JP2009095841A - Hemming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a hemming apparatus having a higher versatility. <P>SOLUTION: In the hemming apparatus 10, when hemming work is applied between an outer lower panel 26 and an inner panel 28, a movable part 42 of a die 16 is disposed on a position abutting on the outer lower panel 26, and when hemming work is applied between an outer upper panel 24 and the outer lower panel 26, a motor M of a hinge portion 46 is controlled to separate the movable part 42 from the outer lower panel 26, and allow the movable part 42 to retract to a position where the movable part 42 does not interfere a hemming roller 22. In this way, when the die 16 interferes with the hemming roller 22, the movable part 42 of the die 16 is allowed to retract, thereby preventing the interference. As this result, roller hemming work is applicable even for a concave portion 32 of the outer lower panel 26 where the roller hemming work is not possible due to the interference in a conventional technique. Thus, the versatility of the hemming apparatus 10 can be improved. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a hemming apparatus for joining a plurality of panels using a hemming roller.

  Hemming is known as a technique for joining a plurality of panels used in a vehicle body or the like. In the hemming process, a flange is formed on one panel, and both the panels are joined by bending the flange toward the other panel. As the hemming process, there are a press hemming process in which a flange is bent by a press process, and a roller hemming process in which the flange is bent by a roller (refer to Patent Document 1 for the press hemming process; see Patent Document 2 for the roller hemming process). In the roller hemming process, the roller can be moved relatively freely by a robot arm to perform the hemming process. Therefore, the general versatility of the apparatus is high and the cost is low as compared with the press process.

  Incidentally, the trunk lid provided at the rear of the vehicle is usually configured by combining a plurality of panels. Like the trunk lid 90 of FIG. 9, the trunk lid may be provided with a concave portion (a concave portion 92 of FIG. 9) in which the license plate is disposed. In this case, since the concave portion is formed, the outer panel is composed of two sheets, an outer upper panel and an outer lower panel, and a trunk lid is constructed by adding one inner panel to the outer panel.

  Conventionally, hemming is used for joining the outer lower panel and the inner panel of the trunk lid, but spot welding is used for joining the outer upper panel and the outer lower panel (paragraph [0020] of Patent Document 3). (See paragraphs [0011] and [0012] of Patent Document 4). It is understood that spot welding is performed as a separate process because the mold becomes an obstacle when hemming is performed on the concave portion of the trunk lid in a state where each panel is placed on the mold. .

  Here, Patent Document 5 discloses a technique for retracting the clamp as the hemming roller approaches, but the mold remains an obstacle to the hemming roller even when the clamp is retracted.

JP 2006-61931 A Utility Model Registration No. 2561596 JP-A-7-132857 JP-A-6-278468 Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 7-16731

  For example, if both hemming and spot welding processes are performed as in Patent Document 3 and Patent Document 4, the entire system is increased in size accordingly. Moreover, the versatility of roller hemming cannot be fully utilized.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a more versatile hemming apparatus.

  A hemming processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a hemming roller, a roller moving means for moving the hemming roller along a hemming processing portion of a work composed of a plurality of panels, a receiver having a fixed portion and a movable portion for supporting the work. A mold, a receiving mold driving means for driving the movable part of the receiving mold, and a control means for controlling the receiving mold driving means, wherein the control means controls the receiving mold driving means. Accordingly, the movable part of the receiving mold is moved between a position in contact with the work and a position away from the work.

  According to the present invention, even when the receiving mold interferes with the hemming roller or the workpiece, the interference can be eliminated by moving the movable section of the receiving mold. For this reason, the roller hemming can be performed even on a workpiece or a part that could not be roller hemmed due to the interference. Therefore, the versatility of the hemming apparatus can be improved.

  The hemming apparatus may further include a receiving roller that sandwiches the workpiece and the receiving mold in cooperation with the hemming roller during the hemming process. Thereby, since the demand for the rigidity of the receiving mold itself is reduced and the receiving mold can be reduced in weight, the receiving mold driving means and the means for supporting the receiving mold can be further simplified.

