METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING A SAW CHAIN CUTTER LINK

摘要

Disclosed herein is a method and apparatus for forming a saw chain cutting link blank including a link portion, a shank portion extending from the link portion, and a toe portion extending from the shank portion, into a saw chain cutting link wherein the shank portion extends from the link portion in angular relation thereto and wherein the toe portion extends from the shank portion in angular relation thereto and in transverse relation to the link portion, the apparatus comprises means for locating a blank relative to a stationary die part, means including a first die part movable in a rectilinear path relative to the stationary die part for bending the shank portion relative to the link portion into the angular relation in response to movement of the first movable die part relative to the stationary die part, means including a second die part movable in the direction of the rectilinear path and relative to the stationary die part for partially bending the toe portion relative to the shank portion in response to movement of the second die part relative to the stationary die part, and means including a third die part movable in a direction transverse to the rectilinear path and relative to the stationary die part for completing bending of the toe portion into the angular relation to the shank portion and into transverse relation to the link portion in response to movement of the third die part relative to the stationary die part. The method comprises the steps of locating a blank in a die including a stationary die part and first, second, and third movable die parts, forming the shank portion relative to the link portion into the angular relation in response to movement of the first movable die part in one direction relative to the stationary die part, partially forming the toe portion relative to the shank portion in response to movement of the second die part in the same direction as the first movable die part and relative to the stationary die part, completely forming of the toe portion into the angular relation to the shank portion and into transverse relation to the link portion in response to movement of the third movable die part in a direction transverse to the one direction and relative to the stationary die part, and removing the link from the die.