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US 7,975,633 B2Granted
Bi-directional seaming machine
AssigneeMiller Weldmaster Corporation
InventorsBrian D. Henry, Rodney M. Tunistra
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A seaming machine for seaming segments of sheet material to one another to form larger sheets includes a frame defining a sheet-receiving area and a pair of spaced seaming devices on opposed sides of the sheet-receiving area for respectively seaming opposed edges of the segments of sheet material to one another. The frame typically defines a table-receiving space for a table to support the sheet segments. The machine provides for the seaming of multiple sheet segments while the sheet segments remain atop the table or another work surface. Relative back and forth movement between the frame and work surface facilitate the process.
Claims33
A seaming machine for use with segments of sheet material each having first and second opposed edges, the machine comprising:
- a frame having first and second ends defining therebetween a longitudinal direction and first and second sides defining therebetween an axial direction;
- a sheet-receiving area within the frame having first and second axially spaced sides;
- first and second axially spaced seaming devices on the frame respectively adjacent the first and second sides of the sheet-receiving area;
- the first seaming device adapted for seaming a first one of the segments of sheet material to a second one of the segments of sheet material along the first edges of the first and second segments;
- and the second seaming device adapted for seaming a third one of the segments of sheet material to the second segment along the second edges of the second and third segments;
- and
- first and second axially spaced operator supports on the frame respectively adjacent the first and second sides of the sheet-receiving area.
4 more elements
A seaming machine for use with segments of sheet material each having first and second opposed edges, the machine comprising:
- a frame having first and second ends defining therebetween a longitudinal direction and first and second sides defining therebetween an axial direction;
- a sheet-receiving area within the frame having first and second axially spaced sides;
- first and second axially spaced seaming devices on the frame respectively adjacent the first and second sides of the sheet-receiving area;
- the first seaming device adapted for seaming a first one of the segments of sheet material to a second one of the segments of sheet material along the first edges of the first and second segments;
- and the second seaming device adapted for seaming a third one of the segments of sheet material to the second segment along the second edges of the second and third segments;
- and
- first and second electronic control boxes mounted on the frame respectively adjacent the first and second sides of the sheet-receiving space and in electrical communication respectively with the first and second seaming devices.
4 more elements
A seaming machine for use with segments of sheet material each having first and second opposed edges, the machine comprising:
- a frame having first and second ends defining therebetween a longitudinal direction and first and second sides defining therebetween an axial direction;
- a sheet-receiving area within the frame having first and second axially spaced sides;
- first and second axially spaced seaming devices on the frame respectively adjacent the first and second sides of the sheet-receiving area;
- the first seaming device adapted for seaming a first one of the segments of sheet material to a second one of the segments of sheet material along the first edges of the first and second segments;
- and the second seaming device adapted for seaming a third one of the segments of sheet material to the second segment along the second edges of the second and third segments;
- first and second longitudinally spaced spools on the frame adapted to respectively carry first and second rolls of sheet material;
- wherein the seaming devices are longitudinally intermediate the spools;
- and further comprising
- first and second support rollers respectively adjacent the first and second spools.
6 more elements
A seaming machine for use with segments of sheet material each having first and second opposed edges, the machine comprising:
- a frame having first and second ends defining therebetween a longitudinal direction and first and second sides defining therebetween an axial direction;
- a sheet-receiving area within the frame having first and second axially spaced sides;
- first and second axially spaced seaming devices on the frame respectively adjacent the first and second sides of the sheet-receiving area;
- the first seaming device adapted for seaming a first one of the segments of sheet material to a second one of the segments of sheet material along the first edges of the first and second segments;
- and the second seaming device adapted for seaming a third one of the segments of sheet material to the second segment along the second edges of the second and third segments;
- and
- an adjustment mechanism operatively connected to at least one of the seaming devices for axially adjusting the at least one seaming device.
4 more elements
A seaming machine for use with segments of sheet material each having first and second opposed edges, the machine comprising:
- a frame having first and second ends defining therebetween a longitudinal direction and first and second sides defining therebetween an axial direction;
- a sheet-receiving area within the frame having first and second axially spaced sides;
- and
- first and second axially spaced seaming devices on the frame respectively adjacent the first and second sides of the sheet-receiving area;
- the first seaming device adapted for seaming a first one of the segments of sheet material to a second one of the segments of sheet material along the first edges of the first and second segments;
- and the second seaming device adapted for seaming a third one of the segments of sheet material to the second segment along the second edges of the second and third segments;
- wherein the frame is movable back and forth in the longitudinal direction.
