Split die for holding work during bending operation

Abstract

Accurate and rapid folding of a sheet work is realized by a split die for holding the work in a folding machine or other similar machine, a method for the formation of the split die, and a work feeding apparatus for positional adjustment of the work for the sake of a folding operation, as contemplated by the present invention. The split die is composed of a pair of block dies adapted to be simultaneously moved in equal amounts away from or toward each other with respect to the center of the die of the folding machine and a multiplicity of segment dies to be inserted between the block dies. A die of a desired width for the folding operation is formed by moving the segment dies in the same direction in the same amount as one of the block dies and, at the same time, causing the key of an inverting shaft for selective extraction of segment dies to be moved in the same direction in the same amount as the other block die, and causing the segment dies falling within the overlapping regin to be thrown in between the block dies thereby apportioning the segment dies evenly on both sides of the center of the die of the folding machine.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.