Processes and apparatus for the mechanical working of sheet metal or metal tubes, rods or profiles without essentially removing material.

Processes and apparatus for punching, i.e. press-cutting, sheet metal or other metal stock material, as a particular mechanical working which removes material.

It further covers the following parts and devices related to those apparatus:

Tools as parts of those machines;

Feeding, positioning or storing devices combined with, or arranged in, or specially adapted for use in connection with, those apparatus;

Ejecting or stripping-off devices arranged in those machines or tools;

Associations of cutting devices with those apparatus;

Special measures to adapt those apparatus for working metal foils, e.g. gold foils;

Safety devices protecting the machine or the operator, specially adapted for those apparatus.

The mechanical working covers treatments characterised by their function, comprising methods for

straightening, restoring form or removing local distortions,

bending or twisting,

corrugating, bending into wave form or forming single grooves,

edge treatments, e.g. for flanging tubes

shaping without cutting by stamping, spinning, deep-drawing or by applying fluid pressure or magnetic forces,

shaping by press cutting, i.e. punching, e.g. for cutting-out or perforating,

stretching sheet metal of limited length,

stabbing, piercing, expanding, hammering, beating, peen forming or other methods,

processes combining those methods.

The processing of sheet metal or metal tubes, rods or profiles covers the application of those mechanical metal-working treatments or methods for the following particular purposes

in order to connect objects or parts,

in order to expand tubes,

in order to alter the diameter of tube ends,

in the manufacture of finished or semi-finished articles, comprising rigid structural elements or units, hollow objects and other particular articles,

for sheathing or stiffening objects.

Input products

B21B covers rolling of metal. B21C covers the manufacture of metal sheets, rods, tubes, profiles or like semi-manufactured products otherwise than by rolling. Operations of the kind involved in the manufacture of metal sheets or metal tubes, rods or profiles are therefore covered by subclasses B21B and B21C. However, the semi-finished products manufactured by the operations of B21B (e.g. sheet metal coils, tubes, profiles) or B21C (e.g. tubes, concrete rods, profiles) may be input products for the metal-working and processing covered by B21D as for example straightening, bending, corrugating, forming single grooves, flanging or edge treatment, shaping by stamping, spinning or deep-drawing, stretching, press-cutting or perforating.

The mechanical working of wire, which is a further semi-finished product manufactured by the operations of B21C, is covered by the specific subclass B21F.

The mechanical working of metal foils in a manner analogous to the working of paper is covered by B31F, except for the perforating, cutting, or otherwise severing, of metal foils, or thin metal sheets, which is covered by B26D and B26F. Other special measures in connection with working metal foils, e.g. for adapting apparatus of B21D therefore, are covered by main group B21D 33/00.

Presses

Presses in general, e.g. characterised by their pressing member or the drive there for, and details thereof, or accessories there for (e.g. the construction of the frame or control arrangements) are covered by B30B. The special adaptation of presses for the purposes of stamping, deep-drawing or punching sheet metal or metal tubes, rods or profiles is covered by B21D, especially by main group B21D 24/00 for special deep-drawing arrangements in, or in connection with, presses.

All aspects related to straightening, restoring form or removing local distortions of sheet metal or specific articles made therefrom (e.g. straightening uncoiled bands or strips, removing bumps in sheet metal structures like cars, airplanes, etc ... , straightening structures, e.g, crashed vehicle bodies).

All aspects related to straightening or restoring form of metal rods, metal tubes, metal profiles and specific articles made therefrom, whether or not in combination with sheet metal parts (e.g crankshafts).

Methods and devices for bending sheet metal along straight lines

Methods and devices for bending metal rods, profile or tubes

Methods and devices for bending tubes using mandrels or the like.

The group also covers the bending mandrels as such.

Mandrels are used to keep the cross sectional shape of the tube in the bending area (i.e. to avoid unwanted deformations).

Methods and devices for bending not restricted to either sheet metal, tubes, rods or profiles. This covers:

Bending by stretching or pulling over a die

Bending into special geometrical forms, e.g: helical, spiral, serpentine

Bending by altering the thickness of part of the cross-section of the work

Bending specially adapted to produce specific articles, e.g. leaf springs, reinforcements for concrete

Twisting

Joggling

Special bending methods and devices not covered by other subgroups in B21D

Auxiliary bending equipment, e.g. positioning devices, heating devices

Methods and devices for corrugating or bending into wave form of sheet metal, rods or profiles. Corrugating here also means forming embossments/dimples all over the surface of a metal sheet.

Methods and devices for corrugating or bending into wave form of tubes.

Forming grooves by deformation of the sheet only, without variation of the thickness (i.e. the grooves are not obtained by crushing the metal).

Methods and devices for applying flanges on edges or holes of metal sheets or tubes.

Edge treatments like edge deburring or smoothing by sheet metal working techniques without removing material

Processes combining two or more metal working methods from the following list:

Strai ghtening,

bending,

corrugating,

forming single grooves,

flanging or other edge treatment.

All kinds of methods and devices for shaping sheet metal or tubes by

Stamping using rigid devices or tools: the sheet stock is shaped between a punch and a die.

Stamping using yieldable or resilient pads: the shaping member is yieldable or resilient and is forced against the sheet stock; there may be a die against which the sheet stock is pressed, but not necessarily.

Spinning: spinning is used to make axis-symmetric parts by relative rotation of a piece of sheet stock and rollers or rigid tools. The rollers or rigid tools are pressed against the stock, stretching it, until the stock takes the required shape. The stock may be pressed against a mandrel but not necessarily.

Deep drawing: deep drawing is, as for stamping, a process of forming sheet metal through a forming die with a punch. In deep-drawing, the material undergoes high plastic deformations: deep drawing is often used to produce metal objects that are more than half their diameters in height; if the height is less than half their diameter we talk about drawing (which is also covered by this subclass). Often but not always, the blank is holded by a blank-holder to control the flow of material and to prevent the formation of wrinkles.

General aspects of the deep-drawing apparatus as such.

Special deep-drawing arrangements in presses as for example feeding, centering of the blanks, guiding the tools.

Multi-stage deep-drawing presses.

The special devices for holding the metal sheet during deep-drawing (blank-holders and die cushions) as well as the devices for controlling or operating them during deep-drawing.

Blank holders: mechanisms which hold the borders of the blanks in order to control the flow of material during the drawing operation and to prevent wrinkles.

Cushioning arrangements: they are utilized for absorbing the force from the upper die so that the blank holder is moved downwardly, together with the punch, in a controlled manner.

Additional equipment in association with the deep-drawing tools e.g. for shearing, for trimming.

Methods and devices for working sheet metal of limited length by stretching, e.g. for straightening, by pulling over a die. It also covers the clamping arrangements needed to apply the stretching force to the sheet metal.

Methods and devices for shaping sheet metal by the effect of non rigid means which are

fluids or

magnetic forces including shaping by a kinetic energy of a fluid or field and explosive shaping

Devices and methods for deforming sheet metal blanks in the form of sheets or thin plates, of tubes with or without bottom, or of profiles, by applying fluid pressure.

Devices and methods for deforming sheet metal in the form of flat sheets or thin plates, whether layered or not, by applying fluid pressure.

When the invention is characterised by the shape of the bodies to be deformed in combination with a particular material feature of the bodies to be deformed, the invention shall also be classified in B21D 26/053 and subgroups thereof.

Devices and methods for deforming sheet bodies by fluid pressure and performing a piercing, perforating, caulking, marking or other additional treatment by applying fluid pressure to the bodies being deformed.

Control means characterised by the control of clamping the mould and opening the mould, e.g. control of the pressure to be applied on the moulds when clamping or opening moulds.

Control means for controlling supply pressure, temperature or other variables of the fluid at the time of supply. Means for merely controlling pumps are not included.

Means and details that are relevant for the sealed or airtight closing of the mould.

Constructional features or details of the mould, e.g. a mould of which some portion is movable, which are not covered by other subgroups of B21D 26/021.

Devices and methods for deforming sheet metal in the form of metal tubes, e.g. cylinders, with or without bottom, by applying fluid pressure.

When the invention is characterised by the shape of the bodies to be deformed in combination with a particular material feature of the bodies to be deformed, the invention shall also be additionally classified in B21D 26/053 and subgroups thereof.

Devices and methods for deforming tubular bodies by fluid pressure and performing a piercing, perforating, caulking, marking or other additional treatment by applying fluid pressure on the bodies being deformed.

Devices and methods for deforming metal tubular bodies by applying fluid pressure specially adapted to obtain branched tubes

Control means characterised by the control of clamping the mould and opening the mould, e.g. control of the pressure to be applied on the moulds when clamping or opening moulds.

Control means for controlling supply pressure, temperature or other variables of the fluid at the time of supply. Means for merely controlling pumps are not included.

Control means characterised by the control of the axial movement (speed, timing, steps) of, the counter-pressure applied to, or other variables of the axial pusher during the deformation process.

Details of the sealed or airtight closing of the mould.

Constructional features or details of the mould, e.g. a mould of which some portion is movable, which are not covered by other subgroups of B21D 26/033.

Devices and methods for deforming metal tubular bodies having a bottom, i.e. a closed end, by applying fluid pressure.

When an invention is characterised by the shape of the bodies to be deformed in combination with a particular material feature of the bodies to be deformed, the invention shall additionally be classified in B21D 26/053 and subgroups thereof.

Devices and methods for deforming metal double-walled tubular bodies by applying fluid pressure.

When an invention is characterised by the shape of the bodies to be deformed in combination with a particular material feature of the bodies to be deformed, the invention shall be classified in B21D 26/053 and subgroups thereof.

Devices and methods for deforming metal bodies by applying fluid pressure which are characterised by the material, composition or constituents of the bodies to be deformed.

When an invention is characterised by the adaptation to deforming metal bodies with a particular material feature in combination with the shape of the bodies to be deformed, the invention shall also be classified in B21D 26/021 or B21D 26/033 and their subgroups.

Devices and methods adapted for deforming metal bodies comprising a material having super-plastic properties, e.g. a super-plastic alloy, by applying fluid pressure.

