Rotary apparatus

Abstract

A rotary .[.cutting and.]. forming apparatus for strip material, .[.having.]. .Iadd.has .Iaddend.rotatable upper and lower roll units, the units being connected for synchronous rotation, each of the units having a carrier member with at least one recess extending parallel to its central axis, and at least one die support block, the block being rotatably received within the recess, and having two ends, and a surface to which a die may be affixed, leading and trailing control pins on the block, extending on parallel spaced apart axes, and leading and trailing cam surfaces engaging respective leading and trailing control pins, to control the position of the blocks during at least .Iadd.that .Iaddend.part of their rotation .Iadd.when the dies engage the workpiece so that the forming planes of such dies are parallel to the workpiece during such engagement and immediately prior to and subsequent to such engagement.Iaddend..

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A rotary .[.cutting and.]. forming apparatus for forming strip material .Iadd.having a major plane and .Iaddend.for use in association with .[.material forming.]. .Iadd.material-forming .Iaddend.dies .[.comprising.]..Iadd., which dies have strip material-engaging forming planes and which apparatus comprises: .Iaddend. a rotatable upper roll unit and a corresponding rotatable lower roll unit, said units being connected for synchronous rotation .Iadd.through rotary cycles.Iaddend., each of said units comprising a .[.corner.]. .Iadd.carrier .Iaddend.defining a central axis, said member having at least one recess extending along said member parallel to the central axis, said recess having bearing surface means of generally .[.semi-circular.]. .Iadd.semi-cylindrical .Iaddend.shape, and .[.at least one.]. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.die support block, rotatably received within said recess, said block defining two ends and a .[.platan.]. .Iadd.platen .Iaddend.surface to which .[.at least one of.]. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.said forming .[.dies.]. .Iadd.die .Iaddend.may be affixed .Iadd.for movement with said block through a position in which a said forming plane of said die is generally parallel to said major plane of such strip material.Iaddend.;   leading control pin means extending from a leading portion of a said end .Iadd.of each said die support block .Iaddend.along a first axis .Iadd.parallel to said central axis.Iaddend.;   trailing control pins means extending from a trailing portion of a said end .[.,.]. .Iadd.of each said die support block .Iaddend.along a second axis .Iadd.parallel to and .Iaddend.spaced .Iadd.apart .Iaddend.from said first axis of said leading control pin means;   said upper and lower roll units being spaced apart whereby said .Iadd.strip .Iaddend.material may pass therebetween for .[.formation.]. .Iadd.deformation .Iaddend.by said .Iadd.forming .Iaddend.dies;   .Iadd.upper and lower .Iaddend.leading cam surface means positioned to engage said leading pin means .Iadd.of respective said die support blocks.Iaddend., and having .[.a.]. predetermined leading cam .[.profile.]. .Iadd.profiles.Iaddend.;   .Iadd.upper and lower .Iaddend.trailing cam surface means positioned .[.to avoid said leading pin means, and.]. to engage .[.only.]. said trailing pin means .Iadd.of respective said die support blocks.Iaddend., and having .[.a.]. predetermined trailing cam .[.profile.]. .Iadd.profiles .Iaddend.different from said leading cam .[.profile.]. .Iadd.profiles.Iaddend., whereby to support said die support blocks during .Iadd.at least .Iaddend.a .Iadd.first .Iaddend.portion of .[.the.]. .Iadd.each said .Iaddend.rotary cycle whereby .[.a die.]. .Iadd.said upper and lower leading cam surfaces and said upper and lower trailing cam surfaces have such configurations that dies .Iaddend.affixed to said .[.block.]. .Iadd.blocks .Iaddend.on said .Iadd.upper and .Iaddend.lower .[.unit may.]. .Iadd.units .Iaddend.register with each other .[.and cooperate together.].  .Iadd.and are disposed with their strip material-engaging planes mutually parallel and parallel to the strip material during engagement with the strip material .Iaddend.for .[.the.]. deformation of .[.the.]. .Iadd.that .Iaddend.material .Iadd.and immediately prior to and immediately after such engagement.Iaddend.; and,   bearing means for supporting said .Iadd.upper and lower .Iaddend.units.   
     
