US4154077A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for manufacturing curved building panels
Assignee: FIELD FORM INTERNATIONAL Inc
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Filing: 1978-03-06
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Granted: 1979-05-15
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Expires: 1998-03-06
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and method for forming an elongate panel having a two-dimensional sectional profile into a curved configuration is disclosed. A pair or juxtaposed feed rolls compress the panel between them and advance the panel. A curving roll is located proximate and downstream of the feed rolls. The curving roll has a surface conformed to the outside surface of the panel, and is located in the path of the panel as it exits the feed rolls to bend the panel into a curved configuration. An anti-distortion roll is juxtaposed to the curving roll. The anti-distortion roll has a surface conformed to the inside surface of the panel, and the panel is compressed between the curving roll and the anti-distortion roll. The combination of the curving roll, the anti-distortion roll, and feed rolls cause the panel to bend about a neutral line within the panel, and the bending of the panel does not cause distortion of its side walls. To further inhibit unwanted distortion, the curving and anti-distortion rolls may be driven at a slightly greater speed than the feed rolls to tension the panel as it is curved.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald P. Cotter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 06:30
CPC Classifications
B; B21; B21D; B21D5/00; B21D5/14; B21D11/00; B21D11/20; B21D11/206; B21D7/00; B21D7/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
161 words
Apparatus for forming an elongate building panel having inside and outside surfaces respectively and a two-dimensional sectional profile into a curved configuration, said apparatus comprising: a pair of juxtaposed feed rolls having surfaces generally conformed to the respective inside and outside surfaces of the panel and adapted to compress the panel therebetween; means for rotating at least one of the feed rolls to feed the panel between said feed rolls; a curving roll located proximate and downstream of the feed rolls, said curving rolls having a surface conformed to the outside surface of the panel and located in the path of the panel as the panel member exits the feed rolls to bend the panel into a curved configuration; and an anti-distortion roll juxtaposed to the curving roll and adapted to compress the panel therebetween so that the panel bends about a neutral line within the panel and the bending of the panel does not cause unwanted distortion of the panel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
161 words
Apparatus for forming an elongate building panel having inside and outside surfaces respectively and a two-dimensional sectional profile into a curved configuration, said apparatus comprising: a pair of juxtaposed feed rolls having surfaces generally conformed to the respective inside and outside surfaces of the panel and adapted to compress the panel therebetween; means for rotating at least one of the feed rolls to feed the panel between said feed rolls; a curving roll located proximate and downstream of the feed rolls, said curving rolls having a surface conformed to the outside surface of the panel and located in the path of the panel as the panel member exits the feed rolls to bend the panel into a curved configuration; and an anti-distortion roll juxtaposed to the curving roll and adapted to compress the panel therebetween so that the panel bends about a neutral line within the panel and the bending of the panel does not cause unwanted distortion of the panel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said rotating means comprises means for driving at least one of the feed rolls.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 2 and additionally comprising means for driving the curving roll and the anti-distortion roll at a slightly greater speed than the feed roll is driven to tension the panel between the feed rolls and the curving and anti-distortion rolls and further insure that the bending of the panel does not cause unwanted distortion thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1 and additionally comprising means for driving the curving roll and anti-distortion roll to further insure that the bending of the panel does not cause unwanted distortion thereof.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
120 words
A method for forming an elongate building panel having inside and outside surfaces respectively and a two-dimensional sectional profile into a curved configuration, said method comprising the steps of: feeding the panel member between a pair of juxtaposed feed rollers having surfaces generally conformed to the respective inside and outside surfaces of the panel; compressing the panel between said feed rollers; bending the panel by interposing a curving roll downstream of the feed rolls; and securing the panel to the curving roll by compressing the panel between the curving roll and an anti-distortion roll so that the panel bends about a neutral line within the panel and the bending of the panel does not cause unwanted distortion of the panel.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
120 words
