Sheetmetal shearing apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus for cutting a sheetmetal panel, including a base and a longitudinal flange along at least one Lateral edge thereof having a portion in juxtaposition with a portion of said base, and the like, comprising: a die conforming to the contour of one side of a sheetmetal panel to be cut and including a pair of longitudinally spaced apart anvils for supporting said panel; serrated cutting blade means transversely movable in a to-andfro path between an inoperative position removed from said die and an operative position between and in wiping engagement with said anvils to initially pierce said base and then simultaneously laterally shear said panel in laterally opposite directions to remove a strip from said panel; and flange support means is provided for supporting said flange and is movable between a raised inoperative position, when the panel is being positioned on the die, and a lowered, operative position underlying said juxtaposed portion of said flange to support said flange when said blade means moves in said to-andfro path.

Claim 3

The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said overlying portion includes a terminal lip portion generally perpendicular to said base portion; said flange supporting portion includes a longitudinal slot for receiving said lip portion.

Claim 4

Apparatus for cutting a sheetmetal panel, and the like, comprising: a die conforming to the contour of one side of a sheetmetal panel to be cut and including a pair of longitudinally spaced apart anvils for supporting said panel; and serrated cutting blade means transversely movable in a to-and-fro path between in inoperative position removed from said die and an operative position between and in wiping engagement with said anvils to initially pierce and then simultaneously laterally shear said panel in laterally opposite directions to remove a strip from said panel; said anvils including outer panel supporting portions which are spaced from each other a predetermined distance and are engageable by said blade means to cut a strip from said panel, and inner recessed portions which are spaced apart a predetermined greater distance for freely receiving the removed strip.

Claim 5

Apparatus for cutting a sheetmetal panel, and the like, comprising: a die conforming to the contour of one side of a sheetmetal panel to be cut and including a pair of longitudinally spaced apart anvils for supporting said panel; and serrated cutting blade means transversely movable in a to-and-fro path between in inoperative position removed from said die and an operative position between and in wiping engagement with said anvils to initially pierce and then simultaneously laterally shear said panel in laterally opposite directions to remove a strip from said panel; said anvils including outer panel supporting portions which are spaced from each other a predetermined distance and are engageable by said blade means to cut a strip from said panel, and inner recessed portions which are spaced apart a predetermined greater distance for freely receiving the removed strip.

Claim 6

The apparatus set forth in claim 3 wherein said blade means includes a plurality of laterally spaced apart teeth each having sides which converge laterally to a sheetmetal piercing portion; and means is provided for moving said blade means toward said die to initially pierce said panel with said piercing portions and then simultaneously laterally shear said panel in laterally opposite directions with the laterally opposite sides of each tooth.

Claim 7

The apparatus set forth in claim 4 wherein said sheetmetal panel includes a base and upstanding portions; said die conforming to the contour of one side of said upstanding portions; said blade means including means for simultaneously severing said base and said upstanding portions.

Claim 8

Apparatus for shearing a sheetmetal panel, and the like, which has a longitudinal base and a longitudinal flange having a portion in juxtaposition with said base, comprising: a frame; relatively movable panel supporting die means and cutting blade means supported on said frame and having opposed cooperating cutting edges which slide past each other to shear a panel supported herebetween; means for relatively moving said die means and said cutting blade means toward and away from each other; and flange support means mounted on said frame for movement between a remote inoperative position, to permit a panel to be positioned on the die means, and a position juxtaposed with a portion of said flange immediately adjacent said cutting edges to support said flange portion as said flange is being sheared.

Claim 9

Apparatus for shearing a sheetmetal panel, and the like, which has a longitudinal base and a longitudinal flange having a portion in juxtaposition with said base, comprising: a frame; relatively movable panel supporting die means and cutting blade means supported on said frame and having opposed cooperating cutting edges which slide past each other to shear a panel supported herebetween; means for relatively moving said die means and said cutting blade means toward and away from each other; and flange support means mounted on said frame for movement between a remote inoperative position, to permit a panel to be positioned on the die means, and a position juxtaposed with a portion of said flange immediately adjacent said cutting edges to support said flange portion as said flange is being sheared.

Claim 10

The apparatus set forth in claim 6 wherein said flange support means comprises support blocks fixed to support arms swingably mounted on opposite sides of said cutting blade means.

Claim 11

The apparatus set forth in claim 7 wherein said blocks include longitudinal slots for receiving the terminal ends of said flanges.

Claim 12

The apparatus set fortH in claim 7 including means on said swingable arm means and said blade means cooperating to bias said support arms laterally outwardly when said blade means and die means relatively moving toward each other to lock said arm means in a stationary position.

Claim 13

The apparatus set forth in claim 6 including punch means on one of said die and cutting blade means and punch receiving means on the other of said die and cutting blade means for engaging opposite sides of said panel and punching an opening in said flange adjacent the end of the panel when said die and cutting blade means are relatively moved toward each other.

Claim 14

Apparatus for shearing a sheetmetal panel, and the like, which has a longitudinal base and a longi-tudinal flange having a portion in juxtaposition with said base comprising: a frame; relatively movable panel supporting die means and cutting blade means supported by said frame and having opposed cooperating cutting edges which slide past each other to shear a panel supported therebetween; and punch means on one of said die means and cutting blade means and cooperating punch receiving means on the other of said die means and cutting blade means for engaging the opposite sides of said panel and punching an opening in said flange adjacent the portion of the panel being sheared when said die means and cutting blade means are relatively moved toward each other to shear said sheetmetal panel.

