EP1755802B1 - Crimping tool and device provided therewith - Google Patents

Abstract

The inventive crimping tool (1) comprises a pushing head (2) which contact the fold (3) of a sheet (4) and has a front convex contour (5) in a plane view and a guiding seat (6) applicable to the sheet (4), wherein the pushing head (2) and the guiding seat (6) are remote from each other and define therebetween a groove (7) bounded by faces (8, 9) which are opposite in a substantially parallel direction with respect to the pushing head and the seat. The thickness (e) of said groove (7) substantially corresponds to the thickness of parts to be crimped, the front face of the pushing head is convexly connected to said flat face delimiting the groove and the bottom (10) thereof and extends along a convex contour, in particular substantially in a parallel direction with respect to the front face (5) of the pushing head (2).

Description

The present invention relates to a crimping tool according to the preamble of claim 1 and, in general, to improvements in the field of crimping.

In the mechanical industry, crimping operations involving relatively large workpieces are carried out by means of presses which bend the sheet over the entire length of the workpiece, or even over the entire periphery of the workpiece in a single operation. . In this way, quick and clean crimps are made. This is the case for example in the automotive industry for the manufacture of openings (doors, hoods) which are obtained by crimping a piece of appearance or skin or outer sheet on a liner or inner box.

On the other hand, such a press crimping process is no longer feasible in the workshop, for example to perform a repair on a crimped assembly. In this case, the crimped parts are disassembled, the part of appearance or outer sheet, for example damaged, is replaced by a new part with its edges raised to 90 °, which is associated with the lining or inner box recovered, then perform manual crimping with hammer and pile. This is particularly the way that are currently repaired the doors or hoods of motor vehicles. This way of proceeding is obviously long and expensive.

• une tête de poussée propre à être mise au contact d'un rabat d'une tôle et présentant, en plan, un contour frontal convexe et
• une embase de guidage propre à être appliquée sous ladite tôle,
• ladite tête de poussée et ladite embase de guidage étant écartées l'une de l'autre et définissant entre elles une gorge délimitée par des faces en vis-à-vis sensiblement parallèles de la tête de poussée et de l'embase, cette gorge possédant une épaisseur correspondant sensiblement à l'épaisseur des pièces à sertir.

According to the document US 6,470,729 there is known a crimping tool comprising:

• a thrust head adapted to be brought into contact with a flap of a sheet and having, in plan, a convex frontal contour and
• a guiding base adapted to be applied under said sheet,
• said thrust head and said guide base being spaced from one another and defining between them a groove delimited by substantially parallel vis-à-vis faces of the thrust head and the base, this groove having a thickness corresponding substantially to the thickness of the parts to be crimped.

This known tool is, by the geometry of its forms, not appropriate for the work for which it is intended.

First, the thrust head has a front edge strictly perpendicular to the flat face defining the upper throat or "receptacle" for crimping, forming with the latter a frank angle. As a result, during the advance of the tool on the sheet, this free angle marks the sheet and it is not possible to obtain a crimping of good quality.

In addition, the bottom of the crimping groove extends substantially rectilinear, substantially parallel to the front edges of the thrust head or "upper projection" and the guide base or "lower projection", and the bottom of this groove emerges at a sharp angle on the lateral faces of the tool. Therefore, during crimping work, the tool must be maintained with its axis strictly perpendicular to the edge of the sheet to be bent, otherwise the edges of the ends of the groove will significantly mark the sheet. Such marking seems all the more inevitable as, as indicated below, this tool is a manual tool and it seems then impossible to ensure a strictly correct positioning throughout the crimping process.

Finally, this known tool is a manual tool that is hammer actuated. As a result, the crimping work is performed in successive steps corresponding to the width of the tool. It is then inevitable that a marking of the sheet appears in the overlapping area of the consecutive passes.

The document US 6,609,406 also discloses a crimping tool of a type close to the previous one, but which, however, is arranged with a specific shape to provide the crimping of the edge of the sheet by a continuous and unidirectional movement of this tool along the edge of the sheet which serves as a guide. Such a tool is difficult to use along a curved edge (eg wheel arch). In addition, by the very shape of this tool, it is necessary to begin to bend the hammer one end of the flap so that the tool can be engaged and then pushed along the edge of the sheet. This hammer bend primer is a heavy constraint. In addition, it is not possible to begin crimping at any location on the edge of the sheet, and the work must be initiated at one end of the edge of the sheet and continued to the opposite end of said edge.

The object of the invention is therefore to propose improved means suitable for making crimping on demand, for example in the workshop, in a quick and economical manner, and especially with a quality of work which is clearly improved compared to what allow the currently known technical solutions, the field of application more particularly, although not exclusively, aimed at that of the automobile, and in particular the repair of opening (doors, hoods) of motor vehicles.

