US 2002/0116977 A1Published application

Flange bending apparatus

AssigneeUnova IP Corp.

InventorsPhilip V. Wiens, Michael J. Ross, Kris R. Harper

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Abstract

A flange bending apparatus for bending an upstanding flange on an inside perimeter of an automotive window opening. A flanging steel drive reciprocally drives a flanging steel between retracted and extended positions on a frame. The retracted position of the first flanging steel allows a metal panel workpiece to be positioned on the frame with the flanging steel extending through an opening in the workpiece. When in the extended position the flanging steel overlies a portion of an inside perimeter of the opening. As it moves toward the extended position the flanging steel engages an inner surface of an upstanding workpiece flange that extends upward from around the inside perimeter of the workpiece opening. The flanging steel then bends the flange radially outward as the drive continues to move the steel to the extended position. The flanging steel bends the workpiece flange radially outward such that a lateral bend line is formed along the flange where no breakline was present before bending.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A flange bending apparatus for bending an upstanding flange along an inside perimeter of an opening in a panel, such as a window opening in an automotive door panel, the apparatus comprising:

a frame configured to support a metal panel workpiece;
a first flanging steel supported on the frame for movement between a generally radially inward retracted position and a generally radially outward extended position;
a flanging steel drive including an actuator operatively connected to the first flanging steel and configured to reciprocally drive the first flanging steel between the retracted and extended positions, the retracted position of the first flanging steel allowing a metal panel workpiece to be positioned on the frame with the flanging steel extending through an opening in a workpiece supported on the frame, the first flanging steel overlying a first portion of an inside perimeter of the opening when the first flanging steel is in the extended position, the first flanging steel being positioned and configured to engage an inner surface of an upper first portion of an upstanding workpiece flange that extends generally axially upwardly from around the inside perimeter of the opening in the workpiece and to bend the upper first portion of the workpiece flange radially outward when the actuator moves the first flanging steel from the retracted to the extended position, and
the first flanging steel and frame being configured to bend the upper first portion of the workpiece flange radially outward such that a lateral bend line is formed along the flange where no breakline was present before bending.

1 more element

A method for bending an upstanding flange along an inside perimeter of an opening in a panel, such as a window opening in an automotive door panel, the method including the steps of

providing a frame and movably supporting a first flanging steel on the frame;
providing a flanging steel drive on the frame and operatively connecting the drive to the first flanging steel;
positioning a metal panel workpiece on the frame while the first flanging steel is in a retracted position such that the first flanging steel extends through an opening in the workpiece;
moving the first flanging steel radially outward from the retracted position toward a generally radially outward extended position where the first flanging steel will overlie a first portion of an inside perimeter of the opening;
and
continuing to move the first flanging steel radially outward until it engages an upper portion of an upstanding workpiece flange that extends generally axially upwardly from around an inside perimeter of the opening in the workpiece and bends the upper portion of the flange radially outward such that a lateral bend line is formed along the flange where no breakline was present before bending.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.