GB2355421A

GB2355421A - Metal blank forming mechanism

Info

Publication number: GB2355421A
Application number: GB0025077A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roy Beecher; Maureen Beecher
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-10-16
Filing date: 2000-10-13
Publication date: 2001-04-25
Anticipated expiration: 2020-10-13
Also published as: GB9924463D0; GB0025077D0; GB2355421B

Abstract

The invention relates to the provision of apparatus which allows the forming and, in particular, scrolling of a metal blank. The apparatus includes first 14 and second scroll forming parts 16 mounted on a common axis and rotatable about a common shaft 6 with the metal blank mounted in the first scroll forming part 14 initially and once formed around said part, said second scroll forming part 16 can be moved into the plane of the first scroll forming part which is then no longer used.

Description

2355421 Metal Blank Forming Mechanism The invention to which this

application relates is apparatus for forming a metal blank into a particular shape such as, for example, a scroll. The apparatus allows the formation of a metal blank in the form of a strip of material to be formed into the scroll using cold working techniques and therefore there is no need to heat the metal prior to the forming operation.

It is well known to form metal blanks into particular shapes such as scrolls and which are then used to form decorative features on wrought iron articles such as gates, fire fenders, fences and the like. At the present time it is also known to form these scrolls mechanically by providing bending apparatus but typically the bending apparatus is powered, and is provided on a relatively large scale as part of a larger machine which means that the apparatus is relatively expensive and therefore can only be afforded by companies who deal in large volumes of said scrolls. The Applicant has earlier patents which disclose apparatus which can be manually or power driven and which provides a scroll forming face formed of first and second parts and wherein the first part is relatively movable in relation to the second part so that the first part is provided to be first engaged with the end of the metal blank to form the inner part of the scroll and then the second part of the blank is automatically released to move to lie in the same plane as the first part and allow the formation of the remainder of the scroll around the second part of the scroll forming mechanism. This invention has been found to be particularly useful in practise and in particular in relation to small scale driven machinery.

The aim of the present invention is to provide an alternative form of apparatus which allows the formation of a scroll in a metal blank 2 and said apparatus is provided with a scroll forming face which has first and second parts which are fixed with respect to each other.

In a first aspect of the invention there is provided scroll forming apparatus to form a metal blank into a scroll, comprising a base, a scroll forming mechanism and actuating means which are connected with relation to the scroll forming mechanism, wherein said scroll forming mechanism comprises a first scroll forming part mounted coaxially and in fixed position with respect to a second scroll forming part, said first and second scroll forming parts positioned in different positions along the axis and said scroll forming parts mounted on a shaft for rotation and which is actuated by an actuating means to allow the movement of the said first and second parts relative to the metal blank to allow the formation of the scroll using the first and second scroll forming parts in turn.

In use, the metal blank is mounted on a retaining means which holds the metal blank in a required position and an end of the metal blank is located in the first scroll forming part which is positioned in the same plane as the metal blank. Rotation of the shaft causes the first scroll forming part to rotate and hence form the first part of the scroll on the metal blank. When the first part of the scroll has been formed, the actuating means is moved to cause the second scroll forming part to move linearly and move into the same plane as the metal bland, hence displacing the first part. When in position, the shaft is again rotated to rotate the second scroll forming part and hence causing the metal blank to be formed around the same to form the second part of the scroll.

In one embodiment, the actuating means is a handle which can be used to impart linear movement of the shaft and also be used to rotate the shaft. The handle can also be provided on a cam means. In one embodiment the handle is provided with a catch which acts 3 to retain the shaft in a position to allow the first scroll forming part to be held in the same plane as the metal blank and when the actuating means is released the catch is released and allows the second part to move into the same plane of the metal blank in place of the first scroll forming part. Typically the movement between the first and second parts of the scroll forming apparatus can be by manual actuation or alternatively, a resilient means such as a spring may be provided so that when the spring is relaxed, the second part of the scroll forming apparatus lies in the same plane as the metal blank and so when the first part of the scroll forming apparatus lies in the same plane of the metal blank and the actuating means is then released, the spring acts to move the second scroll forming part into the same plane as the metal blank.

