Apparatus and method for forming metal building panels

Apparatus for crimping side portions of a formed, generally channel-shaped sheet metal panel having a bottom portion and side portions extending substantially perpendicular to the bottom portion so as to define an interior channel area and exterior areas, the bottom portion being crimped by main crimping rollers and the formed sheet metal panel being used in the construction of a metal building, said apparatus comprising:

• inside crimping rollers and outside crimping rollers for crimping said side portions, said inside crimping rollers positioned within the interior channel area and the outside crimping rollers positioned in the exterior areas;
• means for mounting said inside and outside crimping rollers to said apparatus so as to allow a distance between said inside and outside crimping rollers to be adjusted independently of adjustment of the main crimping rollers;
• means for adjusting the distance between said inside and outside crimping rollers independently of adjustment of the main crimping rollers;
• means for producing signals indicative of the distance between said inside and outside crimping rollers;
• means for producing signals indicative of a length of said formed panel having passed through the apparatus;
• and
• means for controlling said adjusting means in response to said distance signals and said length signals based on a predetermined desired panel configuration.

A method for regulating crimping of side portions of a formed, generally channel-shaped sheet metal panel having a bottom portion and side portions extending substantially perpendicular to the bottom portion so as to define an interior channel area and exterior areas, the bottom portion being crimped by main crimping rollers and said formed sheet metal panel being used in the construction of a metal building, said method comprising the steps of:

• mounting inside crimping rollers and outside crimping rollers to a side crimper such that the inside crimping rollers are positioned within the interior channel area and the outside crimping rollers are positioned in the exterior areas and so as to allow a distance between said inside and outside crimping rollers to be adjusted independently of adjustment of the main crimping rollers;
• producing signals indicative of the distance between said inside and outside crimping rollers;
• producing signals indicative of a length of said formed panel having passed through the apparatus;
• and
• adjusting the distance between said inside and outside crimping rollers independently of adjustment of said main crimping rollers in response to said distance signals and said length signals based on a predetermined desired panel configuration.