Metal deforming – By use of roller or roller-like tool-element – Comprising tool movable relative to stationary work-portion...
Patent
1992-12-04
1994-09-27
Crane, Daniel C.
Metal deforming
By use of roller or roller-like tool-element
Comprising tool movable relative to stationary work-portion...
72387, B21D 7024
Patent
active
053498380
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a bending head with multiple tools for a machine for bending metal wires.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Two major classes of machines are presently in existence for use in the bending of metal wires; i.e., (2) those machines which are used in large-scale production, and which include bending tools which are placed in a position which corresponds to the shape which is to be imparted to the metal wire, and (2) those machines which are used in small-scale production, which, unlike the previously mentioned machines, require only a small amount of tooling in order to change from one shape to another.
The machines in category (2) above, which are used to bend wire, are virtually all designed in the same way. In this method, the wire is taken from a spool or coil, passes through a straightening device, and is then processed by a handling system which delivers the desired length of wire to the bending tool, which generally consists of a finger and a bending unit, between which the metal wire passes, with the pivoting of the tool resulting in the bending of the wire.
The disadvantage of these machines is that they generally consist of only a single tool, but in order to achieve bends with different radii of curvature, it is necessary to combine the work of that tool with the forward motion of the wire, which in some cases renders it impossible to obtain an accurate result.
The present invention makes it possible to remedy these disadvantages by providing a bending head having multiple tools, whose design is simple, and which can be readily affixed to machines for bending metal wires.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, these and other objects have now been accomplished by the discovery of apparatus for bending metal wires passing along a predetermined axis including a longitudinally extending arm pivotable about that predetermined axis, the apparatus comprising a bending head affixed to the longitudinally extending arm, the bending head including a rotatable cage mounted on the arm and rotatable about a cage axis which is perpendicular to the predetermined axis, motor means for rotating the rotatable cage about the cage axis, a plurality of tool carrying members having a longitudinal axis and mounted within the rotatable cage for slidable movement along the longitudinal axis thereof between a rest position within the cage and an extended position whereby the tool carried by the tool carrying member projects from the cage into the path of the metal wire, selection means for selectively actuating a selected one of the plurality of tool carrying members and moving that selected one of the plurality of tool carrying members from its rest position to its extended position, and tool carrying member rotation means for rotating the selected one of the tool carrying members about its longitudinal axis. Preferably, the motor means includes gear means for rotating the rotatable cage.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, the apparatus includes channel means incorporated in the cage means and adapted for guiding the slidable movement of a selected one of the plurality of tool carrying members.
In accordance with another embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, the plurality of tool carrying members each includes groove means at a location distal from the tool mounted thereon, and including ring means operatively associated with the plurality of groove means for mounting the plurality of tool carrying members within the cage.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, the apparatus includes a cylindrical housing and the rotatable cage is mounted within the crylindrical housing. Preferably the selection means includes jackscrew means mounted on the cylindrical housing, the jackscrew means including an actuatable rod for causing the selected one of the plurality of tool carrying members to slidably move from its rest position to its extend
REFERENCES:
patent: 3299681 (1967-01-01), Hautau
patent: 4571974 (1986-02-01), Pollhammer
patent: 4718265 (1988-01-01), Post
Crane Daniel C.
Latour & Fils S.A.
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