In one embodiment, and if the scroll forming part of the first part only is required, then a pin or other retaining means may be positioned on the shaft so as to permanently locate the first scroll forming part in the same plane as the metal blank.

In a further embodiment, the apparatus is provided with a guillotine to cut the metal blank/scroll. The guillotine is preferably operated by the actuating means.

A collar can be provided on the shaft which is secured using a grub screw or the like to prevent the shaft from moving between the first and second scroll forming positions when such movement is not required.

Specific embodiments of the invention are now described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:- Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a first embodiment of the invention; 4 Figures 3 and 4 illustrate a further embodiment of the invention; Figures 5 and 6 illustrate a yet further embodiment of the invention; and Figure 7 illustrates a detail of the embodiment of Figures 5 and 6; Figure 8 illustrates an end elevation of a further embodiment of the invention; Figure 9a illustrates an end elevation of a further embodiment of Figure 8 with a sheet metal blank forming apparatus connected to the actuation means shown; Figure 9b illustrates the sheet metal blank forming apparatus shown in plan; Figure 10a, 10b and 10c illustrate a side elevation of the embodiment of Figure 9.

Referring firstly to figures 1 and 2, there is illustrated apparatus according to the invention which comprises a base 2 upon which is provided a stand 4 and, at the top end of the stand 4, is mounted a shaft 6 for rotation as indicated by arrow S. At one end of the shaft 6 there is mounted an actuating means in the form of a handle 10 and at the other end a scroll forming mechanism 12 which comprises a first scroll forming part 14 and a second scroll forming part 16. Also mounted on the stand is a retaining device 18 which serves to support in position a metal blank 20 as shown which is to be formed into a scroll by using the scroll forming mechanism 12.

Figure 1 illustrates the apparatus in a first position at the start of the forming operation and in which an end 22 of the metal blank is positioned in the first scroll forming part 14 with the first scroll forming part lying in the same plane as the metal blank. To bring the first scroll forming part 14 into this position, the handle 10 is moved to the angled position shown by movement of the handle according to arrow 24. The handle is then held in that position manually and this retains the scroll forming part 14 in the same plane as the metal blank. With the handle held in this position it is rotated as indicated by arrow 8 and as it rotates the first scroll forming part rotates and so forms the first part of the metal blank into a first part of the scroll. When full rotation and hence forming of the metal blank around the first scroll forming part 14 is completed, the handle 10 is released which causes the shaft 6 to move in the direction indicated by arrow 26 in Figure 2. The movement of the shaft is caused by the provision of the spring 28 on the shaft and which acts between the stand 4 and the rear of the second scroll forming part 16. As the spring moves it moves the second scroll forming part into the same plane as the metal blank 20 and moves the first scroll forming part 14 out of the same plane as indicated in Figure 2. With the second scroll forming part 16 in the same plane subsequent rotation of the handle 10 causes a remaining portion of the blank 20 to be formed into the remainder of the scroll formation by following the shape of the second scroll forming part 16. When this rotation is completed, th e metal blank can be removed and hence the same has been formed into a scroll by use of the first and second scroll forming parts. Thus it will be appreciated that the first and second scroll forming parts are relatively fixed in position but the position of the mechanism 12 is altered with respect to the stand by use of the actuating means 10 and spring 28.

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the invention in which there is again provided a base 102, stand 104, shaft 106 for rotation 108, handle 110, a scroll forming mechanism 6 t 112 comprising a first scroll forming part 114 and second scroll forming part 116. Again there is provided a retaining means 118 and a metal blank to be formed into a scroll 120. In this arrangement however, the retaining means 118 is provided with a roller formation 130 which is movable along said retaining means 118. In Figure 3 the roller is formed in the first position in which it is held in that position against the force of a spring 132 which is also mounted on the retaining means 118 as shown. With spring and roller held in this position the metal blank 120 lies in the same plane as the first scroll forming part 114 and hence rotation of the shaft 106 as shown by 108 by using the handle 110 causes a portion of the metal blank 120 to be formed into the first scroll part as with the previous embodiment. Figure 4 then illustrates how, when the rotation is completed, the roller 130 can be released to move under the influence of the spring 132 which expands and so causes the roller 130 and the metal blank located in the roller to move into the same plane as the second scroll forming part 116 and away from the first scroll forming part 114. In this position the rotation of the shaft 106 by using the handle 110 causes the remaining portion of the metal blank 120 to be formed into a scroll following the shape of the second scroll forming part 116. When this rotation is completed then the metal blank 120 can be removed and has taken the shape of a scroll as required.

