JPH048647A - Folding of air bag and folding device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To automatically fold an air bag by using folding bars and by mechanizing it by way of holding central part of the air bag, making its both sides face against each other in a specific width and folding the air bag in a specific number of steps by using a plural number of the folding bars. CONSTITUTION:An air bag (b) assembled with a holder 60 provided with standing flanges on its both right and left sides is set, spread and extended on a set board part 11a of a central plate 11. An outer side folding bar 21 to fold in the cross direction is transferred toward the central plate 11, descended and made to hold the air bag (b) with a bar 21c. Thereafter, the air bag (b) is slid between the outer side folding bar 21 and an inner side folding bar 26 and is folded, then folding in the cross direction is completed. Successively, while holding the air bag (b) completed with cross direction folding with inside and outside holding members 51, 53, the inner side folding bars 26 are sequentially pulled out. Subsequently, the outer side folding bars 21 forming pairs each other are pulled out by way of slightly decreasing their width. Then, the air bag (b) is slid between a bar 33 and a longitudinal direction inner side folding bar 34 and is folded.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] <Industrial Application Field> The present invention provides a method for assembling an airbag into an airbag device installed in a steering wheel of an automobile, etc.
The present invention relates to a method of folding an airbag and a folding device used therein. More specifically, the airbag, to which a holder with standing flanges on both left and right sides is assembled, is folded horizontally from both sides so that they are folded into the holder with its center sandwiched in between (see Figure 9). The present invention relates to an airbag folding method and an airbag folding device in which vertical folding (see FIG. 10) is performed in multiple stages using folding bars.

Hereinafter, in this specification, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, a case will be explained taking as an example a case where folding is performed in which horizontal folding is performed in three stages of outward folding and vertical folding is performed in two stages of outward folding. The same applies even if the direction is different. In this specification, the direction is the left-right direction in FIG. 4A.

<Prior Art> A conventional method of folding an airbag will be explained based on FIGS. 8 to 10.

Normally, a corresponding number of horizontal folding bars 1 and vertical folding bars 2 are prepared, each having a width corresponding to each stage of horizontal folding and vertical folding, and holding holes at both ends. , a pair of horizontal folding bar holding bins 5.5 and a vertical folding bar holding bin 6 are provided in each of the vertical and horizontal directions, so that the above-mentioned folding bars 1.2 can be set during horizontal folding and vertical folding, respectively. .6 is provided protrudingly. Normally, in a two-person operation, the folding worker M1 folds airbag b.
The other person becomes the auxiliary worker M2 who sets the folding bar and pulls out the folding bar after folding is completed.

(1) First, the airbag b is spread out and placed on the workbench 4, and the air in the airbag B is evacuated through the inflator mounting hole (not shown) provided at the bottom of the airbag b.

(2) After the auxiliary worker M2 sets the first folding bar 18 on top of the airbag b, the folding worker M1 folds one side of the airbag b to the outside while pulling it as if on the side.

(2) Subsequently, the second folding bar 1b is set on the second folding bar 18 with the airbag b sandwiched therebetween, and one side of the airbag b is folded inward at the second stage (2).

(2) Next, a third folding bar is set on the second folding bar with the airbag b sandwiched therebetween, and a second stage outward folding ml is performed on one side of the airbag b.

Once the folding of one side is completed by this reversing, the airbag b on the near side is also folded in the same manner, that is, the first
Second...Fold the airbag b while sequentially setting the folding bars 1a and ib.

Next, the horizontal folding bar holding bin 5 is inserted into the pin hole of the workbench 4, and while the folding worker M1 is holding down the airbag b, the auxiliary worker M2 pulls out the horizontal folding bar 1 and holds it in the horizontal direction. Complete the fold (see Figure 9).

Further, longitudinal folding is performed in the same manner by changing the folding direction by 90 degrees. That is, the vertical folding bars 2 are sequentially set in the horizontal direction, and the -th stage longitudinally outward folding and vertically inward folding ml
, vl, % After carrying out two-stage longitudinal outward folding ml on each side, the folding bar 2 is cut out to complete the longitudinal folding (see Fig. 10) <Problem to be Solved by the Invention> However, the above-mentioned In the method, the dimensions of the folding bar are the first, second, and
The width dimensions of the sheets are slightly different, and may also be different when folding in the vertical direction and folding in the horizontal direction, and there is a risk that an auxiliary worker may set the folding bar incorrectly and make a mistake in folding. In addition, since it was a two-person job, the number of man-hours required for folding increased.

