GB210565A - Improvements in and relating to machines for bending and shaping wire and the like material - Google Patents

Abstract

210,565. British Thomson-Houston Co., Ltd., and Kingwell, K. F. Nov. 20,1922. Making metal fabrics; corrugating; formers.-A machine for bending and shaping wire into the form of grid such as is used in making electrical resistances comprises a pivoted arm which folds the wire on a series of formers mounted on an endless chain, automatic means being provided to bring the formers successively into position. The pivoted arm 1 carrying a guide 49 fitted with wire straightening-rollers, is provided with curved arms 50 (Fig. 7) to prevent too sharp bending of the wire and is oscillated from a toothed segment on an arm 4 which is operated through a connecting rod 11 from a crank disc on a vertical shaft 16 driven from the main shaft 14. The wire is passed from a drum to the guide 49 over a pulley 52 which is counterweighted to maintain the tension of the wire during the swinging of the arm 1. The formers each comprise a formed hardened top 17 secured to a base 18 which is adapted to slide in ways on the table 26 and which carries a lower plate 19 having pins 20 which engage the links of an endless chain running over pulleys 21. A jockey pulley 24 is provided to keep the operative portion of the chain horizontal. The formers are lifted successively by means of levers 36 carrying spring pins and actuated by cams on a cross shaft 31. A ram 39 actuated through toggle levers 40 and bell-crank lever 44 from a cam 47 on the cross-shaft serves to push the formers into position beneath a spring pressed plate 29 and to move the chain through one link to bring the next former into position. The lifting and positioning of the formers are both effected while the wire guide is in one of its extreme positions. After the formers have passed beyond the pressure plate 29 the inclined portion of the chain causes their gradual withdrawal from the formed grid which passes off over guides into a receptacle, the formers being recessed to allow the removal of the grid without distortion.