US3901174A

US3901174A - Duct-making machine

Info

Publication number: US3901174A
Application number: US446876A
Authority: US
Inventors: Rod M Priest
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1974-02-28
Filing date: 1974-02-28
Publication date: 1975-08-26
Anticipated expiration: 1992-08-26

Abstract

Duct-making machine comprises, from its feed to its discharge, and first top sheet forming then bottom sheet forming, top sheet feed and rigidizing rolls, flange rolls, right-angle bend rollers, bottom sheet feed and rigidizing rolls, crimping rollers, and staking rollers. The respective feed and rigidizing rolls are operable to draw sheet stock from supply rolls mounted on commonly known decoilers, and may include complementary hard and soft roll bodies.

Description

United States Patent [191 Priest 51 Aug. 26, 1975 1 DUCT-MAKING MACHINE [76] Inventor: Rod M. Priest, 1033 W, Amity Rd.,

Boise, Idaho 83705 [22] Filed: Feb. 28, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 446,876

[52] US. Cl 113/54; 72/52 [51] Int. Cl B2ld 39/02 [58] Field of Search 113/54, 55; 72/DIG. 14,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,637,365 5/1953 Stockton 72/D1G. 14 3,636,903 1/1972 Anderson ct all 113/54 Thompson 1 13/55 3,797,430 3/1974 Boudreau 113/55 Primary ExamirzerRichard J Herbst Attorney, Agent, or Firm-John W. Kraft; Charles L.

Kraft [5 7 ABSTRACT Duct-making machine comprises, from its feed to its discharge, and first top sheet forming then bottom sheet forming, top sheet feed and rigidizing rolls,

flange rolls, right-angle bend rollers, bottom sheet feed and rigidizing rolls, crimping rollers, and staking rollers. The respective feed and rigidizing rolls are operable to draw sheet stock from supply rolls mounted on commonly known decoilers, and may include complementary hard and soft roll bodies.

6 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTEBAUEZBIQYS 3 901 174 SHEET 1 BF 3 PATENTEI] AUBZ 6 I975 SELU 2 UP 3 FIG. 5

FIG. 7

DUCT-MAKING MACHINE FIELD OF INVENTION The present invention relates .to sheet-metaldeforming apparatus, and more particularly to an apparatus for forming and seaming separate sheet stock elements into products such as duct.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is a primary object of this invention to provide apparatus for mechanically forming and seaming separate sheet stock'elements into products such as duct.

It is another object of this invention that there be provided means for rigidizing the aforesaid sheet stock elements.

It is further primary object of this invention that the seams formed by the present apparatus be crimped or staked, resulting in a sealed seam.

It is an object of this invention that the seams formed by means of the present apparatus be juxtapositioned to provide at least part of the mounting flange for the product.

It is a further primary object that this invention be not only mechanical and automatic in its forming and seaming functions, but that it be structurally and mechanically simplified over apparatus of the prior art.

These and other objects shall become apparent from the description following, it being understood that modifications may be made without affecting the teachings of the invention here set out.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Duct-making machine comprises, from its feed to its discharge, and first top sheet forming then bottom sheet forming, top sheet feed and rigidizing rolls, flange rolls, right-angle bend rollers, bottom sheet feed and rigidizing rolls, crimping rollers, and staking rollers. The respective feed and rigidizing rolls are operable to draw sheet stock from supply rolls mounted on commonly known decoilers, and may include complementary hard and soft roll bodies.

A more thorough and comprehensive understanding may be had from the detailed description of the preferred embodiment when read in connection with the drawings forming a part of this specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a-side elevational view of the duct-making apparatus of this invention including sheet supply rolls and a block and shear associated therewith.

FIG. 2 is a top plan of the duct-making machine shown with the housing thereof removed.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of the FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the lines 4-4 of the FIG. 3 of the top sheet feed and rigidizing rolls shown with portions broken away to show the interior configuration thereof.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the lines 55 of the FIG. 3 showing the flange rolls.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the lines 6-6 of the FIG. 3 showing the bottom sheet feed and rigidizing rolls.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the lines 7-7 of the FIG. 2 showing a typical flange guide roller.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the lines 8-8 of the FIG. 2 showing a typical staking roller.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional detail of a typical seam formed by the present machine.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of a section of completed duct fabricated by the present ductmaking machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to the FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the duct-making machine of this invention is shown to advantage and generally identified by the numeral 10. As shown in the FIG. 1, the duct machine 10 is associated with a pair of superimposed supply rolls of sheet material 1 l and 12 which are detachably mounted on a decoiler frame 13. The rolls 11 and 12 may be loaded to release sheet substantially parallel between their centers. Thus, the top roll 11 feeds from its lowermost side, and the bottom roll 12 feeds from its uppermost side. The duct machine 10 may be associated at its discharging end with a block and shear 14 which cuts the fabricated duct 10' to length. The block and shear 14 may be either manually or mechanically operated.

