System and method for hemming components

• US 7,997,113 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2008
• Issued: 08/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KUKA Systems GmbH (Midea Group Co., Ltd)
• Original Assignee: Magna International Incorporated
• Inventors: Dorsett, Michael W., Dermody, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): TOLAN, EDWARD THOMAS
• Application Number:
  US12/136,987
• Publication Number:
  US 20080302161A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,161 Days
• Field of Search: 723/06, 723/12, 723/16, 723/19, 723/20, 723/22, 723/23, 723/84, 724/19, 724/20, 724/41, 724/46, 292/435, 292/43, 29/57, 292/435.8
• US Class Current: 72/316
• CPC Class Codes: B21D 39/021 for panels, e.g. vehicle doors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53709 Overedge assembling means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53791 Edge binding

Abstract

A hemming system and method is taught. The system and method employs tool platen assemblies comprising an anvil and one or more beam assemblies which are configured on the tool platen assembly and which tool platen assembly can be removed and replaced in the hemming system without the need for reconfiguration of the tool platen components. This allows for relatively rapid change over for the hemming system to hem different components. Further, the lift table of the hemming system includes a lift plate which moves the anvil through a predefined constant vertical stroke, but the start and end positions of that constant stroke length can be changed by inserting and removing a set of spacers from the anvil lift path. When the spacers are in the lift path, the lowered position and the raised position of the anvil are both higher than the corresponding lowered position and raised position when the spacers are removed from the lift path. The beam assemblies on the tool platen assembly include mounting surfaces to which both the preliminary hemming beam and the final hemming beams are mounted, one above the other, and the beam assemblies operate to move the hemming beams between a retracted position and a hemming position. The lift table design, and the beam assemblies, combine to provide relatively fast cycle times for complete hemming operations.

Claims

1. A hemming system for hemming the edges of two or more components, the system comprising:

a lift table including a drive and a lift plate assembly, the drive operable to move the lift plate assembly through a fixed vertical stroke and operable to receive a tool platen assembly comprising an anvil, the lift plate assembly engaging the anvil through a lift path to move the anvil vertically through a stroke length corresponding to the fixed vertical stroke of the lift plate, the lift table being further operable to move a set of spacers into and out of the lift path to selectably move the anvil through the fixed stroke length from either a first or second vertical position;

a clamp frame including a clamp carriage moveable vertically in the clamp frame, the clamp carriage receiving a clamp to engage and retain components to be hemmed which are loaded onto the anvil; and

at least one beam assembly on the tool platen assembly, the at least one beam assembly including a mounting surface to which a preliminary hemming beam and a final hemming beam are mounted, one above the other, and the beam assembly being operable to move the mounting surface between a retracted position where the preliminary hemming beam and final hemming beam are distal the anvil and an operating position wherein the preliminary hemming beam and final hemming beam are adjacent the anvil such that the operative surface of one of the preliminary hemming beam and final hemming beams is positioned to engage the edge of the components as the anvil is moved vertically upward.

2. The hemming system of claim 1 wherein the tool platen assembly and a complementary clamp can be removed and replaced on the hemming system without requiring realignment of the anvil or hemming beams.

3. A method of hemming at least two components comprising the steps of:

(i) loading the components to be hemmed onto an anvil at a lowered preliminary hemming position and bringing a complementary clamp into engagement with the components to retain the components on the anvil;

(ii) moving at least one beam mounting surface, to which a preliminary hemming beam and a final hemming beam are mounted one above the other, from a retracted position distal the anvil to an operating position adjacent the anvil;

(iii) moving the anvil upward, through a fixed stroke length, from the lowered preliminary position to a raised preliminary position whereby the edges of the components to be hemmed engage the operative surface of the preliminary hemming beam to perform a preliminary hemming operation;

(iv) returning the at least one beam mounting surface to the retracted position;

(v) moving the anvil to a lowered final hemming position, the vertical difference between the lowered preliminary hemming position and the lowered final hemming position corresponding to the vertical distance between the operative surface of the preliminary hemming beam and the operative surface of the final hemming beam on the beam mounting surface;

(vi) moving the at least one beam mounting surface from the retracted position to the operating position;

(vii) moving the anvil upward, through the fixed stroke length, from the lowered final hemming position to a raised final hemming position whereby the edges of the components to be hemmed engage the operative surface of the final hemming beam to complete the hemming operation;

(viii) returning the at least one beam mounting surface to the retracted position; and

(ix) returning the anvil to the lowered preliminary hemming and disengaging the clamp to remove the hemmed components.