Figures 5 and 6 illustrate a yet further embodiment of the invention and in this arrangement there is provided a base 202 with a stand 204 which supports a shaft 206 for rotation as shown by arrow 208. An actuating means in the form of a handle 210 is provided and first and second scroll forming parts 214, 216 form a scroll forming mechanism 212. A retaining means 218 is provided which supports the metal blank 220 which is to be formed into the scroll. In this arrangement, the actuating means 210 is provided to be pivotally movable around pivot point 240 on the shaft 206. Also provided 7 on the handle 210 is a clip mechanism 242 which is provided with biasing means 244 in the form of a spring mounted on the handle in relation to the clip. In Figure 5 the apparatus is shown in a first arrangement whereby the handle 210 is moved to the angled position shown and this causes the clip 242 to contact with a lip 246 on the stand 204. This contact retains the shaft 206 in a first withdrawn position and at the same time brings the first scroll forming part 214 into the same plane as the metal blank 220 as shown in figure 5. Thus, rotation of the shaft 206 by using the handle 210 causes the metal blank to follow the shape of the first scroll forming part 214 and so form the first part of the scroll. When rotation of the first scroll forming part is complete, then the handle 210 can be released to be moved to the position shown in figure 6 and in this position a clip 242 is released from the lip 246 of the stand 204 and so the shaft moves as indicated by arrow 248 to bring the second scroll forming part 216 into the same plane as the metal blank 220. As before the remaining part of the scroll can be formed on the metal blank by rotating the shaft 206 and so causing the blanks to take the form of the second scroll forming part 216.

Thus it will be seen in each instance that the first and second scroll forming parts are provided coaxially and spaced relative to the other but are each fixed in relative positions and it is the moving of other components of the apparatus which allows the scroll to be formed in a metal blank in a two-stage process. It is also found in use that this greatly simplifies the product in comparison with the previous apparatus and allows the product to be manufactured relatively cheaply but yet provide efficient and accurate scroll forming.

Figure 7 illustrates a detail of the embodiment of Figures 5 and 6 and illustrates the shaft 206, handle 210 and first and second scroll forming parts 214, 216 of a scroll forming mechanism.It also 8 shows a pin 250 which can be located in an aperture 252 in the shaft and which pin allows the shaft to be held in the position shown in Figure 5 without the need for the handle 210 to be constantly held. It is envisaged that this arrangement be particularly advantageous if repeated use of the first scroll forming part only is required to form relatively small scrolls in metal blanks and where there is no requirement for subsequent movement of the second scroll forming part 216 into the plane of the metal blank 220. It should therefore be appreciated that in each of the embodiments, it is possible that only the first scroll forming part or indeed the second scroll forming part may be required to be used to form a scroll in accordance with the invention.

Figure 8 illustrates a further embodiment of the invention and in this arrangement there is provided a base 302 with a stand having a first portion 304 and a second portion 312. The second portion 312 is pivotally movable relative to first portion 304 around pivot point 314,, as shown by arrow 320. The second portion 312 supports a shaft 306 for rotation as shown by arrow 308 and as described in the previous embodiments. An actuating means in the form of a handle 310 is provided.

A guillotine 316 is provided to cut the metal blank/scroll. The cutting blade of the guillotine acts against surface 318. In operation, the handle is used to pivot second portion 312 around pivot point 314 to move the guillotine 316 between open and closed positions as shown by arrow 320. The metal blank/scroll is rested on surface 318 prior to cutting. Fastening means (not shown) can be provided between first portion 304 and second portion 312 to ensure the guillotine 316 remains in a closed position when the apparatus is not in use and/or when the scroll function of the apparatus is being used.

