Patent ID: 8459081

Claim:
A variable width roll forming apparatus for progressively forming a web of material directed therethrough, said roll forming apparatus comprising: a first side plate extending substantially an entire length of said roll forming apparatus; a second side plate extending substantially an entire length of said roll forming apparatus, said first side plate and said second side plate being oriented on opposing sides of an axis of movement of said web substantially equidistant from one another; a plurality of roller die assemblies disposed in apertures formed in said first side plate and said second side plate, said roller die assemblies each including an upper die assembly and a lower die assembly; an adjusting apparatus for selectively changing a separation width between predetermined roller die assemblies in said first side plate and said second side plate, said adjusting apparatus including at least a first collector plate disposed in one of said first side plate and said second side plate and supporting one of said upper die assembly and said lower die assembly, said adjusting apparatus further including a jack screw assembly entirely supporting said first collector plate within the one of said first side plate and said second side plate, and further including a shaft keyed to a drive sprocket and an associated chain, wherein said jack screw assembly is operated by rotation of said shaft, wherein said roll forming apparatus defines thereby at least two differing widths between roller die assemblies disposed in said first side plate and said second side plate while maintaining said substantially equidistant spacing between said first side plate and said second side plate, and operation of said adjusting apparatus causes said first collector plate to move in a direction substantially orthogonal to said one of said first side plate and said second side plate.