  In the above, the movable part supports the workpiece from the same side as the fixed part when the hemming roller rolls on a first part where the receiving mold and the hemming roller do not interfere with each other, When the hemming roller rolls, the second portion where the hemming roller interferes may be retracted to a position away from the workpiece, thereby preventing the receiving mold and the hemming roller from interfering with each other. Thus, if the die is composed only of the fixed part, even if the receiving mold interferes with the hemming roller and the roller hemming cannot be performed, the roller hemming is performed at the place where the movable part is located by retracting the movable part. be able to.

  Alternatively, the movable portion is separated from the work when the work is carried into the receiving mold or when the work is carried out from the receiving mold, and is retracted to a first position where the receiving mold and the work do not interfere with each other. When the hemming roller rolls on the hemming portion, the hemming roller comes into contact with the workpiece from the side opposite to the fixed portion, and is moved to a second position where the receiving mold and the workpiece interfere with each other. You can also. As a result, if the mold consists of only the fixed part, the fixed part can be fixed by retracting the movable part even if the mold interferes with the work and the work cannot be carried into the mold or the work cannot be carried out of the mold. The part and the movable part are opened, and the work can be carried into the mold or the work can be carried out of the mold.

  According to the present invention, even when the receiving mold interferes with the hemming roller or the workpiece, the interference can be eliminated by moving the movable section of the receiving mold. For this reason, the roller hemming can be performed also on the workpiece or the part that could not be roller hemmed due to the interference. Therefore, the versatility of the hemming apparatus can be improved.

  Hereinafter, a plurality of embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  In the drawings to be referred to below, corresponding components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

A. First Embodiment [1. Configuration of Hemming Device 10]
FIG. 1 shows a hemming apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The hemming apparatus 10 is for producing a trunk lid similar to the trunk lid 90 of FIG. 9 by subjecting the workpiece W to roller hemming. The work W of FIG. 1 is shown in a state where the trunk lid 90 of FIG. 9 is viewed from a position and direction similar to the position and direction of the line AA. The hemming processing apparatus 10 includes an articulated robot 12, a controller 14 that controls the operation of the robot 12, a mold 16 for fixedly placing the workpiece W, and a support 18 that supports the mold 16. And a base plate 20 that holds the support 18.

  The robot 12 has a hemming roller 22 at its tip, and rolls the hemming roller 22 to a predetermined part of the workpiece W to perform roller hemming on the workpiece W.

  The controller 14 sends a signal for operation control to the robot 12 and is connected to a motor M provided in the hinge portion 46 of the mold 16. The movable part 42 is moved. Details of this point will be described later.

  The work W fixedly placed on the mold 16 includes an outer upper panel 24, an outer lower panel 26 and an inner panel 28. The outer upper panel 24 has a substantially L-shaped cross section, and flanges 30a and 30b are formed at both ends thereof. The outer lower panel 26 has a recess 32 that accommodates a number plate (not shown), and a flat surface 34 corresponding to the flange 30a is formed on the flange 30a side of the outer lower panel 26. A flange 36 is formed on the opposite side of the flat surface 34. The inner panel 28 has a substantially L-shaped cross section, and a recess 38 is formed in a portion corresponding to the recess 32 of the outer lower panel 26.

