US2971558A - Apparatus for producing stepped articles - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 14, 1961 s. H. VICKNAIR, JR

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING STEPPED ARTICLES Filed July 29, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR SIDNEY H. VICKNAIR, JR.

ATTORNEY 5 Feb. 14, 1961 s. H. VICKNAIR, JR 2,971,558

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING STEPPED ARTICLES Filed July 29, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F/G. Z

[N V EN TOR.

SIDNEY bf V/CAA/A/R, J/P.

United States Patent APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING STEPPED ARTICLES Sidney H. Vicknair, In, Atlanta, Ga., assig'nor to Reynolds Aluminum Supply Company, Atlanta, Ga.

Filed July 29, 1957, Ser. No. 674,679

6 Claims. (Cl. 153-77) This invention relates to a stepping machine and especially to a machine for continuously receiving a flat strip of metal or the like therein and forming the same into a substantially stair-stepped configuration.

This invention also relates to an improved method for continuously stepping a flat strip of metal or the like.

The type of strip formed by this machine has a particular use in decorative application and especially to cover joints or seams in step-formed articles such as metal awnings and the like. Heretofore such strips have been formed by hand or other Ways using short lengths pressed or formed more or less in flat presses or dies. The present invention presents a machine for forming such strips continuously from strips of continuous'material fed into the present machine.

Generally described, without regard to orlimitation on scope of the invention which is set forth in the claims, the machine consists of a frame on which are carried vertical, spaced blocks or posts forming a narrow passageway through which strips may be fed. In vertical alignment and meshed on the vertical blocks is a pair of step forming rolls or drums of identical construction and each with its peripheral surface formed in s eps with a series of teeth or lugs giving the roll a racliet-like construction with the two rolls meshing and rotating about their own shafts. The top roller is mounted on floating pillar blocks held on the vertical blocks andspring pressed into engagement with the bottom roller by means of heavy coil springs acting on the pillar blocks. Therefore, the meshing engagement between the two rollers is resilient. A drive motor with drive pulley is connected with suitable gear reduction and drive to the bottom roller on the frame thereby power driving the first or bottom roller in mesh with the top roller. Strip material is fed into the space between the vertical blocks and into and between the meshing teeth of the forming rolls and is pressed and bumped by the rolls into a stepped strip which issues from the front of the rolls.

An object of this invention is to provide a machine with means to form elongated strips into a step formation with step risers and treads in a continuous fashion as the strips are fed through the machine.

Another object of this invention resides in the simple and dependable arrangement of step forming rolls and the drive mechanism therefor.

Another object is found in the formation of the surfaces of the step forming rolls together with the resilient mounting bringing the two rolls into meshing engagement with each other.

Other and further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation view of the machine of my ICE- strip fed therebetween and with the other parts of the machine broken away.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation view of the meshing rollers in engagement forming a flat strip fed therebetween and with the other parts of the machine broken away.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation view of the meshing rollers without a strip therein and with the remainder of the machine broken away.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 illustrating another stage in the rotation of the drums.

Referring to the machine 10 in Figs. 1 and 2, a machine frame 12 with floor contacting support beams 14, upstanding beams 16, transverse members 17 and diagonal braces 18 supports a generally fiat, horizontal machine bed or platform 20 which in turn has mounted rigidly thereon and spaced thereabove a feeding platform 22 supported on posts 24.

Rigidly mounted by bolts 25 on one side of frame platform 20 is a pair of heavy vertical blocks or posts 26, 28 of generally solid rectangular form with a gap or space therebetween and fastened together by means of a top cap 35) and bolts 32. Spaced transversely across the frame 12 from the blocks 26, 28 is another pair of identical blocks 34 rigidly attached on the frame and having a top cap 36 bolted by bolts 38 thereon.

Mounted on bearing blocks 49 between and fixed to each of the pairs of blocks 26, 28 and 34 is a shaft 41 having thereon confined between said pairs of blocks 26, 28 a drive, bottom, forming roller or drum 42 which is divided on the-periphery thereof equally into wide, rachetdike teeth 44 each having a protruding, angular edge 46 and a top forming surface 48. The length of the surface 48 is substantially equal to the length of the tread of thesteps being formed. The length of the edge 46 is substantially equal to the riser height of the steps being formed. The length of surface 43 is much greater than the length of the surface 46. The number of teeth 44 and the size of same are readily selectible by choice according to the size of step desired on the strip being formed and the drop of same intended; or in other words according to the length of step or tread desired and the drop or depth or the step riser. Normally in mesh with said bottom or drive roller is a top, driven second forming roller or drum 50 of substantially identical construction with said roller 42 and having a number of the substantially identical teeth 52 equally dividing the periphery of drum 50 and each with a forming edge 54 and a forming surface 56. There are the same number of substantially the same size and shaped teeth 52 on drum 50 as and corresponding with teeth 44 on drum 42. The length of surface 56 is likewise substantially equal to the length of the tread, and the length of the edge 54 is substantially equal to the riser height of the steps being formed.

