Overlock clamp and overlock method

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of building construction, and discloses an edge locking clamp and an edge locking method, the edge locking clamp is used for wrapping and pressing an edge folding part of a first metal plate of two adjacent metal plates on a second metal plate, and the edge locking clamp is characterized by comprising a limiting biting clamp, a movable biting clamp and a biting limiting piece, the limiting biting clamp is used for abutting against the first metal plate. The movable bite clamp is hinged with the limiting bite clamp and can rotate around a hinge point; the occlusion limiting piece is movably connected with the movable occlusion clamp, the occlusion limiting piece comprises a guide arc surface, the occlusion limiting piece is used for synchronously rotating along with the movable occlusion clamp until the occlusion limiting piece reaches the abutting position to abut against the second metal plate, and the guide arc surface is used for abutting against the edge folding part of the first metal plate at the abutting position; and the movable biting clamp can rotate along the guide cambered surface and bend the edge folding part until the edge folding part is pressed on the second metal plate. Efficient and high-precision overlock operation is achieved, and meanwhile machining loss and operation difficulty are reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of building construction technology, and specifically relates to a locking clamp and locking method. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, most steel plate edge-locking systems on the market include manual edge-locking clamps. These are mostly two-piece extrusion clamps. Thinner steel plates are inherently elastic and have relatively smooth surfaces, making manual edge-locking sufficient. To meet the requirements of waterproofing, corrosion resistance, and long lifespan for metal roofing, laminated metal sheets are widely used. With the continuous upgrading and iteration of metal sheets, their thickness has expanded significantly. Many systems now use traditional roll forming machines to press thicker sheets, which leads to various problems with the sheet shape, such as the clamp pressing against the inner side.

[0003] When edge-locking two adjacent metal plates, the folded edge of the first metal plate needs to wrap around the horizontal part of the second metal plate. When the folded edge of the first metal plate bends from the predicted bending point, the engagement dimension is appropriate, and the folded edge of the bent metal plate will not press against the corner of the second metal plate. However, in actual operation, because the edge-locking tool directly contacts the middle of the folded edge and drives the folded edge to rotate, the bending point may move upward. If the bending point moves upward too high, the length of the folded edge of the first metal plate will be greater than the length of the horizontal part of the second metal plate, causing the edge of the folded edge of the first metal plate to curl up. Moreover, the first metal plate cannot fully fit with the second metal plate, affecting the edge-locking effect. Furthermore, during the edge-locking process, the clamping pliers may squeeze the first metal plate due to the operation of the workers on site, causing the first metal plate to be squeezed inward as a whole. This will cause the actual bending point to shift upward even more, further amplifying the curling of the edge of the folded edge of the first metal plate and affecting the edge-locking effect. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of at least one of the above-mentioned defects or deficiencies in the prior art, the present invention provides a locking clamp and locking method to achieve a tight and flat locking edge.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a locking clamp for covering and pressing the folded edge of a first metal plate onto a second metal plate from two adjacent metal plates, the locking clamp comprising: The limiting clamp is used to abut against the first metal plate; The movable jaws are hinged to the limiting jaws and can rotate around the hinge point; A biting limiter is movably connected to the movable biting pliers. The biting limiter includes a guide arc surface. The biting limiter is used to rotate synchronously with the movable biting pliers until it reaches the abutment position and abuts against the second metal plate. The guide arc surface is used to abut against the folded edge of the first metal plate at the abutment position. The movable biting pliers can rotate along the guide arc surface and bend the folded edge until the folded edge is pressed against the second metal plate.

[0006] In some embodiments, the movable biting clamp is provided with a sliding arc surface, the guide arc surface is located inside the biting limit member, the sliding arc surface is adapted to fit the guide arc surface, and the sliding arc surface is used to slide with the guide arc surface.

[0007] In some embodiments, the guide arc surface has multiple limiting protrusions, which are arranged along the sliding direction of the sliding arc surface and are evenly spaced along the axial direction of the guide arc surface. The sliding arc surface is provided with multiple sliding grooves that are adapted to the limiting protrusions. The limiting protrusions are accommodated in the sliding grooves and slide in cooperation with the sliding grooves.

[0008] In some embodiments, the engagement limiting member further includes: The first abutting surface is located at the end of the guide arc surface, and the first abutting surface is used to abut against the second horizontal part of the second metal plate; The second abutting surface is perpendicular to the first abutting surface and is used to abut against the second vertical portion of the second metal plate.

[0009] In some embodiments, the limiting bite forceps includes: The first limiting plate has a first limiting surface, which is used to abut against the first horizontal portion of the first metal plate. The first limiting surface is parallel to the first abutting surface of the engaging limiting member in the abutting position. The second limiting plate has a second limiting surface, which is perpendicular to the first limiting surface and is used to abut against the first vertical part of the first metal plate. The second limiting plate is parallel to the second abutting surface of the biting limiting member in the abutting position.

[0010] In some embodiments, the distance between the first limiting surface and the first abutting surface in the abutting position is a first distance, and the distance between the second limiting surface and the second abutting surface in the abutting position is a second distance. Both the first distance and the second distance are the sum of the thicknesses of the first metal plate and the second metal plate.

[0011] In some embodiments, the locking clamp further includes: An elastic connector has one end connected to the engagement limiting member and the other end connected to the movable jaw. The movable jaw is used to drive the engagement limiting member to rotate with the movable jaw. The movable jaw can continue to rotate after the engagement limiting member reaches the abutment position to stretch the elastic connector, so that the elastic connector has elastic potential energy to drive the engagement limiting member to reset. The elastic connector is used to drive the engagement limiting member to rotate and reset relative to the movable jaw through its own elastic force.

