US2028869A - Bending brake - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 28, 1.936. 1 JENSEN 2,028,869

BENDING BRAKE Filed Jan. 5, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 28, 1936. J. JENSEN 2,028,869

BENDING BRAKE Filed Jan. 5, 1933 2 sheets-sheet 2 InQenJra/ Jo/1H efe/15621v MHG/gus UNTED STATES PATENT OFFICE BENDIN G BRAKE John Jensen, Rockford,

Ill., assignor to Whitney Metal Tool Company, Rockford, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application January 5, 1933, Serial No. 650,235

18 Claims.

The invention relates to a brake for bending metal and has as a general object the provision of a machine of simple construction having a wide range of utility. 5 More particularly stated one object of the invention is to provide a simple bending brake easily and quickly convertible to perform a number of operations usually performed on separate machines.

Another object is to provide a machine of the character described which is easily and accurately adjustable to bend metal sheets of different thickness.

Other objects and advantages will become apj.; parent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a brake embodying the features of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmental vertical transverse sectional view taken near one end of the brake.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of the platen guide Ways.

Fig. 4 is a fragmental perspective View of the machine when adapted for box braking.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of one element of the table adjusting means.

Fig. 6 is a fragmental view taken from the front of the machine showing linger attached to the platen to adapt the machine for box braking.

Fig. 'l is a perspective View of a linger attached to the platen.

The invention in the embodiment selected for purposes of illustration, comprises, in general, a framework consisting of end frames lil and cross braces II connected between the frames to hold them in upright position. Fixedly supported between the end frames I is a horizontally disposed platen I2 sloping downwardly and forwardly to terminate in a continuous bending edge extending over substantially the entire distance between the end frames; and guided by the end frames il! for movement toward and away from the platen I2 is a bed I3 positioned below the lplaten and serving to clamp between the bed and the platen the sheet of metal to be operated upon. An apron I4 is hingedly connected to the bed I3 and is swingable forwardly and upwardly to bend the -sheet of metal secured between the bed I3 and platen i2. Movement of the bed I3 toward and away from the platen I2 is elfected by lever mechanisms I located at opposite ends of the brake and connected between the frames and the bed.

55 The utility of the brake is increased by constructing the same to be convertible into a box braking machine. Generally stated, this is accomplished herein by spacing the bed I3 relative to the continuous bending edge of the platen I2 in order thereby to accommodate any upstanding, transversely extending edges of the box to be operated upon, and by providing a bending edge which cooperates with the bed in its spaced position and is made adjustable so as to be of any desired length, and either continuous or discontinuous. Spacing of the bed I3 relative to the continuous edge of the platen I2 is effected by means of the lever mechanisms I5 which are capable of supporting the bed either in a raised position adjacent the platen or in a lowered position spaced from the platen. To provide the bending edge, fingers I6 are applied to the platen I2 in any number and arrangement, and in such a way as to project downwardly and forwardly; and to enable the edge of the fingers I6 to be positioned properly with respect to the axis of the apron I4, the platen is rearwardly adjustable.

Referring now to the particular construction employed in the present machine, each of the end frames I0 is composed of a base Il extending transversely of the brake, and a head-block I8 supported by uprights I9 and 2E! constituting respectively the front and rear of the end frame. The front upright I9 is H-shaped in cross section. At its lower end, the upright I9 is secured to a shoe 2l riveted to an upstanding flange 22 of the base Il and at its upper end projects into and is secured in a recess formed in the head-block I8 for that purpose. The rear upright 20 is an angle iron riveted at its ends to the base Il and the head-block IB.

The platen I2, supported between the end frames I0, herein is fixed against vertical movement but is adjustable laterally of the machine, and comprises a forwardly and downwardly inclined plate 23 bolted at each end to a flange 24 on slides 25 supported on the head-blocks I8 of the end frames. Each of the slides 25 is formed with a groove 2S to receive a horizontal, dovetail way 21 on the head-block I8. The rear edge of the plate 23 terminates in a flange 28 projecting downwardly substantially at right angles to the plate, while the forward edge carries a blade 29 constituting the bending edge proper of the platen. The blade 29 has a rearwardly projecting flange 30 to provide a plane, hori- Zontal surface of substantial width and is removably attached to the plate 23 by countersunk screws 3|.

