Handling device for slipping tubes on the mandrel of bending machines

A device for slipping a tube to be bent on the mandrel of a bending machine, said device comprising support means, a pair of slide means slidably mounted on opposite sides of said support means for movement in a direction parallel to the axis of said mandrel, a lever pivotally mounted on each of said slide means about axes parallel to said axis, first cylinder means connected between first ends of each of said levers for moving said first ends of said levers in directions perpendicular to the axis of said mandrel independently of the movement of the slide means, a pair of gripping jaws, holder means for mounting a separate one of said gripping jaws to the other end of each of said levers, said holder means being pivotally connected to said other ends of said levers for movement about axes parallel to the axis of said mandrel independently of the pivotal motion of said levers, second cylinder means for moving said slide means in said direction, and further comprising spring means for resiliently bidirectionally biasing said holder means towards determined angular positions with respect to said other ends of said levers, thereby restricting pivotal motion of the jaws and the holder means about said other ends of said levers, said gripping jaws being removably affixed to said holder means.