A method for forming an elongate building panel having inside and outside surfaces respectively and a two-dimensional sectional profile into a curved configuration, said method comprising the steps of: feeding the panel member between a pair of juxtaposed feed rollers having surfaces generally conformed to the respective inside and outside surfaces of the panel; compressing the panel between said feed rollers; bending the panel by interposing a curving roll downstream of the feed rolls; and securing the panel to the curving roll by compressing the panel between the curving roll and an anti-distortion roll so that the panel bends about a neutral line within the panel and the bending of the panel does not cause unwanted distortion of the panel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
71 words
A method as recited in claim 5 and additionally comprising the steps of driving the feed rolls at a first rotational velocity, and driving the curving and anti-distortion rolls at a second rotational velocity slightly greater than that of the feed rolls to tension the panel between the feed rolls and the curving and anti-distortion rolls to further insure that the bending of the panel does not cause unwanted distortion thereof.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
174 words
An apparatus for forming an elongate building panel having inside and outside surfaces respectively and a two-dimensional sectional profile into a curved configuration, said apparatus comprising: a pair of juxtaposed feed rolls having surfaces generally conformed to the respective inside and outside surfaces of the panel and adapted to compress the panel therebetween; a curving roll located proximate and downstream of the feed rolls, said curving roll having a surface conformed to the outside surface of the panel and located in the path of the panel as the panel member exits the feed rolls to bend the panel into a curved configuration; an anti-distortion roll juxtaposed to the curving roll and adapted to compress the panel therebetween; and means for driving the feed rolls, the curving roll, and the anti-distortion roll, said driving means including means for driving the curving and anti-distortion rolls at a slightly greater rotational speed than the feed rolls to tension the panel between the feed rolls and the curving and anti-distortion rolls to inhibit unwanted distortion of the panel.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
174 words
An apparatus for forming an elongate building panel having inside and outside surfaces respectively and a two-dimensional sectional profile into a curved configuration, said apparatus comprising: a pair of juxtaposed feed rolls having surfaces generally conformed to the respective inside and outside surfaces of the panel and adapted to compress the panel therebetween; a curving roll located proximate and downstream of the feed rolls, said curving roll having a surface conformed to the outside surface of the panel and located in the path of the panel as the panel member exits the feed rolls to bend the panel into a curved configuration; an anti-distortion roll juxtaposed to the curving roll and adapted to compress the panel therebetween; and means for driving the feed rolls, the curving roll, and the anti-distortion roll, said driving means including means for driving the curving and anti-distortion rolls at a slightly greater rotational speed than the feed rolls to tension the panel between the feed rolls and the curving and anti-distortion rolls to inhibit unwanted distortion of the panel.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
162 words
A method for forming an elongate building panel having inside and outside surfaces respectively and a two-dimensional sectional profile into a curved configuration, said method comprising the steps of: feeding the panel member between a pair of juxtaposed feed rolls having surfaces generall conformed to the respective inside and outside surfaces of the panel; driving the feed rolls at a first rotational velocity; compressing the panel between said feed rolls; bending the panel by interposing a curving roll downstream of the feed rolls; securing the panel to the curving roll by compressing the panel between the curving roll and an anti-distortion roll; and driving the curving and anti-distortion rolls at a second rotational velocity slightly greater than that of the feed rolls to tension the panel between the feed rolls and the curving and anti-distortion rolls so that the panel bends about a neutral line within the panel and the bending of the panel does not cause unwanted distortion of the panel.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
162 words
A method for forming an elongate building panel having inside and outside surfaces respectively and a two-dimensional sectional profile into a curved configuration, said method comprising the steps of: feeding the panel member between a pair of juxtaposed feed rolls having surfaces generall conformed to the respective inside and outside surfaces of the panel; driving the feed rolls at a first rotational velocity; compressing the panel between said feed rolls; bending the panel by interposing a curving roll downstream of the feed rolls; securing the panel to the curving roll by compressing the panel between the curving roll and an anti-distortion roll; and driving the curving and anti-distortion rolls at a second rotational velocity slightly greater than that of the feed rolls to tension the panel between the feed rolls and the curving and anti-distortion rolls so that the panel bends about a neutral line within the panel and the bending of the panel does not cause unwanted distortion of the panel.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-05-14 | 1982-11-13 | 1983-05-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-05-14 | 1986-11-13 | 1987-05-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-05-14 | 1990-11-13 | 1991-05-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |