Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~16932~1
METHOD FOR DEFORMING A PLATE AND PLATE SUITABLE THEREFOR
The present invention relates to a method for
deforming a plate, wherein the plate is bent along at
least one bend line, and a plate suitable for this
purpose. The invention also relates to a device for
5 manufacturing such a plate in accordance with this
method.
Such a method is known, wherein a plate is deformed
along bend lines using a folding press such that a
product or semi-manufactured product with a three-
10 dimensional form is obtained. The folding press isnecessary since in many cases the flat plate is
manufactured from metal with a thickness such that manual
bending along a bend line or bending using a simple tool
is impossible. The plate can however also be manufactured
15 from another material, such as plastic.
The product or semi-manufactured product is
therefore fully finished using the folding press, wherein
the resulting forms do not generally lend themselves for
nesting of products or semi-manufactured products during
20 transport. A large volume is therefore required for
transport, which entails high costs.
A further drawback is that a folding press is
generally very voluminous and costly. Such a device is
moreover only suitable for bending the said plates
25 wherein professional skill and experience are required in
operating the folding press, such as for setting of the
folding press.
The invention has for its object to obviate the
above stated drawbacks and provides to this end a method
30 which is distinguished by weakening the plate along the
bend line prior to bending.
According to another aspect of the invention the
method is distinguished by weakening the plate, prior to
bending, along at least one bend line containing at least
35 a curve.
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With such a method according to the present
invention it is possible to transport the plates in a
flat state suitable for manufacturing products or semi-
manufactured products with a three-dimensional form,
5 whereby less space is required for transport. Forming of
the products or semi-manufactured products can herein
take place by bending parts of the plate along bend lines
manually or using a simple tool at the place of
destination. The lower costs of transporting plates in
10 flat position make possible a greater area of
distribution.
A further advantage of the method according to the
present invention is that use can herein be made of
machines which are also suitable for other purposes. Such
15 machines are at least generally less bulky.
Operation of the machines required in the method
according to the present invention, such as a cutter,
stamp or a pressure roller, is also easily automated
since less professional skill and experience are required
20 therefor, thus resulting in simpler operation involving
short or no setting times. As a consequence hereof it is
possible to operate with very short delivery times and
production of small series is cost-effective.
In addition, flat plates manufactured according to
25 the present invention can, after bending, enclose a
volume or an object. Manufacture of a duct, a block or
other closed form is for instance possible.
A final advantage is that by bending the flat plates
with bend lines arranged according to the present
30 invention products or semi-manufactured products with
curving surfaces can be manufactured since the plate can
be weakened along at least one bend line containing at
least a curve.
The invention is further elucidated with reference
35 to the figure description hereinbelow of a number of
embodiments of the invention. In the drawing:
fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a metal shelf for
a shelving system as embodiment of a semi-manufactured
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product produced according to the method of the present
invention;
fig. 2 shows a top view of a metal plate with bend
lines for manufacturing the shelf shown in fig. 1;
fig. 3 shows a sectional view of a metal plate in
which weakenings are arranged by means of an embodiment
of the method according to the present invention;
fig. 4 shows a sectional view of a metal plate in
which a weakening is arranged by means of another
10 embodiment of the method according to the present
invention;
fig. 5 is a cross sectional view of a metal plate
having weakenings in both sides;
fig. 6 is a top view of an embodiment of a plate
15 with bend lines containing curves;
fig. 7 shows a perspective view of the form of the
object obtained by bending the plate shown in fig. 6;
fig. 8 is a top view of another embodiment of a
plate with bend lines containing curves;
fig. 9 is a perspective view of the form of the
object obtained by bending the plate shown in fig. 7; and
fig. 10 is a cross sectional view of a metal plate
having weakening in both sides.
Corresponding components are referred to in the
25 figures with corresponding reference numerals.
The metal shelf for a shelving system shown in fig.
