Apparatus for bending lamellar workpieces

Abstract

A machine for bending reinforced thermoplastic workpieces includes a machine frame. First and second spaced rest plates are mounted to the frame, with the plates having a first planer orientation, which define a rest plane, for supporting a workpiece and a second angularly disposed orientation for bending the workpiece. A compression rest is disposed between the plates. A heated bending beam is in alignment with and spaced from the compression rest. A drive system is operably associated with the frame for causing relative movement between the beam and the plates and the rest, so that a workpiece supported by the plates and the rest in the first orientation may engage the beam. The plates are operably interconnected for therefore defining a common pivot axis. A system is provided for causing at least one of the plates to be pivoted about the pivot axis. A further system is operably associated with the plates when in the first planer orientation for adjusting the plates relative to the common pivot axis so that the rest plane may be selectively positioned relative to the common pivot axis prior to a workpiece on said plates being engaged by the bending beam.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.