9 Figures 9a and b illustrate a yet further embodiment of the embodiment in Figure 8 and in this arrangement the handle 310 is provided in a slot 322 at the end 324 of shaft 306. In turn the end of the shaft is located in a cam 325 as shown. This figure also shows that the apparatus can be used to perform bending, punching or other forming features on sheet metal blanks by connecting the apparatus 330 in this case for forming right angle bends, to the actuation means as shown so that as the actuation means are moved so the forming apparatus is moved as indicated by arrow 332 onto the sheet metal blank to form the same.

Figure 10a and 10b illustrate a side elevation of the embodiment in Figure 9 without the sheet metal forming means shown. The shaft 306 is located in cam 325 at one end and first and second scroll forming parts, 326 and 328 respectively, at the other end. The movement of the shaft 306 is caused by the provision of a spring 330 on the shaft and which acts between the stand 304 and the rear of the second scroll forming part 328 as described in the embodiments above. A collar 332 is located on shaft 306 and is secured to the same using a grub screw (not shown) to prevent the shaft from sliding when cutting. It also prevents the shaft 306 from moving outwards as illustrated in Figure 10b. However, it is noted that the scroll forming mechanism and/or cutting mechanism still functions without the provision of the collar 332.

Handle 310 levers the shaft at the point 334, as illustrated in Figure 10b, and causes compression of spring 330 in bringing the first scroll forming part 326 into position to form the first part of the scroll, as described in Figure 1. A ring or washer 336 can be provided against which the handle 310 can be levered and this can be provided in any of the earlier described embodiments such as that shown in Figure 1.

Claims

1. Scroll forming apparatus to form a metal blank into a scroll, comprising a base, a scroll forming mechanism and actuating means which are connected with relation to the scroll forming mechanism, wherein said scroll forming mechanism comprises a first scroll forming part mounted coaxially and in fixed position with respect to a second scroll forming part, said first and second scroll forming parts positioned in different positions along the axis and said scroll forming parts mounted on a shaft for rotation and which is actuated by an actuating means to allow the movement of the said first and second parts relative to the metal blank to allow the formation of the scroll using the first and second scroll forming parts in turn.

2. Scroll forming apparatus according to claim 1 wherein initially the metal blank is mounted on a retaining means which holds the metal blank in a required position and an end of the metal blank is located in the first scroll forming part which is positioned in the same plane as the metal blank.

3. Scroll forming apparatus according to claim 2 wherein rotation of the shaft causes the first scroll forming part to rotate and hence form the first part of the scroll on the metal blank.

4. Scroll forming apparatus according to claim 3 wherein when the first part of the scroll has been formed, the actuating means is moved to cause the second scroll forming part to move linearly and move into the same plane as the metal bland, and when in position, the shaft is rotated to rotate the second scroll forming part and hence causing the metal blank to be formed around the same to form the second part of the scroll.

11

5. Scroll forming apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the actuating means is a handle which can be selectively used to impart linear movement of the shaft and be used to rotate the shaft.

6. Scroll forming apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the handle is provided with a catch which acts to retain the shaft in a position to allow the first scroll forming part to be held in the same plane as the metal blank and when the actuating means is released the catch is released and allows the second part to move into the same plane of the metal blank in place of the first scroll forming p art.

7. Scroll forming apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the movement between the first and second parts of the scroll forming apparatus is by manual actuation.

8. Scroll forming apparatus according to claim 6 wherein a resilient means such as a spring may be provided so that when the spring is relaxed, the second part of the scroll forming apparatus lies in the same plane as the metal blank and so when the first part of the scroll forming apparatus lies in the same plane of the metal blank and the actuating means is then released, the spring acts to move the second scroll forming part into the same plane as the metal blank.

9. Scroll forming apparatus according to claim 1 wherein if the scroll forming part of the first part only is required, then a pin or other retaining means is provided positioned on the shaft so as to locate the first scroll forming part in the same plane as the metal blank and prevent movement of the second part.

10. Scroll forming apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the apparatus can be used for any or any 12 combination of punching, bending or pressing sheet metal upon movement of the actuation means,

11. Scroll forming apparatus as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.