Process of forming bend-controlling structures in a sheet of material, the resulting sheet and die sets therefor
US7222511B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 9, 2004 |
| Grant date | May 29, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 18, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T83/8854
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A process of forming bend-controlling structures, such as slits, grooves or displacements (22), in a sheet of material (21, 121, 221, 321, 421, 521, 621, 721). The bend-controlling structures (22) have central portions (26) extending substantially parallel to a desired bend line (23) on the sheet and end portions (27) which diverge away from the bend line (23). In one embodiment the process includes the step of forming the bending straps (24) between pairs of slit end portions (27) at a desired spaced apart distances along the bend line (23) with the straps (24) having a desired configuration, and the step of forming central portions (26) which connect the end portions (27) to complete the slits (22) using a separate die set. A plurality of end portion dies (51/54) can be used to produce end portions (27) of various shapes and straps (24) of various widths, and a single set of central portion forming dies (71/74) are used to connect the end portions (27). In other embodiments die sets producing a single end portion (27) or mirror image impressions (A,B) are used and preferably overlapped to produce the complete bend-controlling structure (22). A modular die assembly (500) also is d…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.