US1691032A - Sheet-metal-bending machine - Google Patents

Description

W. BITTNER SHEET METAL BENDING MACHINE Nov. 13, 1928. 1,691,032

Filed Dec. 50, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 2

INVENTOR WILL/AM 517mm ATTORNEY Nov. 13, 1928.

w. BITTNER SHEET METAL BENDING MACHINE Filed Dec. :50, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .9

llllllllll INVENTOR WILL/AM B/ TTNER hzr w A TTORNE Y Patented Nov. 13, 1928.

WILLIAM BITTNER, or BRO KLYN, NEW YoRK.

SHEET-METAL-BENDING MACHINII.

Application filed December 30, 1927. Serial No. 243,674.

My invention relates to a machine .used for the purpose of bending the edges of thin sheet metal. In the sheet metal trade, it is necessary to make a great many joints, and

to do this the edges of the metal must be bent substantially at-right angles to the main body portion of the sheet, and so far as I am aware there is no machine thatwill :do this work, in one operation.

In my Patent 1,613,307, issued January 4th,

1927, I have shown and described amachine which will do the work in two operations, and after considerable study of the problem and many experiments, I' have discovered means of bending the edge of the metal substantially at right angles to the rest ofthe sheet in one pass of the metal through the machine; and it is therefore the principal object of my invention to provide a machine which will accomplish this purpose, thereby saving a tremendous lot of time in the for1ning of the edges of the sheet metal. Another object of my invention is to provide a device which will do this work,'that is relatively simple and inexpensive in first cost, and upkeep.

Another object of my invention is to provide a machine which may be readily replaced in whole, or in part by a new apparatus or parts thereof.

These and other objects will be apparent to one skilled in the art ofsheet'meta-l working after a study of the specification taken in connection with the annexed drawing, wherein, Figure lis a plan view of the top of the machine, showing the cover of the bending device per se in open position.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the complete machine, showing the driving motor and the driving motor coupling the switch and connecting gear mechanism. 9

Figure 3 is a view on a reduced scale, but

larger than that shown in Figures 1 and 2, of the unitary structure which is used in bending the metal.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the bending'rolls and an auxilliary bending device, used with the bending rolls. i

Figure 5 is a part sectional view substantially full size through the unitary bending structure, with certain parts removed, those shown being substantially full size.

edge is rolled up to the Figure is an enlarged view of the auxilllary forming device used with the rolls, the

view being an elevation looking at Figure at w from the bottom of the sheet toward the top.

Figure? is a perspective view of the top end of Figure 6 turned at 180 degrees.

Figure 8 is an end view of a piece of sheet metal coming from the machine, while Figure 9.is a plan viewshowing how the ure 8.

Referring now to the details wherein like numbers refer to corresponding parts inthe various views: 1 is a stand preferably made of structural steel, having a substantially flat top2 of any suitable material, such as cast iron. Mounted on the bottom of the top 2 is an electric motor 3, operated by a switch or controller 4, The motor shaft, by means of a coupling 5, is connected to apair of worm gears housed within the housing 6. From the gear case 6 extends a shaft 7 upwardly through the table top 2. I

The important part of my machineres'ides in the unitary structure mounted on the to of the table; This comprises a housingS pre, erably having a cover or lid 9, hinged to the housing 8, in any suitable manner, as by pivot bolt 10 which passes through lugs on both the housing and the cover, which keeps position shown in Fig foreign material from getting in between the gears and also preventing the operator from acc dentally gett ng caught in the gears.

The bottom side of the housing 8 is ma chined off to provide a seat 11, which fits on the top 2, and is held thereto by a pair of bolts'12, Adjacent the seat 11, the housing is machined out at13, to provide a space or seat for the forming roll 14, the seat 13 having sufli'cient depth, so that the face of the formingroll 14:, is slightly belowthe seat 11 of the housing, so that the roll does not engage the stand top 2. The roll 14 referably has a hub 15, extending through tie wall of the housing 16, and fitting snugly therein so as to act as a guide and support for the forming roller 14. The hub 15 has a keyway' 17, to key the hub 15 to the driving shaft 7, on

is used to hold the gear 18 in position. It will be noted from Figure 3 that the inner surface of the wall of the housing is machined at to provide a free running space for the gear 18. I

