APPARATUS FOR BENDING AND/OR CURVING OBLONG ELEMENTS

Technical field

[01] The present invention relates to an apparatus for bending and/or curving oblong, in particular metallic, elements such as for example iron rods for reinforced concrete, obtained by cutting from bars or rolls.

Prior art

[02] The use of steel bars commonly called "bars", bent at one or opposite ends, in this latter case called "rebars", or of rods bent into a substantially closed section bar, called "stirrups" or "long stirrups" depending on the size, for making reinforcing bars for reinforced concrete is known. In order to make these products, apparatuses that submit the ends of the straight or pre-straightened steel rod to a suitable series of bendings are generally used. More specifically, bending apparatuses known as "bending robots" are currently known, which permit to manufacture shaped products, stirrups or "long stirrups", starting from section bars already cut to a certain length suitable for the size of the shaped elements to be made.

[03] These apparatuses usually comprise a feed path with motorized rollers, used to feed the bars to be shaped, manual, automatic or semi-automatic transferring or loading means for the bars, and a bending unit or a pair of bending units, each bearing a bending head dedicated to shaping a respective end of the loaded bars.

[04] In particular, each bending head comprises a bending tool normally consisting of a central bending mandrel and an eccentric bending pivot, as well as an abutment which prevents the workpiece from moving.

[05] Alternatively, according to a known solution, the bending tool consists of a double mandrel crossed by a seat for the bars which also acts as an abutment during the bending step, carried out as well by an eccentric pivot.

[06] In traditional apparatuses, each bending head is in any case constrained to the bending unit, which is fixed or movable in the longitudinal direction to the axis of the bar to be shaped. Apparatus in which one bending unit is fixed, while the other is movable, are known in the art. Apparatuses with operation similar to that described, in which both bending units are movable, are also known in the art.

[07] Such known-type apparatuses generally perform bending cycles, through a suitable alternation of bending and relative displacement phases between the bending units.

[08] For example, patent EP2908962 in the name of the Applicant discloses a method and an apparatus for bending metal sections in bars. The patent, in particular, tackle the technical problem of providing a solution to the need to produce, with the same apparatus, both so- called "short" pieces, obtained from the section bars of a few meters, and so-called "long" pieces, obtained from profiles typically up to about 24 meters. [09] Patents US 5927132 and EP 2862644 are further examples of solutions for bending metallic elongated elements.

[10] The specific sector in fact requires shaped pieces of considerable size. This involves considerable difficulties in handling the elements during the bending step, when free portions of the elements are moved due to the action of the bending head. For example, when the end portions are bent, the element is engaged by the bending members at an intermediate portion, while an unconstrained portion protrudes from the engagement of the bending members, intended to be rotated around central or double mandrel, due to the rotation of the eccentric pin.

[11] This unconstrained portion can extend, in so-called "long" pieces, of a few meters and therefore be very difficult to manage, both in the rotation steps of the eccentric pin and between one bending and another, during the positioning of the workpiece on the bending head. In fact, it is necessary to be able to effectively manage the support of bulky portions, in order to avoid the inevitable deformations that are produced by their weight, if they are left overhanging.

[12] The known apparatuses does not fully satisfy the needs of the specific sector, forcing the operators to intervene manually during the bending cycle to support the workpieces. These interventions involve obvious risks for the operators.

Disclosure

[13] The aim of the present invention is to solve the problems mentioned in the technical field, devising an apparatus for bending and/or curving oblong, in particular metallic, elements which allows to reliably support the elements being processed, optimizing safety, dimensions and productivity.

[14] As part of this aim, a further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that performs said support, having a simple and functional structure, reliable operation and great flexibility of use.

[15] The aforementioned purposes are achieved, according to the invention, by the apparatus of claim 1.

[16] The apparatus for bending oblong, in particular metallic, elements comprises at least one operative bench for the elements, equipped with an operative head comprising a first abutment tool and a second operative tool, movable on a work surface, for bending at a certain bending angle and/or for curving with a certain radius of curvature a number of elements abutting said first abutment tool.

[17] Preferably, the operative bench is a bending bench and the operative head comprises a bending tool, as the first abutment tool, and an eccentric pin, as a second operative tool, rotatable around a bending axis and the bending tool for bending the number of elements at bending angle. [18] The apparatus advantageously comprises a support bench, placed side by side, as an extension, to the operative bench to support at least a free portion of the number of elements being processed and mounted movable with respect to the operative bench, to perform in this manner an active action during the processing of the elements.