  The mold 16 includes a fixed portion 40 formed of a columnar body having a substantially L-shaped cross section in which two substantially rectangular parallelepiped members 41a and 41b inclined by about 45 degrees with respect to the horizontal direction are combined, A rectangular parallelepiped member 41a and a movable portion 42 made of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped member disposed on the same plane are provided. The movable portion 42 is connected to one end of a substantially U-shaped connecting member 44, and the other end of the connecting member 44 is connected to a hinge portion 46 in which the motor M is incorporated. Further, the motor M of the hinge portion 46 is electrically connected to the controller 14. As a result, the motor M is controlled by the controller 14 in a state where the workpiece W is installed on the mold 16, so that the movable portion 42 comes into contact with the outer lower panel 26 of the workpiece W (see FIG. 2) and the outer It moves between positions separated from the lower panel 26 (see FIG. 3). When the movable part 42 is not sufficiently supported when the movable part 42 is at a position spaced apart from the outer lower panel 26 (FIG. 3), the outer joint is separated from above by an articulated robot (not shown) separate from the robot 12. A configuration for supporting the lower panel 26 is also possible.

[2. Operation of hemming apparatus 10]
The hemming processing apparatus 10 of the first embodiment is basically configured as described above, and the operation thereof will be described next.

  First, the outer upper panel 24, the outer lower panel 26, and the inner panel 28 are mounted on the mold 16 as shown in FIG. 2 by a work transfer device (not shown) with the movable portion 42 of the mold 16 in the position shown in FIG. Put. Accordingly, the outer upper panel 24 is supported by the fixed portion 40 of the mold 16, and the outer lower panel 26 and the inner panel 28 are supported by the fixed portion 40 and the movable portion 42 of the mold 16. At this time, each panel may be clamped and fixed by a clamping device (not shown).

  Next, the controller 14 controls the robot 12 to hemm the outer lower panel 26 and the inner panel 28 using the hemming roller 22. That is, the flange 36 of the outer lower panel 26 is bent toward the inner panel 28 to join the outer lower panel 26 and the inner panel 28 together.

  Subsequently, the controller 14 operates the motor M of the hinge portion 46 to separate the movable portion 42 of the mold 16 from the outer lower panel 26 as shown in FIG. At this time, an articulated robot (not shown) having suction means such as a suction pad may be approached from above the mold 16 toward the mold 16 to suck and support the outer lower panel 26. In this case, since a large number of holes for weight reduction are generally formed in the inner panel 28, the suction pad is adsorbed to the outer lower panel 26 via the inner panel 28, and the inner panel 28 Both 28 and the outer lower panel 26 may be supported.

  Thereafter, the controller 14 controls the robot 12 so that the hemming roller 22 enters the recess 32 of the outer lower panel 26 and hemmes the outer lower panel 26 and the inner panel 28. That is, the outer upper panel 24 and the outer lower panel 26 are joined by bending the flange 30 a of the outer upper panel 24 toward the flat surface 34 of the outer lower panel 26.

  Next, the controller 14 controls the motor M of the hinge portion 46 to return the movable portion 42 of the mold 16 to the initial position in FIG. 2 (position where the movable portion 42 contacts the outer lower panel 26). It should be noted that a positioning stopper may be provided on the movable portion 42 or the connecting member 44, and a locking means for fixing the connecting member 44 may be provided.

  Subsequently, the controller 14 controls the robot 12 to hemm the outer upper panel 24 and the inner panel 28 using the hemming roller 22. That is, the flange 30b of the outer upper panel 24 is bent toward the inner panel 28, and the outer upper panel 24 and the inner panel 28 are joined.

  When the joining of the panels is completed, the controller 14 moves the workpiece W to the next step by a workpiece transfer device (not shown).

[3. Comparative example]
FIG. 4 shows a part of a hemming processing apparatus 70 as a comparative example. This hemming processing device 70 basically has the same configuration as the hemming processing device 10, but a portion (second fixing portion 72) corresponding to the movable portion 42 of the hemming processing device 10 is fixedly supported by a support 73. Yes. Therefore, in the hemming processing device 70, even if the hemming roller 22 is to be put in the recess 32 of the outer lower panel 26, the hemming roller 22 cannot be put in the recess 32 because it interferes with the second fixing portion 72. For this reason, the outer upper panel 24 and the outer lower panel 26 cannot be hemmed by the hemming roller 22.

[4. Effect of First Embodiment]
As described above, in the hemming apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment, the controller 14 controls the motor M of the hinge portion 46, whereby the movable portion 42 of the mold 16 is brought into contact with the outer lower panel 26. , And move to a position away from the outer lower panel 26. Accordingly, even when the mold 16 interferes with the hemming roller 22 as it is, the interference can be eliminated by moving the movable portion 42 of the mold 16. For this reason, the roller hemming can also be performed for the joining of the outer upper panel 24 and the outer lower panel 26, which could not be roller hemmed due to the interference. Therefore, the versatility of the hemming apparatus 10 can be improved.

  Further, the movable portion 42 supports the outer lower panel 26 from the same side as the fixed portion 40 when the hemming roller 22 rolls at the joint portion between the outer lower panel 26 and the inner panel 28 where the mold 16 and the hemming roller 22 do not interfere. When the hemming roller 22 rolls, the joint between the outer upper panel 24 and the outer lower panel 26 where the mold 16 and the hemming roller 22 interfere with each other is retracted to a position away from the outer lower panel 26. The hemming roller 22 does not interfere. Therefore, in the case of the mold 16 including only the fixed portion 40, even when the mold 16 interferes with the hemming roller 22 and hemming cannot be performed, the movable portion 42 is retracted so that the roller is located at the place where the movable portion 42 is located. Hemming can be performed.

B. Second Embodiment [1. Configuration of Hemming Device 10A]
FIG. 5 shows a mold 16a included in the hemming apparatus 10A according to the second embodiment of the present invention and its periphery. This hemming processing apparatus 10A performs roller hemming on one end of a work W2 (for example, a tailgate for a hatchback type vehicle) composed of an outer panel 24a and an inner panel 28a. In this roller hemming process, the outer panel 24a and the inner panel 28 are joined by providing the inner panel 28 with a flange 48 and bending the flange 48 toward the outer panel 24a.

  Although not shown in FIG. 5, the hemming processing apparatus 10 </ b> A of the second embodiment includes an articulated robot 12 and a controller 14 similar to the hemming processing apparatus 10 of the first embodiment. The die 16a of the hemming apparatus 10A is made of a member having a substantially L-shaped cross section, and has a fixed portion 40a having one side surface arranged horizontally and a movable portion 42a made of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped member. The fixed portion 40a is supported by the support 18a, and the support 18a is held by the base plate 20a. The movable portion 42a is connected to the hinge portion 46 via a substantially rectangular parallelepiped connecting member 44a. The hinge portion 46 has a motor M and is supported by the support body 50. The support body 50 is held by the base plate 20a.

  In the hemming processing apparatus 10 of the first embodiment, the fixed portion 40 and the movable portion 42 of the mold 16 support the workpiece W (outer lower panel 26) from the same side, whereas the hemming of the second embodiment. In the processing apparatus 10A, the fixed portion 40a and the movable portion 42a are disposed on the opposite sides of the workpiece W2 (the outer panel 24a and the inner panel 28a).

[2. Operation of Hemming Device 10A]
The hemming processing apparatus 10A of the second embodiment is basically configured as described above, and the operation thereof will be described next.

  First, the outer panel 26a and the inner panel 28a are placed on the mold 16a as shown in FIG. 5 by a work transfer device (not shown) in a state where the movable portion 42a of the mold 16a is at the position A in FIG. As a result, the outer panel 24 a and the inner panel 28 a are supported by the fixing portion 40 a of the mold 16. At this time, each panel may be clamped and fixed by a clamping device (not shown).

  Next, the controller 14 controls the motor M of the hinge portion 46 to move the movable portion 42a to the position B in FIG. 5 so as to contact the inner panel 28a.

  Subsequently, the controller 14 controls the robot 12 to hemm the outer panel 24 a and the inner panel 28 a using the hemming roller 22. That is, the flange 48 of the inner panel 28a is bent toward the outer panel 24a to join the outer panel 24a and the inner panel 28a.

  And the controller 14 operates the motor M of the hinge part 46, and returns the movable part 42a of the metal mold | die 16 to the position A of FIG.

  Subsequently, the controller 14 takes out the workpiece W2 by a workpiece transfer device (not shown) and proceeds with the subsequent processing.

[3. Comparative example]
FIG. 6 shows a part of a hemming apparatus 70A as a comparative example. In this hemming processing apparatus 70A, a portion (second fixing portion 72a) corresponding to the movable portion 42a of the hemming processing apparatus 10A is fixedly supported using a support body 74. Therefore, in the hemming processing apparatus 70A as the comparative example, even if the workpiece W2 (in particular, the inner panel 28a) is to be installed in the mold 16a, the second fixing portion 72a becomes an obstacle and it is very difficult to install in the mold 16a. is there. For this reason, hemming cannot be performed on the workpiece W2.

[4. Effect of Second Embodiment]
As described above, in the hemming processing apparatus 10A according to the second embodiment, the controller 14 controls the motor M of the hinge portion 46 to thereby bring the movable portion 42a of the mold 16a into contact with the inner panel 28a. , And move to a position away from the inner panel 28a. Thereby, even when the mold 16a interferes with the workpiece W2 (particularly the inner panel 28a), the movable portion 42a of the mold 16a is moved (arranged at the position A as the initial position), thereby Interference can be eliminated. For this reason, the roller hemming can be performed also on the workpiece W2 that could not be roller hemmed due to the interference. Therefore, the versatility of the hemming apparatus 10A can be improved.

  Further, the movable portion 42a is separated from the work W2 when the work W2 is carried into the mold 16a or when the work W2 is carried out from the mold 16a, and is retracted to a position A where the mold 16a and the work W2 do not interfere with each other. When the hemming roller 22 rolls on the joint between the outer panel 24a and the inner panel 28a, the hemming roller 22 contacts the inner panel 28a from the side opposite to the fixed portion 40a, and is moved to a position B where the mold 16a and the inner panel 28a interfere. Thus, if the mold 16a is composed of only the fixed portion 40a and the second fixed portion 72a as in the comparative example, the mold 16a interferes with the inner panel 28a, and the inner panel 28a is carried into the mold 16a. Even when it is difficult to carry out the inner panel 28a from the mold 16a, by retracting the movable part 42a, the space between the fixed part 40a and the movable part 42a is opened, and the inner panel 28a can be installed in the mold 16a. The inner panel 28a can be unloaded from the mold 16a.

C. In the first embodiment, the trunk lid is used as the work W, and in the second embodiment, the tail gate is used as the work W2. However, the present invention can be applied to other works.

  In the first embodiment, the fixed portion 40 and the movable portion 42 support the workpiece W (outer lower panel 26) from the same side. In the second embodiment, the fixed portion 40a and the movable portion 42a are connected to the workpiece W2 (outer panel 24a). However, the present invention is not limited to these configurations.

  For example, the configuration shown in FIGS. 7A to 7D is also possible. That is, the first panel 52 and the second panel 54 are disposed on the fixed portion 40b of the mold 16b, and the movable portion 42b (FIGS. 7C and 7D) of the mold 16b is retracted so as not to interfere with the hemming roller 22. In the state (FIG. 7A), the flange 56 of the first panel 52 is bent toward the second panel 54 to join the first panel 52 and the second panel 54 (FIG. 7B). Next, after the movable part 42b of the mold 16b is brought into contact with the second panel 54 (FIG. 7C), the flange 58 of the second panel 54 is bent toward the first panel 52, and the first panel 52 and the second panel 52 are bent. The panel 54 is joined (FIG. 7D).

