DE102019108225A1 - Hemming tool - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a folding tool (18). It is provided that an actual folding force (F) can be measured directly on a folding jaw unit (20), a guide carriage (22) serving as a supporting component for at least one force sensor (32). For this purpose, the force sensor is kinematically connected in series with the folding jaw unit and the guide carriage and at the same time kinematically connected in parallel with a vertical linear guide (30) for the folding jaw unit.

Description

The invention relates to a folding tool according to the preamble of claim 1, a folding system according to the preamble of claim 5, a method for producing a folded workpiece according to the preamble of claim 10, a folded workpiece according to the preamble of claim 12 and a vehicle according to the preamble of claim 14.

Various systems and methods are already known in the field of folding technology.

For example, the DE 10 2006 009 292 A1 a folding device with a folding unit which is mounted so as to be essentially vertically displaceable in a translational degree of freedom and tiltable in a rotational degree of freedom.

From the DE 10 2013 210 835 A1 a folding device is known which has a folding jaw support and a base part, the folding jaw support being guided horizontally relative to the base part via its housing and the folding jaw support being vertically movable in the housing.

Due to elastic deformations during hemming, conventional hemming tools can lead to undesired changes in a force-influencing zone between the workpiece and the hemming jaws of the hemming tool. As a result, on the one hand, the actually effective folding force is falsified, for example compared to previous simulations, and, on the other hand, the tool cannot impress the desired desired shape of the fold on the workpiece with the necessary accuracy.

Conventionally, the resulting quality problems are eliminated by complex test runs when the system is run in, in that process parameters are varied until the folded workpiece actually meets all quality characteristics.

The invention is now based on the object of creating a technical solution with which both simple and reliably folded workpieces can be produced with high quality.

The object is achieved by the subjects of the independent patent claims 1, 5, 10, 12 and 14. Further preferred embodiments of the invention result from the other features mentioned in the subclaims.

• - eine Falzbackeneinheit;
• - einen Führungswagen;
• - eine horizontale Linearführung, an der der Führungswagen gelagert ist; und
• - einen Antrieb zur horizontalen Positionierung des Führungswagens.

A first aspect of the invention relates to a hemming tool, comprising:

• - a folding jaw unit;
• - a guide carriage;
• - A horizontal linear guide on which the guide carriage is mounted; and
• - a drive for horizontal positioning of the guide carriage.

According to the invention it is provided that the guide carriage has a vertical linear guide on which the folding jaw unit is mounted and that at least one force sensor is arranged between the folding jaw unit and the guide carriage in such a way that a force flow through the folding jaw unit, the force sensor and the guide carriage parallel to the vertical linear guide and can be generated by the carriage and the drive parallel to the horizontal linear guide.

In other words, the actual folding force can be measured directly on the folding jaw unit, the guide carriage serving as a supporting component for one or more force sensors. For example, one force sensor for measuring a portion of the folding force parallel to the vertical linear guide (sometimes also referred to as a vertical force sensor) and a further force sensor for measuring a portion of the folding force parallel to the horizontal linear guide (sometimes also referred to as a horizontal force sensor) can be provided . The further force sensor can also be integrated in the drive.

A force sensor can also be used which can measure forces in several degrees of freedom, so that only one force sensor is required which combines the vertical and horizontal force sensor.

A direct and therefore very precise measurement of the folding force is thus made possible in a simple manner.

The preferred arrangement of the force sensor and the additional force sensor for this purpose is advantageously made possible by the fact that the force sensor for measuring the folding force is kinematically connected in series with the folding jaw unit and the guide carriage parallel to the vertical linear guide and at the same time is kinematically connected in parallel with the vertical linear guide. The additional force sensor for measuring the folding force parallel to the horizontal linear guide, on the other hand, is kinematically connected in series with the folding jaw unit, the guide carriage and the drive.

In other words, the term “vertical” relates to a working direction in which the folding jaw unit contacts a workpiece in order to carry out a folding operation. Usually this is done up or down in the room. Of the The term “horizontal” accordingly refers to a direction that is orthogonal to the machining direction. It is clear to a person skilled in the art that the direction of work can basically be freely selected spatially depending on the system technology.

