Method and apparatus to deform the cross section of one or more longitudinal sections of an oblong object

An apparatus comprising:

• clamping devices with faces facing each other to clamp and upset an object in between the ends of a longitudinal section to be deformed,
• a device configured to exert an axial pressure on the longitudinal section in between the said opposed faces to shorten and thicken the longitudinal section by means of upsetting and
• movable counter-pressure means that extend near a contour sheath of the longitudinal section to be deformed and are configured to exert an inwardly directed counter pressure and to move outward in a controlled fashion during upsetting of the object and
• a device configured to ensure a cooperation between the device configured to exert an axial pressure and the counter-pressure means to make sure that the volume of the space for the object, bounded by the faces and the movable counter-pressure means, remains substantially constant, while said counter-pressure means move outward in a controlled manner.

Deformation line to manufacture a heddle comprising at least one upsetting station provided with clamping means with faces facing each other to clamp and upset an object in between ends of a longitudinal section to be deformed,

• a device configured to exert an axial pressure on the longitudinal section in between the said opposed faces to shorten and thicken the longitudinal section by means of upsetting and
• movable counter pressure means that extend near a contour sheath of the longitudinal section to be deformed in order to exert an inwardly directed counter pressure and
• a device configured to ensure a cooperation between the device configured to exert the axial pressure and the counter pressure means so that the volume of the space for the material to be upset, bounded by the faces and the movable counter pressure means, remains substantially constant and
• at least one flattening station with moulding means for a controlled transversal pressure operation,
• at least one pressing station with moulding means to apply an appropriate pre- opening and an oval eye and for other deformations and a cutting station with cutting means as well as
• a device configured for a programmed step by step transmission of the object to be deformed through the deformation line till past the cutting station and
• a device configured for an appropriate crosswise putting into place and removal of the clamping devices, of the various moulding means for the flattening pressure as well as for the pressing stations and of the cutting means in the cutting station.