Metal roof seaming machine

Claim 1

A machine for forming a standing seam on metal roof panels having upstanding opposite margins terminating upwardly with a preformed partially closed interlocking portion being bent so as to be substantially parallel with the plane of the panel , said machine comprising a frame, a pair of rollers horizontally disposed axially juxtaposed one above the other and rotatably attached to the forward end of said frame so as to straddle the interlocked portions of two adjacent panels for closing the interlocked portions thereof and clampingly securing the front of the machine thereto, a first pair of vertically disposed rollers, one of said rollers of said first pair having a continuous uninterrupted circumference for runningly engaging the back side of the upstanding margins of said panels and the other of said rollers of said first pair of rollers being provided with an annular groove forming upper and lower confronting flanges thereon with said upper flange adapted to runningly engage the upper surface of and foldably urge said interlocked portions of the panels downwardly so as to start forming the standing seam, a second pair of vertically disposed rollers, one of said rollers of said second pair having a continuous uninterrupted circumference for runningly engaging the back side of the upstanding margins of said panels, the other of said rollers of said second pair of rollers being provided with an annular groove forming upper and lower flanges thereon with said upper flange adapted to runningly engage and further fold the interlocked portions of the panels downwardly and said lower flange runningly engaging the end portion of said interlocked portions for holding the rearward end of the machine firmly against the upstanding margins, a third pair of vertically disposed rollers having continuous uninterrupted circumferences for straddling the upstanding margins and to finish forming said standing seam, and means for rotatably driving said first, second and third pairs of rollers about their respective vertical axes whereby a standing seam is adapted to be formed thereby as said machine propels itself along the upstanding margins of said adjacent panels.