For these purposes, the invention proposes a crimping tool according to the preamble of claim 1, which is characterized in that the front face of the thrust head is convexly connected to the aforesaid flat face delimiting the groove and in that that the bottom of the groove extends in a convex contour, in particular substantially parallel to the front face of the thrust head.

With the arrangements described above, the tool according to the invention, when moved transversely to the flap of the sheet in an axial direction of the thrust head, forces the convex front face of the thrust head against the flap which is then progressively deformed, the contact between said convex front face and the flap moving gradually to reach the plane face delimiting the groove. The fold of the flap is carried out gradually and avoids undesirable marking of the sheet, at the same time as the convex shape given to the front face of the push head avoids any risk of marking, such as scratches, of the sheet.

In conjunction with the above, the fact that the bottom of the groove extends in a convex contour, in particular substantially parallel to the front face of the thrust head, leads to the groove having a sufficient depth over its entire extent. and the crimping can be done correctly even if the tool is inclined with respect to the edge of the flap. This results in greater ease of work for the worker who is not obliged to maintain the tool strictly. perpendicular to the edge of the sheet on pain of seeing annihilated the good quality of its work.

Note also that the tool can engage the edge to bend at any location of said edge, without necessarily being an end. This is a remarkable advantage because it results in a considerable ease of crimping an outer sheet on an inner box: we can begin by folding the flap of the outer sheet in a central location of each of its edges, which has the effect of jamming the box in the sheet; can then, without constraint, perform the complete crimping of each of its edges.

In a preferred embodiment, the front face of the thrust head extends in a curved convex contour, in particular in a semi-circular or semi-elliptical convex contour.

In a preferred embodiment, the thrust head and the guiding base are formed as a single piece, with a throat of a given thickness, such an arrangement can be applied when the crimping plates always have the same thickness. same thickness. In a preferred embodiment, the one-piece piece is supported by a fork support provided with a mounting rod for mounting in a tool holder. However, it is also possible to envisage that the thrust head and the guide base are constituted respectively in the form of two parts having guide means and joined to one another by means of clean adjustable assembly means. to allow adjustment of the thickness of the groove.

Advantageously, the thrust head and the guide base are made of a rigid plastic material, in particular polyamide resin, the material in front of, Preferably, have features facilitating sliding on the sheet. Otherwise it is possible to consider a lubrication of the parts to facilitate the passage of the tool and avoid the marking of the sheet. In addition, the tool in synthetic material avoids marking or scratching the sheet. Such a tool is inert, from the electrolytic point of view with the metals of which are formed the sheets to be folded and is therefore compatible with aluminum sheets.

According to a second of its aspects, the invention proposes a crimping apparatus according to claim 8, comprising a tool holder supporting a crimping tool as explained above, said tool holder being arranged in such a way that said tool crimping is reciprocated back and forth in the axial direction of the thrust head. Advantageously then, the crimping tool comprises a support rod extending in said axial direction and adapted to be held removably in a retaining member, such as a mandrel or the like, of the tool holder. In a preferred embodiment, the tool holder incorporates a striker device, in particular of pneumatic type, and the crimping tool is driven by it; in this case we can use a pneumatic striker commonly available commercially.

The arrangements according to the invention lead to a simple and inexpensive crimping tool, but very effective which, in conjunction with a suitable tool holder, allows to perform on demand a crimping of very good quality, quickly and simply, with a very low cost compared to the hammer crimp currently practiced in such a case.

• la figure 1 est une vue en coupe d'un mode de réalisation d'un outil de sertissage conforme à l'invention ;
• les figures 2A à 2C illustrent trois phases d'une opération de sertissage effectuée avec l'outil de la figure 1 sur une tôle simple ;
• les figures 3A à 3C illustrent trois phases d'une opération de sertissage effectuée avec l'outil de la figure 1 sur une tôle associée à une doublure ;
• les figures 4 à 6 illustrent en vue de dessus respectivement trois conformations possibles de l'outil de sertissage de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 7 est une vue en coupe d'un autre mode de réalisation d'un outil de sertissage conforme à l'invention ;
• la figure 8 illustre schématiquement un appareil de sertissage agencé conformément à l'invention avec un outil de sertissage selon l'invention ; et
• la figure 9 est une vue en coupe d'un exemple de réalisation préféré de l'outil de la figure 1.