[19] Preferably, the support bench is movable with respect to the operative bench by a tracking motion with respect to the operative bench, at least between a first position in which the support bench is adjacent to the operative bench, in particular for bending and/or curving, and a second position in which the support bench is displaced with respect to the operative bench by a tracking stroke, to support said free portion of the number of elements being processed and perform in this manner an active action during the processing of the elements.

[20] Preferably said second position is a position in which the support bench is rotated and/or translated with respect to the operative bench.

[21] The support bench may be movably mounted with respect to the operative bench, around an orientation axis, orthogonal to the work surface and/or parallel to the bending axis. This orientation axis can be fixed or instantaneous, therefore movable.

[22] The apparatus also preferably comprises operation means configured to operate the support bench in the tracking motion.

[23] The tracking motion can therefore be achieved by means of a translational motion, rotational motion or by the combination of a translation motion and a rotational motion.

[24] The tracking stroke is preferably related to the bending angle, which in turn is related to the rotation of the eccentric bending pivot, necessary to impose the desired bending on the element, or to a specific bending radius.

[25] According to a particular aspect, the support bench is preferably translatable in a longitudinal direction along which the number of elements is inserted between the first tool and the second tool for processing the number of elements and/or in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction.

[26] Preferably, the support bench is removable with respect to the operative bench, so as to support the free portion of the number of elements, increasing the distance from the operative bench.

[27] The support bench is preferably movable on guides integrated with the operative bench or separated from it.

[28] Optionally, the support bench can rotate with respect to the operative bench, being rotatable with respect thereto or hinged to the operative bench about an orientation axis.

[29] The orientation axis is preferably parallel to the bending axis.

[30] The orientation axis is preferably positioned peripherally to the operative bench.

[31] The orientation axis is preferably positioned at an edge of the operative bench. [32] Alternatively, the orientation axis can substantially coincide with the bending axis.

[33] More precisely, according to a particular aspect of the invention, combinable or autonomous with respect to the aspects mentioned above, the support bench can be movably mounted with respect to the operative bench, around said orientation axis, orthogonal to the work surface and/or parallel to said bending axis, to perform in this way an active action during the processing of the elements.

[34] This orientation axis can be fixed or instantaneous, therefore movable.

[35] The support bench is in particular rotatable around the orientation axis.

[36] The apparatus also preferably comprises operation means configured to actuate the support bench in the tracking motion at least between the first position in which the support bench is adjacent to the operative bench, in particular for bending and/or curving, according to a first orientation and the second position in which the support bench is placed beside the operative bench with a second orientation rotated by an orientation angle around the orientation axis with respect to the first orientation, to support said free portion of the number of elements in the processing step.

[37] The orientation angle is preferably related to the bending angle, which in turn is preferably related to the rotation of the eccentric bending pin necessary to impose the desired bending on the element, or to a specific curving radius.

[38] Thanks to the orientable and/or movable support bench of the tracking motion, each element being processed can be "tracked" or accompanied and effectively supported. This provision avoids risks for operators who, in this way, no longer have to intervene and guarantees the execution of pieces without undesired deformations.

[39] Furthermore, the apparatus is very versatile, since the actuation of the support bench can be easily adjusted according to the specific needs, in particular, the extension of the free portion, the bending angle, the desired bending cycle, to the radius of curvature.

[40] The tracking of said free portion, in particular between said first position and said second position, can be obtained by means of special control means, so as to make the processing completely automatic and, therefore, repeatable and safe.

[41] The bending angle obtained from the bending cycle may be less than the rotation actually performed by the eccentric pin in the bending cycle, due to the elastic return effect of the material making up the element. For example, in order to obtain a bending angle of 90°, between respective adjacent portions of the element, it may be necessary to rotate the eccentric pin around the bending tool by a greater angle, even equal to 100°.

[42] The tracking stroke, in addition to taking into account the elastic return effect, can be greater than what can be correlated to the bending angle, to optimally support the element during the bending step. In particular, if cooperating support benches, for example a pair of support benches, are provided, this circumstance can fill the gap between one support bench and the other, supporting the free portion in any case.

[43] Preferably, the apparatus comprises an additional operative bench equipped with a respective additional movable, translatable and/or rotatable support bench, opposed to said operative bench equipped with the support bench, to support an opposed free portion of the number of elements being processed or to cooperate in supporting the same free portion.

[44] In fact, advantageously, the same free portion can be transferred from the support on the support bench to the support on the further support bench.

