| 摘要 |
A method and apparatus for accomplishing controlled bending of elongate strip stock, such as window frame strip stock, for example. An elongate flexible die is utilized having a plurality of elongate die strips including an inner laminant having considerable beam strength. The die strips and the inner laminant are composed of a flexible polymer material or any other suitable flexible material which are retained in assembly about the strip stock to be bent by a plurality of closely spaced clamps. The elongate strip stock is confined by the flexible die along substantially its entire length during all phases of its bending and forming about a substrate having a bending surface of desired configuration. The strip stock is maintained in lateral restraint as it is formed along with the flexible die to the desired configuration that is determined by the configuration of the substrate, thus preventing lateral deflection, scalloping, or other undesirable structural deformation of the strip stock as it is bent and formed to its desired configuration. Conceptually therefore, the essence of the invention is accomplished by an elongate flexible die for confining the strip stock along its entire length and having an inflexible external case which is segmented to permit bending and having an inner laminant having sufficient beam strength to provide for continuity of strip curvature.
|