     
       2. A rotary .Iadd.forming .Iaddend.apparatus as claimed in claim 1 .[.wherein said.]..Iadd., which comprises drive means operatively connected to said upper and lower roll units through .Iaddend.transmission .Iadd.means .Iaddend.and .[.bearings.]. .Iadd.said bearing means and in which said transmission means and said bearing means .Iaddend.are adjustable to allow said .Iadd.upper and lower roll .Iaddend.units to be spaced apart at different distances .[.and including hydraulic pistons, connected to one of said units and connected to power and control means, whereby said spacing may be adjusted.].. .[.3. A rotary apparatus as 
     
     
        claimed in claim 1 wherein said dies define a flat forming plane..]. 4. A rotary .Iadd.forming .Iaddend.apparatus as claimed in claim .[.3 wherein said path definition means comprise.]. .Iadd.1 and which also comprises.Iaddend.: an upper end plate at each end of said .[.blocks.]. .Iadd.upper roll unit and .Iaddend.fixed with respect to the central axis of said upper .Iadd.roll .Iaddend.unit; .Iadd.and .Iaddend.   a lower end plate at each end of said .[.blocks.]. .Iadd.lower roll unit and .Iaddend.fixed with respect to the central axis of said lower .Iadd.roll .Iaddend.unit .Iadd., in which said upper leading cam surface means and said upper trailing cam surface means are provided on said upper end plates, and in which said lower leading cam surface means and said lower trailing cam surface means are provided on said lower end plates .Iaddend..[.;   guide means associated with each said plate adapted to receive and guide said pins; and,   wherein said first portion of the rotary cycle includes a position of contact with the material and a portion of the cycle prior to and   
     
     
        subsequent to said position of contact.].. 5. A rotary .Iadd.forming .Iaddend.apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein each said .[.guide.]. .Iadd.cam surface .Iaddend.means comprises a first cam groove .Iadd.portion .Iaddend..[., defined.]. in .Iadd.a .Iaddend.respective said .[.plates, said first groove defining.]. .Iadd.end plate and having .Iaddend.a generally concave .[.groove.]. .Iadd.configuration and .Iaddend.adapted to receive and guide .Iadd.respective ones of .Iaddend.said .[.pins whereby said forming plane is essentially parallel to said material.]. .Iadd.leading and trailing control pin means .Iaddend.during said first portion of .[.the.]. .Iadd.each said 
     
     
        .Iaddend.rotary cycle. 6. A rotary .Iadd.forming .Iaddend.apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein .Iadd.each .Iaddend.said .[.guide.]. .Iadd.cam surface .Iaddend.means includes a second cam groove .Iadd.portion .Iaddend..[., defined.]. in .Iadd.a .Iaddend.respective said .[.plates.]. .Iadd.end plate .Iaddend.and connected to said first cam groove .Iadd.portion.Iaddend., said second .Iadd.cam .Iaddend.groove .Iadd.portion being .Iaddend.adapted to receive and guide .Iadd.respective ones of .Iaddend.said .[.pins.]. .Iadd.leading and trailing control pin means .Iaddend.during .[.said.]. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.second portion of .[.the.]. .Iadd.each said .Iaddend.rotary cycle. .[.7. A rotary apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein each said pin includes a cam follower means adapted to fit within the follow said first and second grooves in said end 
     
     
        plates..]. 8. A rotary .Iadd.forming .Iaddend.apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said .[.pins.]. .Iadd.leading control pin means and said trailing control pin means are provided .Iaddend.on opposite ends of .[.a.]. .Iadd.each .Iaddend.said .Iadd.die support .Iaddend.block 
     
     
        .[.define different pin axes.].. 9. A rotary .Iadd.forming .Iaddend.apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein each said .[.guide.]. .Iadd.cam surface .Iaddend.means comprises a ramp affixed to .Iadd.a .Iaddend.respective said .[.plates, said ramp defining.]. .Iadd.end plate and having .Iaddend.a generally concave surface adapted to receive and guide .Iadd.respective one of .Iaddend.said .[.pins.]. .Iadd.leading and trailing control pin means .Iaddend..[.whereby said forming plane is essentially parallel to said material.]. during said first portion of 
     
     
        .[.the.]. .Iadd.each said rotary cycle. 10. A rotary .Iadd.forming .Iaddend.apparatus as claimed in claim 1 .[.wherein said corner member has a limiting abutment extending into said recess whereby the rotation of said block within said recess is limited in one direction, and said retaining means includes.]. .Iadd.and which also comprises .Iaddend.spring means affixed between .Iadd.each .Iaddend.said .Iadd.die support .Iaddend.block and .[.said corner.]. .Iadd.its associated carrier .Iaddend.member .[., said spring means.]. .Iadd.and .Iaddend.urging said .Iadd.die support .Iaddend.block .[.against said limiting abutment.]. 
     
