SEAMING APPARATUS WITH LATERALLY SEPARABLE ROLLERS

Abstract: Seaming apparatus has two sets of opposed seaming rollers (21, 22 and 23, 24) rotatably mounted on a base (20) and positioned so that the sets successively engage and track on opposite side edge portions of the panel and bend a terminal side section (17) under to form a continuous seam. A drive motor (111) and drive train (81, 82, 83, 84, 113) between the motor and rollers provides a direct positive drive for each roller. One roller of each set is mounted on a slidable base portion (27) that provides for varying the roller spacing and is removable from a main base (26) and reinsertable thereinto along the opposite side to reverse roller positions.

Description: SEAMING APPARATUS WITH LATERALLY SEPARABLE ROLLERS Technical Field This invention relates to a novel and im- proved seaming apparatus for joining the side edge portions of adjacent panels together by forming a longitudinally continuous connecting seam. Background Art In U. S. Patent No. 3,985,642 there is dis- closed a seaming apparatus utilizing three sets of rollers that is particularly suited for forming contin¬ uous seam structure along the side edges of panels hav¬ ing vertical sidewall portions arranged parallel to one another and side connecting flanges that extend late - ally out from the upper edge of vertical sidewall portions. " The seaming apparatus of the present inven¬ tion provides another approach to seaming panels and has been found to be particularly suited for forming continuous seam structure in adjacent panels that have inclined sidewall portions and raised side edge por¬ tions. These panels are disclosed in more detail in a copending application of the same inventor entitled "Wide Panel, Panel Assembly, and Panel Forming Apparatus," Serial No. 236,832. Disclosure of Invention Seaming apparatus disclosed includes a sup¬ porting frame on which there are rotatably mounted two sets of opposed seaming rollers, the sets being spaced from one another along the apparatus to successively engage the side edge portions of two adjacent panels. One roller of each set is movable toward and away from BUKEΛT __p.vpι ' -1- the other roller of each set between a closely spaced seaming position and a laterally separated release position. The seaming rollers have peripheral surfaces of a particular shape to track on opposite sides of the side edge portions and bend in a terminal side section of one panel under a lateral flange section of the other panel. One roller of each set is removable and each roller is interchangeable and the machine is reversible so as to perform different bends and is adapted to be used in two pass operations with differ¬ ent rollers in each pass for forming tighter seams. Brief Description of Drawings The details of this invention will be de¬ scribed in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a seaming apparatus embodying features of the present invention mounted in an operating position on the side edge fastening portions of two adjacent building panels; Figure 2 is a top plan view of the seaming apparatus shown in Figure 1 with portions removed and external portions broken away to show interior parts and with the seaming rollers in the operative seaming position; Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of Figure 2; Figure 4 is an elevational view of the seam forming apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 2 looking toward the trailing end; Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along lines 5-5 of Figure 2 with the rollers in the spread release position; Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along lines 6-6 of Figure 2; BJ £Λ ~ - -~~ Figure 7 is an elevational view of another seaming roller shape suitable for the second stage of a second seamer pass for forming a tighter seam; Figure 8 is another form of seaming roller arrangement for the first seaming stage of another panel configuration; and Figure 9 is another form of seaming roller arrangement for the second seaming stage of the panel configuration shown in Figure 8. Detailed Description Referring now to Figures 1-7, a self-pro¬ pelled seaming apparatus designated by numeral 11 is shown in an operating position seaming together the side edge portions of two adjacent building panels A and B. The seaming takes place as the seaming appa¬ ratus 11 moves from right to left as indicated by the arrow. Each building panel A and B shown is of the construction described in detail in the above-mentioned copending application. Each panel is of the same con- struction and has an intermediate portion 12 and in¬ clined sidewall portions 13 and 14 extending up and out from the intermediate portion 12. Sidewall portion 13 has a raised inturned side edge portion extending up from a lateral wing por- tion 13a including an upstanding side section 18 and a lateral flange section 19 of double thickness to pro¬ vide an inturned laterally extending male joint por¬ tion. Sidewall portion 14 has a raised side edge por¬ tion extending up from a lateral wing portion 14a in- eluding an upstanding side section 15, a lateral flange section 16, and a downtumed terminal section 17 form¬ ing an inverted, open channel to provide an outturned female joint portion. In the assembly, the male joint portion in one panel inserts into and nests within the fe ale joint portion. The panel seaming apparatus 11, generally stated, includes a supporting means or base 20 to¬ gether with two sets of first and second opposed sea - ing rollers 21 and 22 and third and fourth opposed seaming rollers 23 and 24 rotatably mounted thereon, the sets being spaced from one another along base 20. As shown, the side edge portions of the ad¬ jacent building panels A and B being seamed together are successively engaged by the leading set of rollers 21 and 22 in a first stage bending operation and then by the trailing set of rollers 23 and 24 in a second stage bending operation. The first set 21 and 22 is spaced from and alined with the second set 23 and 24 along the apparatus so as to successively engage the panel as the sets move along the panel. The seaming apparatus 11 will operate when moved in either direction so that the terms "leading" and "trailing" as applied to the rollers will depend on the direction of movement of the apparatus. As used herein, the designations "leading" and "trailing" refer to the arrangement of the rollers and direction of movement described. The first and third seaming rollers 21 and 23 are rotatably mounted on a main base portion 26 and the second and fourth rollers 22 and 24 are rotatably mounted on a movable base portion 27 that is laterally movable with respect to main base portion 26 to facil¬ itate the lateral movement and also the reversing of one of the rollers of each set, as described more fully hereinafter. The movable base portion 27 is moved by and releasably connected to the main base portion 26 by the use of two clamping blocks 28 and ,29 spaced along the base portion 27 which are bolted thereto and two push-pull clamps 31 and 32 releasably connected at one end to the clamping blocks 28 and 29, respectively. The clamps 31 and 32 are actuated by a common U-shaped roller position control lever 33. The main base portion 26 includes an inter- mediate section 26a extending lengthwise of the machine and a pair of transverse parallel-spaced leg sections 26b and 26c at the ends of the intermediate section 26a. As best seen in Figure 3, a pair of upper and lower guide plates 35 and 36 are fastened to each of the leg sections by bolts to provide tongue-type, stepped, inner guide surfaces or guideways 37 for the guided movement of the sides of the movable base por¬ tion 26, which in turn has complementary shaped groove- type side surfaces 38. With this construction the mov- able base portion 27 slides laterally in and out of op¬ posed guideways 37 in the main base portion much like a drawer. The movable base portion 27 is held in either the operating position or the spread release position by the clamping blocks 28, 29 and push-pull clamps 31, 32. The releasable attachment between each push- pull clamp to the associated clamping block is provided by means of a reciprocally movable pin-like end member 40 on the end of a plunger 58. Member 40 has a smooth end portion 41 that inserts or telescopes in a lateral hole 42 in the clamping block 28. A locking pin 43 inserts down into a vertical hole 44 in the top of the clamping block and into a hole 45 in end portion 41. The vertical hole 44 has an enlarged bottom end portion 44a and the locking pin 43 has opposed reciprocally movable projections 46 that engage the shoulder pro¬ vided by enlarged end portion 44a and the projections 46 contract into pin 43 to a pin release position by depressing a spring-biased button 47 at the top of pin 43. A second vertical hole 44b like vertical hole 44 is provided in the clamping block and a second pin hole 45a is provided in pin 40 at right angles to hole 45 for further positioning adjustment of the rollers in spaced relation to one another for different roler sizes, panels or the like. When the locking pin 43 is removed the end member 40 is free to slide out from hole 42 in the as¬ sociated clamping block. The end member 40 further has an externally threaded portion 48 opposite end por- tion 41 that projects beyond the block, with a nut 49 threaded thereon which limits the extent of insertion of end portion 41 into hole 42 and an adjustable nut 50 that limits the extent of the threaded insertion of the end member 40 into the clamp plunger 58. This arrange- ment allows adjustment of the spacing between rollers by the threading of nut 50 to a selected position. The seaming apparatus is made reversible by releasing the end members 40 from the associated clamp¬ ing blocks 28 and 29, sliding the movable base portion 27 out from the main base portion 26, turning the mov¬ able base portion around so that the rollers carried thereon reverse their positions, and then reattaching the end members 40 to the clamping blocks by inserting ■ locking pins 43 in place. The direction of the shaft of motor 111 is reversed and the seaming apparatus will then travel along the next seam, moving in the opposite direction. Push-pull clamp 31 is further shown to in¬ clude a yoke-like mounting base 55 having a rear up- standing double lug 56 and a front tubular socket 57. The plunger 58 is slidably mounted in the socket 57 and secured at a forward end to the end member 40 and in turn to the clamping block 28 mounted on the laterally movable base portion 27, above described. A pair of links 61 and 62 are pivotally connected at adjacent BURif- j- -SOLE! ^~~~~~ ends to the rear end of the plunger 58 at a fixed pivot 63. An actuator arm 65 has an offset end portion 66 that extends at an angle at the end thereof having one end pivotally connected to the yoke double lug 56 at a fixed pivot 68 and a knee portion opposite pivot 68 is connected to the pair of links 61 and 62 at a movable pivot 69 so that as the actuator arm 65 is moved the movable pivot 69 moves from a retracted position to an extended position corresponding to the operating and spread roller positions, respectively, above described. In the retracted position the links 61 and 62 and the offset end portion 66 are end to end and in a straight-line horizontal position. In the extended position the links 61 and 62 are raised at the rear and offset end portion 66 is moved from an outboard position to an inboard position with the actuator arm 65 from a downwardly extending to an upwardly extending position, which pushes the plunger 58 and movable base portion 27* away from the main base portion 26. In the down position shown in Figure 5 the movable base is locked in a fixed position to hold the roller against lateral movement. Each of the seaming rollers 21, 22, 23 and 24 is rotatably mounted on the base 20 in the same manner. Rollers 21, 22, 23 and 24 are mounted on shafts 72, 71, 74 and 73, respectively, which in turn carry drive gears 82, 81, 84 and 83, respectively. The roller mounting is the same for each roller. Referring now to Figure 6, and specifically to roller 21 and shaft 72, shaft 72 is shown as having an upper section of smaller diameter affixed to the inside race of a bearing 76 with the outer race of the bearing mounted on base portion 27. The drive gear 82 is affixed to this upper shaft section with a key 77 in a keyway in the upper shaft section. Shaft 72 has a lower section of greater diameter than the upper sec¬ tion to form a shoulder 78 that abuts against the un- derside of the bearing via a washer 91. The roller 21 is secured to the lower shaft section with a key 79 in -a keyway on the lower shaft section. An upper end washer 87 is mounted on a top bolt 88 that threads into an internally threaded hole in the top of the shaft and a lower end washer 89 is mounted on a bottom bolt 90 that threads into an in¬ ternally threaded hole in the bottom of the shaft 72 to clamp the shaft to the inside race of the bearing 76. The roller 21 further has an internal bore extend- ing axially into the bottom face sized to receive the bottom washer 89 and of a depth to recess the head of bolt 90 therein. Referring now to the set of leading rollers 21 and 22, these rollers have the same external periph- eral shape. Roller 22 may be generally described as having an inner hub and an outer rim. The outer rim includes a pair of opposed ridges 93 and 94 with op¬ posed inclined sidewalls 95 and 96 defining a generally V-shaped peripheral groove 97 that embraces the corner juncture between angularly disposed sections 15 and 16 of the inturned side edge portion of the panel B. In addition, each ridge has a rounded crest portion 98 farthest from the inner hub and a rounded root portion 99 closest to the inner hub. In use, the opposed in- clined sidewalls 95 and 96 track on the angularly dis¬ posed sections 15 and 16. Sidewalls 95 and 96 span an arc of 90°. Sidewall 95 is at an angle of 30° to the horizontal and sidewall 96 is at an angle of 60° to the horizontal. Roller 21 has the same εhaoe as roller 22 and _Or.PI the periphery has inclined sidewalls 105 and 106 defin¬ ing a V-shaped peripheral groove 107 that embraces the corner juncture between angularly disposed sections 16 and 17 of the outtumed side edge portion of the panel. In use, the opposed inclined sidewalls 105 and 106 track on the angularly disposed sections 