The guide carriage can be L-shaped, for example, the vertical linear guide being arranged on the vertical limb of the L and the force sensor being arranged on the horizontal limb of the L. Put simply, the L can also be turned upside down. The guide carriage can also be C-shaped, for example, the vertical linear guide being arranged on the vertical limb of the C and the force sensor being arranged on one of the horizontal limbs of the C. The folding jaw unit, guided on the vertical linear guide, is arranged in each case in the spatial area enclosed in sections by the L or C. The guide carriage can be in one piece or in several pieces. For example, it can comprise a base part and a carrier part. Thus, for example, the vertical linear guide, the force sensor and the folding jaw unit can be changed in a modular manner. For example, these components can be preassembled on exchangeable carrier parts.

The folding jaw unit can be in one piece, with a pre-folding unit, or in several parts, but forms a rigid unit in itself.

In a preferred embodiment of the hemming tool of the invention it is provided that the force sensor is connected to the guide carriage and the hemming jaw unit can be displaced against the force sensor to generate the force flow.

In other words, the folding jaw unit can at least be supported in the vertical direction via the force sensor. The folding jaw unit can thus also have clearance in the vertical direction, away from the vertical force sensor. If necessary, the jaw unit is secured against falling.

The hemming tool can thus be implemented with little effort and offers good accessibility for maintenance purposes, especially when the hemming jaw unit has clearance.

In a further preferred embodiment of the hemming tool of the invention it is provided that at least the vertical force sensor is connected to the guide carriage and the hemming jaw unit.

In this case, the displaceability of the folding jaw unit via the vertical linear guide is limited to the measuring path of the vertical force sensor. However, forces can then be measured in both a positive and a negative vertical direction, which is advantageous if the working direction should be able to be changed flexibly in the production facility. The term “force sensor” here includes both tension and pressure sensors as well as tension / pressure sensors. This variant also offers the option of hanging the folding jaw unit. This is particularly useful in the case of an upward movement of the folding bed, the force sensor being mounted above the folding jaw unit. The folding jaw unit is also secured against falling.

In a further preferred embodiment of the hemming tool of the invention, it is provided that the hemming jaw unit has a pre-hemming jaw and a finishing hemming jaw, the vertical spacing of which is defined by a fitting element.

In this way, a flexible hemming tool is provided for pre-hemming and finishing hemming, the hemming jaw unit itself being defined geometrically with high precision. This significantly facilitates the delivery of workpieces to the respective folding jaw and enables a precise coordination of the production steps that are carried out with the respective folding jaw, for example pre-folding and finishing of the same workpiece in one clamping.

A further aspect of the invention relates to a folding system comprising a folding tool according to the invention according to the preceding description.

In a preferred embodiment of the folding system of the invention it is provided that the folding system comprises a folding bed for receiving a workpiece to be folded.

The folding bed can preferably comprise clamping means in order to fix the workpiece to be folded. Such clamping means can for example include clamps or suction cups.

This offers advantages in particular when the working direction is chosen so that the workpiece to be folded could be lifted off the folding bed as a result of the folding force.

In a further preferred embodiment of the folding system of the invention it is provided that the folding bed can be moved vertically.

The vertical positioning of the workpiece to be folded, for example at the level of the respective folding jaw as well as the vertical delivery of the workpiece to be folded to the folding jaw for the The folding force can thus be easily transmitted via the folding bed.

The horizontal infeed of the folding jaw unit to the workpiece to be folded can be easily implemented with the drive of the guide carriage. This is preferably continuously adjustable and can also be readjusted during a folding operation.

In a further preferred embodiment of the folding system of the invention it is provided that the folding system comprises a plurality of folding tools which are arranged around a folding bed.

The hemming tools are arranged in such a way that the respective guide carriages can be moved safely and without collisions.

In this way, even workpieces to be folded with complex, for example curved or large geometries, can be processed very well.

In a further preferred embodiment of the folding system of the invention, it is provided that the folding system comprises a control unit which is designed to acquire measurement data from a force sensor of the folding tool and to regulate a folding force applied to a workpiece to be folded. The control device can preferably acquire measurement data from the horizontal and vertical force sensors.

This advantageously enables the folding force to be influenced directly as a key process variable. The folding force can be influenced, for example, by controlling the folding bed. It can also be done by controlling the drive of the guide carriage, since its horizontal positioning is transferred to the workpiece by the geometry of the respective folding jaw and thus also influences the folding force.

The regulation can also include a detection of elastic deformations on the hemming tool on the basis of characteristic hemming force profiles. Control data can also be provided, for example, in order to compensate for certain deformations.

All of this advantageously enables the system to react to changes in the force influencing zone between the folding jaw and the workpiece. The folding system of the invention is thus also particularly flexible.

