Roll-forming machine for forming smooth curves in profiled panel sections and method of forming curved panels

Abstract

A roll-forming machine for forming smooth curves in profiled panel sections. The roll forming machine has opposed pinch pass rollers having a roller profile generally corresponding to said profiled panel and a pair of cantilever rollers downstream of said pinch pass rollers. The cantilever rollers have axes of rotation that are offset relative to one another in the direction of travel of the profiled panel through the machine and having a roller profile also generally corresponding to the profiled panel. At least one sweep roller is positioned downstream of the cantilever rollers for bending said panel in a longitudinal direction as said panel passes past said sweep roller. The sweep roller also has a roller profile generally corresponding to the profiled panel. The at least one sweep roller can be positioned to the degree of bend of the smooth curve formed in said profiled panel by the machine.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates generally to the field of roll forming, and more particularly to methods and apparatuses for working with roll formed panels.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Roll forming is an industrial process whereby flat sheets of material can be bent in cross section to attain a corrugated or bent cross sectional profile in a longitudinal panel. Typically roll forming machines consist of pairs of opposed rollers that are shaped to introduce the desired cross-sectional bends into the panel sections. One roller of the roller pair is usually a driven roller and a series of roller pairs are placed along the length of the roll forming machine to effect the required bending in the panel section as it progresses through the roll forming apparatus. Each roller of the opposed roller pair will have a matching or interfacing set of rollers to gently bend the panel cross section into the desired final configuration.

[0003] Many configurations of roll formin...

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0024]A panel curving apparatus for roll forming smooth longitudinal curves in profiled panel sections according to the present invention is shown generally as 10 in FIG. 1. The preferred curving apparatus 10 includes three main sections, namely a first tooling raft 12, a central instrumentation and control station 14 and a second tooling raft 16. As will be explained in more detail below the first and second tooling rafts 12, 16 are generally similar in operation, but may be provided with different roller tooling configurations to facilitate the use of the invention. For example, in one preferred embodiment the first tooling raft 12 can have rollers 15 that are suitable for N-Decking type panel material and the second tooling raft can have rollers 17 that are suitable for a liner panel for the N-Decking panels of the first tooling raft. It will be noted from FIG. 1 that the rollers are oriented on a generally vertical axis of rotation for example as shown at A for reasons explained...

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates generally to the field of roll forming, and more particularly to methods and apparatuses for working with roll formed panels.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Roll forming is an industrial process whereby flat sheets of material can be bent in cross section to attain a corrugated or bent cross sectional profile in a longitudinal panel. Typically roll forming machines consist of pairs of opposed rollers that are shaped to introduce the desired cross-sectional bends into the panel sections. One roller of the roller pair is usually a driven roller and a series of roller pairs are placed along the length of the roll forming machine to effect the required bending in the panel section as it progresses through the roll forming apparatus. Each roller of the opposed roller pair will have a matching or interfacing set of rollers to gently bend the panel cross section into the desired final configuration.

[0003] Many configurations of roll formin...

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0024]A panel curving apparatus for roll forming smooth longitudinal curves in profiled panel sections according to the present invention is shown generally as 10 in FIG. 1. The preferred curving apparatus 10 includes three main sections, namely a first tooling raft 12, a central instrumentation and control station 14 and a second tooling raft 16. As will be explained in more detail below the first and second tooling rafts 12, 16 are generally similar in operation, but may be provided with different roller tooling configurations to facilitate the use of the invention. For example, in one preferred embodiment the first tooling raft 12 can have rollers 15 that are suitable for N-Decking type panel material and the second tooling raft can have rollers 17 that are suitable for a liner panel for the N-Decking panels of the first tooling raft. It will be noted from FIG. 1 that the rollers are oriented on a generally vertical axis of rotation for example as shown at A for reasons explained...

Images