects and advantages of the invention, along with others, will be further appreciated by reference to the written specification and appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an end elevational view of the bending machine;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the bending machine;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the bending machine;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the planes indicated by line IV--IV of FIG. 2, with a portion of the pivot drive assembly being broken away along plane IVa--IVa of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a C-frame;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of a semicircular disk;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of a gear;

FIG. 8 is an end elevational view of the wing;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary, side elevational view of the wing;

FIG. 10 is an end view of the shoe;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary, side elevational view of the shoe;

FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of a side gauge;

FIG. 13 is a side elevational view of the locator;

FIG. 14 is an end elevational view of the end stop; and

FIG. 15 is a side elevational view of the end stop.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the preferred embodiment, a pair of spaced supports 20 are mounted on frame 10 (FIG. 1). Each support 20 carries bending means for bending a sheet of metal. At least one support 20 is movably mounted over a fairly large distance of the frame so that different size sheets of metal can be mounted between supports 20. The other support 20 is movable between two positions by toggle 35 in order that a sheet of metal which has been bent can be released (FIG. 3).

The bending means include a bed or platen 40 on which the metal rests and a mandrel 50 around which the metal is bent (FIGS. 1 and 4). The face 51 of mandrel 50 has a configuration corresponding to that desired for the metal to be bent. Mandrel 50 is mounted on clamping press 60 which moves it into and out of its clamping position on the sheet of metal. A bending wing 70 is mounted adjacent bed 40 on carriage 80 for pivotal movement with respect to bed 40. Pivotal movement is imparted by the activation of pivot drives 90. Wing 70 includes means for removably mounting a tool 75 thereon which tool is designed for mating abutment with mandrel 50. Both mandrel 50 and tool 75 are removably mounted such that they can be replaced by a tool and mandrel having different mating configurations.

Metal is conveyed onto bed 40 by a conveyor assembly which includes chain conveyor 110. Final positioning of the sheet metal 5 is achieved by locator 120 (FIGS. 1 and 13) which pushes the metal against end stop 130 (FIGS. 14 and (5). The sheet metal 5 is guided in its lateral movement by side gauges 140 (FIG. 12). After the metal is bent, end stop 130 is retracted and the metal moved off beds 40 by chain conveyor 110.

FRAME

Frame 10 is of a heavy steel construction having sides 11 and ends 12 (FIG. 3). Sides 11 and ends 12 are heavy steel plates joined together in a conventional manner. It should be noted that while normally one would refer to the shorter sides of a rectangle as its ends, in this case, the longer sides of the rectangular frame have been identified as ends 12. This has been done because sheet metal moves through the machine between supports 20 from one end 12 to the other. The ends 12 are joined at one point by a cross beam 13 (FIG. 3). A plurality of levelers 14 are provided along each side 11 to facilitate leveling of frame 10. Each of the levelers 14 comprises a plate 14a secured to side 11 and a leveling bolt 14b threadably mounted therein (FIG. 2).

Three ways 15 extend between sides 11 and are mounted to sides 11 in way supports 16 (FIG. 3). Each way support is rigidly secured to a triangular plate 17 which in turn is mounted atop frame 10 in a conventional manner (FIGS. 1, 2 and 3). Ways 15 are smooth surfaced tubular members which act as tracks upon which supports 20 slide. Each way 15 preferably is circular in cross section, such ways being commonly referred to as round ways. In this manner, a frame 10 is provided having a plurality of ways 15 extending between its sides 11 upon which supports 20 can be slidably mounted.

SUPPORTS

Each of the supports 20, which are slidably mounted on ways 15, comprises a table 21 having sides 22 depending downwardly therefrom (FIGS. 1, 2 and 4). Table 21 is a flat steel plate, as are downwardly depending sides 22. Also depending downwardly from the bottom of table 21 are six way mounts 23, two for each way 15 (FIG. 4). Each way mount 23 comprises a bearing which is capable of sliding movement along way 15.

