Patent ID: 8209851

Claim:
A wire coil head forming machine for forming first and second heads of a semi-rigid wire coil separated by first and second legs, the machine comprising: a frame; first and second leg support mechanisms so configured as to respectively grip the first and second legs; said first leg support mechanism being so mounted to said frame as to be moveable along a first axis; said second leg support mechanism being so mounted to said frame as to independently a) be movable along a second axis, and b) be pivotable along a pivot axis; said first, second and pivot axes being generally orthogonal; and at least one head forming element so configured as to contact at least a first portion of one of the first and second heads of the wire coil while said first and second legs are respectively gripped by said first and second leg support mechanisms; wherein, the first and second heads of the semi-rigid wire coil are formed by a) the movement of the first leg support mechanism along the first axis, b) the pivoting movement of the second leg support mechanism about the pivot axis and c) the movement of the second leg support mechanism along the second axis, while the at least one head forming element contacts at least a first portion of one of the first and second heads, wherein each of said first and second leg support mechanisms is mounted to the frame via respective first and second mounting assemblies, wherein said first mounting assembly includes a first movable portion movably mounting said first leg support mechanism to said frame for movements along said first axis, wherein said second mounting assembly includes a second movable portion that is slidably mounted to said frame so as to be movable along the second axis, and wherein said second movable portion includes a supporting table slidably mounted to said frame.