[45] The support bench and the further support bench are preferably independently operable in the respective tracking motion to support the free portions of the number of elements being processed.

[46] A method for bending and/or curving oblong, in particular metallic, elements is also proposed.

[47] The method comprises providing an operative bench comprising an operative head provided with a first abutment tool for bending and/or curving, and a second operative tool, movable on a work surface to bend around a bending axis and/or to curve a number of elements abutting the first tool of a given bending angle and/or a curving radius.

[48] A movably mounted support bench is also provided, being translatable and/or rotatable with respect to the operative bench around an orientation axis, fixed or movable, orthogonal to the work surface and/or parallel to the bending axis. The support bench can be operated in a tracking motion between a first position in which the support bench is placed beside the operative head and a second position in which the support bench is substantially placed beside the operative bench, being moved by a tracking stroke and possibly rotated by a determined tracking angle, said tracking stroke and said possible tracking angle being correlated to the bending angle and/or to the curving radius, to support at least a free portion of the number of elements being processed.

[49] The support bench, in particular, is arranged in the first position.

[50] The number of elements is arranged between the first tool and the second operative tool, so that at least the free portion of the number of elements, protruding from the operative head, is resting on the support bench.

[51 ] Subsequently, the second tool is operated to bend and/or calender the number of elements.

[52] Advantageously, in appropriate relationship to the step of operating the second tool, the support bench is moved, translated and/or rotated, in particular around an orientation axis orthogonal to the work surface, in the tracking motion, from the first position to the second position, to support the free portion during bending and/or curving.

[53] The method therefore makes it possible to optimally manage the processing of oblong elements of any extension, even considerable one, thanks to the provision of the step of supporting each free portion moved by the action of the tools, with a tracking motion, in particular during the entire processing step.

[54] Therefore, even very bulky parts may be performed efficiently and safely, in particular without posing risks to operators.

Description of drawings

[55] The details of the invention will become more apparent from the detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus for bending and/or curving oblong, in particular metallic, elements illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figures 1 - 5 are respectively a plan view of the apparatus according to the invention, in different operating steps;

Figures 6 - 9 and 10 - 13 are respectively a perspective view and a plan view of the apparatus in a second embodiment, in different operating steps;

Figures 14 and 15 are a perspective view of the same apparatus shown in Figures 6 - 13, in further operating steps;

Figures 16 and 18 are respectively a plan view of the apparatus according to a third embodiment of the invention, in different operating steps;

Figures 19 - 23 respectively show a plan view of the apparatus in a fourth embodiment, in different operating steps.

Description of embodiments of the invention

[56] With particular reference to these figures, the reference numeral 1 indicates the apparatus for processing elements 2, in particular iron rods for reinforced concrete.

[57] The apparatus 1 comprises at least a bending and/or curving operative bench 3 and a movable support bench 4, for example orientable, to facilitate the support of the elements 2 in any processing step. In particular, it is understood in the following that the term "operative bench" includes both the case in which the bench is configured to bend and to curve the elements 2.

[58] The apparatus 1 may comprise a further operative bench 3', preferably entirely similar, with which the operative bench 3 is able to cooperate to carry out the bending and/or curving, in particular, of both end portions of the elements 2.

[59] In this case a number of elements 2, one or more, is inserted in a known way between the opposite operative benches 3, 3', extending along a longitudinal direction A.

[60] The operative benches 3, 3' are preferably movable relatively to each other along the longitudinal direction A, to perform the processing steps necessary for making, in particular, elements 2 shaped at the opposite ends. In particular, the operative benches 3, 3' can both be movable along the longitudinal direction A, for example on special guide rails 5, or only one of them can be movable and the other fixed, depending on needs.

[61] In the following description, the term "element" is used in the singular for simplicity, but it is understood that what is described is also applicable to the case of a plurality of elements 2 that are bended and/or curved simultaneously by the apparatus 1.

[62] Furthermore, in the following description the operative bench 3 is described, meaning that the same description can be applied, preferably, also to the further operative bench 3' of the apparatus 1.

[63] The operative bench 3 comprises, in a known manner, an operative head 31 comprising in turn a first abutment tool 32, arranged, for example, at a bending axis 33, and a second operative tool 34, for example an eccentric pin rotatable around the same folding axis 33, in any case movable on a working surface P. The operative head 31 may further comprise an abutment 35 or locking element, adapted to prevent the working element 2 from moving during processing (see Figure 1).