[0012] In some embodiments, there are two elastic connectors, which are respectively connected to the axial ends of the biting limiter and the movable biting pliers; And / or, The biting limiter is provided with a first hook, the movable biting pliers are provided with a second hook, one end of the elastic connector is hooked to the first hook, and the other end is hooked to the second hook.

[0013] In some embodiments, the limiting bite clamp is provided with a first hinge portion, the movable bite clamp is provided with a second hinge portion, and the biting limiting member is provided with a third hinge portion. A connecting shaft passes through the first hinge portion, the second hinge portion, and the third hinge portion in sequence, hinged the limiting bite clamp, the movable bite clamp, and the biting limiting member.

[0014] In some embodiments, the limiting jaws are provided with a first hinge portion, the movable jaws are provided with two second hinge portions, the first hinge portion is accommodated between the two second hinge portions, and the biting limiting member is provided with two third hinge portions, the two second hinge portions are accommodated between the two third hinge portions.

[0015] In some embodiments, the locking clamp includes: The first lever has one end connected to the limiting bite clamp and the other end provided with a first handle; The second lever has one end connected to the movable biting pliers and the other end equipped with a second handle.

[0016] A second aspect of the present invention provides a locking method using a locking fixture as described in any one of the preceding claims, the locking method comprising: The driving jaws separate from the limiting jaws; The limiting bite clamp abuts against the first vertical part and the first horizontal part of the first metal plate; Rotate the movable jaws and drive the biting limiter to rotate together until the biting limiter abuts against the second vertical part and the second horizontal part of the second metal plate; Continue rotating the movable jaws until they contact the folded edge of the second metal plate; Continue rotating the movable biting clamp, causing the folded edge to adhere to the second horizontal part of the second metal plate.

[0017] Through the above technical solution, the limiting clamp and the biting limiting component abut against the first and second metal plates from both sides, forming a bidirectional fixing effect. This avoids misalignment, shaking, or surface damage caused by force shifting during pressing of the first and second metal plates, ensuring precise alignment of the connection position. During the process of the movable clamp rotating and bending the folded edge along the guide arc surface, the guide arc surface provides continuous and smooth deformation guidance for the folded edge, making the folded edge uniformly stressed and gradually bent. This avoids the local stress concentration, uncontrolled deformation, and upward shift of the turning point that may occur with traditional direct bending, thereby preventing the folded edge from warping, wrinkling, or springing after pressing, ensuring a tight and flat edge, and improving the structural strength and sealing of the connection. The locking clamp of the present invention achieves efficient and high-precision locking operation through the combination of mechanical constraint and guide arc surface, while reducing processing loss and operation difficulty.

[0018] Other features and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail in the following detailed description section. Attached Figure Description

[0019] The accompanying drawings are provided to further illustrate embodiments of the present invention and form part of the specification. They are used together with the following detailed description to explain the embodiments of the present invention, but do not constitute a limitation thereof. Those skilled in the art can obtain other drawings based on the structures shown in these drawings without any inventive effort. In the drawings: Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the locking clamp in this invention; Figure 2 This is another structural schematic diagram of the locking clamp in this invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the connection of the locking clamp in this invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first metal plate and the second metal plate in this invention; Figure 5 for Figure 4 Enlarged view of section A; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the movable biting pincers in this invention; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the interlocking limiting member in this invention; Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the limiting bite forceps in this invention; Figure 9This is a schematic diagram of the locking clamp in the present invention when the engagement limiting member is in the abutment position; Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the use of the locking clamp in this invention. Figure 11 for Figure 10 Enlarged view of section B; Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram showing the engagement limiting member reaching the contact position during the use of the locking clamp in this invention; Figure 13 for Figure 12 Enlarged view of section C; Figure 14 This is another schematic diagram illustrating the use of the locking clamp in this invention; Figure 15 for Figure 14 Enlarged view of section D; Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures Detailed Implementation

[0020] The specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are for illustration and explanation only and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0021] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and exemplary embodiments.

[0022] like Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, one aspect of the present invention provides a locking clamp for covering and pressing the folded edge portion 83 of a first metal plate 8 onto a second metal plate 9 of two adjacent metal plates. The locking clamp includes a limiting clamp 1, a movable clamp 2, and a locking and limiting member 3. The limiting clamp 1 is used to abut against the first metal plate 8. The movable clamp 2 is hinged to the limiting clamp 1 and can rotate around the hinge point. The locking and limiting member 3 is movably connected to the movable clamp 2. The locking and limiting member 3 includes a guide arc surface 311. The locking and limiting member 3 is used to rotate synchronously with the movable clamp 2 until the locking and limiting member 3 reaches the abutment position and abuts against the second metal plate 9. The guide arc surface 311 is used to abut against the folded edge portion 83 of the first metal plate 8 at the abutment position. The movable clamp 2 can rotate along the guide arc surface 311 and bend the folded edge portion 83 until the folded edge portion 83 is pressed against the second metal plate 9.

[0023] Among them, such as Figure 4 and Figure 5As shown, the first metal plate 8 includes a first vertical portion 81, a first horizontal portion 82, and a folded edge portion 83. The first horizontal portion 82 is horizontally positioned, the first vertical portion 81 is vertically positioned at one end of the first horizontal portion 82, and the folded edge portion 83 is vertically positioned at the other end of the first horizontal portion 82. The second metal plate 9 includes a second vertical portion 91 and a second horizontal portion 92 that are perpendicular to each other, i.e., the second vertical portion 91 is vertically positioned, and the second horizontal portion 92 is horizontally positioned. Before edge locking, the first metal plate 8 and the second metal plate 9 need to be placed adjacent to each other, and the second vertical portion 91 and the second horizontal portion 92 should be accommodated within the accommodating space formed by the first vertical portion 81, the first horizontal portion 82, and the folded edge portion 83, so that the first vertical portion 81 and the second vertical portion 91 are in contact, and the first horizontal portion 82 and the second horizontal portion 92 are in contact.