1. a) Positionieren eines zu falzenden Werkstücks auf einem Falzbett des Falzsystems;
2. b) horizontale Zustellung eines Falzwerkzeugs des Falzsystems zu dem zu falzenden Werkstück;
3. c) vertikales Verfahren des Falzbetts und dadurch Kontaktierung des zu falzenden Werkstücks mit einer Falzbackeneinheit des Falzwerkzeugs, um eine Falzoperation durchzuführen;
4. d) Messung einer während der Falzoperation aus Schritt c) auf das zu falzende Werkstück wirkenden Falzkraft mit wenigstens einem Kraftsensor des Falzwerkzeugs;
5. e) Verwendung eines Steuergeräts des Falzsystems zur Regelung der Falzkraft während der Schritte c) und d).

A further aspect of the invention relates to a method for producing a folded workpiece using a folding system according to the invention according to the preceding description, comprising the steps:

1. a) positioning a workpiece to be folded on a folding bed of the folding system;
2. b) horizontal delivery of a folding tool of the folding system to the workpiece to be folded;
3. c) vertical movement of the folding bed and thereby contacting the workpiece to be folded with a folding jaw unit of the folding tool in order to carry out a folding operation;
4. d) measuring a folding force acting on the workpiece to be folded during the folding operation from step c) using at least one force sensor of the folding tool;
5. e) Use of a control unit of the folding system to regulate the folding force during steps c) and d).

Steps b) to e) can of course also be carried out in parallel, at least temporarily.

In a preferred embodiment of the method of the invention it is provided that in step c) first a pre-hemming operation is carried out with a pre-hemming jaw of the hemming tool and then the contact from step c) and the horizontal infeed from step b) are canceled and then steps b) to e) are run through again, a finish hemming operation being carried out with a finish hemming jaw of the hemming tool.

A folded workpiece can thus be produced flexibly and easily in one setting using the advantages specific to the invention.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a folded workpiece, produced with a folding system according to the invention according to the preceding description and / or produced in a method according to the invention according to the preceding description.

The folded workpiece can be in one piece or in several pieces. For example, individual parts can also be connected by folding, for example by folding.

In a preferred embodiment of the folded workpiece of the invention it is provided that the folded workpiece comprises a vehicle component.

For example, the vehicle component can comprise a body component.

A further aspect of the invention relates to a vehicle comprising a folded workpiece according to the invention as described above.

For example, it can be a motor vehicle.

The various embodiments of the invention mentioned in this application can be advantageously combined with one another, unless stated otherwise in the individual case.

• 1 ein erfindungsgemäßes Falzsystem sowie ein erfindungsgemäßes Verfahren; und
• 2 ein erfindungsgemäßes Fahrzeug.

The invention is explained below in exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

• 1 a folding system according to the invention and a method according to the invention; and
• 2 a vehicle according to the invention.

1 shows a folding system according to the invention 10 . The folding system 10 includes a folding bed 12 which is a workpiece to be folded 14th able to absorb. The folding bed 12 is in the vertical direction 16 movable.

The folding system 10 furthermore comprises a hemming tool according to the invention 18th . In the upper part and in the lower part of the 1 is in each case a hemming tool according to the invention 18th which are essentially identical. The differences are explained in more detail later.

First, referring to the upper part of the 1 , includes the hemming tool 18th a jaw unit 20th and a guide carriage 22nd . The hemming tool also includes 18th a horizontal linear guide 24 on which the guide carriage 22nd is stored and in the horizontal direction 26th is movable.

For positioning the guide carriage 22nd in the horizontal direction 26th is a drive 28 intended.

The guide carriage 22nd furthermore has a vertical linear guide 30th on. The jaw unit 20th is in the vertical direction 16 slidable on the vertical linear guide 30th stored.

Furthermore, there is between the folding jaw unit 20th and the guide carriage 22nd a force sensor 32 arranged. The force sensor 32 is with the guide carriage 22nd and the jaw unit 20th connected.

Becomes the jaw unit 20th against the force sensor 32 accelerated, this results in a power flow. The flow of force of a folding force F. is in the upper part of the 1 shown as an example for the case that the workpiece to be folded 14th by lifting the folding bed 12 in the vertical direction 16 upwards against a pre-folding jaw 34 the jaw unit 20th is pressed.