Extending vertically upwardly from the top surface of table 21 are a plurality of towers 25, preferably six (FIG. 2). Each tower 25 comprises a pair of C-frames 26 rigidly connected to a mounting plate 26a which in turn is rigidly connected to table 21 in a conventional manner. Each C-frame 26 comprises a large steel plate having an upper corner quadrant cut away and having a central circular portion cut away to give the plate a generally C-shaped appearance (FIG. 5). It is the C-frames 26 which provide the immediate support for wing carriage 80 (FIG. 1).

Mounted atop towers 25 is a top plate 27 which comprises a flat steel plate (FIGS. 1, 2 and 4). Top plate 27 provides the immediate support for clamping press 60 and for wing pivot drives 90 (FIGS. 1 and 2). Extending downwardly from top plate 27, on the side facing the opposite support 20, is a side plate 28. A fixed wear plate 29 is rigidly secured to the inside top ends of C-frames 26, just below top plate 27, and parallel to side plate 28 (FIG. 4). Fixed wear plate 29 and side plate 28 act as a guiding channel for the moving components of clamping press 60.

Both of the supports 20 are slidably mounted on ways 15 of frame 10. However one of the supports 20, the right one as viewed in FIG. 3, is movable over a relatively large distance along ways 15 and can be stopped at an infinite number of points within the range of its movement. However, the opposite support 20 moves only between a first and second position on ways 15. This is because each support 20 is movable for a different purpose. The former support 20 can be adjusted to a large number of positions by an adjusting screw 31 in order that the machine can accommodate sheets of metal 5 of differing widths (FIG. 3). The other support 20 is movable between two positions by means of a pair of toggles 35 in order to facilitate release of a sheet of formed metal from the mandrels 50.

Screw 31 is rotatably mounted at one end atop right side 11 and includes a screw crank 32 secured thereto to facilitate turning (FIG. 3). At its opposite end, it is carried in a nut 33 mounted in the side of support 20. By rotation of crank 32, the position of support 20 can be adjusted to a large number of positions over a finite distance range.

Toggles 35 are conventional in nature, being pivotally mounted at one end to cross beam 13 and being pivotally mounted at the other end to left side support 20. The toggles 35 are joined at their knees by a tie rod 36. A cylinder 37 is operably connected to one of the toggles 35, being pivotally connected at one end to toggle 35 and being pivotally connected at the other end to a cylinder mount 38 which is in turn rigidly connected to the central way 15. The extension of the piston of cylinder 37 causes the toggles 35 to buckle, thereby moving left side support 20 inwardly. Contraction of cylinder 37 causes the toggles 35 to straighten out, thereby moving support 20 to its outermost position on ways 15.

After a sheet of metal 5 has been formed and the left side support 20 has been moved into its inward position by toggles 35, the sheet of metal 5 is centered with respect to the supports 20 in order that it can be readily slid off of beds 40. This centering acts to disengage the formed sheet of metal from either of the mandrels 50 to which it might tend to stick. Such centering is achieved by hydraulic centering cylinders 39, two mounted on each support, each mounted on a separate tower 25 (FIG. 2).

BED

Bed or platen 40 comprises a large steel plate which is rigidly mounted atop a plurality of gussets 41. In the preferred embodiment, a spacer plate 42 is welded to the tops of gussets 41 and bed or platen 40 is welded atop spacer plate 42. Gussets 41 are then rigidly connected to table 21 in a conventional manner. In this manner, bed 40 is supported above table 21, spaced a short distance below the bottom of side plate 28 of support 20 and positioned at least partially in alignment with the path of travel of clamping presses 60.

MANDREL AND CLAMPING PRESSES

Mandrel 50 is an elongated steel bar, extending generally the length of the apparatus (FIG. 2) over which the sheet of metal 5 is formed (FIG. 4). At least a portion of the cross section of mandrel 50 has a configuration which corresponds to the configuration which is ultimately desired for the sheet of metal 5. For purposes of discussion, this portion of the mandrel shall be referred to as its face 51. In FIG. 4, a sheet of metal 5 is shown first in its flat-out position and in its formed position against the face 51 of mandrel 50.