[0024] The limiting clamp 1 serves as a fixed reference and always abuts against the first metal plate 8 during operation to constrain its position. The movable clamp 2 is hinged to the limiting clamp 1 and can rotate around the hinge point to provide bending power. The biting limiting member 3 is movably connected to the movable clamp 2. The biting limiting member 3 first extends into the receiving space and reaches the abutting position to contact the second vertical part 91 and the second horizontal part 92 of the second metal plate 9. After the biting limiting member 3 reaches the abutting position, it stops moving. At this time, the guide arc surface 311 can contact the edge of the folded edge 83 of the first metal plate 8. Then the movable clamp 2 continues to rotate along the trajectory of the guide arc surface 311, pushing the folded edge 83 to gradually bend and deform along the guide arc surface 311 until the folded edge 83 is completely pressed and wrapped on the second horizontal part 92 of the second metal plate 9, completing the edge locking process.

[0025] The limiting clamp 1 and the clamping limiting member 3 abut against the first metal plate 8 and the second metal plate 9 from both sides, forming a bidirectional fixing effect. This prevents the first metal plate 8 and the second metal plate 9 from misaligning, shaking, or surface damage due to force shift during pressing, ensuring precise alignment of the connection position. During the process of the movable clamp 2 rotating and bending the folded edge 83 along the guide arc surface 311, the guide arc surface 311 provides continuous and smooth deformation guidance for the folded edge 83, making the folded edge 83 uniformly stressed and gradually bent. This avoids the local stress concentration, uncontrolled deformation, and upward shift of the turning point that may occur with traditional direct bending, thereby preventing the folded edge 83 from warping, wrinkling, or springing after pressing, ensuring a tight and flat edge, and improving the structural strength and sealing of the connection. The locking clamp of the present invention achieves efficient and high-precision locking operation through the combination of mechanical constraint and guide arc surface 311, while reducing processing loss and operation difficulty.

[0026] In some implementations, such as Figure 6As shown, the movable jaw 2 is provided with a sliding arc surface 21, and a guide arc surface 311 is located inside the biting limit member 3. The sliding arc surface 21 and the guide arc surface 311 are adapted and fitted together, and the sliding arc surface 21 is used to slide and engage with the guide arc surface 311. Specifically, after the biting limit member 3 reaches the contact position, when the movable jaw 2 rotates around the hinge point, it always slides on the guide arc surface 311 inside the biting limit member 3, converting the rotational motion of the movable jaw 2 into the sliding of the sliding arc surface 21 along a predetermined trajectory, providing a stable and smooth mechanical fulcrum and motion path for the subsequent bending action of the movable jaw 2. At the same time, the guide arc surface 311 also defines the path for the bending process of the folded edge 83, so that the movable jaw 2 drives the edge of the folded edge 83 to bend along the guide arc surface 311, which can effectively prevent the edge from lifting after contacting the second vertical part 91 of the second metal plate 9, and at the same time prevent the bending point of the folded edge 83 from moving upward.

[0027] The tight fit between the sliding arc surface 21 and the guide arc surface 311 eliminates the gap and wobbling between the movable jaw 2 and the biting limit member 3, preventing energy loss, positional deviation or workpiece damage caused by loose parts; the guide sliding mechanism ensures the smoothness and consistency of the bending action. The movement of the sliding arc surface 21 along the guide arc surface 311 forcibly constrains the trajectory of the end of the movable jaw 2 and the end of the folded edge 83, so that it strictly follows the path determined by the guide arc surface 311 when bending the folded edge 83. This not only eliminates the action jamming, but also ensures that the folded edge 83 is bent and shaped evenly and gradually, preventing the bending point from shifting upward or local warping caused by uneven force or loss of path control, thereby obtaining a flat and tight pressing and locking effect.

[0028] Furthermore, the movable biting pliers 2 is also provided with a pressing surface 22, which is the side of the movable biting pliers 2 that contacts the folded edge portion 83. When the movable biting pliers 2 slides along the guide arc surface 311 to the end of the guide arc surface 311, the pressing surface 22 just presses the folded edge portion 83 to be parallel and in contact with the second horizontal portion 92 of the second metal plate 9. At this time, the pressing surface 22 is also just parallel and in contact with the folded edge portion 83.

[0029] In some implementations, such as Figure 7As shown, the guide arc surface 311 has multiple limiting protrusions, which are arranged along the sliding direction of the sliding arc surface 21 and are evenly spaced along the axial direction of the guide arc surface 311. The middle part of the sliding arc surface 21 is provided with multiple sliding grooves 211 that are adapted to the limiting protrusions. The limiting protrusions are accommodated in the sliding grooves 211 and slide in cooperation with the sliding grooves 211. Specifically, in the embodiments provided by the present invention, the limiting protrusion includes a first protrusion 3111, a second protrusion 3112, and a third protrusion 3113, and the first protrusion 3111, the second protrusion 3112, and the third protrusion 3113 are evenly spaced along the axial direction of the guide arc surface 311. The sliding arc surface 21 is provided with three sliding grooves 211. The middle part of the sliding arc surface 21 is provided with a sliding groove 211 that is adapted to the second protrusion 3112. The second protrusion 3112 is accommodated in the sliding groove 211. The sliding grooves 211 located at both ends of the sliding arc surface 21 are guide notches 212. The two guide notches 212 are respectively used to slide with the first protrusion 3111 and the third protrusion 3113. When the sliding arc surface 21 of the movable jaw 2 moves along the guide arc surface 311, the sliding groove 211 in the middle of the sliding arc surface 21 will precisely fit onto the central second protrusion 3112, forming an embedded guiding relationship; at the same time, the guide notches 212 at both ends of the axial direction of the sliding arc surface 21 will slide in contact with the outer first protrusion 3111 and the third protrusion 3113 respectively, so that the axial direction of the sliding arc surface 21 is constrained by the three protrusions together and evenly during the movement, forming a multi-point contact and cooperative limiting sliding pair.