  Thereby, even when the mold 16b interferes with the first panel 52 and the second panel 54, the interference can be eliminated by retracting the movable portion 42b of the mold 16b. For this reason, the roller hemming process can be performed for the combination of the first panel 52 and the second panel 54 that could not be roller hemmed due to the interference. Therefore, the versatility of the hemming apparatus can be improved.

  In the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the workpieces W and W2 are sandwiched only by the hemming roller 22 and the dies 16 and 16a. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, a receiving roller 60 is provided on the opposite side of the hemming roller 22 across the mold 16c, and the first panel 52 and the second panel 54 cooperate with the hemming roller 22 during the hemming process. And it can also be set as the structure which pinches | interposes the metal mold | die 16c. In this configuration, the demand for the rigidity of the mold 16c itself is reduced, and the mold 16c can be reduced in weight, so that the support body, the hinge portion, and the like of the mold 16c can be further simplified.

  In each of the above embodiments, the motor M of the hinge portion 46 is used as means for driving the movable portions 42 and 42a. However, the present invention is not limited to this as long as it drives the receiving mold. For example, you may drive the movable parts 42 and 42a using a cylinder or a slide mechanism.

  In the first embodiment, the roller hemming is performed in the order between the outer lower panel 26 and the inner panel 28, between the outer upper panel 24 and the outer lower panel 26, and between the outer upper panel 24 and the inner panel 28. It is not limited to the order.

  It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it is needless to say that various configurations can be adopted based on the description of the present specification.

It is explanatory drawing of the hemming processing apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the state which joins an outer lower panel and an inner panel by roller hemming using the hemming processing apparatus of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the state which joins an outer upper panel and an outer lower panel by roller hemming using the hemming processing apparatus of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows that the said roller hemming process cannot be performed even if it tries to join an outer upper panel and an outer lower panel by roller hemming process by the comparative example of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows a motion of the movable part of a metal mold | die in the case of roller hemming in the hemming processing apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows that the said roller hemming process is difficult even if it tries to join an outer panel and an inner panel by roller hemming process by the comparative example of 2nd Embodiment. FIG. 7A is a diagram showing a state in which the hemming roller is in contact with the flange of the first panel in the hemming apparatus according to the first modification of the present invention. FIG. 7B is a diagram illustrating a state in which the hemming roller bends the flange of the first panel in the hemming apparatus. FIG. 7C is a diagram illustrating a state in which the hemming roller is in contact with a flange of the second panel in the hemming apparatus. FIG. 7D is a diagram illustrating a state in which the hemming roller bends the flange of the second panel in the hemming apparatus. It is a figure which shows the structure which provided the receiving roller which cooperates with a hemming roller as the 2nd modification of this invention. It is a figure which shows the rear part of a vehicle.

Explanation of symbols

10, 10A ... Hemming processing device 12 ... Robot (roller moving means)
14 ... Controller (control means)
16, 16a, 16b, 16c ... mold (receiving mold)
22 ... Hemming roller 24 ... Outer upper panel 24a ... Outer panel 26 ... Outer lower panel 28, 28a ... Inner panel 40, 40a, 40b ... Fixed part 42, 42a, 42b ... Movable part 46 ... Hinge part 52 ... First panel 54 ... First 2 panel 60 ... receiving roller M ... motor (receiving type driving means)
W, W2 ... Workpiece

Claims (2)

Hemming roller,
Roller moving means for moving the hemming roller along a hemming portion of a workpiece made of a plurality of panels;
A receiving mold having a fixed part and a movable part for supporting the workpiece;
Receiving type driving means for driving the receiving type movable portion;
Control means for controlling the receiving drive means;
A hemming processing apparatus comprising:
The control means controls the receiving mold driving means to move the movable portion of the receiving mold between a position contacting the work and a position separating from the work. Processing equipment. The hemming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
A hemming apparatus comprising a receiving roller that sandwiches the workpiece and the receiving mold in cooperation with the hemming roller during hemming.

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