US3602029A

US3602029A - Roll forming assembly

Info

Publication number: US3602029A
Application number: US818562A
Authority: US
Inventors: Gordon Harold Burke Jr
Original assignee: REED CO JOSEPH
Current assignee: REED CO JOSEPH; REED-JOSEPH Co
Priority date: 1969-04-23
Filing date: 1969-04-23
Publication date: 1971-08-31
Anticipated expiration: 1988-08-31

Abstract

A bending machine has a pair of assemblies, each of which is in turn provided with a pair of counterpart dies. One of the dies is an elongated, stationary form. The other die is a train of progressive rolls mounted on continuous chains and movable along the form to gradually bend the stock of material to the shape of the form. Rollers for each roll engage corresponding backup rails during the bending operation.

Description

United States Patent Gordon Herold Burke, Jr. Shawnee, Kane.

Apr. 23, 1969 Aug. 3 1 197 l Reed-Joseph Company Greenvllle, Miss.

Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee ROLL FORMING ASSEMBLY I l Clnlrns, 23 Drawing Flgs.

US. Cl

lnt.Cl. 821d 1/02 Field 214, 176, 178, US, 25,406, 320,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7 I 3,894 l H1902 MacFarren 72/220 3,500,673 3/1970 Wheeler et a1... 72/220 Primary Examiner-Milton S. Mehr AttorneySchmidt, Johnson, Hovey 8L Williams ABSTRACT: A bending machine has a pair of assemblies, each of which is in turn provided with a pair of counterpart dies. One of the dies is an elongated, stationary form. The other die is a train of progressive rolls mounted on continuous chains and movable along the form to gradually bend the stock of material to the shape of the form. Rollers for each roll engage corresponding backup rails during the bending operation.

PATENTED was] 19?;

SHEET 1 BF 3 INVENTOR Gordon Harold bur'kc Jr.

1 $3M as w @F JQ-IL D m 1 v8 v8 3 AM g 21 ATTORNEYS.

PATENTED m3] |97i SHEET 2 GF 3 INVENTOR Gordon Harold Burke Jr:

ATTOR NEYS.

PATEI'HEO was] :9?

SHEET 3 [)F 3 aw wk 9% INVENTOR Gordon Harold Burke Jn flliim 4" M ATTORNl-IYS.

ROLL FORMING ASSEMBLY It is an important object of my present invention to provide a bending machine for automatically bending stock material such as sheet steel to desired configuration along its marginal edges through use of trains of progressive rolls that act on a counterpart form so as to bend such edges into conformity with the shape of the form as the rolls are advanced by virtue of driving continuous chains to which the rolls are attached.

Another important object of the present invention is the provision in a machine of the aforementioned character of a backup rail in spaced relationship to the form and along which the rolls travel for holding the latter against the marginal edge of the sheet material as the rolls perform their bending functions.

Still another important object of the instant invention is to provide antifriction rollers for each roll respectively which engage the backup rail so as to permit free rotation of the rolls in the opposite direction as they advance along the form with the bendable material interposed between the two counterpart dies, namely, the form and the rolls.

A further object of my present invention is the provision of a bending machine capable of handling sheet stock of a wide variety of sizes and shapes regardless of whether the sheet material is in a flat condition or bowed either transversely or longitudinally.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a roll forming assembly made according to my present invention, parts being broken away for clearness',

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the assembly at one end of the latter;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view similar to FIG. 1 on an enlarged scale at the opposite end of the assembly showing the wedge spacer;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal cross-sectional view of the structure shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken on line 5- 5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, enlarged, transverse cross sectional view through one of the assemblies shown in FIG. I, illustrating one of the rolls in section during its travel along the corresponding rail and form;

FIG. 7 is a view taken at right angles to FIG. 6 illustrating another one of the rolls in elevation;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 7;

FIGS. 9-19 inclusive are fragmentary cross'sectional views illustrating the eleven rolls of one of the assemblies;

FIG. is a perspective view of the finished article;

FIGS. 21 and 22 are plan views of two possible modifications of the shape and configuration which the stock material may take; and

FIG. 23 is an edge view of still another form of stock material.

