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ROLL-FORMER APPARATUS WITH RAPID-ADJUST SWEEP BOX

  • US 20070180880A1
  • Filed: 03/21/2007
  • Published: 08/09/2007
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2005
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An adjustable apparatus for imparting a variable sweep into a roll-formed beam as part of a continuous process of roll-forming, comprising:

  • an adjustable sweep station adapted to be positioned in-line and downstream of the roll-forming apparatus to continuously receive a continuous beam formed thereby, the sweep station including at least first and second opposing rolls with the second roll being movably about an axis of the first roll to form the continuous beam around the first roll, the sweep station further including a multi-segment external mandrel that is adjustable to selectively wrap partially around the first roll during adjustment of the second roll to form the different sweeps in the continuous tubular beam on the fly during continuous operation of the roll-forming apparatus, the sweep station further including at least one actuator operably connected to the external mandrel for controlling rapid adjustment movement of the external mandrel to create selected ones of the different sweeps at predetermined locations along the continuous beam; and

    a controller programmed to move the actuator between different positions to create a series of beam sections along the continuous beam, with the beam sections each including at least two of the following in a selected repeating sequence;

    a first constant sweep, a second constant sweep different than the first constant sweep, a continuously changing sweep, and a linear non-swept section.

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