Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of working sheet metal, and sheet metal working apparatus for performing such methods. Such methods include steps of providing a sheet metal workpiece having first and second surfaces opposed to each other and at least one edge, bending the workpiece to form at least a first sidewall portion defined between the edge and a basal region, the first sidewall portion thereby defining a curved fold region in the sheet metal workpiece adjacent the first sidewall portion. Following this, first anvil tool and a first forming tool are provided for contact with and constraint of the first and second surfaces of the sheet metal workpiece respectively. The forming tool and/or the anvil tool are then progressively slid along the curved fold region to cause shear material transfer in the curved fold region to further deform the curved fold region.

Abstract: A hemming path planning method and a hemming system are provided. The hemming path planning method includes the following steps. An initial contour data of a target is scanned to obtain. A first segment of the hemming path is planned according to the initial contour data. The first segment corresponds to a first bending angle. A second segment of the hemming path is planned according to the initial contour data and an expected springback amount related to the first bending angle. The second segment corresponds to a second bending angle. The first segment and the second segment are combined to obtain a continuous hemming path.

Abstract: A sheet metal hemming device is provided. The sheet metal hemming device includes a frame and a rolling wheel, a bearing wheel, a first rotating shaft, a second rotating shaft, a sliding block, an arc-shaped guide rail and a driver which are disposed on the frame. The rolling wheel is disposed on the first rotating shaft, the bearing wheel is disposed on the second rotating shaft, and an angle is formed between the rolling wheel and the bearing wheel. The sliding block is slidable relative to the arc-shaped guide rail and is connected to the rolling wheel via the first rotating shaft. The driver is connected to the sliding block for driving the sliding block to slide along the arc-shaped guide rail to adjust the angle between the rolling wheel and the bearing wheel.

Abstract: A die set for bending a metal plate workpiece includes a lower die for placing the workpiece, an upper die having a pressing surface which presses the workpiece toward the lower die by movement, a lower movable part provided in the lower die and being slidable in the same direction as the direction of the upper die movement, and a gas spring elastically supporting the lower movable part from below. The pressing surface of the upper die is moved, contacts with the upper surface of the workpiece and presses the workpiece toward the lower die. The lower movable part being elastically supported by the gas spring from below brings an opposing surface into contact with the lower surface of the workpiece and makes the upper die to be close to the lower die while applying force in the upward which is opposite direction of the upper die movement.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming and trimming an associated corner region formed from a flat plate. A die and a knife assembly includes a die that is movable in opposed reciprocating directions within a first plane. A support assembly for the corner region holds the corner region at oblique angle with respect to the plane.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for producing metal sections having two profile flanges arranged opposite one another and having flange inner faces that are to be kept apart from each other by a closely toleranced final chamber dimension. In order to adapt the chamber dimension from a starting chamber dimension K0 to a desired final chamber dimension K1, the metal section is passed through the device, which forms working gaps between an inner working roll pair and outer support rolls. The working rolls that form the inner working roll pair roll over each other in order to brace the forming forces exerted on the working roll pair from the flange inner faces against each other.

Abstract: Disclosed is a roller hemming device, which is capable of excellent hemming even when a subject to be hemmed is located in a relatively narrow place, and reducing maintenance frequency. Specifically disclosed is a roller hemming device, which includes a preliminary bending roller for performing preliminary bending of a work, a final bending roller for performing final bending of the work, and an arm for setting attitudes of the preliminary bending roller and the final bending roller at desired positions and angles. The preliminary bending roller has an axis inclined with respect to a horizontal direction and is arranged at such a position not to come in contact with the work during the final bending.

Abstract: Disclosed is a roller hemming device capable of maintaining performance to hem a work at low cost. Specifically disclosed is a roller hemming device for performing preliminary bending to a work placed on a bottom die along a guide surface formed on the bottom die, which includes a roller for hemming the work, and a guide member protruding radially outward from the outer circumferential surface of the roller. The guide member is in contact with the guide surface of the bottom die during the preliminary bending.