.Cooperating with the platen I2 to support and is the bed I3. The latter is positioned below the forward edge of the platen I 2 and is movable toward and away from the platen to secure or release a sheet of metal.

I9 of the end frames. Y

'Y In themain, the bed I3 consists of an I-beam 32 bolted at its ends to box-like brackets 33` slidable on the uprights I9. Removably attached to the top of the I-beam and projecting slightly beyond its forward edge is a strip 35 approximately of the saine width as the blade Preferably the weight of the bed isV partially counter-balanced. I-Ierein compression springs are employed for that purpose. Projecting ,upwardly from each of the shoes 2i and into the bracket 33 above is a rod V33 over which one oi the springs 35 is placed. At the upper end, the spring 35 bears against the bracket 33, while at the lower end the spring is adjustably attached on Vthe upright I e.

Vable.

Ydownward movement of the bed I3.

to the rod 3e so that the counter-balancing effect of the spring may be varied.

Support of the bed I3 in a raised position adjacent the platen I2 and movementof the bed toward and away from the platen are eifected by the separate mechanisms I5 mounted at each end of the brake and preferably independently oper- One of the mechanisms is shown in Fig. l and comprises aV lever 31 pivoted on the end frame .I0 and a depending link 38 pivoted at one en'd on the lever 31 and having a connec- Vtion .at the other end with the bed I3. In the horizontal position of the lever 3'! shown in Fig.

V1 the bed I 3 is removed from the platen il and permits the withdrawal or insertion of a sheet of metal which then may be clamped by swing-Y ing the lever 31 upwardly to a substantially vertical position. Y

In order that lever 37 may be retained inits substantially vertical position, the lever Si and the link 38 are arranged to constitute an overcenter device. Accordingly, the lever 31 is enlarged at its Vpivoted end and formed with a recess 39 opening along one edge of the lever. The Vlink 33 is connected to the lever 37 at a point within the recess 39 intermediatethe Afulcrurn of the lever and the remote end thereof. In the horizontal position of the lever 3l' (see Fig. 4) the link 38 abuts a stop il formed by the edge of the recess 39 and thus prevents further swingingl ofthe lever 37 and consequently limits the Similarly the link 38 abuts a stop 4I, formed by the opposite edge of the recess, when the lever38 has been swung upwardly beyond over-center position, whereby the lever is locked in that position and the bed retained inclamping position.

The connection between the bed VI 3 and the link 38 is of a character torpermit of easy disconnection and is formed herein by a pin 62 projecting through a hole 53 `in the link 38. The pin d2 is carried by a. plate I5 bolted to the bracket Y 33 acrossthe legs thereof. The plate 4e serves Y as the immediate connection with the bed as well as .tot arid in retaining the bracket slidable drawn from the pin fighi/'removing a screw Ifi' by which the link 38 is attached to the lever 3l.

In such Vmove-V vments, the bed I3 `is guided by the front uprights The linkSii may be .with-V to secure the sheet of metal'to be operated uponY clamp sheets of diierent thickness, adjusting means is provided. Herein this means is interposed between the bedY I3 and the link *t of each of the lever mechanisms, and consists of a pair of elongated blocks i5 and i3 arranged in eect to lengthen or shorten the link 38 by relative movement of the blocks. The block :l5 is rigid with the plate iii and positioned in face to Y face relationship with it is the blockV 43 fromV which the pin i2 projects. Theadjacent faces of the blocks have intertting serrations 4'! inclined slightly from the horizontal so that upon lateral movement ofV the block i6 it is cammed up or down relative to the block lI5'and thus in effect lengthens or shortens theV link 38. i8 projecting through inclinedislots 479 in the blockfi and threaded into the block 5 retain the blocks with the serrations in engaging relationship during the lateral adjustment of the block 46 and may then be tightened Ytorprevent further movement of the block. I Iateralimove-Y ment is imparted to the block i5 by operating bolts 5t threaded through studs 5IV on the plate de and bearing against the block at opposite sides thereof.

