US3142329A - Clinching tools and units - Google Patents

Description

July 2s, 1964 T. F. TRIB'E CLINCHING TOOLS AND UNITS l2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 8, 1960 July 28, 1964 T. F. TRIBE CLINCHING TOOLS AND UNITS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 8, 1960 United States Patent O 3,142,329 @UNCH-UNG TOOLS AND UNITS Thomas Francis Tribe, Dudley, England, assigner of onehaif to British Federal Welder and Machine Company Limited Filed Aug. 8, 1960, Ser. No. 48,214 Claims priority, application Great Britain Sept. 15, 1959 3 Siaims. (Cl. 153-12) This invention concerns tools which are hydraulically, pneumatically or mechanically operated for bending the margins of sheet-metal panels and relates more particularly to tools for folding the margin of one panel over and around the margin of another panel and to press the margins firmly into engagement with each other to form a panel structure from the united panels. Such a procedure (which is referred to as clinching) is adopted, for instance, in the production of sheet-metal vehicled doors wherein inner and outer panels of a door are united around their marginal edges in the manner referred to.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a clinching tool of relatively simple construction which is easy to manufacture, install and operate.

A further object is the provision of a clinching tool for folding an upstanding edge flange of a sheet-metal panel to ensure that the dimensions of the finished panel structure are accurately maintained. More particularly the invention has for one of its objects the provision of a clinching tool in which, when the height of the upstanding flange is less than specified, the folding over operation is performed without impairment and there is little or no tendency for the upstanding flange to be extended outwardly during flattening with consequent increase in the overall size of the panel structure.

Yet a further object of the invention is the provision of a clinching tool which may be used with panel structures having plane margins or margins Which are of curved profile in directions normal to the surface of the structure.

For convenience it will be assumed that during the clinching operation the panel structure is in a horizontal plane and the disposition and operation of the several parts of the clinching tools will be described on this assumption but it is to be understood that the sheet metal panel may be in any other plane during clinching.

According to this invention a clinching tool comprising a member for folding over an upstanding flange of a horizontal sheet-metal panel so that it is acutely inclined to the surface of the panel, a member for pressing the folded-over flange towards said surface and means for actuating the presser member is characterised in that the fold-over member is pivoted for horizontal movement towards the upstanding flange, the presser member is pivotally mounted by a parallelogram linkage for vertical movement and there is provided a mechanical connection between said member, said connection being such that during the first part of the movement of the present member the fold-over member is actuated thereby to fold the flange and thereafter the fold-over member is withdrawn from the flange before the presser member engages the folded flange.

lt is preferred that the presser member be actuated by a pneumatic ram.

The mechanical connection between the presser member and the fold-over member is preferably a cam on the presser member and a follower on the fold-over member, the latter being urged to its non-operative position for engagement with the cam.

A practical application of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings whereof:

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FIG. l is a sectional side view of a unit comprising two clinching tools in accordance with the present invention, and

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of a unit comprising three clinching tools as shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. l: the clinching unit is mounted upon the top 5 of a bed or frame which supports a pad 6 of suitable shape upon the upper surface 7 of which the panels 8 and 9 rest and to which they are secured in predetermined position by a clamp means 4 shown in raised position.

The panel 8 is generally in a horizontal plane and is pre-formed with an upstanding flange 10 around its marginal edge. The panel 9 is of top-hat section, the marginal edge 11 of which rests upon the panel 8 within the upstanding flange 10.

Beneath the top 5 is a pneumatic ram 12 the piston rod 13 of which is connected, at 14, to the presser member 15 of the clinching tool. The presser member is supported from a pedestal 16 secured to the top 5 and a pair of parallel links 17 which are pivoted to the pedestal 16 and `to the actuator bar 18 of the member 15. The pedestal 16, the links 17 and the actuator bar 18 constitute a parallelogram linkage.

A foot 19 is secured to the upper part of the actuator bar `18, the undersurface 20 of the foot being adapted to engage the upstanding flange 10, as later described, and to press the flange 1G downwardly upon and against the flange 11 When the bar 18 is pulled down by the ram 12. The foot 19 when moved downwardly also travels horizontally i.e. along the arcuate path 21.

A cam 26 is secured to the lower end of the actuator bar 18.

