Structure for supporting forming tools in a machine for forming sheet metal by stretching

A support table defining a plane surface for supporting a forming tool (14, 35, 36, 38, 39), in a machine for forming a metal sheet by stretching said metal sheet about said forming tool, said support table comprising a stand (5), a plurality of n table segments (4, 4A) each including a flat, upper working surface, mounted side by side in said stand (5), at least n-1 of said table segments (4) comprising means (6) for selectively placing said n-1 table segments in one of a high working position and a low rest position relative to said stand so that said flat, upper working surfaces constitute a support table plane surface in the raised position having a length adapted to a length of said forming tool (14, 35, 36, 38, 39), said support table plane surface always defining a substantially flat surface in a common plane regardless of the number of table segments which are placed in the high working position, wherein said stand (5) is disposed in a cavity (9) in the ground (10), and wherein said means for placing said at least n-1 table segments (4) in one of a high working position and in a low rest position comprises means for placing said flat, upper working surface of each of said n-1 table segments in said low rest position at a surface level of the ground (10).

A support table in combination with a forming tool and a machine for forming a metal sheet by stretching the metal sheet about said forming tool, said support table defining a plane surface for supporting said forming tool, said forming tool resting on said plane surface, said support table comprising:

• a stand (5), a plurality of n table segments (4, 4A), each including a flat, upper working surface, mounted side by side in said stand (5), at least n-1 of said table segments (4) comprising means (6) for selectively placing said n-1 table segments in one of a raised working position and a low rest position relative to said stand so that said flat, upper working surfaces constitute a support table plane surface in the raised working position having a length corresponding to a length of said forming tool, said support table plane surface always defining a substantially flat surface in a common plane regardless of the number of table segments which are placed in the raised working position.

A support table defining a plane surface for supporting a forming tool (14, 35, 36, 38, 39), in a machine for forming a metal sheet by stretching said metal sheet about said forming tool, said support table comprising a stand (5), a plurality of n table segments (4, 4A), mounted side by side in said stand (5), at least n-1 of said table segments (4) comprising means (6) for selectively placing said n-1 table segments in one of a high working position and a low rest position relative to said stand so as to constitute a support table plane surface in the raised position having a length adapted to a length of said forming tool (14, 35, 36, 38, 39), wherein said support table has a length, each of said n table segments is fitted at opposite ends, transverse to the length of said support table with a telescopic extender which may be extended or withdrawn from said table segment to increase a width of the raised table segments to match a width of the forming tool.

A support table defining a plane surface for supporting a forming tool (14, 35, 36, 38, 39), in a machine for forming a metal sheet by stretching said metal sheet about said forming tool, said support table comprising a stand (5), a plurality of n table segments (4, 4A), mounted side by side in said stand (5), at least n-1 of said table segments (4) comprising means (6) for selectively placing said n-1 table segments in one of a high working position and a low rest position relative to said stand so as to constitute a support table plane surface in the raised position having a length adapted to a length of said forming tool (14, 35, 36, 38, 39), wherein said stand (5) is disposed in a cavity (9) in the ground (10), and wherein said means for placing said at least n-1 table segments (4) in one of a high working position and in a low rest position comprises means for placing a flat, upper working surface of each of said n-1 table segments in said low rest position at a surface level of the ground (10).