Further, it has been considered difficult to fold an airbag to which a holder having vertical flange portions on both left and right sides is assembled using a folding bar because the vertical flange portions become an obstacle. When assembling the holder, it is easier to assemble the airbag before the airbag is folded, as it is easier to align the rivets for securing the holder, the bag, and the retainer inside the bag when inserting the rivets. It was considered desirable.

In view of the above, the present invention is capable of automatically folding an airbag in which a holder having vertical flange portions on both left and right sides is assembled, using a folding bar and by mechanization. An object of the present invention is to provide a method and device for folding an airbag that eliminates the risk of folding and can significantly reduce the number of man-hours required for folding. and equipment.

(1) A method of folding the airbag into a predetermined number of stages using a plurality of folding bars, with the airbag facing each other from both sides at a predetermined width across the center of the airbag; A holder equipped with standing flanges on both left and right sides is assembled, and an outer folding bar consisting of a predetermined number of stages is placed on top of the expanded and stretched airbag, and only the lowermost folding bar of the outer folding bar has its tip. The airbag is arranged so as to be located above the vertical flange portion of the holder, and the peripheral edge of the airbag is raised higher than the center on both sides of the outer folding bar, and the lowermost folding bar is attached to the holder. A predetermined number of steps of inwardly folding bars, each of which serves as a presser plate with an L-shaped cross section protruding downward at a portion facing the
The airbag is folded by sliding the airbag between the outer folding bar and the inner folding bar by moving the airbag one step at a time or multiple steps simultaneously so as to insert the airbag into the gap between the steps of the outer folding bar. A method of folding an airbag, which is characterized by:

(2) A folding device used when folding an airbag in multiple stages using a plurality of folding bars for outward folding and inward folding, with the airbag facing each other at a predetermined width across the center thereof, and comprising: A holder having vertical flanges on both the left and right sides is assembled to the lower part of the airbag, and a set base part on which the holder can be set has a supporting part on which the peripheral edge of the airbag can be placed and a folding part. a plurality of stages of outer folding bars disposed below the platform by the height of the vertical flange, and positioned above the folding platform on at least one of the left and right sides so as to be movable forward and backward; An airbag folding device comprising: a plurality of inner folding bars arranged on both front and rear sides of the set portion so as to be insertable into gaps between the outer folding bars through the airbag. .

(3) A folding device used for folding an airbag in multiple stages using a plurality of folding bars for outward folding and inward folding, with the airbag facing each other at a predetermined width across the center thereof, A holder with standing flanges on both left and right sides is attached to the lower part of the airbag, and only the lowest folding bar of the outer folding bar can be placed with its tip above the standing flange of the holder. The length of the folding bar is shorter than that of the inner folding bar, and only the lowest folding bar of the inner folding bar is made into a presser plate portion having an L-shaped cross section that protrudes downward at the portion facing the assembly portion of the holder. A unique airbag folding device.

<Example> Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained based on examples.

The same parts as in the conventional example are given the same reference numerals, and all or part of the explanation thereof will be omitted.

A. First, the apparatus used in the folding method of the present invention will be explained.

(1) Basically, the airbag b (Fig. 4A-B
This is a folding device used when folding a plurality of folding bars (see FIG. 7) in multiple stages using a plurality of folding bars, which are placed facing each other from both sides at a predetermined width in the holder with the center thereof in between.

(2) As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the folding device of this embodiment includes (a) a workbench A, (b) a lateral folding means B, and (C)
It consists of a longitudinal folding device C and (d) bag holding means.

Figure 1 is a half-cutaway schematic front view of the folding device;
The figure is a partially cutaway schematic plan view, and FIG. 3 is a schematic side view.

