JP3246391B2 - Airbag folding machine - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an airbag folding machine for folding an airbag used in an airbag device, and more particularly, to a side disposed between an occupant and a vehicle inner wall such as a vehicle door when inflated. The present invention relates to a folding machine for an airbag for collision.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a side collision airbag, a cactus-folding airbag as shown in FIGS. 11 to 15 of JP-A-5-139238 has been known.

[0003] However, since the cactus fold is difficult to mechanize, the applicant has proposed a folding method which shortens the time until completion of expansion as in the case of the cactus fold, and can be further mechanized (Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 8 (1996) -108). 17768).

First, as shown in FIG. 11, the folded shape of the airbag 1 is determined by changing the shape of the airbag 1 from the rear edge 2 serving as the inflator-side edge for supplying the inflation gas and the both ends of the rear edge 2. Four edges 2, 3, 4 of two side edges 3, 4 extending substantially parallel to each other, and a front edge 5, which connects the ends of the two side edges 3.4, and opposes the rear edge. -As a substantially rectangular bag shape having a valley fold, a fold C1 orthogonal to the side edges 3.4 is provided at a plurality of locations corresponding to each other at the vicinity of the two side edges 3.4. The two opposing peripheral walls 6, 7 between the trailing edge 2 and the leading edge 5 when inflated are respectively orthogonal to the side edges 3, 4 at a plurality of mutually corresponding locations, and A fold C3 that is continuous with the fold C1 of the valley fold is a mountain fold.

At the time of folding, the vicinity of the front edge 5 is pressed by a position regulating member to supply air into the airbag 1 so that the airbag 1 is inflated. Each of the portions is pressed with the peripheral wall fold plate, and each of the side edge fold plates is pressed against the portion C1 where the valley fold is formed at the two side edges 3 and 4, and the air in the airbag 1 is further released. By pulling the trailing edge 2, the side edge fold plate, and the peripheral wall fold plate relatively closer to the position regulating member side, and then extracting the side edge fold plate and the peripheral wall fold plate, the air is removed. The bag 1 was folded in a bellows shape.

However, in the conventional folding machine, when the peripheral wall folding plate and the side edge folding plate are pressed against the airbag 1 in synchronization with each other, the airbag 1 is pushed only by the linear tip of each folding plate. Therefore, the airbag 1 is shifted at the tip of the folded plate,
The length of the airbag 1 between the folded plates varies, and the folding quality when many airbags 1 are folded may not be stable.

Further, as in an airbag 10 shown in FIG. 1, the front edge 5 has a semicircular arc shape, and the side wall 3 ·
In the case where a fold C5 of a valley fold perpendicular to the side walls 3 and 4 is provided in the vicinity of the side wall 4, a fold plate similar to the fold plate for the side edge is pressed against the front edge. Since the portion easily hits the curved surface and slips, the deviation tends to occur, and the folding quality is further unstable.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and to fold an airbag having a semicircular front edge into a bellows shape with a stable folding quality when folding the airbag. The purpose is to provide a machine.

[0009]

In the airbag folding machine according to the present invention, the shape of the airbag at the time of inflation is changed from the trailing edge which is the side on the side for supplying the inflation gas, and from both ends of the trailing edge. A substantially rectangular shape having four edges of two side edges extending substantially in parallel to each other, and a semicircular front edge which connects the ends of the two side edges to each other and faces the rear edge. In the shape of a bag, the vicinity of the two side edges and the vicinity of the side edge of the front edge are each provided with a fold perpendicular to the side edge, and are valley-folded, and the rear edge and the front edge when inflated are An airbag that folds two peripheral walls facing each other at a plurality of positions facing each other at a fold that is orthogonal to the side edge and that is continuous with the valley fold. A folding machine, comprising: an air supply means capable of inflating the airbag;
A pair of folding members disposed so as to face the peripheral wall of the surface, respectively, wherein the folding members are each a valley of the mountain fold on the peripheral wall of the airbag when the pair of folding members approach each other. And a plurality of valley fold plates which are hinged to each other and which are hinged together at the opposing positions of the adjacent fold plates for the peripheral wall. And a valley fold link configured to valley fold the vicinity of the two side edges and the vicinity of the side edge of the front edge at the time of folding. The folded plates are hinged to each other with their lengths substantially equal to each other, and the valley fold plate located on the leading end side of the front edge is longer than the valley fold plate on the other side with respect to the leading edge side valley fold link. And shorten the valley plate on the other side A first moving means, which is capable of approaching the peripheral wall fold plates of the pair of folding members facing each other, and causing the peripheral wall fold plates of each step to relatively approach to each other, thereby forming the valley fold links; And a foldable second moving means.

