An Apparatus for Folding Sheet-metal Articles.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Oct., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 9th July, 1890-Accepted, 6th Sept., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Apparatus for Folding Sheet-metal Articles.
We, WILLIAM BARRACLOUGH, Ironfounder, and ALBERT RHODES, Engineer, both
of Providence Foundry, Stanningley, in the County of York, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to metal folding machinery and has for one of its objects
to fold the several parts of hinges which are made of sheet metal with rapidity and
precision. It is also adapted for folding metal articles of various kinds besides
hinges. The construction and operation of a binge-folding apparatus are as follows-
Upon a firm and solid bed (preferably of metal) are pivotted (at distances suited
to the size and shape of the hinge to be formed) two mallets, tilts or hammers and
at mid-distance between them the bed of the apparatus is shaped as a die suitably for
forming a metal hinge; one part of this die is a concave recess or gutter for the roll
of the hinge and on the outsides of the bed opposite the ends of this concave recess
are jaws or crutches for retaining purposes.
In addition to the two pivotted mallets before named the bed of the apparatus is
recessed and furnished with flanges within which recess and flanges we fit one or
more sliding folders which are propelled by means of a combined lever and cam
motion.
When forming a metal hinge with this apparatus we place a flat piece of sheet
metal of suitable size and shape upon the die and lay a round metal rod cross-wise
upon it, each end of the rod being retained within the side jaws or crutches before
named one of the pivotted mallets being turned over with force strikes upon the said
rod and thereby presses the metal into the die and partially shapes the hinge; a
similar stroke is then made with the other mallet which turns over the metal upon
the top of the rod and whilst this mallet remains upon the hinge the sliding folder is
propelled by the lever and cam before named and the flat edge of the metal is turned
over-this completes the folding process for forming a sheet metal hinge (for cooking
range ovens, boiler lids &c.) and a vigorous stroke from mallet number one tightly
compresses the parts together and completes the process-the rod is withdrawn from
the article, the latter removed and the process is or may be repeated "ad libitum."
The die may be any shape and the rod (and mallet faces) to correspond for forming
any kind of folded metal articles similar to sheet metal hinges.
Dated this 9th day of October 1889
JOSEPH
LOCKWOOD,
Argyle Street, Glasgow, Agent for the Inventors.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Apparatus for Folding Sheet-metal Articles.
We, WILLIAM BARRACLOUGH, Ironfounder and ALBERT RHODES Foreman, both
of Providence Foundry Stanningley Yorkshire 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 metal folding machinery and has for one of its objects, to
fold the several parts of hinges which are made of sheet metal with rapidity and
precision. It is also adapted for folding metal articles of various kinds besides
hinges; the parts of the apparatus being adapted for interchange of designs in shape
or form.
The construction and operation of a hinge folding apparatus constructed according
to our invention are as follows;

page_text: Upon a firm and solid bed, (preferably of metal) are pivotted-at distances suited
to the size and shape of the hinge to be formed-two (or more) mallets, tilts or
hammers, and at mid-distance between them, the bed of the apparatus is shaped as a
die, suitably for forming a metal hinge; one part of this die is a concave recess, or
gutter for shaping the roll of the hinge and another consists of a step for shaping the
flat portion; and on the outersides of the solid bed, opposite each end of this concave
recess, are jaws or crutches for retaining purposes.
In addition to the two (or more) pivotted mallets before named the bed of the
apparatus is recessed and furnished with guides or flanges within which recess and
guides we fit one or more sliding folders which are propelled by means of a combined
lever and cam motion.
The operation of the hinge folding apparatus, just described, is as follows;-
When forming a metal hinge with this apparatus we place a flat piece of sheet
metal, (previously cut to the requisite dimensions) upon the die & lay a round
metal rod cross-wise upon it, each end of the rod resting within one of the aforesaid
jaws or crutches: one of the pivotted mallets being turned over with force, strikes
upon the said rod and thereby presses the metal into the die and partially shapes the
hinge; this mallet being folded back a similar stroke is then made with the other
one which turns over the sheet metal upon the top of the round rod and whilst this
mallet remains pressed upon the partially formed hinge, the sliding folder, before
named, is propelled by means of the lever and cam motion, and the flat edge of the
metal is folded over: this terminates the folding process for forming a sheet metal
binge (such as those which are used for certain kinds of oven doors, boiler lids,
etcetera) and after this mallet and sliding folder are put back, a vigorous stroke
from the mallet, first used, serves to compress the parts of the folded metal tightly
together and completes the operation.
