Method and apparatus for forming a side panel assembly
AssigneeLaser Products Corporation
InventorB. J. Lipari
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A side panel assembly is disclosed which is of simple construction and provides easy access to the assembly contents for servicing or the like. The side panel assembly includes a front wall (14), a back wall (12) and a side wall (16) which is bent to match the shape of the front (14) and/or back (12) wall. The front wall (14) is connected to the side wall (16) by inserting a fastener (30) through the front wall (14) and a pull-out tab (26) extending from the side wall (16). A method and apparatus for use in constructing the side panel (16) are also provided. The method and apparatus allow for automation of the lay-out, cutting to length, flanging and notching of the side panel (16).
Claims32
An apparatus for use in forming stock material into a desired design, said stock material having a longitudinal axis, comprising:
- controller means for receiving input information regarding said desired design and deriving bending information regarding bends for bending said stock to form said desired design, said derived bending information including information regarding a longitudinal location of at least one bend for forming said desired design, said controller means operative for generating an output signal indicative of said derived bending information;
- and
- processor means, operatively associated with said controller means for receiving said output signal, for use in processing said stock material to form said desired design, said processor means including advancement means for use in providing proper longitudinal positioning of said stock material, whereby said stock material is processed at said longitudinal location to form said desired design.
An apparatus for use in forming substantially planar stock material into a hemmed structure with deployable tabs, comprising:
- drive means for driving said strip of stock material along a predetermined path in a direction aligned with a plane of said stock material;
- tab forming means, disposed at a predetermined location relative to said predetermined path, for forming a tab in a first portion of said moving strip of stock material adjacent to a first edge thereof, wherein said tab is deployable to a deployed position relative to a remaining portion of said stock material;
- and
- first roll forming means, disposed at a predetermined location relative to said predetermined path, for folding said first portion to form a hem on said a moving strip of stock material, said first roll forming means operative for forming said hem such that said hem is substantially parallel and closely adjacent to said plane of said stock material, wherein said tab is provided on said hem.
An apparatus for use in forming stock material into a selected shape, comprising:
- drive means for driving said stock material along a selected longitudinal path;
- sensing means for sensing longitudinal movement of said stock material and generating a feedback signal indicative of said movement and stock material position;
- controller means for receiving design input and said feedback signal and deriving processing information for use in processing said stock material to form said selected shape, said processing information including information regarding at least one longitudinal position for processing said stock material;
- and
- processing means, operatively associated with said controller means for processing said stock material t said longitudinal position based on said feedback signal and said derived processing information.
A method for use in forming a bent panel from a strip of stock material, comprising:
- driving said stock material along a predetermined longitudinal path;
- sensing movement of said stock material along said longitudinal path;
- generating a signal indicative of said sensed movement;
- employing a processor to derive bending information based on design input for bending said stock material to form said bent panel, said bending information including information regarding at least one longitudinal location for processing said stock;
- and
- using said signal and said bending information to process said stock material.
A method for use in bending stock material into a desired design, said stock material having a longitudinal length, comprising the steps of:
- inputting information regarding said desired design into a controller;
- operating said controller to derive processing information for use in processing said stock material to form said desired design, said processing information including information regarding at least one longitudinal location for processing said stock material to form said desired design;
- transmitting a signal indicative of said derived processing information to a processor for processing said stock material;
- longitudinally moving one of said stock material and said processor so that said processor is located at said longitudinal location;
- and
- operating said processor to process said stock material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.