Metal deforming – By deflecting successively-presented portions of work during... – By use of deflector arranged to bend work transversely of...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-14
2001-11-06
Crane, Daniel C. (Department: 3725)
Metal deforming
By deflecting successively-presented portions of work during...
By use of deflector arranged to bend work transversely of...
C072S247000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06311534
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a metal bending apparatus. More particularly, the invention relates to a novel roll forming apparatus which is adjustable to produce articles having different dimensions.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Roll forming machines for bending sheet metal are well known in the art. They are useful for fabricating a variety of metal products including sheet metal ducts and connectors.
Roll forming machines generally include a series of forming rolls arranged in successive forming stations along an advancing path. In operation, a piece of sheet metal is passed between top and bottom rolls of each successive forming station, wherein each forming station introduces an additional degree of bending to the metal until a desired cumulative bend in the metal is complete. U.S. Pat. No. 4,045,989 describes a roll forming machine of this type and is incorporated herein by reference.
Numerous structural variations in roll forming machines are available depending on the particular bending operation desired. For example, the number and size of the forming stations can be varied to produce the particular bent metal product desired. Various modified forming stations can also be included according to specific applications. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,045,989, mentioned above, describes a roll forming machine, having a first forming station which recognizes notches in the edge of a metal workpiece and thereby introduces bends to predetermined alternating metal sections between the notches. It is also known to include an idler assembly as a station along the advancing path of a roll forming machine.
The present invention is useful for any roll forming application in which it is desired to periodically make adjustments to the dimensions between the bends being made.
In the case of duct fabrication, ducts are generally produced in sections which are subsequently connected at their ends by appropriate fastening means. In order to produce the desired connections between duct sections, each duct section can be provided with roll formed hems or flanges at both ends which abut and register with corresponding structures on adjacent sections when connected. The hems or flanges are joined together, for example by cleats or corner connectors. A representative example of a duct connection system is illustrated in
FIGS. 1 and 2
.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,466,641 describes a duct connecting system of this type, known as the Transverse Duct Connector (TDC) system, which utilizes roll formed flanges on the ends of duct sections defining frames which are unitary or integral to the duct walls. In a preferred form of this system, upper and lower channels are formed in the flanges for receiving the edges of a corner connector. The TDC system, marketed by The Lockformer Company and Iowa Precision Industries, Inc., permits rapid connection of duct sections by snapping corner connectors into the frames and bolting the duct sections together across adjoining frames to produce a duct having superior strength. U.S. Pat. No. 4,579,375 also describes a duct connection system utilizing duct sections having integral frames.
There is a need for a more versatile roll forming machine which can easily be reset to make bends of different dimensions. For example, when forming duct sections using existing roll forming technology, the integral frames are formed of flanges having a particular fixed height. However, when ducts made from different metal weights are fabricated, correspondingly different heights of flanges are often used. In order to convert roll forming production to make duct sections having a different flange height, the apparatus must be retooled with a new outboard set of forming station rolls if possible, or if not, an altogether different machine must be used. The cost in terms of time and equipment to make the necessary adjustments, if such are feasible, can be significant. The present invention addresses these and other needs.
The roll forming apparatus of the present invention, while generally applicable to bending operations, is particularly useful for fabricating duct sections for use in these and other types of duct manufacturing systems.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved roll forming apparatus.
Another primary object of the present invention is to provide a roll forming apparatus which is adjustable to produce bends of different dimensions.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a roll forming apparatus having adjustable roll forming stations.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a roll forming apparatus which is quickly and easily adjustable and avoids the need for expensive and time consuming retooling operations.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a roll forming apparatus having forming stations capable of being quickly adjusted between several predetermined settings.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a roll forming apparatus which can be easily adjusted to produce duct flanges of various different predetermined heights.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable forming roll and rollset which can be installed to retrofit existing non-adjustable roll forming apparatus.
These and other objects are realized by a novel roll forming station, rollset and machine including at least one forming station having top and bottom rolls including separate inner and outer sections. The effective dimensions of the rolls are adjustable by changing the distance between the inner and outer roll sections.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one forming station includes inner roll sections which are axially movable in a dimension transverse to the metal advancing direction and parallel to the drive shafts. Thereby, the position of a bend on a workpiece can be adjusted. Any suitable mechanism can be provided for securing the forming rolls in a selected operating position. Preferably, indexing means are also provided for accurately and reproducibly adjusting the inner roll sections between predetermined settings. For example, a system of adjustable stops can be provided to variably limit the axial travel of the forming roll inner sections. This makes adjusting the rolls to frequently used settings fast and easy and avoids the need for fine tuning when resetting for a different bend dimension.
Frequently, a bend is introduced to a workpiece cumulatively by successive forming stations. Accordingly, the present invention provides an adjustable rollset including more than one adjustable forming station. Indexing means insure that each forming station of the rollset can be reproducibly adjusted to predetermined settings such that all are accurately coordinated to one another in each operating setting.
The present invention can also include further components which are adjustable in coordination with the settings of the adjustable inner roll sections. For example, in a roll forming apparatus having an idler assembly, the idler can be axially adjustable to accommodate A the operating settings of adjacent adjustable forming stations.
The present invention is particularly useful for forming duct flanges of different heights and is generally applicable to formation of all duct flange structures, including those described in the U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,466,641 and 4,579,375, discussed above. The present invention is also generally useful for any other roll forming application.
REFERENCES:
patent: 851451 (1907-04-01), Steiber
patent: 865908 (1907-09-01), Johnson
patent: 1078240 (1913-11-01), Barbour
patent: 4269055 (1981-05-01), Sivachenko
patent: 4526024 (1985-07-01), Toti
patent: 4899566 (1990-02-01), Knudson
patent: 5394722 (1995-03-01), Meyer
patent: 5735788 (1998-04-01), Yasutake
patent: 47-37833 (1972-09-01), None
Blum Richard
Shah Ashok
Crane Daniel C.
The Lockformer Company
LandOfFree
Sheet metal bending apparatus does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Sheet metal bending apparatus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Sheet metal bending apparatus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2618094