(a) Workbench A: A horizontally long center plate with a horizontal folding width and an approximately concave width as a folding table, so as to form a horizontal worksurface large enough to place the airbag b in an expanded and stretched state. 11, and a horizontally long front plate 12 and a rear plate 13, which serve as lifting supports on which the peripheral edge of the airbag b can be placed front and rear with the center plate 11 in between, are arranged symmetrically. Here, the center plate 11 consists of a set base part 11a lowered in height by approximately the same height as the height h of the vertical flange part 60a, and folding base parts 11b and llc on both sides of the set base part 11a (first (See Figure 4A).

Further, the front plate 12 and the rear plate 13 can move eight times relative to the folding table portions 11b and 11C of the center plate 11 between the same plane position and the upper position. That is, the peripheral portion of the airbag b is relatively moved from the center, that is, to a position above the height of the upper surface of the vertical flange portion 60a of the holder 60.

Specifically, the connecting column 18 is placed on the inner folding bar holder 17 of the laterally-described horizontal folding means B, which is connected to the piston rod 15a of each first vertical cylinder 15 arranged below the front and rear of the center plate 11. The front plate 12 or the rear plate 13 is disposed therebetween, and can be driven up and down. In addition, conversely, the set table part 11a of the center plate 11 may be moved up and down, and the said relative movement may be performed. Further, in FIG. 3, reference numeral 8 is a suction pipe for removing air from the airbag, but since removing the air from the airbag b is not an essential step, the suction vibrator 8 may not be provided. Furthermore, the width of the horizontal folding is determined by the width of the horizontal folding outer folding bar 21 of the horizontal folding means B, which will be described later.
Since the width of the center plate is determined by the width of the center plate, the width of the center plate does not necessarily have to be equal to the width of the horizontal fold and the substantially concave width.

In addition, in the center of the set base portion 11a of the center plate 11, a plurality of mounting holes (not shown) are provided with mounting bolts (not shown) that protrude downward from the inner bag retainer through the airbag b/holder 60. ) is formed.

In addition, the front plate 12 and the rear plate 13 are used as lifting support parts.
Although a member different from the inner folding bar 26 of the later-described horizontal folding means B is shown as shown in FIG. (b) Lateral folding means B: A plurality of horizontal outer folding bars 21 disposed above the center plate 11 on both left and right sides so as to be able to be driven forward and backward, and the front plate 12 and the rear plate. 13, and are movable forward and backward so as to be inserted into the interstage gap of the outer folding bar 21 via the air bag b when positioned above the center plate 11. It consists of a horizontally inward folding bar (flat plate shape) 26 of the step.

Here, when the entire outer folding bar 21 is at the front dead center position, the lowest folding bar 21C of the outer folding bars has the recess b! with the holder 60ii1 of the airbag b! In other words, the vertical flange portion 6 of the holder 60
Its length is made shorter than the upper and middle outer folding bars 218.21b so as to be placed at the upper part of the bar 0a.

Furthermore, the lowermost folding bar 26c of the inner folding bars includes a pressing plate portion 26d having an L-shaped cross section and projecting downward at a portion facing the recess b1 for holder assembly.

Specifically, at the upper position of the center plate 11, on both sides in the longitudinal direction,
The outer folding bar 21 divided into two parts is held in three stages facing a holding block 23 on a truck 22. The truck 22 can run on rails 24 and is connected to a piston rod 25a of a first horizontal cylinder 25. In addition, on the mouth side, the upper outer folding bar 21a is formed narrower than the middle and lower outer folding bars 21b and 21c. In addition, the outer folding bars 21, which are divided in the width direction and made into a pair, utilize the rotation of a motor to connect a right-handed portion and a left-handed portion (not shown) that are mutually formed on one drive shaft. can be approached in the width direction. Note that during rotation 20 is a stopper that restricts the raised position of the horizontally inner folding bar 26.

Further, when the horizontal inward folding bar (inner folding plate) 26 is positioned above the central plate 11 by the first vertical cylinder 15, the horizontal inward folding bars (inward folding plates) 26 are arranged in three stages in the front and back with the central plate 11 in between. They are arranged to face each other in the order of narrow width 26a, 26b, and 26c. Each inner folding bar 26 has a pair of retaining rails 27 with sliding grooves on both sides.
is held in The holding rail 27 has an angle 28
It is supported by Furthermore, the upper surface of each end of each inner folding bar 26 is connected to each piston rod 29a of a pair of second horizontal cylinders 29 installed on the inner folding bar holding base 17.