' The apron I 4, hingedly connected to the bed and operable to bend the sheet of metal secured between the bed and the platen, consists in the main of a normally depending leaf 52 supported with its upper, rear corner as nearly as g possible coincident with the upper iront corner of the strip 3.4 on the bedand made rigid by a channel iron 53 welded to the back of the leaf( At each end the leaf 52 is bolted to a hinge strap 54 enlarge-d and forked at its upper end to receive astu-d 55 projecting from the bracket 33. The strap 54 is attached to the stud by Va pin projecting through the stud 55 and the forkedend Bolts of the strap. As is best seen in Fig. 2, the hinge axis of the apron concides'with theV front corner of the strip 34 so that the upper edge of the` leaf 52, which effects the bending, will remain' V the normal thickness of the leaf 52 of the apron,

the upper o-r bending edge of the leaf 52 is formed in part by a strip 58Y extending longitudinally of the apron. The Vstrip 58 is removably attached and is shown in Figs. 2 and 4, as constituting approximately half of the thickness of the leaf 52. When the strip 58 is removed a sheet of metal bent in one directionV may be reverselyY bent along a line spaced from the rst bend a distance less than the normal thickness of the leaf 52 because the iiange formed by the rst bend may be received in the space formed by. the

removal ofV the strip 58. Preferably an angle iron 59 is also provided (see Fig. 4) Vwhich may be attached to the leaf 52 to support the sheet when it projects a considerable distance Y.iorwardiyof the edge of the platen.' Y

As previously stated, the utility of the brake isY increased by constructing the same to be'easilyV convertible into a box braking machine and also to be adjustable to facilitate Ythe bendingV of conically shaped articles. The brake is converted into a box braking machine by spacing the bed Inorder that the bed I3 and platen YI2 may. i3 relative to the platen Y52.,.thereby to'accom- 75 modate any upstanding iianges on the sheet to be operated upon, and by providing a bending edge on the platen which cooperates with the bed in its spaced position relative to the platen (see Fig. 4) Herein spacing of the bed I3 is eifected by means of the lever mechanisms I5 actuating the bed, and a bending edge, which will cooperate with the bed in its spaced position, is formed on the platen I2 by means of the fingers I6 adapted to be mounted on the platen.

The lever mechanisms are constructed to support the bed I3 either in a raised position adjacent the normal bending edge of the platen I2 or in a lowered position spaced from the normal bending edge of the platen and are operable with the bed in either position to move the same toward or away from the platen to secure or release a sheet of metal. Such spacing of the bed I3 is effected by varying the eiective length of the connecting link between the bed I3 and the lever 3l. Accordingly, each of the links 38 is formed with a second hole 68 spaced from the hole i3 the distance the bed is to be lowered. The bed is thus supported in either raised or lowered position by connecting the link 38 and the pin ft2 with the pin projecting through the upper hole d3 or the lower hole 6U respectively.

Herein each of the fingers I 6, constructed to be carried by the platen I2 to form a new bending edge cooperating with the bed I3 in its lowered position, is narrow and plate-like and is mounted at on the plate 23. Each finger is longer than the plate 2S is wide, and is mounted transversely thereof with its ends projecting beyond the edges of the plate. At the lower end, the finger terminates in a horizontal portion 6i for cooperation with the strip 3ft on the bed, The lingers IE are attached in any number and grouping desired or necessary to provide a bending edge permitting the projection therethrough of a transversely-extending, upstanding flange or iianges on the sheet to be bent. Thus in Fig. 6, `iust a sufficient number of ngers are attached to t between the upstandng flanges of a sheet to be formed into a box thereby permitting the anges to project upwardly along the sides of the fingers at the ends of the row of fingers. It will be understood that more fingers might be added at the right in Fig. 6, leaving a space for the flange on the box, or the fingers vmay be grouped differently than shown to adapt the brake for a diierent size of box.

