Patent ID: 7401487

Claim:
A die-forming apparatus, comprising: a first die platform, said first die platform comprising a first working member having a side working surface, a first securing member oriented in spaced relationship with said first working member so as to define a first working area between said side working surface of said first working member and said first securing member and a base working surface that is oriented perpendicular to said side working surface of said first die platform; a second die platform disposed adjacent to said first die platform, said second die platform comprising a second working member having a side working surface, a second securing member oriented in spaced relationship with said second working member so as to define a second working area between said side working surface of said second working member and said second securing member and a base working surface that is oriented perpendicular to said side working surface of said second die platform; at least one workpiece die configured to be positioned within at least one of said first and second working areas; wherein said first working area is open on a side opposite said base working surface of said first die platform to receive a bendable workpiece and said second working area is open on a side opposite said base working surface of said second die platform to receive said bendable workpiece; wherein at least one of said first and second die platforms is movable relative to the other of said first and second die platforms in a direction that is parallel to said base working surface of said first die platform and said base working surface of said second die platform and that is in a direction perpendicular to said side working surface of said first die platform and said side working surface of said second die platform so that said first and second working areas are positionable in an aligned relationship with each other; and wherein at least one of said first and second die platforms is movable relative to the other of said first and second die platforms and in a direction that is parallel to said base working surface of said first die platform and said base working surface of said second die platform and in a direction that is perpendicular to said side working surface of said first die platform and said side working surface of said second die platform so that said first and second working areas are positionable from said aligned relationship to a non-aligned relationship with each other.