Note that when each of the inner folding bars 26 is positioned above the center plate 11, the front plate 12 and the rear plate 13 disposed above each inner folding bar 26 are placed above the airbag b.
When the periphery of the outer folding bar 21 is lifted and each inner folding bar 26 moves forward, the outer folding bar 21
It is designed to be inserted into the gap between the stages.

(c) Vertical folding means C A pair of push-up members 31 capable of pushing up both sides of the center plate 11 corresponding to the end width of the bag's longitudinal fold.
and a plurality of longitudinal outer folding bars 3 disposed above the center plate 11 so as to be vertically movable and arranged in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the outer folding bars 21 of the transverse inner folding means B.
3, and one or more pairs of vertically inner folding bars 34 disposed between the upper and lower sides of the longitudinally outer folding bars 33, which are driven forward and backward with respect to the center of the center plate 11, and which are capable of moving toward and away from each other. Consisting of Specifically, it is as follows.

The lifting member 31 is disposed so that its upper end is in contact with the road surface and the upper surface of the folding platform jlb/11C, which becomes the working surface of the workbench A in the normal position. It is connected to the piston rod 32a.

In addition, each longitudinally outer folding bar 33 is divided into two parts and placed on the upper and lower stages 33a and 33b, and a pair of vertically inner folding bars 34a are arranged on the upper and lower stages 33b. It is held by a portal-shaped vertically folded bar holding arm 37 connected to the piston rod 35a of the cylinder 35. Note that 36 is a guide post.

Three holding rods 38, 39, and 40 are horizontally installed on the vertical folding bar holding arm 37 in a substantially row-like manner in the vertical direction. The upper stage holding rod 38 is connected via an auxiliary holding arm 42 to a piston rod 41a of a fourth vertical cylinder 41 installed on the holding arm 37 so as to be movable in the vertical direction. Note that both ends 38a of the upper holding rod 38 are extended to form the vertical folding bar holding arm 3.
It is designed to be guided by a long hole (not shown) formed in the side wall of 7.

The upper and lower vertically outer folding bars 33a and 33b are
Holding block 43 in each of the upper and lower holding lots 38.4o
．． 44.

The pair of lower holding blocks 43, 43 can be brought close to each other like the aforementioned outer folding bars 21.

In addition, a pair of vertically inward folding bars 34a,
34a is slidably held. Here, the slide holding block 45 is connected to a piston rod 47a of each third horizontal cylinder 47 installed on both walls of the holding arm.

Each vertically inward folding bar 34a is slidably held by a slide holding block 45 via a slide groove 45a, and its base portion is connected to a pair of horizontal cylinders 49 installed on the rear wall of the slide holding block 45. piston lot 4
(d) Bag holding means D connected to 9a: The bag holding means D in this embodiment is located at both sides of the airbag bM direction folding width on the center plate 11 of the workbench A and on both sides outside thereof. Airbag b after horizontal folding
It consists of an inner pressing member 51 and an outer folding pressing member 53, which are arranged above the center plate 11 so as to be able to hold down, respectively.

Specifically, each presser member 51.53 consists of a pair of presser blocks 52.52, and each presser block 52.5
2 is a fifth vertical cylinder 55 disposed on the lower pedestal 50;
The piston rod 55a is connected to the piston rod 55a. In addition, 56
is a guidebost.

Also, presser member 5! , 53, when the inner folding plates 26 are mutually advanced by the second horizontal cylinder 29 and face each other, the presser blocks 5
Notches C1, C1 are formed at the front end of the uppermost horizontally inward folding bar 26a so that the folded airbag b can be directly pressed after the folded airbag b is folded horizontally.

Note that the outer and inner folding bars for each of the horizontal folding and longitudinal folding do not need to be in the shape of a flat folding bar like the section side, but may be in the shape of a frame, a bar, or the like. Further, the driving means is not limited to a cylinder, and may be any link mechanism or the like.

86 Next, a method of folding the air bag using the above air bag folding device will be explained with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6. In the following explanation, although the driving means are not specifically specified, it is assumed that the above-mentioned driving cylinders are operated by sequential control. Set the bag B on the setting table 11m of the center plate 11 using the mounting bolts protruding downward from the retainer inside the bag, and then spread and extend the airbag on the workbench A. When this is set, the lip 6 will be as shown in Figure 4A.
3 may be used. At this time, the set base portion 1fa is
Since it is lowered by approximately the same height as the vertical flange portion 60a of the holder 60, the upper surface of the vertical flange portion 60a of the holder 60 becomes the upper surface of the folding table portion 11b, llc of the workbench and the road surface.

Subsequently, the air in the airbag b is sucked out by a vacuum pump (not shown). Note that this air bleeding is unnecessary if the airbag on the workbench A has almost no wrinkles or the like.

(2) Move the outer folding bar 21 for horizontal folding located above the center plate 11 of the workbench A toward the center plate 11, and when it comes to the fixed position, lower the outer folding bar 21 and fold the lower outer fold. Press the airbag b with the bar 21c (see FIG. 4 A-B). At this time, the tip of the lower outer folding bar 21c is substantially offset from the recess b1 when the holder of the airbag b is assembled, and is located above the vertical flange portion 60a.

(3) Next, raise the inner folding bar 26 for lateral folding along with the front and rear plates 12 and 13 to a predetermined position above the center plate 11, lift the peripheral edge of the airbag Insert the inner folding bar 26 into the interstage gap of the outer folding bar 21 through the bag b, and insert the inner folding bar 26 into the center plate 11 from the front and rear toward the workbench.
1, and perform horizontal folding sequentially from the lower stage (see FIGS. 5A-B-C). At this time, since the inner folding bar 26c at the lowest stage is provided with the presser plate part 26d at its center, the outer folding of the first stage is accurately folded at the set table part 11a as shown in FIG. 5C. Then, it is folded at the folding tables 11b and 11c as shown in FIG. 5C. Note that the outer folding bar 21 for horizontal folding may move forward in a plurality of stages at the same time.

In this way, the airbag b is folded by sliding between the outer folding bar 21 and the inner folding bar 26, and the transverse folding is completed (see FIG. 5C).

(4) Next, the inner folding bar 26 is successively folded while holding down the airbag b after being folded in the horizontal direction using the inner and outer pressing members 51 and 53 (see FIG. 5C). At this time, it is desirable to pull out the inner folding bars 26 in order from the top. Furthermore, the eight pairs of outer folding bars 21 are pulled out with their widths slightly reduced.

In the above, the order of removing the folding bars may be reversed, that is, the inner folding bar 26 may be removed after the outer folding bar 21 is removed.

(5) Next, lower the vertically outer folding bar 33,
While pressing down the airbag b, the inner pressing member 51 is raised, and in this state, the pushing up member 31 is operated to move the vertically outer folding bar 33 of the airbag b from both sides of the vertically outer folding bar 338. Push it up partially so that it lifts upward (see Figure 6C). Note that the push-up member 31 is formed to have a U-shaped cross section.

(6) Next, the vertically inward folding bar 34a is advanced and moved inward (in the opposite direction) through the U-shaped cross section of the raising member 31 (see the sixth diagram).

(7) In this way, the airbag b is folded vertically outward from the bar 3.
3 and the longitudinally inward folding bar 34 to perform the folding, and complete the -th longitudinal outward folding/inward folding (
(See Diagram 6). After completing the vertically outward folding and inwardly folding, the upper longitudinally outward folding bar 33a is lowered to hold down the airbag b, and the airbag b is raised in this state to the worker's working position (the worker (To make it easier to pull out.) In addition, the longitudinal outer folding bar 338
- If the interval of 33b is adjusted in advance, the step of lowering this upper vertically outer folding bar 33a can be omitted. In this state, one worker who has set the airbag b manually folds it so as to wrap it toward the upper surface of the upper longitudinally outer folding bar 33a, thereby completing the longitudinal folding. Then, after the folding is completed, the airbag b is pulled out toward the user. At this time, from the viewpoint of drawing workability, the overall width of each longitudinally outer folding bar 33 from the viewpoint is reduced before drawing.

