Improvements in Metal Bending Machines.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Metal Bending Machines.
I, CHARLES ADAM BERTSCH, of Cambridge City, in the County of Wayne, in the
State of Indiana, United States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The principal object of my said invention is to produce a machine by which
angle-irons can be bent into regular curves or circles of a true. or even form. This
has been difficult to do, because the tendency of such iron in being bent is to
twist or warp sidewise, and it has required a great deal of extra work to restore
it to a true condition after being bent. A further object is to provide means for
the adjustment of the machine, so that curves or circles of varying dimensions
may be produced on a single machine; and also so that iron of varying thicknesses
may be treated.
The frame is of a suitable form to carry the various working parts of the machine.
It contains stationary bearings for the gear and pulley shafts, and also for curving
rolls, and has large central slots or ways within which adjustable frames carrying
the driving rolls are mounted. I preferably provide a reversible driving gear,
and the machine is thus adapted to operate when running in either direction.
By this means time is saved, as the machine does not run back idle. The adjust-
able frames carrying the driving rolls are mounted in large vertical ways formed
centrally in the main frame, and are adapted to raise and lower as a whole by
means of heavy screws which pass down through the upper portions of the frame,
and engage with the upper ends of these adjustable frames, within the upper
ends of which are perforations which serve as bearings for the upper drive roll.
In the lower portions of said adjustable frames are adjustable blocks in which
are bearings for the lower drive roll, and these bars are adjusted by means of
heavy screws mounted in the lower end of said adjustable frames. By this means
the lower drive roll may be adjusted nearer to or further from the upper roll,
so as to accommodate thicker or thinner iron, or to grip the same more or less
tightly, without disturbing the position of the latter; and by turning the screws
which carry the adjustable frames as a whole, said frame carrying both rolls,
may be elevated or depressed in relation to the curving rolls which are arranged
in stationary bearings alongside these adjustable rolls, and the amount of curva-
ture caused in the iron by passing through the machine thus varied as may be
desired.
The upper adjustable roll is mounted on a shaft, which in turn, as before stated,
is mounted in the upper portion of the adjustable frames. The shell or outer
portion of this roll is divided into two parts, and one portion has its end turned
to form a gudgeon for the roll, and rests in a bearing in the corresponding ad-

page_text: justable frame, while at the other end its shaft rests directly in said bearing. A
spline is inserted in appropriate key-ways of the shaft and in the interior of the
movable roll section. The shaft extends through to the outside of the frame, and
its extended end is turned down still smaller, and is screw-threaded and bears
a nut. The construction is such that by manipulating this nut one portion of
this roll can
be adjusted toward the other; and the groove between the two
portions thus diminished or increased in width, thus adapting the machine for
use with iron having thinner or thicker flanges, as will be readily understood.
The spline prevents any rotary movement between the parts, while freely per-
mitting this longitudinal movement. As not only the end of the shaft but also
of the adjustable portion of the roll extends through the adjustable frame to the
outside, this adjustment may be effected without dismembering the machine-
all that is necessary being simply the manipulation of the nut on the shaft and
the corresponding nuts on the shafts of the other rolls..
The lower adjustable roll is like the upper adjustable roll, except that the fixed
and movable sections are of differing lengths, so that the respective grooves between
the ends of the sections shall not register. This roll, as before stated, is mounted
in adjustable blocks, which in turn are carried by the adjustable frames. Said
roll is mounted on a shaft, and has a spline and nut corresponding to the similar
parts of the other roll structure.
The curving rolls are similar in construction to the adjustable rolls, but are
mounted in bearings formed directly in the main frame. These rolls. like the
adjustable rolls, are divided into two parts, and are provided with shafts, splines
and nuts.
The grooves in the curving rolls and in the lower adjustable roll are in registry
or line, while the groove in the upper adjustable roll is at a different point. The
grooves in the first mentioned rolls arc used when it is desired that the flange
shall be upon the outer side of the curve or circle being formed, while the groove
in the upper adjustable roll is used when it is desired that such flange shall be
on the inner side of such curve or circle. By arranging the grooves and con-
structing the rolls in the manner described I am therefore enabled to curve iron
of varying sizes and thicknesses to any desired degree or curvature, and with the
flange either upon the outer or inner side of the resulting curve or circle; and I
am also enabled to accomplish by a single machine what has heretofore required
either numerous machines, or long rolls having numerous grooves, to accomplish,
and this with an accuracy of adaptation of the machine to its work hitherto un-
approached.