Drum 50 is driven by the movement ofdrum 42 and turns on a shaft 58 mounted on floating pillar blocks 60 there being one block 60 confined respectively in the space between blocks 26, 2S and another block of (not shown) in the space between the blocks 34 on the other directly opposite side. Interposed between a respective floating block 60 and its respective cap 39 or 36 is a pair of heavy coil springs 62 on each side pushing downwardly on the respective block 60 thereby tending to push the drum'Stl into engagement resiliently with the drive drum 42. The extent of travel of the drum 5%) downwardly under the force of thes'prings 62 is controlled by adjusting screws 64 engaging the undersurfa'ce of the blocks 60 and being respectively threadedly mounted in plates 66 respectively secured to and between the blocks 26, 28 and 34, 34. In this manner when a thick strip of metal or the like is being fed between the drums 42 and 50, the adiusting screws can beset to maintain the drum 50 spaced'a predetermined distance from the drum 42 whereby any tendency of the drums 50 and 42 to cut or damage the strip by the compressive force of the springs 62 is prevented while still permitting the drums t and 42 to step the strip in a manner here inafter set forth. M l 7 A motor 68 is mounted on the frame bed 28, and has on the shaft 78 thereof a drive pulley 71 connected by. drive belt 72 with a driven pulley 74 mounted on shaft 7 6 of a gear transmission 78 which in turn has the output sprocket 80 thereof connected by a chain 82 to a driven sprocket splined on shaft 41 with drum 42 to drive same. Power for the motor 68 is derived fromany ordinary electrical source and it'is controlled through wire 83 by a simple on-off switch 84 mounted within the normal reach of the operator. With the motor 68 on, drive drunr 42 operates continuously to drive the top second drum 50 in mesh therewith to receive material fed therein,

Feeding platform 22 has an upstanding guide 86 thereon to guide metal strips 88 into the gap or space between the two pairs of blocks 28 and 34 into the mesh between the drums 42, 50 and between the teeth 44, 52. A reel 90 with manual handle 92 is mounted on a frame member 94 fixed on the machine bed 20. Metal strips 88 fed as a continuous member after forming between the rollers 42, 50 into steps having treads 96 and risers 98 are Wound onto the reel 90 to be removed therefrom in coils for easier handling. 8

Since there is transverse or vertical relative movement between the shafts 41 and 58 because the shaft 41 of drum 42 is fixed from transverse or vertical movement, and the shaft 58 of drum 50 is transversely or vertically movable against the action of springs 62, the drum 50 is reciprocated transversely or vertically as the drums 42 and 50 rotate. The action between the riser forming edges 46 and 54 and the tread forming surfaces 43 and 52, as the drums rotate, is such that the tread forming surfaces 52 measure portions of the metal strip 88 as more fully shown in Figure 5. At a certain stage of drum rotation, as shown in Figure 5, the leading edges 46a and 54a gripand hold the leading edge of a tread 96a which is about to be formed or completed. The trailing edge 54b has started to bend the strip 88 in a manner to measure ofi the tread 96a without subjecting it to any substantial drawing action. Thereafter the trailing edge 54!: will push the strip 88 over the top shoulder of the trailing edge 4611 as the drums rotate beyond their positions in Figure 5. The strip 88 will glide ever the shoulder of trailing edge 46b, as the leading edge 46a continues to pull on the leading riser of the tread 96a, so that a trailing riser will be formed between the converging trailing edges 46b and 5411. This is a relatively gentle flow over the shoulder of edge 4612, since there is no substantial resistance to the flow of the sheet 83 over said shoulder, because there ,is no substantial backward resistance on sheet 88 and there is never more than one step or tread 96 in the grip of the leading and trailing edges of the teeth of the drums 42 and 54 to produce any stretch in the strip material.

This is because. the riser forming edges 46 and 54 and the tread forming surfaces 48 and 56 are so proportioned that no substantial stretch in the metal strip material 88 is formed. To this end. the relatively short riser forming edges 46 on the drum 42 are generally radially directed from shaft 41. and the similar. edges 54 are generally radially directed from shaft 58. The relatively long flat tread forming surfaces 48 which are between said edges 46 are almost per endicular to a respective radial plane extended from shaft 41 to the leading riser formin edges 6. but are slightly inclined from such perpendicular relationship to form a sli htlv less than 90 an le to produce proper locking relationship with the similarly shaped riser forming edges 54 and tread forming surfaces 56 of drum 50.

