Home appliance with undistorted front panel curvature

Abstract

A home appliance including an appliance body having an internal framework; a metal panel covering a portion of the internal framework, the panel having a curved portion turned through the curve inwardly toward an interior of the appliance, wherein the panel surface adjacent the curve is substantially smooth and substantially undistorted, the panel being fabricated by engaging a metal sheet with a bender assembly, holding the metal sheet against translational movement, and applying pressure to the metal sheet using a punch having a curved head and being operatively associated with the bender assembly, the pressure being applied by moving the punch against the metal sheet using a damped punch driver operatively associated with the bender assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A home appliance comprising:
 an appliance body having an internal framework; and   a metal panel covering a portion of the internal framework, the panel having a curved portion turned inwardly toward an interior of the appliance, wherein the panel surface is substantially smooth and substantially undistorted, the panel being fabricated by engaging a metal sheet with a bender assembly, holding the metal sheet against translational movement using the bender assembly and applying pressure to the metal sheet using a punch having a curved head and being operatively associated with the bender assembly, the pressure being applied by moving the punch against the metal sheet using a damped punch driver operatively associated with the bender assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The home appliance of  claim 1  wherein the step of engaging includes engaging a metal sheet with a bender assembly having a receiving cup including an upstanding wall member having a working surface and defining a receiving cavity adjacent the working surface. 
     
     
         3 . The home appliance of  claim 1  wherein the step of holding the metal sheet against translational movement includes holding the metal sheet using a bender assembly having a plate that engages and applies pressure to the metal sheet prior to the arrival of the punch, and holds the metal sheet stationary during punch application. 
     
     
         4 . The home appliance of  claim 1  wherein the step of applying pressure using a punch operatively associated with a bender assembly includes using a bender assembly having a punch plate supporting the punch in a downwardly directed manner for selective engagement with the metal sheet. 
     
     
         5 . The home appliance of  claim 1  wherein the step of moving the punch using a damped punch driver includes moving the punch using a punch driver damped with a plurality of springs operatively associated with the bender assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The home appliance of  claim 5  wherein the step of moving the punch includes moving the punch using a damped punch driver includes using a punch driver damped with a plurality of springs extending intermediate a spring support plate and a punch plate supporting the curved punch in a downwardly directed manner for selective engagement with the metal sheet. 
     
     
         7 . The home appliance of  claim 6  wherein the step of moving the punch includes moving the punch using a damped punch driver includes using a punch driver damped with a plurality of springs arranged on the spring support plate in a predetermined pattern for balanced force application. 
     
     
         8 . The home appliance of  claim 7  wherein the step of moving the punch includes moving the punch using a damped punch driver includes using a punch driver damped with a plurality of springs arranged on the spring support plate with each of the plurality of springs having a spring stabilizer operatively associated therewith to keep each of the plurality of springs in place intermediate the spring support plate and the punch plate. 
     
     
         9 . The home appliance of  claim 1  wherein the step of engaging includes engaging a metal sheet with a bender assembly having a receiving cup including an upstanding wall member mounted to a base plate, having a working surface and defining a receiving cavity adjacent the working surface. 
     
     
         10 . The home appliance of  claim 9  wherein the step of applying pressure using a punch operatively associated with a bender assembly includes using a bender assembly having a punch plate fixed to the bender assembly in alignment with the base plate to support the punch in a downwardly directed manner toward the receiving cup for selective engagement with the metal sheet at the work surface and receiving cavity. 
     
     
         11 . The home appliance of  claim 10  wherein the step of moving the punch includes moving the punch using a damped punch driver includes using a punch driver damped with a plurality of springs mounted to a spring support plate fixed to the bender assembly in alignment with the base plate, the spring support plate having a hole defined therein in alignment with the punch for passage of the punch therethrough in a downwardly directed manner for selective engagement with the metal sheet at the work surface and receiving cavity. 
     
     
         12 . The home appliance of  claim 1  wherein the step of applying pressure includes applying pressure to the bender assembly in a machine press. 
     
     
         13 . A range comprising:
 a range body having an internal framework;   a metal panel covering a portion of the internal framework, the panel having a curved portion turned through the curve inwardly toward an interior of the range, wherein the panel surface adjacent the curve is substantially smooth and substantially undistorted, the panel being fabricated by engaging a metal sheet with a bender assembly, holding the metal sheet against translational movement and applying pressure to the metal sheet using a punch having a curved head and being operatively associated with the bender assembly, the pressure being applied by moving the punch against the metal sheet using a damped punch driver operatively associated with the bender assembly.   
     
     
         14 . The range of  claim 13  wherein the step of engaging includes engaging a metal sheet with a bender assembly having a receiving cup including an upstanding wall member having a working surface and defining a receiving cavity adjacent the working surface. 
     
     
         15 . The range of  claim 13  wherein the step of holding the metal sheet against translational movement includes holding the metal sheet using a bender assembly having a plate that engages and applies pressure to the metal sheet prior to the arrival of the punch, and holds the metal sheet stationary during punch application. 
     
     
         16 . The range of  claim 13  wherein the step of applying pressure using a punch operatively associated with a bender assembly includes using a bender assembly having a punch plate supporting the punch in a downwardly directed manner for selective engagement with the metal sheet. 
     
     
         17 . The range of  claim 13  wherein the step of moving the punch using a damped punch driver includes moving the punch using a punch driver damped with a plurality of springs operatively associated with the bender assembly. 
     
     
         18 . The range of  claim 13  wherein the step of moving the punch includes moving the punch using a damped punch driver includes using a punch driver damped with a plurality of springs extending intermediate a spring support plate and a punch plate supporting the curved punch in a downwardly directed manner for selective engagement with the metal sheet. 
     
     
         19 . The range of  claim 18  wherein the step of moving the punch includes moving the punch using a damped punch driver includes using a punch driver damped with a plurality of springs arranged on the spring support plate in a predetermined pattern for balanced force application. 
     
     
         20 . The range of  claim 19  wherein the step of moving the punch includes moving the punch using a damped punch driver includes using a punch driver damped with a plurality of springs arranged on the spring support plate with each of the plurality of springs having a spring stabilizer operatively associated therewith to keep each of the plurality of springs in place intermediate the spring support plate and the punch plate. 
     
     
         21 . The range of  claim 13  wherein the step of engaging includes engaging a metal sheet with a bender assembly having a receiving cup including an upstanding wall member mounted to a base plate, having a working surface and defining a receiving cavity adjacent the working surface. 
     
     
         22 . The range of  claim 21  wherein the step of applying pressure using a punch operatively associated with a bender assembly includes using a bender assembly having a punch plate fixed to the bender assembly in alignment with the base plate to support the punch in a downwardly directed manner toward the receiving cup for selective engagement with the metal sheet at the work surface and receiving cavity. 
     
     
         23 . The range of  claim 22  wherein the step of moving the punch includes moving the punch using a damped punch driver includes using a punch driver damped with a plurality of springs mounted to a spring support plate fixed to the bender assembly in alignment with the base plate, the spring support plate having a hole defined therein in alignment with the punch for passage of the punch therethrough in a downwardly directed manner for selective engagement with the metal sheet at the work surface and receiving cavity. 
     
     
         24 . The home appliance of  claim 13  wherein the step of applying pressure includes applying pressure to the bender assembly in a machine press.