Adjacent the cut away portion 13, which is provided for the forming roll 14,.the bottom of the housing, represented by the line 21 is cut away at an angle, and positioned substantially at right angles to this annular portion 21. there is mounted through the wall '16 of the housing, a stub shaft 22, on the outer end of which is carried a forming roller 23, and within the housing a gear, 24 is keyed to the stub shaft and held in position thereon by a nut 25. The stub shaft is carried in a hearing bushing 26, preferably made of a good quality of brass or bronze. The bushing 26 is preferably in the form shown in Figure 4, and against the flat face 27, there is positioned the plate 28 preferably of steel, which is engaged by an adjusting screw 29,.carried in a bushing 30, supported in the wall ofthe housing. After the adjusting screw 29 has been set as hereinafter explained, it is locked in position by a s'etscrew 39 see Figure To the outer end of the adjusting screw 29, is fastened an adjusting member 31, on which is carried an indicator 32, calibrated at to indicate the thickness of the sheet. metal to be passed between the forming roll. After the indicator 32 has been set to the proper.

point, as will be hereinafter described it is locked in place by a set screw 34. On account of the stub shaft 22 and its gear 24, and forming roll 23 being set at an angle the two gears 18 and 24 are tapered to accommodate this position of mounting of the stub shaft. As will be noted from Figures 3 and 5, the forming roll 23-has a tapered knurled peripheral edge, the lmurling being provided for the purpose of gripping the metal so as to draw it between the two rolls 14 and 23.

I have found thissetting of the stub shaft on the forming roller 23 to be necessary in order to bend the edge of the metal at right angles,-and as a further essential feature, I have found it necessary to use aforming device, which comprises a stud 35 made of a suitable grade of steel, which may be posi .tioned in the top 2, as shown in Figures 3 and From Figure 4, it will be seen that the forming device 35 is positioned to one side of the central line oining the-two rolls 14 and. 23, and has an end. especially formed and projecting between the peripheral edges ofthe roll er. One side of this specially shaped end is arcuately cut at 86 to substantially the same are as the forming roller 14, and as shown in Figure 4, has a clearance from the edge of the roll 14. of approximately five thousandths of an inch. The other side 37 of said projecting end is peculiarly formed in a. manner which I have determined by experiment to be the best for holding the edge of the sheet metal in such a position as to start it curving as indi-- cated in Figures 8 and 9, and as the roll 23 due to its knurled surfacedrags the metal through between the rolls 14 and 23, the forming device just indicated start-s the bending operation and holds the metal in such a position that-the rolls perform the rest of the work. 7

As has been indicated the stub shaft 22, its gear 24 and forming roll 23 may be adjusted bodily in a lateral direction by the adjusting mechanism described, and by means of the gauge the rollsmay be set with respect to each other to accommodate various thicknesses of metalwithin a given ran e, for a given size of the unitary device. As will be seen from Figures 3 and 5, the forming roll 23, is positioned in a different plane from the forming roll 14 and there is a clearance below theface of the forming roll for the sheet of metal being operated on, to pass beneath the forming roll and housing.

While I have shown the forming device 35 as mounted in the table top 2, it may be positioned in the wall 16 of the housing 8. When mounted as in Figure 5, in the stand top 2 it may be put in by a pressed fit sothat it will not shift in position, but in order to remove it for fitting in a new one, the stud 38 is provided for forcing the forming device 35 out of the top 2.

I have found that my object is obtained, that is to say, the edge of the metal is bent at right angles, when the stub-shaft 22 and its associated forming roll 23, are set at an angle of approximately seven and one half degrees and when so set, I prefer to divide the taper on the two gears 18 and 24 evenly, it being.

understood that the teeth on these gears are of suflicient' depth to allow for the lateral displacement of the'stub shaft and its parts to accommodate various gauges of sheet metal. In thedevice shown this will form sheet metal up to approximately fort-y thousandths of an inch thick; and for heavier gauges the parts of course, are proportionately enlarged, or changed to meet the condi tion of thicker metal, or an edge wider than that which is to be formed in the particular device shown, and described herein. All of these changes and others indicate that the details may be varied over considerable range, without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims. Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: p

l 1. In a sheet metal bending machine, at least two rolls spaced apart, means for driving said rolls, means associated withat least one of said rolls for drawing a sheet of metal so that a portion passes between said rolls, and a forming device positioned between the peripheries of said rolls and to one side of the line joining their centers, said forming device extending so as to intersect the planes of said ing said rolls,

one of said rolls for drawing a sheet of metal g on the stub shaft being somewhat rolls and having a face contour which functioning with the rolls, turns the edge of the metal to the desired. angle. 7

2. In a sheet metal bending machine, at least two rolls, spaced apart, means for drivmeans associated with at least so a portion passes between said rolls, means for adjusting at least one of said rolls with respect to the other to accommodate sheets of varying thickness and a forming device positioned between the peripheries of said rolls and to one side of the line joining their centers, said forming device extending so as to intersect the planes of said rolls and having a face contour which functioning with the rolls, turns the edge of the metal to the desired angle.

