Patent · US Active

Roll-former apparatus with rapid-adjust sweep box

US7882718B2 · kind B2 · utility

3Cited by
37References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 21, 2007
Grant dateFeb 8, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 26, 2029

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB21D7/028
  • WIPO fieldMachine tools
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A computer controlled roll-forming apparatus is adapted to provide a repeating pattern of different longitudinal shapes to a continuous beam “on the fly” during the roll-forming process. A sweep station of the apparatus includes a primary bending roller tangentially engaging the continuous beam along the line level and an armature for biasing the continuous beam against the primary bending roller for a distance partially around a downstream side of the primary bending roller to form a sweep. Actuators adjustably move the armature partially around the downstream side of the primary bending roller between multiple positions for imparting a series of different longitudinal shapes. Internal and external mandrels control wall stability to allow even sharper sweeps. In one form, the apparatus also includes a coordinated cut-off, so that when separated into bumper beam segments, the ends of the individual beam segments have a greater sweep than their center sections.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.