The invention will be better understood on reading the following detailed description of certain modes of preferred embodiments given solely by way of purely illustrative examples. In this description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which:

• the figure 1 is a sectional view of an embodiment of a crimping tool according to the invention;
• the FIGS. 2A to 2C illustrate three phases of a crimping operation carried out with the tool of the figure 1 on a single sheet;
• the FIGS. 3A to 3C illustrate three phases of a crimping operation carried out with the tool of the figure 1 on a sheet associated with a liner;
• the Figures 4 to 6 illustrate in top view respectively three possible conformations of the crimping tool of the figure 1 ;
• the figure 7 is a sectional view of another embodiment of a crimping tool according to the invention;
• the figure 8 schematically illustrates a crimping apparatus arranged according to the invention with a crimping tool according to the invention; and
• the figure 9 is a sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the tool of the figure 1 .

We are now going back to the first figure 1 on which is illustrated, in axial section, a crimping tool, generally designated by the reference 1, which is arranged according to the invention.

• une tête de poussée 2 qui est propre à être mise au contact d'un rabat 3 d'une tôle 4 et qui présente, en plan, un contour frontal 5 convexe dont il sera question plus loin de façon plus détaillée ;
• une embase de guidage 6 propre à être appliquée sous ladite tôle 4,
• ladite tête de poussée 2 et ladite embase de guidage 6 étant écartées l'une de l'autre et définissant entre elles une gorge 7 délimitée par des faces 8, 9 en vis-à-vis et sensiblement parallèles appartenant respectivement à la tête de poussée 2 et à l'embase de guidage 9, cette gorge 7 possédant une épaisseur e correspondant sensiblement à l'épaisseur totale des pièces à sertir, et le fond 10 de la gorge s'étendant selon un contour convexe qui, notamment, est sensiblement parallèle au contour frontal 5 convexe de la tête de poussée 2 ;
• la face frontale 5 de la tête de poussée 2 se raccordant de façon convexe, de préférence convexe courbe, notamment en arc de cercle, en 11 à la susdite face plane 8 délimitant la gorge 7.

The crimping tool 1 comprises:

• a thrust head 2 which is adapted to be brought into contact with a flap 3 of a sheet 4 and which has, in plan, a convex frontal contour 5 which will be discussed later in more detail;
• a guiding base 6 adapted to be applied under said sheet 4,
• said thrust head 2 and said guide base 6 being spaced from one another and defining between them a groove 7 delimited by faces 8, 9 facing each other and substantially parallel respectively belonging to the thrust head 2 and the guide base 9, this groove 7 having a thickness e substantially corresponding to the total thickness of the parts to be crimped, and the bottom 10 of the groove extending in a convex contour which, in particular, is substantially parallel the convex frontal contour 5 of the thrust head 2;
• the front face 5 of the thrust head 2 connecting convexly, preferably curved convex, in particular in a circular arc, at 11 to the aforesaid flat face 8 delimiting the groove 7.

The figure 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the crimping tool 1 in which the thrust head 2 and the guide base 6 are formed as a single piece 12. This part may be made of any rigid material, metal ( for example steel) or preferably hard plastic such as a polyamide resin (eg "nylon") lighter and less expensive and especially easy to slide on the sheet without marking thereof.

In a simple manner, the piece 12 can, as shown in FIG. figure 1 , be provided with a tapped bore 13 for receiving, for example by self-locking screwing, a rod 14 with a threaded end intended for its mounting on an apparatus as will be explained later.

To the figure 2 are illustrated three phases of a crimping operation of a single sheet 4. At the figure 2A , the crimping tool is approached from the sheet 4, the thrust head 2 resting against a flap 3 of the sheet 4 and the guiding base 6, substantially longer than the thrust head 2, supported under the sheet 4. The tool 1 is then moved back and forth axially (double arrow 15) at the same time as it is moved towards the sheet (arrow 16) so that the flap 3 is gradually folded as illustrated at Figure 2B . During this double movement, the bearing contact of the thrust head 2 against the flap 3 moves progressively along the concave face 11 and the fold of the flap 3 gradually engages inside the groove 7 Finally, as illustrated in Figure 2C , the flap 3 is completely brought against the sheet 4, the quality of the application of the flap against the sheet being all the better that the thickness e of the groove 7 corresponds more accurately to the sum of the thicknesses of the flap 3 and sheet 4.

To the figure 3 is illustrated in the same way a crimping operation of a sheet 4 on a liner 17, the flap 3 is then folded as explained above by enclosing the edge of the liner 17. The thickness e of the groove 11 must then correspond as accurately as possible to the sum of the respective thicknesses of the sheet 4, the lining 17 and the flap 3.

To the Figures 4 to 6 are illustrated, as examples, various forms that can be given to the crimping tool 1 according to the invention. To the figure 4 the convex frontal contour 5 of the thrust head 2 comprises a substantially rectilinear central portion 18 connected, on either side, to curved end portions 19, for example quarter-circle. To the Figures 5 and 6 are illustrated two preferred embodiments with the convex contour 5 continuously curved, semi-elliptic shape to the figure 5 and semicircular in shape figure 6 .

