Abstract: A flanging apparatus for use in roller hemming with a robotic hemming roller and a roller hemming anvil having a peripherally disposed hemming surface includes a tool insert having a flanging surface including a peripherally disposed flanging edge of a shape generally corresponding to a shape of the hemming surface of the hemming anvil. The flanging edge is set at an angle for flanging or pre-bending an outer metal panel used to form a closure panel. The insert is adapted to mount relative to the roller hemming anvil and the outer panel. The outer panel is flanged against the tool insert flanging surface using the hemming roller. Thereafter the tool insert is removable to allow the hemming roller to finish hem together an inner metal panel disposedly nested on the flanged outer panel.

Abstract: A roller type hemming apparatus includes a support member having a slide bore. A ball screw extends through the support member into the slide bore. A bearing is engaged with the ball screw inside the slide bore. The apparatus further includes a guided slide member having a first portion received in the slide bore and a second portion extending outside of the slide bore. The slide member first portion has a receiver. A resilient member is set in the receiver. The resilient member operably engages the bearing, the bearing being disposed outside of the receiver. The apparatus also includes a retaining plate having an opening therein. The retaining plate is mounted to the support member adjacent the slide bore for retaining the slide member first portion in the slide bore. A hem roller is rotatably mounted to the slide member second portion.

Abstract: A pre-hemming apparatus for use with a hemming die includes a driving member adapted to be centrally disposed below the hemming die. A plurality of link arms are operatively, pivotally connected to the driving member. A lever arm is operatively connected to each link arm. A flanging member is operatively connected to each lever arm at an end thereof. A plurality of mounts for supporting the lever arms are adapted to be mounted to a side of the hemming die. Each lever arm is pivotally connected to one of the mounts intermediate ends of the lever arm. An actuator is operatively engagable with the driving member. Actuation of the driving member moves the flanging members towards the hemming die through the lever arms and the link arms for pre-hemming, and away from the hemming die cycling the apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus for horizontally actuating hemming and stamping die sets includes a horizontal base support and a roller device horizontally mounted thereon. A linear guidance system is set in and a drive support is vertically attached to the base support. A drive mechanism is supported and an anvil die set is held by the drive support. A vertical platen rests on top of the base support and is loosely guided by the linear guidance system. A punch die set is held by the vertical platen and a plurality of bushings are set therein. At least three guide shafts are secured to the anvil die set and each is engaged to one of the bushings of the punch die set. A plurality of link bars are attached to the vertical platen via link bar attachments and coupled to the drive mechanism. Actuation of the drive mechanism horizontally moves the vertical platen.

Abstract: A robot driven robot index system includes a track having indices defining robot workstation positions along the track. The system also includes a non-driven carriage movable about the track. The carriage has a locking device for controllably locking the carriage to the track. The system further includes a robot having a base and a swingable, movable arm. The robot base is secured to the non-driven carriage. The system also includes at least one reference connector spacedly disposed from the track and located within a working range of the robot. The robot arm is adapted to connect with the reference connector, for moving the robot along the track between workstations through the movement of the robot arm.

Abstract: An apparatus for horizontally actuating hemming and stamping die sets includes a horizontal base support and a roller device horizontally mounted thereon. A linear guidance system is set in and a drive support is vertically attached to the base support. A drive mechanism is supported and an anvil die set is held by the drive support. A vertical platen rests on top of the base support and is loosely guided by the linear guidance system. A punch die set is held by the vertical platen and a plurality of bushings are set therein. At least three guide shafts are secured to the anvil die set and each is engaged to one of the bushings of the punch die set. A plurality of link bars are attached to the vertical platen via link bar attachments and coupled to the drive mechanism. Actuation of the drive mechanism horizontally moves the vertical platen.

Abstract: A device for connecting together a vertically disposed roller screw and roller nut assembly to a stationary member and moving member includes a bearing housing attached onto a fixed end of the roller screw. The bearing house includes at least one bearing and two bearing house pivots. A first universal ring concentrically surrounds the bearing housing and includes two mating pivots mated with the two bearing house pivots and two attachment pivots mated with corresponding pivots of the stationary member. A roller nut mount rigidly attaches to the roller nut and includes two roller nut mount pivots. A second universal ring concentrically surrounds the roller nut mount. The second universal ring includes two mating pivots mated with the two roller nut mount pivots and further includes two attachment pivots mated with corresponding pivots of the moving member.

