Method and device for inserting an airbag into a sheath

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for inserting a folded airbag into an oblong cover, which is characterized in that the airbag, before or during insertion, is compressed into an insertion tool and is then inserted into the oblong cover by means of said insertion tool.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation of PCT Application No. PCT/EP2003/012738, filed Nov. 14, 2003, which claims priority to German Application No. 102 55 119.7, filed Nov. 26, 2002, both of which are incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY

The present invention relates to a method and device for inserting an airbag into a sheath, as well as to a sheath produced thereby.

It is known for fitting e.g. side airbags in modules ready for vehicle installation to insert side airbags manually into tubes slitted lengthwise and adapted to the vehicle geometry and to provide these tubes with a slotted cap which is jettisoned in airbag deployment. This method is time-consuming and man-hour intensive and fails to always guarantee a perfect placement of the airbag in the vehicle module. Apart from this, configuring the module component “ready to fit side airbag” with a slotted tube is costly and complicated.

The object of the invention is to propose a method and a device for inserting a folded airbag into a sheath which facilitates production safe in process in avoiding or at least greatly diminishing the disadvantages as known in prior art. This object is solved by a method as set forth in claim 1. With this method perfect placement of the folded airbag in a sheath and thus also in the vehicle is achievable with hardly any complication, as is of major significance for safe deployment of the airbag. In one advantageous further embodiment of the invention the elongated sheath takes the form of a flattened tubular sheath, the one end of which is opened by means of an opener in thus facilitating insertion of the inserter into the elongated sheath for cost-effective production.

The object is correspondingly achieved by a device as it reads from claim 5. With this device a perfect placement of the folded airbag in the sheath and thus in the vehicle is achievable with little effort, especially when implementing the method as set forth in any of the claims 1 to 4. This is of major significance for safe deployment of the airbag. Further features and advantages of the invention read from the sub-claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the invention it is briefly described by way of an example embodiment with reference to the drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a highly simplified illustration of an example embodiment of the elements of a device for inserting the folded airbag into a sheath following a folder,

FIG. 2 is an illustration showing one end of an elongated sheath with elements of the opener,

FIG. 3 is an illustration showing a further opener for opening the elongated sheath over its full length,

FIG. 4 is a highly simplified illustration of a further example embodiment of elements of a device for inserting the folded airbag into a sheath following a folder,

FIG. 5 is an illustration showing the device as shown in FIG. 4 after insertion of the airbag,

FIG. 6 is an illustration showing the device as shown in FIG. 4 after withdrawal of the sheath filled with the airbag as well as the same in the withdrawn condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Both the FIGS. and an example of the sequence in the steps in the method are described in the following. Referring now to FIG. 1 there is illustrated in the upper region a folder 1 furnishing the airbags folded to a downstream swivel chute 3. The airbag 2 folded in the folder 1 or folding machine and treated in a cooling section (not shown) is forwarded, i.e. shifted horizontally through sequences as usual in the folder 1. At the end of a placement surface of the folding machine 1—after the cooling section—the folded, relaxed airbag 2 slides by its own weight down the swivel chute 3 up to a stopper 5 beam-monitored by two photoelectric cells (not shown).

The swivel chute 3 is elevated into a transfer position in which the airbag 2 is gripped and compressed by the gripper 4, after which the swivel chute 3 is lowered. The gripper 4 travels with the airbag 2 horizontally from a receiving position and attains the transfer position above an inserter rail 6. The gripper 4 travels with the bag down into the U-shaped inserter rail 6. The airbag 2 is relocated by ejectors (not shown) from the gripper 4 into the inserter rail 6, the gripper 4 then returning to the transfer position, after which the inserter rail 6 is inserted into the elongated sheath 8. In conclusion the airbag 2 together with the tubular sheath 8 is withdrawn from the inserter rail 6 where it can be deposited directly into a transport container (not shown).

The arrangement in accordance with the invention is, for instance, designed and attached to the folding machine 1 so that in the region of the cooling section (not shown) airbags can be placed by hand and from then on can be forwarded on the swivel chute 3. This possibility is provided to enable airbags requiring stitching after folding to be likewise inserted into a tubular sheath 8 by this device.

Referring now to FIG. 2 there is illustrated one end 10 of the tubular sheath 8 which is opened by the rods 16 moved through openings 18 arranged in the end 10 of the tubular sheath 8 in the direction of the arrows 20 to facilitate inserting the inserter rail 6. Referring now to FIG. 3 there is illustrated an opener 14 by way of example having two semicircular split shells 15 in which ports 24 are incorporated through which air can be evacuated from the space between the two halves in the direction of the arrows 26 whilst approaching each other in the direction of the arrows 28 in compressing the elongated sheath (tubular sheath 8) at its edges and opening it over its full length. The two layers of fabric of the elongated sheath 8 are thereby moved up and down in the direction of the arrows 22 (as shown in FIG. 3).

Referring now to FIG. 4 there is illustrated a further example embodiment of a device for implementing a further example embodiment of the method in accordance with the invention as it reads from claims 12 to 15. Evident is a driver 60 for reciprocating a gripper 34 horizontally lengthwise. The gripper 34, powered by the driver 60 via pivoting means running in this case, for example, in a rectangular inserter rail 36—which may also be round or polygonal—grips a fastener tab 62 of an airbag 32. The illustration of the device as shown in FIG. 4 depicts a condition in which an elongated sheath 38 is already slipped onto the inserter rail 36 shown rectangular in FIG. 4, this being of course prior to a funnel 35 being attached to the inserter rail 36. The gripper 34 grips the airbag 32 by a fastener tab 62 provided at its end on the left as shown in FIG. 4 and draws the airbag into the inserter rail 36 with lateral compression.

