IP Library Granted Patent US 8,151,616
Granted Patent B2
US 8,151,616 · App. 11/990,556 · Granted Apr 10, 2012

Method for manufacturing enclosures of a sheet material and an enclosure of a sheet material

Assignee: Ensto Finland Oy
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,151,616
App. No.
11/990,556
Granted
Apr 10, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention relates to a method for manufacturing an enclosure of a sheet material and to an enclosure of a sheet material, which is manufactured of a sheet blank, of which the sides and the base of the enclosure have been folded, and the seams have been joined together. At least one corner to be folded of the enclosure is cut open from a part of the range in the sheet blank so that the unopened section corresponds to the smallest dimension to be folded in the product series of enclosures.

Claims (21)

1. A method for manufacturing different-sized enclosures of a metal sheet material, comprising:

selecting a biggest folding length for the enclosures to be manufactured and a respective first folding tool ( 2 ),

selecting a smallest folding length for the enclosures to be manufactured and a respective second folding tool ( 3 ),

preparing a metal sheet blank ( 4 , 5 ) for an enclosure of the metal sheet material for folding,

making an open-cut section ( 7 ) adjacent to an unopened section ( 8 ), wherein the length of the unopened section ( 8 ) corresponds to the width of the second folding tool ( 3 ),

folding corners of the metal sheet blank ( 4 , 5 ) by means of the first folding tool ( 2 ), with the exception of a last folding,

folding a last corner ( 6 ) by means of the second folding tool ( 3 ) by using the second folding tool on the unopened section ( 8 ), and

locking the folded enclosure into its shape.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein an enclosure is manufactured of the sheet blank so that sides ( 4 ) and a base ( 5 ) of the enclosure are folded and seams are fastened, with one corner ( 6 ) of the metal sheet blank to be folded being cut open ( 7 ) for a part of the range in the metal sheet blank.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the unopened section ( 8 ) of the corner ( 6 ) has a length that is at most of a size of a shortest side to be folded in a product series of different-sized enclosures of a metal sheet material.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the unopened section ( 8 ) of the last corner ( 6 ) has a length that is at most of a size of a shortest side to be folded last in the product series of different-sized enclosures of a metal sheet material.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein at an end of the open-cut section ( 7 ) at an edge of the metal sheet blank there is a short unopened isthmus for guiding a folding edge in a desired way and for reducing deformations in the open cut to be welded.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein there are open cut sections ( 7 ) in the corner ( 6 ) to be folded last on both sides of the unopened section ( 8 ).

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the metal sheet blank ( 4 , 5 ) is cut by a laser or by water cutting.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the open-cut section ( 7 ) of the corner to be folded in the metal sheet blank has been cut by a laser or by water cutting.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein at its end points, the open-cut section ( 7 ) has ends that are of a different shape than other corners, so that the location of sheet edges after the folding in relation with each other are advantageous for joining.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the corners of the enclosure are welded at the unopened sections ( 8 ).

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein seams of the enclosure are joined or locked by welding, glue, rivets, or screws.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the joining is by welding.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the open-cut section ( 7 ) is V-shaped.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the joining is by welding.

Assignments (3)
MERGER Recorded Jul 6, 2011
From: ENSTO CONTROL OY
To: ENSTO SEKKO OY
Reel/Frame 026561/0215 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 6, 2011
From: ENSTO SEKKO OY
To: ENSTO FINLAND OY
Reel/Frame 026790/0028 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 7, 2008
From: ISOMAKI, ARI
To: ENSTO CONTROL OY
Reel/Frame 020620/0586 →
Priority Claims (1)
FI 20050824 · Aug 15, 2005 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20090173742A1 · Jul 9, 2009