The two valley fold plates at the leading valley fold link on the front edge side are hinged to each other so that the lengths from the base side are substantially equal, and the other valley fold plate is hinged to the other side. It is desirable to have an extension protruding from the part toward the distal end.

[0011]

In the airbag folding machine according to the present invention, when the airbag is folded, the first moving means is operated at each of the valleys of the mountain fold on the two peripheral walls, and the folded plate for the peripheral wall is placed. At the same time, the second moving means is actuated to relatively close the peripheral wall fold plates of each step to fold the valley fold links. The step of supplying air into the airbag by the air supply means and inflating the airbag is performed before or after the operation of the first moving means.

Then, a valley fold is formed on the two peripheral walls by the peripheral wall fold plates of each step, and two valley fold plates of each valley fold link are provided near two side edges and a front edge. The valley fold portions are formed in the vicinity, and the airbag is substantially folded in a bellows.

At this time, at the two side edge portions, the two valley fold plates of each valley fold link are substantially equal in length, and their tips are hinged to each other. Hinges at the opposing positions of the fold plate for folding, the front end of the valley fold plate is folded inward from a predetermined position of the side edge between the adjacent adjacent fold plates to form two side edges of the airbag. A valley fold portion can be formed at the bottom.

As for the valley fold link at the front edge portion, the valley fold plate located at the front end side of the front edge is formed to be shorter than the valley fold plate on the other side, and hinged to the valley fold plate on the other side. Because of the connection, the tip side of the valley fold plate on the other side appropriately presses the semicircular front edge to form the valley fold portion without sliding the airbag.

That is, in the airbag folding machine of the present invention, the valley-folding plates of the valley-folding link properly fold the predetermined positions of the side edge and the front edge of the airbag between the folding plates for the peripheral wall of each stage. In addition, not only the tip of each valley fold plate, but also the inner surface of the valley fold plate comes into contact with the airbag, increasing the friction surface and preventing the airbag from slipping, thus improving the folding quality. The airbag can be folded stably.

The two valley fold plates of the valley fold link at the leading end on the leading edge side are hinged to each other with the lengths from the base side substantially equal to each other, and the valley fold plates on the other side are hinged to each other. When configured with an extension protruding from the site to the distal end side, even if the fold width of the mountain fold portion of the peripheral wall continuous from the valley fold near the side edge of the front edge of the airbag is changed,
It can be easily dealt with.

In other words, if the two valley fold plates of the valley fold link at the leading end on the leading edge side are hinged to each other with a length substantially equal to the fold width, the other components are the same. This is because the length of the extension of the valley fold plate on the other side when pressing the vicinity of the side edge only needs to be calculated, and this can be easily dealt with.

[0018]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

The airbag folding machine M of the embodiment is shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 4, the upper member 16 held by the frame 11
And the lower member 41 are arranged vertically.