Abstract: A moving die is held by a robot and made to approach a vehicle, and a positioning pin is inserted into a positioning hole of the vehicle. The moving die is brought into a floating state of being displaceable relative to the vehicle by reducing a force of the robot for maintaining an attitude thereof. In a state of holding the moving die by the robot, a surface of the moving die is brought into contact with the vehicle by an adsorbing mechanism including an adsorbing portion of an elastic member provided to the moving die. The moving die and the robot are cut to be separated.

Abstract: A method for hot rolling a metal strip or metal sheet, wherein 1.a) the slab or the strip or sheet is subjected in a first step to one or more reshaping actions in a hot rolling mill for producing a uniform, fine, recrystallised austenite structure and 2) the slab or the strip or sheet is then subjected in a second step to cooling for producing a fine-grain structure. The slab or the strip or sheet is subjected to heating between at least two roll stands of the hot rolling mill during performance of the step 1.a). The roll stands are arranged to follow one another in a rolling direction and in each of which the slab or the strip or sheet is subjected to reshaping. A heater for heating the rolling stock is arranged between at least two of the roll stands.

Abstract: A roller hemming device capable of correcting a positional error between a robot manipulator and a workpiece, and carrying out a pre-hemming and/or hemming process with appropriate pressing force. The roller hemming device has a position detecting part adapted to detect a current position of a roller attached to a front end of the robot manipulator; a force sensor arranged between a wrist section of the robot manipulator and the roller; and a controller adapted to control the position of the roller by using an output of the position detecting part and an output of the force sensor, so that pressing force applied to a mold by the roller is a predetermined value.

Abstract: A draw die set defines a die cavity. A die entry area is provided at the location where a blank is drawn into the die cavity. A plurality of rolling elements such as cylindrical rollers or spherical balls are retained in pockets formed at the die entry area. A punch may be provided with rolling elements that engage a blank on the opposite side from the rollers in the die entry area. The rollers in the die entry area and on the punch may be arranged in rows that form a tangent surface that engages the sheet metal blank as it is drawn into the die cavity.

Abstract: In the present spinning method using elements including: a tube material; a pair of chucks which hold both ends of the tube material; and a roller having a predetermined curved shape in order to shape the tube material, in a state that circumferential portions at the both ends of the tube material are fitted in and held by circumferential grooves provided on side surfaces of the chucks, the method includes a step of transferring a curved shape on a side surface of the roller to a side surface of the tube material by rotating the chucks which hold the tube material around a first axis, rotating the roller around a second axis, moving the rotating roller in an X direction, and pressing the side surface of the roller against the side surface of the tube material between the rotating chucks.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling flare in roll-forming processes are disclosed. An example method involves predefining a plurality of position values to adjust a tilt angle of a flange roller and adjusting the tilt angle of the flange roller based on one of the pre-defined position values to change an amount of flare in a zone of a component. The one of the pre-defined position values is associated with the zone of the component.

Abstract: A device for cold forming a metal work piece comprising a roller die having a first die formed in a circumferential face; a linear die having a second die formed on a receiving surface for receiving the work piece; a press for applying a load to the roller die; wherein the roller die, whilst under load from the press, is arranged to roll across the linear die so as to have the first and second dies applied to opposed faces of the work piece, and so progressively cold form the work piece.

Abstract: A moving die is held by a robot and made to approach a vehicle, and a positioning pin is inserted into a positioning hole of the vehicle. The moving die is brought into a floating state of being displaceable relative to the vehicle by reducing a force of the robot for maintaining an attitude thereof. In a state of holding the moving die by the robot, a surface of the moving die is brought into contact with the vehicle by an adsorbing mechanism including an adsorbing portion of an elastic member provided to the moving die. The moving die and the robot are cut to be separated.