[0030] The three evenly distributed limiting protrusions, in conjunction with the sliding groove 211 and guide notch 212 on the sliding arc surface 21, enhance the anti-sway and anti-torsion capabilities of the sliding arc surface 21, ensuring that it maintains a preset fit and movement trajectory with the guide arc surface 311 throughout the entire sliding stroke. This eliminates the jamming or shaking that may occur due to single-point guidance, making the force transmission more stable. The embedded fit between the middle sliding groove 211 and the second protrusion 3112, while undertaking the main guiding function, also precisely limits the axial position of the sliding arc surface 21, preventing its lateral movement. The sliding fit between the guide notch 212 at both ends and the protrusion provides auxiliary stable support. The three work together to ensure the axial alignment accuracy of the bending action, making the bending deformation of the metal plate folded edge 83 more uniform and controllable, effectively improving the consistency and reliability of pressing, and reducing component wear caused by unstable guidance. Moreover, by adding limiting protrusions, the contact area between the sliding arc surface 21 and the guide arc surface 311 can be reduced, thus reducing frictional resistance and the manual force required for manual edge locking.

[0031] In some embodiments, the engagement limiting member 3 further includes a first abutting surface 312 and a second abutting surface 313. The first abutting surface 312 is located at the end of the guide arc surface 311 and is used to abut against the second horizontal portion 92 of the second metal plate 9. The second abutting surface 313 is arranged perpendicularly to the first abutting surface 312 and is used to abut against the second vertical portion 91 of the second metal plate 9. The first abutting surface 312 and the second abutting surface 313 form an L-shaped guide plate 31, and the guide arc surface 311 is located on the inner side of the guide plate 31. Specifically, the engagement limiting member 3 includes a guide plate 31, a guide arc surface 311, a first abutting surface 312, and a second abutting surface 313, all located on the guide plate 31. When the engagement limiting member 3 reaches the abutting position, the first abutting surface 312 will be tightly fitted with the second horizontal portion 92 on the second metal plate 9 that needs to be covered, while the second abutting surface 313 will be fitted with the second vertical portion 91 of the second metal plate 9. This allows the L-shaped outer corner of the engagement limiting member 3 to be precisely engaged with the inner corner of the second metal plate 9 when it is in the abutting position, thereby providing positioning and support for the second metal plate 9 in both horizontal and vertical directions.

[0032] The contact between the first abutting surface 312 and the second horizontal portion 92 of the second metal plate 9 ensures the fit and support strength of the folded edge 83 when it is finally pressed together in the horizontal direction, preventing incomplete pressing due to the pressure or displacement of the lower plate. The contact between the second abutting surface 313 and the vertical portion of the second metal plate 9 laterally fixes the position of the second metal plate 9. This, combined with the fixing action of the limiting clamp 1 on the first metal plate 8, eliminates potential relative misalignment, warping, or overall shaking of the two metal plates during the pressing process. This bidirectional support not only protects the metal plates from scratches or deformation caused by shaking and friction but also provides a stable foundation for the movable clamp 2 to perform bending and pressing actions. This allows the folded edge 83 to be pressed evenly and flatly onto the second metal plate 9, preventing problems such as warping, uneven edges, or poor sealing caused by unstable support or plate movement, thus improving the overall quality and structural strength of the locking connection.

[0033] In some implementations, such as Figure 8As shown, the limiting bite pliers 1 includes a first limiting plate 11 and a second limiting plate 12. The first limiting plate 11 has a first limiting surface 11a, which is used to abut against the first horizontal portion 82 of the first metal plate 8. The first limiting surface 11a is parallel to the first abutting surface 312 of the biting limiting member 3 in the abutting position. The second limiting plate 12 has a second limiting surface 12a, which is perpendicular to the first limiting surface 11a and is used to abut against the first vertical portion 81 of the first metal plate 8. The second limiting plate 12 is parallel to the second abutting surface 313 of the biting limiting member 3 in the abutting position. The limiting clamp 1 is also an L-shaped structure composed of a first limiting plate 11 and a second limiting plate 12. The first limiting surface 11a of the first limiting plate 11 is used to abut against the first horizontal part of the first metal plate 8, and the second limiting surface 12a of the second limiting plate 12 is perpendicular to the first limiting surface 11a and is used to abut against the first vertical part 81 of the first metal plate 8. When the biting limiting member 3 moves to the abutting position, its first abutting surface 312 is parallel to the first limiting surface 11a, and its second abutting surface 313 is parallel to the second limiting surface 12a. This allows the two L-shaped reference surfaces formed by the limiting clamp 1 and the biting limiting member 3 on both sides to accurately clamp and position the first metal plate 8 and the second metal plate 9 in both horizontal and vertical directions in a parallel manner during the edge locking operation.

[0034] The parallel first limiting surface 11a and the first abutment surface 312 jointly establish a horizontal reference, ensuring that the folded edge 83 of the first metal plate 8 can be pressed onto the second metal plate 9 along a precise trajectory, preventing uneven pressing depth or local suspension due to inconsistent horizontal references. The parallel second limiting surface 12a and the second abutment surface 313 form a reliable clamping force in the vertical direction, like a rigid rectangular frame, fixing the vertical parts of the two metal plates from both sides, preventing lateral sliding, relative misalignment, or overall tilting that may occur during pressing. The dual parallel constraints in two spatial dimensions firmly integrate the two metal plates to be connected in precise relative positions, providing a solid foundation for subsequent bending and pressing, thereby ensuring the flatness, tightness, and consistency of the final locking joint, and improving the connection strength and quality. At the same time, it also allows for manual correction of problematic plates that have been squeezed during the pressing process, restoring the squeezed parts to normal.