To the figure 7 is illustrated another possible embodiment of the crimping tool 1 in which the thickness e of the groove 7 is made variable within a range of predetermined values. For this purpose, the tool 1 consists of two separate parts, on the one hand the thrust head 2 and on the other hand the guide base 6. The two parts 2 and 6 have, behind the faces 8 and 9 delimiting the groove 7, facing surfaces having respective complementary reliefs (such as projections or ribs or pads 20 and notches or shoulders 21) adapted to provide a guide of the two parts 2 and 6 in a displacement relative distance or transverse approach, leading to an adjustment of the thickness e of the groove. Between the two parts 2 and 6 are interposed elastic means such as one or more springs 22, while one or more screws 23 make the desired adjustment.

For the practical implementation of the crimping tool 1 according to the invention under the conditions described above with regard to FIGS. 2A to 2C and 3A to 3C an apparatus is used which includes a tool holder 24 which is adapted to support the crimping tool 1, the tool holder 24 being arranged in such a way that the tool 1 is driven by an alternating movement of substantially in the axial direction of the thrust head (double arrow 15). In a preferred example illustrated in figure 8 , the tool holder 24 incorporates a striker device (not visible), preferably of pneumatic type; the toolholder can then be a pneumatic striker of a type commonly available in the auto body repair shops. The tool 1 is then mounted, by its rod 14 provided with the appropriate shoulder, in the holder of the tool holder through the retaining spring 25 or other similar support member of the tool holder 24.

To the figure 9 is shown, in section, a preferred embodiment of the tool of the figure 1 . The piece 12 monobloc retains the conformation explained above in relation to the figure 1 , being constituted here of synthetic material, preferably made of polyamide resin ("nylon"). To ensure better recovery efforts between the part 12 and the tool holder 24, it is expected to mount the part 12 in a support 26 fork, which encloses by its top and bottom faces. The support may be metallic (for example steel). The fastening of the piece 12 and the support 26 can be obtained by means of one (or more) connecting rod 27 (bolt, pin, rivet, ...). The support 26 is equipped with a mounting rod 28, which can be in one piece (for example molded), and which is intended for mounting in the tool holder 24. For this purpose, the mounting rod 28 is provided with a flange 30 defining the shoulder 29 adapted to cooperate with the retaining spring 25 of the tool holder, for the alternative drive of the tool by the tool holder 24.

Claims (10)

1. A crimping tool (1), including:

   - a pushing head (2) suitable for contact with a hem flange (3) of a sheet-metal (4) and having, in plane-view, a convex front contour (5) and

   - a guiding base (6) suitable to rest under said sheet-metal (4),

   - said pushing head (2) and said guiding base (6) being separated from each other and between them defining a gap (7) delimited by substantially parallel opposing faces (8 and 9) of the pushing head and the base, said gap (7) having a thickness (e) substantially corresponding to the thickness of the parts to be crimped,

   characterized in that the frontal face (5) of the pushing head (2) connects convexly (11) to said plane face delimiting the gap, and in that the bottom (10) of the gap (7) extends along a convex contour, in particular substantially parallel to the front face (5) of the pushing head (2).
2. The crimping tool as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the front face (5) of the pushing head (2) extends along a convex contour which is curved.
3. The crimping tool as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the front face (5) of the pushing head (2) extends along a convex contour which is substantially semi-circular or semi-elliptical.
4. The crimping tool as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the pushing head (2) and the guiding base (6) are made up in the form of a single unitary part (12), with a gap (7) having a given thickness (e).
5. The crimping tool as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the unitary part (12) is supported by a forked support (26) provided with a mounting shank (28) for its mounting in a tool holder.
6. The crimping tool according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the pushing head (2) and the guiding base (6) are respectively made up in the form of two parts having guiding means (20, 21) and connected to each other by adjustable assembly means (23) suitable for allowing an adjustment of the thickness (e) of the gap (7).
7. The crimping tool as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the pushing head (2) and the guiding base (6) are made up of a rigid plastic, in particular of polyamide resin.
8. A crimping device, characterized in that it includes a tool holder (24) supporting a crimping tool (1) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, said tool holder (24) being arranged so that said crimping tool (1) is driven in alternating back-and-forth (15) movement along an axial direction of the pushing head (2).
9. The crimping device as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the crimping tool (1) includes a support shank (14, 28) extending along said axial direction and suitable for being held removably in a holding member (25) of the tool holder (24).
10. The crimping device as claimed in claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the tool holder (24) includes a hammer device, in particular of the pneumatic type, and in that the crimping tool (1) is driven by it.

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