ROLL FORMING SYSTEM FOR FORMING A VARIABLE THICKNESS BLANK AND METHOD FOR FORMING A VARIABLE THICKNESS BLANK

摘要

The present disclosure relates to a roll forming system (10) for forming a variable thickness blank and to a method for forming a variable thickness blank. The roll forming system includes at least two sets of cylindrical shaped rollers. Each of the sets of rollers include: a first roller (38) including a face (42) which is linear where the first roller contacts the metal sheet; and a second roller (40) including multiple shaping faces positioned about a perimeter and directed toward the face (42) of the first roller. Each roller set incrementally alters a thickness of a metal sheet (12) in a direction transverse to a metal sheet feed direction when the metal sheet is passed between the first and second rollers. The metal sheet after passing between the first and second rollers forms a roll formed blank (25) having a first portion and a second portion positioned in the direction transverse to the feed direction with respect to the first portion, the first portion thicker than the second portion.