Referring now to FIG. 5 there is illustrated the situation in which the airbag 32 is already drawn into the rectangular inserter rail 36 in thus being located within the elongated sheath 38. Referring now to FIG. 6 there is illustrated the condition in which the elongated sheath 38 together with the airbag 32 located therein has been withdrawn from the inserter rail 36. The funnel 35 is shown in FIG. 6 already removed downwards from the inserter rail 36 to prepare the inserter rail 36 for the next elongated sheath 38 to be slipped thereon.

As clearly evident from the illustration as shown in FIG. 4 moving the gripper 34 together with the airbag 32 in the direction of the arrow to the left compresses the airbag through the funnel 35 whilst being drawn into the inserter rail 36. Expediently the airbag 32 is held in readiness already folded and precompressed by a preparation unit (not shown). The illustration as shown in FIG. 6 gives the first impression of the driver 60 and inserter rail 36 being a stationary arrangement from which the elongated sheath 38 together with the airbag 32 is withdrawn. To the same effect, however, the elongated sheath 38 with the airbag 32 can also be held stationary and the driver 60 together with the inserter rail withdrawn from the elongated sheath in a simple kinematic reversal as may prove more expedient for this or that particular application. The funnel 35 as shown in FIG. 6 needs to be removed from the inserter rail 36, of course, before removing the elongated sheath 38 together with the airbag 32 therefrom, as can be done manually or also by an automatic device (not shown). Since the person skilled in the art is well acquainted with a means of open/closed-loop control of the device in accordance with the invention as described and of the method involved as explained, such means are not elaborated.

Claims

1. A method for inserting a folded airbag into an elongated sheath, the method comprising the airbag before or during placement in an insertion aid is compressed and then inserted into the elongated sheath by the insertion aid.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1, for inserting a folded airbag into an elongated sheath comprising the steps:

a) gripping the airbag with a gripper;

b) compressing the airbag;

c) inserting the airbag into an insertion aid in the form of a U-shaped inserter rail;

d) inserting the U-shaped inserter rail into the elongated sheath; and

e) retaining the airbag in the elongated sheath whilst withdrawing the inserter rail from the elongated sheath.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the flattened tubular sheath is used as the elongated sheath, the one end of which is opened by an opener.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the flattened tubular sheath is used as the elongated sheath which is opened over its full length by an opener.

5. The method as set forth in claim 4, wherein the opener sucks the two layers of the flattened tubular sheath away from each other in thereby opening the flattened tubular sheath.

6. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a device for inserting the folded airbag into the elongated sheath, the device comprising:

a) a gripper;

b) an inserter rail; and

c) a retainer for retaining the airbag in the elongated sheath while the inserter rail is being extracted from the elongated sheath.

7. A device for inserting a folded side airbag into an elongated sheath, the device comprising:

a) a gripper;

b) an inserter rail; and

c) a retainer for retaining the airbag in the elongated sheath while the inserter rail is being extracted from the elongated sheath.

8. The device as set forth in claim 7, further comprising an opener with which one end of the elongated sheath is employed as the flattened tubular sheath can be opened.

9. The device as set forth in claim 7, further comprising an opener with which the elongated sheath is employed as a flattened tubular sheath which can be opened full-length.

10. The device as set forth in claim 9, wherein the opener comprises a suction device by means of which the two layers of the flattened tubular sheath are sucked away from each other in thereby opening the flattened tubular sheath.

11. The device of claim 7, further comprising an elongated sheath made of non-woven, knitted or woven material being componented with a folded airbag.

12. A method for inserting a folded airbag into an elongated sheath, the method comprising:

a) slipping the elongated sheath over an insertion aid in the form of a round rectangular or polygonal inserter rail;

b) gripping the airbag with a gripper;

c) inserting the airbag in the inserter rail and compressing the airbag via a funnel; and

d) retaining the airbag in the elongated sheath while withdrawing the inserter rail from the elongated sheath.

13. The method as set forth in claim 12, wherein a flattened tubular sheath is used as the elongated sheath, the one end of which is opened by an opener.

14. The method as set forth in claim 12, further comprising a flattened tubular sheath is used as the elongated sheath which is opened over its full length by an opener.

15. The method as set forth in claim 14, wherein the opener sucks the two layers of the flattened tubular sheath away from each other in thereby opening the flattened tubular sheath.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising using a device for inserting the folded airbag into the elongated sheath, the device comprising:

a) a gripper;

b) a round, rectangular or polygonal inserter rail; and

c) a retainer for retaining the airbag in the elongated sheath while the inserter rail is being extracted from the elongated sheath.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising inserting the folded airbag into the elongated sheath with:

a) a gripper;

b) an inserter rail; and

c) a retainer for retaining the airbag in the elongated sheath while the inserter rail is being extracted from the elongated sheath.

18. The method as set forth in claim 17, further comprising an opener with which one end of the elongated sheath is employed as the flattened tubular sheath which can be opened.

19. The method as set forth in claim 17, further comprising an opener with which the elongated sheath employed as the flattened tubular sheath can be opened full-length.

20. The method as set forth in claim 19, wherein the opener which comprises a suction device by means of which the two layers of the flattened tubular sheath are sucked away from each other in thereby opening the flattened tubular sheath.