Method and device for the production of curved spring strip sections

• US 20040159994A1
• Filed: 10/14/2003
• Published: 08/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valeo Systemes D'Essuyage (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Valeo Systemes D'Essuyage (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Lenzen, Oliver, Pachur, Gerald
• Granted Patent: US 7,013,547 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 267/229
• CPC Class Codes: B21D 7/08 by passing between rollers or through a curved die
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/38 Wiper blades provided with liquid spreading means B60S1/524; provided with gas spreading means B60S1/546
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/3848 Flat-type wiper blade, i.e. without harness
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 2001/382 the backing strip being an essentially planar reinforcing strip, e.g. vertebra
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 2001/3898 method for manufacturing wiper blades
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49798 Dividing sequentially from leading end, e.g., by cutting or breaking
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53526 Running-length work

Abstract

A method and a device for the production of curved spring strip sections. A spring strip runs through a bending unit formed from three separate support points and a reverse bending unit, arranged in series, and formed from a fourth support point. Bent and reverse-bent spring strip sections are separated off from the spring strip in a separator unit. In order to achieve a compact construction for the device, the third support point of the bending unit and the fourth support point of the reverse bending unit are adjustable in position relative to the spring strip, by a controller with pre-set programs.

Claims

1. Method for the production of curved spring strip sections (3), specifically having variable material thickness over the trimmed length, in which method a spring strip (2) composed of the spring strip sections (3) disposed sequentially to form one piece is bent between three support points (6, 7, 8) spaced apart in the direction of spring strip travel (12) and impinging alternately in sequence on one of the two sides of the spring strip (2) and then reverse bent at a subsequent support point (17) by a comparatively lesser degree of curvature in the opposite direction, wherein the treated spring strip section (3) is subsequently cut from the spring strip (2), wherein one of the three support points (6, 7, 8) for spring strip bending and the fourth support point (17) for spring strip reverse bending are both configured to be adjustable perpendicular to the spring strip (2) in the direction of strip thickness and their perpendicular adjustments relative to the spring strip are controlled by predetermined programs, which take into account changing material thickness within the spring strip sections (3) in the direction of spring strip travel (12) and/or changing radii of curvature and/or radii of reverse curvature in the direction of spring strip travel (12), characterized in that the third support point (8) adjacent the fourth support point (17) is configured to be adjustable perpendicular to the spring strip (2) in the direction of strip thickness.

2. Method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the third support point (8) for spring strip bending and/or the fourth support point (17) for spring strip reverse bending are configured to be positionable in the direction of spring strip travel (12).

3. Method as set forth in claim 1 or 2, wherein a cutting edge is located after the fourth support point (17) for spring strip reverse bending in the direction of spring strip travel (12) past which a blade passes to detach the spring strip sections (3).

4. Method as set forth in one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized by the following steps:

conjoining the spring strip section (3) to a flexible rubber wiping element and

attachment of a connecting device for a wiper arm (29).

5. Device for the production of curved spring strip sections (3) specifically possessing variable material thickness over the trimmed length, having a bending unit (5) consisting of three spaced apart support points (6, 7, 8) through which a spring strip (2) formed from the spring strip sections (3) disposed one behind the other to form one piece can be drawn such that the support points (6, 7, 8) in the direction of spring strip travel (12) of the spring strip (2) alternately in sequence impinge on the one and the other side of the strip, wherein one of the three support points (6, 7, 8) is configured to be adjustable to set a radius of curvature perpendicular to the spring strip (2), and having a reverse bending unit (16) subsequent to the bending unit (5) in the direction of spring strip travel (12), which comprises a fourth support point (17) acting on the same side of the spring strip (2) as the second, center support point (7) of the bending unit (5), said fourth support point being adjustable to establish a reverse radius of curvature perpendicular to the spring strip (2), and having a cutting unit (20) for detaching the spring strip section (3) which has passed through the bending unit (5) and the reverse bending unit (16) from the spring strip (2), characterized in that the third support point (8) of the bending unit (5) adjacent the fourth support point (17) is configured to be adjustable perpendicular to the spring strip (2) in the direction of strip thickness.

6. Device as set forth in claim 5, wherein linear positioning means are provided for the third support point (8) for spring strip bending and/or for the fourth support point (17) for reverse spring strip bending, with which the third support point (8) and/or the fourth support point (17) can be positioned in the direction of spring strip travel (12).

7. Device as set forth in claim 5 or 6, wherein the cutting device (20) is located subsequent to the reverse bending unit (16) respective to the direction of spring strip travel (12), wherein the cutting unit (20) has a cutting edge across which a blade is passed to detach the spring strip section (3).