Tube bending apparatus

摘要

A tube bending apparatus (10) having a base (12) and a bend arbor (16) thereon and an X-axis extending spindle (11) selectively rotatably mounted on the base (12) for movement along the X-axis and for lateral movement in orthogonal Y-axis and Z-axis directions. The spindle (11) has a clamping mechanism (27) on the distal end thereof. A tube bend effecting arm (17) is hinged relative to the bend arbor (16) and is swingable about a bend axis (19). An elongate track (28) is provided laterally offset from the base (12) and extends continuously in a direction parallel to the X-axis. A tube loader (38) is mounted on and for movement along the elongate track (28). The tube loader (38) includes a feed mechanism (54) for sequentially feeding one tube (T) at a time to a specified position axially aligned with the spindle (11) when in either of the first and second locations of the tube loader (38). Additionally, a method is provided for systematically removing a bent tube from a bend arbor (16) utilizing onboard robotics of the tube bending apparatus (10) and an onboard tube gripping tool (21) operatively connected to the spindle (11).