. Each nger I6 has a ange 62 on its bottom side forming a wedge-shaped recess into which the blade 29 of the platen projects and a lug 63 at the upper end through which is threaded a bolt Se. The bolt Sii bears against the iiange 28 of the plate 23 and when tightened secures the iinger by wedging it over the plate 23. The wedgeshaped recess formed by the flange 63 is preferably enlarged at its apex so that the edge of the blade 29 is not injured in attaching fingers. The nger is strengthened by a longitudinally extending rib S5 and carries a replaceable strip 6% constituting the bending edge proper of the finger.

In order that the bending edge of the platen I2 may be positioned in the proper vertical plane relative to the axis of the apron I 4, the platen is laterally adjustable on the horizontal ways 21. This adjustment is made extensive in order to assure a suiiicient rearward movement of the platen properly to position the bending edge when the fingers l are employed. Each headblock I 8, therefore, is substantially longer than the slide 25, to which the plate 23 is attached, and has integral at its rear end a lug 61. Threaded through the lug 61 is a screw 68 engaging at its inner end a lug 69 on the block 25 and having a squared outer end. The engagement between the screw 68 and the lug 69 is such as to permit of rotation of the screw, while securing the screw against relative axial movement. By turning the screw, the platen is caused to move rearwardly or forwardly until the bending edge is spaced from the vertical plane through the axis of the apron a distance equal to the thickness of the sheet to be bent.

The bending of conically shaped articles is facilitated by adjusting the platen I2 so that the bend made at one end of the machine is less than that made at the other. That is, for the same swing of the apron Ill, the projecting portion of the sheet will be bent through a certain angle at one end of the machine and through a gradually smaller angle progressively along the machine to the other end. This will result in one end of the sheet having a larger radius than the other after a series of bending operations.

Such bending is effected by positioning the bending edge of the platen I2 at an angle with respect to the vertical plane passing through the axis of the apron. To permit the platen to be set at an angle there is a slight clearance at each end between the slide 25 and the head-block I8 (see Fig. 3). In addition, a gib "i' is interposed between the way 21 and the groove 26 and is adjustably retained by screws Il to take up the play in the ways which was intentionally provided. After loosening the screws 7| the platen I2 may be set at an angle by adjusting one of the screws 68, such positioning of the platen being permitted by the clearance above mentioned and the play in the ways. Since the bend in the sheet occurs at the edge of the platen I2, it will be understood that with the platen set at an angle, the bend at one end will be close to the apron and therefore sharp, while at the other end it will be spaced from the apron and therefore less sharp, depending on the angle at which the platen is set. Thus by adjusting the platen properly, any desired diierence in the sharpness of the bend may be obtained so that by a series of bending operations a sheet may be bent into a generally conical shape with the desired radius at the top and bottom.

I claim as my invention:

l. A bending brake comprising, in combination, a framework, a platen xedly supported by said framework and providing a continuous bending edge for the bending of plane sheets, fingers adapted to be carried by said platen to provide a discontinuous bending edge for the bending of boxes, a bed guided for vertical movement by said framework, an apron hingedly connected to said bed and swingable to effect the bending, and a lever mechanism connected between said framework and said bed adjustable to support the same either in a position to cooperate with said ngers when attached or in a position to cooperate with said platen when the iingers are detached and operable with said bed in either position to move the same to clamp or release a sheet of metal between the bed and the bending edge with which it cooperates.

2. `A bending brake comprising, in combination, a framework, a horizontally disposed platen supported in said framework for lateral adjustment and having a bending edge for the braking of plane metal sheets, a bed mounted from said platen to reeeive between the platen and the bed fingers adapted to be attached over said platen to provide an edge fer the braking of boxes, and operable with the bed in either position to actuate the same to clamp the work, and an apron hingedly connected to said bed.

