GB944733A - Apparatus and method for forming sinuous spring strip - Google Patents

Abstract

944,733. Bending wire to form sinuous spring strip. ROCKWELL-STANDARD CORPORATION. July 24, 1961, No. 26686/61. Heading B3E. [Also in Division B8] A machine for forming a continuous length of wire into a sinuous spring of the multiple torsion bar multiple spacer bar type comprises means for gripping a substantially straight length of wire at spaced regions along its length, means for turning said gripping means so that torsion bar portions of the wire held thereby are each in a predetermined angular relation to the spacer bar portions thereof intermediate said spaced regions, and forming tool means mounted for movement into forming engagement with said spacer bar portions of the wire while said torsion bar portions are held in said predetermined relation to straighten said spacer bar portions so that said torsion bar portions will remain in said predetermined angular relation upon release of the formed wire from said gripping means. A plurality of wires 66, to be bent to the form shown in Fig. 1, are carried from a channel 536, Fig. 35, by a transfer arm 500 and presented thereby to aligned throats 94 of a series of wire-forming heads 68, the wires being held in a throat 594 in the arm 500 during transfer by a spring-urged gate 608 and being ejected from the throat 594 by a member 628 reciprocated by a shaft 634. The heads 68 are connected to one another by links 70 and are formed with projecting bending anvils 82, 84, Fig. 10. Each head 68 is splined on a shaft 152 rotatable 90 degrees by a rack 238 engaging a pinion on the shaft 152 and moved by an hydraulic cylinder 158. As alternate heads 68 are rotated clockwise and anticlockwise to bend the wires 66 they close upon one another by virtue of the links 70, the heads 168 being carried by frames 166, 170, pivotally mounted on arms 174, 178 in turn pivoted on members 182, 184. After this bending, hammer members 108 carried by upper and lower ram plates 116, 112 are moved to engage and straighten those parts of the wire extending between the heads 68. The ram plates 116, 112 are reciprocated by crank and link mechanism 410, 420, 436, operated by hydraulic cylinders 440. The bend wires are ejected from the heads 68 by heads 156 on ejecting rods 314 moved through the shafts 152 by hydraulic cylinders 326, Fig. 4 (not shown). The heads 68 are spread to their original position by members 356 driven through gearing by hydraulic cylinder 366. In a modification, Fig. 47, the heads 68 are replaced by heads 804 and the links 70 are omitted, head-carrying assemblies 146, 148 being interconnected by pull rods 806. U.S.A. Specifications 2,160,020, 2,188,406, 2,331,294, 2,399,563 and 2,684,844 are referred to.