The lower member 41 has a base 42 arranged in a horizontal direction, and the base 42 has a substantially rectangular plate-shaped main body 4.
2a and a bracket 42b connected to the front end of the main body 42a. A piston rod 70a of a moving air cylinder 70 constituting a first moving means 68 together with a moving air cylinder 69 to be described later is connected to the main body portion 42a on the lower surface at the center, and the piston rod 70a is moved vertically around four corners of the periphery. A guide rod 43 for inserting a bracket 11c disposed on the rear end side of the frame 11 is fixed in parallel with the piston rod 70a disposed at the rear end. The air cylinder 70 is fixedly attached to the bracket 11c. A moving air cylinder 73 constituting the second moving means 72 is fixed to the bracket portion 42b. The moving air cylinder 73 extends the piston rod 73a rearward in the horizontal direction, and
Is connected to the peripheral wall folded plate 49.

The lower folding member 45 includes an upper folding member 2 described later.
3 and a supporting frame 46, a peripheral wall folded plate 4
9, 50, 51, 52, valley fold links 53, 56, and the like.

The support frame 46 is provided with a main body 42a of the base 42.
The guide rods 47 extend vertically upward from the vicinity of the periphery, like a substantially rectangular tube, to open a large portion on the front side, and are disposed horizontally in the front-rear direction near both left and right sides on the inside. It is fixed.

The guide rods 47 are provided with four peripheral wall folded plates 49, 50, 51, 52 which are movable in the front-rear direction. These peripheral wall folding plates 49, 50,
51 and 52 are pressed against the valley fold C4 on the peripheral wall 7 of the airbag 10, and the mutual interval is arranged corresponding to the fold width L (see FIG. 9). Also, a groove 50 is formed on the upper end surface of each of the peripheral wall folding plates 50 and 51.
a 51a are formed. These concave grooves 50a and 5
1a is to prevent the air flow in the airbag 10 from being obstructed when the airbag 10 is pressed by the folding plates 27, 28, 29, 30, 49 to 52 of the pair of folding members 23 and 45. , Is provided. In addition, the folded plate 49 for the peripheral wall
Although no concave groove is formed in 52, the flow of the air in the airbag 10 is not hindered because the concave groove is formed in the corresponding peripheral wall folding plates 27 and 30 of the upper folding member 23.

In the case of the embodiment, the peripheral wall folded plate 52 is used.
Is also used as the support frame 46, and further provided with a set plate portion 66 extending horizontally rearward from the upper end. The rear edge 2 of the airbag 10 is disposed on the upper surface of the set plate 66.

Further, the folded plate 49 for the peripheral wall on the front side includes:
The mounting plate portion 61 extends horizontally forward from the upper end.
Is provided, and the front edge 5 side of the airbag 10 is arranged on the upper surface of the mounting plate portion 61.

An upwardly extending pressing plate 74 is provided in the vicinity of the rear portion of the mounting plate 61, and this pressing plate 74, together with the moving air cylinder 73, constitutes a second moving means. When the piston rod 73a of the air cylinder 73 extends rearward to move the peripheral wall folding plate 49 rearward, the peripheral wall folding plate 27 of the upper folding member 23 comes into contact with the peripheral wall folding plate 27. It acts to retract with the folded plate 49.

Further, a support plate 62 is connected to the front end of the mounting plate 61, and a discharge air cylinder 63 is fixed to the upper surface of the support plate 62. Discharge air cylinder 63
After the airbag 10 is folded, the piston rod 6
Pusher 64 fixed to the tip of 3a
The airbag 10 is retracted by being inserted through the through hole 74a, and the folded airbag 10 is discharged onto the set plate portion 66.

When the moving air cylinder 73 is actuated on the lower end surfaces of the peripheral wall folding plates 49 to 52 to reduce the mutual interval between the peripheral wall folding plates 49 to 52, the mutual intervals are made equal. A pantograph mechanism 48 is provided so as to be narrowed.

