DE10221991A1 - A method for folding the outer edges of vehicle outer door panels to hold the inner panel has the press tool die mounted on vertically adjustable columns - Google Patents

Abstract

The form tool die (2) shapes the outer door panel (3) with an upturned perimeter (5) as the inner panel (4) is laid in place and additional form tools (25,30,31) fold the perimeter over as the bed is raised and lowered by a drive unit (14).

Description

The invention relates to a device for folding, in particular of Sheet metal parts of a vehicle body, according to the preamble of claim 1.

In the automotive industry, in a generally known manner Manufacture of doors and front and tailgates each an inner sheet metal part and an outer sheet metal part connected to each other. The outer sheet metal part shows Outline a folded board that goes around the correspondingly smaller inner sheet metal part is bent around. This makes the inner sheet metal part between the folded fold board and the adjacent areas of the outer sheet metal part trapped. The folding boards are bent over e.g. B. in folding machines or in Presses with which the folding board with a hydraulically driven Movement is foldable. The folded board is against an inclined surface Press jaws pressed and thus at least partially in its target position transferred. At large folding angles there are several consecutive ones Folding operations necessary.

A generic, known device for folding, in particular Sheet metal parts of a vehicle body is known from DE 100 20 231 A1. at this device is in a folding bed at least one sheet metal part with a Folded edge can be inserted. Two folding jaws, one pre-folding jaw and one final folding jaw, are pivotally attached to the device and by means of a Lever device coupled to each other so that a linear movement of a Power cylinders in a first step of the pre-folding jaws against the folding board can be pressed and partially folded into its target position and in a second The step of the final jaws can be pressed against the folded edge and this into his final target position assigned.

The folding force is transferred from the power cylinder to the rotary bearing Transfer end jaws. This is mounted on a fixed axis of rotation and by means of a pivotably arranged connecting element with the Pre-folding jaws connected. The pre-folding jaw is also on a stationary one Axis of rotation arranged. Due to the linear displacement of the piston in the The folding force is applied to the power cylinder via the connecting element in the end jaw Transfer the pre-folding jaws so that it pivots against the folding board and thrown this. In the further sequence of the folding process, the Pre-folding jaws pivoted away from the folding board via the connecting element and at the same time, the end fold jaw in the direction of the fold board becomes the end fold pivoted toward.

The object of the invention is to provide an alternative device for folding, in particular of sheet metal parts of a vehicle body to create, with a folding process can be carried out in a simple manner.

This object is achieved with the features of claim 1.

According to claim 1, the folding bed is by means of at least one folding bed drive from a loading position, possibly via a pre-folding position to a End fold position can be moved reversibly. The folding board is with the required Folding force can be pressed against the at least one jaw, so that this is at least partially foldable into its target position. The folding bed drive comprises at least one adjustable by an actuator and in one Fixed pivot bearing as a lever fulcrum pivotable lever, with a Folding bed lever arm on the folding bed and a drive lever arm on the folding bed drive attacks.

An advantage of this device is that the folding force is exerted from the folding bed the folding board is transferred. The respective jaws only serve as Counter bearing, against which the fold board by means of the movement of the fold bed is pressed. Thus, e.g. B. when folding a vehicle door, at the complete border of the folding process is to be carried out so that the Inner door panel is connected to the outer door panel, all the way around Border has the same folding force for the respective folding process. The outer door panel lying in the folding bed with the one positioned on it The inner door panel is raised during the folding process using the folding bed drive and against a folding jaw for folding the folding board of the Door outer panel pressed. By means of the actuator, the lever around the Lever pivot point pivoted so that the folding bed with the arranged therein folding sheet metal parts, preferably by vertical lifting, is moved.

According to claim 2, the at least one lever is a one-sided lever executed. The fulcrum of the lever can be arranged below the folding bed and the Fold bed lever arm is relatively short compared to the drive lever arm. The point of engagement of the folding bed lever arm designed as a pivot bearing on Folding bed is also below this. It can be used with simple means Folding force is transferred from the actuator to the folding bed via the lever. By arranging the fulcrum and the point of application of the Folding bed lever arm below the folding bed are for the transfer of the Force on the folding bed requires only short transmission paths. With the Ratio of the length of the folding bed lever arm to the length of the drive lever arm the folding force of the device for folding is adjustable.

For a large folding force and an advantageous arrangement of the actuator according to claim 3, the drive lever arm so long that the actuator next to the folding bed can be arranged. So the under the folding bed must Available space should only be dimensioned so that the lever fulcrum and the point of application of the folding bed lever arm can be arranged there on the folding bed are. The length of the drive lever arm is dimensioned so that the Actuator at a sufficient distance from the actual folder is arranged. This is the actuator for maintenance or repair work easily accessible. The longer the drive lever arm is designed, the more the force required for a specific predetermined folding force becomes smaller Actuator.

In a particularly preferred development, the actuator has Linear drive according to claim 4, a lifting cylinder with a Planetary roller screw drive, which is coupled to the drive lever arm. So that's one Drive type selected with which the folding force required for folding is functionally reliable is applicable. With the planetary roller screw drive is an accurate one Movability of the lifting cylinder possible, so that by means of the transmission with the pivotable lever an exact travel of the folding bed is possible. This ensures an exact folding result.

According to claim 5, the lifting cylinder is a gear from a motor, preferably driven by a servo motor. So with simple and common components an adjustment of the lifting cylinder of the actuator possible. A commercially available gear and a commercially available motor are for the device can be used for folding.

For an exact folding result, the folding bed is at least in accordance with claim 6 a folding bed vertical guide, so that the folding bed movement of the Loading position, possibly over the pre-fold position, into the final fold position vertically is aligned. The lever is about an essentially horizontal position swiveling and the actuator is with the free end of the Drive lever arm with approximately vertically aligned actuating movement via a pivot bearing connected. Due to the fold bed vertical guidance and lifting of the fold bed On the one hand, an exact folding result is guaranteed, as a straight line reproducible folding movement is feasible and on the other hand can Completion of the folding process to relieve the device the weight of Folding bed can be used. The lever on the part of the actuator released, the weight of the folding bed presses the folding bed from the End fold position in the loading position. Due to the size of the weight of the Folding bed, this vertical downward movement can be carried out relatively quickly, which is advantageous for a long cycle time of the device.

Since a multi-stage folding is necessary for large folding angles, is according to Claim 7 at least one of the folding jaws designed as pre-folding jaws, from a rest position to a pre-folding position and vice versa a delivery device is relocatable. In the pre-fold position of the Pre-folding jaws is the folded edge of the sheet metal part in the folded bed by means of the movement of the Fold bed pre-foldable, the fold bed by means of the fold bed drive from the Loading position can be shifted to a pre-folding position. So that's the Pre-folding jaws can be brought into the pre-folding position for the pre-folding process, so that Folding bed is raised to the pre-folding position and the pre-folding process is carried out. After the pre-folding process is finished, the pre-folding jaws move to its rest position, so that no further folding steps The pre-folding jaw is handicapped.

In a further development, the delivery device is a pneumatically operated power cylinder with horizontal direction of action, with the the pre-folding jaws from the rest position to the pre-folding position and vice versa. By using a power cylinder is a It is possible to absorb the reaction force from the pre-folding. Through the horizontal Direction of action of the power cylinder is an easy to perform Relocation of the pre-folding jaw from the rest position to the pre-folding position possible.

So that the folding process can be automated with the device, according to Claim 9 of the pre-folding jaws with an associated delivery device on a as C-arm swivel arm arranged around a floor Swivel axis from a swivel position to a swivel position is pivotable. In the swiveled-out position, the folding bed is also to be folded Sheet metal parts can be fitted and in the swiveled-in position at least Pre-folding process can be carried out. So that the folding bed in the Swinging out position of the C-bracket from above z. B. with a robot-guided support arm to be folded sheet metal parts or after completion of the Folding process these are removed from the folding bed.