The rod is easily drawn out of the sheet metal hinge part and the latter removed,
when the process may be repeated " ad libitum."
The die may be of any shape and the rod as well as the mallet faces he made to
correspond therewith, for forming any kind of folded metal articles, such as, or
similar in construction to sheet metal hinges.
In order that our invention may be better understood and more readily carried
out we have prepared the accompanying illustrations, in which,
Figure 1 is a view, in perspective, of the apparatus with mallets and sliding
folder at rest ;
Fig. 2 is a view in perspective, shewing the apparatus in use;
Fig. 3. is a sectional view shewing the positions of certain parts of this apparatus ;
Fig. 4 is a similar sectional view of parts;
Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in perspective, shewing certain parts of the apparatus
and process;
Fig. 6 is a view in perspective shewing the apparatus in use;
Figures 7 and 8 are fragmentary views in section and perspective, illustrative of
this apparatus in operation;
Fig. 9 is similar to Fig. 6 but shewing a further developement of the operation
referred to herein;
Figs. 10 and 11 are sectional views of parts illustrating the use of the mechanism
Fig. 12 represents a metal hinge part, formed by the apparatus in the process
herein described.
j
Throughout the above named illustrations, which represent a hinge folding
apparatus, constructed according to our invention, the parts marked A form the
bed and framing of the machine, B and C the mallets, D the sliding folder, E the
round rod; F the jaws, G the guides or flanges for the sliding folder, and H
the piece of sheet metal which is undergoing manipulation.
The mallet and lever handles are marked b, c and d², the pivot ends 6³, and c³
and the cam d³.
We will now describe the process in relation to this apparatus constructed and
placed as shewn in Fig. 1 of the accompanying illustrations.

page_text: When a strip of metal (H) cut to the requisite size, is laid upon the face of the
die, as shewn in Fig. 3. the rod E is placed across it and retained between the
jaws F whilst the mallet B is turned over (as shewn in Fig. 2) with sufficient
force to press the rod and metal into the die parts e³ and e³ as delineated in Figs. 4
and 5. The mallet B is then turned back as shewn in Fig. 1 and that marked C
is turned over upon its pivots (see Fig. 6) and closes the sheet metal H over the
rod E as represented in Figs. 7 and 8.
Whilst the mallet C remains in the position shewn in Figs. 6 and 7, the lever
handle d² is moved into the position shewn in Fig 9 and propels the sliding folder D
in a forward direction until its edge d abuts against the mallet C, as shewn in
Fig. 10 and folds over that edge of the metal which is marked in Figures 7. 8.
and 12. The parts marked D and are moved back into the positions shewn
in Fig. 1 and the mallet B is again turned over as shewn in Fig. 2. for the purpose
of completing this folding process.
This last stroke, or motion, which is made with the mallet B is indicated in Fig. 11.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is,
1st. In a sheet metal folding apparatus the combination of mechanical parts and
contrivances, adapted for operation as demonstrated herein, all substantially as herein
described and shewn and for the purposes specified.
2nd. In a sheet metal folding apparatus, the combination of mechanical parts and
contrivances, or their equivalents adapted for operation as demonstrated herein, all
substantially as herein described and shewn and for the purposes specified.
3rd. In a sheet metal hinge folding apparatus the combination therewith of pivotted
mallets adapted for operation as herein demonstrated all substantially as described and
shewn and for the purposes specified.
4th. In a sheet metal hinge folding apparatus the combination therewith of a
sliding folder, adapted for operation as herein demonstrated, all substantially as
described and shewn and for the purposes specified.
5th. In a sheet metal hinge folding apparatus the combination therewith of a die
and removeable rod or core, all substantially as herein described and shewn and for
the purposes specified.
Dated this Seventh d
T1000
JOSEPH LOCKWOOD,
263, Argyle Street, Glasgow, Agent for the Inventors.