Patent ID: 8276249

Claim:
An apparatus for expanding an elongated, substantially flat metal element, the apparatus comprising: carrier units arranged to support the elongated metal element for being advanced longitudinally in a forward direction with the carrier units being spaced from each other across the elongated metal element in a lateral direction transverse to the longitudinal, forward direction; holding portions associated with the carrier units configured for holding the elongated metal element at either side thereof with the carrier units being further arranged so that laterally opposite ones of the holding portions move laterally apart from each other as the laterally opposite holding portions are advanced in the longitudinal, forward direction for laterally expanding the elongated metal element; and clamping portions of each of the holding portions including a clamp member and a clamp support each having a clamping surface, the clamping surfaces being arranged and configured to be shifted relative to each other between an open position with the clamping surfaces spaced from each other to allow the substantially flat, elongated metal element to be shifted relative to the clamping surfaces, and a closed position with the clamping surfaces spaced from each other by a clamping distance sized so that the elongated, substantially flat metal element is clamped between the clamping surfaces.