Improvements in Machinery for Folding and Seaming Sheet Metals.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Oct., 1892-Accepted, 3rd Dec., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Folding and Seaming Sheet Metals.
I, ERDMANN KIRCHEIS of Aue in the Kingdom of Saxony and German Empire,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, 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 machinery for simultaneously folding and seaming the
edges of metal sheets.
A machine constructed to embody these improvements consists essentially of
two dies, the lower one of which is carried in a fixed holder or anvil and the upper
one is attached to the ram of a suitable press. Provision is made by which the
dies move independently of each other and of their holders so as to bend the
edges of the sheet, and then to move out of the way while the ram completes
the seam.
In order that this invention may be more easily understood I have appended a
sheet of drawings, reference to which is hereinafter made.
In Figures 1 to 4 inclusive the relative positions of the dies are shewn during.
the process of seaming.
Figure 5 is a side view of the dies, their holders and part of the press; and
Figures 6 to 9 inclusive, illustrate on a larger scale than in Figures 1 to 4, the
edges of the metal sheets during the formation of the seam.
In the figures the machine is shewn joining the opposed edges of a sheet of
metal and thus forming a cylinder, though it will be understood that any two edges
may be similarly joined together.
As illustrated, the machine is formed with two dies e and c, the lower one,
being secured to and contained within a circular mandrel or anvil a, which is
secured to the frame A. Passing through the anvil a, and capable of rotation
therein, is a shaft or core b, having a flat h formed on one side. As is shewn in
Figures 1 to 4, the die c is placed in a suitable groove in the anvil a and is
prevented from moving downwards by the shaft & unless the latter be rotated until
the flat coincides with and forms an extension of one side of the die groove or
holder. The upper die or folding edge e carries a stop and is attached to the
extension d of the ram B.
The edges to be joined together of the sheets, are placed as shewn in Figures 1
and 6, the upper edge passing over the lower die e and abutting against the stop /
and the lower edge being inserted in the groove of the die c.
The edges being in this position, the upper die e is moved downwards towards
the die e by means of the lever g. The result of this movement is that the edge
of the upper sheet is bent downwards over the upper edge of the lower die, and
the edge of the lower sheet being retained within the groove a is bent upwards by
the continued movement of the die e.
G
Up to this time the lower die has been immoveably held in the anvil a, being
locked in place by the shaft as shewn in Figures 1 and 2. A rotary movement
is now imparted to this shaft until its flat, forms a continuation of one side of
the groove in which the die is placed, and thus leaves the die free to descend.
This is shewn by Figures 3 and 4, and 8 and 9. The further downward movement
of the upper die then depresses the lower die and lays the bent edges of the
metal sheets in the groovey of the anvil a as illustrated by Figure 8. The stopf
being loosely secured by screws passing through slots, moves upwards on the die,
upon coming into contact with the metal sheet, and falls again by its own weight
upon the return stroke of the apparatus. The ram d now descends and folds and
secures the seam as shewn in Figures 4 and 9, the die e being moved upwards on

page_text: the ram.
C
Upon the return stroke of the ram d the lower die c is moved upwards,
preferably by a spring K, and is locked in place by the partial rotation of the
shaft. The upper die e is also returned to its initial position and securely locked
in place.
If it be desired to form the seam on the other side of the sheets, the groove y
will have to be formed on the ram instead of upon the anvil.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
An apparatus for folding and seaming sheet metal constructed arranged and
operated substantially as herein before described and as illustrated by the accom-
panying drawings.
Dated thin 04th day of Oat han ÅD 1000
WILLIAM E. HEYS,
Agent for the Applicant.