Mandrel 50 is secured to clamping press 60 such that it can be elevated above bed 40 or pressed against bed 40 to clamp a sheet of metal between mandrel 50 and bed 40 (FIG. 4). Clamping press 60 comprises three hydraulic cylinders 64, each mounted atop a cylinder mount 66 which in turn is rigidly secured atop top plate 27 (FIGS. 1 and 2). The piston 65 of each hydraulic cylinder 64 extends downwardly through an aperture in top plate 27 and a block 62 is secured to the ends of all three pistons 65 (FIG. 4). A wear plate 63 is mounted to the inside of block 62 for sliding movement against fixed wear plate 29. Thus, block 62 is slidably guided between side plate 28 and fixed wear plate 29.

Secured to the bottom of block 62 is a shoe 61. Mandrel 50 is then releasably secured to shoe 61. Note the key groove 52 in mandrel 50 and the similar groove 67 in shoe 61 which facilitates insertion of a rod or key 68 therebetween to insure proper alignment of mandrel 50 (FIGS. 4 and 10).

Both shoe 61 and block 62 include notches cut therein. Shoe 61 includes a plurality of notches 61a cut into the top surface thereof at an inclined angle (FIGS. 10 and 11). These notches 61a mate with similar notches 62a in the bottom of block (FIG. 4). The purpose of notches 61a and 62a is to provide clearance for the semicircular disks 81 of wing carriage 80 and the gears 91 of pivot drive 90 at the time wing 70 is pivoted upwardly.

WING AND WING CARRIAGE

Wing 70 comprises an elongated steel member, approximately the length of the apparatus (FIG. 2) which is adapted to receive a removable tool 75 (FIG 4). Tool 75 is an elongated steel member, approximately the same length as 70, which has a face or upper surface especially configurated for mating abutment with the face 51 of mandrel 50. Wing 70, including particularly tool 75, has a configuration adapted to matingly abut the face 51 of mandrel 50. Wing 70 includes a body 71 having a groove 72 in the top edge thereof into which tool 75 can be removably mounted (FIGS. 4 and 8). Extending laterally from the base of body 71 is an elongated sloped flange 73 (FIGS. 8 and 9). Flange 73 includes a plurality of notches 74 therein which embrace the semicircular disks 81 and the gears 91 to which wing 70 is mounted. Some of the notches 74 are somewhat narrower than others, since the gears 91 are somewhat narrower than the semicircular disks 81.

Wing carriage 80, in which wing 70 is mounted, comprises a plurality of semicircular disks 81 which are mounted on a plurality of rollers 84 (FIG. 1). Each disk 81 is generally semicircular in configuration and includes a cutout portion 82 (FIG. 6). Wing 70 seats in this cutout portion 82 with a notch 74 embracing the left side of disk 81 as viewed in FIG. 6. Welded to disk 81 on each side thereof, adjacent the edge of cutout 82, are seat blocks 83 which aid in firmly seating wing 70 in semicircular disks 81.

The rollers 84 upon which disks 81 rest are mounted in a circular fashion between the C-frames 26 of the towers 25 (FIGS. 1 and 2). Thus there are six sets of rollers 84 and six disks 81. The rollers 84 are mounted such that their edges are tangent to a circle whose radius is approximate-ly the same as the radius of semicircular disk 81. The rollers extend from the bottom to the top of the circle such that the semicircular disks 81 can be rotated from a bottom position around to a position resting against the upper rollers 84. In this manner, wing 70 mounted in disks 81 is rotatably or pivotally mounted adjacent bed 40.

Longitudinal movement of the carriage assembly is prevented by a retaining plate 85 which is operably connected to the semicircular disk 81 positioned at each end of each support 20. Retaining plate 85 is mounted to disc 81 by appropriate spacers such that retaining plate 85 extends beyond the edge of the circle cut in C-frame 26. Plate 85 slides against C-frame 26 or against an appropriate wear plate secured thereto. Since there is one such retaining plate 85 at each end of support 20, wing 70 is prevented from longitudinal movement with respect to support 20.

WING PIVOT DRIVE

Wing pivot drive 90 imparts the rotational or pivotal motion to wing 70. There are preferably three pivot drives 90 mounted on top plate 27. Each drives a gear or gear segment 91 which is rigidly secured to wing 70 (FIG. 4). Thus, three such gears 91 are mounted along the length of wing 70.

