IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR BENDING OR FOLDING THE EDGES OF METAL SHEETS
Year: 1885

page_text: I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR BENDING OR FOLDING
THE EDGES OF METAL SHEETS" and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This Invention relates to machines for bending or folding tin or other sheet
metal.
The objects of my invention are first, to provide a machine that will bend or
fold two edges at the same time; second, to provide a machine that may be
operated from either side; third to provide a clamping device for two edges of the
sheet metal, which device may be operated by a single treadle; fourth, to provide
a machine for bending or folding two edges of sheet metal at the same time in
opposite directions with an adjusting device by which the machine may be readily
adjusted to sheets of tin of different lengths.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved machine.
Figure 2 is a top view or plan of same.
Figure 3 is a vertical section on the line x y Figure 2, shewing a metal sheet in
position to be clamped and bent.
Figure 4 shews the sheet clamped and bent.
Figure 5 is an edge view of metal sheets with their bent edges hooked together.
Figure 6 is a similar view shewing the bent edges forced closely together.
Similar letters of reference refer to similar parts in the several figures.
A is a frame or bench supported by legs A¹, and provided with horizontally-
adjustable plates B and B' one on each end. Upon these plates are other vertically
adjustable plates C and C¹. The latter plates are supported and held in position
by the downwardly projecting lugs a a which are connected at their lower ends by
the links m m with the two arms 1, 1. The arms at their point of junction are
connected with a treadle t, by which they are operateḍ.

page_text: The springs n attached at their lower ends to the projecting arms and at their
upper ends to the frame, serve to elevate the arms, links, and plates C C' (when
the treadle is released) to the position shewn in Figures 1 and 3.
The sheets of tin or any desired metal are introduced from one end between the
upper and lower plates and brought firmly against stop b as shewn in Figure 3;
when the treadle is operated as before explained, the plates C C are drawn down
to the position shewn in Figure 4, thereby tightly clamping the sheet metal between
the two sets of plates.
One of the upper plates C is provided with a leaf D hinged thereto and held in
line therewith by the spring S, fastened at one end to the plate and at the other
end to the leaf.
When the plate C is drawn down to plate B, as before explained, the leaf D is
adapted to swing upon its hinges to the position shewn in Figure 4, bending the
sheet metal around the bevelled edge of the plate B as shewn in said figure. On
the other side of the frame, the lower plate BI is provided with the hinged leaf D¹,
adapted to swing and bend the sheet metal around the bevelled edge of the plate C¹
as shewn in Figure 4.
1
1
To operate the hinged leaves, I provide an axle J, extending across the frame
and having at each end a disc G, adapted to support at different angles the
operating-lever L, also one end of the links H H the other ends of the links being
connected with the toothed segment-wheels d d¹. The segments of the latter are
adapted to engage with the toothed segments e e¹, provided with dogs or trips h, h¹,
adapted to engage with the pins g, g' as shewn in Figures 1 and 2. It is evident
therefore, that a partial revolution of the disc G will force the leaves D, D¹ from
the plane of the tables to the position shewn in Figure 4. The upper plates are
drawn down upon the sheet metal before the leaves D D¹ are operated, which
brings the pin g down in front of trip h to be engaged thereby. After the sheet
metal is bent, as shewn, the discs and segments are returned to their former
position (shewn in Figure 1) and the treadle is released, whereupon the springs n
throw the upper plates upward to the position shewn in Figure 1.
The plate C is provided with a pin k, which rides in the curved slot j of the
attachment fixed to the frame A. The plate C travels to the right as viewed
in Figure 1, as well as upward; being aided by the spring g¹¹ thus receding from
its position within the bent edge of the sheet metal shewn in Figure 4, without
effort to straighten the bent portion,
The plates B and B¹ are connected by rods O provided with right hand screw
threads at one end, and with left hand threads at the other, and with operating
handles O', for revolving said rods in lugs P projecting from the plates B B', and
threaded to correspond with the threaded ends of said rods; the object being to
provide means for adjusting the distance apart of the forming edges of plates B
and C¹ to the length of the sheet of metal to be operated upon, which is
accomplished by revolving said rods to the right or left, as desired.
The four lugs a are all secured to the upper plates, and pass down through
guiding slots in the lower plates. The stop b is spring-controlled and recedes when
the leaf D¹ is bent over to the position shewn in Figure 4, which brings the stop
in contact with plate C¹ and forces it back through plate D¹ against its controlling
spring.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is
First. In a machine for bending metal, the combination of the plates B_B¹, the
nuts P, P, the rod O, and the stop 6 whereby plates of varying length may be held,
substantially as described.
Second. In a machine for bending metal, the two vertically adjustable
plates CC, one having an undercut bevel and the other provided with a hinged
leaf D, in combination with a bed having an undercut bevel at one end and at the

page_text: other end a hinged leaf D' with a spring stop b, whereby the plates which are to
be operated upon may be stopped, clamped, and bent, as described.
Third. In a machine for bending plates, the combination of the axle J, the
discs G G, the lever L, the links H H¹ the toothed segment-wheels d d', e e¹, the
trips h, h the pins g, gland the spring S, whereby the hinged leaves may be operated,
as described.
Fourth. The combination in a machine for bending plates of metal, and provided
with a hinged leaf D¹ of a stop 6 held yieldingly by a spring, whereby it may
operate, as described.
Fifth. The combination with the lugs a, a of the links m, m', the arms l¹ l', the
springs n, n and the treadle l, whereby the plates C C¹ may be operated, as set
forth.