For automation of the folding process is according to claim 10 C-bracket by means of a, preferably electromotive, crank mechanism which is attached to the C- Bracket engages to pivot about the pivot axis. So that's a Functionally reliable positioning of the C-bracket from the swiveling position into the Swiveled-in position guaranteed.

According to claim 11 at least one end jaw is stationary on the C-frame and arranged in the folding direction after the area of the pre-folding position. The Pre-folded fold board of the sheet metal part is in the fold bed by means of the movement of the Foldable bed foldable, the fold bed from the pre-fold position to Return of the pre-folding jaw can be shifted to a final folding position. So that is a complete folding process with the device, even with large folding angles, feasible. The pre-fold jaw in the pre-fold position and stationary End fold jaws are each in the vertical displacement area of the fold bed arranged so that by simply lifting the folding bed the respective Folding is feasible.

In order to have an exact positioning of the at least at the beginning of the folding process To ensure a sheet metal part in the folding bed is according to claim 12 on the C- Bracket arranged at least one hold-down. That is at least one Sheet metal part in the folding bed at least at the beginning of the pre-folding process and / or End fold process durable in position. So is an optimal one Folding result guaranteed.

In one development, the at least one is Hold-down operated pneumatically, so that by the folding force with the movement of the folding bed is displaceable. The hold-down presses this shut folding sheet metal part also during the folding process, d. H. during the Vertical displacement of the folding bed upwards, into its position in the folding bed, so that slipping of the sheet metal part to be folded largely excluded is.

Due to the arrangement of the end jaw and the hold-down on the C-frame the pre-fold jaws move them from the swiveled-in position into the Swiveled-out position with swiveled so that the folding bed is equipped or the removal of the sheet metal part from the folding bed without hindrance is feasible.

The invention is described in more detail with reference to a drawing.

Show it:

Fig. 1 shows a device for folding in a loading position,

Fig. 2 shows the device for folding in a pre-folding position, and

Fig. 3 shows the device for folding in an end fold position.

In Figs. 1 to 3 is shown schematically an apparatus 1 for folding, in particular sheet metal parts of a vehicle body is shown. Different working positions of the device 1 are shown in each figure.

The device 1 consists of a centrally arranged folding bed 2 , in which an outer door panel 3 and an inner door panel 4 are inserted. A folded edge 5 of the outer door panel 3 is folded over with the device 1 around the edge region of the inner door panel 4 . The folding bed 2 is guided in two folding bed vertical guides 6 . On the underside of the folding bed 2 , a pivot bearing 7 is formed, which serves as the point of engagement of a folding bed lever arm 8 . The folding bed lever arm 8 is part of a one-sided lever 9 , the lever pivot point 10 of which is also arranged below the folding bed 2 .

A drive lever arm 11 of the one-sided lever 9 is coupled to a lifting cylinder 13 via a rotary bearing 12 . The lifting cylinder 13 is part of a folding bed drive 14 , which also consists of a gear 15 and a servo motor 16 .

Driven by the servo motor 16 , a piston 17 of the lifting cylinder 13 can be moved so that the lever 9 is pivoted about the lever pivot point 10 . The force of the servo motor 16 is thus transmitted via the drive lever arm 11 to the folding bed lever arm 8 and from there via the pivot bearing 12 to the folding bed 2 . This is thus moved vertically upwards in the folding bed vertical guides 6 from a loading position 18 , via a pre-folding position 19 into an end folding position 20 . By activating the servomotor 16 the folding bed 2 by the weight force of the folding bed 2 into the loading position-18 is engageable. Basically, the displacement of the folding bed 2 in the direction of the loading position 18 is also possible under motor control.

The folding jaws required for the folding process are arranged on a pivotably mounted C-bracket 21 . The C-bracket 21 can be pivoted from a pivoting position 23 into a pivoting position 24 by means of a crank mechanism 22 . A pre-folding jaw 25 arranged on the C-bracket 21 can be shifted from a rest position 27 into a pre-folding position 28 and vice versa by means of an infeed device 26 . The direction of action of the delivery device 26 is horizontal in the pivoting-in position 24 of the C-bracket 21 . At the pivot axis 29 of the C-bracket 21 opposite end a jaw 30 is fixed. A hold-down device 31 is arranged on the C-bracket 21 directly adjacent to the end jaw 30 . The hold-down device 31 can be acted upon pneumatically, so that it can be displaced by the folding force with the movement of the folding bed 2 .

The individual working steps of the device 1 for folding are described below.

In Fig. 1, the loading position 18 of the device 1 is shown. The C-bracket 21 is in its swiveled-out position 23 , so that the folding bed 2 can be loaded with the outer door panel 3 and the inner door panel 4 without hindrance.

With the crank mechanism 22 , the C-bracket 21 is pivoted into its pivoting-in position 24 about the pivot axis 29 , which is indicated by the directional arrow 32 in FIG. 1. Subsequently, the pre-folding jaw 25 is shifted from its rest position into its pre-folding position 28 by means of the delivery device 26 . The blank holder 31 presses the positioning of the inner door panel 4 to the outer door panel 3 against the door inner panel. 4 These movements are shown with the directional arrows 33 and 34 in FIG. 1. The piston 17 is then moved upward in the lifting cylinder 13 , which is indicated by the direction arrow 35 in FIG. 1, as a result of which the folding bed 2 is displaced vertically upward into its pre-folding position 19 . This is shown with the directional arrow 36 in FIG. 1.

This pre-fold position 19 is shown in FIG. 2. The C-bracket is in its swivel-in position 24 , the pre-folding jaws 25 in its pre-folding position 28 , the hold-down device 31 presses against the inner door panel 4 for positioning and the lever 9 is slightly raised, so that the folding bed 2 is in the Pre-fold position 19 is located. The folded edge 5 of the outer door panel 3 is thus pre-folded.

After completion of the pre-folding process, the pre-folding jaw 25 is moved back into its rest position 27 , which is indicated by the directional arrow 33 in FIG. 2. Now the piston 17 is moved further up into the lifting cylinder 13 , so that the folding bed is shifted further into its final fold position 20 . This is shown with the directional arrows 35 and 36 in FIG. 2. The hold-down device 31 is set so that it follows the movement of the folding bed 2 .

In Fig. 3, the end fold position 20 of the folding bed 2 is shown. The lever 9 is in its highest position, ie the folding bed 2 is also in its highest position. The folding board 5 is pressed against the end jaw 30 and folded completely around the inner door panel 4 . After the folding process has ended, the piston 17 is moved downward from the lifting cylinder 13 , as a result of which the folding bed 2 is shifted back into its loading position 18 . This is shown with the directional arrows 35 and 36 in FIG. 3. To remove the finished folded door panels 3 and 4 , the C-bracket 21 is brought into its swiveled-out position 23 , which is indicated by the directional arrow 32 in FIG. 3.

After the finished folded component has been removed, the folding bed 2 can be fitted with new components 3 and 4 to be folded and the folding process begins again.

Claims (13)