Referring to the FIGS. 2 and 3, the duct-making machine 10 comprises a frame 10" and, from its feed to its discharge, top sheet feed and rigidizing rolls l5 and 16, flange rolls 17 and 17', bottom sheet feed and rigidizing

rolls

20 and 21, flange guide rollers 22 and 22' and staking rollers 23 and 23'. The duct-making machine 10 may be driven by any of a number of arrangements of transmissions 24 and chain drive 24' and a motor at 24", such as shown in FIG. 3.

Referring now to the FIG. 4, the feed and rigidizing

rollers

15 and 16 are operable to draw sheet stock 11 from the rolls 1 1. As shown in connection with FIG. 10, the

rolls

15 and 16 also form a plurality of rectilinear ridges 25 in the top sheet 11', a plurality of transverse stiffening ridges 26, and flanges 27 disposed along the terminal edges of the sheet stock 11. As shown in the FIG. 10, the

ridges

25 and 26 are intended as stiffening means for the top wall and side wall respectively, of a completed duct 10'. The rectilinear ridges 25 are formed by die rings 29 disposed at suitable intervals on the cylindrical body of the upper male roll 15. Break rings 30 are provided distally at each end of the roll 15 to score the top sheet 11 along the lines of the rightangle bends, forming side walls of the duct 10', as shall be described hereinafter. The rings 29 project transversely at intervals along the cylindrical body of the rolls 15. The transverse ridges 26 are formed by blades 31 which project rectilinearly at intervals over the surface of the cylindrical body of the roll 15. As shown in FIG. 3, it may be seen that the distance between the ridges 26 is determined by the circumferential distance between the blades 31. The cylindrical body of the roll 15 is carried on a shaft 32 which is journally mounted and suitably driven. The female roll 16 is suitably mounted and driven in superimposed fashion under the roll 15, and includes a hard resilient cylindrical body 33 which is carried on a shaft 34. Each of the flanges 27 are formed by two draws in a sequence by passing sheet 11' through the

rolls

15 and 16 and then through the

rolls

17 and 17. It has been found that by treating the top sheet stock 11' in two draws, wrinkles and breakage in the material may avoided. Accordingly, the ends of the male roll 15 are provided with relatively shallow concave die rings 35 which have asymmetrical angular configuration to initiate the first draw. The female roll 16 includes complementary convex rings 36 operable to receive therings 35. r Referring to the FIG. 5, the second draw to form the flange 27 is achieved by passing the sheet '11 through the

rolls

17 and 17. The rolls l7 and 17 each include a suitably mounted driven

shaft

37 and 38 respectively, each having rubber feed wheels 39 and 39' to drive the sheet 11 through the machine 10, and

complementary die wheels

40 and 41, respectively. As above with the rolls l and 16, the upper roll 17 carries a concave flanging wheel 40 and the lower roll carries a complementary convex die wheel 41. It may be seen that, between the

dies

35 and 36 and between the

dies

40 and 41, the latter is configured a sharper and deeper relief than the former. It may be seen that in certain applications the duct-making machine may be so adapted to form a flange 27 by a single set of flanging dies 35 and 36'. I I

Referring to the FIG. 3 the

flange guide rollers

22 and 22"are mounted at the discharge end of a guide bed 42, which controls the travel of the sheets 11 and 12. A C-channel track 43 is disposed at each side of the intended travel of the lower sheet 12 over the entire length of the machine 10 to the flange guide rollers 22 and 22'. The top sheet 11 is first carried by the rolls and 16, and 17 and 17' as set out above. Journalled rollers 42' at each side of the travel of the top sheet stock 11', guide and form top and side walls of a completed duct 10. The top sheet stock 11' is also guided by a plurality of cornering rollers 42', located above and below generally at the discharge end of the guide 42, and bars 42", located at each side of the intended lateral travel, further the bending of the duct walls. Idling rollers 44 may be located at points at which the sheets 11 and 12 begin to sag or change direction. The distance between the rolls 17 and 17', and the rollers 22 and22 is generally determined by the length required by the sheet stock 1 l to roll over the side walls without tearing or wrinkling. It may be seen that the guide lips 45 may be provided to cover the entire width of the sheet stock 11 and 12 at the head of these guide areas to facilitate feeding to the various rolls and rollers.

