Penetration bending method and penetration bending machine therefor

A method for bending a rod-like member with apparatus for penetration bending of a rod-like member, the rod-like member having a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis disposed therebetween, said apparatus comprising:

• a guide member for restrainably receiving the rod-like member, said guide member having a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis disposed therebetween, said guide member for permitting movement of the rod-like member within said guide member in a direction along the longitudinal axis of the rod-like member;
• a die member disposed adjacent an end of said guide member;
• means for moving at least one of said die member and said guide member relative to the other of said die member and said guide member along a plurality of paths within a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said guide member;
• means for moving at least one of said die member and said guide member relative to the other of said die member and said guide member in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of said guide member to thereby alter the distance between said die member and said guide member;
• said die member comprising a bearing for restrainably bearing a portion of the rod-like member to thereby bend the rod-like member as the rod-like member is passed through said guide member and said die member, said bearing portion having a given point;
• and
• means for moving said rod-like member longitudinally through said guide member and said die member;
• said method comprising the steps of:
• positioning at least one of said die member and said guide member a desired distance from the other of said die member and said guide member in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rod-like member;
• moving at least one of said die member and said guide member in a multiplicity of angular directions along at least one of said plurality of paths within said plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said guide member to relatively offset the longitudinal axis of said guide member a desired amount from the given point of said bearing portion of said die member;
• advancing the rod-like member through said guide member with said means for moving said rod-like member in the direction along the longitudinal axis of the rod-like member;
• further advancing the rod-like member with said means for moving said rod-like member past said die member so that a portion of the rod-like member contacts said bearing portion of said die member to thereby bend the rod-like member a desired amount in a plurality of directions;
• said moving comprises moving said at least one of said die member and said guide member relative to the other of said die member and said guide member during said advancing of the rod-like member through said guide member and said die member to alter the offset amount between the longitudinal axis of said guide member and the given point of said bearing member to thereby alter at least one of:
• the amount of bending of the rod-like member, and
• the direction of bending of the rod-like member;
• the offset amount between the longitudinal axis of said guide member and the given point of said bearing portion is continuously variable;
• and
• said moving at least one of said die member and said guide member comprises moving at least one of said die member and said guide member relative to the other of said die member and said guide member in at least one of said plurality of directions and continuously angularly variable over a given solid angle.