The bending machine illustrated substantially in its entirety by FIG. I is designated by the numeral 24 and includes a pair of

elongated assemblies

26 and 28 which are, for the most part, identical. Therefore, only assembly 26 will be described,

identical reference numerals being used for similar components in the assembly 28, followed by the letter 0.

Assembly 26 includes an open polygonal inner frame 30 and a substantially identical outer frame 32, the

frames

30 and 32 being interconnected by spaced horizontal crossbars 34. Assembly 26 is provided with a pair of counterpart dies 36 and 38, the die 36 being in the nature of an elongated form supported by the inner frame 30 thereabove and in spaced relationship thereto by a plurality of posts 40. In view of the nature of article 42 (FIG. 20) chosen for illustration, the form 36 has an L-shaped configuration presenting a top surface 44, a side surface 46, a downwardly facing shoulder 48, a longitudinally extending, preferably rounded comer 50 between

surfaces

44 and 46, and a corner 52 between the surface 46 and shoulder 48.

The die 38 includes a plurality of progressive rolls designated by the numerals 54-1 to 54-4] inclusive, each such roll having a groove 56 therearound and being freely rotatable about an upstanding shaft 88 through the medium of suitable bushings 60.

The shafts 58 are interconnected in a continuous train through the medium of an uppermost continuous chain 62 and a lower continuous chain 64. Chains 62 and 64 pass around spaced sprocket wheels 66 at one end of the

frames

30 and 32 and about a similar pair of sprocket wheels (not shown) at the opposite end of the

frames

30 and 32, both of which are rigid to an upstanding shaft 68. Power means operably coupled with the train of interconnected progressive rolls 54 includes, as shown in FIG. 2, a motor 70 coupled with speed reducer 72 through belt and pulley means 74 together with belt and pulley means 76 operably interconnecting speed reducer 72 and the sprocket wheels 66, all carried by the

frames

30 and 32.

The shafts for the rolls 54 are provided with end cups 78 that are in turn closed by caps 80 held in place by fasteners 82. Certain of the links of each of the chains 62 and 64 are attached to the caps 80 by fasteners 84.

Each of the rolls $4 is embraced by an upper roller 86 and a lower roller 88 rotatably mounted on corresponding shah-t 58 between the cups 18 through the medium of bearings 90. The

rollers

86 and 88 rotate along a rail 92 in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the rolls 54, the rail 92 being spaced from the form 36 and being carried by the crossbars 34 through the medium of posts 94.

The rail 92 has a longitudinal upstanding plate 96 engaged by the outer periphery of the roller 88, and plate 96 has a longitudinally extending bar 98 engaged by the outer periphery of the roller 86. Rail 92 includes an upper longitudinally extending plate 100 that is engaged by the uppermost inclined marginal edge of the roller 86 and a lower plate I02 that is engaged by the downwardly facing inclined marginal edge of the roller 88.

The blank stock I04 of bendable material such as sheet steel is clamped to the top surface 44 of the form 36 by a T-bar 106 that is coextensive in length with the form 36 and shifted to and from the position illustrated by full lines in FIG. 6 by a fluid pressure piston and cylinder assembly I08 suitably supported by the

frames

30 and 32 for swinging movement about a horizontal axis toward and away from the rail 92. Any number of the assemblies I08 may be provided for actuating the T-bar I06 and the pistons I10 of the assemblies I08 are pivotally connected to a crank I12 that is in turn rigid to a shaft 114 rotatably carried by the plate I00 of rail 92. An arm I I6, also rigid to the shaft I I4, carries the T-bar I06 through the medium of an adjustable bolt and nut assembly I18.

