Hemming apparatus and method using a horizontal motion for actuating the die sets

An apparatus for horizontally actuating hemming and stamping die sets, said apparatus comprising:

• a horizontal base support;
• a roller device horizontally mounted on top of said horizontal base support;
• a linear guidance system set in said horizontal base support;
• a fixed drive support vertically attached to said horizontal base support;
• a drive mechanism supported by said drive support;
• an anvil die set held by said drive support;
• a vertically extending platen, said vertically extending platen resting on top of the horizontal base support and loosely guided by said linear guidance system;
• a punch die set held by said vertical platen;
• a plurality of bushings set in the punch die set;
• at least three guide shafts, each secured to said anvil die set on one end and each engaged to one of said bushings of said punch die set on the other end;
• and
• a plurality of link bars attached on one end to said vertical platen via link bar attachments and coupled on the other end to said drive mechanism, wherein the actuation of the drive mechanism moves said link bars and the attached vertical platen in a horizontal direction along the linear guidance system relative to said drive support.