Devices and methods adapted for deforming metal bodies preassembled from different pieces, e.g. pieces of different materials or pieces of different thickness, by applying fluid pressure.

Devices and methods adapted for deforming layered blanks by applying fluid pressure.

Methods and devices for shaping sheet metal by press-cutting comprising:

Specific aspects of the drive of press-cutting tools.

Explosive cutting and perforating.

Centering the work, positioning the tools.

Making more than one part out of the same blank or strip.

Incompletely punching in such a manner that the parts are still coherent with the work.

Punching using rotatable carriers (e.g., turret punch presses).

Blanking dies.

Shoulder or burr prevention, which particularly covers fine-blanking.

Yieldable punching pads.

Applications of drive in order to reduce noise and/or wear.

Notching the peripheries or circular blanks.

Methods and devices for perforating, i.e. punching holes in metal profiles, sheets or flat parts, tubes or hollow bodies, annular parts, other articles of special shape (means that the shape is so that cam systems are necessary to access the perforating location).

Specific aspects of the drive of perforating tools and explosive perforating.

Perforating tools and die holders.

When no shape is given to an article (simply separating two articles) it is considered to belong to shearing (B23D).

Methods and devices other than straightening, bending, corrugating, stamping, spinning, deep-drawing, stretching, punching.

For example:

shaping with a tool pressed against a sheet stock and without die or counter tool (e.g.: single point forming);

stabbing or piercing with the thrust of a pointed tool, e.g. for making sieves;

expanding after slitting for making expanded metal, gratings;

deforming by sequential impacts like hammering, beating.

Special measures to adapt sheet metal working apparatus according to subclass B21D for working metal foils, e.g. gold foils

Processes combining two or more metal working methods covered by the above groups and listed below:

Tools as parts of machines covered by this subclass (forms or constructions of tools uniquely adapted for particular operations in the relevant groups for the operations).

Selection of materials for the tools.

Die constructions enabling assembly of the die parts in different ways: the shape of the tool can be changed by moving or exchanging certain parts of the tool.

Movable or exchangeable mountings for tools: all systems to hold, clamp, lock the tools in their working place.

Dies with different parts for several steps in a process: e.g., progressive stamping dies, succession of tools for shaping in several steps, succession of a blanking station and drawing stations.

Dies sets: complementary dies which cooperate by the means of guiding means; the die sets are adapted to be mounted between the ram and the table/bolster of a press.

Pillar guides: details of guiding arrangements of die sets.

Particular arrangements for handling and holding in place complete dies in order to install them for example in a press.

Heating or cooling the tools.

Lubricating of the tools or tools including lubricating of the workpiece.

Making tools by operations not covered by a single other subclass, by using techniques of the present subclass: e.g. cutting tools obtained by bending a metal strip.

Methods and devices for connecting objects or parts by sheet metal deformation:

coating objects or parts with sheet metal,

connecting sheet metal with sheet metal,

connecting metal tubes with metal tubes (also tube-like fittings),

connecting tubes with rods,

connecting of tubes in openings,

as well as tube expanding devices as such.

Methods and devices for enlarging, reducing or closing tube ends.

Methods and devices for feeding, positioning or storing combined with, or arranged in, or specially adapted for use in connection with the apparatus for mechanical working of sheet metal or metal tubes, rods or profiles without essentially removing material or with the apparatus for press-cutting, sheet metal or other metal stock material. Associations of cutting devices with the above feeding, positioning or storing devices.

Ejecting or stripping-off devices arranged in machines or tools dealt with in this subclass and corresponding methods.

Ejecting covers ejecting the worked part or the scrap out of the tool or transporting them out of the working device.

Stripping-off covers separating the worpiece from a perforating punch after punching or from a punching die after forming.

Processing sheet metal or metal tubes, or processing metal profiles according to any of groups B21D 1/00- B21D 45/00, in the manufacture of finished or semi-finished articles for making statical constructions as for example honeycomb structures, beams or pillars.

Processing sheet metal or metal tubes, or processing metal profiles according to any of groups B21D 1/00- B21D 45/00 for sheathing or stiffening objects.

Processing sheet metal or metal tubes, or processing metal profiles according to any of groups B21D 1/00- B21D 45/00, in the manufacture of hollow objects, e.g. hollow objects not characterized by the particular use or hollow objects characterized by the particular use (e.g, vessels, high pressure containers, cans or tins, collapsible or like thin-walled tubes, inlet or outlet arrangements, can ends or closures there for, boxes, cigarette cases or the like, cartridge cases).

Processing sheet metal or metal tubes, or processing metal profiles according to any of groups B21D 1/00- B21D 45/00, for making other particular articles. The processes covered by this group are special processes for producing a specific article (e.g. heat exchangers, wheels, parts for vehicles, etc...). Processes in general are covered by the relevant group of this subclass.

Safety devices and methods for protecting the machine or the operator, specially adapted for apparatus or machines dealt with in this subclass. Noise reducing measures are also covered.

Only safety devices for press-cutting tools for shaping or tools for perforating by punching are covered in this group and they may be hand held or ground supported.