The folded plates 49, 50, 51 for the respective peripheral walls
The valley fold links 53, 56, 56, 56 are disposed between the two guide rods 47 near the inside of each guide rod 47. Each valley fold link 56 folds valleys near the side edges 3 and 4 of the airbag 10, and is composed of two valley fold plates 57 and 58. The base portions are connected to each other using hinges 56b at positions where the adjacent folded plates 50, 51, and 52 face each other in the front-rear direction. The hinges 56a and 56b are arranged so that when the peripheral wall folding plates 50 to 52 approach each other in the front-rear direction with the axial direction of the rotation shaft as the vertical direction, the tip of the valley folding plates 57 and 58 of the valley folding links 56. It is configured so that each can penetrate inside.

The valley fold link 53 disposed on the front edge 5 side of the airbag 10 is composed of two valley fold plates 54 and 55, and valley folds the vicinity of the side edges 3.4 of the front edge 5. Each of the valley fold plates 54 and 55 has a base portion side joined to each of the peripheral wall fold plates 49 and 50 by a hinge 53b, the length from the base portion side is made substantially equal to each other, and a hinge 53a is connected. A side valley plate 55 extends from the hinge 53a binding site. The extension 55b is connected to the main body 55a on the base side.
And extends linearly. The valley fold links 53 are also formed by the hinges 53a and 53b, when the peripheral wall fold plates 49 and 50 approach each other in the front-rear direction with the axial direction of the rotation axis as the vertical direction. It is configured such that the tips can penetrate inward.

The upper member 16 has a substantially rectangular plate-shaped base 17 arranged in the horizontal direction, and the base 17 is fitted on both left and right sides with the guide rail 12 fixed to the left and right side walls 11a of the frame 11. The guide block 18 is attached, and the piston rod 14a of the moving air cylinder 14 is connected to the front end side. The air cylinder 14 is fixed to a bracket 11 b disposed on the front side of the frame 11. The base 17 is guided by the guide rails 12 by the operation of the air cylinder 14 and moves horizontally in the front-rear direction. In the center of the base 17, a moving air cylinder 6 as a first moving means is provided.
9 is attached and fixed, and the piston rod 69a of the air cylinder 69 is connected to the top plate 24a of the support frame 24 constituting the upper folding member 23. Further, at the rear end side of the base 17, a presser air cylinder 20 that is pressed by a piston rod 20a is disposed so that the rear edge 2 side of the airbag 10 does not flutter during folding work.

The air cylinder 14 is provided with the lower folding member 4.
When the airbag 10 is set on the upper surface 5, the upper member 16 is moved forward so that the space for setting can be increased.

The upper folding member 23 is paired with the lower folding member 45, and the support frame 24 has a substantially rectangular plate-like top plate portion 24a and a substantially rectangular cylindrical shape from the periphery of the top plate portion 24a. And a side wall 24b extending downward. The side wall portion 24b has a large opening on the front side and guide rods 25 that are arranged in the front-rear horizontal direction near both left and right sides inside.
Are fixed. Note that a guide rod 19 that is inserted into the base 17 in parallel with the piston rod 69a is fixed to the top plate 24a.

The guide rods 25 are provided with four peripheral wall folded plates 27, 28, 29, 30 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction. These peripheral wall folded plates 27, 28,
29 and 30 are folded plates 49-5 for the peripheral wall of the lower folding member 45.
Corresponding to No. 2, the airbag 10 is pressed against the fold C4 of the valley fold in the peripheral wall 6 of the airbag 10, and the mutual interval is arranged corresponding to the fold width L. In addition, concave grooves 50a, 51a of the peripheral wall folding plates 50, 51 of the lower folding member 45 are formed on the lower end surfaces of the peripheral wall folding plates 27, 28, 29, 30.
Similarly to the above, a concave groove is formed. The upper folding member 2
Regarding the concave groove on the third side, the concave groove 30a of the peripheral wall folded plate 30 is used.
Only that is shown in FIG. In the case of the embodiment,
The peripheral wall folding plate 30 is also used as the side wall 24 b of the support frame 24. Furthermore, when the air cylinder 73 for movement is actuated on the lower end surfaces of the folded plates 27 to 30 for the peripheral wall and the space between the folded plates 27 to 30 for the peripheral wall is narrowed as in the case of the folded plates 49 to 52, The pantograph mechanism 26 is provided so as to narrow the interval of the pantographs at an equal ratio.

Then, the folding plates 27, 28, 29 for each peripheral wall
The valley fold links 31, 34, 34, 34 are disposed near the inner sides of the guide rods 25, 25 between each other. Each valley fold link 34 folds the vicinity of the side walls 3 and 4 of the airbag 10 into valleys.
Are arranged so as to correspond to the respective valley fold links 56, and like the valley fold link 56, two valley fold plates 35 are provided.
36, the lengths of which are approximately the same as each other, the tips of which are connected to each other by using a hinge 34a, and the positions of the base portions opposing each other before and after the adjacent folded plates 28, 29, 30. Are connected using a hinge 34b. The hinges 34a and 34b allow the valley fold plates 35 of the valley fold links 34 to move when the peripheral wall fold plates 28 to 30 approach each other in the front-back direction with the axial direction of the rotation shaft as the vertical direction.
-It is configured such that the 36 tips can enter each other.

The valley fold link 31 of the lower fold member 45 is also provided with the valley fold link 31 disposed on the front edge 5 side of the airbag 10.
And the valley fold link 5
As in the case of 3, it is composed of two valley folded plates 32 and 33,
The valley fold plates 32 and 33 are formed so that the base side is the peripheral wall fold plates 27 and 28 so that the vicinity of the side edges 3 and 4 of the front edge 5 can be valley-folded.
To the hinge 31a, and make the lengths from the base side substantially equal to each other, and connect the hinges 31a to each other.
3 extend from its hinge 31a binding site.
The extension portion 33b extends linearly from the main body portion 33a on the base portion side. This valley fold link 31 is also connected to each hinge 31.
a. 31b, when the axial direction of the rotating shaft is the vertical direction, when the peripheral wall folded plates 27 and 28 approach each other in the front-rear direction,
The valley fold plates 27 and 28 are configured so that the leading ends thereof can enter inside.

The folding plate 27 for the peripheral wall of the upper folding member 23
A locking rod 38 (see FIG. 2) protruding in the left-right direction from the side wall portion 24b of the support frame 24 is attached to the lower end side, and the locking rod 38 is attached to the side wall 11a of the frame 11. The locking rod 13 which is attached and fixed and is movable in the horizontal direction in the left-right direction by an air cylinder (not shown) can interfere. This locking rod 38
When the upper folding member 23 is arranged above the lower folding member 45 in a state where the interval between the peripheral wall folding plates 49, 50, 51, 52 is widened by the operation of the moving air cylinder 14,
The operation of the air cylinder (not shown) interferes with the locking rod 13 that has entered the inside, and the narrowed peripheral wall fold plates 27, 28, 29, 30 are replaced with the peripheral wall fold plates 49, 50, 50. It plays the role of spreading so as to match with 51 and 52 in the vertical direction. Note that the locking rod 13 is
When the upper member 16 moves forward by the operation of the air cylinder 14, the operation of the air cylinder (not shown)
It is moved so as not to interfere with the locking rod 38.

Further, the folding machine M of the embodiment is provided with air supply means 76 for inflating the airbag 1.
The air supply unit 76 includes a hose 78 connected to an air source and an exhaust circuit (not shown), and an air nozzle 77 connected to the hose 78.

Next, the operation of the embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the initial position of the airbag folding machine M is such that the moving air cylinder 14 and the moving air cylinder 69 as the first moving means have their piston rods 1.
4a and 69a are contracted, and the upper member 16 is arranged above the lower member 41 in the front side. The moving air cylinder 70 on the lower member 41 side as the first moving means 68 extends the piston rod 70a.