3. A bending brake comprising, in combination,

a framework,V a platen nxedly supported in said c framework and having a bending edge, a bed also supported in said framework and movable from one operative position toward said platen to Cil clampa plane sheet of metal between the bending edge and the bed, anrapron hingedly connected to said bed, said platen and said bed being relaV tively -movable into a dilerent operative relation to receive between them iingers adapted te be attached over said platen toprovide bending i edge accommodating asheet having an upstanding flange, and means for actuating said bedV from either of its said positions to clamp the work. 4. A bending brake comprising, in combination, a framework, a. platen supported by said framework and having a bending edge for the bending f of plane sheets, a bed also supported by said framework, said bed Yand said platen being arranged to clamp a sheet ofnietal therebetween, and an apron hingedly connected to said bed and swingable to bend theclampe-d sheet, said bed andV said platen being-relatively spaceable to receive between them an upstanding flange on the sheet to be bent and fingers adapted to beattached over said platen to provide a bending edge accommodating the upstanding ange and cooperatingwith said bed when it is spaced :relative to said platen,

5. A bending brake comprising, in combination, a framework, a platen supported in saidv y framework, a bed cooperating with said platen to clamp a sheet of metal therebetween, an apre-n adapting the brake for the bendingfof boxes including mechanism for spacing said bed and said platen relative to one another and fingers providing' a new bending edge on said platen to cooperate with the bed when spaced 1relative to the platen. Y Y

, 6L In a metal brake havingv a frameworkY and a platen xediy supported in said framework, a bed guided for vertical movement by said framework,v an apron hingedly connected vto said bed, and mechanism for supporting said bed and moving the same toward or away from said platen to clamp or release a sheet of metal between said bed and platen comprising, a lever at each end of the brake pivoted to the framework and a link for each of the levers connected at one end to the lever te form an over-center device therewith and cennected at the other end to said bed te support the same adjacent said platen, said link permitting of a second connection with said bed for supporting the same spaced from said platen.

7. A metal brake comprising, in combination,

a'framework, a platen supported by said framework, a'bed guided by said framework for up Yvertical positions. c

nected to said bed, a lever mechanism Voperable to move said bed Vtoward or` away from said platen to clamp or release Ya sheetv of metal, and an adjusting device interposed between said bed and said lever mechanism toradapt the bed to clamp metal sheets cf different thickness.

8. In a brake, a pair of end frames, a horizontally disposed platen supported between said frames, a bed positioned below saidplatenand guided for vertical movement by said end frames, a lever pivotedon each end frame, a link depending from said lever, and apin projecting hori- Zontally from each end of said bed, said link having a plurality of spaced holes adapted Vto receive said pin tosupport said bed in vari-ous 9. A bending brake having a framework, an apron swingable about an axis extending longitudinally of said framework, a'platen supported in said framework for adjustment laterally thereof, and means adjustable to free said platen for Y Y l0. A metal brake, comprising in combination,

a'framework, a platen supported in said framework and providing a bending edge, abed cooperating with said platen to clamp a sheet of metal to be bent, an apron hingedly connected to said bed and swingable about its Yaxis to bend the sheet, the bending edge of said platen normally extending parallel with the raxis of said apron, and means for positioning said platen with its bending edge at an angie with the axis of .Y

said apron to permit conical bending.

supported between said end frames, and an apron,

a platen providing a bending edgecnormally parallel' withV the axis of said apron comprising,

a plate carrying the bending edge, a groovedV slide rigid with each end of saidfplate, ways on said end frames on which'saidgrooved slides are 'movable and a gib interposed betweenV the way and the grooved slide adjustableto provide play betweenthe slide and end'frame permitting said platen to be set with its bendingV edge at anY angle to the axis of said apron.

