Binder apparatus for sheet forming
First Claim
1. A method of forming a component from a sheet material blank, said method comprising:
- placing said sheet material blank between a first binder and a second binder apparatus, said second binder apparatus having stationary binder segments and further having movable binder segments that are movable with respect to said stationary binder segments;
moving said first binder toward said second binder apparatus to initially bend said sheet material blank into substantial conformity with said movable binder segments of said second binder apparatus; and
further moving said first binder so as to displace said movable binder segments, thereby subsequently bending said sheet material blank into substantial conformity with said stationary binder segments of said lower binder apparatus, and thereby bending said sheet material blank over a forming surface of a form die.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A forming apparatus and method for minimizing wrinkling in the forming of a three-dimensional component from a two-dimensional blank. The forming apparatus includes vertically opposed sets of tools or binders. A first tool or binder apparatus has first and second sets of opposed sides having contoured binder surfaces. A second tool or binder apparatus is mounted in vertically opposed relation to the first binder apparatus, and includes first and second sets of opposed tool or binder segments that have contoured binder surfaces thereon that are complementary in shape to the respective binder surfaces of the first and second sets of opposed sides of the first binder apparatus. One of the first and second sets of opposed binder segments of the second binder apparatus have substantially similar contours and the other have different contours. One of the first and second sets of opposed binder segments of the second binder apparatus is elevated and movable with respect to the other.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of forming a component from a sheet material blank, said method comprising:
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placing said sheet material blank between a first binder and a second binder apparatus, said second binder apparatus having stationary binder segments and further having movable binder segments that are movable with respect to said stationary binder segments;
moving said first binder toward said second binder apparatus to initially bend said sheet material blank into substantial conformity with said movable binder segments of said second binder apparatus; and
further moving said first binder so as to displace said movable binder segments, thereby subsequently bending said sheet material blank into substantial conformity with said stationary binder segments of said lower binder apparatus, and thereby bending said sheet material blank over a forming surface of a form die. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A binder apparatus for minimizing wrinkling in the forming of a substantially three-dimensional component from a substantially two-dimensional blank, said binder apparatus comprising:
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stationary binder segments; and
movable binder segments that are movable with respect to said stationary binder segments. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A forming apparatus for minimizing wrinkling in the forming of a substantially three-dimensional component from a substantially two-dimensional blank, said forming apparatus comprising:
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a first binder adapted for clamping said blank;
a form die mounted in opposed relation with respect to said binder; and
a second binder apparatus adapted for clamping said blank and substantially circumscribing said form die, said second binder apparatus comprising;
stationary binder segments; and
movable binder segments that are movable with respect to said stationary binder segments. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A sheet material forming apparatus comprising:
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a first binder having a first set of laterally opposed sides and a second set of laterally opposed sides, said first and second sets having binder surfaces thereon; and
a second binder mounted in opposed facing relationship to said first binder, said second binder having a first set of laterally opposed sides that have binder surfaces that are substantially complementary in shape to said binder surfaces of said first set of laterally opposed sides of said first binder, said second binder further having a second set of laterally opposed sides that have binder surfaces that are substantially complementary in shape to said binder surfaces of said second set of laterally opposed sides of said first binder;
wherein said binder surfaces of said first sets of said first and second binders have substantially similar contours and further wherein said second sets of said first and second binders have different contours. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification