Automatic airbag folding apparatus and method
First Claim
1. A method for folding an airbag comprising the steps of:
- positioning an airbag securely over a means for receiving;
automatically manipulating a plurality of portions of said airbag in a plurality of directions, respectively, to produce an airbag in folded conditions, by;
automatically fanfolding first and second portions of said airbag inward in first and second directions, respectively, generally towards said means for receiving, andautomatically folding over third and fourth portions of said airbag towards said means for receiving in third and fourth directions, respectively, by automatically performing steps comprising;
positioning a center hold-down mechanism having a plurality of hold-down fingers extending in at least one direction therefrom over said airbag generally over said means for receiving and in contact with a stationary portion of the airbag on one surface of the airbag such that said third and fourth portions are positioned on opposite sides of said center hold-down mechanism;
folding over said third portion towards said center hold-down mechanism by pivoting a fold finger assembly having at least one fixed fold finger and at least one extendable fold finger into contact with the opposite surface of the airbag to coact with the center hold-down fingers;
engaging a part of the said third portion in said center hold-down mechanism to maintain with said fixed fold finger and engaging a second part of the third portion by extending the extendable fold finger to coact with the center hold-down finger mechanism said third portion in a folded position;
folding over said fourth portion towards said center hold-down mechanismengaging said fourth portion, at least in part, in said center hold-down mechanism to maintain said fourth portion in folded position; and
removing said airbag in folded condition from said means for receiving.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for automatically folding an airbag is provided whereupon an airbag is positioned securely over receiving tooling, and a plurality of portions of the airbag are automatically manipulated in a plurality of directions, respectively, to place the airbag in a folded condition. The apparatus includes a processor to automatically operate means for manipulating the airbag. The apparatuses for manipulating the airbag preferably include an apparatus for fanfolding a portion of an airbag, an apparatus for folding over a portion of an airbag, and at least one hold-down mechanism to receive portions of an airbag. The various apparatuses for manipulating the airbag can be variously combined in accordance with the present invention to automatically prepare airbags of various types in various folding patterns.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method for folding an airbag comprising the steps of:
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positioning an airbag securely over a means for receiving; automatically manipulating a plurality of portions of said airbag in a plurality of directions, respectively, to produce an airbag in folded conditions, by; automatically fanfolding first and second portions of said airbag inward in first and second directions, respectively, generally towards said means for receiving, and automatically folding over third and fourth portions of said airbag towards said means for receiving in third and fourth directions, respectively, by automatically performing steps comprising; positioning a center hold-down mechanism having a plurality of hold-down fingers extending in at least one direction therefrom over said airbag generally over said means for receiving and in contact with a stationary portion of the airbag on one surface of the airbag such that said third and fourth portions are positioned on opposite sides of said center hold-down mechanism; folding over said third portion towards said center hold-down mechanism by pivoting a fold finger assembly having at least one fixed fold finger and at least one extendable fold finger into contact with the opposite surface of the airbag to coact with the center hold-down fingers; engaging a part of the said third portion in said center hold-down mechanism to maintain with said fixed fold finger and engaging a second part of the third portion by extending the extendable fold finger to coact with the center hold-down finger mechanism said third portion in a folded position; folding over said fourth portion towards said center hold-down mechanism engaging said fourth portion, at least in part, in said center hold-down mechanism to maintain said fourth portion in folded position; and removing said airbag in folded condition from said means for receiving. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An apparatus for folding an airbag comprising:
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a frame; means for receiving an airbag disposed in said frame; means for manipulating a plurality of portions of said airbag in a plurality of directions, respectively, to automatically produce an airbag in folded condition, including; a center hold-down mechanism having a plurality of hold-down fingers extending in at least one direction therefrom, wherein at least one of said hold-down fingers is a movable hold-down finger to receive at least a portion of said airbag; means for positioning said center hold-down mechanism in contact with a stationary portion of said airbag on one surface of said airbag; and at least one means for folding over an airbag, said means for folding over comprising; a fold finger assembly having at least one fixed fold finger and having at least one extendable fold finger; means for operating said fold finger assembly to contact the opposite side of said airbag and coact with said hold-down mechanism to fold said portion of airbag; and processor means for automatically operating said means for manipulating to produce a folded airbag. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification