Improved Machine for Bending Plates.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Nov., 1889-Accepted, 21st Dec., 1859
GUMI LEIE SIECIFICATION.
Improved Machine for Bending Plates.
DANIEL ROWLINSON RATCLIFF 28 Finsbury Pavement London E.C. Engineer and
JOHN MILLER GARVEY Phoenix Safe Works, Liverpool 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 :-
The object of this invention is to enable the metal plates employed in the construc-
tion of iron safes, cisterns, tanks and the like to be bent to the required shape without
removal from the bending table until the operation is completed. To enable the con-
struction and operation of our invention to be better understood reference is made to
the accompanying drawing in which
Fig. 1, is a plan, the forming platten being removed.
Fig. 2, is an elevation shewing the platten in place.
Fig. 3, is a section upon line A B figs. 1 and 2 shewing the position of the various
parts of the machine when commencing the bend.
Fig. 4, is an end view of the former complete.
Fig. 5, is a section upon line A B Figs. 1, and 2. shewing raised position of
former when resetting plate.
Fig. 6, is a section upon line CD figs. 1 and 2, shewing supporting arms, and mode
of disconnecting the same when making short bends.
Fig. 7, is a plan of supporting arms shewing detent.
Similar figures of reference refer to similar parts in all the views.
1, Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, is a cylinder or shaft of metal of any suitable length
for the required purpose, turning upon journals 2, which are mounted in bearings 3,
upon table 4, upon each journal is an eccentric sheave 5. A piece of metal equal
to one quarter of its circumference is removed from the upper side of the cylinder,
the corresponding upper quarter or former platten 1", is also divided from the
lower half of cylinder 1, and secured by bolting or in any equivalent manner to
two lugs 6, which are bored out so as to turn freely upon the two eccentric
sheaves 5, formed or mounted upon journals 2. A slot or slit 7, is cut upon under-
side of former 1, of depth slightly greater than the thickness of the plate to be
bent, and of sufficient longth to take in the required width. A portion 8, is also
removed from the upper half of the cylinder 1, to make way for the table 4, of
the machine; this table is a fixture excepting the portion directly in front of the
former which is capable of adjustment vertically by screws or otherwise and is
made wide enough to take in plates of sufficient width for the required purpose ;
in the case of safe bodies this is about thirty inches.
Upon the underside of cylinder 1, are two arms 10, through the lower end of
which a hole is bored for securing by a bolt or pin 11, a rocking lever 12
actuated by a crank or any equivalent device for imparting a reciprocating motion
to the cylinder; the motion of the cylinder or former may be made greater or
less than one quarter revolution by altering the stroke of the crank or other
device used to drive it. In cutting out the upper half of the cylinder 1, a
cheek 14, is left at either end equal to or slightly greater than its full diameter.
In each cheek one notch 15 is cut, and with these notches two detents 17, pivoted
upon the lugs 6, engage.
The operation of this first part of our invention is as follows:-The plate or sheet to
be bent see fig. 3, is placed upon the table of machine and is pushed through the
slit. 7, until the point is reached at which the bend is required. The sheet is kept at
right angles with the axis of cylinder 1, by means of a fixed fence or equivalent
device secured to the table of the machine.
The machine
now. started and by means of lever 12; attached to arms 10, the

page_text: .
cylinder 1, is caused to make one quarter of a revolution or more as the case may be
carrying with it the loose quarter or former platten 1", and the two lugs 6, to which
it is secured; the forward motion of the cylinder 1, tending to keep the detents 17, in
the notches 15, locking thereby the former 1, to cylinder 1, and bending the plate to
a right angle; the respective parts occupying the position shewn in dotted lines in
fig. 3.
As the loose quarter or former 1ª, descends, the dentents 17, strike against two
adjustable pins or stops 18, and their points are gradually lifted out of the notches 15,
thereby disconnecting the loose quarter or former 1ª, from cylinder 1. On the loose
quarter. or former 1ª becoming disconnected from cylinder 1, by the withdrawal of
detents 17, from notches 15, in each cheek 14, the lower part of cylinder 1, of which
cheeks 14 form part, returns to the position it occupied before bending the plate, and
in so doing the loose part 1", is lifted from the table by the revolution of the
eccentrics 5, into the position shewn in fig. 5 thereby permitting the sheet to be
advanced for a fresh bend.
The loose quarter or former 1ª is now pulled over into the position shewn in fig. 3
and a second bond put in. When the loose quarter or former 1" is locked by the
detents 17, to the checks 14, forming part of the lower half of cylinder as in forming
a bend the two revolve concentrically, but when separated by raising the detents out
of the notches the former platten and cylinder revolve on separate centres. The
lower edge of the loose part which comes upon the plate during the operation of
bending is truly in the centre of the circle in which the whole former revolves.
The second part of our invention consists in the device employed for bending long
plates, and is used in all cases except when short internal bends are being made. Two
arms 19, having dovetail seatings 20 see Fig. 7, are mounted in corresponding
grooves 21, fashioned in the underside of cylinder 1, see figs. 1, 6. When short bends
are being made these arms are disconnected from the cylinder in the manner herein-
after described and fall into recesses 22, provided for them in the table 4, on the
opposite side of the former from which the plate is fed in. The arms are thrown into
gear as follows:-
Detents 23, are pivoted in forks 24, formed in the tail of each arm 19, beyond the
dovetail foot 20, formed thereon, and are so balanced as to engage with the notches 25,
sunk in each groove 21, of cylinder 1, thereby causing both arms to be raised by the
turning of the semi cylindrical piece.
Mounted in bearings upon the frame of table 4, is a shaft carrying two pins 26, a
lever 27, being secured to to the shaft. By turning the lever 27, in the direction of the
arrow see fig. 6, the detents are struck by the pins 26, and forced out of the notches 25,
sunk in grooves 21, thereby causing the arms to remain in the position shewn. It is
obvious that the semi cylindrical piece with the journals and eccentric sheaves thereon
as well as the former platten and lugs therefor, may be cast or forged in any suitablo
metal, and tooled to the required shape if more convenient.
We find it desirable to face the bending edge of cylinder and former with steel ;
these faces 29, may be secured by screwing as shewn in fig. 3, 5.
The steel face of the lower portion of the former is made adjustable in a vertical
direction so that the space between the top loose part and the lower part may be varied
slightly.
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 machine for bending metal plates or sheets the particular combination of
parts operating together for making one or more bends in such plate or sheet without
removing the plate or sheet from the machine until the operation is complete, substan-
tially as herein described.
2nd. The combination in or with a machine for bending metal plates or sheets with-
out removal from the table during the operation, of a semi cylindrical drum or shaft
turning upon journals concentric with its axis, and a forming platten eccentrically

page_text: mounted upon said journals. The detent locking device for enabling the forming
platten to revolve concentrically with the drum or shaft when bending the plate, and
for disengaging the platten therefrom for resetting substantially in the manner
described and for the purposes herein set forth.
3rd. The combination in or with a machine for making one or more bends in plate
or sheet metal without removal, of the arms 19, sliding in grooves 21, formed in the
semicylindrical piece 1, the balanced detents 23, pivoted upon said arms, engaging
with notches 25, and the lever 27 on rocking shaft-and pins 26, for throwing said
arms into and out of gear, all combined and operating together for effecting the
purposes set forth.
Dated November 1st 1880
FRANCIS M. ROGERS,
Agent for Applicants.