Patent ID: 7076984

Claim:
A device for moving and retaining a tube ( 10 ) to be bent relative to a bending head ( 3 ) supported by a frame ( 2 ) of a bending machine(l), the device comprising; a mandrel ( 11 ) secured to gripping means ( 12 ) that is selectively applied against an internal wall of the tube ( 10 ) to be bent, movement means ( 6 ), connecting means for connecting said movement means to said mandrel ( 11 ) and said gripping means ( 12 ), and said gripping means being selectively engageable to grip the internal wall of the tube and thereby connect the tube to said movement means to permit longitudinal translation and rotation of the tube by said movement means and being selectively disengageable relative the internal wall the tube to permit said movement means to adjustably position said gripping means and said mandrel within the tube such that the tube is not adversely deformed during bending.