US 12,447,519 B2
Device and method for leveling a metal plate
Anthony Allor, Fenton, MI (US); and James Kitson, Davisburg, MI (US)
Assigned to Allor Manufacturing, LLC, Brighton, MI (US)
Filed by Allor Manufacturing, Inc., Brighton, MI (US)
Filed on Dec. 17, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/644,965.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/126,872, filed on Dec. 17, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0193744 A1, Jun. 23, 2022
Int. Cl. B21D 1/02 (2006.01)
CPC B21D 1/02 (2013.01) 3 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for leveling a metal material having opposing surfaces, comprising:
providing a serpentine path in a longitudinal direction between a single upper roller and a corresponding single pair of lower rollers that are rotatably disposed in a parallel arrangement in a lateral direction, such that the longitudinal direction is associated with a direction of travel for the metal material;
wherein the single upper roller includes an upper roller radius and an outer peripheral surface that define a bottom-dead-center point that is positioned below a passline, and each of the single pair of lower rollers includes a lower roller radius and an outer peripheral surface that define a top-dead-center point;
wherein the serpentine path and the upper and lower rollers are disposed to accommodate the metal material;
wherein the single pair of lower rollers includes:
a first lower roller positioned such that the top-dead-center point thereof is disposed at the passline; and
a second lower roller positioned such that the top-dead-center point thereof is above the passline;
wherein providing the serpentine path includes:
positioning the single upper roller in between the first lower roller and the second lower roller in the longitudinal direction such that a first longitudinal spacing is defined between the axis of rotation of the first lower roller and the single upper roller and a second longitudinal spacing is defined between the axis of rotation of the single upper roller and the second lower roller;
positioning the first lower roller relative to the single upper roller in an elevation direction, such that a first plunge depth is defined as a difference in the elevation direction between a first lower elevation associated with the top-dead-center point of the first lower roller and an upper elevation associated with the bottom-dead-center point of the single upper roller; and
positioning the second lower roller relative to the single upper roller in the elevation direction, such that a second plunge depth is defined as a difference in the elevation direction between a second elevation associated with the top-dead-center point of the second lower roller and the upper elevation associated with the bottom-dead-center of the single upper roller;
wherein the magnitude of the first plunge depth is less than the magnitude of the second plunge depth such that the first lower roller and the single upper roller impart a first bend radius on the metal material in a first orientation and the single upper roller and the second lower roller impart a second bend radius on the metal material in a second orientation that is opposite the first orientation when the metal material moves through the serpentine path to provide equal plastification on both sides of the metal material; and
wherein a magnitude of plastification of the metal material is sufficient to level the metal material;
wherein the magnitude of the first bend radius is less than the magnitude of the second bend radius; and
wherein there is a quantity of not more than the single upper roller and a quantity of not more than the single pair of lower rollers to achieve equal plastification on both sides of the metal material.