Patent ID: 8151614

Claim:
A cutoff unit for receiving a continuous beam from a roll former apparatus having a sweep unit, where a length of the continuous beam has different longitudinal sweeps defining different radii along the length formed by the sweep unit, comprising: a pickup device that rollingly engages and tracks with the continuous beam as the continuous beam exits the roll former apparatus, the pickup device including an extendable pickup member for engaging the beam to cause the pickup device to temporarily move with the continuous beam and including a shock absorber to reduce impact when the pickup member engages the continuous beam and first begins to move therewith; a cutter device attached to the pickup device for cutting the continuous beam; and a controller operably connected to the pickup device and to the cutter device to actuate the extendable pickup member to engage the continuous beam and then actuate the cutter device to cut a beam segment of predetermined length from the continuous beam; and a support supporting at least portion of the weight of the pickup device at multiple different-height home positions to accommodate an oscillating movement of the continuous beam caused by the different longitudinal sweeps imparted by the sweep unit as the continuous beam exits the sweep unit, and also constructed to accommodate longitudinal movement of the cutter device with the beam during a cutting operation.