Method and apparatus for manufacturing hinges

A method for assembling two leaves of a hinge comprising the steps of:

• locating and retaining within a first press assembly two leaves of a hinge in a predetermined configuration on a seat such that the barrels of the two hinge leaves are aligned;
• feeding a predetermined length of wire for use as a pintle to a second press assembly;
• and
• receiving said predetermined length of wire from said feed assembly and said second press assembly, and driving said predetermined length of wire into the aligned barrels of the two hinge leaves using a third press assembly.

A method for forming a hinge assembly, comprising the steps of:

• punching a first and second hinge leaves from a piece of stock, each of said hinge leaves having knuckles substantially formed thereon configured to mate with like knuckles on the opposite leave;
• placing said first and second hinge leaves in a predetermined configuration on a seat;
• compressing said first and second hinge leaves on said seat between a punch and die such that the knuckles are aligned;
• ramming a pintle into the aligned knuckles of said first and second hinge leaves when compressed between said punch and die;
• and
• staking predetermined ones of said knuckles so as to positively fix said pintle therein.

An apparatus for assembling knuckled hinge leaves, comprising:

• a seat configured to receive a first and second hinge leaves in a predetermined configuration such that the knuckles of each hinge leave are aligned;
• a punch and die on opposite sides of said seat for placing said first and second hinge leaves in a predetermined and fixed orientation;
• a first ram adjacent said punch and die for ramming a pintle into the aligned knuckles of said first and second hinge leaves when in said predetermined and fixed orientation;
• and
• a second ram adjacent said seat for staking predetermined ones of said knuckles so as to positively fix said pintle therein.