The invention which is the subject of this application relates to apparatus for use in forming metal into shapes or articles bv rotation of an element of the apparatus. Particularly, but not exclusively, the apparatus is for use in forming metal bars which are ]oined together at their ends, into a twisted and enlarged shape which is referred to irυm heieυπin as bas et shape and is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

At present, there is apparatus available which can perform the required functions ot twisting and applying a compression force to metal bars to form the same into a basket shaped article. However, this apparatus is usually relatively complex and relies upon the provision of a hydraulic system to enable the forces which are required to be applied to be provided The requirement for the hydraulic systems to be provided render the apparatus which is conventionally available to be expensive and hence, in turn, the articles which are formed using this apparatus are expensive to purchase When one considers the materials from which the articles are manufactured is relatively cheap, it is the expense of the apparatus which is currently available, which causes the price to be increased. Furthermore, the expense of purchase of the apparatus means that the size and volume of manufacturer of these articles are required to be on a relatively large scale and there is at present no facility or apparatus available which can be used to form articles such as baskets which can be economically used bv manufacturers of formed metal articles.

An alternative type of apparatus exists which does not utilise hydraulics but requires each of the bars of a blank to be bent separately prior to being joined together, whereupon the blank is

then twisted m one direction However, this process is time consuming as each bar has to be bent to the same degree and then joined together to form the blank

The aim ot the present invention is to provide apparatus which allows articles such as baskets to be formed without the need for hydraulic system to be provided but in a form which allows a quality and ease of manufacture of these baskets to be maintained if not improved.

The present invention, in a first aspect, provides apparatus for forming metal from a blank form, said apparatus comprising a first location portion for holding one end of the blank in a fixed position and, a second, rotatable location means for location of the other end of the blank characterised in that said location means is rotatable in a first direction with the location means maintained in a first position relative to the longitudinal axis of the blank and a second direction wherein the location means is movable along the longitudinal axis of the metal blank.

In a preferred embodiment the blank is formed from a plurality ot bars secured together in a parallel relationship.

Typically the movement of the second position of the location means is toward the first location portion.

Preferably as the location means is rotated in the second direction the location means moves axially along the longitudinal axis of the blank.

In use, the rotation of the location means in the first direction imparts a twisting of the blank such that when the rotation of the location means in the first direction is complete, the metal blank is

in a tw isted condition The ro tation o f the location means in a second, reverse direction, causes the metal bars of the blank to be sep arated increasingly as the position o f the location means is moved inwardly towards the fixed lo cation means This movement caus e s each o t the metal b ars to move outwardly to form a bulbous shape and, at the s ame time, the degree o f twis t o f the blank is changed such that th e final shape created is bulbous with each o f the bars bowing outwardly and each o f the bars in a partially twisted condition.

In one embodiment, the seco nd location means comprises a rotatable shaft mounted in a barrel, said shaft having a screw thread po rtion at least partially therealong, a mean s for ro tating the shaft and a means for selectively engaging the screw thread with a screw thread on the barrel. In the first rotation direction, the shaft is rotated with the screw threads disengaged so that the location means is not caused to move along the longitudinal axis of the blank and, in the second rotation direction and upon commencement of the second rotation, the screw threads are engaged such that as the rotation means is moved to move the lo cation means shaft in a second direction o f ro tation, the shaft is moved relative to the barrel and frame upon which the b arrel and the fixed lo cation means are located and hence the rotatable location means is moved towards the fixed location means bv the screw thread movement.

In one embo diment, the rotation means is a handle for manual operation and the engagement means is a ro d which is biased towards engagement with the screw thread p o rtio n such that, once the first rotation has been completed, the rod moves to engage the screw thread portio n whereup on the direction o f revolution is reversed such that the s crew thread engaged therewith moves along the screw thread on the barrel. In an alternative embodiment the movable location means can b e rotated bv a powered motor which is

controlled to selectively rotate the location means in the required direction and in the required sequence, but the principles of operation remain as before

The position of the fixed location means can be altered to suit the length of the blank to be formed and typically the size of screw thread selected can be altered to determine the particular form of article to be created and also in relation to the size of the metal blank to be formed, although i is preferred that the scre t rea e portion of the location means be a three start thread

