Sheet processing apparatus, method of use, and plastically deformed sheet

An apparatus for plastically deforming a work piece in the form of a sheet, comprising:

• at least two cylindrical guide rolls rotatable in a first direction, each of said cylindrical guide rolls having an outer circumference;
• a bendable strip having a portion of at least one surface in communication with a portion of the outer circumference of each of the at least two guide rollers, said bendable strip being capable of motion around the at least two guide rollers in the first direction and exerting a force upon a work piece;
• a first cylindrical feeding roll rotatable in a second direction opposite to the first direction, said first cylindrical feeding roll having an outer circumference;
• and
• a plastic deformation passage having a first surface and a second surface, at least a portion of the first surface being defined by a portion of the bendable strip, and at least a portion of the second surface being defined by the outer circumference of the first cylindrical feeding roll,
• wherein one or both of the bendable strip and the cylindrical feeding roll, when in motion, propel the work piece through the plastic deformation passage wherein it is plastically deformed,
• wherein the work piece has a thickness and a portion of the plastic deformation passage has a height that is no more than the thickness of the work piece, and
• wherein a portion of the plastic deformation passage has a height that is less than the thickness of the work piece.

An apparatus for plastically deforming a work piece in the form of a sheet, comprising:

• at least two cylindrical guide rolls rotatable in a first direction, each of said cylindrical guide rolls having an outer circumference;
• a bendable strip having a portion of at least one surface in communication with a portion of the outer circumference of each of the at least two guide rollers, said bendable strip being capable of motion around the at least two guide rollers in the first direction and exerting a force upon a work piece;
• a first cylindrical feeding roll rotatable in a second direction opposite to the first direction, said first cylindrical feeding roll having an outer circumference;
• a plastic deformation passage having a first surface and a second surface, at least a portion of the first surface being defined by a portion of the bendable strip, and at least a portion of the second surface being defined by the outer circumference of the first cylindrical feeding roll;
• and
• at least one shoe guide located between the at least two cylindrical rollers, the at least one shoe guide including at least one sliding surface, said shoe guide being in communication with a portion of the bendable strip;
• wherein one or both of the bendable strip and the cylindrical feeding roll, when in motion, propel the work piece through the plastic deformation passage wherein it is plastically deformed.

A method of plastically deforming a work piece, comprising providing an apparatus comprising,

• at least two cylindrical guide rolls rotatable in a first direction, each of said cylindrical guide rolls having an outer circumference;
• a bendable strip having at least one surface in communication with a portion of the outer circumference of each of the at least two guide rollers, said bendable strip being capable of movement with the at least two guide rollers in the first direction and exerting a force upon a work piece;
• and
• a cylindrical feeding roll rotatable in a second direction opposite to the first direction, said cylindrical feeding roll having an outer circumference;
• a plastic deformation passage having an first surface and a second surface, at least a portion of the first surface being defined by the bendable strip, and at least a portion of the second surface being defined by the outer circumference of the first cylindrical feeding roll;
• rotating the at least two cylindrically guide rolls in a first direction and the cylindrical feeding roll in a second direction;
• propelling a work piece into the plastic deformation passage by the motion of one or both of the bendable strip or the feeding roll;
• plastically deforming the work piece in the plastic deformation passage, and
• removing a plastically deformed work piece from the plastic deformation passage;
• and
• reintroducing the resulting plastically deformed work piece back into the provided apparatus.