Patent ID: 7815830

Claim:
A method of making arcuate profile workpieces, the method comprising the steps of: a) continuously extruding a strand from an output side of a cross beam in a first movement direction; b) bending the strand by applying a force to it transverse to the direction such that the bent strand moves along an arcuate path diverging from the first movement direction; c) simultaneously c1) supporting the bent and moving strand at and to between upstream and downstream ends of the arcuate path with a handling robot moving synchronously with the strand along the arcuate path, and c2) engaging a cutter with the supported, bent, and moving strand and cutting through the strand while synchronously moving the cutter along the arcuate path with the supported, bent, and moving strand from the upstream end of the arcuate path to the downstream end of the arcuate path to cut an arcuate profile piece from the strand; d) after cutting through the strand, returning the cutter to the upstream end of the arcuate path; e) transferring the arcuate profile piece with the handling robot from the arcuate path to a deposition area and then returning the handling robot to the upstream end of the arcuate path; f) while the robot is transferring the piece to the deposition area and returning therefrom to the upstream end, raising a vertically shiftable support up into engagement underneath the strand at the upstream end to support the strand and, on return of the robot to the upstream end, lowering the support down away from the strand; and g) repeating the above steps until the strand is exhausted.