In one preferred embodiment the frame is slotted and the fixed location means are positionable therealong Typically the slot is or has fitted thereto tapered means onto which a locking screw- contacts such that the tapered effect prevents the fixed location means being forced a wa\ from the blank during formation of the same into a basket

It is also envisaged that the apparatus can include other components in certain embodiments to allow metal bars to be twisted using the apparatus of the invention and various other forming actions to be undertaken, including the formation of collars to allow the basket to be fitted to the twisted bars and also other formations such as scrolls and circles

In one embodiment when twisted bars are to be formed the bar can pass through the fixed location means and also the shaft of the movable location means to allow the bar to be fed into the apparatus and twisted at separate and intermediate locations by selective operation of the movable location means in the first direction as the bar is fed into the apparatus and this is a further inventive aspect of the invention

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein--

Fig 1 illustrates a metal blank which has been formed into a basket made using the apparatus of the invention;

Fig.2 illustrates a metal blank prior to being formed;

Fig i illustrates a perspective view of the apparatus in a first embodiment of the invention;

Fig 4 illustrates a detailed view of the rotatable means ot the apparatus in a first, m-use position;

Fig. 5 illustrates the apparatus according to the invention with the basket in position having been formed;

Fig.6 illustrates a further embodiment of the apparatus as described

Fig " illustrates apparatus according to the invention m a second embodiment for a second purpose;

Fig.8 illustrates further apparatus for the embodiment shown in Fig

7;

Fig 9 illustrates apparatus according to the invention for a third use in one embodiment ;

Fig. 10 illustrates the apparatus for the use of Fig. 9 in a different embodiment;

Fig.11 illustrates the finished article formed using the various pieces

of apparatus of the invention;

Figs 12, 13 and 14 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the apparatus;

Figs 15 illustrates a further alternative arrangement of the invention,

Figures 16A-D illustrate a further embodiment of the basket forming and bar twisting apparatus of the invention;

Fig 17 illustrates a location means and associated barrel according to the embodiment of Figure 16A-D; and

Fig 18 illustrates a section showing the location means and barrel of Fig 17 in engagement.

Referπng firstly to Figures 1 and 2, there is illustrated a metal blank 2 in Figure 2 which is used to form a basket 4 as shown in Figure 2 therefrom. As can be seen, in Figures 1 and 2, the blank comprises four lengths of metal bar 6 which are held in parallel position with the ends of the same being joined together bv means of welding or other means 8 as shown

Figures 3 to 5 illustrate apparatus in one embodiment according to the invention for use in forming a basket as shown in Figure 1 and the apparatus comprises a frame 10 upon which is located at one end a fixed first location means 12 which is provided on a plate 14 which is held in position by pin 16 Typically the frame comprises a plurality of location points 18 to allow the position of the location means 12 to be selected as appropriate Towards the other end of the frame there is provided a rotatable second location means 20 and said location means (12, 20) serve to provide location for the ends

o t the blank 2 placed th erebetw een The ro tatable location mean in this embo diment is mo unted on a rotatable shaft 22 and is connected to a manualh actuable handle 24 but this could equalh be replaced bv a moto r driven arrangement Also p rovided on the sha ft and to be selectiveh coupled thereto is a screw thread p o rtio n 26 which is provided m threaded engagement with a barrel section 28 fixed to th e frame and through which the shaft and screw thread portion pass The rotatable means o f the shaft is provided with a flange 30 which has a pro trusion 32 provided thereon for location selectively in a matching aperture 34 in a flange connected to the screw thread 26 Also provided on the shaft is lug 36 for selective e ngagement with the flange 30 and, a spring 38, which urges the flange 30 towards the screw thread barrel 35