7 Referring again to the FIGS. 2, 3 and 6, the bottom sheet feed and rigidizing rolls and 21 are operable to draw rectilinear ridges 46 and a plurality of transverse ridges 46'. As shown in the FIG. 10, the bottom sheet 12 is a suitably stiffened, flat member locked within the flanges 27 formed by the

rollers

15 and 16, and 17 and 17. Accordingly, the feed and

rigidizing rollers

20 and 21 are provided with means for forming the stiffing

ridges

46 and 46 in similar juxtaposition to the

rollers

15 and 16. The upper roll 20 is carried on a shaft 20 and provided with a pair of die rings 47 which project transversely and distally from each side of the midpoint of the cylindrical roll body of the roll 20, and with rectilinearly projecting blades 48 issuing from between the rings 47, and between the rings 47 and the terminal ends of the body. The lower female roll 21 includes a hard resilient cylindrical body 49 mounted on a shaft 50. The nib of the

rolls

20 and 21 is aligned with the guide channel43 forward along the line of travel from the rolls l7 and 17'. As set out above, the

rolls

20 and 21 are suitably joumally mounted and driven to insure suitable feeding of the sheet stock 12' in relation to the stock 11.

Referring again to FIGS. 2, 3 and 7, the flange guides 22 and 22 are mounted distally along the line of travel between the end of the guide bed 42 and the staking rollers 23 and 23'. A groove 22" in the circumferential face of the roller 22 finally brings the flanges 27 about the edge of the bottom sheet 12. The rollers 22 and 22' are mounted with their circumferential faces parallel to the predetermined dimension of the lower edges of side walls formed from the top sheet 11'.

Referring again to the FIGS. 2 and 3, the staking rollers 23 and 23' are journally mounted distally forward along the line of travel from the rollers 22 and 22', and are operable to form a detented locking seam in the flanges 27. As shown in FIG. 8, the staking

rollers

23 and 23 are provided with upper rollers 23 having a plurality of projecting gear-like punches 52 disposed about its circumferential face. The lower, complementary roller 23' is provided with a multiplicity of recesses 53 operable to receive the punch 52. It may be seen that the lower roller 23', like the female rolls 16 and 21, may be provided with a hard resilient body and recesses 53.

Referring to the FIGS. 2 and 3, and 9 and 14), top sheet stock 11 may be fed with the bottom sheet stock 12' into the duct-making machine 10. It may be seen that the width of the sheet stock 11 should be sufficient to form the side walls and the upper wall of duct 10 while the bottom sheet stock 12' forms the bottom wall of duct 10. The top sheet stock 11 is rigidized and flanged by the set of

rollers

15 and 16, and 17 and 17 as set out above. The top sheet stock 11 is then formed into a square-cornered, inverted U-shaped trough by means of the guide bed 42, the bars 42 the rollers 22 and 22' and the cornering rollers 42. The bottom sheet stock 12 is rigidized and fed by the

rollers

20 and 21 and comes into registry with the flanges 27 of the now troughed top sheet stock 12' at the crimping

rollers

22 and 22. The staking rollers 23 and 23' then collate the flanges 27 about the terminal edges of the bottom sheet stock 11'.

As shown more clearly in the FIG. 9, the staking

rollers

23 and 23 also form a detented locking seam 27' in the crimp flanges 27 by means of the punches 52 and recesses 53. As set out above and as shown in FIG. 1, the block and shear 14 may be employed to cut completed duct 10' to length.