12. A bending brake comprising,rin combination, a framework, a horizontally disposed' platen xed in said framework against vertical move'- ment, a bed positioned below said platen and guided by said framework for vertical sliding movement relative to said platen, a bending apron hingedly connectedrto said bed, means 'for operatingsaid bed to move it bodily toward and from said Yplaten so as to receive and clamp a plane sheet of metal of a given thickness, said means'beingfadjustable to support said bed in a position spacedV a substantial distance from'theY platen to receive between the platen and the bed a sheet of metal of the same thickness but having 13. VA bending brake comprising, in combination,

a framework, a horizontally disposed Yplaten fixed in said framework against vertical movement, a bee positioned below said platen and guidedjby Vsaid framework for vertical sliding movement Y toward or away from said platen, a bending apron hingedly connected to said bed, and means include ing a link vconnected between the frame and the bed operable to Vsupport the bed in a position adjacentthe platen and inthat position torecprocate the bed. to clamp or release a sheet of metal, said link being adjustable to support and reciprocate said bed in a second position vertically spaced a substantial distance from the first position.

14. A bending brake comprising, in combination, a framework, a horizontally disposed platen fixed in said framework against Vertical movement, a bed positioned below said platen and guided by said framework for vertical sliding movement relative to said platen, a bending apron hingedly connected to said bed, and means operable to support said bed in a position adjacent said platen yand to reciprocate the bed in that position to clamp a plane sheet oi metal between the bed and platen, said means having a variable connection between the bed and said frame to support and reciprocate said bed in a position vertically spaced a substantial distance from said platen to condition the brake for clamping boxes.

15. A bending brake comprising, in combination, a framework, a horizontally disposed platen fixed in said framework against vertical movement, a bed positioned below said platen and r guided by said framework for vertical sliding movement, means connected between said frame and said bed supporting the same and operable to reciprocate said bed toward and from said platen to clamp a sheet of metal, said means including an adjustable connection to support said bed adjacent said platen or spaced therefrom to adapt the brake for the bending of plane sheets or boxes, said means having a further and independent adjustable connection for adapting the bed tol clamp plane sheets or boxes composed of metal sheets of diierent thickness, and an apron hingedly connected to said bed and swingable to bend the sheet of metal clamped onto the bed.

16. A bending brake comprising, in combination, an elongated supporting frame having up-v right standards at opposite ends thereof, a platen mounted in fixed position on said frame and providing a bending edge, guide brackets mounted on said standards for up and down movements, a bed carried by said brackets for cooperation with said platen in clamping the work, a bending apron pivotally mounted on the bed, and operating levers mounted on said frame at opposite ends thereof and. each having a connection with one of said brackets adjustable to vary the range of movements of the bed relative to the movement of the platen, said connections including links eccentrically connected with the respective operating levers and operative in the work-clamping position of the bed to lock the latter positively against movement away from the platen.

17. A bending brake comprising, in combination, an elongated supporting frame having upright standards at opposite ends thereof, a platen xedly mounted on said frame and providing a bending edge, brackets slidable on said upright standards, a bed carried by said brackets for cooperation with said platen in clamping the work, a bending apron pivotally mounted on the bed, and means mounted on the frame and operatively connected with said brackets to move the bed toward and from the platen, said operating means including levers fulcrumed on the frame, and links pivoted at one end to the respective levers eccentrically thereof and operatively connected at their other ends to said brackets, said levers being swingable to carry the link pivots into dead-center relation to the lever fulcrums in the work-clamping position of the bed, whereby to lock the bed positively against movement away from the platen.

18. A bending brake comprising, in combination, an elongated supporting frame having upright standards at opposite ends thereof, a platen fiXedly mounted on said frame and providing a bending edge, brackets slidable on said upright standards, a bed carried by said brackets for cooperation with said platen in clamping the Work, a bending apron pivotally mounted on the bed, means mounted on the frame and operatively connected with said brackets to move the bed toward and from the platen, and means acting to counter-balance the weight of the bed, said operating means being adjustable to vary the range of movement of the bed and including a hand lever mounted on the frame and a link connecting the bed and lever and adapted to be locked in the work-clamping position of the bed.

JOHN JENSEN.

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