Die hemming assembly and method
OwnerWilliam Patrickinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A hemming assembly and method for joining the edges of a pair of panels together includes a main die supporting edges of the two panels. The main die-containing hemming fixture can be stationary with the pre-hem and final hem dies moving, or the main die can move and the pre-hem and final hem dies can remain stationary during hemming. A pre-hem slide supporting a pre-hem tool at an angle to the tool fixture supporting both the final die holder and the slide. For table top applications, the hemming fixture uses guide mechanisms to control travel of the pre-hem slide and tool fixture. The hemming fixture is also movable with respect to an assembly drive to facilitate different hemming operations.
Claims18
In a hemming apparatus adapted to join an upstanding edge of a first panel to an edge of a second panel, the improvement comprising a vertically driven main die supporting the first and second panels for hemming, a tool fixture supporting a pre-hem tool and a final hem tool, the pre-hem tool mounted for angled movement with respect to the tool fixture, a guide mechanism mounted to the main die, the guide mechanism directing the pre-hemming tool in a generally horizontal direction or at an angled upward direction via first and second guiding surfaces after pre-hemming to expose the pre-hemmed panels for final hemming.
In a method of pre-hemming and final hemming an upstanding edge of a first panel to an edge of a second panel, the improvement comprising at least partially pre-hemming the edges together by first directing a main die supporting the upstanding edge and the edge generally vertically against a pre-hemming tool, and then moving the pre-hemming tool away from the edges in either a generally horizontal direction or a direction upwardly angled to expose the pre-hemmed edges for final hemming.
In a hemming apparatus adapted to join an upstanding edge of a first panel to an edge of a second panel and employing a vertically driven final die holder, the improvement comprising a pre-hemming tool holder supporting a pre-hem tool and a mechanism to first guide the pre-hemming tool holder along a generally vertical travel path for at least a partial pre-hemming of the edges, and then to guide the pre-hemming tool along a generally horizontal path or a path having an upward angle by contact between a stationary guide surface and a surface on a pre-hem slide supporting the pre-hemming tool to expose the pre-hemmed edges for one of final hemming or completion of pre-hemming and final hemming.
In a method of pre-hemming and final hemming an upstanding edge of a first panel to an edge of a second panel, the improvement comprising at least partially pre-hemming the edges together by first guiding a pre-hemming tool generally vertically against the upstanding edge, and then moving the pre-hemming tool either horizontally or at an upward angle away by contact between a guide surface on a pre-hem slide supporting the pre-hemming tool and a stationary guide surface to expose the pre-hemmed edges for one of final hemming or completion of pre-hemming and final hemming.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.