Roller forming machine with lengthwise adjustable heads

Abstract

At least one head on a roller forming machine can be fixed at any of several different positions along the length of its frame. A line shaft extending along the frame has a bevel pinion for each head, meshing with a driven bevel gear on the head, to drive forming rollers on the head. Each bevel pinion comprises a front two-part pinion member and a rear two-part collar member. Each two-part member has a coaxial bore through it, and its two parts, held together by clamping screws, separate on a plane containing its axis. The bore through the pinion member has a sliding fit on the line shaft, that through the collar member has an interference fit, and the opposing surfaces of the collar member parts are taken down so that the collar member tightly clamps the line shaft. In the front surface of the collar member and the opposing rear surface of the pinion member are radially extending keyway grooves in which keys are received whereby the collar member constrains the pinion member to rotate with the line shaft.