Method and apparatus for flexible manufacturing a discrete curved product from feed stock
First Claim
1. An apparatus for manufacturing a discrete curved backbone for a beam blade windshield wiper assembly from feed stock, said apparatus comprising:
- a cold rolling mill that imparts a predetermined thickness to the work piece;
a width profiling station that imparts a predetermined width to the work piece; and
a curvature forming and heat treat station, said curvature forming and heat treat station including a first source of heat that is adapted to impose a focused beam of heat on at least one surface of the work piece, said beam of heat defining a major axis and a minor axis on the work piece, said major axis of said focused beam of heat being disposed substantially transverse to the relative movement of the work piece with respect to the beam of heat and imparting a predetermined radius of curvature about said major axis, a cooler adapted to cool the work piece after it has been heated by said first source of heat, and a second source of heat to temper the work piece after it has been cooled.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for manufacturing a discrete curved product from a feed stock includes a source of heat that is adapted to impose a focused beam of light on at least one surface of a work piece to cause the surface of the work piece to expand and thereby move in the general direction of the heat source so as to impart a predetermined radius of curvature to the work piece. The apparatus is described in connection with one example where it may be employed to manufacture a curved backbone for a beam blade windshield wiper assembly from feed stock. In addition, a method of manufacturing a discrete curved product from feed stock, generally, as well as a discrete curved backbone for a beam blade windshield wiper assembly from feed stock, specifically, is also disclosed.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. An apparatus for manufacturing a discrete curved backbone for a beam blade windshield wiper assembly from feed stock, said apparatus comprising:
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a cold rolling mill that imparts a predetermined thickness to the work piece;
a width profiling station that imparts a predetermined width to the work piece; and
a curvature forming and heat treat station, said curvature forming and heat treat station including a first source of heat that is adapted to impose a focused beam of heat on at least one surface of the work piece, said beam of heat defining a major axis and a minor axis on the work piece, said major axis of said focused beam of heat being disposed substantially transverse to the relative movement of the work piece with respect to the beam of heat and imparting a predetermined radius of curvature about said major axis, a cooler adapted to cool the work piece after it has been heated by said first source of heat, and a second source of heat to temper the work piece after it has been cooled. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of manufacturing a discrete curved backbone for a beam blade windshield wiper assembly from feed stock, said method comprising the steps of:
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imparting a predetermined thickness to a work piece;
imparting a predetermined width to the work piece;
providing a first source of heat that is adapted to impose a focused beam of heat on at least one surface of the work piece wherein the beam of heat defines a major axis and a minor axis on the work piece and the major axis of the focused beam of heat is disposed substantially transverse to the relative movement of the work piece with respect to the beam of heat, the beam of heat imparting a predetermined radius of curvature about said major axis;
cooling the work piece after it has been heated by the first source of heat; and
tempering the work piece after it has been cooled.
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Specification