Patent ID: 8006536

Claim:
Apparatus for forming multiple, thin metallic skin enclosures from blanks, comprising: (a) a forming assembly including a plurality of die stations rigidly fixed relative to one another and spaced axially with respect to an axis, said stations also stepped serially farther away from said axis in a direction generally perpendicular to a direction of movement along said axis, said stations for progressively forming the blanks as they are sequentially transferred in a direction of movement along said axis from one station to another; (b) a transfer assembly mounting a plurality of means for gripping the blanks, said gripping means rigidly spaced from each other along said axis and serially stepped away from said axis at distances and relative positions substantially the same as said die stations; (c) actuator means for moving said transfer assembly reciprocally in directions generally parallel to said axis between a first axial position, in which said gripping means are registered with corresponding die stations, and a second axial position, in which each gripping means is registered with a die station adjacent the die station with which it is registered when said transfer assembly is in said first position but advanced in a direction of movement from said first position; and (d) a single ram for moving said transfer assembly between a first stepped position, in which said gripping means are withdrawn from said die stations, and a second stepped position, in which said gripping means can engage blanks at said die stations.