3. In a sheet metal bending machine, at least two rolls spaced apart, and having their axes set at an angle to each other, means for drivingsaid rolls, means for quickly adjuste ing the distance between said axes to operate on sheets of varying thickness, means asso ciated with theadjustable roll for drawing a sheet of metal so a portion passes between said rollsiand a forming device positioned between the peripheries of said rolls and to one side of the line joining their centers, said forming device extending so as to intersect the planes of said rolls and having a face contour which functioning with the rolls, turns the edge of the metal to the desiredangle.

4. In a sheetmetal bending machine, a

driving shaft having a gear and'roll thereon,

a stub shaft having a gear in mesh with the gear on the driving shaft and a roll adjacent the first roll, said stub shaft being set at an angle with respect to the drive shaft, whereby the plane of the roll thereon is at an angle to the plane of the roll on the'driving shaft, said stub shaft with its gear and roll being bodily adjustable laterally with respect to the driving shaft, its gear and roll, means associated with'one of said rolls for driving sheet metal therebetween, and a forming device poistioned between the peripheries of said rolls but offset from a straight line joining the centers of said rolls and cooperating with said rolls to turn the edge of the metal substantially at right angles to the rest of the sheet. i

5. In a sheet metal bending machine, a driving shaft having a gear and roll thereon a stub shaft having a gear in mesh with the gear on the driving shaft and a roll adjacent the first roll, said stub shaft being set at an angle with respect to the drive shaft, said roll elevated above the first roll and having its plane at an angle to the plane of the first roll and having means for drawing metal between it and the first roll, means for shifting the stub shaft with its gear androll laterally with respect to the driving shaft for the purpose described, and a. device. having especially formed end extending betweensaid rolls and cooperating with them to turn the edge of the metal to the desired angle. 6. A machine for bendingithe edge of thin metal comprising a stand having a fiat top and carrying a suitable driving means below said top, a unitary structure rigidly mounted on the upper part of said top, said unitary structure consisting of a box having a readily removable cover, and havinga seat on its bottom side,

at one end to fiton said.

stand top and a cut away portion adjacent said seat and a further portion cut at an angle to the first cut away portion, a roll positioned. in the first cut away portion, a driving shaft extending from said driving means to the interior of said box, a gear within the box and rotated by the driving shaft, a stub shaft carcarried by that part of the box having the portion cut at an angle, and having a gearthereon within the box driven by the first gear and a roll positioned adjacent said angular out part of the box and close to the first mentioned roll, and between said rolls and cooperating therewith to turn the edge ofthe metal as it is drawn by the rolls beneath said box.

7. A unitary edge of thin metal consistingof a box like housing having a portion of one side finished to form a seat for fastening it to a support said housing having a cutaway portion adsaid cut away forming roll adapted to be driven by a suitabledriving means, a gear wheel within the housing operated by said drivingmeans, a stub shaft carried by said housing, a gear wheel on-the stubshaft within the housing and adapted to be driven L wheel, a forming roll on the stub shaft and positioned exterior ofthe housing adjacent the first roll but in a different plane and havingclearance between its outer face and the I support for the purpose described, and a forming device having a special shaped end positioned between said guide and assist in turning the edge of the metal substantially as described, as the edge passes betweenthe rolls. 8 A

edge of thin'metal consisting of a box like housing having a portion of one side finished to form a seat, a support to receive said seat, saidhOusinghaVinga cut away portion adjacent said seat, a forming roll positioned in said cut away portion, a suitable driving means for vdriving said roll, a gear wheel withinthe housing operated by said driving means, a stub shaft carried by said housing, a gear wheel on the stub shaft within the housing and adapted to be drivenby the first gear wheel, ajforming roll on the stub shaft and positioned, exterior of the housing adforming device positioned structure for bending the by the first gearforming rolls to unitary structure for bending the lib l in

jacent the first rollbut in a different plane and having clearance between its outer face and thesupport for the purpose described, means for quickly adjusting the distance between said forming rolls to receive material of varying thickness, means associated with at least one of said rolls for drawing the material between them, and a forming device having a special shaped end positioned between said forming rolls to guide and assist in turning the edge of the metal substantially as described as the edge passes between the rolls.