[0035] In some implementations, such as Figure 9As shown, the distance between the first limiting surface 11a and the first abutting surface 312 in the abutting position is the first distance L1, and the distance between the second limiting surface 12a and the second abutting surface 313 in the abutting position is the second distance L2. The first distance L1 and the second distance L2 are both the sum of the thicknesses of the first metal plate 8 and the second metal plate 9. When excessive pressure is applied, since the two metal plates have completely filled the preset first distance L1 and second distance L2, the pressure will not be able to further plastically compress the metal plates, but will be converted into the internal stress of the fixture itself, thereby protecting the workpiece from indentation, deformation or material damage caused by excessive pressing; at the same time, it ensures that the folded edge 83 is flatly pressed in every locking operation, effectively eliminating quality defects such as local warping and poor fit caused by uneven or insufficient pressing force, and improving the structural rigidity, sealing and process repeatability of the connection point. Currently, to meet the requirements of waterproofing, corrosion resistance, and long lifespan of metal roofing, coated metal sheets are widely used in the market. Waterproof membranes ranging from 0.1mm PE and fluorocarbon films to 1.8mm TPO and PVC are laminated with steel sheets in the factory. At this time, the thickness of the steel sheet varies from 0.5~0.8mm to 0.6~2.7mm, with a large range. The first distance L1 and the second distance L2 of the locking clamp of the present invention can be adjusted during manufacturing according to different needs to suit different thicknesses of the sheet.

[0036] The width of the first abutment surface 312 is L3. Since one side of the first abutment surface 312 is the second abutment surface 313 and the other side is the guide arc surface 311, the second abutment surface 313 abuts against the second vertical portion 91 of the second metal plate 9, and the first abutment surface 312 abuts against the second horizontal portion 92 of the second metal plate 9. At the same time, the folded edge portion 83 of the first metal plate 8 is pressed along the trajectory of the guide arc surface 311. Therefore, the distance between the folded edge portion 83 and the second vertical portion 91 is the width L3 of the first abutment surface 312. In actual use, the distance between the folded edge portion 83 and the second vertical portion 91 can be specifically set according to the requirements of the folding edge, that is, the width L3 of the first abutment surface 312 can be set according to the actual situation.

[0037] In addition, the width of the first abutting surface 312 can be the same as the width of the first limiting surface 11a, and the height difference between the first abutting surface 312 and the first limiting surface 11a is the first distance L1, so that the areas of the first abutting surface 312 and the first limiting surface 11a are as close as possible, so as to maximize the clamping of the first vertical part and prevent deformation.

[0038] In some embodiments, the locking clamp further includes an elastic connector 4. One end of the elastic connector 4 is connected to the engagement limiting member 3, and the other end is connected to the movable jaw 2. The movable jaw 2 is used to drive the engagement limiting member 3 to rotate with the movable jaw 2. The movable jaw 2 can continue to rotate after the engagement limiting member 3 reaches the abutment position to stretch the elastic connector 4, so that the elastic connector 4 has elastic potential energy to drive the engagement limiting member 3 to reset. The elastic connector 4 is used to drive the engagement limiting member 3 to rotate and reset relative to the movable jaw 2 through its own elastic force. The elastic connector 4 can be a spring or a rubber elastic material. In the initial stage, the rotation of the movable jaw 2 drags the engagement limiting member 3 to rotate synchronously through the elastic connector 4 until the engagement limiting member 3 reaches the abutment position, where the first abutment surface 312 and the second abutment surface 313 are in complete contact with the second metal plate 9, reaching the end point of the movement of the engagement limiting member 3, i.e., the abutment position. During the subsequent engagement phase, since the engagement stop 3 is rigidly blocked by the second metal plate 9 and cannot continue to rotate, the continuous rotation of the movable jaws 2 will cause the elastic connector 4 to be stretched. At this time, the gripping force applied by the operator will be converted into the tensile elastic force of the elastic connector 4, and ultimately act on the second metal plate 9 through the engagement stop 3. The elastic connector 4 ensures that the engagement stop 3 can be accurately and firmly positioned on the second metal plate 9 first, establishing a solid benchmark for subsequent bending. When the movable jaws 2 continues to rotate for bending and pressing, the stretched elastic connector 4 provides a progressive pressing force, which not only protects the surface of the metal plate from indentations or deformation caused by rigid impact or overload, but also allows the operator to feel the gradually increasing feedback force through the handle, achieving intuitive perception and control of the pressing process. Moreover, after the pressing and locking edge is completed, the operator removes the external force, and the movable jaws 2 can quickly return to its original position under the action of the elastic connector 4, facilitating the rapid commencement of the next locking edge operation.

