Stand and Seam Hemmer for Metal Roof Installations

A method of crimping a roof leading edge of a metal roof panel secured to a roof framing element on a roof of a structure, the method comprising:

• providing a seam hemmer comprising a head section having a planar rear base, a planar front base wider than the planar rear base, a pair of curvilinear side portions connecting the planar rear base to the planar front base and framing an open central portion, a crimping mechanism disposed within the head section, and a handle section removably attached to the head section;
• positioning the head section of the seam hemmer at the roof leading edge such that the planar front base is aligned with a drip edge to be crimped;
• maintaining a position of an operator at a working distance of approximately three feet from an edge of the roof via dimensional configuration of the seam hemmer;
• supplying power to the crimping mechanism from a power source selected from the group consisting of a pneumatic power source, a hydraulic power source, and an electrical power source;
• actuating the crimping mechanism by manipulating a control lever on the handle section, thereby causing at least one piston to extend linearly within at least one cylinder and translate motion through at least one coupler to the crimping mechanism, the crimping mechanism exerting a controlled pressure on the metal roof panel to create a crimp securing the metal roof panel to the roof framing element;
• and
• guiding the seam hemmer along the roof leading edge while maintaining actuation of the control lever, thereby progressively crimping the roof leading edge along a desired length thereof.

A powered crimping tool for finishing drip edges on a standard seam metal panel roof system, the powered crimping tool comprising:

• a head section comprising:
• a planar rear base including a handle section receiver;
• a planar front base wider than the planar rear base, the planar front base defining a crimping surface;
• a pair of curvilinear side portions, each having a rear end affixed to the planar rear base and a front end affixed to the planar front base, the planar rear base, the planar front base, and the pair of curvilinear side portions collectively defining an open central portion therebetween;
• and
• a crimping mechanism comprising a pair of cylinders each fixedly attached to a top of a respective one of the pair of curvilinear side portions, a pair of pistons each linearly movable within a respective one of the pair of cylinders and each operably connected to a power source, and
• a pair of couplers each connecting a terminal end of a respective one of the pair of pistons to the planar front base in a balanced and symmetrical configuration, such that extension of the pair of pistons drives the crimping mechanism toward the crimping surface of the planar front base;
• a handle section removably attachable to the handle section receiver, the handle section comprising:
• a pole configured to be removably received within the handle section receiver at a rearward slope;
• an extended handle grip at a top end of the pole, the extended handle grip comprising a curvilinear section extending rearwardly relative to the pole;
• at least one pair of auxiliary handle grips attached to the pole and extending perpendicularly therefrom;
• and
• a control lever operably connected to the crimping mechanism and disposed on at least one of the pole and the extended handle grip;
• wherein the powered crimping tool is dimensionally configured to maintain an operator at a working distance of approximately three feet from a roof edge during operation, and wherein the crimping mechanism is configured to extend up to approximately two inches to produce a crimp between the crimping mechanism and the crimping surface.