Inventors:
Duane L. Kirschenman - Winston-Salem NC
Terrell M. Shoffner - Winston-Salem NC
Assignee:
Western Electric Company, Inc. - New York NY
International Classification:
B21F 100
Abstract:
A component lead forming tool, having inside and outside lead formers, is provided with resilient "O" ring assemblies which permit horizontal lateral movement of the inside formers relative to the outside formers to allow leads of different lead diameters to be accurately formed. Each of the outside formers is formed with a longitudinal slot the depth of which equals the diameter of the smallest lead to be formed and received in the slot during a forming operation. The outside formers are movable vertically adjacent to the inside formers to bend and form the component lead over the inside formers. Horizontal lateral movement of the inside formers by virtue of the resiliency of the "O" rings permits a temporary increase in the distance between cooperating outside and inside formers when the diameter of the component lead to be formed is greater than the depth of the slot in each of the outside formers. This allows the forming of component leads having diameters greater than the smallest lead diameter to be formed without the need for changing the outside formers or risking damage to the inside formers.