Each gear 91 is semicircular in configuration, having approximately the same configuration as disks 81 (FIG. 7). As with disks 81, gears 91 include a cutout 92 corresponding in shape to the cross section of the body 71 of wing 70 and seat blocks 93 welded to both faces of gear 91 along two edges of cutout 92. Wing 70 then sits on seat blocks 93 within cutout 92 with its narrower notches 74 embracing the forward left hand portion of gear 91 as viewed in FIG. 7. Rigid securance is achieved in a conventional manner, such as welding.

The teeth of gear 91 are engaged by a worm 98 (FIG. 4). Worm 98 is mounted near the end of worm shaft 99. Worm shaft 99 is journaled at its lower end in an inverted, generally L-shaped shaft support 94 which extends upwardly from table 21. At its top, it is journaled in top bearing 95 which rests in a recess in top plate 27. A motor mount 102 sits on top of top plate 27 for supporting a motor 96 which drives worm shaft 99 and worm 98 (FIGS. 2 and 4). As can be seen from FIG. 2, there are three such assemblies spaced along the length of the machine, one for driving each gear 91.

In order to insure that the worms 98 are rotated in unison, the worm shafts 99 are joined together by a pair of governor chains 101 (FIG. 2). Worm shaft 99 includes at least one circular gear 97 at the top thereof, upon which a governor chain 101 rides. The central wing pivot drive 90 includes two such gears 97 at the top of worm shaft 99 in order that it may be joined to each of the two governor chains 101, thereby linking all three worm shafts 99 together for simultaneous movement.

When the motors 96 are activated, the worms 98 are rotated, thereby turning gears 91 and rotating wings 70. The extent of upward pivotal movement of wing 70 is limited by an upper limit switch 103, adjustably secured to C-frame 26, which is engaged by retaining plate 85, or preferably by a stud extending therefrom. When limit switch 103 is so engaged, motor 96 is reversed and wing 70 is thereby rotated to its downwardmost position. Such downward rotation is limited by bottom limit switch 104, similarly connected to C-frame 26, for similar engagement by retaining plate 85.

This type of carriage and pivot drive greatly strengthens this machine. It is heavy duty in nature such that it can be used to exert the type of pressure necessary for multiple bending. Also, the carriage actually permits the wing to swing through an arc, rather than merely pivot, thereby improving the wing's angle of attack on the metal as it swings into mandrel 50.

CONVEYOR ASSEMBLY

The conveyor assembly includes a chain conveyor 110 comprised of a pair of chains 111 mounted on appropriate sprockets 112 (FIG. 1). While it would certainly be within the scope of this invention to load a sheet of metal 5 onto the apparatus by hand, automatic operation makes it preferable that the pair of chains 111 be operably mounted on frame 10 and on a structure extending beyond one of the ends 12 thereof such that the sheet of metal can be loaded at one station onto the chains 111 and can then be moved into position above the beds 40 of supports 20. (No chain conveyor 110 is shown in FIG. 3).

Two of the end sprockets 112 are driven by motor 113 (FIG. 1) which includes an elongated shaft 116 joining parallel sprockets 112. The left side sprocket 112 and motor 113 are mounted to a bracket 114 which in turn is fixedly secured to way 15. The right side sprocket 112 is mounted on a similar bracket 114 which is operably connected to the side edge of table 21 such that the right side sprocket 112 moves with the right side support 20 when its position is adjusted. Shaft 116 slidably engages the right side sprocket in a keyed fashion such that movement of right side sprocket 112 is facilitated. The chains 111 include a plurality of dogs 115 extending upwardly therefrom for engaging the rear edge of the sheet of metal 5.

In order to positively locate a sheet of metal 5 on beds 40, the final positioning of sheet metal 5 with respect to the length of supports 20 is achieved by locator 120 (FIGS. 1 and 13). Locator 120 is welded to the side edge of one bed 40 at the end of the machine at which the sheet of metal 5 is introduced. It includes a mounting plate 121 which is welded to bed 40. Secured to mounting plate 121 is a helical track 124 upon which a steel cylinder 122 having a slot in the end thereof is slidably mounted. Helical track 124 extends through the slot in the left end of cylinder 122 as viewed in FIG. 13. Mounted at the right end of cylinder 122 as viewed in FIG. 13 is a pusher 123. The slotted cylinder 122 is driven by a hydraulic cylinder 125 which is mounted to mounting plate 121 and which includes a piston 126.

