Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
A feed mechanism for advancing an elongated member having a longitudinal axis through a bending machine comprising attachment means for attachment to said member, advancing means coupled to said attachment means for intermittently advancing said member through said bending machine in predetermined increments in the direction of said longitudinal axis, said advancing means being spaced from said bending machine along said longitudinal axis so that a portioN of said member which is not engaged by said attachment means or said bending machine lies between said attachment means and said bending machine, and compensating means for permitting said portion of said member located between said bending machine and said attachment means to yield in the direction of said longitudinal axis during bending while said member is being held by said attachment means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
131 words
A feed mechanism for advancing an elongated member having a longitudinal axis through a bending machine comprising attachment means for attachment to said member, advancing means coupled to said attachment means for intermittently advancing said member through said bending machine in predetermined increments in the direction of said longitudinal axis, said advancing means being spaced from said bending machine along said longitudinal axis so that a portioN of said member which is not engaged by said attachment means or said bending machine lies between said attachment means and said bending machine, and compensating means for permitting said portion of said member located between said bending machine and said attachment means to yield in the direction of said longitudinal axis during bending while said member is being held by said attachment means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A feed mechanism for advancing a member through a bending machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said compensating means also include means for permitting said member to yield in the direction of bending.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
113 words
A feed mechanism for advancing a member through a bending machine comprising attachment means for attachment to said member, advancing means coupled to said attachment means for advancing said member in predetermined increments, and compensating means coupled to said attachment means for permitting said member to yield toward said bending machine during bending and while said member is being held by said attachment means, said advancing means comprising a table, a carriage, means on said table for mounting said carriage, spaced depressions extending longitudinally of said table, and linkage means mounted on said carriage for sequentially engaging said spaced depressions to advance said carriage in increments determined by the spacing between said depressions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
113 words
A feed mechanism for advancing a member through a bending machine comprising attachment means for attachment to said member, advancing means coupled to said attachment means for advancing said member in predetermined increments, and compensating means coupled to said attachment means for permitting said member to yield toward said bending machine during bending and while said member is being held by said attachment means, said advancing means comprising a table, a carriage, means on said table for mounting said carriage, spaced depressions extending longitudinally of said table, and linkage means mounted on said carriage for sequentially engaging said spaced depressions to advance said carriage in increments determined by the spacing between said depressions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
110 words
A feed mechanism for advancing a member through a bending machine as set forth in claim 3 wherein said linkage means comprises a toggle linkage having first and second links having a first pivotal connected therebetween, a second pivotal connection spaced from said first pivotal connection for pivotally securing said first link to said carriage, and the end of said second link remote from said first pivotal connection having an end portion for selective insertion into said depressions, whereby said carriage may be advanced by straightening said toggle linkage after said end portion has been inserted into said depression while said first and second links are in a bent condition.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
A feed mechanism for advancing a member through a bending machine as set forth in claim 4 wherein said first pivotal connection includes friction means for retaining said first and second links in the relative position in which they were last placed until they are forcibly moved to a new position relative to each other.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
76 words
A feed mechanism for advancing a member through a bending machine as set forth in claim 5 including motor means mounted on said carriage and coupled in a first position relative to said first and second links for selectively bending said first and second links relative to each other, and means for coupling said motor means in a second position relative to said first and second links to vary the increments of travel of said carriage.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A feed mechanism for advancing a member through a bending machine as set forth in claim 5 including alignment means for causing said carriage to maintain a square alignment relative to said table.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
74 words
A feed mechanism for advancing a member through a bending machine as set forth in claim 7 wherein said alignment means comprises a shaft journalled on said carriage and extending perpendicularly to the direction of movement of said carriage, spaced racks on said table, a pinion keyed on each end of said shaft and in mesh with said racks, whereby said carriage will remain square to said table as it travels along said table.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
146 words
A feed mechanism for advancing a member through a bending machine comprising attachment means for attachment to said member, advancing means coupled to said attachment means for advancing said member in predetermined increments, and compensating means coupled to said attachment means for permitting said member to yield toward said bending machine during bending and while said member is being held by said attachment means, said compensating means also including means for permitting said member to yield in the direction of bending, saiD advancement means comprising a carriage and said compensating means comprising first mounting means for mounting said attachment means for pivotal movement about a first axis which permits said attachment means to move toward said bending machine, and second mounting means for mounting said attachment means for pivotal movement about a second axis which permits said attachmnt means to move in the direction of bending.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
146 words
A feed mechanism for advancing a member through a bending machine comprising attachment means for attachment to said member, advancing means coupled to said attachment means for advancing said member in predetermined increments, and compensating means coupled to said attachment means for permitting said member to yield toward said bending machine during bending and while said member is being held by said attachment means, said compensating means also including means for permitting said member to yield in the direction of bending, saiD advancement means comprising a carriage and said compensating means comprising first mounting means for mounting said attachment means for pivotal movement about a first axis which permits said attachment means to move toward said bending machine, and second mounting means for mounting said attachment means for pivotal movement about a second axis which permits said attachmnt means to move in the direction of bending.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
53 words
A feed mechanism for advancing a member through a bending machine as set forth in claim 9 including first spring means for biasing said first mounting means in a direction away from said machine and second spring means for biasing said second mounting means in a direction away from the direction of bending.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
A feed mechanism for advancing a member through a bending machine as set forth in claim 3 including means for selectively preventing said linkage means for engaging certain of said spaced depressions.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
A feed mechanism for advancing a member through a bending machine as set forth in claim 3 including support means on said table intermediate said bending machine and said carriage for supporting said member, and means for selectively retracting said support means to drop said workpiece from said table.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
112 words
A feed mechanism for advancing a member through a bending machine as set forth in claim 3 including motor means mounted on said carriage, first means coupling said motor means in a first position relative to said linkage means for selectively causing said linkage means to advance said carriage in increments which is equal to a first distance as determined by the spacing between said depressions, and second means for coupling said motor means in a second position relative to said linkage means to advance said carriage in increments which is equal to a second distance different from said first distance and which is also based on the spacing between said depressions.