In use, the blank 2 is placed with an end o f the same lo cated in fixed location means 12 and the other end in location means 20 Referring now to Fig 4, the rotatable shaft 22, flange 30 and handle 24 are rotated in a first direction with the location protrusion 32 disengaged from the flange 35 such that the location means 20 rotates and, as it rotate s , exerts a twisting action on the metal blank 2 to twist the same Tvpically, the protrusion 32 and aperture 34 on the flange 35 are arranged such that as the flange 30 is rotated, and is biased towards the flange 35 by the spring 38, so when the pro trusion 32 is at the same po sition as the aperture 34 it passes into the aperture to engage the flange 35 and screw thread 26 with rotatable shaft 22 A t this point, the direction o f revolution o f the sha ft is reversed and the lo catio n mean s 20 is now engaged w ith the screw thread which moves relative to the frame 10, upon rotation Thus the location means , in addition to rotating, als o moves towards the fixed location means 12 and, as it does so, the bars 6 o f the blank 2 are forced to bow ^τ o utwardly At the same time the degree o f twist of the bars 6 is reduced Thus, when the required rotation o f th e location mean s 20 in the second direction is comp leted, a basket

4 is fo rmed and Fig. 5 illustrates a fo rmed baske t which h as been removed from the location means

Once the basket has been formed to the required shape as shown in Fig. 5 , the lo cation means 12 is removed to allow removal o f the basket.

Typically, the size o f the thread will determine the extent of bowing o f the b ars 6 o f the blank but typically the location means 20 is movable in the first rotatable direction by 3 /4's - 1 revolution and then ro tated in the opposite direction with the screw thread engaged by 1-2 revolutions, thus providing the required forming actio n on the metal blank.

Fig. 6 illustrates a variation o f the apparatus of Figs . 3-5 wherein the protrusion 32 and aperture 34 o f the flanges 30 and 35 of the movable location means 20 are replaced by teeth 37, 29 engaged to drive the screw thread in the same manner as described in relation to

Referring now to Fig. 7 , there is illustrated a further feature o t the app aratus o f the invention wherein the app aratus described in relatio n to the ro tatable location means 20 is as described in relation to Figs . 1 to 5 but the fixed location means 12 is replaced by a plate 40 having a slo t 42 formed therein. The plate is fixed m po sition and in this form the apparatus is for use in forming lengths o f bar into a twisted condition and is perfo rmed by moving flange 30 which , in its normal position for making b askets and pressing collars, lies over lug 36 on shaft 22. When moved, the flange 30 is pulled away from flange 35 and then turned slightly so that a small notch 37 as shown in Fig. 5 on the flange 30 engages with lug 36 In this form the flanges 30, 35 are kept apart and in a neutral position In this co ndition the h andle can be used to turn shaft 22 without

engagement of the flanges and twisting o f the solid square bar occurs . When twisting is completed flange 30 can be taken o ff the notch and returned over lug 36 to make baskets and press collars once more. If only a portion o f the bar is to be twisted, the remainder o f the length o f the bar can be passed through the aperture 44 in the frame 10 and thus, lengths o f bar can be twisted using the apparatus o f the invention. Furthermore as the shaft 22 has a port 49 therein, the bar can be passed through the port 49 to allow the bar to be fed into the aϋDaratus.

Fig. 8 illustrates a further apparatus for use with the apparatus o f Fig. ⁷ wherein, if the bar to be formed is longer than the frame 10 at the portion which is to be formed and twisted is longer than the frame 10, then the additional frame 50 can be attached to the frame end 10A. The frame 50 is provided with a bar 52 along which is slidably positionable a block 54 which can be used to locate the end o f the bar which is to be formed using the apparatus. If required an insert 56 can be moved into the block 54 for a bar of a smaller section. Thus this additional part o f apparatus allows the use of the apparatus of the invention to be extended.

Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate the apparatus o f the invention fo r a further use in two embodiments wherein a plate 60 replaces the fixed location means and to this plate 60 is located a forming block 62. The ¹ movable location means 20 and accompanying apparatus is as previously described but provided in the location means 20 is a push rod 64 with a block 66 and rotatably mounted lengths 68 such that, in use, in one embodiment the flanges 30 and 35 are engaged as shown in Figure 10 such that rotation of the shaft 22 causes the location means 20 to ro tate and to move inwardly as the s crew thread 26 is engaged with the frame 10. As the location means 20 rotates so the length 68 rotate s relative to the block 66 and, as location means 20 moves towards the forming block 62, so the block

66 is moved in towards the slotted aperture 70 in the forming block 62 This apparatus is used for forming a collar from a strip of sheet metal 74 which is placed between the block 66 and the forming block 62 over the face of the aperture 70, as shown in broken line, such that as the block 66 is moved into the slotted aperture 70, the strip material is formed into a collar shape between the block 66 and walls of the slotted aperture ⁷ 0. The collar 74, when formed, is shown m Fig. 10. The embodiment of Figure 9 includes a different form of movable location means and this is described in detail with regard to Figures 16A-D, 17 and 18.

