Crimping machine and methods of making and using

Abstract

Crimping machines, including constructions thereof and methods for their manufacture and use. The crimping machines include at least a first load-bearing component that comprises a plurality of load-bearing laminates that are assembled and secured together. The first load-bearing component is installed in the crimping machine so that a crimping load of the crimping machine is imposed on the first load-bearing component during a crimping operation performed by the crimping machine.

1 . A crimping machine comprising at least a first load-bearing component, the first load-bearing component comprising a plurality of load-bearing laminates assembled and secured together and installed in the crimping machine so that a crimping load of the crimping machine is imposed on the first load-bearing component during a crimping operation performed by the crimping machine. 
     
     
         2 . The crimping machine of  claim 1 , wherein the first load-bearing component further comprises at least one spacer laminate between at least first and second load-bearing laminates of the plurality of the load-bearing laminates, the spacer laminate is assembled and secured to the first and second load-bearing laminates to define a gap therebetween, and the crimping load is imposed in a direction parallel to a plane of each of the first and second load-bearing laminates. 
     
     
         3 . The crimping machine of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second load-bearing laminates entirely define an outermost perimeter of the first load-bearing component, and the spacer laminate is set back from at least a portion of the outermost perimeter to define the gap. 
     
     
         4 . The crimping machine of  claim 2 , further comprising a second load-bearing component that comprises at least first and second load-bearing laminates and at least one spacer laminate therebetween, the spacer laminate of the second load-bearing component being assembled and secured to the first and second load-bearing laminates of the second load-bearing component to define a gap therebetween. 
     
     
         5 . The crimping machine of  claim 4 , wherein the first and second load- bearing laminates of the first load-bearing component are interdigitated with the first and second load-bearing laminates of the second load-bearing component. 
     
     
         6 . The crimping machine of  claim 5 , wherein the first load-bearing component is an outer frame that defines an interior area, and the second load-bearing component is an inner block slidably disposed and secured within the interior area as a result of the interdigitation of the first and second load-bearing laminates of the outer frame and the inner block. 
     
     
         7 . The crimping machine of  claim 6 , wherein the crimping machine further comprises a die carrier assembly mounted to the outer frame and to the inner block. 
     
     
         8 . The crimping machine of  claim 2 , wherein the crimping machining is a scissor-type crimping machine comprising an outer frame that defines an interior area, an inner block slidably disposed and secured within the interior area, and means for actuating the inner block within the interior area, and wherein the first load-bearing component is one of the outer frame and the inner block. 
     
     
         9 . The crimping machine of  claim 8 , wherein the first load-bearing component is the outer frame. 
     
     
         10 . The crimping machine of  claim 8 , wherein the first load-bearing component is the inner block. 
     
     
         11 . The crimping machine of  claim 9 , wherein the crimping machine further comprises a second load-bearing component, and the second load-bearing component is the inner block. 
     
     
         12 . The crimping machine of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second load-bearing laminates entirely define an outermost perimeter of the first load-bearing component, and the spacer laminate is set back from at least a portion of the outermost perimeter to define the gap. 
     
     
         13 . The crimping machine of  claim 8 , further comprising a second load-bearing component that comprises at least first and second load-bearing laminates and at least one spacer laminate therebetween, the spacer laminate of the second load-bearing component being assembled and secured to the first and second load-bearing laminates of the second load-bearing component to define a gap therebetween. 
     
     
         14 . The crimping machine of  claim 13 , wherein the first and second load-bearing laminates of the first load-bearing component are interdigitated with the first and second load-bearing laminates of the second load-bearing component. 
     
     
         15 . The crimping machine of  claim 14 , wherein the first load-bearing component is the outer frame, and the second load-bearing component is the inner block and is slidably disposed and secured within the interior area as a result of the interdigitation of the first and second load-bearing laminates of the outer frame and the inner block. 
     
     
         16 . The crimping machine of  claim 8 , wherein the crimping machine further comprises a die carrier assembly mounted to the first load-bearing component. 
     
     
         17 . A method comprising:
 producing at least a first load-bearing component by assembling and securing together a plurality of load-bearing laminates;   installing the first load-bearing component in a crimping machine; and   performing a crimping operation with the crimping machine by applying a crimping load that is imposed on the first load-bearing component.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the producing step further comprises producing the first load-bearing component to comprise at least one spacer laminate between at least first and second load-bearing laminates of the plurality of the load-bearing laminates, the spacer laminate is assembled and secured to the first and second load-bearing laminates to define a gap therebetween, and the crimping load is imposed in a direction parallel to a plane of each of the first and second load-bearing laminates. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising producing a second load-bearing component to comprise at least first and second load-bearing laminates and at least one spacer laminate therebetween, the spacer laminate of the second load-bearing component being assembled and secured to the first and second load-bearing laminates of the second load-bearing component to define a gap therebetween, and the installing step further comprising interdigitating the first and second load-bearing laminates of the first load-bearing component with the first and second load-bearing laminates of the second load-bearing component. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the first load-bearing component is an outer frame of the crimping machine, the outer frame defines an interior area, the second load-bearing component is an inner block of the crimping machine, and the inner block is slidably disposed and secured within the interior area as a result of the interdigitation of the first and second load-bearing laminates of the outer frame and the inner block.