A fold-over member 23 is pivoted to shaft 24 carried by a bracket 25 secured to the top 5, the member 23 being disposed between the actuator bar 18 and the support pad 6. The fold-over member 23 has a follower 22 to engage the cam 26 and there is a spring 27 which urges the member 23 towards the actuator bar 18, a suitable stop (not shown) being provided to limit the extent of such movement. A finger 28 projects from the upper end of the member 23 towards the flange 10, the finger 28 having an inclined surface 29. In. FIG. 1 the several parts of the clinching unit are shown in full lines in the position which they occupy immediately prior to the unit being brought into operation. When the ram is thereafter actuated the bar 18 is pulled downwardly and the cam 26 engages the follower 22 with the result that the finger 28 is moved forwardly to engage the upstanding flange 10 (see the right-hand side of FIG. l). As a consequence the flange 10 is folded to some predetermined angle e.g. about 45 t0 the horizontal.

The actuatorbar is moved horizontally when it is drawn down and the cam 26 also does so. The extent of the movement of the finger 28 is due partly to the lift of the cam 26 and partly to the horizontal movement of the actuator bar 18.

The extent of the horizontal movement of the actuator bar 18 isrdetermined by the length of the links 17. For the same vertical movement, if the links are shorter the extent of the horizontal movement is increased and conversely if the length of Vthe links 17 is greater the horizontal movement of the actuator bar 18 will be less. The angle to which the flange 10 is folded over from the vertical, upstanding position towards the horizontal position may be varied by interchanging links 17 of different length.

The finger 28 moves mainly in a horizontal direction (there is a relatively small vertical component of movement) and in this way it is ensured that even if the flange 10 is of less height than stipulated the fold-over member 28 will adequately perform its function with the result that the ange will be bent over to a predetermined extent. When the flange has been bent over to the required 45 (or some other angle) the cam 26 will have moved beyond the follower 22 and the linger 28 is thereupon retracted by its spring 27. Continued downward movement of the actuator bar 1S brings the surface 20 of foot 19 into engagement with the bentover flange 10 and the foot presses the ange down on to the flange 11. By suitable selection of the part of the path 21 at which the under-surface 20 of the foot 19 first engages the bent-over flange 10 it may be arranged that the foot 19 moves to a greater or lesser extent in the horizontal direction. The arcuate path 21 will be of equal radius to the radius of the parallel links 17 but with centre displaced from the frame pivot point of the lower link 17 by the same magnitude and direction as the foot surface 20 is displaced from the other pivot point of said lower link. As shown in FIG. 1 the lower link 17 is horizontal and at the plane of the work when the foot surface 20 completes its downward pressing operation. Thus the working range of the arcuate path 21 of the foot 19 has a relatively large vertical component of direction and a relatively small horizontal component of direction which is towards the panel and flange during the overall arcuate movement of the foot 19 theretowards. Only at the instant such operation is completed will the foot surface be moving vertically. An advantage of this is that the ange 10 is pressed not only downwardly but also inwardly and therefore any tendency for the flange 10 to be deformed outwardly (i.e. away from the edge of ange 11) is reduced or eliminated. In known clinching units when the flange 10 is not of the required height the flange may not be folded over to the required angle in which case the presser foot may engage the upper edge of the liange 10 and force the flange 10 downwardly and outwardly away from the flange 11. This produces a panel structure which is oversize. By arranging that the foot 19 moves horizontally as well as vertically such tendency is reduced. Since the extent of the horizontal movement is determined by the length of the links 17^ it is readily possible by interchanging links to vary the amount of the horizontal movement of the foot 19 to suit particular conditions e.g. that the flange 10 is not of the required height or the angle to which it is bent is much greater than 45.

Referring now to FIG. 2: the panel structure 8, 9 is shown as having a pair of straight edges 30, 31 which are joined by a curved edge 32. For each of the edges 30, 31 there is a clinching tool 1S comprising a presser member and a fold-over member as described with reference to FIG. 1, a pneumatic ram 12 being provided for each tool. For the curved edge 32 there is similarly provided a clinching unit comprising the members 19, 28 which are of correspondingly curved shape. The tool 15 for the curved edge 32 is also actuated by a pneumatic ram 12.

By sub-dividing the work into a number of regions each having its own clinching tool it is possible to determine the order in which the clinching operations will be performed-it is only necessary to operate rams 12 at dilferent times. It is also possible readily to determine the pressures at which the anges will be bent over and pressed down e.g. by applying air at different pressures to the several rams and also the rate at which these operations will be performed for instance, by regulator valves or dashpot devices. In this way it is ensured that the final` product is more satisfactory in size and in finish.