This initial position is also a set position. In this state, as shown in FIG.
Is inserted through the through-hole 74a to be placed on the placing plate portion 61, and the trailing edge 2 is placed on the set plate portion 66, so that the air flows onto the lower folding member 45 of the lower member 41. Set the bag 10. In this state, the air nozzle 77 is inserted into the airbag 10 through the through hole 8 (see FIG. 1) for inserting a predetermined inflator.

Thereafter, when an operation switch (not shown) is turned on, the air cylinders 14, 69, 20, 73, 70 and the air supply means 76 are sequentially operated under the control of a predetermined control device, and the air bag 10 Will be broken.

The steps will be described in order. First, as shown in FIG. 4, the moving air cylinder 14 is operated to extend the piston rod 14a.
Are guided by the guide rail 12, and the upper folding member 23 is disposed above the lower folding member 45. At this time, an air cylinder (not shown) is operated, and the locking rod 13 is
The folding plates 27, 28, 29, 30 for the peripheral wall of the upper folding member 23, which have been extended toward the support frame 24 and interfered with the locking rod 38, have been narrowed to each other, for the peripheral wall of the lower folding member 45. They will be arranged so as to coincide with the positions above the folding plates 49, 50, 51, 52.

Next, as shown in FIG. 5, the operation of the moving air cylinder 69 as the first moving means is controlled so as to extend the piston rod 69a, and the holding air cylinder is extended so as to extend the piston rod 20a. 20
Is controlled. Then, the upper folding member 23 approaches the lower folding member 45, and the peripheral wall folding plates 27-30.49-
The front end of 52 comes into contact with the peripheral walls 6 and 7 of the airbag 10. Further, the air supply means 76 is operated, and as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG.
It is supplied with air and expands. The air is continuously supplied into the airbag 10, but the air is discharged from a vent hole (not shown) of the airbag 10 while maintaining the inflated shape of the airbag 10. Further, when the air supply means 76 is operated, control is performed so that a slight pressure is applied to the air cylinder 73 of the second moving means 72. The reason for this is that, when the airbag 10 is inflated, the length of the airbag 10 shrinks, so that the distance between the folded plates 27 to 30 and 49 to 52 for the peripheral wall is reduced by following the length. It is.

Thereafter, the air supply from the air supply means 76 is stopped, and the flow path on the hose 78 side is switched from an air source to an exhaust circuit so that air can be rapidly exhausted from the air nozzle 77. So that the air cylinder 73 as the second moving means 72 is extended.
Is controlled. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the piston rod 73 a and the pressing plate 74 press the
Folding plates 27-30 for the peripheral walls of the upper and lower folding members 23 and 45
49 to 52 move rearward to narrow the gap therebetween, and the valley fold links 31, 34, 53, 56 are folded.

Then, the folded plates for the peripheral wall 27-30.49-
52, a valley fold portion C4 is formed on the two peripheral walls 6, 7, and the valley fold links 31, 34, 53, 56 form a valley fold portion C1 on the two side edges 3.4.
A valley fold portion C5 is formed on the front edge 5, and the airbag 10
Is substantially folded in a bellows.

At that time, at the two side walls 3 and 4, two valley fold plates 35, 36, 57 and 58 of the respective valley fold links 34 and 56 are substantially equal in length. The tips are connected to each other by hinges 34a and 56a, and the adjacent peripheral wall fold plates 28 to 30 and 50 to 52, respectively.
The hinges 34b and 56b are coupled to the opposing positions of the valley fold plates 35, 36, 57 and 58.
From the vicinity of the center of the side edge 3.4 between the adjacent peripheral wall fold plates 28-30.50-52, the valley fold portion C1 is folded almost uniformly inward from near the center of the side edge 3.4 to the two side edges 3.4 of the airbag 10. Can be formed.