When piston 126 is retracted, slotted cylinder 122 slides rearwardly on helical track 124 and is rotated as it passes through the helix, thereby causing pusher 123 to rotate downwardly below the level of a sheet of metal 5. As piston 126 is extended, slotted cylinder 122 is pushed forwardly, and as it passes through the helical portion of helical track 124, pusher 123 moves upwardly. Then as slotted cylinder 122 moves down the length of helical track 124, pusher 123 pushes the sheet of metal forwardly. The forwardmost position of slotted cylinder 122 is detected by a limit switch 127 mounted on mounting plate 121.

Thus, the chain conveyor 110 carries a sheet of metal almost into its final position on beds 40. Chain conveyor 110 then stops, and locator 120 is activated, to thereby push sheet metal 5 into its final position. The reason for using locator 120 is that it is simply too difficult to accurately control chain conveyor 110. Chain conveyor 110 could too easily override, thereby pushing the sheet of metal hard into end stop 130 and thereby bending the sheet of metal.

End stop 130 (FIGS. 13 and 14) is secured at the opposite end of the machine to side plate 28 on one support 20, just above bed 40 (FIG. 14). A mounting plate 132 is secured to side plate 28 and a hydraulic cylinder 131 is secured to mounting plate 132. The actual stopping post 135 is secured to the end of the piston 131a of hydraulic cylinder 131 and is slidably carried in a slide 137 which is secured to mounting plate 132. A limit switch 133 including a downwardly depending lever 134 is secured to slide 137 to indicate that a sheet of metal 5 is in its final position against post 135 (FIG. 15).

When piston 131a is retracted, stopping post 135 is elevated and a sheet of metal 5 can pass freely out of the forming machine. When piston 131a is extended, post 135 locks the passage of a sheet of metal 5. In order to insure positive locating of end post 135, a small stud 136 extends from the bottom thereof and when post 135 is lowered, stud 136 extends into an alignment hole 138 in bed 40 (FIGS. 14 and 15).

In order to keep a sheet of metal 5 in lateral alignment with respect to supports 20, a plurality of side gauges 140, preferably one near each end of the machine, are mounted at the level of the sheet of metal on towers 25 (FIG. 2). Each side gauge 140 includes a roller 143 rotatably mounted on the end of the piston of a hydraulic cylinder 141 (FIG. 12). The hydraulic cylinder 141 is mounted on a mounting or adjustment plate 142 which in turn is bolted to a C-frame 26 near the inside lower edge thereof at the level of a sheet of metal. As a sheet of metal is being fed into the machine, the piston of hydraulic cylinder 141 is extended such that roller 143 engages the side edges of the sheet of metal. Once the sheet of metal is clamped in place, cylinder 141 retracts roller 143 such that rollers 143 are out of the way of wing 70 when it is pivoted upwardly. A microswitch 144 is secured to mounting plate 142 in order to indicate when each roller 143 is in its retracted position.

OPERATION

In operation, a sheet of metal 5 is located onto chain conveyor 110. It may already be bent at the ends by another operation. Chain conveyor 110 moves the sheet of metal forwardly into position on beds 40. During this movement, side gauges 140 are in their out position, such that rollers 143 guide the sheet of metal 5 and prevent lateral movement thereof with respect to supports 120.

At this point, end stops 130 are in their down position. In order to insure against chain conveyor 110 jamming the sheet of metal against end stops 130 and thereby damaging the sheet of metal, chain conveyor 110 stops with the sheet of metal a few inches short of end stops 130. At this point, locator 120 is signalled and hydraulic cylinder 125 pushes slotted cylinder 122 forwardly on helical track 124. Pusher 123 is rotated upwardly, engages the rear of sheet metal 5 and pushes sheet metal 5 forwardly until its forward edge engages post 135 of end stop 130. At this point, limit switch 127 is contacted by slotted cylinder 122 and the lever 134 of limit switch 133 is engaged by the forward end of the sheet of metal 5. This positively indicates that the sheet of metal 5 is in position on bed 40. If one or the other of limit switches 133 or 127 is not activated at this point, the machine will perform no further operations, since it knows that the sheet of metal is somehow deformed.

