# US 2014/0150978 A1 · Machine for stamping and/or welding onto a bumper skin

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- Number: US 2014/0150978 A1
- Document ID: US20140150978A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/818,856
- Filed: 2011-08-25
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2010-08-26
- Assignees: Compagnie Plastic Omnium
- Applicants: Compagnie Plastic Omnium
- Inventors: François Virelizier
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140150978A1

## CPC

- B29C 65/74: by welding and severing {, or by joining and severing, the severing being performed in the area to be joined, next to the area to be joined, in the joint area or next to the joint area}
- B26F 1/02: Perforating by punching, e.g. with relatively-reciprocating punch and bed
- B29C 65/7451: {the severing tool and the welding tool being movable with respect to one-another}
- B29C 65/7457: {comprising a perforating tool}
- B29C 65/78: Means for handling the parts to be joined, e.g. for making containers or hollow articles {, e.g. means for handling sheets, plates, web-like materials, tubular articles, hollow articles or elements to be joined therewith; Means for discharging the joined articles from the joining apparatus}
- B29C 65/7841: {Holding or clamping means for handling purposes (clamping means for the purpose of applying pressure on the parts to be joined, in the area to be joined B29C66/81; work holders in general B25B; devices for holding or positioning work for welding metal B23K37/04)}
- B29C 66/532: {Joining single elements to the wall of tubular articles, hollow articles or bars}
- B29C 66/61: {Joining from or joining on the inside (for making tubes by bending sheets and joining from the inside B29C53/387)}
- B29C 66/8221: {Scissor or lever mechanisms, i.e. involving a pivot point}
- B29C 66/8322: {Joining or pressing tools reciprocating along one axis}
- B29C 66/8324: {Joining or pressing tools pivoting around one axis (scissor or lever transmission mechanisms B29C66/8221; tools self-aligning to the joining plane B29C66/8163)}
- B29C 66/843: {Machines for making separate joints at the same time in different planes; Machines for making separate joints at the same time mounted in parallel or in series}
- B29C 66/8742: {for operators (B29C66/002 takes precedence)}
- B26D 7/086: {by vibrating, e.g. ultrasonically}
- B29C 65/08: using ultrasonic vibrations {(non-plastics element to plastics elements B29C65/645)}
- B29C 66/474: {said single elements being substantially non-flat}
- B29C 66/8242: {Pneumatic or hydraulic drives (using fluid pressure directly acting on the parts to be joined B29C66/8266)}
- B29C 66/876: {Maintenance or cleaning}
- B29L 2031/3044: {Bumpers}
- B29L 2031/3055: {Cars}
- B60R 19/48: combined with, or convertible into, other devices or objects, e.g. bumpers combined with road brushes, bumpers convertible into beds
- Y10T 83/8748: Tool displaceable to inactive position [e.g., for work loading]
- Y10T 156/1304: Means making hole or aperture in part to be laminated
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- B26F: PERFORATING; PUNCHING; CUTTING-OUT; STAMPING-OUT; SEVERING BY MEANS OTHER THAN CUTTING (marking-out, perforating or making buttonholes A41H25/00; shoemaking A43D; surgery A61B; punching metal B21D; drilling metal B23B; cutting of metal by applying heat locally, e.g. flame cutting, B23K; cutting by abrasive fluid jets B24C5/02; details common to machines for severing B26D; drilling wood B27C; drilling stone B28D; working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29; making boxes, cartons, envelopes or bags, of paper or similarly worked materials, e.g. metal foil, B31B; of glass C03B; of leather C14B; of textile materials D06H; for light guides G02B6/25; of tickets G07B)
- B26D: CUTTING; DETAILS COMMON TO MACHINES FOR PERFORATING, PUNCHING, CUTTING-OUT, STAMPING-OUT OR SEVERING (for growing crops or plants A01D, A01G; for fodder or straw A01F; for bulk butter A01J; for dough A21C; slaughtering A22B; for tobacco, cigars or cigarettes A24; marking-out, perforating or making buttonholes A41H25/00; manufacturing footwear A43D; brushmaking A46D; surgery A61B; disintegrating, mincing or shredding in general B02C; cutting wire, making pins or nails B21F, B21G; of the kind used formetal B23; cutting by abrasive fluid jets B24C5/02; hand-held cutting tools B26B; perforating, cutting-out, stamping-out or punching, or severing by means other than cutting B26F; for wood B27; for stone B28D; working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29; making boxes, cartons, envelopes or bags, of paper or similarly worked materials, e.g. metal foil, B31B; article or web delivery apparatus incorporating cutting or line-perforating devices B65H35/00; for leather or upholstery B68, C14B; for glass C03B; making matches C06F; for peat C10F; for sugar C13B45/00; for textile materials D06H; civil engineering, building, mining, see Section E; for light guides G02B6/25; cutting processed photographic material G03D15/04)
- B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

The invention relates to a punching and/or welding machine for acting on a piece of motor vehicle bodywork that is made of plastics material, the machine having movable punching and/or welding tools, each of which is adjusted to perform a punching and/or welding operation and that are transferred from a waiting position to a working position for performing the punching and/or welding operation, the punching and/or welding operation being performed in three stages: a) transferring from a waiting position at a distance from a skin of the piece in order to come into a working position in contact with the skin; b) performing the punching and/or the welding; and then c) returning to the waiting position; the device further comprising a support for receiving the skin in a determined position. The support and the movable tools are arranged in such a manner that, once the skin has been positioned on the support, it defines, possibly in association with a protective screen, a safety volume within which the movable tools move in order to perform the punching and/or welding operations on the skin.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A punching and/or welding machine for acting on a skin of a piece of motor vehicle bodywork that is made of plastics material, the machine having movable punching and/or welding tools, each of which is adjusted to perform a punching and/or welding operation, the punching and/or welding operation being performed in three stages:
a) transferring from a refracted position at a distance from the skin in order to come into a working position in contact with or in the immediate proximity of the skin;
b) performing the punching and/or the welding; and then
c) returning to the retracted position;
the device further comprising a support for receiving the skin in a determined position, wherein the support and the movable tools are arranged in such a manner that, once the skin has been positioned on the support, it defines, possibly in association with a protective screen, a safety volume within which the movable tools move in order to perform the punching and/or welding operations on the skin.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A machine according to claim 1, further including at least one retractable structure carrying the movable tools, the retractable structure being capable of taking up a retracted position in which it releases space facing the support in order to facilitate positioning a skin on the support, and an operating position in which it holds the movable tools in a working position relative to a skin positioned on the support.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A machine according to claim 1, adapted to a skin including laterally-extending portions in parting a concave shape to the skin and defining an inside volume on the concave side of the skin.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

A machine for welding without punching, according to claim 3, wherein the support is arranged to receive a skin, oriented with its laterally-extending portions pointing upwards.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

A machine for punching and possibly also for welding, according to claim 3, wherein the support is arranged to receive a skin oriented with its laterally-extending portions pointing downwards.