Abstract: A stacking system including an inverting arm arranged above the stacking system for selectively overturning a first elongated metal member into a second elongated metal member or not overturning the first elongated metal member into the second elongated metal member.

Abstract: A convertible roll forming apparatus for forming flanges on a strip of material in which a roller assembly is supported on a support stand and disposed to move the strip material in a material feed direction. A pivotal support assembly supports a knuckle member for pressing against an edge portion of the strip material, the knuckle member cooperating with the support assemblies to progressively form the edge portion into a flange. The support assembly can be selectively disposed to form the edge portion in a first direction or in an opposing second direction. The strip material can be passed through serial passes of support assemblies and knuckle members to progressively form the flange. The roller assembly is supported for lateral expansion to accommodate various widths of strip material as required, and a lip forming section is provided to form a lip on the outer edge of the formed flange. Flange straightener assemblies are also provided to control the overbend.

Abstract: A system for controlling the feed rate of a feed stock to processing equipment by monitoring and controlling the length of the feed stock in an accumulator assembly. The control system regulates the feed rate of the feed stock by initially forming a line of the feed stock in the accumulator assembly, detecting the extent of the length of the line with respect to preselected set points, controlling the length of the line in the accumulator assembly by adjusting the feed rate of the feed stock from a base feed rate in response to preselected minimum and maximum values for the length of the feed stock line, and adjusting the base feed rate with each excursion of the line from the preselected minimum and maximums.

Abstract: A vertical uncoiling apparatus having a frame assembly for supporting a coil of strip material and an accumulator assembly for selectively removing and delivering the strip material to downstream processing equipment. The accumulator assembly is provided with an accumulation loop area defining a substantially S-shaped travel path for the strip material and a feed assembly for removing strip material from the coil of strip material and feed same into the accumulation loop area so that a steady state flow of substantially tension-free strip material can be delivered to downstream processing equipment.

Abstract: An improved prefeeder assembly for shingling planar sheets in which a sheet stack is positioned on a prefeeder lift conveyor which lowers the sheet stack into a floor pit to incrementally elevate the sheet stack. A block pusher assembly sequentially pushes bock segments to a conveyor assembly where a shingling assembly shingles the sheets. A bottom sheet removal assembly having an in-path diverter plate contacts and diverts only the bottom sheet of the bottommost block segment as this block segment is being shingled. As shingled sheets are discharged to other process equipment, a tamping assembly tamps the sheet edges for uniform restacking.

Abstract: An improved prefeeder assembly for shingling sheets of planar material in which a sheet stack is positioned on a prefeeder lift conveyor which lowers the sheet stack into a floor pit to incrementally elevate the sheet stack. A block pusher assembly sequentially pushes block segments to a conveyor assembly where a shingling assembly shingles the sheets. A bottom sheet removal assembly having an in-path diverter plate contacts and diverts only the bottom sheet of the bottom most block segment as this block segment is being shingled. As shingled sheets are discharged to other process equipment, a tamping assembly actuated by balloon cylinders serve to tamp the sheet edges for uniform restacking.

Abstract: An improved female/male interlock seam assembly for a standing seam roof comprising a female side lap joint defining a male receiving cavity and a sealant cavity and a male side lap joint having a sealant engaging apex portion. The sealant cavity is characterized as having a first portion openly communicating with the male receiving cavity and a offset second portion adapted to receive and support a resilient sealant therein. The sealant engaging apex portion of the male side lap joint is provided with an outwardly extending nose-like portion so that in an assembled position the nose-like portion is substantially encapsulated by the sealant, and a force applied to the female/male interlock seam assembly compresses the sealant to enhance seam integrity.

Abstract: A downstacker assembly in which paperboard blanks, received from a die cutter station, are passed sequentially through a trim removal station, a feed station, a stacker assembly partially disposed in a pit, and a stack retrieval assembly. The stacker assembly is disposed in a drop chute beneath a vacuum conveyor assembly which drops the blanks from the feed station into the drop chute, assisted by a pair of twin blank striker assemblies which selectively separate the blank therefrom. The stacking blanks are tamped using a semiflexible tamper plate assembly against flexible curtains on a descending elevator assembly. A stack staging assembly serves as a temporary cradle to catch the falling blanks once a predetermined stack height is achieved until the stacks can be removed via the stack retrieval assembly. A dunnage holding assembly provides multiple-tier load forming as the stacks are discharged from the downstacker assembly.

Abstract: A slip sheet removal apparatus for removing a dunnage sheet disposed beneath a paperboard blank stack conveyed by a conveyor assembly, the slip sheet removal apparatus comprising a dunnage sheet removal assembly having a stationary subassembly with roller driven drive belts and a retractable subassembly with guide belts thereon. Fluid actuators selectively raise and lower the retractable subassembly to engage a leading edge of the dunnage sheet as it advances on the conveyor assembly to pull the dunnage sheet underneath the conveyor assembly for storage and later removal. Also, a pivot conveyor assembly receives the paperboard stack from the conveyor assembly to alter the direction of travel thereof if required.

Abstract: An improved downstacker assembly in which paperboard blanks, received from a die cutter station, are passed sequentially through a trim removal station, a feed station, a stacker assembly partially disposed in a pit, and a stack retrieval assembly. The stacker assembly is disposed in a drop chute beneath a vacuum conveyor assembly which drops the blanks from the feed station into the drop chute, assisted by an impacting assembly which selectively separates the blanks therefrom. The stacking blanks are tamped against flexible curtains on a descending elevator assembly. A stack staging assembly serves as a temporary cradle to catch the falling blanks once a predetermined stack height is achieved until the stacks can be removed via a stack retrieval assembly.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cutting predetermined lengths of panels from a continuous strip of flexible material and for forming the lengths of panel members to have a preselected panel profile. The strip is reel fed to a first strip driving station which drives the strip through a shearing station, over a hump table, to a second strip driving station and through a strip forming station. In sequence, the second strip driving station brakes the leading portion of the strip to effect a strip hump over the hump table, which is detected by a protoelectric sensor for hump height and signals the first strip driving station to vary its feed rate to maintain the hump; the second driving station is then signaled to commence driving the lead portion of the strip to the strip forming station.