However, if both limit switches 127 and 133 are activated, an appropriate signal will be passed to clamping press 60 and mandrel 50 will be clamped atop sheet metal 5 on bed 40. Also at this time, the rollers 143 of side gauges 140 will be retracted out of the path of wing 70.

At this point, wing pivot drives 90 are activated and worms 98 begin to turn. This rotates gear segments 91 which in turn rotate wing 70. Disks 81 of wing carriage 80 ride upwardly on the rollers 84 which are arranged in circular fashion about the circular edge of C-frames 26. A sheet of metal is forced upwardly and into the face 51 of mandrel 50 by tool 75 of wing 70. The face of wing 70, including tool 75, matingly abuts the face 51 of mandrel 50, clamping the end of the sheet of metal therebetween and forcing it to conform to the configuration of the face 51 of mandrel 50.

The apparatus knows when the sheet of metal has been formed since retaining plate 85 or a stud thereon engages top limit switch 103 to signal motors 96 of pivot drives 90 to reverse direction (FIG. 1). Motors 96 then reverse direction, pivoting wing 70 downwardly until retaining plate 85 comes into contact with the lever of bottom limit switch 104. At this point, motor 96 is automatically turned off and the appropriate signal is sent to the toggle cylinder 37 controlling toggles 35.

With the metal bent, toggle cylinder 37 extends its piston to buckle toggle 35 and thereby draw the left side support 20 towards the right side support 20. This causes the sheet of metal 5 to disengage at least one of the mandrels 50 and possibly partially disengage both of them. In order to insure complete disengagement of the sheet of metal from both mandrels 50, and in order to center the sheet of metal for removal from the apparatus, centering cylinders 39 (FIG. 2) are now automatically activated to force the sheet of metal to a central position with respect to the two supports 20. Since the two supports 20 are now closer together due to the shift of left side support 20, this centering movement will cause the sheet of metal to disengage both of the mandrels 50.

At this point a signal is sent to hydraulic cylinder 131 of end stop 130 and end post 135 is drawn upwardly, out of the way of the now formed sheet of metal 5. Conveyor chain 110 is reactivated and the sheet of metal 5 is thereby removed from the forming machine.

The system then returns to its original position in order to complete another manufacturing cycle. This means that left side support 20 returns to its original position through the action of toggles 35, end stop 130 returns to its downward position, side gauges 140 return to their outermost position, and locator 120 returns to its rearmost position with pusher 123 in a down position in order to allow a sheet of metal to pass thereover.

In order to adjust the apparatus for different size sheets of metal, crank 32 is rotated and right side support 20 is thereby moved. In order to insure that right side support 20 does not move inadvertently, appropriate clamping means may be provided for releasably clamping right side support to ways 15.

If one desires to bend the metal into a different configuration, one can replace tool 75 and mandrel 50 with another tool and mandrel of a different mating configuration. Since the uppermost limit to which wing 70 may be moved may be altered by such a change, upper limit switch 103 is adjustably mounted on C-frame 26. Thus, the position of upper limit switch 103 can be varied as is necessary. Preferably, the contacting lever of upper limit switch 103 is also adjustable to provide greater flexibility.

Thus, the present invention provides a wing bending apparatus of extreme versatility and flexibility. If desired, the system can be completely automated. A plurality of bends can be formed into a sheet of metal in a single forming operation. These bends may even be in opposite directions. There is no need to remove the sheet of metal and turn it over in order to obtain bends in opposite directions. To provide further versatility, the forming mandrel and the tool mounted in wing 70 are both replaceable by a tool and mandrel of some other abutting configuration.

Of course, it is understood that the above is merely a preferred embodiment of the invention and that many changes and alterations can be made thereof without departing from the spirit and broader aspects of the invention. Thus, for example, this invention has great utility even if only one support is used for bending the metal. Certainly, additional modification and variations within the scope of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art.