1. Device for folding, in particular sheet metal parts of a vehicle body,
with a folding bed, in which at least one sheet metal part can be inserted with a folding board, and
with at least one folding jaw which can be pressed against the folding edge and at least partially folds it into its desired position,
characterized by
that the folding bed ( 2 ) can be moved reversibly by means of at least one folding bed drive ( 14 ) from a loading position ( 18 ), possibly via a pre-folding position ( 19 ), into an end folding position ( 20 ) such that the Folding board ( 5 ) with the required folding force can be pressed against the at least one folding jaw ( 25 , 30 ) and at least partially folds it into its desired position, and
that the folding bed drive ( 14 ) comprises at least one lever ( 9 ) which can be adjusted by an actuator ( 13 ) and pivoted in a fixed pivot bearing as a lever fulcrum ( 10 ), a folding bed lever arm ( 8 ) on the folding bed ( 2 ) and a drive lever arm ( 11 ) engages the folding bed drive ( 14 ). 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in
that the at least one lever ( 9 ) is designed as a one-sided lever in such a way that the lever pivot point ( 10 ) can be arranged below the folding bed ( 2 ) and the folding bed lever arm ( 8 ) is relatively short compared to the drive lever arm ( 11 ) is and
that the point of engagement of the folding bed lever arm ( 8 ) on the folding bed ( 2 ), designed as a pivot bearing ( 7 ), is also below this. 3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the drive lever arm ( 11 ) is so long that the actuator ( 13 ) next to the folding bed ( 2 ) can be arranged. 4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the actuator as a linear drive has a lifting cylinder ( 13 ) with a planetary roller screw, which is coupled to the drive lever arm ( 11 ). 5. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that the lifting cylinder ( 13 ) via a gear ( 15 ) is driven by a motor, preferably by a servo motor ( 16 ). 6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in
that the folding bed ( 2 ) is guided in at least one folding bed vertical guide ( 6 ), so that the folding bed movement from the loading position ( 18 ), possibly via the pre-folding position ( 19 ), into the final folding position ( 20 ) is aligned vertically,
that the lever ( 9 ) is pivotable about a substantially horizontal position, and
that the actuator ( 13 ) is connected to the free end of the drive lever arm ( 11 ) with an approximately vertically oriented actuating movement via a rotary bearing ( 12 ). 7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that at least one of the folding jaws is designed as a pre-folding jaws ( 25 ) which from a rest position ( 27 ) to a pre-folding position ( 28 ) and vice versa by means of a delivery device ( 26 ) is displaceable and in the pre-folding position ( 28 ) of the pre-folding jaw ( 25 ) the folding board ( 5 ) of the sheet metal part ( 3 ) in the folding bed ( 2 ) can be pre-folded by means of the movement of the folding bed ( 2 ), the folding bed ( 2 ) can be shifted from the loading position ( 18 ) into a pre-folding position ( 19 ) by means of the folding bed drive ( 14 ). 8. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that the delivery device ( 26 ) is a pneumatically operated power cylinder with a horizontal direction of action, with which the pre-folding jaws ( 25 ) from the rest position ( 27 ) to the pre-folding position ( 28 ) and vice versa is relocatable. 9. The device according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the pre-folding jaw ( 25 ) with the associated infeed device ( 26 ) is arranged on a pivot arm designed as a C-bracket ( 21 ), which is pivoted about a pivot axis ( 29 ) close to the ground. Position ( 23 ) can be pivoted into a pivoting-in position ( 24 ) such that in the pivoting-out position ( 23 ) the folding bed ( 2 ) can be equipped with sheet metal parts ( 3 , 4 ) to be folded and in the pivoting-in position ( 24 ) at least the pre-folding process can be carried out. 10. The device according to claim 9, characterized in that the C-bracket ( 21 ) by means of a, preferably electromotive, crank mechanism ( 22 ) which engages the C-bracket ( 21 ) is pivotable about the pivot axis ( 29 ). 11. The device according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that at least one end folding jaw ( 30 ) is arranged on the C-bracket ( 21 ) in a stationary manner and in the folding direction according to the region of the pre-folding position ( 19 ) in such a way that the pre-folded folding board ( 5 ) of the sheet metal part ( 3 ) in the folding bed ( 2 ) can be finally folded by means of the movement of the folding bed ( 2 ), the folding bed ( 2 ) from the pre-folding position ( 19 ) after the return of the pre-folding jaw ( 25 ) to an end folding position ( 20 ) is relocatable. 12. Device according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that at least one hold-down device ( 31 ) is arranged on the C-bracket ( 21 ) such that the at least one sheet metal part ( 3 , 4 ) in the folding bed ( 2 ) at least at the beginning the pre-folding process and / or the final folding process is stable in its position. 13. The apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that the at least one hold-down device ( 31 ) is operated pneumatically, so that it can be displaced by the folding force with the movement of the folding bed ( 2 ).