I have described a machine with four bending rolls,-two adjustable, and two
stationary. As is well understood among those skilled in the art. an efficient
bending machine may be produced having three rolls only; and I wish it under-
stood that I may dispense with the lower bending roll, or with one of the curving
rolls (together with the corresponding guide roller) without affecting the remain-
ing features of my invention. I prefer not to do this, however, except in the
smaller sizes of machines, or for the lighter grades of iron, or in bending large
curves or circles. As will be readily understood, where the lower adjustable,
roll is used, it can be set so as to grip the metal bar tightly, and feed it through
the rolls with a positive feed; and where two curving rolls are used, it is much
easier to adjust the machine to produce perfect work;-although the curvature
can be made by a proper manipulation of the adjustable rolls in connection with
but one curving roll.
I have shown all four of the rolls as made in sections, with one section adjustable
toward or from the other. In most cases this is mainly necessary with the adjust-
able rolls. It is nevertheless an advantage with the heavier sizes of iron, or in.
bending small curves, to have the curving roll also adjustable in this particular,
although not really necessary.
Guide rollers are mounted on stud-shafts which extend out from rocker-heads,
the latter being carried on swinging arms mounted on the ends of the curving

page_text: rolls. The immediate means of supporting these rocker-heads are 'pivot-bolts
which extend into the ends. thereof from the swinging arms. These pivot-bolts
are provided with lock nuts, and are adjustable back and forth, so that the
guide rollers may be brought into line with either of the grooves; the position
of said guide rollers being preferably between the paths of travel of the iron in
passing through the respective grooves.
Rocking-heads are also mounted on the swinging. arms, and are provided with
grooves in their upper sides into which projections extending out from the other
rocker-heads enter. These last-named rocker-heads are held in place in the
swinging arms by means of set bolts. When it is desired to adjust the angle of
the guide rollers relatively to the curving rolls, it is only necessary to loosen the
set screws, rock the heads somewhat in their bearings, and re-tighten the set
screws, as will be readily understood.. This ordinarily, however, is not necessary;
as the inner sides of the swinging arms are in the form of toothed segments, and the
adjacent sides of the adjustable frames carrying the adjustable rollers are in the
form of rack-bars engaging with said toothed segments, so that as said adjustable
frames carrying the adjustable rolls are moved up and down the positions of the
guide rollers are correspondingly changed automatically. Nevertheless, it is a
fact that these devices need occasional adjustment to adapt them for varying
classes of work, and, therefore, the mechanism described is provided for the
purpose.
Dated this 22nd day of April A.D. 1897.
CHARLES ADAM BERTSCH.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Metal Bending Machines.
I, CHARLES ADAM BERTSCH, of Cambridge City, in the County of Wayne, in the
State of Indiana, United States of America, Manufacturer, 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 principal object of my said invention is to produce a machine by which
angle-iron can be bent into regular curves or circles of a true or even form. This
has been difficult to do, because the tendency of such iron in being bent is to
twist or warp sidewise, and it has required a great deal of extra work to restore
it to a true condition after being bent.
A further object is to provide means for adjustment of the machine, so that curves
or circles of varying dimensions may be produced on a single machine, and also
so that iron of varying thicknesses may be treated.
A machine embodying my said invention will be first fully described and the
novel features thereof then pointed out in the claims.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof, and
on which similar letters of reference indicate similar parts, Figure 1 is a top or
plan, view of such a machine, together with the driving gear therefor; Fig. 2
a transverse vertical sectional view thereof, as seen from the dotted line 22 in

page_text: Fig. 1; Figs. 3, 4, and 5, longitudinal vertical sectional views as seen from the
dotted lines 33, 44, and 55, respectively, in Figs. 1 and 2, the gearing and portions
of the rolls and similar parts being in each figure shown in elevation for purposes
of better and more complete illustration; Fig. 6 a detached view of the adjustable
frame containing the bearings for the driving rolls; Fig. 7 a detail horizontal
view as seen when looking downwardly from the dotted line 77 in Fig. 6 and
including the end of the roll; Fig. 8 a detached side elevation of the support for
the guide-rollers, and Fig. 9 a plan view of the same.
In said drawings the portions marked A represent the main frame of the
machine; B, the adjustable frame carrying the driving rolls; C and D, said
driving rolls; E, the bending or curving rolls; F, guide rollers; and G, rocking
heads, by which said guide rollers are adjusted.
The frame A, as shown, is of a suitable form to carry the various working parts
of the machine. It contains stationary bearings for the gear and pulley shafts,
and also for the curving rolls E, as will be readily seen upon an inspection of the
drawings. It also has large central slots or ways, within which the adjustable
frames are mounted. As shown in Fig. 1, I preferably provide a reversible
driving gear, and the machine is thus adapted to operate when running in either
direction. By this means time is saved, as the machine does not run back idle.
