METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING BENDS IN A SELECTED SEQUENCE

摘要

The present invention relates generally to bending a workpiece to form a desired configuration and, in particular, to a method and apparatus for forming bends "out of sequence", i.e., in a time sequence different from the spatial sequence of the bends on the workpiece. The apparatus of the present invention includes a binding system for bending a workpiece and a positioning system for positioning the workpiece relative to a bending region so that bends can be formed in various locations across the bending region. By virtue of the disclosed structures, a series of bends can be formed on a workpiece at various locations within the bending region. Bends can be formed out sequence and without advancing the workpiece relative to the bending region.