Abstract: A hemming station is configured for hemming a panel assembly including an outer panel having a hem flange defined by a hem edge. The hemming station includes a roller configured to fold the hem flange, a heating device configured to heat the hem edge, and a control unit. The control unit is configured to control the roller and the heating device such that the roller folds the hem flange when the temperature of the hem edge is in a predetermined temperature range.

Abstract: A hemming apparatus is provided for use with a robot in performing a hemming operation. The hemming apparatus comprises a support housing which mounts to a machine and has a pressurizable interior chamber having forward and rearward portions. A slide member includes a piston which is disposed in the chamber, and a plunger extends outwardly from the piston. Means are provided for attaching the housing to a nose having a central passageway. A bearing shaft is disposed within the central passageway, and means are provided for connecting the bearing shaft to the plunger. A hem roller is attached at the end of the bearing shaft. The rearward and forward portions of the chamber are connectible to a source of fluid pressure such that adjusting the chamber pressures moves the piston, thereby causing the bearing shaft to drive the hem roller into engagement with a work piece.

Abstract: A tubular product comprises a side section having outer surfaces disposed along a parallelogram and a bottom section formed on one end of the side section. The outer surfaces of the side section are pressure formed by a roller. The tubular product preferably is manufactured from a tubular material by a process comprising the use of a device having a roller that is configured to engage with a side section of the tubular material. The device also comprises a mandrel configured to position the tubular material so that the roller can apply pressure against at least a portion of the outer surfaces of the side section and can extend the side section of the tubular material to form the product.

Abstract: A movable die 18 including a first groove 52 and a second groove 54 that extend in a direction in which hemming is performed is moved by a robot 22, and is positioned and set with respect to a wheel arch portion 16 in a vehicle 12 on a production line 14. The movable die 18 is mounted, positioned and fixed with respect to the vehicle 12 by a clamping mechanism 58. A guide roller 32 is rolled while the guide roller is engaged with the first groove 52, and a flange 17 is inclined by a conical surface of a tapered roller 38 of a hemming roller 30 that moves in an interlocking manner with the guide roller 32. Next, the guide roller 32 is rolled while the guide roller is engaged with the second groove 54, and the flange 17 is bent by a cylindrical surface of a cylindrical roller 40 of the hemming roller 30. The movable die 18 is separated from the vehicle 12 after the hemming.

Abstract: A roller hemming device capable of correcting a positional error between a robot manipulator and a workpiece, and carrying out a pre-hemming and/or hemming process with appropriate pressing force. The roller hemming device has a position detecting part adapted to detect a current position of a roller attached to a front end of the robot manipulator; a force sensor arranged between a wrist section of the robot manipulator and the roller; and a controller adapted to control the position of the roller by using an output of the position detecting part and an output of the force sensor, so that pressing force applied to a mold by the roller is a predetermined value.

Abstract: In a roller hemming method for folding a flange erected from a workpiece by pressing a working roller against the flange and moving the working roller relative to the flange, the flange is folded by: a first temporary bending step of bending a tip-side portion of the flange into a state that the tip-side portion is inclined; a second temporary bending step of bending a remaining, base-side portion of the flange into a state that the base-side portion is inclined; and a full bending step of bending the thus-bent flange into a final shape so that the flange is into contact with a flange-proximate portion.

Abstract: A method and a device for producing an internally or externally toothed cup-shaped sheet material component with teeth that run in parallel to the center axis of the cup, especially of a clutch plate carrier. The method and device allow the production of profile rollers, the rollers controlling the true running, dimensional accuracy and the surface of the cup-shaped sheet material component having an internally and externally profiled wall in the shape of teeth, in such a manner that they guarantee a specifically variable position during production.

Abstract: In an initial state of roller hemming processing, an erected flange 65 begins to be bent by a roller 48. At this time, a first plate 63 and a receiving face 15 are brought into tightly contact with each other at a contact point 70 between the roller 48 and the erected flange 65 by strongly pinching by the roller 48 and an auxiliary roller 51. On the other hand, in portions other than the contact point 70, the receiving face 15 tends to be separated from the first plate 63 by reaction. Since slider blocks 22 and 22 are movable along rails 21 and 21 on a side of the receiving die 10, the receiving die 10 rotates clockwise in the drawing about the contact point 70. A tight contact in the contact point 70 is guaranteed as the receiving die 10 rotates about the contact point 70. As a result, the hemming processing with a good shape can be achieved without wrinkling, ruffling, or deformation.

