Apparatus for clinching reaction plate tabs of air bag modules
AssigneeAutomated Solutions, LLC
InventorsWilliam F. Baker, Robert A. Rhinefrank, Larry P. Hulsey
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An automated clinching apparatus for securing a decorative cover to a reaction plate, forming an air bag module, the reaction plate including a plurality of tabs received by the decorative cover and clinched to secure the decorative cover to the reaction plate. The automated clinching apparatus includes a clamp assembly configured to engage and hold the air bag module, and a tab clinch assembly positioned adjacent the clamp assembly for automatically clinching the tabs of the reaction plate.
Claims17
An automated clinching apparatus for use in combination with a decorative cover and a reaction plate, for securing the decorative cover to the reaction plate of an air bag module, the reaction plate including a plurality of tabs received by the decorative cover and clinchable to secure the decorative cover to the reaction plate, said automated clinching apparatus comprising:
- a tab clinch assembly for receiving said air bag module and automatically clinching the tabs of the reaction plate;
- a clamp assembly configured to engage the air bag module and move said module along a linear path into engagement with said tab clinch assembly;
- and
- said tab clinch assembly including:
- a frame;
- and
- a plurality of tab clinch units coupled to said frame for clinching the tabs of the reaction plate, and positioned for receiving and engaging the air bag module, each including:
- a housing coupled to said frame;
- a die assembly carried by said housing, said die assembly having a plurality of dies, each having an end carried within said housing and coupled to said drive means and a contact end extendible from said housing and positioned to be received between the decorative cover and the reaction plate when said clamp assembly has moved along said linear path into engagement with said tab clinch assembly, said plurality of dies movable between a retracted position, allowing positioning of the air bag module by said clamp assembly, and an extended position, for engaging and clinching said tabs;
- and
- drive means for operating said die assembly.
An automated clinching apparatus in combination with a decorative cover and a reaction plate of an air bag module, the reaction plate including a plurality of tabs received by the decorative cover such that the reaction plate is coupled to the decorative cover, said automated clinching apparatus comprising:
- a framework;
- a tab clinch means rigidly supported by said framework for automatically clinching the tabs of the reaction plate to the decorative cover;
- a clamp means movably mounted on said framework for engaging the reaction plate and moving the coupled reaction plate and decorative cover along a linear path between a lowered position and a raised position at which said clamp means is received by said tab clinch means;
- with said tab clinch means including:
- a frame having a central opening for receiving said clamp means in said raised position;
- and
- a plurality of tab clinch units coupled to said frame around a periphery of said central opening and extending beyond the periphery of said central opening, and positioned about said clamp means in said raised position, with each tab clinch unit including:
- a housing coupled to said frame;
- a plurality of dies carried by said housing, each of said plurality of dies having a first end carried within said housing and a contact end extendible from said housing;
- and
- drive means coupled to said first end for moving said dies from a retracted position in which the coupled reaction plate and
- decorative cover can be moved into engagement with said tab clinch means by said clamp means, to an extended position in which said dies engage and clinch said tabs of the reaction plate against said decorate cover.
The automated clinching apparatus as claimed in claim 21 wherein said framework further includes a movable carriage to which said column is coupled, wherein said carriage moves said clamp means along said column between the lowered position and the raised position in which said base plate is received within said opening.
The automated clinching apparatus as claimed in claim 21 wherein said clamp means further includes alignment means for properly aligning the coupled reaction plate and decorative cover in relation to said clamp means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.