Apparatus and associated methodology contemplating a portable sheet metal folding apparatus that folds a sheet metal panel profile into a different predetermined shape, the profile having straight elements joined together by arcs. The apparatus has consecutive roller die sets configured to perform a series of folds on a first element of the profile toward a second element of the profile. Each roller die set has opposing roller dies operably contacting only the first and second elements, not contacting any arc. The opposing roller dies are arranged to define a minimal gap between them equal to or more than the radius of the arc joining the first and second elements together. The gap provides a material relief space that is sized to clearingly permit the arc to positionally shift during folding to relieve stress and strain.

Machine (1) for the assembly of profiles (2) formed of at least a first profile section (3) and a second profile section (4) connected by means of one or several thermally insulating sections (5,6), whereby the machine (1) is provided with press means (58) exerting an adjustable pressure on press tools (48) in a lateral direction (HH′) and towards the profile sections (3,4) to be assembled so as to be able to exert an adjustable force on corresponding walls (18) of grooves (17, 20, 31, 33, 82, 90) of the profile sections (3,4) in order to achieve a plastic deformation thereof.

A roller hemming device includes a backing metal, a guide roller, a bending roller, a pressing unit, and a swinging unit. The backing metal includes an abutment surface and a guide surface. The abutment surface is brought into abutment against a first panel member. The guide roller is moved in an extending direction of the guide surface with abutting against the guide surface. With being moved synchronously with the guide roller, the bending roller presses a bent peripheral edge portion of the first panel member via the backing metal such that the bent peripheral edge portion of the first panel member is pinched between the bending roller and the guide roller, and folds the bent peripheral edge portion of the first panel member back to a periphery edge portion of a second panel member. The pressing unit presses the bending roller toward the backing metal.

A hemming path planning method and a hemming system are provided. The hemming path planning method includes the following steps. An initial contour data of a target is scanned to obtain. A first segment of the hemming path is planned according to the initial contour data. The first segment corresponds to a first bending angle. A second segment of the hemming path is planned according to the initial contour data and an expected springback amount related to the first bending angle. The second segment corresponds to a second bending angle. The first segment and the second segment are combined to obtain a continuous hemming path.

A cleaning device for a hemming roller cleans the hemming roller of a hemming roller unit mounted on an arm tip of a hemming robot. The cleaning device includes: a support frame installed on a floor of a workshop; a roller rotation unit that is installed on an upper surface of the support frame and rotates the hemming roller that has entered the upper surface of the support frame through the hemming robot; and a scraper that is installed to be movable back and forth on the support frame while facing the roller rotation unit and removing foreign substances on the surface of the hemming roller.

A method for forming a hem by roller hemming may involve providing a first component with a flange portion having an edge and a second component, and producing a hem that connects the first and second components. The hem may be produced by a roller-hemming head that comprises a rolling edge and maneuvers essentially along the flange portion relative to the first component. The object of specifying a method for forming a hem by roller hemming, wherein the formation of wrinkles in the hem flange can be easily reduced or avoided, can be achieved, in the case of a method of the type in question, in that the rolling edge of the roller-hemming head, at least in part, takes up position on, and maneuvers along, the flange portion, and does so at a spacing from the edge of the flange portion.

A gas-charging and flanging machine (10) includes a sealed chamber (13a). The gas-charging and flanging machine is used for carrying out, inside the sealed chamber, charging of a gas into a workpiece (20) and flanging of the workpiece (20) by spinning and pressing. The gas-charging and flanging machine charges a gas into a workpiece and flanges the workpiece on the same machine such that production efficiency can be improved.

A vertical Pittsburgh Seam closing apparatus having a base supporting surface, a track mechanism for moving a carriage assembly which holds seam forming members used to close a Pittsburgh Seam, a pair of upper and lower guide members for guiding the duct section into a proper vertical position, and upper and lower clamping members positioned inside the duct section and adjacent the inside portion of the Pittsburgh Seam to be closed, the upper guide members and clamping member being selectively movable and adjustable for accommodating different duct section lengths. In one embodiment, the seam forming assembly includes three roller members mounted in vertical arrangement to each other, one roller member being V-shaped in configuration and the other two roller members being substantially cylindrical in shape. The V-shaped roller member may also include one or more projecting members for forming dimples in the closing process to prevent shifting and/or slipping of the closed seam.

The present invention provides a method for producing a full engagement Pittsburgh male lock using specific cutting assemblies and protocols that reduce the amount of metal that is removed from the male portion of the corner notches in the duct. Forming of the male portion of the lock is done after the connecting flange forming has been completed as opposed to before the connecting flange forming has been completed.

A modular roller hemming system having a base assembly, a replaceable anvil, a spider arm assembly, a plurality of support arms for supporting the spider arm assembly, and a plurality of repositionable unit tools. The anvil is 3-D printed of a polymer composite material and may be replaced with similarly manufactured anvils having different form factors for receiving various shaped and dimensioned workpiece assemblies. The plurality of support arms are repositionable on the base assembly, the spider arm assembly is reconfigurable, and the plurality of unit tools are moveable to accommodate various anvils having different form factors. The support arms includes an upper segment that is detachable from the lower segment to facilitate the changeover of anvils.