[0039] In some embodiments, there are two elastic connectors 4, which are respectively connected to the two ends of the bite-limiting member 3 and the movable jaw 2; and / or, the bite-limiting member 3 is provided with a first hook 35, the movable jaw 2 is provided with a second hook 26, one end of the elastic connector 4 is hooked to the first hook 35, and the other end is hooked to the second hook 26. In one embodiment, the bite-limiting member 3 is provided with a first hook 35 at both ends of its axial direction, and the movable jaw 2 is provided with a second hook 26 at both ends of its axial direction. Each of the first hooks 35 at each end of the bite-limiting member 3 and the corresponding second hooks 26 at each end of the movable jaw 2 are connected one-to-one by the two elastic connectors 4, so that when the movable jaw 2 rotates and stretches the elastic connector 4, its pulling force on the bite-limiting member 3 is transmitted synchronously through two symmetrically distributed elastic points, thereby forming a pair of elastic traction forces of equal magnitude and parallel direction in the entire axial direction of the clamp. This ensures that the tension of the movable biting clamp 2 on the biting limit member 3 is evenly distributed along its axial direction, eliminating the problems of twisting, tilting, or uneven contact between the biting limit member 3 and the second metal plate 9 that may be caused by single-point force application. This allows the first abutment surface 312 and the second abutment surface 313 to simultaneously and stably adhere to the second metal plate 9, providing a reference for subsequent bending. It also ensures that the folded edge 83 can adhere evenly and flatly to the second metal plate 9 during final pressing, improving the overall consistency, sealing, and structural reliability of the locking joint. The first hook 35 and the second hook 26 can be screws, with one end inserted into the movable biting clamp 2 or the biting limit member 3, and the other end exposed to connect to the elastic connector 4. The two ends of the elastic connector 4 are respectively hooked onto the first hook 35 and the second hook 26, facilitating the disassembly and replacement of the elastic connector 4. In some embodiments, the limiting jaw 1 is provided with a first hinge portion 13, the movable jaw 2 is provided with a second hinge portion 23, and the biting limiting member 3 is provided with a third hinge portion 34. A connecting shaft 5 passes through the first hinge portion 13, the second hinge portion 23, and the third hinge portion 34 in sequence, hinged the limiting jaw 1, the movable jaw 2, and the biting limiting member 3. Specifically, the first hinge portion 13 on the limiting jaw 1, the second hinge portion 23 on the movable jaw 2, and the third hinge portion 34 on the biting limiting member 3 are arranged in sequence. The first hinge portion 13, the second hinge portion 23, and the third hinge portion 34 are all provided with hinge holes for the connecting shaft 5 to pass through. A connecting shaft 5 passes through these three hinge holes in sequence, so that the three components share the same physical axis of rotation. In this structure, the limiting jaw 1 is usually used as a fixed reference, while the movable jaw 2 and the biting limiting member 3 can rotate relative to each other about this common axis, and their rotational movements are interconnected by the elastic connecting member 4.

[0040] The coaxial hinge structure simplifies the mechanical structure of the locking clamp, achieving compact assembly of multiple components through a single axis. This not only reduces the number of parts and assembly complexity but also improves the rigidity and precision of the entire hinge system, effectively reducing the cumulative gaps and wobbling that may occur due to multi-axis hinges. The shared rotation axis ensures that the movement trajectories of the movable jaw 2 and the biting limit member 3 have completely consistent rotation centers, maintaining the certainty and predictability of their relative positions and phase relationships during the bending process. When the movable jaw 2 is rotated under force, the biting limit member 3 can perform precise and stable coordinated movement, thereby ensuring its positional accuracy when abutting the second metal plate 9 and the consistency of the guide arc surface 311 guiding the sliding arc surface 21 during subsequent bending actions. This prevents interference, jamming, or asynchronous movements caused by component misalignment, ensuring that the folded edge 83 is smoothly and uniformly bent and pressed, improving the quality and reliability of the locking edge forming.

[0041] In one embodiment, the elastic connector 4 can be disposed in the hinge holes of the second hinge portion 23 and the third hinge portion 34. That is, the elastic connector 4 can be a torsion spring, with both ends of the torsion spring connected to the second hinge portion 23 and the third hinge portion 34 respectively. This can also realize the synchronous rotation and reset between the movable biting pliers 2 and the biting limit member 3.

[0042] In some embodiments, the limiting jaw 1 is provided with a first hinge portion 13, the movable jaw 2 is provided with two second hinge portions 23, the first hinge portion 13 is accommodated between the two second hinge portions 23, and the biting limiting member 3 is provided with two third hinge portions 34, the two second hinge portions 23 are accommodated between the two third hinge portions 34. The limiting jaw 1 is provided with a first hinge portion 13, which is accommodated between two parallel and opposite second hinge portions 23 on the movable jaw 2; at the same time, the two second hinge portions 23 of the movable jaw 2 are further accommodated between two parallel third hinge portions 34 on the biting limiting member 3, and the connecting shaft 5 passes through the precisely aligned hinge holes on all five hinge portions in sequence, thereby connecting all components in series and hinged on the same axis.

[0043] The hinge point of the movable jaw 2 is designed with symmetrical two-point support, which allows the force it experiences when rotating around the axis to be evenly distributed, enhancing the bending and torsional resistance of the hinge area and effectively preventing the movable jaw 2 from twisting or swaying during heavy bending. The two-point support of the biting limiter 3 further forms a wider anti-overturning support, ensuring that the biting limiter 3 maintains an upright and stable posture when it abuts against the second metal plate 9 and bears the reverse force, without lateral swaying. This rigid symmetrical frame structure makes the force transmission path between components more direct and stable, which not only improves the durability and deformation resistance of the clamp, but also ensures that the relative movement between the movable jaw 2 and the biting limiter 3 is more precise and smooth, providing mechanical guarantee for achieving uniform and flat locking edges.

[0044] In some implementations, such as Figure 1 As shown, the edge-locking fixture includes a first lever 6 and a second lever 7. One end of the first lever 6 is connected to the limiting clamp 1, and the other end is provided with a first handle 61. One end of the second lever 7 is connected to the movable clamp 2, and the other end is provided with a second handle 71. The first handle 61 can control and stabilize the position of the limiting clamp 1, making it abut against the first metal plate 8. The second handle 71 can drive the movable clamp 2 to rotate around the hinge point, thereby driving the biting limiting member 3 to move and completing the bending and pressing of the folded edge 83. In use, the operator can hold the first handle 61 with one hand to press the limiting clamp 1 firmly onto the first metal plate 8, ensuring that it does not shift during the entire edge-locking process, establishing a stable benchmark for the entire process; the other hand applies rotational force through the second handle 71 to drive the movable clamp 2 to move, thereby precisely controlling the bending process and the magnitude of the final pressing force. The two-handed operation not only utilizes the lever principle to save effort, but also allows the operator to intuitively perceive the operating force, avoiding workpiece damage or uneven pressing caused by improper force application. Meanwhile, the handle design keeps the operator's hands away from the workpiece and hinge area, improving operational safety and reducing fatigue from prolonged operation, thereby ensuring consistent edge-locking quality and production efficiency.