In the vicinity of the side edges 3 and 4 of the front edge 5, the valley fold plates 32 and 54 located on the tip side of the front edge 5 are connected to the valley fold plates 33 and The length is made shorter than 55, and the hinge 31 is
a. 53a, so that the valley folded plate 3 on the other side
The leading ends of the extension portions 33b and 55b of the 3.55 appropriately press the semicircular front edge 5, and the valley fold portion C5 can be formed without sliding the airbag 10.

After that, the control device (not shown)
The moving air cylinders 69 and 70 as moving means are controlled to slightly shrink the piston rods 69a and 70a, and the discharge air cylinder 63 is
Control is performed to extend 3a. Then, the folded airbag 10 is pushed by the pusher 64 inserted through the through hole 74a of the holding plate 74, and is placed on the set plate 66 in the folded cross-sectional state shown in FIG. .

Further, a control device (not shown) controls the discharge air cylinder 63 to contract and return the piston rod, and the air cylinders 69, 70,.
14 and 20 are controlled to return to the initial position, and the upper member 16 is moved to the front side above the lower member 41.

Therefore, the folded airbag 10
May be taken out from the set plate portion 66 while removing the air nozzle 77, and the airbag 10 to be newly folded may be set as described above.

As described above, in the airbag folding machine M according to the embodiment, the peripheral wall folding plates 27 to 30, 49 to 52 of each stage.
The predetermined positions of the side edges 3.4 and the front edge 5 of the airbag 10 between the valley fold plates 32, 33, 35, 36, 54, 55, 57, 58 of the valley fold links 31, 34, 53, 56 are mutually determined. It is possible to fold the valley properly, and furthermore, each valley fold plate 3
Not only the tip of 3.35.36.55.57.58,
Valley fold plate 32, 33, 35, 36, 54, 55, 57
The inner surface of 58 also comes into contact with the airbag 10, the frictional surface increases, and the displacement of the airbag 10 can be prevented, and the folding quality can be stabilized and the airbag 10 can be folded.

In the embodiment, the two valley fold plates 32 and 3 at the valley fold links 31 and 53 at the front end 5 side are used.
The lengths of the valley plates 3, 54, and 55 are approximately equal to each other from the base portion side, and the hinges 31 a, 53 a are connected to each other.
55 is provided with the extension portions 33b and 55b protruding from the hinge 31a and 53a binding sites to the distal end side. However, as shown in FIG. Of the valley fold plate 55 on the other side
At the same time, the tips of the four and 55 are joined together with the hinge 53a.
The hinge 53b of the valley fold plate 54 may be arranged inside the hinge 53b of the valley fold plate 55. Also in this case, the valley fold portion C5 can be formed accurately on the front edge 5, and it can contribute to stabilizing the fold quality.

However, in the case of the embodiment, even if the fold width L of the mountain fold portion C3 of the peripheral walls 6.7 continuing from the valley fold C5 near the side edge of the front edge 5 of the airbag is changed. , Can be easily dealt with.

That is, two valley fold plates 32, 33.5 at the valley fold links 31, 53 at the front end 5 side.
4 and 55 have a length substantially equal to the fold width L and are hinged to each other, and the valley fold plate 33 on the other side when pushing the vicinity of the side wall 3.4 of the front edge 5 of the airbag. This is because the lengths of the extension portions 33b and 55b of the 55 need only be calculated, and can be easily dealt with. By the way, in the case shown in FIG. 10, not only is the length of the valley fold plates 32, 33, 54, 55 adjusted to correspond to the fold width L, but also the peripheral wall of the valley fold plates 32, 54 on the front side. Folded plate 27
-It is necessary to adjust the position of attachment to 49, which takes time.

Further, in the embodiment, the pair of folding members 2
Although the case where 3.45 is opposed in the vertical direction is shown, it may be configured to be opposed in the horizontal direction.

