Method and apparatus for processing a preform for a rim, and rim

Abstract

A method for processing a preform for a rim wherein a ring-shaped rudimentary metal rim edge ( 5 ) is clamped in a slit ( 13 ) moving along the circumferential edge of the rim edge ( 5 ) between a profiled outer surface ( 8 ) of a mandrel ( 7 ) and a profiled outer surface ( 11 ) of a profiling roller ( 9 ), wherein the slit ( 13 ) is wedge-shaped and wherein an angle (a) included by the centerlines ( 6, 10 ) of mandrel ( 7 ) and profiling roller ( 9 ) is reduced, propelling material of the rudimentarily formed rim edge ( 5 ) to a wider portion of the slit ( 13 ). The invention also relates to an apparatus for processing a preform for a rim, and a rim.

1 . A method for processing a preform for a rim, wherein a ring-shaped rudimentary metal rim edge is clamped in a slit moving along a circumferential edge of the rim edge between a profiled outer surface of a mandrel and a profiled outer surface of a profiling roller, wherein the slit is wedge-shaped and wherein an angle included by the centerlines of the mandrel and the profiling roller is reduced, and propelling material of the rudimentary metal rim edge to a wider portion of the slit by pivotal movement of the profiling roller with respect to the mandrel. 
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein, a contact surface between the material of the rudimentary metal rim edge and the outer surface of the profiling roller is increased. 
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein, a positive included angle is maintained. 
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein, during the reduction of the included angle, material of the rudimentary metal rim edge is displaced substantially in an axially outward direction with respect to the ring-shaped rim edge. 
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein an edge of the outer surface of the profiling roller is pressed into the material of the rudimentary rim edge. 
   
   
       6 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein the distance between mandrel and profiling roller is reduced by translation of mandrel and/or pressure roller with respect to each other. 
   
   
       7 . A method according to  claim 6 , wherein the profiling roller is translated substantially transversely to its centerline in the direction of the mandrel. 
   
   
       8 . An apparatus for processing a preform for a rim, comprising a mandrel with a profiled outer surface arranged rotatably about a centerline and a profiling roller with a profiled outer surface arranged rotatably about a centerline, wherein, during use, between the outer surfaces, a slit is realized for receiving a ring-shaped rudimentarily formed metal rim edge therein, wherein the slit is wedge-shaped and wherein the profiling roller is arranged pivotally with respect to the mandrel and wherein, by adjustment of the profiling roller with respect to the mandrel, the angle included by the centerlines of mandrel and profiling roller can be reduced. 
   
   
       9 . An apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the profiling roller is arranged so as to be translatable substantially transversely with respect to the centerline. 
   
   
       10 . A rim manufactured according to the method of  claim 1 .