[0045] Furthermore, the first lever 6 is connected to the top surface of the first limiting plate 11 of the limiting jaw 1. The first hinge portion 13 is an annular cylinder connected to the side of the first limiting plate 11. A first connecting plate 14 is also connected between the first limiting plate 11 and the first lever 6. A first reinforcing plate 15 is also connected between the first connecting plate 14 and the first hinge portion 13. This interconnected structure enhances the connection strength between the components. Similarly, the second lever 7 is connected to the top surface of the movable jaw 2. The two second hinge portions 23 are both annular cylinders, connected at intervals to the side of the movable jaw 2. A second connecting plate 24 is also connected between the movable jaw 2 and the second lever 7. A second reinforcing plate 25 is connected between the second connecting plate 24 and the second hinge portion 23. The biting limiter 3 also includes an intermediate plate 32. One end of the intermediate plate 32 is connected to the guide plate 31, and the other end is connected to two parallel extension plates 33. One end of the extension plate 33 is perpendicularly connected to the intermediate plate 32, and the other end is connected to a third hinge portion 34. Both third hinge portions 34 are also annular cylinders. The extension plate 33 leaves a space between the third hinge portion 34 and the intermediate plate 32 to accommodate the movable biting pliers 2 between the extension plate 33, the intermediate plate 32, and the guide plate 31.

[0046] A second aspect of the present invention provides a sealing edge method using a sealing edge fixture as described in any of the above claims, the sealing edge method comprising: Drive the movable jaw 2 to separate from the limiting jaw 1 to open the locking clamp; The limiting bite 1 abuts against the first vertical part 81 and the first horizontal part 82 of the first metal plate 8; Rotate the movable jaws 2 and drive the biting limit member 3 to rotate together until the biting limit member 3 abuts against the second vertical part 91 and the second horizontal part 92 of the second metal plate 9; Continue rotating the movable jaws 2 until the movable jaws 2 contacts the folded edge 83 of the second metal plate 9; Continue rotating the movable biting clamp 2, and drive the folded edge 83 to adhere to the second horizontal part 92 of the second metal plate 9.

[0047] The first metal plate 8 includes a first vertical portion 81, a first horizontal portion 82, and a folded edge portion 83. The second metal plate 9 includes a second vertical portion 91 and a second horizontal portion 92. Before edge locking, the first metal plate 8 and the second metal plate 9 need to be placed adjacent to each other, and the second vertical portion 91 and the second horizontal portion 92 are accommodated in the accommodating space formed by the first vertical portion 81, the first horizontal portion 82, and the folded edge portion 83, so that the first vertical portion 81 and the second vertical portion 91 are in contact, and the first horizontal portion 82 and the second horizontal portion 92 are in contact.

[0048] When using, such as Figure 10 and Figure 11As shown, firstly, the movable jaw pliers 2 are driven to separate from the limiting jaw pliers 1 to open the locking clamp. Then, holding the first handle 61, the first limiting surface 11a of the limiting jaw pliers 1 is brought into contact with the first horizontal portion 82 of the first metal plate 8, and the second limiting surface 12a of the limiting jaw pliers 1 is brought into contact with the first vertical portion 81 of the first metal plate 8, thus completing the positioning of the first metal plate 8. Subsequently, holding the second handle 71, the movable jaw pliers 2 are rotated, causing the biting limiting member 3 to rotate until the biting limiting member 3 reaches the abutment position. Figure 12 and Figure 13 That is, the first abutting surface 312 of the biting limiting member 3 abuts against the second horizontal portion 92 of the second metal plate 9, and the second abutting surface 313 abuts against the second vertical portion 91 of the second metal plate 9. At this time, the limiting clamp 1 and the biting limiting member 3 together clamp and fix the first metal plate 8 and the second metal plate 9. The biting limiting member 3 also prevents the limiting clamp 1 from excessively squeezing the first metal plate 8, causing the first metal plate 8 to deform. Subsequently, continue to rotate the movable clamp 2, as... Figure 14 and Figure 15 As shown, the movable clamp 2 presses and bends the folded edge 83 of the first metal plate 8. Since the sliding arc surface 21 of the movable clamp 2 is in contact with the guide arc surface 311, the rotation of the movable clamp 2 will cause the edge of the folded edge 83 to contact the guide arc surface 311. Then, during the rotation of the movable clamp 2, the edge of the folded edge 83 will also slide along the trajectory of the guide arc surface 311. At this time, with the edge trajectory of the folded edge 83 determined, the edge of the folded edge 83 will not contact the second vertical part 91, causing the edge of the folded edge 83 to curl up. At the same time, the bending point of the folded edge 83 will not move upward. As the movable clamp 2 continues to rotate, the pressing surface 22 presses the folded edge 83, pressing the folded edge 83 tightly against the second horizontal part 92. At this time, the edge locking operation is completed.

[0049] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this invention, "a plurality of" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0050] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection, an electrical connection, or a connection that allows communication between them; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise explicitly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0051] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples. Moreover, without contradiction, those skilled in the art can combine and integrate the different embodiments or examples described in this specification, as well as the features of different embodiments or examples.

