Patent ID: 7082798

Claim:
A pipe bending machine comprising: (a) a machine base ( 2 ); (b) a bending tool ( 3 ) mounted on the machine base ( 2 ); (c) a pipe feed unit ( 9 ) on the machine base ( 2 ) by which an elongated defining pipe ( 6 . 6 a ) to be bent and defining a longitudinal direction can be advanced to the bending tool ( 3 ) in the longitudinal direction ( 12 ) of the pipe, the pipe feed unit including a pipe holder ( 8 ) that is guided in the longitudinal direction ( 12 ) of the pipe by a linear guide system ( 16 ) on the machine base ( 2 ) and a pipe feed driven by a drive system ( 15 ) provided on the machine base; (d) a mandrel bar ( 20 , 20 a ) extending in the longitudinal direction of the pipe ( 6 ); and (e) a mandrel retractor ( 19 ) on the machine base ( 2 ) with a bending mandrel ( 21 ) mounted at the end of the mandrel bar ( 20 , 20 a ) adjacent the bending tool can be moved back and forth between a working position and a retracted position, said mandrel retractor ( 19 ) including a mandrel bar support ( 24 ) which in the longitudinal direction ( 12 ) of the pipe is guided by a linear guide system ( 16 ) on the machine base and can be moved by a mandrel bar drive operated by a drive system ( 15 ) on the machine base ( 2 ), the mandrel bar support ( 24 ) and the pipe holder ( 8 ) being movable by one of (i) a common linear guide system ( 16 ) on the machine base and (ii) a common drive system ( 15 ) on the machine base.