Machine and process for production of three-dimensional stirrups

Abstract

Machines and processes for production of three-dimensional stirrups ( 1 a ) with two converging legs ( 4,5 ), from rods, wire or other material of any cross-section. A planar stirrup ( 9 ) with parallel legs is either produced with the aid of a bending head ( 19 ) by making two bending operations, or is furnished in prepared, precut form and is restrained, for example by a grip or jaw ( 26 ). Afterwards, utilizing a stirrup-leg adjustment mechanism ( 25 ) located immediately following this bending head ( 19 ), which mechanism ( 25 ) includes an arm ( 16 ) that may move in reciprocation with the aid of a suitable mechanism ( 18 ) and has a hook ( 17 ) at its end, the free leg ( 5 ) of the planar stirrup ( 9 ) is trapped by the hook ( 17 ). This trapped free leg ( 5 ) is moved towards the opposite leg ( 4 ) as arm ( 16 ) reciprocates, covering an appropriate distance. Finally, the third dimension is generated by bending simultaneously at locations ( 12, 13 ) with a suitable bending mechanism ( 22 ) that is located after the stirrup-leg adjustment mechanism ( 25 ).

1 . A machine for producing stirrups, comprising:
 a wire advancement mechanism;   a first bending mechanism configured to receive wire from said advancement mechanism and form planar stirrups therefrom;   a stirrup-leg adjustment mechanism configured to move at least one stirrup leg towards another; and,   a second bending mechanism configured to bend a third dimension into planar stirrups received by said stirrup-leg adjustment mechanism.   
   
   
       2 . A machine for producing stirrups as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an arm in said stirrup-leg adjustment mechanism.   
   
   
       3 . A machine for producing stirrups as claimed in  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a drive configured to controllably reciprocate said arm.   
   
   
       4 . A machine for producing stirrups as claimed in  claim 2 , further comprising:
 trapping means functioning to trap a free stirrup leg, said trapping means located on said arm.   
   
   
       5 . The machine for producing stirrups as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein:
 said arm is located above the plane of receipt of stirrups.   
   
   
       6 . The machine for producing stirrups as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein:
 said arm is located below the plane of receipt of stirrups.   
   
   
       7 . A machine for producing stirrups as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first arm in said second bending mechanism; and,   a second arm configured to move cyclically around said first arm.   
   
   
       8 . A machine for producing stirrups, comprising:
 a grip configured to restrain preformed, precut planar stirrups;   a stirrup-leg adjustment mechanism configured to move at least one stirrup leg towards another; and,   a second bending mechanism configured to bend a third dimension into planar stirrups received by said stirrup-leg adjustment mechanism.   
   
   
       9 . A machine for producing stirrups as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising:
 an arm in said stirrup-leg adjustment mechanism.   
   
   
       10 . A machine for producing stirrups as claimed in  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a drive configured to controllably reciprocate said arm.   
   
   
       11 . A machine for producing stirrups as claimed in  claim 9 , further comprising:
 trapping means functioning to trap a free stirrup leg, said trapping means located on said arm.   
   
   
       12 . The machine for producing stirrups as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein:
 said arm is located above the plane of receipt of stirrups.   
   
   
       13 . The machine for producing stirrups as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein:
 said arm is located below the plane of receipt of stirrups.   
   
   
       14 . A machine for producing stirrups as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a first arm in said second bending mechanism; and,   a second arm configured to move cyclically around said first arm.   
   
   
       15 . A process for producing stirrups, comprising:
 restraining a first leg of the stirrup,   trapping a free leg of the stirrup with a stirrup-leg adjustment mechanism;   moving the free stirrup leg towards the first stirrup leg with said stirrup-leg adjustment mechanism; and,   bending a third dimension in said planar stirrup when the free stirrup leg has been advanced towards the first stirrup leg a selected distance by said stirrup-leg adjustment mechanism.   
   
   
       16 . A process for producing stirrups as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising:
 controllably reciprocating an arm of said stirrup-leg adjustment mechanism.   
   
   
       17 . A process for producing stirrups as claimed in  claim 16 , further comprising:
 trapping the free stirrup leg to move it with reciprocation of said arm.   
   
   
       18 . A process for producing stirrups as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising:
 restraining the first leg of the stirrup with a grip.   
   
   
       19 . A process for producing stirrups as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising:
 rotating a second arm around a first arm to bend the third dimension.   
   
   
       20 . A process for producing stirrups as claimed in  claim 19 , further comprising:
 forming the stirrup from wire with a first bending mechanism.