Closing Method and Closing Machine

• US 20090133458A1
• Filed: 03/31/2006
• Published: 05/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KYB Corp.
• Original Assignee: Kayaba Industry Company Limited
• Inventors: Mishima, Keisuke, Ogiso, Shigetoshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,775,077 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 72/84
• CPC Class Codes: B21D 41/045 Closing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53961 with work-holder for assembly

Abstract

In a closing machine (1), an inner diameter chuck (8) that grips an inner peripheral surface of a work piece (9), a work piece (9) introducing device that moves the inner diameter chuck (8) in a Y axis direction of the work piece (9), and an introduction stopper (12) that projects onto an introduction path of the work piece (9) are used in such a manner that the inner diameter chuck (8) grips the inner peripheral surface of the work piece (9) while the work piece (9) abuts against the introduction stopper (12), the introduction stopper (12) is removed from the introduction path of the work piece (9), and the work piece (9) is introduced into an outer diameter chuck (7) by moving the inner diameter chuck (8) in the Y axis direction of the work piece (9).

Claims

1. A closing method for closing an open end of a tubular work piece by holding the work piece by an outer diameter chuck, rotating the outer diameter chuck together with the work piece, and pressing a die against the work piece rotating about an axial center, comprising:

gripping an inner peripheral surface of the work piece by an inner diameter chuck;

moving the inner diameter chuck by a work piece introducing device along an introduction path towards a position in which the outer diameter chuck holds the work piece;

positioning the work piece by a retractable introduction stopper which projects onto the introduction path when the inner diameter chuck grips the inner peripheral surface of the work piece; and

retracting the retractable introduction stopper from the introduction path when the work piece introducing device moves the inner diameter chuck towards the position in which the outer diameter chuck holds the work piece.

2. A closing machine for closing an open end of a tubular work piece by holding the work piece by an outer diameter chuck, rotating the outer diameter chuck together with the work piece, and pressing a die against the work piece rotating about an axial center, comprising:

an inner diameter chuck that grips an inner peripheral surface of the work piece;

a work piece introducing device that moves the inner diameter chuck along an introduction path towards a position in which the outer diameter chuck holds the work piece; and

retractable introduction stopper which positions the work piece by projecting onto the introduction path when the inner diameter chuck grips the inner peripheral surface of the work piece,

and is retracted from the introduction path when the work piece introducing device moves the inner diameter chuck towards the position in which the outer diameter chuck holds the work piece.

3. The closing machine as defined in claim 2, wherein the inner diameter chuck is configured to grip the inner peripheral surface of the work piece and the work piece introducing device is configured to move the work piece to allow the introduction stopper to be retracted from the introduction path.

4. The closing machine as defined in claim 2, wherein the work piece introducing device configured to move the inner diameter chuck

gripping an inner peripheral surface of a pre-closing work piece along the introduction path until a base end portion of the pre-closing work piece abuts against a tip end portion of a closed work piece so as to push the closed work piece out of the outer diameter chuck.

5. The closing machine as defined in claim 2, wherein the work piece introducing device is configured to move the inner diameter chuck to a position on an inside of the outer diameter chuck, and the inner diameter chuck is configured to abut-against a tip end portion of a closed work piece such that the closed work piece is pushed out of the outer diameter chuck.