FR3122345A1 - METAL SHEET EDGE CRIMPING DEVICE, ASSOCIATED CRIMPING UNIT AND METHOD. - Google Patents

Abstract

METAL SHEET EDGE CRIMPING DEVICE, ASSOCIATED CRIMPING UNIT AND METHOD. The present invention relates to a device (20) for crimping the edges of metal sheets by folding one of said edges onto another of said edges. The crimping device comprises a support (21), a blade holder (22) movable relative to the support and supporting a crimping blade (24) for the edges of metal sheets, means for moving the blade holder relative to the , in a direction transverse to the crimping blade in order to press the edges of metal sheets against each other. The crimping device is remarkable in that it further comprises an intermediate support (23) pivotally mounted on the support, in that the blade holder is mounted so as to be able to move in translation on the intermediate support and in that the displacement means of the blade holder relative to the support are configured to perform a pivoting of the intermediate support and a sliding of the blade holder relative to said intermediate support. (Figure to be published with abstract: Figure 1)

Description

METAL SHEET EDGE CRIMPING DEVICE, ASSOCIATED CRIMPING UNIT AND METHOD.

This application relates to the field of assembling motor vehicle bodywork elements by bending their edges. The invention relates in particular to the crimping of sunroofs or the bottom of the window of a motor vehicle.

Crimping is a cold assembly technique, by bending metal sheets, used in particular in the automotive industry for shaping bodywork elements such as openings, fenders, wheel arches or hoods. It constitutes a major step in the vehicle manufacturing process since it generally completes the assembly of exterior bodywork elements directly exposed to the eyes of the customer and/or user.

The crimping of motor vehicle openings is generally carried out either by robots using a wheel, or by mechanical crimping units.

Wheel crimping is carried out using a programmable robot provided with a crimping roller moving along the edge of the bodywork element to be assembled. The main drawback of this type of crimping is its low rate due, in particular, to the need to perform several passes to complete the assembly. However, current manufacturing needs require reduced production cycle times.
Another drawback of these robots is their size, which limits space in the assembly area. Indeed, in order to reduce production cycle times, it is conventional to increase the number of robots used. However, the quantity of robots is limited by their dimensions, and by their accessibility with regard to the perimeter to be crimped. Indeed, certain zones of the bodywork elements to be assembled are not accessible or are difficult to access by robotic arms. This type of problem can be encountered, for example, on the bottom of the window pane.

In order to solve this problem, it is common to resort to open table crimping. However, the use of this type of crimper implies the presence, on the latter, of a die and blades specific to the crimping of a very particular type of opening. Therefore, the main drawback of this method is its lack of flexibility because only one type of bodywork element can be crimped. This is incompatible with current manufacturing needs which require increased versatility.
Likewise, in order to improve versatility, the crimping tools are generally carried on mobile platforms. However, crimping in an open table generates significant masses and bulk that are inadequate with the movements of the mobile platforms.

These same problems are found with current crimping units whose mass and size are important, which does not allow them to be installed on turntables. In addition, these units have a high cost.

The published patent document FR 3 089 831 A1 discloses a crimping unit for crimping the bottom of a motor vehicle opening window. However, this unit is heavy and bulky. Moreover, in this type of machine, the forces applied by this type of machine, during the crimping phase, are taken up by the crimping die and by its support.

An object of the invention is in particular to correct all or part of the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing a solution making it possible to prevent the crimping forces from being taken up by the support of the crimping device and/or by that of the crimping die.

To this end, the subject of the invention is a device for crimping edges of metal sheets by folding one of said edges onto another of said edges, comprising:
- a support ;
- A movable blade holder relative to the support and supporting a blade for crimping the edges of metal sheets;
- Means for moving the blade holder relative to the support, in a direction transverse to the crimping blade in order to press the edges of metal sheets against each other;
remarkable in that:
- the crimping device further comprises an intermediate support pivotally mounted on the support;
- the blade holder is mounted to move in translation on the intermediate support; and
- The means for moving the blade holder relative to the support are configured to achieve pivoting of the intermediate support and sliding of the blade holder relative to said intermediate support.

According to one embodiment, the means for moving the blade holder relative to the support comprise a pivot cylinder mounted on the support and on the intermediate support, for pivoting said intermediate support.

According to one embodiment, the means for moving the blade holder relative to the support comprise a translation cylinder mounted on the blade holder and the intermediate support for the sliding of the blade holder.

According to one embodiment, the mounting of the translation cylinder on the intermediate support is carried out via a sliding part with at least one abutment on the blade holder, said part comprising a face for taking up the crimping force, opposite to the at least one stop and facing the crimping blade.

According to one embodiment, the crimping device is configured so that the at least one abutment rests on the intermediate support when the blade holder is in a deployed position before crimping.

According to one embodiment, the crimping device is configured so that the crimping blade moves relative to the intermediate support, towards the face for taking up the crimping force, when the blade holder moves in view of crimping the edges of metal sheets.

The invention also relates to a unit for crimping metal sheet edges by folding one of said edges onto another of said edges, comprising:
- A matrix with a face for receiving the edges of metal sheets;
- A device for crimping the edges of metal sheets against the die;
the crimping unit being remarkable in that the crimping device is according to the invention.

According to one embodiment, the die has a rear face opposite the receiving face, the face for taking up the crimping force coming against said rear face during the crimping of the edges of metal sheets.

Another object of the invention is a process for crimping metal sheet edges by folding one of said edges onto another of said edges, the process being remarkable in that it is implemented by a crimping unit according to the invention and in that it comprises:
- A pivoting action of the intermediate support; and
- A sliding action of the blade holder relative to the intermediate support.

According to one mode of implementation of the method, the pivoting action of the intermediate support causes the entry of the crimping blade into a window well of the sash and the sliding action of the blade holder relative to the support. intermediate form a lower window of a motor vehicle opening.

shows the crimping of a lower part of the window of a vehicle opening using a unit for crimping the edges of metal sheets according to the invention;

shows an exemplary embodiment of a device for crimping edges of metal sheets by folding one of said edges onto another of said edges;

shows a sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of the blade holder of the crimping device according to the invention;

represents a possible step of a process for crimping metal sheet edges by folding one of said edges onto another of said edges according to the invention;

represents another possible step of the crimping process according to the invention;

represents a possible step of the crimping process according to the invention;

represents a possible step of the crimping process according to the invention.

detailed description

The right part of the illustrates the crimping of a motor vehicle sash window bottom using a crimping unit 10 according to the invention. The opening, for example a door or a vehicle roof, comprises an opening intended to receive a window or an opening roof.
The left part of the is a sectional view of the right side of the following section A-A'.

With reference to the left part of the , the operation of crimping a bottom of the sash window consists of folding flat an edge of the open sheets in the direction of another edge of the sheets by causing a crimping blade 24 to penetrate into the window well of the opening. The crimping is carried out against a receiving face of the sheet edges of a fixed die 11 of the crimping unit using a blade holder 22.

According to one embodiment, the crimping operation is carried out after a pre-crimping operation of the edge of the sheets intended to be folded against the other edge of the sheets. During the operation of presewing the edge of the sheets, said edge of the sheets is partially bent in the direction of the other edge of the sheets.

The left part of the is a sectional view of the right part along a cross section A-A'. It represents the sheet edge intended to be bent before its crimping operation 12 and after its crimping 13 on the other sheet edge. In this embodiment, a precrimping operation has previously been carried out so that the angle formed by the sheet metal edge after prescrimping and the sheet metal edge against which the prescrimped sheet metal edge will be bent has a predetermined value. By way of example, the predetermined value of the angle is equal to 45°.

According to one embodiment, the crimping unit 10 is fixed on a frame 14 intended to receive bodywork elements 15 made of sheet metal whose edges are to be crimped.

The unit 10 for crimping metal sheet edges by folding one of said edges onto another of said edges comprises a die 11 and a crimping device 20 according to the invention. The crimping operation is carried out by the crimping device 20 against the die 11.

The matrix 11 has a face 41 for receiving the edges of metal sheets. The receiving face 41 of the metal sheet edges is intended to cooperate with a working face 43 of the crimping blade 24 during the crimping operation. During this operation, the sheet edge is pressed against the other sheet edge between the receiving face 41 of the sheet edges of the die 11 and the working face 43 of the crimping blade 24.

The crimping unit 10 according to the invention can be used to crimp a relatively linear zone, such as for example a sunroof or the bottom of the window of a motor vehicle.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the device 20 for crimping edges of metal sheets by folding one of said edges onto another of said edges comprises a support 21, a blade holder 22, an intermediate support 23 and means for moving of the blade holder 22 with respect to the support 21.

According to one embodiment, the support 21 is intended to fix the crimping device 20, for example, on a frame 14 arranged in particular to receive bodywork elements 15 whose edges are to be crimped.

The blade holder 22 is mounted to move relative to the support 21 and supports a crimping blade 24.

The blade holder 22 is mounted to move in translation on the intermediate support 23.

According to one embodiment, the means for moving the blade holder 22 relative to the support 21 are configured to cause the blade holder 22 to move in a direction transverse to the crimping blade 24 in order to press the edges of metal sheets One against the other.

According to one embodiment, the blade holder 22 comprises at least one abutment 31 arranged opposite the intermediate support 23. The crimping device 20 is configured so that the at least one abutment 31 of the blade holder 22 is in pressing on the intermediate support 23 when the blade holder 22 is in a deployed position before crimping.

According to one embodiment, the means for moving the blade holder 22 relative to the support 21 are configured to produce a sliding of the blade holder 22 relative to the intermediate support 23.

To this end, the means for moving the blade holder 22, relative to the support 21, comprise a translation jack 25 mounted on the blade holder 22 and on the intermediate support 23. One function of the translation jack is to allow the sliding of the blade holder 22, relative to the intermediate support 23.

According to one embodiment, the mounting of the translation cylinder 25 on the intermediate support 23 is carried out by means of a sliding part 27. The sliding part 27 is slidably mounted on the intermediate support 23 and comprises a face 28 of recovery crimping force opposite the at least one stop 31 of the blade holder 22 and opposite the crimping blade 24.

According to one embodiment, at least one return device 30 is arranged between the face 28 for taking up the crimping force and the intermediate support 23. The return device is, for example, a spring or any other elastic means and/or or equivalent recall.

According to one embodiment, the crimping device comprises guide means between the blade holder 22 and the intermediate support 23.

According to one embodiment, the guide means comprise a first guide device 33 disposed on the blade holder and a second guide device 34 disposed on the intermediate support 23. The first and second guide devices are configured to cooperate together during the sliding of the blade holder 22 on the intermediate support 23.

The intermediate support 23 is pivotally mounted on the support 21 around an axis of rotation 26.

According to one embodiment, the means for moving blade holder 22 relative to support 21 are configured to pivot intermediate support 23 relative to support 21.

According to one embodiment, the means for moving the blade holder 22 relative to the support 21 comprise a pivot cylinder 29 mounted on the support 21 and on the intermediate support 23. The pivot cylinder 29 is arranged to ensure the pivoting of the intermediate support 23, relative to the support 21, around its axis of rotation 26.

According to one embodiment, the intermediate support 23 comprises at least one support abutment 32 opposite the support 21. One function of the at least one support abutment 32 between the support 21 and the intermediate support 23 is to limit the movement of the intermediate support 23 with respect to support 21. It thus makes it possible to ensure the repeatability of the positioning of the intermediate support 23 with respect to the support 21 and therefore that of the positioning of the crimping blade 24 when the support abutment 32 is in contact with the bracket 21.

Figures 4 to 7 illustrate the crimping process through cross-sectional views of an embodiment of a crimping unit 10 according to a sectional plane passing through the sliding piece 27. These figures represent the crimping unit 10 in different configurations of the means for moving the blade holder relative to the support.

In this embodiment of the crimping unit, the at least one return device 30 corresponds to return springs.

The presents the crimping unit 10 in a configuration where the crimping blade 24 is set back from the die 11. This configuration corresponds, for example, to a configuration allowing the loading of bodywork elements 15, the edges of which are to be crimped , on a support of frame 14.

In this configuration, the rod of the pivot cylinder 29 and that of the translation cylinder 25 are retracted inside the cylinder of the respective cylinders.

The at least one support stop 32 is in contact with the support 21. The return springs 30 are compressed and ensure that the at least one stop 31 of the blade holder is pressed against the intermediate support 23, placing the blade holder 22 in a forward position with respect to the intermediate support.

In this configuration, the springs 30 exert sufficient force to overcome the gravity of the assembly formed by the blade holder and the intermediate support 23 which, naturally, would be placed in the low position relative to the intermediate support.
In the figure, as well as in the following figures, this force is represented by an arrow referenced R.
Similarly, the force due to the gravitational force on the rod of the translation actuator 25 is represented by an arrow referenced G.

The pressure inside the cylinder of translation cylinder 25, which keeps its rod retracted, exerts a force on the rod of cylinder 25 represented by an arrow referenced V.

The shows a configuration of the crimping unit 10 as the crimping blade 24 approaches the edge to be crimped.

The rod of the pivot cylinder is extended, which causes the tilting of the intermediate support 23 around its axis of rotation 26. The support stop 32 is then in contact with the support 21. This allows the crimping blade 24 to end up above the edge of the sheets to be crimped and on its working face 43 to end up opposite the edge of the sheets to be crimped.

In the context of crimping a bottom of the window pane, the pivoting of the intermediate support 23 around its axis of rotation 26 allows the crimping blade 24 to enter (or exit) into (or out of) the sash pane in the direction of pivoting.

The face 28 for taking up the crimping force is opposite the rear face 42 of the die 11 without these two faces 28, 42 being in contact.

The shows a configuration of the crimping unit 10 just before the crimping action. The pressure that kept the rod of the translation cylinder 25 retracted in the cylinder has been removed. The translation cylinder is in a rest position, in which no force from the translation cylinder 25 is exerted on its rod. The springs, pre-stressed, push back the rod of the translation cylinder 25 which brings the face 28 of force absorption of the sliding part 27 into contact with the rear face 42 of the die 11.

The prestressing of the springs 30 always ensures the plating of the at least one abutment 31 of the blade holder 22 against the intermediate support 23 and at the same time, it maintains the crimping blade 24 with respect to the die 11 in the same position as previously.

The represents the crimping unit 10 during the crimping operation.

A pressure is applied inside the translation cylinder 25 in order to push its rod out of the cylinder. The translation cylinder 25 being arranged on the blade holder 22 and on the sliding part 27, the extension of its rod generates a relative movement between the blade holder 22 and the sliding part 27.

As the face 28 of force take-up of the sliding part 27 is in contact with the rear face 42 of the die 11, the rod of the translation jack 25 can no longer move forward but it continues to come out of the cylinder of the jack 25. Also , it is the blade holder 22 which slides on the intermediate support 23, reducing the space between the crimping blade 24 and the die 11. The blade holder 22 leaves its deployed position. The edges of the sheets are then bent between the working face 43 of the blade 24 and the receiving face 41 of the edges of the metal sheets of the die 11. The crimping of the edges of the metal sheets is carried out by a relative movement between the rod of the translation jack 25 and its cylinder.

During the crimping operation, it can be seen that the direction of the force exerted by the translation cylinder 25 on its rod is reversed with respect to the situations previously described.

By analyzing the chain of forces, we note that these are closed in a "C" loop, without passing through the supports of the crimping unit 10 or through the frame 14 supporting the die 11 and the bodywork elements 15 whose edges are crimped. Advantageously, the recovery of the crimping force at the level of the rear face 42 of the die 11, at “C”, makes it possible to limit the deformations of the crimping unit 10.

