IE59563B1

IE59563B1 - Improvements in steel rule benders

Info

Publication number: IE59563B1
Application number: IE318886A
Authority: IE
Original assignee: Mcardle Ltd Jospeh
Priority date: 1986-12-04
Filing date: 1986-12-04
Publication date: 1994-03-09
Also published as: GB8726302D0; IE863188L; GB2198065A; GB2198065B; ZA873422B

Abstract

The bender 1 comprises a base plate 2 and means 5,6,12 for releasably fixing a first die 7 on the base plate 2. A mounting means 14 is provided for moveably mounting a second die 13 on the base plate 2, for movement of the second die 13 towards and away from the first die 7. The means 5 for supporting the first die 7 is arranged in the same region 22 of the base plate 2 as the mounting means 14 for the second die 13 relative to the first die, so that the region 21 of the base plate 2 remote from the second die 13 is free of any obstacles.

Description

The present invention relates to steel rule benders, which are used in the print packaging industry for the purpose of forming pre-sharpened lengths of steel strip.

In the manufacture of cartons, labels and shaped cut-outs etc., a suitably formed sharpened steel rule is fixed into a slot in a base member to form a cutting tool. This tool is then used in a blanking press to cut out the cartons, labels or other cut-outs from sheet material.

The steel rule is formed or bent to the desired shape in a steel rule bender. The steel rule may be of any suitable dimensions however it is usually approximately 12.5mro in height relative to the base member and about 0.5mm in thickness.

These are at present two types of steel rule benders available. One type uses matched sets of male and female ’ tools or dies of various profiles. These dies are held in the bender by die holders, one of which is fixed in position while the other is mounted on a sliding plate f ί· which is moved either manually by a handle or by a pneumatic/hydraulic system.

The other type of bender is known as a pillar or mandrel bender. This bender uses a die-holder on a sliding part and a selection of shaped pillars of varying diameters. These pillars are normally used to form circular shapes or radii and are supported by fixtures mounted on the base plate of the bender.

A problem with the known types of bender is that when certain shapes of steel rules are required, for example rectangles, the fixture used to support the fixed die acts as an obstacle which can deform a partly-shaped piece of steel rule while it is being formed.

Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved steel rule bender in which the above problem is mitigated. According to the invention there is provided a steel rule bender comprising a base plate, means for releasably fixing a first die on the base plate, and means for mounting a second die on the base plate for movement towards and away from the first die, the dies being so constructed that movement of the second die towards the first die is effective in use of the bender to cause a steel rule located between the dies to be bent around the first die into the region of the base plate remote from the second die, wherein the means for releasably fixing the first die and the means for mounting the second die both contact the base plate only on the opposite side of the first die to the region into which the rule is bent so that such region is free of obstacles.

In a preferred form of the invention the means for releasably fixing the first die comprises a die holder which co-operates with a bracket, the bracket having a slot which acts as a guide for the movement of the movable die.

Further preferably, the bracket has a flange portion for accommodating a holder for the fixed die.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an improved steel rule bender according to the invention; and Figure 2 is a perspective view of the bracket of the bender of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawings wherein similiar numerals have been used to indicate like parts, there is shown therein an embodiment of an improved steel rule bender according to the invention generally indicated at 1. The steel rule bender 1 comprises a base plate 2 and a support frame 3 adapted to be secured to a bench or other structure (not shown). The base plate 2 has fixed thereon a bracket 4 which includes a flange portion 5 for accommodating a holder 6 for a fixed pillar die 7. The holder 6 projects downwardly from the flange portion 5, the holder being hollow and having a suitable aperture (not shown) at its lower end 8 to receive the upper end 9 of the fixed pillar die 7. The lower end 11 of the pillar die is accommodated in a recess 12 formed in the base plate 2 directly below the holder 6.

A second die 13 is secured to a support 14 which is engaged in a slot 15 defined between the side walls 16 of the bracket 4. The support 14 is attached at the end 17 opposite to the second die 13, to a suitable lever means 18 to effect movement of the support 14 and second die 13 towards the fixed die 7. A screw threaded rod 20 is provided on the support 14 and co-operates with the bracket 4 to selectively limit the travel of the second die 13.

In use, a steel rule (not shown) to be formed into a desired shape, is interposed between the fixed and movable dies 7,13 respectively, and the lever means 18 is operated to move the movable die 13 towards the fixed die 7 and bend the steel rule to the desired shape.

Since the region 21 of the base plate 2 remote from the movable die 13, is free of any obstacles, there is no obstacle present to interfere with the portion of the steel rule which is bent into this region 21. Thus, the advantage of the invention is that since the bracket 4 is fixed to the base plate 2, in the region of the movable die 13, the region 21 of the base plate 2 is free of any obstacle which would interfere with a steel rule which is being formed.

Claims

1. . A steel rule bender comprising a base plate, means for releasably fixing a first die on the base plate, and means for mounting a second die on the base plate for movement towards and away from the first die, the dies being so constructed that movement of the second die towards the first die is effective in use of the bender to cause a steel rule located between the dies to be bent around the first die into the region of the base plate remote from the second die, wherein the means for releasably fixing the first die and the means for mounting the second die both contact the base plate only on the opposite side of the first die to the region into which the rule is bent so that such region is free of obstacles.

2. A steel rule bender as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the means for releasably fixing the first die comprises a die holder which co-operates with a bracket, the bracket having a slot which acts as a guide for the movement of the movable die.

3. A steel rule bender as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the bracket has a flange portion for accommodating the holder for the fixed die.

4. A steel rule bender substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.