Folding apparatus for shaping a part, and method

Abstract

The invention relates to a folding apparatus (10) for shaping a part, e.g. a vehicle body paneling part, comprising at least one shaping element (14) which is movably mounted on a support element (12), and an interface (20) which is effectively connected to the shaping element (14) in order to impart an advancing movement (Z) to the at least one shaping element (14).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a folding device for forming a component, for example a body panel part, with at least one forming element movably held on a support element and an interface which is operatively connected to the forming element in order to impose a feed movement on the at least one forming element.

[0002] The terms hemming or flanging refer to the positive connection of two parts by folding over a flange. In car body construction, this process is used, in particular, to join an inner sheet metal part to an outer sheet metal part. The outer sheet metal part can be, for example, a car body's outer skin. By hemming, components made of different materials can be easily and permanently joined together. US Pat. No. 7,134,309 shows a hemming device with a folding bed and four forming elements arranged in the corners of the folding bed to create a hem in the component corner areas. A kinematic drive arranged beneath the folding bed drives all four forming elements simultaneously, ensuring synchronous hemming.The disadvantage here is that the forming elements are firmly attached to the folding bed, so that collision-free loading of the component into the folding bed and removal of the component from the folding bed must be ensured by suitable handling.

[0003] Based on this, the object of the present invention is to provide a folding device which enables quick attachment to a folding bed and easy operation.

[0004] The object is achieved by a folding device for forming a component, in particular a body panel part, with at least one forming element movably held on a support element, at least one first interface via which the device can be fastened to a folding bed and, if necessary, can be decoupled from the folding bed again and a second interface with which the device can be coupled to a handling device and which is in an operative connection with the forming element in order to impart a feed movement to the at least one forming element via the second interface.

[0005] The folding device according to the invention can be decoupled from the folding bed via the first interface as needed when the folding bed is to be loaded with a component or the finished folded component is to be removed. This creates space for the component, eliminating the risk of collision. Furthermore, it is advantageous that the second interface serves both for handling the device as a whole and for driving the actual folding process.

[0006] An advantageous embodiment of the invention provides for the provision of multiple forming elements. It is advantageous if the multiple forming elements differ in their folding contours. This is advantageous when different folding contours are to be provided at different component corner areas. Multi-stage folding can also be realized using the folding device with the multiple forming elements, for example, by a first forming element performing a pre-fold and a second forming element performing a final fold.

[0007] An advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that each of the forming elements is assigned a first interface. This ensures that each forming element receives force and moment support on the folding bed via its assigned first interface.

[0008] An advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the second interface is operatively connected to the at least one forming element via a transmission element. In this case, the transmission element can advantageously be used to specifically adjust a transmission characteristic that is effective between the second interface and the forming element. An advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the transmission element has a different transmission characteristic of a drive movement into the feed movement for each of the plurality of forming elements. Multi-stage folding can advantageously be realized via different transmission characteristics, so that a first forming element performs a pre-fold and a second forming element performs a final fold.

[0009] A first possible embodiment of the invention provides that the transmission element is designed as a contoured disc for transmitting a rotary drive movement into a translatory feed movement. A contoured disc ensures a particularly space-saving drive, since the handling device only has to execute a rotary movement. A second possible embodiment of the invention provides that the transmission element is designed as a pressure stamp for transmitting a translatory drive movement into a translatory feed movement. A pressure stamp for the translatory drive is advantageous if the handling device does not have a rotary drive in its manipulator. In this case, it is particularly preferred that a spring return actuates the pressure stamp into an initial position.

[0010] The object is further achieved by a method for forming a component with a folding device as described, comprising the steps: Coupling the second interface to a handling device, bringing the device to a folding bed via the handling device and, by moving in the space of the device (10) via the handling device, coupling the first interface to the folding bed and imparting a drive movement to the second interface via the handling device, for generating a feed movement of the forming element onto a component located in the folding bed.

[0011] An advantageous design of the procedure includes the following further steps: Uncoupling the first interface from the folding bed; bringing the device to the folding bed via the handling device and coupling another of the first interfaces to the folding bed and imparting a drive movement to the second interface via the handling device, for generating a feed movement of a further forming element onto a component located in the folding bed.

[0012] The invention will be explained below with further features, details, and advantages with reference to the accompanying figures. The figures illustrate merely exemplary embodiments of the invention. Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a folding device in perspective view; Figure 2 shows a first embodiment of a folding device in side view; Figure 3 shows a second embodiment of a folding device in perspective view; and Figure 4 shows a second embodiment of a folding device in side view.

[0013] The Figures 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of a folding device 10 for forming a component in a perspective view and in a side view, respectively. Figure 2shows the folding bed 1 schematically. The component accommodated in the folding bed 1 is not shown here. The folding device 10 initially has a support element 12, which can be designed in the manner of a base plate. On the support element 12, forming elements 14 designed as shaped pieces are held displaceably in guide tabs 16 via shaped piece carriers 18. In the present case, four forming elements 14 are arranged, although a different number can also be provided. The folding device 10 has a number of first interfaces 20 corresponding to the number of forming elements 14, which are preferably formed on the support element 12. The folding device 10 can be fastened to the folding bed 1 via each of the interfaces 20 and held by the latter. The first interfaces 20 can each comprise a coupling element 22 for this purpose.

[0014] In a central region of the support element 12, a second interface 24 is arranged, via which the folding device 10 can initially be gripped by a handling device (not shown), for example a robot, and moved in space. This possibility of coupling the folding device 10 to a handling device allows the folding device 10 to be moved relative to the folding bed 1 in order to couple a coupling element 22 of the first interfaces 20 of the folding device 10 to a coupling element of the folding bed 1 and thus fasten the folding device 10 to the folding bed 1. Furthermore, the second interface 24 comprises a transmission element 26, with which a drive movement initiated via the second interface 24 can be translated into a feed movement of the forming elements 14.In the present embodiment, the transmission element 26 is designed as a contoured disk which is held relative to the carrier element 12 so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation D. As a contoured disk, the transmission element 26 forms an outer circumferential surface 28 with a radial distance from the axis of rotation D that varies over the circumference. Via the outer circumferential surface 28, each of the forming elements 14 is operatively connected via a respective shaped piece carrier 18. The shaped piece carriers 18 are arranged in contact with the outer circumferential surface 28 and, upon drive rotation of the transmission element 26, have the changing radial distance of the outer circumferential surface 28 from the axis of rotation D impressed upon them as a translatory feed movement. The feed movement is symbolized by the arrows Z. Tappet elements 30 can be provided as direct connecting elements between the outer circumferential surface 28 and the shaped piece carriers 18.The changing radial distance of the outer peripheral surface 28 from the axis of rotation D is evident, for example, from the . Figure 2 and is symbolized by double arrows of different lengths L 1 and L 2. The different radial distances L lead to a different transmission characteristic of the drive movement into the feed movement.

[0015] The Figures 3 and 4 show a second embodiment of a folding device 10 for forming a component in a perspective view and a side view, respectively. The second embodiment will be described only with regard to its differences from the first embodiment. The second embodiment is characterized in that the transmission element 26 is designed as a pressure stamp. Here, the drive movement is a translational movement, which is indicated by the arrow T in the Figure 4is symbolized. On the outside, the transmission element 26 forms drive flanks 32 as a pressure stamp, each of which can be set at an angle α with respect to the direction of the drive movement. Four drive flanks 32 1 to 32 4 can be provided, each of which can have a different angle α 1 to α 4 with respect to the direction of the drive movement. As a result of the different angles α 1 to α 4, different translatory feed movements Z of the forming elements 14 result in this exemplary embodiment, which are also symbolized here with the double arrows L 1 and L 2 of different lengths. A spring return 34 can be provided which urges the pressure stamp into an initial position. List of reference symbols

[0016] 10Folding device 12Support element 14Forming element 16Guide plate 18Shaped piece carrier 20First interface 22Coupling element 24Second interface 26Transmission element 28Outer peripheral surface 30Push element 32Drive flank 34Spring return

Claims

1. Folding device (10) for forming a component, in particular a car body panel part, with at least one forming element (14) held movably on a carrier element (12), at least one first interface (20), via which the device can be attached to a hemming bed (1) and can be detached from the hemming bed again as required, and a second interface (24), with which the device (10) can be coupled to a handling device, and which is operatively connected to the forming element (14) in order to apply an infeed movement (Z) to the at least one forming element (14) via the second interface (24).

2. Folding device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that several forming elements (141, 142) are provided.

3. Folding device (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that a first interface (201, 202) is assigned to each of the forming elements (141, 142).

4. Folding device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the second interface (24) is operatively connected to the at least one forming element (14) via a transmission element (26).

5. Folding device (10) according to claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the transmission element (26) has a different transmission characteristic (L1, L2) of a drive movement into the feed movement for each of the plurality of forming elements (141, 142).

6. Folding device (10) according to one of claims 4 to 5, characterized in that the transmission element (26) is designed as a contour disc for transmitting a rotary drive movement into a translatory feed movement.

7. Folding device (10) according to one of claims 4 to 5, characterized in that the transmission element (26) is designed as a pressure stamp for transmitting a translatory drive movement into a translatory feed movement.

8. Folding device (10) according to claim 7, characterized in that a spring return (34) forces the pressure stamp into an initial position.

9. Method for forming a component with a folding device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 8, comprising the steps of: - Coupling the second interface (24) to a handling device, - Bringing the device (10) to a hemming bed (1) via the handling device and, by moving in the space of the device (10) via the handling device, coupling the first interface (20) to the hemming bed, and - Applying a drive movement on the second interface (24) via the handling device to generate a feed movement (Z) of the forming element (141) on a component located in the hemming bed (1).

10. Method according to claim 9, comprising the further steps - Uncoupling the first interface (201) from the hemming bed (1); - Bringing the device (10) to the hemming bed (1) via the handling device and coupling another of the first interfaces (202) to the hemming bed (1) and - Applying a drive movement on the second interface (24) via the handling device to generate a feed movement of a further forming element (142) on a component located in the hemming bed (1).

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