Method and apparatus for forming a bent sheet of foil

Abstract

Apparatus for forming a bent sheet of foil, comprising a holder for holding a roll of foil; a motor for horizontally feeding the foil from the roll; a bending station for providing the fed foil with an angled portion; a controller for controlling a desired length of foil to be fed by commanding operation of said motor; and a cutting station for cutting said fed foil at said desired length, whereby to form constant length sheets of said foil. The controller is operable to command operation of the motor to sequentially feed the foil a first distance corresponding to a selected longitudinal dimension of the angled portion and then to feed the foil a second distance corresponding to a selected longitudinal dimension of a foil sheet to be formed.

1 . Apparatus for forming a bent sheet of foil, comprising:
 a) a holder for holding a roll of foil;   b) a motor for horizontally feeding said foil from said roll;   c) a bending station for providing said fed foil with an angled portion;   d) a controller for controlling a desired length of foil to be fed by commanding operation of said motor; and   e) a cutting station for cutting said fed foil at said desired length, whereby to form constant length sheets of said foil.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a pressing station for applying a clamping force to the fed foil. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the pressing station is operable to continuously apply the clamping force to the fed foil. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the pressing station is operable to temporarily apply the clamping force to the fed foil. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the bending station comprises a vertically displaceable force applier normally vertically spaced from said fed foil, and one or more vertical drive units for vertically displacing said force applier a predetermined distance, causing a free end portion of the fed foil to bend continuously in response to a force applied by said force applier until said force applier is vertically displaced to a maximum extent and the angled portion assumes a predetermined angle with respect to the fed foil. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the force applier is a rigid board that laterally extends across the entire width of the fed foil. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the board has a rounded top for preventing damage to the foil when applying the force to the free end portion of the foil. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the angled portion has a substantially perpendicular angular disposition with respect to the fed foil. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is operable to command operation of the motor to sequentially feed the foil a first distance corresponding to a selected longitudinal dimension of the angled portion and then to feed the foil a second distance corresponding to a selected longitudinal dimension of a foil sheet to be formed. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the pressing station comprises an upper roller and a lower roller which are sufficiently close to each other so as to remain in constant pressing relation with the foil and to apply a clamping force thereto, wherein one of said upper roller and lower is driven by the motor which is commanded by the controller. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the pressing station comprises a stationary element and a displaceable element that is vertically separable from said stationary element, said displaceable element being controllably raised and lowered by means of a vertical drive in response to commands transmitted thereto by the controller so as to be able to brought in pressing relation with said stationary element while frictionally engaging the foil to apply a clamping force thereto. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the force applier is operable to slide along a surface of a stationary element, to define the predetermined angle of the angled portion. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the controller is operable to sequentially command:
 a) operation of the motor to feed the foil a first distance corresponding to a selected longitudinal dimension of the angled portion;   b) operation of the pressing station to apply the clamping force to the fed foil;   c) operation of the bending station to initiate vertical displacement of a force applier a predetermined distance, causing a free end portion of the fed foil to bend continuously in response to a force applied by said force applier until said force applier is vertically displaced to a maximum extent and the angled portion assumes a predetermined angle with respect to the fed foil;   d) retraction of said force applier;   e) release of the clamping force;   f) operation of the motor to feed the foil a second distance corresponding to a selected longitudinal dimension of a foil sheet to be formed;   g) operation of the pressing station to reapply the clamping force to the fed foil; and   h) operation of the cutting station to form a foil sheet of said second longitudinal dimension.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a supporting element for receiving the formed sheet and for subsequently delivering the formed sheet to a collection area. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the formed sheet is gravitationally deliverable to the collection area. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the supporting element comprises one or more driven discharge elements for delivering the formed sheet to the collection area. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the controller is operable to sequentially command:
 a) operation of the motor to feed the foil a first distance corresponding to a selected longitudinal dimension of the angled portion;   b) operation of the pressing station to apply the clamping force to the fed foil;   c) operation of the bending station to initiate vertical displacement of a force applier a predetermined distance, causing a free end portion of the fed foil to bend continuously in response to a force applied by said force applier until said force applier is vertically displaced to a maximum extent and the angled portion assumes a predetermined angle with respect to the fed foil;   d) retraction of said force applier;   e) release of the clamping force;   f) operation of the motor to feed the foil a second distance corresponding to a selected longitudinal dimension of a foil sheet to be formed;   g) operation of the pressing station to reapply the clamping force to the fed foil;   h) operation of the cutting station to form a foil sheet of said second longitudinal dimension; and   i) operation of the one or more driven discharge elements to deliver the formed sheet to the collection area.