The flow of force of the folding force F. then runs out of the workpiece to be folded 14th over the pre-folding jaw 34 into the jaw unit 20th and is through the force sensor 32 and the guide carriage 22nd parallel to the vertical linear guide 30th diverted into the ground. The flow of force of the folding force F. can through the force sensor 32 can be measured directly. The flow of force of the folding force F. runs as the folding force F. also a proportion in the horizontal direction 26th includes, also as shown by the force sensor 32 and the guide carriage 22nd parallel to the horizontal linear guide 24 in the drive 28 .

In this exemplary embodiment, the drive comprises 28 another force sensor 32 ' with which the force flow of the folding force F. can be measured.

The same applies if the workpiece to be folded 14th through the stroke of the folding bed 12 in the vertical direction 16 against a finished rebate jaw 36 the jaw unit 20th is pressed. The pre-folding jaw 34 and the ready-to-fold jaw 36 are in the vertical direction 16 via a fitting element 38 connected. Overall, the folding jaw unit forms 20th a rigid body.

The folding system 10 further comprises a control unit 40 that with the force sensor 32 and here also with the additional force sensor 32 'in the drive as an example 28 is effectively connected. The control unit 40 is trained to measure data 42 of the force sensor 32 and the further force sensor 32 ' in the drive 28 to capture and the folding force F. with which the workpiece to be folded 14th is charged to regulate. The control unit can do this 40 for example an operative connection 44 with the folding bed 12 or with the drive 28 exhibit.

The folding system 10 can also have a plurality of hemming tools in other examples 18th include that around the folding bed 12 are arranged around and also by the control unit 40 can be controlled centrally.

Regarding the lower part of the 1 will now be an alternative embodiment of the in the upper part of 1 folding system shown 10 described, with the two folding systems 10 are identical, unless otherwise stated below.

The hemming tool 18th of the folding system 10 in the lower part of the 1 shows a changed arrangement of the pre-folding jaw 34 and ready-to-fold jaw 36 on. The pre-folding jaw 34 is here above the seaming jaw 36 arranged.

The flow of force of the folding force F. is in the lower part of the 1 shown as an example for the case that the workpiece to be folded 14th by moving the folding bed 12 in the vertical direction 16 down against the pre-folding jaw 34 the jaw unit 20th is pressed. So that the workpiece to be folded 14th not from the folding bed 12 are lifted off, as in the upper part of the 1 Clamping device 46 provided, which are only shown in outline.

The flow of force of the folding force F. runs in the lower part of the 1 from the workpiece to be folded 14th over the pre-folding jaw 34 into the jaw unit 20th and is through the fitting element 38 , the finishing jaw 36 and the force sensor 32 as well as the guide carriage 22nd parallel to the vertical linear guide 30th diverted into the ground. Here, too, the force flow of the folding force F. through the force sensor 32 can be measured directly. The flow of force of the folding force F. also runs through the force sensor 32 and then through the guide carriage 22nd parallel to the horizontal linear guide 24 in the drive 28 .

In this embodiment too, the force sensor 32 as already described above for the other embodiment, with the guide carriage 22nd and the jaw unit 20th be connected. It's here at the bottom of the 1 embodiment shown but also possible that the force sensor 32 only with the guide carriage 22nd is connected, whereby the folding jaw unit 20th in the vertical direction 16 a clearance from the force sensor 32 has gone. In the vertical direction 16 to the force sensor 32 there is the jaw unit 20th then only on the force sensor 32 supportable.

• In einem Schritt a) erfolgt zunächst ein Positionieren des zu falzenden Werkstücks 14 auf dem Falzbett 12 des Falzsystems10.

In an exemplary embodiment of a method according to the invention for producing a folded workpiece 48 becomes the folding system described above 10 used as follows:

• In a step a), the workpiece to be folded is first positioned 14th on the folding bed 12 of the folding system 10.

In a step b) the hemming tool is then delivered 18th of the folding system 10 in the horizontal direction 26th to the workpiece to be folded 14th until this, for example in the upper part of 1 , below the pre-folding jaw 34 is located.

Also using the example of the upper part of 1 the folding bed is moved in a step c) 12 in the vertical direction 16 , here by an upward stroke and thereby contacting the workpiece to be folded 14th with the pre-folding jaw 34 . This will create the workpiece to be folded 14th with the folding force F. applied and performed here as an example a pre-folding operation.

In a step d), during the folding operation from step c), a measurement is made on the workpiece to be folded 14th acting folding force F. with the force sensor 32 .

The control device is used in a step e) 40 to regulate the folding force F. during steps c) and d).

