Apparatus and method for manufacturing curved building panels

A method for forming an elongate building panel having inside and outside surfaces respectively and a two-dimensional sectional profile into a curved configuration, said method comprising the steps of:

• feeding the panel member between a pair of juxtaposed feed rollers having surfaces generally conformed to the respective inside and outside surfaces of the panel;
• compressing the panel between said feed rollers;
• bending the panel by interposing a curving roll downstream of the feed rolls;
• and
• securing the panel to the curving roll by compressing the panel between the curving roll and an anti-distortion roll so that the panel bends about a neutral line within the panel and the bending of the panel does not cause unwanted distortion of the panel.

An apparatus for forming an elongate building panel having inside and outside surfaces respectively and a two-dimensional sectional profile into a curved configuration, said apparatus comprising:

• a pair of juxtaposed feed rolls having surfaces generally conformed to the respective inside and outside surfaces of the panel and adapted to compress the panel therebetween;
• a curving roll located proximate and downstream of the feed rolls, said curving roll having a surface conformed to the outside surface of the panel and located in the path of the panel as the panel member exits the feed rolls to bend the panel into a curved configuration;
• an anti-distortion roll juxtaposed to the curving roll and adapted to compress the panel therebetween;
• and
• means for driving the feed rolls, the curving roll, and the anti-distortion roll, said driving means including means for driving the curving and anti-distortion rolls at a slightly greater rotational speed than the feed rolls to tension the panel between the feed rolls and the curving and anti-distortion rolls to inhibit unwanted distortion of the panel.

A method for forming an elongate building panel having inside and outside surfaces respectively and a two-dimensional sectional profile into a curved configuration, said method comprising the steps of:

• feeding the panel member between a pair of juxtaposed feed rolls having surfaces generall conformed to the respective inside and outside surfaces of the panel;
• driving the feed rolls at a first rotational velocity;
• compressing the panel between said feed rolls;
• bending the panel by interposing a curving roll downstream of the feed rolls;
• securing the panel to the curving roll by compressing the panel between the curving roll and an anti-distortion roll;
• and
• driving the curving and anti-distortion rolls at a second rotational velocity slightly greater than that of the feed rolls to tension the panel between the feed rolls and the curving and anti-distortion rolls so that the panel bends about a neutral line within the panel and the bending of the panel does not cause unwanted distortion of the panel.