Method and apparatus for continuous bending of elongated materials

An apparatus for bending elongated materials comprising:

• guiding means for engaging elongated material moving relative thereto;
• bending means associated with said guiding means for clamping a portion of the elongated material and for applying a bending force to the elongated material by rotating the clamped portion of the material on an axis of rotation, said axis being displaceable while being maintained substantially perpendicular to a plane including:
• a frame moveable along a plane substantially parallel to the principal axis of an unbent portion of the elongated material engaged by said guiding means;
• a slide member supported by said frame and moveable relative to said frame along an axis substantially perpendicular to the principal axis of the unbent portion of the elongated material engaged by said guiding means;
• and,
• a clamping device for engaging the elongated material, supported by said slide member and driven to rotate with respect to said member;
• and,
• heating means for heating a portion of the material said heating means being located intermediate the guiding means and the clamping device.

An apparatus for bending elongated materials comprising:

• guiding means for engaging elongated material moving relative thereto, including:
• first and second rollers disposed on opposite sides of an unbent portion of the material and displaced from one another along the longitudinal axis of the unbent portion of the material;
• and, means for applying force to the rollers so that the rollers exert oppositely directed forces of generally equal magnitude normal to the longitudinal axis of the material;
• and,
• bending means associated with said guiding means for clamping a portion of the material and for applying a bending force to the elongated material by rotating the clamped portion of the material on an axis of rotation, said axis being displaceable while being maintained substantially perpendicular to a plane, said bending means including:
• a frame moveable along a plane substantially parallel to the principal axis of an unbent portion of the elongated material engaged by the guiding means;
• a slide member supported by said frame and driven to move along an axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the unbent portion of the material responsive to the differential in force applied by the force applying means to maintain the forces exerted by the first and second rollers at a generally equal magnitude;
• and,
• a clamping device for engaging the material, rotatably mounted on the slide member.