The pre-hemming operation with the pre-hemming jaw is preferably carried out in step c) 34 carried out and then the contacting from step c) and the horizontal infeed from step b) canceled by the folding bed 12 in reverse vertical direction 16 and the guide carriage 22nd in the reverse horizontal direction 26th be moved.

Thereafter, steps b) to e) are preferably run through again, with a finish hemming operation with the finish hemming jaw 36 of the hemming tool 18th is carried out in an analogous manner. The folding bed 12 is done in advance in the vertical direction 16 at the level of the ready-to-fold jaw 36 brought so that the workpiece to be folded 14th below the ready-to-fold jaw 36 is placeable.

2 shows a vehicle according to the invention 50 , which is an example of a motor vehicle.

The vehicle 50 comprises a folded workpiece according to the invention 48 , produced with a folding system according to the invention 10 in a method according to the invention, as in each case to 1 described.

The folded workpiece 48 forms a vehicle component 52 , here a vehicle door as an example.

List of reference symbols

10

Folding system

12th

Folding bed

14th

workpiece to be folded

16

vertical direction

18th

Hemming tool

20th

Jaw unit

22nd

Guide carriage

24

horizontal linear guide

26th

horizontal direction

28

drive

30th

vertical linear guide

32

Force sensor

32 '

another force sensor

34

Pre-folding jaw

36

Finished folding jaw

38

Fitting element

40

Control unit

42

Measurement data

44

Operative connection

46

Clamping device

48

folded workpiece

50

vehicle

52

Vehicle component

F.

Folding force

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent literature cited

• DE 102006009292 A1 [0003]
• DE 102013210835 A1 [0004]

Claims (14)

A hemming tool (18) comprising: - a hemming jaw unit (20); - a guide carriage (22); - A horizontal linear guide (24) on which the guide carriage is mounted; and - a drive (28) for horizontal positioning of the guide carriage, characterized in that the guide carriage has a vertical linear guide (30) on which the folding jaw unit is mounted and that at least one force sensor (32) is arranged between the folding jaw unit and the guide carriage that a force flow (F) can be generated through the folding jaw unit, the force sensor and the guide carriage parallel to the vertical linear guide and by the guide carriage and the drive parallel to the horizontal linear guide. Hemming tool after Claim 1 , characterized in that the force sensor is connected to the guide carriage and the folding jaw unit can be displaced against the force sensor to generate the force flow. Folding tool according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the force sensor is connected to the guide carriage and the folding jaw unit. Folding tool according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the folding jaw unit has a pre-folding jaw (34) and a finishing folding jaw (36), the vertical spacing of which is determined by a fitting element (38). Folding system (10) comprising a folding tool (18) according to one of the Claims 1 to 4th . Folding system according to Claim 5 , characterized in that the folding system comprises a folding bed (12) for receiving a workpiece (14) to be folded. Folding system according to Claim 6 , characterized in that the folding bed can be moved vertically. Folding system according to one of the Claims 5 to 7th , characterized in that the folding system comprises a plurality of folding tools (18) which are arranged around a folding bed (12). Folding system according to one of the Claims 5 to 8th , characterized in that the folding system comprises a control device (40) which is designed to record measurement data (42) of at least one force sensor (32) of the folding tool and a folding force (F) with which a workpiece (14) to be folded is applied to regulate. Method for producing a folded workpiece (48) using a folding system (10) according to one of the Claims 5 to 9 comprising the steps of: a) positioning a workpiece (14) to be folded on a folding bed (12) of the folding system; b) horizontal delivery of a folding tool (18) of the folding system to the workpiece to be folded; c) vertical movement of the folding bed and thereby contacting the workpiece to be folded with a folding jaw unit (20) of the folding tool in order to carry out a folding operation; d) measuring a folding force (F) acting on the workpiece to be folded during the folding operation from step c) with at least one force sensor (32) of the folding tool; e) Use of a control device (40) of the folding system to regulate the folding force during steps c) and d). Procedure according to Claim 10 , characterized in that in step c) first a pre-hemming operation is carried out with a pre-hemming jaw (34) of the hemming tool and then the contact from step c) and the horizontal infeed from step b) are canceled and then steps b) to e) again be run through, wherein a final hemming operation is carried out with a final hemming jaw (36) of the hemming tool. Folded workpiece (48) produced with a folding system (10) according to one of the Claims 5 to 9 and / or produced in a process according to one of the Claims 10 to 11 . Folded workpiece after Claim 12 , characterized in that the folded workpiece comprises a vehicle component (52). A vehicle (50) comprising a seamed workpiece (48) according to Claim 12 or 13 .

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