The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 31, 2002
Filed:
Mar. 20, 2001
Frederick Morello, Johnstown, PA (US);
MIC Industries, Reston, VA (US);
Abstract
The present invention is a panel seaming device that can seam both curved and straight panels. The panel seaming device accomplishes this task by incorporating a unique mechanical drive configuration that includes two gear box driven by a single motor and connected by a universal joint. This mechanical drive configuration and particularly, the universal joint allows the gear boxes to pivot amongst one another, thereby accommodating for the panel's profile change. In other words, as the panel passes through the seaming device and its profile changes, especially from a straight portion to a curved portion and vice versa, the gear boxes pivot amongst each other and accommodate for such change. Additionally, each gear box includes two portions, which also pivot amongst each other in a direction perpendicular to the direction that each of the first and second gear boxes is pivot. In other words, the portions of the gear boxes pivot in a direction perpendicular to the seam. This pivoting action is made possible by utilizing worm gears within the gear box. Accordingly, the universal joint allows the gear boxes to pivot amongst each other in one direction and the worm gear arrangement of the gear boxes allows the left and right hand portions of the gear boxes to pivot amongst each other in a perpendicular direction, which is parallel to the panel seam.