16 and 17 and bend the terminal side section 17 under the lateral flange section 19 of double thickness. In this way the set of rollers form opposed open V-shaped grooves that are moved in from opposite sides to clampingly engage the side edge portions of the panels. Roller 24 has the same peripheral shape as rollers 21 and 22 and embraces sections 15 and 16 as does roller 22. Roller 23 on movable base portion 27 and in line with roller 21 is provided with a surface 96a that is 30° to the horizontal to form a 60-degree groove so as to turn the terminal side section up another 30°, as shown in Figure 5. This leaves the terminal section 17 extending down at about a 30-degree angle to the horizontal after one pass of the machine. Referring now to Figure 7, another seamer roller 23a is shown which includes a surface 23b that is almost horizontal to provide a V-shaped groove in the roller 23a of slightly more than 30° to turn the terminal side section 17 to approximately a horizontal position and form a tighter seam. In practice, the seaming apparatus would make a first pass using the rollers shown in Figures 1-5 and then a second pass using roller 23 as the leading roller and roller 23a as the trailing roller. These rollers can be readily positioned on a second movable base portion 27 and readily inserted into place, as above described, for making the second pass and a tighter seam. The drive for the above described seaming rollers includes a reversible electric motor 111 mounted on base 20 having an output shaft 112 and a power transmission train which includes a main drive gear 113 mounted on the motor shaft 112. Gear 113 meshes with gears 81 and 83 whereby the rotation of the motor shaft 112 causes the rollers ' 22 and 24 to rotate. Gear 81 in turn meshes with a gear 82 and gear 83 meshes with gear 84 when movable base portion 27 is disposed in the retracted position to transmit power to rollers 21 and 23, respectively. A slot 120 is provided in the movable base portion to permit the user to make certain the opposed drive gears are mesh¬ ing in the operating position. The apparatus shown includes a cover plate 115 and a handle 116 mounted on base 20 for gripping by the user.* A guide roller 117 is mounted on base por¬ tion 26 and a pair of guide rollers 118 and 119 are mounted on base portion 27 and bear against sections 13a and 14a of the panel to hold the seaming rollers in position relative to the panel surfaces. Referring now to Figures 8 and 9, there is shown a modified panel (herein referred to as an ex- panded panel) having an intermediate portion 212 and a pair of inclined sidewall portions 213 and 214 turned up from the plane of intermediate portion 212 at about 40°. The side edge portions on the panel include a vertical side section 215, an outturned flange section 216, and a downtumed terminal section 217 forming an inverted open channel or female joint portion on the upper side edge of sidewall portion 213 of panel C, and a vertical section 219 and inturned lateral flange section 220 of double thickness forming a male joint portion on the upper side edge of sidewall portion 214. O-.PI As with the previously described panel, the female portion nests in the male joint portion prior to seam¬ ing. Roller 221 of a leading set has a peripheral surface 231 at a 45-degree bevel that engages panel section 219 and a rounded corner 232 that bears against the corner juncture between sections 219 and 220, to¬ gether with a radially extending surface 233 opposite a surface 234 disposed at an angle of 20° to the roller axis to form a V-shaped groove 235. Surface 234 en¬ gages the panel terminal section 217 to fold it under section 220. Rollers 222 and 224 are of a similar shape. Roller 222 opposite roller 221 has two surfaces 236 and 237 disposed at an angle of 90° to one another, forming a V-shaped groove 238 which embraces the panel sections 215 and 216, respectively. Roller 223 opposite roller 224 has the same surface 231 and corner 232 as roller 221 but has a sur- face 239 at an angle of 35° to a radial line that turns the terminal section 217 back under panel section 220 to form the seam. In this arrangement the rollers are set at an angle to the intermediate bottom portion 212 of the panel but the operation is generally the same as that of the rollers above described. From the foregoing it is apparent that the seaming apparatus can be constructed as a relatively lightweight unit, no intermediate idler roller section is required, the rollers are readily replaced, all rollers are positively driven, and the apparatus is readily attached and removed. Although the present invention has been de¬ scribed with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example and that changes in details of structure may be made without departing from the spirit thereof.