The method of crimping edges of metal sheets by folding one of said edges onto another of said edges according to the invention therefore comprises a pivoting action of the intermediate support 23 and a sliding action of the blade holder 22 relative to the intermediate support 23 in order to press the edges of metal sheets against each other.

Advantageously, the construction of the crimping device 20 according to the invention, with simple pivoting and translational movements, makes it possible to reduce the mass and the size of the crimping unit 10 for the edge of metal sheets with respect to the existing units. Indeed, the bending force is ensured by a pure translation, which can be easily achieved by a jack. It is therefore no longer necessary to use a motor driving a complicated connecting rod and crank system.
This simplification of the mechanical parts also makes it possible to reduce the cost of the crimping unit.

Advantageously, the fact of working with an action/reaction system makes it possible to limit the forces in the surrounding parts and makes it possible to ensure the rigidity of the crimping unit despite its small size.

Claims (10)

Device (20) for crimping metal sheet edges by folding one of said edges over another of said edges, comprising:
- a support (21);
- a blade holder (22) movable relative to the support (21) and supporting a crimping blade (24) of the edges of metal sheets;
- Means for moving the blade holder (22) relative to the support (21), in a direction transverse to the crimping blade (24) in order to press the edges of metal sheets against each other;
characterized in that:
- the crimping device (20) further comprises an intermediate support (23) pivotally mounted on the support (21);
- the blade holder (22) is mounted to move in translation on the intermediate support (23); and
- the means for moving the blade holder (22) relative to the support (21) are configured to achieve pivoting of the intermediate support (23) and sliding of the blade holder (22) relative to said intermediate support (23). Crimping device (20) according to Claim 1, in which the means for moving the blade holder (22) relative to the support (21) comprise a pivot cylinder (29) mounted on the support (21) and the intermediate support (23), for the pivoting of said intermediate support (23). Crimping device (10) according to one of Claims 1 and 2, in which the means for moving the blade holder (22) relative to the support (21) comprise a translation cylinder (25) mounted on the blade holder (22) and the intermediate support (23), for the sliding of the blade holder (22). Crimping device (20) according to Claim 3, in which the mounting of the translation cylinder (25) on the intermediate support (23) is carried out via a sliding part (27) with at least one stop (31) on the carrier. blade (22), said part (27) comprising a face (28) for taking up the crimping force, opposite the at least one stop (31) and facing the crimping blade (24) . Crimping device (20) according to Claim 4, in which the said crimping device (20) is configured so that the at least one abutment (31) bears against the intermediate support (23) when the holder blade (22) is in an extended position before crimping. Crimping device (20) according to one of Claims 4 and 5, in which the said crimping device (20) is configured so that the crimping blade (24) moves relative to the intermediate support (23), towards the face (28) for taking up the crimping force, during movement of the blade holder (22) with a view to crimping the edges of metal sheets. Unit for crimping (10) edges of metal sheets by folding one of said edges onto another of said edges, comprising:
- a matrix (11) with a receiving face (41) of the edges of metal sheets;
- a crimping device (20) of the edges of metal sheets against the die (11);
characterized in that the crimping device (20) is according to one of claims 1 to 6. Crimping unit (10) according to Claim 7, in which the crimping device (20) is according to one of Claims 4 to 6, the die (11) having a rear face (42) opposite the reception face ( 41), the face (28) for taking up the crimping force coming against the said rear face (42) during the crimping of the edges of the metal sheets. Process for crimping edges of metal sheets by folding one of said edges onto another of said edges, said process being characterized in that it is implemented by a crimping unit (20) according to one of Claims 7 and 8, and in that he understands
- a pivoting action of the intermediate support (23); and
- A sliding action of the blade holder (22) relative to the intermediate support (23). Method according to the preceding claim, in which the pivoting action of the intermediate support (23) causes the entry of the crimping blade (24) into a window well of the sash and the sliding action of the blade holder ( 22) relative to the intermediate support (23) forms a lower window of a motor vehicle opening.