Fig 11 illustrates an article incorporating a basket 4, which is joined to twisted rods 76 and 78 by means of collars 74, all of which can be formed using the apparatus of the invention.

Figs 12. 13 and 14 illustrate the frame 110 in an alternative form wπth a slot 111 and side rails 114 for the reception of a fixed location means 112 therein The slot is provided adjacent the side walls on the underside with sloping protrusions 118 with which a locking means 119 provided on the location means 112 can contact to retain the location means 112 m the desired position for forming the basket as previously described with reference to Figs 5-5 As the locking means contacts the protrusions 118 which slope from the position of the rotatable location means (not shown) so the fixed location means 112 is prevented from being forced away from the rotatable location means due to the forces exerted bv the twisting and compressing of the blank into a basket as the slope prevents movement of the locking means 119 This arrangement replaces the fixed location means 12 of Figs 3-5 and has the advantage of extra strength and resistance to forces exerted thereon

Fig. 15 illustrates a further embodiment of the apparatus wherein a clamping means 130 is provided to clamp the collar round the basket

as shown

Figures 16A-C illustrate an alternative embodiment of apparatus for forming baskets and 16D shows alternative apparatus for twisting bars which operates on the same principles as the previously described apparatus but in this instance the movable location means 222 arrangement differs and this is described m detail in Figures 17 and 18 In use the procedure is the same as before in that the blank 202 is placed between fixed location means 212 and movable location means 222 as shown in Figure 16A. The movable location means are then rotated in a first direction bv rotating the handle 230 and in this direction the shaft 228 is disengaged from the barrel 224 so that only rotational movement takes place and hence the blank 202 twists as shown in Figure 16B. Upon completion of rotation in the first direction the shaft is engaged with the barrel and rotated in the reverse direction and the engagement causes linear and rotational movement thereby causing bowing of the blank 202 and the bars 206 to separate to form the basket shape as shown in Figure 16C

Figures 17 and 18 illustrate the alternative movable location means 222 which is engaged with a barrel 224 which is fixed with the frame of the apparatus On the interior of the barrel is fixed a threaded section 226 The movable location means 222 is formed of a shaft 228 with at one end a socket 234 for the blank and is rotatable by the handle 230 as shown in Figure 18. Mounted on the shaft and selectively engagable therewith is a screw threaded portion 232. The blank is engaged in the socket 234 as before and the handle 230 and shaft 228 rotated in a first direction with a rod 236 held bv the surface of the screw threaded portion 232 against a biasing spring 238 and thereby disengaging the screw thread portion 232 When the end of the first revolution approaches, the end 240 of the rod, which moves along the screw threaded portion, reaches an aperture 242 in its path, and the biasing spring 238 acts to move the rod into

the aperture in the screw threaded portion and engage the same so that rotation of the shaft in the reverse direction causes the screw threaded portion and screw thread on the barrel to engage and hence location means to move relative to the barrel 224 towards the other location means and cause the bowing of the twisted blank.

It should also be appreciated that the movable location means 222 of this embodiment can be used for any of the other uses previously described with reference to the earlier figures and one such use is shown in Figure 16D wherein a blank 290 is held in the fixed location means 212 and passes through the a longitudinal aperture in the shaft 228 of the movable location means 222 In this arrangement the rod 236 is held against the biasing spring by catch 292 so that the rod cannot move to an engaging position with the screw threaded portion 232 and hence the handle 230 and shaft 228 can be rotated through several revolutions in the first direction to cause the blank 290 to twist as required.

Thus, it can be seen, that the apparatus of the invention as described herein can be used for a plurality of uses and, in one particular embodiment can be used to form a basket and also to form a complete article including a basket which is joined to twisted rods and all of the components are formed using the apparatus of the invention in various embodiments