[64] The first tool 32 may for example be made by a central mandrel.

[65] In this case, the bending axis 33 coincides with the axis of said mandrel.

[66] Between the first tool 32 and the second tool 34 a seat is defined, in which a portion of the element 2, intermediate with respect to the opposed portions, is adapted to be inserted, to be intercepted by the second tool 34 and then bent and/or curved by the rotation or positioning thereof with respect to the first tool.

[67] Alternatively, for example, the first tool 32 can be made by means of a double mandrel crossed by the seat which, as in the previous case, is adapted to receive a portion of the element 2. The same double mandrel is also suitable to act as an abutment in the bending step made by the eccentric pin.

[68] In any case, during the bending step, a portion of the element 2, adjacent to said inserted portion, is fixed thanks to the blocking action operated by the abutment means, for example by said abutment element 35 or by the same double mandrel, while an opposite portion, protruding from the same eccentric pin, is free of constraints and, therefore, is moved by the rotation action imposed by the eccentric pin on the inserted portion.

[69] Therefore, in the element 2 arranged on the operative bench 3, at least a fixed portion 2a, an intercepted portion 2b and a free portion 2c can be identified in succession (see Figure 1 )·

[70] The operative bench 3 itself defines the work surface P, on which said parts of the operative head 31 are operative, for bending and/or curving the element 2.

[71] According to one aspect of the invention, the operative bench 3 is placed beside a respective support bench 4.

[72] The support bench 4 acts, in particular, as an extension to the operative bench 3, supporting with a respective support surface S the free portion 2c of the element 2 during the bending and/or curving step.

[73] More precisely, the support surface S is preferably made in substantial continuity with the working surface P of the operative bench 3. [74] Advantageously, the support bench 4 is movably mounted, in particular rotatably, with respect to the operative bench 3.

[75] According to an also autonomous aspect of the invention, the operative bench 3 is preferably movably mounted around an orientation axis 41 orthogonal to the working surface P and/or parallel to the bending axis 33.

[76] The orientation axis 41 is preferably fixed, but can also be movable.

[77] The apparatus 1 preferably comprises as well operation means configured to operate the support bench 4 in a tracking motion at least between a first position 4a in which the support bench 4 is substantially adjacent to the operative bench 3, for example according to a first orientation, and a second position 4b displaced with respect to the first position, in which the support bench 4 is substantially adjacent to the operative bench 3, for example with a second orientation, in particular rotated by an orientation angle with respect to said first orientation around the orientation axis 41, to support the free portion 2c of the element 2, protruding from the operative head 31 during the bending and/or curving step.

[78] The orientation angle is preferably determined as a function of a bending angle related to the rotation carried out by the eccentric pin, or the curving radius, therefore to the deformation to be imposed on the element 2.

[79] The tracking motion is preferably an oscillating motion about the orientation axis 41.

[80] Alternatively, as described below, such a motion may be a combination of motions of a different type, for example rotational and translational.

[81] Between the first position 4a and the second position 4b the support bench 4 passes through intermediate positions 4c, so as to advantageously support the free portion 2c. In particular, if the element was already submitted to processing steps, in particular that of bending, the free portion 2c shapes a previously bent section (see Figures 3 and 4, in particular).

[82] In essence, thanks to said tracking motion, the support bench 4 is able to effectively support the free portion 2c of the element 2 throughout the bending and/or curving step.

[83] Preferably the support bench 4 is hinged to the operative bench 3 around said orientation axis 41.

[84] For example, the orientation axis 41 can be arranged at a peripheral edge, for example an angular edge, of the operative bench 3, so as to allow, between said first position 4a and the second position 4b, an oscillation of at least 180°.

[85] The orientation axis 41 may be suitably arranged to come along or track the free portion 2c during the processing.

[86] In addition, the profile of the work surface P and the profile of the support surface S may be shaped in a conjugate manner, to allow to be placed side by side and therefore to guarantee an optimal support, both in the first and in the second position. [87] The operation of the apparatus according to the invention is understandable from the above description.

[88] Initially, the element 2 is set up on the operative bench 3. In particular, in the case of bending, the fixed portion 2 is blocked by the provided abutment means, the intercepted portion 2b is positioned in the appropriate seat of the operative head 31 and the free portion 2c protrudes from the operative head 31 itself, beyond the second operative tool 34.

[89] The support bench 4 is arranged in the first position 4a in continuity or substantial continuity with the operative bench 3, to support the free portion 2c.