4 more elements
A seaming machine for use with segments of sheet material each having first and second opposed edges, the machine comprising:
- a frame having first and second ends defining therebetween a longitudinal direction and first and second sides defining therebetween an axial direction;
- a sheet-receiving area within the frame having first and second axially spaced sides;
- first and second axially spaced seaming devices on the frame respectively adjacent the first and second sides of the sheet-receiving area;
- the first seaming device adapted for seaming a first one of the segments of sheet material to a second one of the segments of sheet material along the first edges of the first and second segments;
- and the second seaming device adapted for seaming a third one of the segments of sheet material to the second segment along the second edges of the second and third segments;
- and
- a height adjustment mechanism operatively connected to the first and second seaming devices for adjusting the height of the seaming devices.
4 more elements
A seaming machine for use with segments of sheet material each having first and second opposed edges, the machine comprising:
- a frame having first and second ends defining therebetween a longitudinal direction and first and second sides defining therebetween an axial direction;
- a sheet-receiving area within the frame having first and second axially spaced sides;
- first and second axially spaced seaming devices on the frame respectively adjacent the first and second sides of the sheet-receiving area;
- the first seaming device adapted for seaming a first one of the segments of sheet material to a second one of the segments of sheet material along the first edges of the first and second segments;
- and the second seaming device adapted for seaming a third one of the segments of sheet material to the second segment along the second edges of the second and third segments;
- and
- a work surface defining a lower boundary of the sheet-receiving area;
- and wherein one of the work surface and frame is movable back and forth in the longitudinal direction relative to the other of the work surface and frame.
5 more elements
In combination, a first roll of a first sheet material, a second roll of a second sheet material and a seaming machine comprising:
- a frame having first and second ends defining therebetween a longitudinal direction and first and second sides defining therebetween an axial direction;
- first and second axially elongated parallel spools on the frame longitudinally spaced from one another and adapted to respectively carrying the first and second rolls of sheet material;
- and
- first and second seaming devices on the frame axially spaced from one another and longitudinally intermediate the spools;
- a first segment of the first sheet material unwound from the first roll;
- and
- a second segment of the second sheet material unwound from the second roll atop the first segment.
4 more elements
A method comprising the steps of:
- positioning a first segment of sheet material having non-seamed first and second opposed edges on a generally horizontal work surface;
- positioning a second segment of sheet material having non-seamed first and second opposed edges over the first segment with the first and second edges of the second segment respectively adjacent the first and second edges of the first segment;
- seaming the first and second sheet segments together to create a first seam along the first edges of the first and second segments to form a two-segment sheet;
- positioning a third segment of sheet material having non-seamed first and second opposed edges over the two-segment sheet with the first and second edges of the third segment respectively adjacent the first and second edges of the second segment and respectively adjacent the first and second edges of the first segment;
- and
- seaming the second and third sheet segments together to create a second seam along the second edges of the second and third segments to form a folded three-segment sheet wherein the first, second and third segments are folded back and forth on one another so that the second seam is parallel to and above the non-seamed second edge of the first segment.
3 more elements
A method comprising the steps of:
- positioning a first segment of sheet material having first and second opposed edges on a generally horizontal work surface;
- positioning a second segment of sheet material having first and second opposed edges over the first segment;
- positioning a third segment of sheet material having first and second opposed edges over the first and second segments;
- positioning a fourth segment of sheet material having first and second opposed edges over the first, second and third segments with the first and second edges of the fourth segment respectively adjacent the first and second edges of the third segment, respectively adjacent the first and second edges of the second segment and respectively adjacent the first and second edges of the first segment;
- seaming the first and second segments together to create a first seam along the first edges of the first and second segments;
- seaming the second and third sheet segments together to create a second seam along the second edges of the second and third segments;
- seaming the third and fourth segments together to create a third seam along the first edges of the third and fourth segments to form a folded four-segment sheet which is unfoldable so that the first, second and third seams are parallel and spaced apart from one another.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.