[0052] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described above, it is understood that the above embodiments are exemplary and should not be construed as limiting the present invention. Those skilled in the art can make changes, modifications, substitutions and variations to the above embodiments within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A locking clamp for covering and pressing the folded edge (83) of a first metal plate (8) of two adjacent metal plates onto a second metal plate (9), characterized in that, The locking clamp includes: The limiting bite (1) is used to abut against the first metal plate (8); The movable biting pliers (2) are hinged to the limiting biting pliers (1) and can rotate around the hinge point; The biting limiter (3) is movably connected to the movable biting pliers (2). The biting limiter (3) includes a guide arc surface (311). The biting limiter (3) is used to rotate synchronously with the movable biting pliers (2) until the biting limiter (3) reaches the abutment position and abuts against the second metal plate (9). The guide arc surface (311) is used to abut against the folded edge (83) of the first metal plate (8) at the abutment position. The movable biting pliers (2) can rotate along the guide arc surface (311) and bend the folded edge (83) until the folded edge (83) is pressed against the second metal plate (9).

2. The locking clamp according to claim 1, characterized in that, The movable bite clamp (2) is provided with a sliding arc surface (21), and the guide arc surface (311) is located inside the bite limiting member (3). The sliding arc surface (21) is adapted to fit the guide arc surface (311), and the sliding arc surface (21) is used to slide and cooperate with the guide arc surface (311).

3. The locking clamp according to claim 2, characterized in that, The guide arc surface (311) has multiple limiting protrusions, which are arranged along the sliding direction of the sliding arc surface (21) and are evenly spaced along the axial direction of the guide arc surface (311). The sliding arc surface (21) is provided with multiple sliding grooves (211) that are adapted to the limiting protrusions. The limiting protrusions are accommodated in the sliding grooves (211) and slide in cooperation with the sliding grooves (211).

4. The locking clamp according to claim 1, characterized in that, The engagement limiting member (3) also includes: The first abutting surface (312) is located at the end of the guide arc surface (311), and the first abutting surface (312) is used to abut against the second horizontal part (92) of the second metal plate (9); The second abutting surface (313) is arranged perpendicularly to the first abutting surface (312), and the second abutting surface (313) is used to abut against the second vertical part (91) of the second metal plate (9).

5. The locking clamp according to claim 4, characterized in that, The limiting bite forceps (1) includes: The first limiting plate (11) has a first limiting surface (11a) for abutting the first horizontal portion (82) of the first metal plate (8), and the first limiting surface (11a) is parallel to the first abutting surface (312) of the biting limiting member (3) in the abutting position. The second limiting plate (12) has a second limiting surface (12a), which is perpendicular to the first limiting surface (11a) and is used to abut against the first vertical part (81) of the first metal plate (8). The second limiting plate (12) is parallel to the second abutting surface (313) of the biting limiting member (3) in the abutting position.

6. The locking clamp according to claim 5, characterized in that, The distance between the first limiting surface (11a) and the first abutting surface (312) in the abutting position is the first distance, and the distance between the second limiting surface (12a) and the second abutting surface (313) in the abutting position is the second distance. The first distance and the second distance are both the sum of the thicknesses of the first metal plate (8) and the second metal plate (9).

7. The locking clamp according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The locking clamp also includes: The elastic connector (4) is connected at one end to the biting limit member (3) and at the other end to the movable bite clamp (2). The movable bite clamp (2) is used to drive the biting limit member (3) to rotate with the movable bite clamp (2). The movable bite clamp (2) can continue to rotate after the biting limit member (3) reaches the contact position to stretch the elastic connector (4) so ​​that the elastic connector (4) has elastic potential energy to drive the biting limit member (3) to reset. The elastic connector (4) is used to drive the biting limit member (3) to rotate and reset relative to the movable bite clamp (2) through its own elastic force.

8. The locking clamp according to claim 7, characterized in that, The number of the elastic connectors (4) is two, and the two elastic connectors (4) are respectively connected to the two ends of the bite limiter (3) and the movable bite clamp (2); And / or, The biting limiter (3) is provided with a first hook (35), the movable biting pliers (2) is provided with a second hook (26), one end of the elastic connector (4) is hooked to the first hook (35), and the other end is hooked to the second hook (26).

9. The locking clamp according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The limiting bite pliers (1) are provided with a first hinge part (13), the movable bite pliers (2) are provided with a second hinge part (23), and the biting limiting member (3) is provided with a third hinge part (34). The connecting shaft (5) passes through the first hinge part (13), the second hinge part (23) and the third hinge part (34) in sequence, and hinges the limiting bite pliers (1), the movable bite pliers (2) and the biting limiting member (3).

10. The locking clamp according to claim 9, characterized in that, The limiting bite clamp (1) is provided with a first hinge part (13), the movable bite clamp (2) is provided with two second hinge parts (23), the first hinge part (13) is accommodated between the two second hinge parts (23), and the biting limiting member (3) is provided with two third hinge parts (34), the two second hinge parts (23) are accommodated between the two third hinge parts (34).

11. The locking clamp according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The locking clamp includes: The first lever (6) is connected at one end to the limiting bite (1) and at the other end is a first handle (61). The second lever (7) is connected at one end to the movable bite clamp (2) and at the other end is a second handle (71).

12. A method for edge locking, characterized in that, Employing the edge-locking fixture as described in any one of claims 1 to 11, the edge-locking method includes: The driving jaws (2) separate from the limiting jaws (1); The limiting bite (1) abuts against the first vertical part (81) and the first horizontal part (82) of the first metal plate (8); Rotate the movable biting pliers (2) and drive the biting limiting member (3) to rotate synchronously until the biting limiting member (3) abuts against the second vertical part (91) and the second horizontal part (92) of the second metal plate (9); Continue rotating the movable bite clamp (2) until the movable bite clamp (2) contacts the folded edge (83) of the second metal plate (9); Continue to rotate the movable biting pliers (2) and drive the folded edge (83) to fit against the second horizontal part (92) of the second metal plate (9).

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