Abstract: A roller hemming apparatus includes: a cylindrical roller supported rotatably on a main body; a first position adjusting mechanism for adjusting a first position of the roller in a direction which is perpendicular to a rotating axis direction thereof; a second position adjusting mechanism for adjusting a second position of the roller in the rotating axis direction; and a control unit for controlling the first and second position adjusting mechanisms. The control unit adjusts the first position by controlling the first position adjusting mechanism to abut the roller with a third position which is apart from a bending point of the flange, and the control unit adjusts the second position by detecting a load acting on the roller in an axial direction thereof as a drive load, calculating a difference between the drive load and a given master load, and controlling the second position adjusting mechanism according to the difference.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making armed sutures has a pair of opposed die assemblies that may be driven by actuating surfaces of a swaging machine to hold and swage a needle on a suture. The dies grip and confine the needle in the area of the suture receptacle. A pair of opposed swaging elements with offset stakes insert through passageways in the dies and impinge on the captured needle making a plurality of indentations in the needle barrel and gripping the suture in the suture receptacle. The indentations are offset and aligned generally in alternating peak-to-valley relationship, causing the suture receptacle and the contained suture to assume a serpentine configuration. The stakes and the resulting indentations can be dimensioned to result in a converging suture receptacle, which exhibits increasing shear force being exerted on the suture with increasing depth into the suture receptacle.

Abstract: A flanging device for beading a flanging web of a component part around a flanging edge. The flanging device includes a tool head; a first flanging die and a second flanging die which the tool head simultaneously bears, situated in a processing position, and one of which is arranged following the other in a processing direction.

Abstract: Method and apparatus hems the edges of inner and outer panels by bending a peripheral flange of the outer panel over edge portions of the inner panel to form a panel assembly. A press apparatus has a lower platen and an upper platen. The outer panel is placed onto the lower platen and the inner panel is placed onto the lower panel with the peripheral flange of the outer panel surrounding the inner panel. The upper platen is lowered to capture the inner panel atop the outer panel. A first portion of the peripheral flange is hemmed by closing hemming dies over the first portion of the peripheral flange to bend the flange onto the inner panel. A second portion of the peripheral flange is hemmed by passing a hemming roller mechanism along the second portion of the peripheral flange to bend the flange onto the inner panel.

Abstract: A roller hemming apparatus includes a linear actuator mountable on an end of a multi-axis robotic arm. The linear actuator includes a connector. A roller hemming head is mounted on the linear actuator by the connector. The roller hemming head includes at least one hem roller. The roller hemming head performs both push force and pull force roller hemming operations.

Abstract: A magnetically actuated roller head includes a linear actuator mountable on an end of a multi-axis robotic arm. The linear actuator includes a slide, a magnet operably connected to the slide and operable to urge the slide in a linear direction, and a connector disposed on a distal end of the slide. A roller hemming head is mounted on the linear actuator by the connector. The roller hemming head includes at least one hem roller.

Abstract: A movable die 18 including a first groove 52 and a second groove 54 that extend in a direction in which hemming is performed is moved by a robot 22, and is positioned and set with respect to a wheel arch portion 16 in a vehicle 12 on a production line 14. The movable die 18 is mounted, positioned and fixed with respect to the vehicle 12 by a clamping mechanism 58. A guide roller 32 is rolled while the guide roller is engaged with the first groove 52, and a flange 17 is inclined by a conical surface of a tapered roller 38 of a hemming roller 30 that moves in an interlocking manner with the guide roller 32. Next, the guide roller 32 is rolled while the guide roller is engaged with the second groove 54, and the flange 17 is bent by a cylindrical surface of a cylindrical roller 40 of the hemming roller 30. The movable die 18 is separated from the vehicle 12 after the hemming.

