Apparatus for adjusting tool length of bending machine

An apparatus for adjusting the tool length of a bending machine comprising:

• a support means,
• a ram mounted to said support means and having a lower end;
• a top tool mounted on the lower end of said ram;
• said top tool including a pair of central dies slidably mounted and longitudinally movably on the lower end of the ram and having a plurality of upper split dies located in an upper die row in spaced relation from alignment with said central dies, means mounting said upper split dies for selective positioning from said upper die row into alignment with said central dies, a plurality of thin upper dies located in said upper die row in spaced relation from alignment with said central dies and movable from said upper die row into alignment between said pair of central dies and being thinner than said upper split dies, and upper corner dies slidably mounted to said ram, said corner dies being located one each on the opposite ends of said central dies, a shaft mechanism secured to said ram and coupled to said central dies for sliding movement of said central dies along the lower portion of the ram;
• a drive mechanism coupled to said upper corner dies for sliding the upper corner dies to longitudinally symmetrical positions to the opposite sides of said central dies;
• shaft means pivotably mounted to the back of said central dies and upper corner dies;
• a wedge means releasably securing a plurality of said upper split dies to the shaft means for pivoting by said shaft means and thereby selectively inserted between said central dies and upper corner dies;
• a releasing means coupled to said wedge means for selectively releasing each of said upper split dies from said shaft means;
• a means selectively coupling said thin upper dies to said shaft means for selecting the number of said thin upper dies secured to the shaft means and moved between said central dies.