Multi-directionally swept beam, roll former, and method

A sweep station for sweeping sections of a beam away from a longitudinal line defined by the beam, comprising:

• a main frame;
• and
• a sweep-forming device including stops and a subframe operably supported on the main frame by first and second slide members for movement from a home position where the first and second slide members both abut the stops to hold the subframe generally perpendicular to the longitudinal line with the beam not being deformed, and for movement to a first angled position where only the second slide member abuts the stops to sweep a first section of the beam in a first direction away from the longitudinal line, and for movement to a second angled position where only the first slide member abuts the stops to sweep a second section of the beam in a second direction away from the longitudinal line, the second direction being on a side opposite the first direction.

A sweep station for use in-line with a roll former, comprising:

• a sweep-forming device for selectively sweeping a roll formed structural beam, the sweep-forming device including a first slide member formed by at least one first elongated plate elongated in an upstream direction generally parallel to the longitudinal line and movable between a home position and at least one first angled position for deforming the structural beam in a first direction away from the longitudinal line and including a second slide member formed by at least one second elongated plate elongated in the upstream direction generally parallel to the longitudinal line and movable between the home position and at least one second angled position for deforming the structural beam in a second direction opposite the first direction away from the longitudinal line while continuously operating the roll former, each of the first and second slide members having a narrow end and a large end and defining a stop-engaging surface therebetween, and the sweep station including stops that abut the stop-engaging surface when in the home position.