i). A. unitary structure for bending the edge of thin metal consisting of a box like housing having a portion of one side finished to form a seat, a support to receive saidseat, said housing having a cut away portion adjacent said seat, a forming roll positioned in said cut away portion, a suitable driving means for driving said roll, a gear wheel with in the housing operated by said driving means,- and a stub shaft carried by said housing, a gear wheel on the stub shaft within the housing and adapted to be driven by the first gear wheel, a forming roll on the stub shaft and positioned exterior of the'housing adiacent the first roll but in a different plane and having clearance between its outer face a and the support for the purpose described,- manually operable means extending without the housing for shifting laterally said stub shaft with its gear and roll for the purpose described, said latter roll having its peripheral edge knurled to draw the material between the rolls, and a forming device having a special shaped end positioned between said forming rolls to guide and assist in turning the edge of the metal substantially as described, as the edge passes between the rolls.

10. A unitary structure for bending the edge of thin metal consisting of a boxlike housing having a portion of one side finished to form said housing having a cut away portion adjacent said seat, a forming roll positioned in said cut away portion, a suitable driving means for driving said roll, a'gear wheel within the housing operated by said driving means, a stub shaft carried by said housing at a small angle diverging outwardly from the axis of said gear wheel and roll, a gear wheel on the stub shaft within the housing, both said gear wheels being slightly tapered to properly mesh on account of said angular setting of said stub shaft, a forming roll on the stub shaft and positioned exterior of the housing adjacent the first roll andhaving clearance between its outer face and the support for the purpose described, means for quickly shifting laterally-the stub shaft its gear and roll, said latter roll having its peripheral edge tapered toward the housing and knurled for the purposes described and a forming device having a special shaped end a seat, a support to receive said seat,

positioned between said forming rolls to guide and assist in turning the edge of the metal substantially as described, as the edge passes between the rolls.

11. A unitary structure for bending the edge of thin metal consisting of a boxlike *housing having a portion of one side finished ,to form a seat, a support to receive said seat, a gear wheel and a forming roll positioned, the gear within the housing and the roll without, a driving shaft to operate both the gear wheel and the roll, a stub shaft car-' rying a gear wheel within the housing in mesh with the first gear and a forming roll with out the housing to co-operate with the first roll, said stub shaft] being set at a small angle to said driving shaft and laterally adjustable with respect thereto, said housing being cut away so the roll on the stub shaf is clear from the support to allow the material to be bent to pass thereunder, said last mentioned roll having a tapered knurled edge for the purposes described, and a forming device having a special shaped enr positioned between said forming rolls to guide and assist in turning the edge of the metal substantially as described as the edge passes betweenthe rolls.

12. A unitary structure for bending the edge of thin metal consisting of a box like housing having a portion of one side finished to form a seat, a support to receive said seat, a driving gear and a driven gear within the housing, a pair of forming rolls posi' 'tioned outside saidhousing and associated one each with each of said gear wheels, a driving shaft for operating one of said gears and its associated roll, a stub shaft carrying the othergear wheel and its associated roll, said last mentioned roll being in a different plane than the other roll and having a tapered knurled edge for the purposes described, and a forming device having a special shaped end positioned between said forming rolls to guide and assist in turning the edge of the metal substantially as described as the edge passes between the rolls. 7 1.3. A unitary structure for bending the edge of sheet metal comprising a housir a in feed table, at least a driving and a driven gear within the housing, a driving member to 0p- 7 crate the driving gear, a forming roll operated by the driving member, a second forming roll operated through the medium of the driven gear, said forming rolls being disposed' outside the housing and in different planes, the second roll being spaced away from the feed table so the stock may pass beneath the roll, and a forming device cooperating with said rolls to guide the stock and assist in turning the edge. 7

14. A unitary structure for bending the edge of sheet metal comprising a housing, a feed table, at least a driving and a driven gear within the housing, a driving member till Ill)

to operate the driving gear, a forming roll knurled edge to draw the stock between the operated by the driving member, a second rolls, means for adjusting the space between 10 forming roll operated through the medium theforming rolls and a forming device 00- of the driven gear, said forming rolls being operating With said rolls to guide the stock 5 disposed outside the housing and in differand assist in turning the edge.

ent planes, the secondroll being spaced away In testimony whereof, I afiiX my signature. from the feed table, so the stock may pass beneath the roll, and having a tapered WILLIAM BIITTNER.

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