In the position'of FigureS, the shaft 58 has been elevated to the full line position 58a from the original position 58 which'was occupied while inthe position of Figure 3.

through chain 82 in a counter-clockwise direction as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. In Fig. 4, the two meshing rollers 42, 50 are driving in the direction indicated in full mesh without material therebetween. A strip of deformable material of less width than the roller width, such as aluminum awning strip, is inserted between the drums 50 and 42 by pushing the end thereof into guide 86 and across feeding platform 22 between two open teeth 44, 52 about to close, as shown in Fig. 3. The strip of material is pulled between the teeth 44, 52 during their meshing rotation in opposite directions. Since the top roller 50 is resiliently mounted against coil springs 60 it will give upwardly somewhat to allow the material to feed between the teeth 44, 52. As the teeth 52 and 44 rotate, the edge 54b of the tooth measures a portion 96a of strip 88 substantially equal to the length of tooth 52 and bends the strip of material 88 downwardly into the notch or space between adjacent teeth 44 to thereby form a flat portion 96a substantially equal to the length of tooth 52 (and 44) and an upwardly extending riser 98. Since the springs 62 had been compressed by the drum 50 being moved upwardly from shaft position 58 to 58a, Figure 5, the energy stored by the springs 62 is utilized to bend the strip of material by pushing the drum 50 downwardly in the manner previously described. As each tooth 52 successively comes into fullmeshing relation between adjacent teeth 44, the above described action takes place whereby the strip of material is continuouslyrstepped in the manner illustrated in Figures 3 and 5, with no stretching action on the treads 96.

Therefore, it can be seen that there has been provided an improved method and apparatus for continuously bending a flat strip of materialinto a stair-stepped configuration.

While I have shown and described a particular form of my invention, this is in no way to be construed as a limitation on scope, as various alterations, changes, substitutions, eliminations, equivocations, and deviations may be made in the form provided without departing from the scope of invention defined hereinafter in the claims.

I claim:

1. In combination: a first drum mounted to rotate about a fixed first axis; a second drum mounted to rotate about a second axis which is movable in a plane whichpasses through said first axis; equal step forming teeth around the periphery of said first drum, said teeth haying relatively short riser forming edges which are generally radially directed from said first axis and which have radially inner and outer borders, said teeth also having relatively long fiat tread forming surfaces between said inner border at their leading edge and said outer border at their trailing edge, said tread forming surfaces being slight-lylessthan perpendiculartto a respective plane extendedfromsaid first axis to the respective leading riser forming edge; equal stepforming teeth around the periphery of said second ,drumsubstantially identical'in shape to said'first step forming teeth; means to rotate said first drumymeans to movably urge said second drum toward saidfirst drum. to receive a metal strip between-the teeth of said drums, to' form steps with relatively long treads and relatively short risers, saidri ser forming edges and said tread forming surfaces being proportioned so only one step ofsaid strip at any one time is in the grip of the leading and trailing edges of said teeth to prevent any substantial. stretch in the tread forming material of said strip.

2. In combination: a first drum mounted to rotate about a first axis; a second drum mounted to rotate about a second axis, said axes being relatively movable with respect to each other in a plane passing through said axes; equal first step forming teeth around the periphery of said drum, said teeth having relatively short riser forming edges which are generally radially directed from said first axis and which have radially inner and outer borders, said teeth also having relatively long flat tread forming surfaces between said inner border at their leading edge and said outer border at their trailing edge, said tread forming surfaces being slightly less than perpendicular to a respective plane extended from said first axis to the respective leading riser forming edge; equal step forming teeth around the periphery of said second drum substantially identical in shape to said first step forming teethmeans to rotate said first drum; means to movably urge said drums relatively toward each other, to receive a metal strip between the teeth of said drums, to form steps with relatively long treads and relatively short risers, said riser forming edges and said tread forming surfaces being proportioned so only one step of said strip at any one time is in the grip of the leading and trailing edges of said teeth to prevent any substantial stretch in the tread forming material of said strip.

3. A combination according to claim 1 in which spring means are provided to urge said second drum toward said first drum.

4. A combination according to claim 2 in which spring means are provided to urge said drums relatively toward each other.

5. A combination according to claim 1 in which each of said tread forming surfaces is so disposed with respect to its respective drum axis that a plane can be extended perpendicularly from said drum axis to said tread between its leading and trailing edges.

6. A combination according to claim 2 in which each of said tread forming surfaces is so disposed with respect to its respective drum axis that a plane can be extended perpendicularly from said drum axis to said tread between its leading and trailing edges.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 169,642 Howard Nov. 9, 1875 334,060 Taylor Jan. 12, 1886 1,346,492 Hanmer July 13, 1920 1,414,549 Cleary May 2, 1922 2,040,745 Joyce May 12, 1936 2,114,272 Temple Apr. 12, 1938 2,141,235 Angeletti Dec. 27, 1938 2,605,810 Richardson Aug. 5, 1952 2,643,688 Crooker June 30, 1953 2,763,906 Sterick Sept. 25, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 7,563 Great Britain Apr. 13, 1893

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