     
        .Iadd.in a predetermined direction.Iaddend.. 11. A rotary .Iadd.forming .Iaddend.apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein .Iadd.each .Iaddend.said .Iadd.die support .Iaddend.block .[.defines.]. .Iadd.comprises .Iaddend.a channel extending along a .Iadd.peripheral .Iaddend.portion .Iadd.thereof .Iaddend..[.of the semi-circular circumference of the block.]. and wherein said .[.corner.]. .Iadd.carrier .Iaddend.member .[.defines.]. .Iadd.has .Iaddend.a post extending radially away from said central axis .[., said post adapted to fit within.]. .Iadd.of said carrier member and extending into .Iaddend.said channel.Iadd.,.Iaddend.and wherein said spring means is affixed at one end to said .Iadd.die support .Iaddend.block within said channel .Iadd.therein .Iaddend.and at the other end to said post .Iadd.on said carrier member.Iaddend.. .[.12. A rotary apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein each said pin includes a cam follower means, said cam 
     
     
        follower means adapted to contact said surface of said ramp..]. 13. A rotary .Iadd.forming .Iaddend.apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said .[.pins.]. .Iadd.leading control pin means and said trailing control pin means are provided .Iaddend.on opposite ends of .[.a.]. .Iadd.each .Iaddend.said .Iadd.die support .Iaddend.block .[.define different pin 
     
     
        axes.].. 14. A rotary .Iadd.forming .Iaddend.apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein each said .Iadd.die support .Iaddend.block in one of said .Iadd.upper and lower .Iaddend.units has at least one outwardly extending .Iadd.locating .Iaddend.dowel and where each said .Iadd.die support .Iaddend.block in the other of said .Iadd.upper and lower .Iaddend.units has a corresponding .[.dowel receiving.]. .Iadd.dowel-receiving .Iaddend.bore adapted to receive said dowel, said dowels and bores being located .[.to.]. .Iadd.toward .Iaddend.at least one .[.side of said material.]. .Iadd.end of said upper and lower units.Iaddend., whereby said dowels are inserted within said bores during contact .[.by.]. .Iadd.of 
     
     
        .Iaddend.said dies with said .Iadd.strip .Iaddend.material. 15. A rotary .Iadd.forming .Iaddend.apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said leading control pin means .[.is located at one said end of its said block,.]. and said trailing control pin means .[.is.]. .Iadd.are .Iaddend.located on .[.the other said end.]. .Iadd.opposite ends 
     
     
        .Iaddend.of .Iadd.each .Iaddend.said block. 16. A rotary .Iadd.forming .Iaddend.apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein there is a plurality of said die .Iadd.support .Iaddend.blocks in each .Iadd.of .Iaddend.said 
     
     
        .[.unit.]. .Iadd.upper and lower units.Iaddend.. 17. A rotary .Iadd.forming .Iaddend.apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including guidance bar means on each said .Iadd.die support .Iaddend.block in at least one of said .Iadd.upper and lower .Iaddend.units, said guidance bar means being extendable from each said block .[.to,.]. and being retractable into said block upon .Iadd.the .Iaddend.closing .Iadd.together .Iaddend.of .[.a.]. .Iadd.an opposed .Iaddend.pair of said .Iadd.die support .Iaddend.blocks 
     
     
        .Iadd.of said upper and lower units.Iaddend.. 18. A rotary .Iadd.forming .Iaddend.apparatus as claimed in claim 17 wherein said .[.guide block.]. .Iadd.guidance bar .Iaddend.means comprise elongated generally rectangular bars, .[.and.]. shaft means extending into said .Iadd.die support .Iaddend.blocks from said .[.guide bar means.]. .Iadd.rectangular bars.Iaddend., and spring means .[.controlling movement of said shafts.]. .Iadd.urging said rectangular bars outwardly relative to said die support blocks.Iaddend.. .[.19. A rotary apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including retaining channel means formed in each end of each said block, and retaining flanges on said carrier members, received in said channel 
     
     
        means..]. 20. A rotary apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said carrier member has a surface adjacent said at least one recess, said surface being so formed as to be out of contact with said strip material 
     
     
        at all times. 21. A rotary .Iadd.forming .Iaddend.apparatus as claimed in claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.20 .Iaddend.including drive motor means, clutch means driven by said drive motor means, brake means connected to said rotary apparatus, for stopping same, and control means for operating said clutch means and brake means in timed relation, whereby said rotary apparatus may be started and stopped intermittently .Iadd.while said strip material continues to pass therethrough.Iaddend..