In the embodiment, before the airbag 10 is inflated, the opposing peripheral fold plates 27-30, 49-52 of the upper / lower fold members 23, 45 are brought closer to each other. After the first member 1 is expanded, the moving air cylinder 69 as the first moving means may be operated to bring the folding members 23 and 45 closer to each other.

Further, in the airbag folding machine M of the embodiment, the intervals between the peripheral wall folding plates 27 to 30 and 49 to 52 are substantially equal, but the upper and lower folding members 23 and 45 correspond to each other. You may change it.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state of an airbag which is folded according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial schematic perspective view of the same embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a lower folding member showing a state where the airbag of the embodiment is set.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state after FIG. 4 in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the lower folding member showing a state after FIG. 5 in the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the lower folding member showing a state after FIG. 6 in the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the state of FIG. 7 in the same embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a folded state of the airbag in the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a lower folding member according to another embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a shape of an airbag which is folded by a conventional folding method.

[Explanation of symbols]

1.10: airbag, 2: rear edge, 3.4: side edge, 5: front edge, 6.7: peripheral wall, 23.45: folding member, 27.28.29.30.49.50.51・ 52 ・ ・ ・ Folded plate for peripheral wall, 31 ・ 34 ・ 53 ・ 56 ・ ・ ・ Valley fold link, 32 ・ 33 ・ 35 ・ 36 ・ 54 ・ 55 ・ 57 ・ 58 ・ ・ ・ Valve fold plate, 33b ・ 55b ・ ・ ・ Extension, 68 ... 1 moving means, 69, 70: moving air cylinder, 72: second moving means, 73: moving air cylinder, 74: holding plate, 76: air supply means, 77: air nozzle, M: air bag folding machine.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of front page (56) References JP-A-10-119680 (JP, A) JP-A-9-207698 (JP, A) JP-A-6-87392 (JP, A) JP-A 5- 139238 (JP, A) Japanese Utility Model Hei 6-55896 (JP, U) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B65H 45/14 B60R 21/16

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A shape of an airbag at the time of inflation is defined by a rear edge serving as an edge for supplying an inflation gas, two side edges extending substantially parallel to each other from both ends of the rear edge, The ends of the side edges are connected to each other to form a substantially rectangular bag shape having four edges of a semicircular front edge facing the rear edge, and the vicinity of the two side edges and the front edge And the vicinity of the side edge of each is creased at right angles to the side edge, and folded in a valley. The two peripheral walls facing each other between the rear edge and the front edge when inflated, An airbag folding machine that folds a mountain at a plurality of locations facing each other, at a fold perpendicular to the side edge, and at a fold continuous with the fold of the valley fold, wherein air capable of inflating the airbag is provided. A supply unit, and a pair of folding members disposed so as to face the two peripheral walls of the airbag, respectively. A plurality of folding plates for the peripheral wall which can be pressed against the valleys of the mountain fold on the peripheral wall of the airbag when the pair of folding members approach each other; And two valley fold plates hinged at their base portions to opposing positions of the adjacent fold plates for the peripheral wall, and when folded, the vicinity of the two side edges and the side edge of the front edge And a valley fold link that valley folds the vicinity of the valley fold link on the side edge side.
The length is substantially equal, and the tips are hinged to each other. With respect to the valley fold link on the front edge side, the valley fold plate located on the tip side of the front edge has a shorter length than the valley fold plate on the other side. A first moving means which is hinged to the other side of the valley fold plate and further allows the pair of fold members to access the opposed fold plate for the peripheral wall, and a relative movement of the fold plate for the peripheral wall of each step; And a second moving means that can fold the valley fold link by approaching to the airbag folding machine. 2. The two valley fold plates of the leading valley fold link on the leading edge side are hinged to each other with the lengths from the base side substantially equal to each other, and the valley fold plate on the other side is connected to the valley fold plate on the other side. 2. The airbag folder according to claim 1, further comprising an extension protruding from the hinge connection portion to the distal end side.