Importance

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Abstract

One embodiment of an invention providing am inprovement upon a U-bolt bender is disclosed. The bender has a clamp for clamping a workpiece thereto and a slide for advancing the workpiece along a path. The improvement comprises a die and rollers for urging an intermediate portion of the workpiece against a forward surface of the die and for urging end portion of the workpiece respectively against sides of the die adjacent to the forward surface. The bender carries the rollers and the slide carries the die and brings the workpiece into engagement with the rollers by advancing the workpiece along the path. The sides of the die converge together and extend away from the forward surface such that as the slide brings the workpiece into engagement with the roller, the rollers urge the intermediate portion of the workpiece against the forward surface and urge the end portions of the workpiece respectively against the sides of the die, the slide meanwhile causing the clamp to clamp the workpiece to the die. The workpiece initially conforms to the shape of the die; and is made of a resilient material; and upon being released from the die and the rollers, has end portions which spread apart slightly. The sides of the die are oriented such that the workpiece, upon being released from the die and the rollers, has end portions which are in substantially parallel orientation, one end portion to the other.

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First Claim