Patent ID: 7254973
Filing Date: 2007-08-14
Classification: B21D,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for forming and joining a first sheet material to a second sheet material, the apparatus comprising: a nest for holding the first sheet material; a robotic arm operatively associated with said nest; a faceplate rotatably attached to said robotic arm, said faceplate having a long axis; and a positional pressure roller tool for forming and joining the first sheet material to the second sheet material, said positional pressure roller tool including a cylinder rigidly attached to said faceplate, a reciprocating hub including a piston end and a roller tool end, said reciprocating hub being reciprocatingly mounted in said cylinder, and a main roller tool, said main roller tool being mounted to said roller tool end of said reciprocating hub, said reciprocating hub having a long axis, said long axis of said reciprocating hub and said long axis of said faceplate being in axial alignment, said roller tool including a roller, said roller being positioned off-axis with respect to said long axis of said reciprocating hub.