Claim 15

Apparatus for shearing a sheetmetal panel, and the like, which has a longitudinal base and a longi-tudinal flange having a portion in juxtaposition with said base comprising: a frame; relatively movable panel supporting die means and cutting blade means supported by said frame and having opposed cooperating cutting edges which slide past each other to shear a panel supported therebetween; and punch means on one of said die means and cutting blade means and cooperating punch receiving means on the other of said die means and cutting blade means for engaging the opposite sides of said panel and punching an opening in said flange adjacent the portion of the panel being sheared when said die means and cutting blade means are relatively moved toward each other to shear said sheetmetal panel.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said punch receiving means is mounted on the frame for movement between a removed position and an operative position juxtaposed with a portion of the panel to be cut, and means responsive to movement of said punch means for moving said punch receiving means to said operative position.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said punch receiving means is movably mounted on said frame between a remote inoperative position and an operative position juxtaposed with the flange immediately adjacent said blade means.

Claim 18

Apparatus for shearing a longitudinal sheetmetal panel and the like, including a recessed portion, said apparatus comprising: a frame; panel supporting die means on said frame having support portions juxtaposed with and conforming to the contour of said recessed portions of the panel being sheared; blade means mounted on said frame adjacent said die means for transverse movement toward and away from each other to shear a panel placed therebetween; said blade means including a plurality of teeth each having converging sides which exert oppositely directed cutting forces on said panel; said converging sides being inclined relative to said support portions such that the lateral component of said cutting force is always directed toward said support portions to urge the portion of the panel being cut toward said support portions.

Claim 19

Apparatus for shearing a longitudinal sheetmetal panel and the like, including a recessed portion, said apparatus comprising: a frame; panel supporting die means on said frame having support portions juxtaposed with and conforming to the contour of said recessed portions of the panel being sheared; blade means mounted on said frame adjacent said die means for transverse movement toward and away from each other to shear a panel placed therebetween; said blade means including a plurality of teeth each having converging sides which exert oppositely directed cutting forces on said panel; said converging sides being inclined relative to said support portions such that the lateral component of said cutting force is always directed toward said support portions to urge the portion of the panel being cut toward said support portions.

Claim 20

The apparatus set forth in claim 14 wherein said support portions comprise a support member having converging side walls spanned by a support member, said plurality of teeth including two lateral teeth and a middle tooth disposed between said lateral teeth, the width of said middle tooth at its widest portion being no greater than the lateral width of said support member.

Claim 21

Appratus for cutting a contoured sheetmetal panel, and the like, comprising: a die conforming to the contour of one side of a sheetmetal panel to be cut and including a pair of longitudinally spaced apart anvils for supporting said panel; and serrated cutting blade means transversely movable in a to-and-fro path between an inoperative position removed from said die and an operative position between and in wiping engagement with said anvils to initially pierce said base and then simultaneously laterally shear said panel in laterally opposite directions to remove a strip from said panel; said anvils comprising a main support portion and a transversely projecting portion for supporting portions of said panel at different transverse levels; said blade meaNs including a plurality of teeth terminating at different transverse levels and aligned with said main support portion and said transversely projecting portion such that said teeth substantially concurrently engage the portions of the panels supported at said different transverse levels.

Claim 22

Appratus for cutting a contoured sheetmetal panel, and the like, comprising: a die conforming to the contour of one side of a sheetmetal panel to be cut and including a pair of longitudinally spaced apart anvils for supporting said panel; and serrated cutting blade means transversely movable in a to-and-fro path between an inoperative position removed from said die and an operative position between and in wiping engagement with said anvils to initially pierce said base and then simultaneously laterally shear said panel in laterally opposite directions to remove a strip from said panel; said anvils comprising a main support portion and a transversely projecting portion for supporting portions of said panel at different transverse levels; said blade meaNs including a plurality of teeth terminating at different transverse levels and aligned with said main support portion and said transversely projecting portion such that said teeth substantially concurrently engage the portions of the panels supported at said different transverse levels.

Claim 23

Apparatus for cutting a sheetmetal panel, and the like, including a longitudinally extending base, and longitudinally extending side wall members on opposite sides of said panels, one of said wall members having a laterally inwardly directed flange juxtaposed with said base and the other wall member having a laterally outwardly directed flange, comprising: a die conforming to the contour of one side of said sheetmetal panel to be cut and including a pair of longitudinally spaced apart anvils for supporting said flanges; and serrated cutting blade means transversely movable in a to-and-fro path between an inoperative position removed from said die and an operative position between and in wiping engagement with said anvils to initially pierce said base and then simultaneously laterally shear said base and said flanges, to remove a strip from said panel.

Claim 24

Apparatus for cutting a sheetmetal panel, and the like, including a longitudinally extending base, and longitudinally extending side wall members on opposite sides of said panels, one of said wall members having a laterally inwardly directed flange juxtaposed with said base and the other wall member having a laterally outwardly directed flange, comprising: a die conforming to the contour of one side of said sheetmetal panel to be cut and including a pair of longitudinally spaced apart anvils for supporting said flanges; and serrated cutting blade means transversely movable in a to-and-fro path between an inoperative position removed from said die and an operative position between and in wiping engagement with said anvils to initially pierce said base and then simultaneously laterally shear said base and said flanges, to remove a strip from said panel.