The

assemblies

26 and 28 converge toward a hinge which interconnects the

frames

30 and 30a for movement of the

assemblies

26 and 28 toward and away from each other upon operation of an interconnecting screw I22 at the opposite ends of the

frames

30 and 30a. Movement of the assembly 26 during actuation of the screw 122 is facilitated by virtue of a plurality of rollers 124 which support the assembly 26.

A wedge I26 for supporting and holding the blank stock I04 is supported by the

assemblies

26 and 28 therebetween adjacent the hinge I20. Wedge 126 is transversely T-shaped as shown in FIG. 5 and the forms 36 and 360 are complementally grooved so as to support the wedge I26. A bar I28 reciprocably carried by the wedge 126 has a handle I30 and a locater pin 132, the latter of which is received by a hole I34 (FIG. 20) in the blank stock I04. Machine 24 is provided with a plurality of wedges I26 of differing sizes and shapes depending upon the angularity between the

assemblies

26 and 28 as adjusted by the screw 122.

The blank stock 104 also rests .on a crosspiece I36 having adjustable end sections [38 that are in turn provided with pins that extend into brackets I42 and 1420 rigid to the forms 36 and 360 respectively. Croapieee 136 has a pair of upstanding pins 144 that are received by locater holes 146 (FIG. 20) in'that end of the blank stock I04 opposite to the hole I34.

Chain tightener wheels I48 for chains 62 and 64 swingably rr'sed by the rail 92 are interposed between idlers I50 for the ter stretches of the chains 62 and 64.

In operation. when the

rolls

54 and 540 are disposed as awn by full lines in FIG. I the flat sheet of blank stock I04, ving a substantially triangular configuration. is laid on the

rfaces

44 and 44a of the forms 36 and 360 respectively with 2 pin I32 extending into hole I34 and with the pins I44 exiding into the holes I46. Thereupon the assemblies I08 are mated to shift the stems I10 upwardly from the dotted line sition shown in FIG. 6 so as to swing the cranks I12 ickwise viewing FIG. 6. thereby rotating than 114 and inging the arms I16 to the full line position shown in FIG. 6, :reby bringing the T-bar I06 into engagement with the ink stock I04, clamping the latter tightly against the top sur- 1 :e 44 of the form 36. Although not illustrated in FIG. I, the

lernbly 28 is likewise provided with the same clamping sans for holding the blank stock I04 against the top surface a of the form 360. Such clamping therefore cooperates with e pins I32 and I44 in holding the blank stock of bendable sterial I04 in place during the bending operation.

The motor 70 is then energized to circulate the chains 62 d 64 thereby moving the dies 54 successively around the aft 68 to the dotted line position shown in FIG. I. Sirnulneously, or later, the motor 70 for driving the sprocket seels 66a is energized so as to circulate the chains 62a and la in the same manner.

As shown in FIG. 9, roll 54-1 is the first to engage marginal lge I52 of blank stock I04 to commence bending it iwnwardly and inwardly around the corner 50 toward the de surface 46. The rolls 54-2 to 54-8 inclusive are so shaped shown in FIGS. I0 to I6 inclusive as to gradually bend the srginal edge I52 against the side surface 46 as such rolls l-2 to 54-8 successively engage the marginal edge I52 durg the travel of the rolls 54 along the form 36 from the apex 1d of wedge I26 toward screw I22.

Thereupon roll 54-9 moves into engagement with the lwerrnost extremity of the marginal edge I52 as shown in [0. 1'! commencing to bend it around the corner 52 of form 6. Roll 54-10 continues the bending operation and finally the all 54-", by virtue of its configuration, completes the bendlg operation by forming a flange I54 against the downwardly Icing shoulder 48 of the form 36.

The

rolls

54 and 54a pass around the sprocket wheels 66 ad 664, returning to the full line position shown in FIG. I, the rotor 70 and the corresponding motor for assembly 28 being eenergized by switches I56 and 1560 carried by the frames 2 and 32a having actuator arms (not shown) that are tripped y suitable protuberances on

chains

62 and 62a.

