Patent ID: 8468865

Claim:
A panel crimping machine for crimping a panel having a curved central portion, comprising: (a) a pair of crimping rollers offset from one another and located within said panel crimping machine configured to receive a panel comprising a pair of sidewall portions extending from opposite ends of a curved central portion, said curved central portion being concave-shaped from a perspective between said sidewall portions, wherein said sidewall portions comprise straight portions that extend tangentially from the concave-shaped curved central portion, and a pair of complementary wing portions extending from said side wall portions, such that when the panel enters said panel crimping machine the curved central portion of the panel passes between said crimping rollers, said pair of crimping rollers comprising: (i) a male crimping roller comprising (A) a hub, and (B) a plurality of male crimping blades extending radially from said hub, each of said male crimping blades having a convex arcuate profile, and (ii) a female crimping roller comprising (A) a hub, and (B) a plurality of female crimping blades extending radially from said hub, each of said female crimping blades having a concave arcuate profile complimentary to said convex profile of said male crimping blades; and (b) a drive system for driving said pair of crimping rollers such that said crimping rollers rotate, thereby causing said male crimping blades and said female crimping blades to alternately intersect and crimp the curved central portion of the panel.