Patent ID: 7878039

Claim:
A non-transitory computer readable medium embodying instructions executable by a processor to perform a method of automatically bending a return of a channel letter, the method comprising: inputting a desired configuration for the return to be formed into a control computer; feeding a stock under the control of the control computer along a feed path including an encoder, a flanging unit, a notching unit, and a bending unit that are arranged along the feed path for the stock, with the flanging unit being located downstream of the encoder and upstream of the notching unit and the bending unit along the feed path; forming selectively a flange on the bottom of the stock at desired flange positions on the stock at the flanging unit under the control of the control computer, wherein the method further comprises setting a height of at least one guide for controlling a depth of the flange, wherein the guide supports a bottom edge of the stock controlling a height of the stock relative to the flanging unit; notching the flange of the stock at locations corresponding to a position of bends at the notching unit under the control of the control computer; and bending the stock at the positions of the bends into the desired configuration for the return at the bending unit under the control of the control computer.