Claims: WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. Seaming apparatus for joining adjacent side edge portions of two adjacent panels together along a continuous connecting seam comprising: first and second sets of opposed seam¬ ing rollers rotatably mounted on a supporting means, said sets of seaming rollers having peripheral surface portions arranged to simultaneously bear against the opposite side edge portions, said first and second sets being spaced from one another to successively engage said side edge portions to track on said side edge portions and bend a terminal section on the side edge portion of one panel back under a lateral section of the side edge portion of the other panel to form a continuous connecting seam as said rollers are moved along said panel, one roller of each set being sup¬ ported for movement toward and away from the other roller between a seaming position and a spread release position; and * drive means for simultaneously rotating each of said seaming rollers to move said rollers and supporting means along said two adjacent panels. 2. Seaming apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least one roller of each of said sets has a peripheral surface portion shaped to extend under and in engagement with an overhanging surface of the asso¬ ciated panel side edge portion to aid in holding the rollers on said edge fastening portions during the seaming operation. 3. Seaming apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the axes of the rollers of each set are sub¬ stantially parallel and said axes are oriented closer to being vertically disposed than horizontally disposed so that said peripheral surface portions approach more from opposite sides than from the top and bottom. 4. Seaming apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said rollers is mounted on a shaft rotatably mounted on a bearing mounted in said support¬ ing base, said shaft having a gear affixed thereto between the top and bottom, the roller being affixed at the bottom of the shaf - 5. Seaming apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said supporting means includes a main base supporting said one roller of each set and a movable base supporting said other roller of each . set, the movable base being movable laterally with respect to said main base to change the spacing between opposed peripheral surfaces of each, set of rollers. 6. Seaming apparatus as set forth in claim 5 including actuating means arranged for moving said one roller of each set between said seaming position and said spread release position and further arranged for locking said rollers in said seaming position. 1 , Seaming apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said actuating means includes a pair of clamp¬ ing blocks mounted on said movable base portion outside the rollers carried by said movable base portion and a pair of spaced reciprocally movable push-pull clamp assemblies releasably connected at one end to an asso¬ ciated of said clamping blocks and connected at the opposite end by a common actuating arm that moves be- tween two positions to move said push-pull clamp assemblies. 8. Seaming apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein each push-pull clamp assembly includes a base having a tubular socket together with a plunger slid- able in the socket, said plunger being releasably con- nected at one end to an associated clamping block and connected at the other end to an over-center pivotal assembly arranged to move the plunger between an ex¬ tended and a retracted position. 9. Seaming apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein said actuating means includes a lever that simultaneously moves both clamp assemblies. 10. Seaming apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein said connection between the plunger is adjust¬ able in length to vary the spacing between each set of rollers. 11. Seaming apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein said releasable connection between said plunger and clamping block includes a removable locking pin. 12. Seaming apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said main base has opposite guideways to carry stepped end portions of said movable base portion in guided sliding movement. 13. Seaming apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said movable base portion is removable from said main base and reversible to insert along an oppo¬ site side to reverse the position of said movable rollers. 14. Seaming apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said drive means includes a reversible motor mounted on said supporting means and a gear train transmitting power from the motor to said rollers, said gear train including a main drive gear and a gear associated with each of said rollers, the main drive- gear meshing with the gears associated with said other rollers and in turn meshing with gears on the asso¬ ciated one roller of each set. 15- Seaming apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein the movement of said one roller of each set to the open position disengages said one roller of each set from being rotated by the main drive gear. 16. Seaming apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said rollers has an inner hub and an outer rim, said rim including a pair of opposed ridges with inclined surfaces defining a generally V-shaped peripheral groove, each said ridge having a rounded crest furthest from the hub and a rounded root portion closest to the hub to embrace a corner juncture between two angularly disposed sections of the side edge por- tions of one panel and to turn a terminal side section of one panel under a lateral flange section of the other panel. 17. Seaming apparatus as set forth in claim- 1 wherein one inclined surface increases in each - succeeding set to turn said terminal side section. 18. Seaming apparatus for joining the ad¬ jacent side edge portions of two adjacent panels along a continuous seam, one panel having an inturned side edge portion including a terminal side section and the other panel having an inturned side edge portion nested in said outturned side edge portion, said seaming apparatus comprising: a base including a main base portion and a movable base supported for guided movement laterally toward and away from said main base portion and remov- able from said main base portion; a reversible drive motor mounted on said base; a hand grip mounted on said base; a leading set of seaming rollers and a trailing set of seaming rollers mounted on said base, said rollers having generally V-shaped peripheral sur¬ faces arranged to successively engage the side edge portions of said adjacent panels, the rollers of each set being oppositely disposed, one roller of each set being ro¬ tatably mounted on said movable base portion, the axes of said sets of rollers being substantially parallel, each of said sets being substantially coplanar and engaging the side edge por- tions to bend the terminal side section of one panel back against the lateral section of the other panel to track on and form a longitudinally continuous connect¬ ing seam as the rollers are rotated by said drive motor through a power transmission train coupled between said motor and said rollers; a pair of clamping blocks mounted on said movable base portion outwardly of said rollers; and a pair of push-pull clamps operated by a common actuating lever, the clamps being releasably connected at the end opposite the lever, the clamps being movable between operating and spaced positions, each clamp having an over-center pivot to lock the rollers in the operating position. OXPI ■ w

Inventors: KNUDSON GARY ART
Applicants: KNUDSON GARY ART
Application year: 1982
Main classification: B23P11
IPC codes: B21D39