[90] The operative head 31 is then operated, making the movement of the second tool 34, for example a rotation of the bending angle around the bending axis 33.

[91] The movement of the second tool 34 produces the deformation of the intercepted portion 2b, against the first tool 32. At the same time, the free portion 2c, adjacent to the intercepted portion 2b, not being involved by the deformation, is moved, in particular rotated, correspondingly around the same bending axis 33 and/or on the work surface P.

[92] The support bench 4 is then preferably operated by the operation means in the tracking motion which moves it from the first position 4a through the intermediate position 4c to the second position 4b, in which the deformation of the intercepted portion 2b is completed.

[93] The tracking motion of the support bench 4 and the motion of the free portion 2c during processing are preferably substantially coordinated so that the free portion 2c abuts, as far as possible, on the support surface S.

[94] Therefore, the free portion 2c is effectively supported for the entire processing step.

[95] The support bench 4 may finally be operated in a return stroke from the second position 4b to the first position 4a, to move away from the free portion 2c and enable the unloading of the completely processed element 2 (see Figure 5).

[96] According to a further embodiment, shown in Figures 6 - 15, the support bench 40, otherwise structurally and functionally similar to the support bench 4 just described, may also be removed with respect to the operative bench 3.

[97] For example, the tracking motion may include an extraction motion, to extend the support action of the support bench 40 as a function of the extension of the free portion 2c with respect to the intercepted portion 2b and to the fixed portion 2a, retained for example by the abutment element 35 (see in particular Figures 6 - 9).

[98] Therefore, following said extraction motion, the support bench 40 can be moved away from the operative bench 3 in an extracted position 40a', away from the work surface P, preferably maintaining the first initial orientation.

[99] After, for example, the oscillation motion around the orientation axis 4T (see Fig. 7), the support bench 40 can then be rotated through the intermediate extracted position 40c', up to the second extracted position 40b', to maintain the support of the free portion 2c at every instant of the processing step.

[100] For example, axis 41' can be, even only instantaneously, due to the effect of a special kinematics, substantially coinciding with the axis of the first tool (see Figure 13).

[101] The latter solution is advantageous because the extractable support bench 40 permits to support a free portion 2c of increased dimensions. Furthermore, the rotation of the support bench 40 is only 90° to carry out a 90° bend against a 180° rotation of the previously described embodiment, thus improving the tracking capability.

[102] In addition, the removable support bench 40 can accompany the free portion 2c for an increased angle until it reaches a second advanced and extracted position 40b". This effect is particularly useful in the production of bulky stirrups so-called "long stirrups", since one of the two free opposite portions 2c can thus pass from resting on the support bench 40 of an operative bench 3, 3' to the support bench 40 of the other operative bench 3, 3' (see broken line in Figure 14).

[103] The tracking motion can be synchronized with the rotational motion of the second operative tool, in particular the eccentric pin 34, or even asynchronous with respect thereto, while maintaining the substantial support of the free portion 2c.

[104] In the case of a pair of operative benches 3, 3', arranged in a substantially mirror manner and equipped with respective support benches 4 or 40, the latter can cooperate in a substantially coordinated manner to optimally support the free portion 2c during processing of the respective operative bench 3 to which they are coupled. More precisely, the free portion 2c protruding from the operative head 31 of the operative bench 3 can be effectively supported by the support bench 4 or 40 of the further operative bench 3', suitably oriented, for example arranged in the second extracted position 40b'.

[105] The support bench 40 can also be raised, for example inclinable with respect to a substantially horizontal inclination axis, to raise the free portion 2c and thus avoid interference with an opposing free portion 2c, for example in the case of making bulky stirrups or "long stirrups" (see Figure 15).

[106] Alternatively, the support bench 40 can cooperate with gripping means 36 (see Figure 15) in order to avoid any interference between distal portions of the element 2, moved under the impact of the processing. For example, the gripping means 36 can be operated in a lifting motion, to facilitate the insertion of the free portion 2c supported by the support bench 40.

[107] Advantageously, in any embodiment, the support benches 4, 40 of the cooperating operative benches 3, 3' may be operated in the tracking motion independently to improve the support action of the opposing free portions 2c in the processing step.

[108] According to a further embodiment, shown in Figures 16 - 18, the support bench 400 is movable at least by a tracking motion, in particular of translation, to facilitate the support of the elements 2 in any processing step.

[109] For the description that follows, the same reference numbers used above are used to indicate technical characteristics that are structurally or functionally similar to the characteristics described above.