1 comprises: a plateau 1, edges 2 and strips 3. The edges
2 are folded relative to plateau 1 and the strips 3
relative to edges 2 so that the shelf has a greater
30 sturdiness than in the case where only the plateau is
placed on supports (not shown) of shelving systems
bearing shelves. The shelf shown here contains passages 4
formed by incisions in edges 2 and in strips 3 for
receiving therein the supports of shelving systems.
The metal plate 14 shown in fig. 2 contains bend
lines 10, 11, wherein the part of the metal plate 14
corresponding with the plateau 1 of the shelf is defined
by bending along the bend lines 10 and wherein the parts
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of the metal plate 14 corresponding with edges 2 and
strips 3 are defined by bending along the bend lines 11.
The parts of plate 14 corresponding with edges 2 and
strips 3 are provided in mutually opposing edges of plate
5 14 with incisions 5 which form the passages 4 shown in
fig. 1 after bending of plate 14 along the bend lines 10,
11 .
It will be apparent that transport of a large number
of the shelves shown in fig. 1 takes up a considerably
10 larger volume than transport of an equally large number
of the plates 14 shown in fig. 2.
Plates such as those shown in fig. 2 are generally
thicker than 0.5 mm so that the product for
manufacturing, in fig. 1 and 2 a shelf, will possess a
15 required strength. In accordance with the method
according to the present invention metal plates of such a
thickness are provided with weakenings along bend lines
10, 11, which will be further described hereinafter. As a
consequence of these weakenings the plate 14 becomes
20 bendable along bend lines 10, 11 manually or using a
simple tool, so that after processing in accordance with
the method according to the present invention the plate
14 can be transported in flat state and can be formed by
bending at the place of destination.
A flexible coating formed by a lacquer layer 15 is
applied to both sides of the metal plate 14 shown in
section in fig. 3. Prior to applying this lacquer layer
15 the recesses 16, 17 forming the weakenings are
arranged in the plate 14. In the plate 14 shown in this
30 figure both recesses 16 and 17 are formed by a milling
operation on plate 14, wherein use is made of different
milling heads to form recesses 16 and 17. The recesses
16, 17 are formed in the plate to a depth such that
bending of the plate 14 is possible manually or using a
35 simple tool, wherein sufficient strength of the edges
formed by bending remains ensured.
In addition, the recesses are preferably formed such
that the angle through which parts of the plate adjoining
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the bend line are bendable relative to each other is
defined by this form. The side walls of the for instance
U-shaped recesses 17 fit together at a number of points
after bending through the predetermined angle so that
5 further bending is not possible. In the case of V-shaped
recesses 16 the whole of the side walls of these recesses
16 fit together in the bent situation of the plate so
that once again no further bending is possible.
In addition to the above mentioned milling
10 operation, other material-removing operations such as
spark erosion can also be performed on the plate to
arrange the recesses.
In the plate 1 shown in fig. 4 a recess 18 forming a
weakening is formed by exerting a pressure on the surface
15 of plate 14 using a pressure roller or a stamp. Recess 18
is therefore arranged by deforming.
When it is required that the recesses forming the
weakenings be arranged very precisely, the plate can be
etched. It is further possible to make incisions in the
20 plate using lasers, wherein in most cases is required
that in order to control the depth of the incision
cooling of the plate takes place.
In another embodiment of the invention more than one
recess is arranged along a bend line. Recesses can herein
25 be arranged in the immediate vicinity of or on a bend
line in mutually opposite sides of the plate, which
preferably takes place simultaneously.
In the embodiment shown in fig. 5 two recesses 19
are formed in mutually opposite surfaces of the plate.
30 When plate 14 with coating 15 thereon is bent in the
direction designated with arrow A, the form shown in
broken lines results. This embodiment of the invention
has the advantage that deformation of the outward facing
surface at the thus formed edge in the plate is much less
35 than in the case of recesses in one side of the plate 14,
thus achieving a greater strength. The plate 14 with
recesses 19 in mutually opposite surfaces can also be
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bent in the direction indicated with arrow A as well as
in the opposite direction.