The adjustable frames B are mounted in the large vertical ways formed centrally
in the main frame A and are adapted to be raised and lowered as a whole by means
of the heavy screws B', which pass down through the upper portions of the
frame A and engage with the upper ends of these adjustable frames, as shown
most plainly in Fig. 3. Within the upper ends of the frames B are perforations,
which serve as bearings for the upper drive-roll C. In the lower portions of
said frames B are adjustable blocks B2, in which are bearings for the lower drive-
roll D. These bearing-blocks B2 are adjusted by means of the heavy screws 13,
mounted in the lower ends of the frames B, as shown most plainly in Figs. 6 and 3.
By this means the roll D may be adjusted nearer to or farther from the roll C,
so as to accommodate thicker or thinner iron, or to grip the same more or less
tightly without disturbing the position of the latter, and by turning the screws B¹
the frames B, carrying both rolls, may be elevated or depressed in relation to
the curving-rolls E and the amount of curvature caused in the iron by passing it
through the machine thus varied as may be desired.
The roll C, as most plainly shown in Fig. 3, is mounted on the shaft C, which in
turn, as before stated, is mounted in the upper portion of the adjustable frames B.
The shell or outer portion of this roll is divided into two parts, as also plainly
shown in said Fig. 3, and one portion has its end turned to form a gudgeon for
the roll and rests in the bearing in the corresponding frame B, while at the
other end the shaft C¹ rests directly in said bearing. A spline c is inserted in
appropriate keyways in the shaft and in the interior of the movable roll-section.
The shaft extends through to the outside of the frame and its extended end is
turned down still smaller and is screw-threaded and bears a nut c¹, as best shown
in Fig. 3. The construction is such that by manipulating this nut one portion
of the roll C can be adjusted toward the other and the groove between the two
portions thus diminished or increased in width, thus adapting the machine for
use with iron having thinner or thicker flanges, as will be readily understood.
The spline c prevents any rotary movement between the parts, while freely per-
mitting this longitudinal movement. As not only the end of the shaft, but also
the end of the adjustable portion of the roll, extends through the frame B to 5
the outside, this adjustment may be effected without dismembering the machine,
all that is necessary being simply the manipulation of the nut c¹ and the corre-
sponding nuts on the shaft of the other rolls.
The roll D is like the roll C, except that the fixed and movable sections are of
differing lengths, so that the respective grooves between the ends of the sections 5
shall not register. This roll, as before stated, is mounted in the adjustable'

page_text: blocks B³, which in turn are carried by the frames B. Said roll is mounted on
the shaft D and has the spline d and nut corresponding to the similar parts
of the other roll structure.
The curving-rolls E are similar in construction to the rolls C and D, but are
mounted in bearings formed directly in the frame A, as most plainly shown in
Fig. 4. These rolls, like the rolls C and D, are divided into two parts and are
provided with shafts, splines, and nuts.
As will be observed by an inspection of the drawings, the grooves on the
rolls D and E are in registry or line, while the groove in the roll C is at a different
point. As will also be observed and as is illustrated by means of dotted lines
in Fig. 3, the grooves in the rolls D and E are used when it is desired that the
flange shall be upon the outer side of the curve or circle being formed, while
the groove in the roll C is used when it is desired that said flange
shall be upon the inner side of such curve or circle. By arranging the
grooves and constructing the rolls in the manner described I am therefore enabled
to curve iron of varying sizes and thicknesses to any desired degree or curvature
and with the flange either upon the outer or inner sides of the resulting curve
or circle, and I am also enabled to accomplish by a single machine what has here-
tofore required either numerous machines or long rolls having numerous grooves
to accomplish, while I am able to secure an accuracy of adaptation of the machine
to its work hitherto unapproached.
As will be observed, I have illustrated a machine embodying four bending-
rolls CDE E. As is well understood among those skilled in the art, an efficient
bending machine may be produced having three rolls only, and I wish it under-
stood that I may dispense with the roll D, or with one of the rolls E, (together
with the corresponding guide-roller,) without affecting the remaining features
of my invention. I prefer not to do this, however, except in the smaller sizes of
machines or for the lighter grades of iron or in bending large curves or circles.
As will be readily understood, where the roll 1) is used it can be set so as to grip
the metal bar tightly and feed it through the rolls with a positive speed, and where
the two rolls E are used it is much easier to adjust the machine to produce perfect
work, although the curvature can be made by proper manipulation of the
rolls C and D in connection with but one roll.
I have shown all four of the rolls as made in sections, with one section adjustable
toward or from the other. In most cases this is plainly necessary with the
rolls C and D. It is, nevertheless, an advantage with the heavier sizes of iron
or in bending small curves to have the rolls E also adjustable in this particular,
although not really necessary.
