Shape Corporation

Douglas L Witte

Peter Sturrus

James J Rosasco

A method includes providing an apparatus that includes a scoring device for making transverse score lines on a roll of sheet material, a dimpler device or dimpler roller for making dimples adjacent the score lines at predetermined width locations, and a rollformer adapted to continuously form the sheet material into a tubular shape with channels. A welder is positioned in line with the rollformer and is adapted to weld the tubular shape into a permanent tube. A break off device positioned in line with the rollformer is adapted to break off sections of the tube at the score lines as the permanent tube exits the rollformer. The dimpler device is adapted to form an &ldquo;in&rdquo; dimple and an &ldquo;out&rdquo; dimple at locations coordinated with the score lines and with a width of the sheet material so that the &ldquo;out&rdquo; dimple forms a stop configured to slip into a channel formed in the sheet material by the rollformer but that abuts the &ldquo;in&rdquo; dimple which is formed at an end of the channel.

Method of rollforming with transverse scorer and dimpler

An apparatus includes a scoring device for making transverse score lines on a roll of sheet material, a dimpler device or dimpler roller for making dimples adjacent the score lines at predetermined width locations, and a rollformer adapted to continuously form the sheet material into a tubular shape with channels. A welder is positioned in line with the rollformer and is adapted to weld the tubular shape into a permanent tube. A break off device positioned in line with the rollformer is adapted to break off sections of the tube at the score lines as the permanent tube exits the rollformer. The dimpler device is adapted to form an &ldquo;in&rdquo; dimple and an &ldquo;out&rdquo; dimple at locations coordinated with the score lines and with a width of the sheet material so that the &ldquo;out&rdquo; dimple forms a stop configured to slip into a channel formed in the sheet material by the rollformer but that abuts the &ldquo;in&rdquo; dimple which is formed at an end of the channel.

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Grand Haven, MI, United States of America

Douglas L Witte