Two or more than two parallel recesses formed along
a bend line can also be arranged in one surface of the
5 plate. By bending along each recess through a small angle
it is herein possible to form the plate such that after
bending it is folded into a gradual bend with a certain
radius.
The plate 20 shown in fig. 6 is an embodiment of a
10 plate processed by means of the method according to the
present invention wherein bend lines 21 contain curves.
In the embodiment shown here the form of the bend lines
21 corresponds with that of a full period of a sinusoidal
function, which is shown in this figure by the dashed
15 lines, each corresponding with a bend line 21.
The object 22 shown in fig. 7 is obtained by bending
plate 20 along bend lines 21, wherein after bending of
plate 20 the bend lines 21 form edges 23 of the object
22. The form of the object 22 shown in this figure is a
20 random one used to clarify the principle of the present
invention wherein bend lines contain curves.
A limitation in respect of the form of the bend
lines 21 in plate 20 forming the edges 23 after bending
is the requirement that the edges have a two-dimensional
25 form, i.e. that in the form depicted the object 22 has
four separate contact planes, each wholly containing an
edge 23. Another requirement is that the bend lines 21
must bend gradually such that the bent surfaces of the
object 22 adjoining the edges 23 can be formed without
30 excessive tension in these surfaces. However, in order to
manufacture an object with a form where the bend lines
required therefor do not comply with the above stated
requirement, incisions can be arranged in these surfaces
of the object to relieve the tension. The forms of
35 neighbouring bend lines must also be accurately related
to each other in order to prevent such excessive tension.
The plate 29 shown in fig. 8 is provided with bend
lines 26, which are arranged in the plate by means of the
9327
method according to the present invention, and incisions
27. The plate 29 is divided into separate part surfaces
24, 25 and 28 by bend lines 26 and incisions 27. The
object 30 shown in fig. 9 is manufactured by bending
5 plate 29 along the bend lines 26. The from of the object
30 shown in this figure is a random one used to clarify
the principle of the present invention wherein bend lines
contain curves. By bending plate 29 along bend lines 26
these latter form the edges 31 of object 30. After
10 bending of plate 29 the separate part surfaces 24, 25 and
28 of plate 29 serve respectively as upper surface 24,
side surfaces 25 and fastening strips 28, wherein each
fastening strip 28 is fixed with one of the many methods
known in the art to the rear side of a corresponding side
15 surface 25. Mainly as a result of the curved bend line,
which in fig. 8 runs over the plate 29 in a curve from
top right to bottom left, the upper surface 24 and the
right-hand side surface 25 are curved in fig. 9.
In the embodiment shown in fig. 10 two recesses
20 32, 33 are formed along a bendline in mutually opposite
surfaces of the plate 14. When plate 14 with coating 15
thereon is bent in the direction designated with arrow A,
the form shown in broken lines results. This embodiment
of the invention has the advantage, that stress along the
25 outward facing surface at the thus formed edge is
minimised.
The shape of the plate 14 in the embodiment of
the invention shown here can for example be achieved by
making an incision to form recess 33, for example with a
30 laser (not shown), and subsequently exerting pressure on
the surface of the plate 14 opposite to the recess 33,
form recess 32 and to open recess 33.
Within the scope of the present invention it is also
possible to bend a metal plate along a plurality of
35 straight bend lines using a folding press so that a
nestable semi-product is formed, which enhances the
sturdiness of the product or semi-manufactured product
finally to be formed. Weakenings such as recesses are
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herein arranged as according to the present invention
along the remaining bend lines so that the product or
semi-manufactured product can be formed by bending along
these bend lines manually or using a simple tool at the
5 place of destination.
In the foregoing only recesses are described as
embodiment of the weakenings according to the present
invention. It is however also possible within the scope
of the invention to arrange weakenings in other ways. It
10 is for instance possible to arrange an additive in the
material of the plate along bend lines such that a
flexible or resilient strip is formed in the plate. Use
can also be made of heat-cold treatments of the plate to
bring about manual flexibility.