Having thus described in detail a preferred apparatus which embodies the concepts and principles of the invention and which accomplishes the various objects, purposes and aims thereof, it is to be appreciated and will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many physical changes could be made in the apparatus without altering the inventive concepts and principles embodied therein. Hence, it is intended that the scope of the invention be limited only to the extent indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A machine for forming duct from sheet stock, comprisiing; from its feed to its discharge, and first from means forming a top sheet and then means forming a bottom sheet wherein said top sheet is sufficiently wide to form the top and side walls of a duct and wherein said bottom sheet is sufficiently wide to form the bottom wall thereof:

top sheet feed and rigidi'zing rolls including a male roll having a die ring which projects at each terminal end of said roll, and a pair of die rings distally from each of the terminal ends of said male roll forming a crease in said top sheet demarcating said top wall and said side walls of said duct, and female roll suitably mounted and driven superimposed fashion in said male roll and having at each of its terminal ends a concave die wheel each of which is in registry and mates with said projecting die ring at each of the terminal ends of said male roll, and wherein the body of said female roll is operable to receive said die rings disposed distally from the terminal ends of said male roll;

flange rolls suitably mounted and driven in superimposed fashion and including flanging male and female die wheels mounted at the terminal end of said flange roll in registry with the die rings and wheels mounted at the terminal ends of said top sheet and rigidizing rolls, and idling means for engaging said top sheet for feeding thereof;

a flange guide having means to guide and bend said side walls substantially perpendicular to the top wall demarcated by said top feed and rigidizing rolls;

a bottom sheet feed and rigidizing roll being suitably mounted and driven having a male roll superimposed over a female roll;

staking rollers including a pair of superimposed rollers journally mounted at each side of said machine in registry with said flanges mating to crimp said flanges about the terminal edges of said bottom sheet, and having gear-like punches disposed about the circumferential faces of one of said superimposed rollers and a complementary roller provided with a multiplicity of recesses for receiving said punches thus forming a detented seam at said flanges; and

flange guide rollers being mounted with their circumferential faces disposed parallelly at the intended dimension of the lower edges of said side walls, and having a groove in their circumferential stages for collating said flanges about the terminal edges of said bottom sheet 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said feed and rigidizing rollers include a plurality of projecting rings disposed about the circumferential edges of the respective male rolls and a plurality of rectilinear disposed blades along said cylindrical wall, and wherein the respective female rolls have means for receiving said rings and blades.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said means for receiving said rings and blades are recesses.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said means for receiving said rings and blades is a resilient body on said female rolls.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means against which saidright-angle bend rollers acts is a convoluted table-like service having a guide rip at each of its terminal sides.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for controlling said sheet'stock includes a plurality of rubber wheels mountedo'n the roll shafts.

Claims

1. A machine for forming duct from sheet stock, comprisiing; from its feed to its discharge, and first from means forming a top sheet and then means forming a bottom sheet wherein said top sheet is sufficiently wide to form the top and side walls of a duct and wherein said bottom sheet is sufficiently wide to form the bottom wall thereof: top sheet feed and rigidizing rolls including a male roll having a die ring which projects at each terminal end of said roll, and a pair of die rings distally from each of the terminal ends of said male roll forming a crease in said top sheet demarcating said top wall and said side walls of said duct, and female roll suitably mounted and driven superimposed fashion in said male roll and having at each of its terminal ends a concave die wheel each of which is in registry and mates with said projecting die ring at each of the terminal ends of said male roll, and wherein the body of said female roll is operable to receive said die rings disposed distally from the terminal ends of said male roll; flange rolls suitably mounted and driven in superimposed fashion and including flanging male and female die wheels mounted at the terminal end of said flange roll in registry with the die rings and wheels mounted at the terminal ends of said top sheet and rigidizing rolls, and idling means for engaging said top sheet for feeding thereof; a flange guide having means to guide and bend said side walls substantially perpendicular to the top wall demarcated by said top feed and rigidizing rolls; a bottom sheet feed and rigidizing roll being suitably mounted and driven having a male roll superimposed over a female roll; staking rollers including a pair of superimposed rollers journally Mounted at each side of said machine in registry with said flanges mating to crimp said flanges about the terminal edges of said bottom sheet, and having gear-like punches disposed about the circumferential faces of one of said superimposed rollers and a complementary roller provided with a multiplicity of recesses for receiving said punches thus forming a detented seam at said flanges; and flange guide rollers being mounted with their circumferential faces disposed parallelly at the intended dimension of the lower edges of said side walls, and having a groove in their circumferential stages for collating said flanges about the terminal edges of said bottom sheet.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said feed and rigidizing rollers include a plurality of projecting rings disposed about the circumferential edges of the respective male rolls and a plurality of rectilinear disposed blades along said cylindrical wall, and wherein the respective female rolls have means for receiving said rings and blades.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means against which said right-angle bend rollers acts is a convoluted table-like service having a guide rip at each of its terminal sides.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for controlling said sheet stock includes a plurality of rubber wheels mounted on the roll shafts.