NZ191145A - Forming s shape at edge of metal sheets - Google Patents

Description

191145 NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT, 1953 No.: 191145 Date: 2 7 July 19 79 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION "Improvements in or relating to forming means" XD?We, FISHER § PAYKEL LIMITED, a company duly incorporated under the laws of New Zealand of Mt. Wellington Highway, Mt. Wellington, Auckland, New Zealand hereby declare the invention for which I / we pray that a patent may be granted to me/us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- 191145 This invention relates to forming means.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a forming means which will at least provide the public with a useful choice.

Accordingly in one aspect the invention consists in a method of forming a substantially S-shaped formation in a sheet of metal, said method comprising the steps of clamping the sheet of metal in position relative to a fixed anvil, said anvil defining the profile of one concavity of the S-shaped formation; rotating a first former about its axis between a first position and a second position to form said one concavity, and to cause a further part of the sheet of metal to be moved towards a second former for subsequent engagement by said second former; rotating the first former clear and displacing said second former towards said anvil between a third position and a fourth position to form a second concavity in the metal facing in the opposite direction to said one concavity.

In a further aspect the invention consists in a forming means for forming a substantially S-shaped formation in a piece of sheet metal comprising: a fixed anvil shaped to define the profile of one concavity in the piece of sheet metal; clamping means for holding the piece of sheet metal in a position relative to said anvil; a first former rotatable about an axis between a first position and a second position to form the sheet metal about a portion of said anvil thus providing said one concavity and to cause a further part of said sheet metal to be moved . awards a second former for subsequent engagement by said 1 - 2 - i ?i;45 second former; a second former displaceable towards said anvil from a third position to a fourth position for forming a second concavity in the piece of sheet metal facing in the opposite direction to said one bend; and displacing means to rotate said first former and displace said second former.

To those skilled in the art to which this invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The disclosures and the descriptions herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

One preferred form of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a part cross section of a forming machine according to the invention, and Figure 2 is a perspective sketch of part of a sheet of metal folded according to the invention.

Referring to the drawings, a forming machine according to the invention is shown in part in figure 1 and comprises frame members of which the RHS section 1 forms part, such RHS section carrying a clamping member 2. Rollers 3 which 19114 may be driven by a driving flexible member 4 are provided to feed a sheet of metal into position relative to the clamping member 2. A further clamping member 5 is provided movable by a movable RHS member 6 having a pivot 7 connected to a link 8, the link 8 being connected by a pivot 9 to the clamping member 5. The clamping member 5 has an anvil 10 shaped to provide a first concavity or channel 11 in the sheet of metal 12 (figure 2). A shaped rotatable forming bar 15 is rotatable on its axis 16 there being a suitable trunnion 17 disposed one at each end of the rotatable forming bar 15. This bar rotates through approximately 180° to the position shown in pecked lines at 18 (figure 1).

A further movable forming bar 20 is provided movable, for example, by a rod or series of rods 21 actuated by hydraulic piston and cylinder arrangements shown in part at 22. These rods are mounted on a channel member 23. The "S3 movable member 20 has a shaped nose and is movable in a translatable manner through a small amount of movement as will be described further later.

The operation of the constructions is as follows: A sheet of metal, for example, to form the wrapper of a white goods casing e.g. a refrigerator casing is advanced by the roller 3 until in a suitable position when it is stopped by a stop means (not shown) contacting the forward end of the sheet of metal. The clamping member 5 is then clamped onto the sheet of metal with the nooc 10 holding the sheet of metal at the position where the first channel 11 is to be made. The rotatable forming bar 15 is then rotated from the position shown in full lines in figure 1 to the further ... 1 91 1 45 % position shown in pecked lines at 18. During this movement the initial forming of the sheet of metal 30 is simply one A J. P. & S, folding the metal around the twain or. anvil 10 of the la,-clamping member 5 with the shoulder If# forming the metal . .cv\el sl^»oo'lalc/ R, onto the beak 32^of movable member 20, thus setting the.free end 36 of the sheet metal relative to the flange 37 of the second channel. However on the sheet of metal attaining the position shown at 31, the flange 37 will contact the beak 32 of member 20 and the nose 33 will then press the metal eventually into the shape shown at 34 (figure 1) through A. J. P. & S4 Iinteraction of beak*- 32 and nose 33. When the bar 15 attains the position shown in pecked lines at 18, the bar 15 is then returned to its position in full lines or at least so that the nose 33 is clear of the beak 32 and the movable member 20 is then moved downwardly and forwardly to close the sheet metal until a further concavity or channel 35 (figure 2) is formed in the sheet metal and the part 36 of the sheet metal previously positioned by shoulder 38 is substantially at right angles to the main part of the sheet metal 12 which is still held between the clamping members 5 and 2. If desired the rotatable member 15 is rotated until the nose 33 is suitably positioned to assist in locating the flange 37 substantially at right angles. The movable member 20 is then withdrawn and the clamp 5 released so that the sheet of metal can again be driven by the moving roller 3 together with the other rollers if necessary, the operation being complete.

It will be seen that the above apparatus forms a substantially S shaped formation quickly and effectively.

Claims (6)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: ' 101145

1. A method of forming a substantially S-shaped formation in a sheet of metal, said method comprising the steps of clamping the sheet of metal in position relative to a fixed anvil, said anvil defining the profile of one concavity of the S-shaped formation; rotating a first former about its axis between a first position and a second position to form said one concavity, and to cause a further part of the sheet of metal to be moved towards a second former for subsequent engagement by said second former; rotating the first former clear and displacing said second former towards said anvil between a third position and a fourth position to _ form a second concavity in the metal facing in the opposite A. L Ps & S. direction to said one bewd,

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second former is moved translatably.

3. A method of forming a substantially S-shaped formation in a sheet of metal when effected substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.

4. A forming means for forming a substantially S-shaped formation in a piece of sheet metal comprising: a fixed anvil shaped to define the profile of one concavity in the piece of sheet metal; clamping means for holding the piece of sheet metal in a position relative to said anvil? a first former rotatable about an axis between a first position and a second position to form the sheet metal about a portion of said anvil thus providing said one concavity and to A. J. & S* (L-7MAYI984* —Co- ^ m i o -i 4 v> <• *■ cause a further part of said sheet metal to be moved towards a second former for subsequent engagement by said second former; a second former displaceable towards said anvil from a third position to a fourth position for forming a second concavity in the piece of sheet metal facing in the opposite direction to said one bend; and displacing means to rotate said first former and displace said second former.

5. A forming means as claimed in claim 4 wherein said first former has a shaped nose and angled shoulder and said second former has a shaped beak, and interaction between said beak and said nose preforming the sheet metal preparatory to said second former moving to complete the formation of said second concavity, the junction between said nose and said shoulder A. J. P. & S. c^srxasaotV^. setting the position of the outer flange of said second bend «• \U>' tj ««

6. A forming means when constructed arranged and operable substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings. DAY OF Mi SON tJ THE APPLICANT A. J. P. ^ S. -7.