Closing method and closing machine

• US 7,775,077 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2006
• Issued: 08/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: KYB Corp.
• Original Assignee: Kayaba Industry Company Limited
• Inventors: Ogiso, Shigetoshi, Mishima, Keisuke
• Primary Examiner(s): Ross; Dana
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sullivan; Debra M
• Application Number:
  US11/887,270
• Publication Number:
  US 20090133458A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,600 Days
• Field of Search: 72/84, 72/85, 721/12, 721/15, 721/25, 723/701, 723/701.2, 72/80, 72/82, 724/28, 724/19, 724/20, 724/21, 723/61, 269/309, 269/310, 292/811
• US Class Current: 72/125
• 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:

positioning the work piece in a predetermined position using a retractable introduction stopper which protects onto an introduction path from the predetermined position towards a position in which the outer diameter chuck holds the work piece;

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

moving the inner diameter chuck by a work piece introducing device along the introduction path from the predetermined position towards the position in which the outer diameter chuck holds the work piece, in a state where the inner peripheral surface of the work piece is gripped by the inner diameter chuck and the retractable introduction stopper is retracted from the introduction path.

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:

a retractable introduction stopper which positions the work piece in a predetermined position by projecting onto an introduction path from the predetermined position towards a position in which the outer diameter chuck holds the work piece;

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

a work piece introducing device that moves the inner diameter chuck along the introduction path from the predetermined position towards the position in which the outer diameter chuck holds the work piece, in a state where the inner peripheral surface of the work piece is gripped by the inner diameter chuck and the retractable introduction stopper is retracted from the introduction path.

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 is 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.