Since the airbag b is folded by being slid between the folding bars as described above, it is desirable that the total thickness of the airbag b be 6 mm or less, and the thinner the bag, the easier it is to fold.

<Effects of the Invention> Since the airbag folding method and device of the present invention are as described above, they have the following effects.

An airbag to which a holder having vertical flange portions on both left and right sides is assembled can be automatically folded using a folding bar and by mechanization. Then, the airbag can be folded simply by setting and taking it out by a folding worker, and there is no need for an auxiliary worker as in the past. Furthermore, since the folding bars are automatically set in sequence, there is no risk of setting the folding bars incorrectly.

Furthermore, since the airbag is folded by sliding between the folding bars, wrinkles and the like of the airbag are reduced, and the airbag can be folded with accurate dimensions.

Therefore, the number of man-hours required for folding work can be significantly reduced, and there is no risk of incorrect folding dimensions.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic half-sectional front view showing an example of the airbag folding device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4A- B is a cross-sectional view and a vertical cross-sectional view showing the state in which the airbag is held down by a horizontally outward folding bar after the airbag is set, and FIGS. 6C is a diagram illustrating the vertical folding process, FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the airbag holder used in the example, and FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating the conventional bag folding process. 10 is a plan view and a schematic side view of the bag when folding in the transverse force direction is completed, and FIG. 10 is a plan view and a schematic front view of the bag when the bag is folded in the longitudinal direction. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11... Center plate of the workbench, 11a... Set base part of the center plate, 12... Front plate (lifting support part) of the workbench, 13.
...Rear plate of workbench (lifting support part), 21... Laterally outer folding bar 26... Laterally inner folding bar 31... Push-up member, 33... Vertical outer folding bar 34... - Vertical inward folding bar 60...airbag holder, 60a...flange, A...workbench, B...horizontal folding means, C...vertical folding means, D... Bag holding means, b...airbag, bl...holder mounting recess. Patent applicant Figure A Figure B Figure A Second flash C

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A method of folding the airbag into a predetermined number of stages using a plurality of folding bars, with the airbag facing each other at a predetermined width across the center thereof, comprising: A holder having standing flanges on both left and right sides is assembled to the lower part of the airbag, and an outer folding bar consisting of a predetermined number of stages is attached to the lowermost folding bar of the outer folding bar on top of the expanded airbag. The chisel is placed so that its tip is located above the vertical flange of the holder, and on both sides of the outer folding bar, the peripheral edge of the airbag is higher than the center, and the lowest folding bar is placed on both sides of the outer folding bar. a predetermined number of stages of inward folding bars, each of which is a presser plate portion having an L-shaped cross section and protruding downward at a portion facing the holder assembly portion;
The airbag is folded by sliding the airbag between the outer folding bar and the inner folding bar by moving the airbag one step at a time or multiple steps simultaneously so as to insert the airbag into the gap between the steps of the outer folding bar. A method of folding an airbag, which is characterized by: 2. A folding device used for folding an airbag in multiple stages using a plurality of folding bars for outward folding and inward folding, with the airbag facing each other from both sides at a predetermined width across the center thereof, A holder having standing flanges on both left and right sides is attached to the lower part of the bag, and a set base part on which the holder can be set is located above a support part and a folding base part on which the peripheral edge of the airbag can be placed. a plurality of outer folding bars which are disposed below the height of the vertical flange portion and are movable forward and backward at a position above the folding table portion on at least one of the left and right sides; An airbag folding device comprising: a plurality of inner folding bars arranged on both front and rear sides such that the inner folding bars can be inserted into gaps between the outer folding bars through the airbag. 3. A folding device used for folding an airbag in multiple stages using a plurality of folding bars for outward folding and inward folding, with the airbag facing each other at a predetermined width across the center thereof, A holder having standing flanges on both the left and right sides is assembled at the bottom of the bag, and only the lowest folding bar of the outer folding bar can be placed at the top of the standing flange of the holder. It is characterized by being shorter in length than the folding bar, and only the lowest folding bar of the inner folding bar is a presser plate part with an L-shaped cross section that protrudes downward at the part facing the assembly part of the holder. Airbag folding device.