The assemblies 108 are then actuated to retract their stems I0 downwardly thereby swinging the cranks II2, the arms I6, the assemblies II8, and the T-bar 106 to the dotted line osition shown in FIG. 6. Manifestly, the T-bar (not shown) or the assembly 28 is retracted in the same manner to release he finished article 42 from the form 360.

The material from which the article 42 is made is suffiriently flexible to permit slight upward deflection so as to elease the article 42 from the pins I44 whereupon, through we of the handle I30. the article 42 can be slipped from the sums 36 and 360 as the bar I28 is pulled outwardly in a Iireetion away from the base end of the wedge I26.

Noteworthy is the fact that while the rollers 86 and 88 'otate along the rail 92 there is adequate space between the oil: 54 and the form 36 to receive the marginal edge I52 as rbove explained and as illustrated in FIGS. 9-19 inclusive. On Lhe other hand, the necessary forces to be exerted on the marginal edges I52 by the

rolls

54 and 54a are adequately backed up by the rail 92 by virtue of the engagement by the

rollers

86 and 88 with the plates I00 and I02 and by the similar rolling engagement between the roller 86 and the bar 98. plate 96 functioning in the same manner with respect to the lower roller 88.

The length of the finished article 42 may be chosen within the overall length of the assemblies 26 and 28', therefore. each of the forms 36 and 360 will be provided with a plurality of spaced brackets I42 and there will be provided a number of alternately used crosspieces 136, depending upon the length of the article 42 to be bent. Moreover, the selection of the necessary bar 128 will depend also upon the adjustment of the screw I22 which in turn depends upon the width of the article 42 and the angularity of the marginal edges I52.

It is to be understood additionally that the outermost extremities of the marginal edges I52 need not be straight as indicated in FIG. 20. The machine 24 will accommodate a blank stock 158 as shown in FIG. 2I having concave edges I60 simply by shaping the side surfaces 46 and 46a of forms 36 and 360 so as to present a counterpart convexity and by properly shaping the rail 92 so as to guide the

rollers

86 and 88 along a path of travel complements! with the shape of side surface 46. Still further, machine 24 may be made to accommodate blank stock I62 as shown in FIG. 22 having convex longitudinal edges I64 simply by proper shaping of the forms 36 and 360 as well as the rails 92 and 920.

Finally, a blank stock I68 may be bent at the marginal edges thereof when the blank I68 is longitudinally arched as shown in FIG. 23. Modification of the machine 24 in such event would necessitate the top surfaces 44 for forms 36 and 360 having a longitudinal convexity with, of course, the

rails

92 and 92a properly shaped in accordance with the arcuate configuration of the blank I68.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

I. In a bending machine:

a pair of counterpart dies,

one of said dies comprising an elongated form,

the other of said dies comprising a train of interconnected progressive rolls for gradually bending a marginal edge of a stock of bendable material to the shape of the form during advancement of the rolls along the form and as the rolls are brought into successive engagement with said edge;

power means coupled with said train for advancing the same;

releasable means for holding the stock with said edge disposed in the path of advancement of the rolls; and

an elongated roll backup member extending along and spaced from said form for maintaining said edge clamped between the form and the rolls during advancement of the latter,

each roll respectively being provided with structure engaging the member during said advancement for maintaining the rolls spaced from the member.

2. In the invention of claim I wherein the rolls and their structures are separately rotatable about common axes intersecting said path.

3. In a bending machine:

a pair of counterpart dies,

one of said dies comprising an elongated form,

power means coupled with said train for advancing the same;

each roll respectively being provided with structure engaging the member during said advancement for maintaining the rolls spaced from the member,

the rolls and their structures being separately rotatable about common axes intersecting said path,

each structure including a pair of rollers having the corresponding rolls therebetween.

4. In the invention of claim 3 wherein said member is provided with roller-engaging means for holding the rolls against axial movement.

5. In the invention of claim 3 wherein said train includes a pair of spaced, endless chains having the rolls and their rollers disposed therebetween, there being a shalt interconnecting the chains for each roll respectively about which the rolls and the rollers rotate.

