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US 9,849,494 B2Granted
Automated bender and systems and methods for providing data to operate an automated bender
AssigneeTextron Innovations Inc.
InventorsJeffrey Plummer, Sean Daugherty, Ryan Mantell, Gerald Tully
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automated bender and its method of operation according to some embodiments of the disclosure is provided. The automated bender includes a carousel which has all of the necessary components for bending a variety of conduit sizes provided thereon. The carousel can be rotated to a desired bending position to bend a particular type of conduit. A straight workpiece is fed into the automated bender and a bent workpiece, which may have multiple bends therein, is output from the automated bender. This bending process is performed without manual intervention. Software for achieving same is provided.
Claims28
A bender comprising:
- a rotatable carousel plate having a first side defining a first surface and a second opposite side defining a second surface, the carousel plate being rotatable around a rotational axis;
- and
- at least two bending shoes extending outwardly from the first surface of the carousel plate, each bending shoe having a plurality of channels therein configured to receive a workpiece, each bending shoe being rotationally attached to the carousel plate along a rotational axis, the rotational axes of the bending shoes being spaced apart from each other on the carousel plate and spaced apart from the rotational axis of the carousel plate, the rotational axes of the bending shoes and the carousel plate being parallel to each other, each bending shoe being rotatable around its rotational axis independently of the other bending shoes.
A bender comprising:
- a carousel plate having a first side and a second opposite side;
- at least two bending shoes attached to the first side of the carousel plate, each bending shoe having a plurality of channels therein configured to receive a workpiece, each bending shoe being rotatable relative to the carousel plate, each bending shoe being rotatable independently of the other bending shoes;
- a mounting frame upon which the carousel plate is rotatably mounted;
- and
- a motor attached to the mounting frame,
- wherein when the carousel plate is rotated, one of the bending shoes engages with the motor.
3 more elements
A bender comprising:
- a carousel plate having a first side and a second opposite side;
- at least two bending shoes attached to the first side of the carousel plate, each bending shoe having a plurality of channels therein configured to receive a workpiece, each bending shoe being rotatable relative to the carousel plate, each bending shoe being rotatable independently of the other bending shoes;
- and
- a follower bar attached to the carousel plate and movable relative to a first one of the bending shoes during a bending operation, the follower bar having a plurality of channels therein configured to receive the workpiece.
1 more element
A bender comprising:
- a mounting frame,
- a carousel plate rotatably mounted on the mounting frame, the carousel plate having a first side and a second opposite side;
- at least two bending shoes attached to the first side of the carousel plate, each bending shoe having a plurality of channels therein configured to receive a workpiece, each bending shoe being rotatable relative to the carousel plate, each bending shoe being rotatable independently of the other bending shoes;
- a clamping apparatus mounted on the mounting frame and configured to receive the workpiece, the clamping apparatus being movable relative to the carousel plate and relative to the mounting frame;
- and
- a first seat configured to receive the workpiece, the first seat being positioned between the clamping apparatus and the carousel plate, the first seat is capable of movement relative to the clamping apparatus, and is capable of movement with the clamping apparatus.
3 more elements
A bender comprising:
- a mounting frame;
- a carousel plate rotatably mounted on the mounting frame, the carousel plate having a first side and a second opposite side;
- and
- at least first and second bending shoes attached to the first side of the carousel plate, each bending shoe having a plurality of channels therein configured to receive a workpiece, each bending shoe being rotatable relative to the carousel plate, each bending shoe being rotatable independently of the other bending shoes;
- a first follower bar attached to the first side of the carousel plate and movable relative to the first bending shoe, the first follower bar having a plurality of channels therein configured to receive the workpiece;
- a second follower bar attached to the first side of the carousel plate and movable relative to the second bending shoe, the second follower bar having a plurality of channels therein configured to receive the workpiece;
- and
- a motor attached to the mounting frame, wherein when the carousel plate is rotated, one of the bending shoes engages with the motor.
5 more elements
A bender comprising:
- a mounting frame;
- a carousel plate rotatably mounted on the mounting frame, the carousel plate having a first side and a second opposite side;
- first and second bending shoes attached to the first side of the carousel plate, each bending shoe having a plurality of channels therein configured to receive a workpiece, each bending shoe being rotatable relative to the carousel plate, each bending shoe being rotatable independently of the other bending shoes;
- a first follower bar attached to the first side of the carousel plate and movable relative to the first bending shoe, the first follower bar having a plurality of channels therein configured to receive the workpiece;
- a second follower bar attached to the first side of the carousel plate and movable relative to the second bending shoe, the second follower bar having a plurality of channels therein configured to receive the workpiece;
- a clamping apparatus mounted on the mounting frame and which is configured to receive the workpiece, the clamping apparatus being movable relative to the mounting frame and to the carousel plate;
- and
- a seat mounted on the mounting frame and which is configured to receive the workpiece, the seat being positioned between the clamping apparatus and the carousel plate, wherein the seat is capable of movement relative to the clamping apparatus, and is capable of movement with the clamping apparatus.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.