I claim:

1. A clinching tool for folding over an upstanding flange on a horizontal sheet metal panel, the tool comprising a frame, a fold-over member mounted on said frame for substantially horizontal movement toward and away from the panel and'ange, a presser member, parallelogram linkage means supporting said presser member on said frame for movement in an arcuate path having a relatively large vertical component of direction toward and away from the panel and a relatively small horizontal component of direction which is towards the panel and ange during the overall arcuate movement of said presser member toward the panel and ange, power means to actuate said presser member, resilient means tending to urge said fold-over member to an inoperative position away from the panel and flange, and cam means including one element xed to the presser' member and another element xed to the fold-over member, said elements being arranged to co-act during said arcuate movement of said presser member towards the panel to force said fold-over member toward the panel against the action of said resilient means and fold the flange to an acuate inclination to the panel and thence permit return of said fold-over member by said resilient means to said inoperative position whereby said presser member upon continuing said arcuate movement toward the panel may directly engage and press the inclined ange against the panel.

2. A clinching tool according to claim 1 wherein said fold-over member is pivotally mounted on said frame for substantially horizontal arcuate movement toward and away from the panel and ange.

3. A clinching unit for folding over an upstanding non-linear ange on a horizontal sheet metal panel, the unit comprising a frame; a plurality of clinching tools mounted on said frame in side-by-side relation each of said tools comprising a fold-over member mounted on said frame for substantially horizontal movement toward and away from a corresponding region of the panel and ange, a presser member, parallelogram linkage means supporting said presser member on said frame for movement in an arcuate path having a relatively large vertical component of direction toward and away from said panel region and a relatively small horizontal component of direction which is towards said panel and flange region during the overall arcuate movement of said presser member toward said panel and flange region, resilient means tending to urge said fold-over member to an inoperative position away from said panel and flange region, and cam means including one element xed to the presser member and another element fixed to the fold-over member, said elements being arranged to co-act during said arcuate movement of said presser member towards said panel region to force said fold-over member toward said panel region against the action of said resilient means and fold said flange region to an acute inclination to the panel and thence permit return of said fold-over member by said resilient means to said inoperative position whereby said presser member upon continuing said arcuate movement toward the panel may directly engage and press the inclined ange against the panel at said region; and Huid pressure operated ram means to actuate each presser member individually.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,121,675 Slentz Dec. 22, 1914 1,701,250 Young Feb. 5, 1929 1,720,133 Le Roy July 9, 1929 1,872,670 Burns Aug. 23, 1932 2,365,803 Chambers et al. Dec. 26, 1944 2,437,157 Gregoire Mar. 2, 1948 2,536,643 Housdorfer et al. Jan. 2, 1951

Claims (1)

1. A CLINCHING TOOL FOR FOLDING OVER AN UPSTANDING FLANGE ON A HORIZONTAL SHEET METAL PANEL, THE TOOL COMPRISING A FRAME, A FOLD-OVER MEMBER MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME FOR SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT TOWARD AND AWAY FROM THE PANEL AND FLANGE, A PRESSER MEMBER, PARALLELOGRAM LINKAGE MEANS SUPPORTING SAID PRESSER MEMBER ON SAID FRAME FOR MOVEMENT IN AN ARCUATE PATH HAVING A RELATIVELY LARGE VERTICAL COMPONENT OF DIRECTION TOWARD AND AWAY FROM THE PANEL AND A RELATIVELY SMALL HORIZONTAL COMPONENT OF DIRECTION WHICH IS TOWARDS THE PANEL AND FLANGE DURING THE OVERALL ARCUATE MOVEMENT OF SAID PRESSER MEMBER TOWARD THE PANEL AND FLANGE, POWER MEANS TO ACTUATE SAID PRESSER MEMBER, RESILIENT MEANS TENDING TO URGE SAID FOLD-OVER MEMBER TO AN INOPERATIVE POSITION AWAY FROM THE PANEL AND FLANGE, AND CAM MEANS INCLUDING ONE ELEMENT FIXED TO THE PRESSER MEMBER AND ANOTHER ELEMENT FIXED TO THE FOLD-OVER MEMBER, SAID ELEMENTS BEING ARRANGED TO CO-ACT DURING SAID ARCUATE MOVEMENT OF SAID PRESSER MEMBER TOWARDS THE PANEL TO FORCE SAID FOLD-OVER MEMBER TOWARD THE PANEL AGAINST THE ACTION OF SAID RESILIENT MEANS AND FOLD THE FLANGE TO AN ACUATE INCLINATION TO THE PANEL AND THENCE PERMIT RETURN OF SAID FOLD-OVER MEMBER BY SAID RESILIENT MEANS TO SAID INOPERATIVE POSITION WHEREBY SAID PRESSER MEMBER UPON CONTINUING SAID ARCUATE MOVEMENT TOWARD THE PANEL MAY DIRECTLY ENGAGE AND PRESS THE INCLINED FLANGE AGAINST THE PANEL.

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