Abstract: A method for forming a vehicle closure panel assembly from outer and inner metal preformed panels disposed between lower and upper tools, includes the steps of applying a resilient material between the inner and outer panels around the area of the hem line, nesting the inner panel and outer panels into the lower tool, applying a clamp down force onto the inner panel to cause the resilient material to flow and distribute around the hem line, prehemming the outer panel, and final hemming the inner and outer panels together by over clinching the peripheral edge of the outer panel. With this method, the resilient material absorbs and distributes the final hemming forces and the outer panel peripheral edge springs back to form a flat hem.

Abstract: A device for slip-fittably connecting together a ball nut and a moving member moved by the ball nut includes a first connecting member fixedly attached to the ball nut. The first connecting member has first registration elements disposed radially opposite relative to the ball nut. A second connecting member is fixedly attached to the moving member. The second connecting member has cooperative second registration elements disposed radially opposite relative to the ball nut which cooperate with the first radially opposite registration elements. The first and second registration elements are slip-fittably connectable together and provide indexed registration within predetermined tolerances in the axial, radial and circumferential directions relative to the ball nut.

Abstract: A closure panel hemming apparatus includes a lower support supporting a lower hemming die and an upper support spaced from and mounted above the lower support supporting an upper hemming die. The upper and lower supports are relatively vertically moveable for bringing the dies toward and away from one another. At least one guide post interconnects the upper and lower supports and maintains alignment of the upper and lower supports during movement thereof. A plurality of actuators of the ball screw or rack and pinion type is driveably connected to draw together the upper and lower supports bringing the dies together for edge hemming preformed metal panels nested between the dies.

Abstract: A closure panel hemming apparatus includes a lower support supporting a lower hemming die and an upper support spaced from and mounted above the lower support supporting an upper hemming die. The upper and lower supports are relatively vertically moveable for bringing the dies toward and away from one another. At least one guide post interconnects the upper and lower supports and maintains alignment of the upper and lower supports during movement thereof. A plurality of actuators of the ball screw or rack and pinion type is driveably connected to draw together the upper and lower supports bringing the dies together for edge hemming preformed metal panels nested between the dies.

Abstract: A hemming system includes a hemming machine having upper and lower dies moveable between an open spaced apart position and closed hemming position. The upper die includes an engager operative for engaging a part thereon. A robot having a moveable arm with an end effector including lower and upper engagers on lower and upper surfaces thereof; the robot arm being operable to pick up a first part with the lower engager, place the part on the lower die and clear the hemming machine. The hemming machine is operable to close the upper and lower dies to hem the first part. The engager on the upper die is operable to engage the first hemmed part on the upper die as the dies are opened. The robot arm is operable to pick up a second part with the lower engaging means, place the part on the lower die, raise, and engage the first hemmed part on the upper engaging means.

Abstract: A closure panel hemming apparatus includes a lower support supporting a lower hemming die and an upper support spaced from and mounted above the lower support supporting an upper hemming die. The upper and lower supports are relatively vertically moveable for bringing the dies toward and away from one another. A plurality of actuators of the ball screw or rack and pinion type is driveably connected to draw together the upper and lower supports, bringing the dies together for edge hemming preformed metal panels nested between the dies. Force application means including one or more clamps are actuated to connect the upper and lower supports upon their movement of the dies to a hemming position. Force is applied to the clamp(s), through separate means or by intensification means driven by the actuators, to draw the dies tightly together for completing the hemming operation.

Abstract: A hemming machine for forming a unitary closure structure from first and second metal panels includes a lower and upper die mounted and moveable relative to each other for edge hemming a portion of the periphery of panels to form a unitary structure. The machine includes a non-hemming jointing device mounted adjacent to one of the upper and lower dies and operable for jointing a portion of the non-hemmed periphery of the panels as the panels are held between the dies.

Abstract: Article handling apparatus includes a pair of first and second spaced parallel elongate conveying tracks defining a conveying path and at least one transfer station. A carrier mechanism is movably mounted on the tracks for linear movement along the conveying path into and out of the transfer station. An article engagement device is mounted on the carrier mechanism and movable relative to the carrier mechanism between a conveying position and a transfer position. A lift actuator mechanism is mounted for vertical movement relative to the spaced conveying tracks at the transfer station. An article engagement device actuator is movably mounted for vertical movement on the carrier mechanism. The article engagement device actuator is linked to the article engagement device and actuates movement of the device between the conveying position and transfer positions upon movement of the device actuator.

Abstract: A hemming machine for forming a unitary closure structure from first and second metal panels includes a lower and upper die mounted and moveable relative to each other for edge hemming a portion of the periphery of panels to form a unitary structure. The machine includes a non-hemming jointing device mounted adjacent to one of the upper and lower dies and operable for jointing a portion of the non-hemmed periphery of the panels as the panels are held between the dies.