Method for producing a wiper blade, device for carrying out said method and wiper blade produced according to said method

• US 20060156529A1
• Filed: 02/20/2004
• Published: 07/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Thomar, Wolfgang, Haefele, Klaus-Dieter, Crabbe, Rudi
• Granted Patent: US 7,644,483 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 29/450
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/381 Spoilers mounted on the squeegee or on the vertebra
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/3879 placed in side grooves in the squeegee
• 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 29/49863 with prestressing of part
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4987 Elastic joining of parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49915 Overedge assembling of seated part
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53961 with work-holder for assembly

Abstract

The invention relates to a method to manufacture a wiper blade (10) as well as a device to perform the method and a wiper blade (10) that is manufactured accordingly, wherein the wiper blade (10) features at least a basic body (56) featuring a wiper strip (24) and a supporting element (12). According to the method, the basic body (56) is supposed to be positioned in a holding device (58) in such a way that a clearance (63) remains between the supporting element (12) and holding device (58) at least in areas. The wind deflector strip (44) is gripped, at least one claw (46, 48) formed on the wind deflector strip (44) is threaded on the supporting element (12) and the wind deflector strip (44) is placed over the supporting element (12).

Claims

1. Method to manufacture a wiper blade (10), which features at least a basic body (56) featuring a wiper strip (24) and a supporting element (12) and a wind deflector strip (44), with the following steps:

Positioning the basic body (56) in a holding device (58) in such a way that a clearance (63) remains between the supporting element (12) and holding device (58) at least in areas,

Gripping the wind deflector strip (44),

Threading at least one claw (46, 48) formed on the wind deflector strip (44) on the supporting element (12), and

Placing the wind deflector strip (44) over the supporting element (12).

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the wiper strip (24) is threaded laterally on a first side (65) of the supporting element (12), guided over a transverse extension of the basic body (56) and placed laterally over a second side (76) that is opposite from the first side (65).

3. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the supporting element (12) defines a plane (73), along which the wind deflector strip (44) is guided to the first side (65), wherein the wind deflector strip (44) itself is inclined vis-à

-vis the plane (73).

4. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that the claw (46) is aligned on the holding device (58) and inserted in a guided manner in the clearance (63) between the holding device (58) and the supporting element (12).

5. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that a second claw (48) grips behind the second side (76) of the supporting element (12) during placement of the wind deflector strip (44).

6. Method according to claim 5, characterized in that for placement purposes, a clipping strip (82) presses on a flank area (84) of the wind deflector strip (44) and the second claw (48) is thereby pushed around the second side (76).

7. Method according to claim 5, characterized in that for placement purposes, a roller (86) presses on an area, pushes the second claw (48) over the second side (76) and moves along the second side (76).

8. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that the roller (86) serves first at a guide as long as the first claw (86) is being threaded, and then as a pressure roller.

9. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that the wind deflector strip (44) is positioned intermediately in a receptacle (71) of the holding device (58), corresponding to an inclination of the wind deflector strip (44) vis-à

-vis the plane of the supporting element (12).

10. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that for placement purposes, the second claw (48) is gripped and guided over the second side (76) of the supporting element (12).

11. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that the second claw (48) is gripped by means of a hook strip (94).

12. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the wiper strip (24) is applied to a front side of the supporting element (12) and tucked in along the supporting element (12).

13. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the wind deflector strip (44) is embodied to be two-part and the two parts are applied simultaneously to different areas of the supporting element (12).

14. Device to manufacture a wiper blade (10), which features at least a basic body (56) featuring a wiper strip (24) and a supporting element (12) and a wind deflector strip (24), by positioning the basic body (56) in a holding device (58) in such a way that a clearance (63) remains between the supporting element (12) and the holding device (58) at least in areas, gripping the wind deflector strip (44), threading at least one claw (46, 48) formed on the wind deflector strip (44) on the supporting element (12), and placing the wind deflector strip (44) over the supporting element (12), characterized by a holding device (58) with a receptacle (60) for the basic body (56) of the wiper blade (10), which has at least one shoulder, which guarantees a clearance (63) between the supporting element (12) of the wiper blade (10) and the holding device (58) at least in areas and by a gripping device (64), which can grip the wind deflector strip (44) and place it over supporting element (12).

15. Device according to claim 14, characterized in that the gripper (64) features at least two griping elements, wherein at least one gripping element is embodied as a clipping strip extending along the supporting element (12).

16. Device according to claim 14, characterized in that the gripper (64) features at least two gripping elements, wherein at least one gripping element is embodied a roller (86).

17. Device according to one of claims 14 through 16, characterized in that a receptacle (71) is formed, in which the wind deflector strip (44) can be placed at an angle.

18. Device according to claim 14, characterized in that a receptacle (100) secures the wiper blade (10) on a connecting device (18) for a wiper arm (20), which connecting device is embodied on the wiper blade (10).

19. Device according to claim 14, characterized by a pressing strip (90), which can be displaced between at least two positions transverse to a longitudinal extension of the wiper blade (10) and, in at least one of the positions, secures the position of the first claw (46) that grips around the supporting element (12).

20. Device according to claim 14, characterized by a hook strip (94), with which the second claw (48) is gripped and can be guided over the supporting element (12).

21. Device according to claim 20, characterized in that the hook strip (94) can be swiveled around an axis (108) and can be displaced transverse to the axis (108).

22. Wiper blade, which features at least a basic body (56) featuring a wiper strip (24) and a supporting element (12) and a wind deflector strip (44), manufactured by positioning the basic body (56) in a holding device (58) in such a way that a clearance (63) remains between the supporting element (12) and the holding device (58) at least in areas, gripping the wind deflector strip (44), threading at least one claw (46, 48) formed on the wind deflector strip (44) on the supporting element (12), and placing the wind deflector strip (44) over the supporting element (12), characterized in that the wiper deflector strip (44) has claws (46, 48), which grip around the supporting element (12) in a dimensionally stable manner and which make placement of the wind deflector strip (44) possible.

23. Wiper blade according to claim 22, characterized in that at least one bridge (50) connecting the claws (46, 48) is embodied to be elastic.