Stretch bending or dieing mechanism including a drawing die press having apparatus for tensioning and/or stretching a workpiece, typically in sheet form, at opposite ends of a lower horizontally oriented stationary die. Prior to or in timed relation with the movement of the movable die to form a workpiece having its opposite ends secured in clamp jaws of sheet clamp units of the tensioning and/or stretching apparatus, fluid pressure actuated motors which support the sheet clamp units are actuated to lower the units to stretch and wrap the workpiece partly about the lower die. Simultaneously the units are moved in a predetermined path away from the lower die to tension and/or stretch the workpiece, as desired, by link mechanism having links of different length spaced lengthwise of the path of movement of the movable die. The pivotal connection of the upper links with the clamp units is adjustable to provide different paths of downward travel of the clamp units which allows for greater or lesser stretch of the workpiece and the pivotal connection of the opposite ends of the upper links are movable to allow upward movement of the clamp units in a path different from that followed during their downward movement, which upward path is parallel with the path of movement of the movable die. Movement of the sheet clamp units in the directions away from the lower die is resisted by the tension in the work sheet during the forming operation. After the forming operation is completed the clamp jaws are opened and the positions of the clamp units relative to the die during their upward movement is controlled by cam means. The upper workpiece gripping or clamping jaws of the clamp units include further workpiece engaging surfaces on the die sides thereof curved to conform to the crosswise curvature or crown of the lower die which is curved or crowned in two directions, that is, both lengthwise and crosswise so as to uniformly stretch a workpiece to the die.

A printing plate end bending apparatus utilizes a machine table having a printing plate abutment surface together with plate leading and trailing end support saddles which each also have plate end abutment surfaces. Each plate end saddle is provided with pivotable side plates that carry plate end hold-down members and bending beams.

A stretch bending or dieing mechanism including a drawing die press having a work tensioning or stretching apparatus at opposite ends of a lower horizontally oriented stationary die. Prior to or in timed relation with the movement of the movable die to form the sheet having its opposite ends secured in sheet clamping units of the apparatus, fluid pressure actuated motors which support the sheet clamping units are actuated to lower the units and wrap the sheet partly around the lower die. Simultaneously the units are moved in a predetermined path away from the lower die to tension or stretch the sheet, as desired, preferably by cam means which may be stationary or adjustable. Movement of the sheet clamping units in the directions away from the lower die is resisted by the tension in the work sheet during the forming operation. At other times the positions of the units relative to the die may be controlled by cam means and/or double acting reciprocating type fluid pressure actuated motors.

A press device for shaping or flattening a long panel by giving it, at substantially every point, a predetermined curvature either transverse or longitudinal, or both at once, or in a single direction at an angle in relation to the length of the panel. The press device has a frame press carrying a moveable punch and the frame spans a table. Above the table extending on either side of the frame press is an overhead beam supported at its extremities by two portal members, the beam carries a pair of carriages provided with depending brackets able to grip the opposed ends of the long panel as it is shaped or flattened by the punch of the said frame press. Both the punch and the table under the frame press may be provided with displaceable rails. The displacements inter alia of the panel and the punch are accurately controlled and displayed on a display board. The press is also provided with a long table beneath and in line with the said overhead beam, the table being provided with moveable rollers and gauge support means for checking the shape of the panel by metrology.