# US 8,464,569 B2 · Internal roller tool for bending a strip into a tube

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- Number: US 8,464,569 B2
- Document ID: US8464569B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/821,803
- Filed: 2007-06-26
- Published: 2008-03-27
- Granted: 2013-06-18
- Earliest claimed: 2006-06-27
- Assignees: SMS Meer GmbH
- Applicants: Bernhard Heimann; Johannes Kamps
- Inventors: Bernhard Heimann; Johannes Kamps
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8464569B2

## CPC

- B21D 5/12: making use of forming-rollers
- B21D: WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL (working or processing of wire B21F)

## Abstract

An internal tool for bending a strip passing in a strip-travel direction into a tube has a support juxtaposable with a face of the passing strip, at least two roller holders pivotal on the support about respective offset holder pivot axes generally parallel to the strip-travel direction, and respective rollers carried in the holders and rotatable about respective roller axes generally perpendicular to the respective holder axes.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An internal tool for bending a strip passing in a strip-travel direction into a tube, the tool comprising:
a support juxtaposable with a face of the passing strip;
at least two roller holders pivotal on the support about respective offset holder pivot axes generally parallel to the strip-travel direction;
respective side rollers carried in the holders and rotatable about respective roller axes generally perpendicular to the respective holder axes and each perpendicularly intersecting the respective holder pivot axis, the holder pivot axes extending through the rollers generally at the respective roller axes; and
a middle roller generally lying on the plane and rotatable about an axis generally perpendicular to the plane.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The strip-bending tool defined in claim 1 wherein the holder pivot axes are substantially parallel to the strip-travel direction.

### Claim 3

An internal tool for bending a strip passing in a strip-travel direction into a tube, the tool comprising:
a support juxtaposable with a face of the passing strip;
at least two roller holders pivotal on the support about respective offset holder pivot axes generally parallel to the strip-travel direction;
respective side rollers carried in the holders and rotatable about respective roller axes generally perpendicular to the respective holder axes, the holder pivot axes extending through the rollers generally at the respective roller axes;
a middle roller generally lying on the plane and rotatable about an axis generally perpendicular to the plane; and
means coupling the holders together for synchronous movement about the respective pivot axes.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The strip-bending tool defined in claim 3 wherein each of the roller axes perpendicularly intersects the respective holder pivot axis.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The strip-bending tool defined in claim 3 wherein the means includes
respective meshing sector gears centered on the respective pivot axes.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The strip-bending tool defined in claim 3 wherein the means includes an extensible and retractile actuator pivoted on one of the holders and on the support.

### Claim 7

An internal tool for bending a strip passing in a strip-travel direction into a tube, the tool comprising:
a support juxtaposable with a face of the passing strip;
at least two roller holders pivotal on the support about respective offset holder pivot axes generally parallel to the strip-travel direction; and
respective rollers carried in the holders and rotatable about respective roller axes generally perpendicular to the respective holder axes, the holder pivot axes extending through the rollers generally at the respective roller axes, the rollers including two side rollers symmetrically flanking a central plane substantially parallel to the strip-travel direction and generally bisecting the strip the rollers and a middle roller generally lying on the plane and rotatable about an axis generally perpendicular to the plane.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The strip-bending tool defined in claim 7, further comprising
means for shifting the middle roller in the plane toward and away from the strip.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The strip-bending tool defined in claim 8 wherein the means for shifting includes a threaded nut/bolt assembly engaged between the holder of the middle roller and the support.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The strip-bending tool defined in claim 8 wherein the means for shifting includes a removable spacer between the holder of the middle roller and the support.

### Claim 11

An internal tool for bending a strip passing in a strip-travel direction into a tube, the tool comprising:
a support juxtaposable with a face of the passing strip;
at least two roller holders on the support;
respective side rollers carried in the holders and rotatable thereon about respective roller axes;
means pivotally supporting the holders on the support about respective offset holder pivot axes generally parallel to the strip-travel direction and generally perpendicular to the respective roller axes such that, as the strip passes in the direction in engagement with the side rollers, the side rollers can move angularly freely about the respective holder axes; and
a middle roller generally lying on the plane and rotatable about an axis generally perpendicular to the plane.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The strip-bending tool defined in claim 11 wherein the holder axes pass through the respective side rollers generally at the respective roller axes.