US 5,855,133 A · Rollforming apparatus for forming profile shapes

Abstract

The present invention provides means for automatically adjusting rollforming equipment to accommodate a range of different gauges of material such as sheet metal being formed. One rollforming roller (34) on each rollforming head (4A) is mounted on an eccentric so that a force supplied in the direction of material feed through the tooling rollers (33,34) will increase the tooling gap therebetween. An automatic gauge adjustor includes applying a source of substantially constant pressure sufficient to achieve the rollforming action against rotation about the eccentric while allowing movement of the rollforming roller also about the eccentric so that the roll will move against the pressure being provided in the direction of the material feed to accommodate the gauge of material within the working range set. This allows the rollforming head (4A) to adjust the rolling gap between rollers to accommodate varying gauges automatically and with minimal or no lead in damage while the rolls adjust to the new gauge of material.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A rollforming station for a rollforming apparatus for forming profile shapes in a formable material, the rollforming station comprising:

a tooling pedestal including means for mounting the tooling pedestal on the rollforming apparatus,
a rollforming head mounted on said tooling pedestal, said rollforming head having
a first tooling roller rotatably mounted on a first shaft supported by said pedestal,
a second tooling roller rotatably mounted on a second shaft, said first and second tooling roller cooperating to form profile shapes by transversely deflecting said formable material into a shape having a nonplanar cross-section, and
means rotatable mounted on said pedestal for supporting the second shaft eccentrically with reference to the centre of the second tooling roller so that a force applied in the direction of material feed through the tooling rollers will increase a tooling gap between the first and second tooling rollers, and
an automatic gauge adjustor including means for resisting the movement of the second tooling roller to increase the tooling gap, said resisting means applying a force sufficient to achieve the rollforming action while allowing movement of the second tooling roller about the eccentric supporting means so that the second tooling roller will move against the resisting means in the direction of the material feed to accommodate the gauge of material being formed.

3 more elements

A rollforming apparatus for forming profile shapes from formable material the rollforming apparatus comprising:

a frame;
a support bed on the frame;
a tooling pedestal having means for mounting the tooling pedestal to the frame;
a rollforming head mounted on the tooling pedestal, the rollforming head having
a first tooling roller rotatably mounted on a first shaft supported by the pedestal,
a second tooling roller rotatably mounted on a second shaft, said first and second tooling roller cooperating to form profile shapes by transversely deflecting said formable material into a shape having a nonplanar cross-section, and
means for rotatably mounting the second shaft on the pedestal eccentrically with reference to the centre of the second tooling roller so that a force applied in the direction of material feed through the tooling rollers will increase a tooling gap between the first and second tooling rollers;
and
an automatic gauge adjustor having means for resisting the movement of the second tooling roller to increase the tooling gap, the resisting means applying a force sufficient to achieve the rollforming action while allowing movement of the second tooling roller about the eccentric mounting means so that the second tooling roller will move against the resisting means in the direction of the material feed to accommodate the gauge of material being formed.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Rollforming apparatus for forming profile shapes

Life of this patent

Rollforming apparatus for forming profile shapes

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20