[110] In particular, in this embodiment, but also in the previous ones, the operative bench 3 can cooperate with gripping means 36, for example of the gripper type, (see Figures 16 - 18) in order to handle, hold or suitably move the element 2 for carrying out the bending or curving steps.

[111] According to the invention, the operative bench 3 is in particular placed side by side to the respective support bench 400.

[112] Advantageously, the support bench 400 is movably mounted, in particular translatable, with respect to the operative bench 3.

[113] As for the previously described embodiments, the apparatus 1 can also preferably comprise the operation means 500, schematically shown in Figure 16, configured to operate the support bench 400 in the tracking motion, at least between the first position 400a in which the support bench 400 is substantially adjacent to the operative bench 3 and a second position 400b in which the support bench 4 is substantially adjacent to the operative bench 3, translated with respect to said first position, to support the free portion 2c of the element 2, protruding from the operative head 31 in the bending and/or curving step. The tracking stroke is preferably determined as a function of a bending angle related to the rotation carried out by the eccentric pin, or the curving radius, therefore to the deformation to be imposed on element 2.

[114] Between the first position 400a and the second position 400b the support bench 400 can pass through intermediate positions, so as to advantageously support the free portion 2c. In particular, if the element has already undergone processing steps, in particular of bending, the free portion 2c forms an already bent section (see Figures 16, 17 and 18).

[115] The tracking motion can be achieved, for example, by means of a translation motion of the support plane 400 in a direction B transversal to the longitudinal direction A, in particular perpendicular thereto. The support bench 400 may be guided in the tracking motion on suitable guide means 50 (see Figure 17).

[116] The support bench 400 is also preferably shaped, for example L-shaped, so as to comprise a first portion 410 which, in the first position, is placed side by side to a transverse side 310 of the operative bench 3, and a second portion 420 which, in the first position position of the support bench 400 is placed side by side to a longitudinal side 320 adjacent to the transverse side 310 of the operative bench 3 (see Figure 2). Thanks to the conformation of the support bench 400, with the provision of such portions 410, 420, it preferably at least partially surrounds the operative bench 3 in every operating condition, allowing optimal support in the processing steps. In particular, the second portion 420 allows the support of the deformed free portion 2c, when the support plane 400 is in the second displaced position 400b in the transverse direction B (see Figures 17 and 18).

[117] Basically, thanks to said tracking motion, the support bench 400 is able to effectively support the free portion 2c of element 2 throughout the bending and/or curving step.

[118] Preferably, the support bench 400 is integrated with the operative bench 3, or it can be made by means of an autonomous structure with respect thereto.

[119] The support bench 400, like the other embodiments described, can cooperate with the gripping means 36 (see Figures 15 - 18) in order to avoid any interference between distal portions of the element 2, moved by the effect of the processing. For example, the gripping means 36 can be operated in a lifting motion, to facilitate the insertion of the free portion 2c, in the closure of large pieces such as the "long stirrups", supported by the support bench 400.

[120] The operation of the apparatus according to this embodiment is entirely similar to that already described for the other embodiments, considering however that in the tracking motion the support bench 400 is moved mainly according to a translation motion.

[121] However, it is to be noted that, according to the invention, the tracking motion can be a translational and/or oscillational motion with respect to the operative bench 3. Alternatively, this motion can be a combination of motions of a different type, for example rotational and translational.

[122] According to a fourth embodiment, shown in Figures 19 to 23, the support bench 400', otherwise structurally and functionally similar to the support bench 400 described above, is movable, in particular translatable along the longitudinal direction A, along the longitudinal side 320 of the operative bench 3, from the first position 400'a to the second position 400'b.

[123] Furthermore, the figures show the additional operative bench 3', cooperating, as previously mentioned, with the operative bench 3, for carrying out the bending and/or curving, in particular, of both end portions of elements 2.

[124] Therefore, following said extraction motion, the support bench 400' can be translated along the longitudinal side 320 of the operative bench 3 from the first position 400'a, to one end of the longitudinal side 320, to the second position 400'b, displaced to an opposite end of the longitudinal side 320, through intermediate positions 400'c, along the same side (see Figure 5).

[125] The support bench 400, 400' can also be raised, for example inclined with respect to a substantially horizontal inclination axis, to raise the free portion 2c and thus avoid interference with an opposing free portion 2c, for example in the case of embodiment of bulky stirrups or "long stirrups".

[126] In any embodiment, the support bench associated with an operative bench 3 can cooperate