The guide-rollers F are mounted on stud-shafts f, which extend out
from the rocker-heads f', said rocker-heads, as shown most plainly in
Figs. 1 and 5, being carried in swinging arms F², mounted on the
ends of the rolls E. The immediate means of supporting the heads F¹
are pivot-bolts f¹, which extend into the ends thereof from the arms F2.
These pivot-bolts are provided with lock-nuts and are adjustable back
and forth, so that the guide-rollers may be brought into line with either of the
grooves, the position of said guide-rollers being preferably between the paths of
travel of the iron in passing through the respective grooves, as is best illustrated
in Figs. 1 and 5.
The rocking-heads G are also mounted in the arms F2 and are provided with
grooves in their upper sides, as most plainly shown in Fig. 2, into which the pro-
jections t, extending out of the heads ", enter. These rocking heads Gare
held in place in the arms F2 by means of set-bolts g. When it is desired to adjust
the angle of the guide-rollers relative to the curving-rolls, it is only necessary to
loosen these set-screws g, rock the heads G somewhat in their bearings, and re-
tighten the set-screws, as will be readily. understood. This ordinarily, however,
is not necessary as the inner sides of the arms F2 are in the form of toothed seg-
ments and the adjacent sides of the adjustable frames B are in the form of rack-

page_text: bars engaging with said toothed segments, so that as the frames B carrying the
rolls C and D are moved up and down the positions of the guide-rollers are corre-
spondingly changed automatically. Nevertheless it is a fact that these devices
need occasional adjustment to adapt them for varying classes of work, and there-
'fore the mechanism described is provided for the purpose.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is. to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is;-
1. In a metal-bending machine, the combination, of the frame, curving-rolls
mounted therein, ways in said frame, adjustable frames in said ways, other ways
in said adjustable frames, adjustable bearing-blocks in said ways, and rolls
mounted, respectively, in said adjustable frames and said adjustable bearing-
blocks, substantially as described and for the purposes specified.
2. In a metal-bending machine, the combination, of the frame containing bear-
ings for the rolls, a roll-shaft, a two-part roll mounted thereon, one part of which
has its end formed to serve as a gudgeon to rest in the bearing and extends
through to the outside of the frame-work, an extension on said shaft projecting
through said roll part to outside its end, and means including said shaft extension
for moving said roll portion on said shaft from the outside, whereby adjustment
between the two portions may be had without dismantling the machine, substan-
tially as set forth.
3. The combination, in a metal-bending machine, with the bending rolls, of
guiding rollers mounted on said stud-shafts, rocking-heads carrying said stud-
shafts and provided with extensions or tail-pieces, and other rocking-heads en-
gaging with said extensions or tail-pieces and provided with means of adjustment,
whereby the relations of said guiding-rollers to the bending-rolls may be adjusted,
substantially as shown and described.
4. The combination, in a metal-bending machine, of the frame-work, bending
rolls mounted therein and provided with circumferential
grooves, the groove
in the upper roll or rolls not being in line with the grooves in the lower rolls,
guide-rollers positioned alongside said rolls, and adjustable pivot-bolts supporting
the heads on which said guide-rollers are mounted, whereby said rollers can be
adjusted to proper relation with either of the sets of grooves, substantially as
shown and described.
5. The combination, in a metal-bending machine, of a framework, bending rolls
mounted in said framework, adjustable frames between said rolls, other rolls
mounted in said adjustable frames, pivoted arms mounted on the ends of the fixed
rolls, and provided with or embodying tooth-segments, the adjustable frames
being also provided with racks which engage with said segments, stud-shafts
carried from the outer ends of said rocking arms, and guide-rollers on said stud-
shafts, whereby, as said adjustable frames are raised or lowered, said guide-rollers
are automatically varied in relation to the bending rolls, substantially as set
forth.
6. The combination, in a metal-bending machine, of a framework, bending
rolls mounted in said framework, adjustable frames or slides carrying one of the
rolls, pivoted arms mounted on the ends of another roll, and a guide carried by
said pivoted arms and extending out at substantially right angles across the path of
the iron being bent, said arms being connected to said adjustable frames, whereby
the position of the said guide is automatically changed as the positions of said
frames are changed.
7. The combination, in a metal-bending machine, of a frame-work carrying
bending-rolls, adjustable frames carrying the bearings for one or more of said
rolls, pivoted arms mounted on another of said rolls and connected to said adjust-
able frames, a stud-shaft carried by said pivoted arms and extending out across

page_text: the path of the metal being bent, a guide-roller mounted on said stud-shaft, and
means for adjusting said guide-roller.
CHARLES ADAM BERTSCH.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
CHARLES ADAM BERTSCH.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.