6. in a bending machine. a pair of elongated assemblies, each including:

a pair of counterpart dies.

one of said dies comprising an elongated form,

power means coupled with said train for advancing the same; and

an elongated roll backup member extending along and spaced from said form for maintaining said edge clamped between the form and the rolls during advancement of the latter.

said assemblies being disposed for supporting the stock thereacross.

there being releasable means for holding the stock with op posed marginal edges thereof in the path of advancement of the rolls of the corresponding train.

7. in the invention of claim 6; and means for shihing said assemblies relatively toward and away from each other to adjust the same in accordance with the dimensions of said stock.

8. In the invention of claim 6, said assemblies converging as one end thereof is approached, adapting the same to accommodate stock having marginal edges which converge as one end of the stock is approached.

9. In the invention of claim 8; and means for shifting said assemblies relatively toward and away from each other to adjust the same in accordance with the dimensions of said stock.

l0. In the invention of claim 6, said releasable means include pin means carried by the assemblies adapted to receive locater openings in the stock.

II. In the invention of claim 10 wherein is provided an element for removing the bent stock from the forms, one of the pin means being on said element.

Claims

1. In a bending machine: a pair of counterpart dies, one of said dies comprising an elongated form, the other of said dies comprising a train of interconnected progressive rolls for gradually bending a marginal edge of a stock of bendable material to the shape of the form during advancement of the rolls along the form and as the rolls are brought into successive engagement with said edge; power means coupled with said train for advancing the same; releasable means for holding the stock with said edge disposed in the path of advancement of the rolls; and an elongated roll backup member extending along and spaced from said form for maintaining said edge clamped between the form and the rolls during advancement of the latter, each roll respectively being provided with structure engaging the member during said advancement for maintaining the rolls spaced from the member.

2. In the inVention of claim 1 wherein the rolls and their structures are separately rotatable about common axes intersecting said path.

3. In a bending machine: a pair of counterpart dies, one of said dies comprising an elongated form, the other of said dies comprising a train of interconnected progressive rolls for gradually bending a marginal edge of a stock of bendable material to the shape of the form during advancement of the rolls along the form and as the rolls are brought into successive engagement with said edge; power means coupled with said train for advancing the same; releasable means for holding the stock with said edge disposed in the path of advancement of the rolls; and an elongated roll backup member extending along and spaced from said form for maintaining said edge clamped between the form and the rolls during advancement of the latter, each roll respectively being provided with structure engaging the member during said advancement for maintaining the rolls spaced from the member, the rolls and their structures being separately rotatable about common axes intersecting said path, each structure including a pair of rollers having the corresponding rolls therebetween.

5. In the invention of claim 3 wherein said train includes a pair of spaced, endless chains having the rolls and their rollers disposed therebetween, there being a shaft interconnecting the chains for each roll respectively about which the rolls and the rollers rotate.

6. In a bending machine, a pair of elongated assemblies, each including: a pair of counterpart dies, one of said dies comprising an elongated form, the other of said dies comprising a train of interconnected progressive rolls for gradually bending a marginal edge of a stock of bendable material to the shape of the form during advancement of the rolls along the form and as the rolls are brought into successive engagement with said edge; power means coupled with said train for advancing the same; and an elongated roll backup member extending along and spaced from said form for maintaining said edge clamped between the form and the rolls during advancement of the latter, said assemblies being disposed for supporting the stock thereacross, there being releasable means for holding the stock with opposed marginal edges thereof in the path of advancement of the rolls of the corresponding train.

7. In the invention of claim 6; and means for shifting said assemblies relatively toward and away from each other to adjust the same in accordance with the dimensions of said stock.

10. In the invention of claim 6, said releasable means include pin means carried by the assemblies adapted to receive locater openings in the stock.

11. In the invention of claim 10 wherein is provided an element for removing the bent stock from the forms, one of the pin means being on said element.