Wire shaping apparatus and method of shaping a wire
US11969780B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 1, 2017 |
| Grant date | Apr 30, 2024 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 1, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB21F35/003
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Apparatus for forming wire components, which are in this example springs, comprises a supply station (202), for supplying spring forming material, such as metallic wire W. The supply station includes a pair of guide rollers (204) and pair of driven feed rollers (206), mounted on a heavy support plate (216). The wire is fed through a flexible sheath FS to a remotely located wire shaping device, in particular a spring forming device 208, comprising forming tools (210), a pitch control tool (212) and a cutter (214). The forming tools (210) and the pitch control tool (212) form the wire into a spring S, which is cut from the supply of wire when it is complete. The tools (210, 212) and cutter (214) are controlled remotely from a control station (220) via a bundle of flexible control cables (222), which may include a power cable. The spring forming device 208 is mounted on a positioning member (224), such as a robot arm or moveable table, configured for three-dimensional movement, and/or optionally adjustments in inclination. Without the heavy plate (216) and rollers (205, 206), the spring forming device (208) is sufficiently light in weight and compact as to be moved by the positioning …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.