Abstract: A roller hemming system for hemming nested panels includes a single hemming workstation providing for tooling exchange operations simultaneous with hemming operations. A plurality of robots that perform tooling exchange at the hemming workstation, movement of nested panels through the system, and hemming operations on nested panels at the hemming workstation. Nested panels are inputted into the system and hemmed nested panel assemblies are outputted from the system.

Abstract: A moving die is held by a robot and made to approach a vehicle, and a positioning pin is inserted into a positioning hole of the vehicle. The moving die is brought into a floating state of being displaceable relative to the vehicle by reducing a force of the robot for maintaining an attitude thereof. In a state of holding the moving die by the robot, a surface of the moving die is brought into contact with the vehicle by an adsorbing mechanism including an adsorbing portion of an elastic member provided to the moving die. The moving die and the robot are cut to be separated.

Abstract: A roll hemming apparatus for bending the flange of an outer panel vertically extended from a bent part of the outer panel to an inner side of the outer panel includes a robot and a working tool fitted to a tip of the robot. The working tool includes a first roller supporting the bent part and a second roller pressing the part of the flange positioned near the bent part supported by the first roller, and is integrally moved along the bent part. The orientation and the attitude of the second roller is set by first to fourth cylinders.

Abstract: A robotic roller hemming apparatus includes a mounting member having a face for operative connection of the mounting member to a multi-axis controllable robotic arm, and a bracket extending from the face. A tracking roller is mounted on the bracket. A slide plate is operatively connected to the bracket and slidable relative to the bracket. A hemming roller is operatively connected to the slide plate proximate the tracking roller for roller hemming nested metal panels therebetween the hemming and tracking rollers. A slide actuator connects the bracket and the slide plate for moving the hemming roller toward and away from the tracking roller.

Abstract: A hemming working is performed by a positioning step of positioning a first panel formed with a projected portion for welding on a second panel formed with a flange portion; a first bending step of bending the flange portion; and a second bending step of pressing the flange portion on an outer side of the projected portion.

Abstract: In a method of working a recessed portion 2 in a headrest stay 32 which is provided in the stay portion 32 of the headrest stay 3 formed of a pipe, a recess 2? is preformed by pressing against the stay portion 32 an outer peripheral portion 4a of a first punch roller 4 for preforming having a rounded portion 47 on the outer peripheral portion 4a in a side view. Subsequently, an outer peripheral portion 7a of a second punch roller 7 on the outer periphery portion 7a of which a punch portion for final forming has been formed is directed toward and pressed against the recess 2?, so as to form a recessed portion 2.

Abstract: In a roller hemming method for folding a flange erected from a workpiece by pressing a working roller against the flange and moving the working roller relative to the flange, the flange is folded by: a first temporary bending step of bending a tip-side portion of the flange into a state that the tip-side portion is inclined; a second temporary bending step of bending a remaining, base-side portion of the flange into a state that the base-side portion is inclined; and a full bending step of bending the thus-bent flange into a final shape so that the flange is into contact with a flange-proximate portion.

Abstract: A method for hemming an inner panel and an outer sheet metal panel together. The inner panel has an outwardly extending perimeter flange comprising an end surface, an inboard surface, and a beveled surface located between the end surface and the inboard surface. The outer sheet metal panel has a peripheral edge comprising a bend portion, an intermediate portion, and an end portion. The method provides a reduced radius hem by providing the beveled surface, assembling the inner and outer panels together, prehemming the peripheral edge to a spaced relationship relative to the beveled surface, and hemming the peripheral edge of the outer panel into engagement with the perimeter flange of the inner panel.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming and joining a first sheet material (A) located in a nest (30) to a second sheet material (B) positioned on top of the first sheet material. The apparatus includes a positional pressure roller tool or positional pressure variance unit (50) for performing the forming and joining operations. The PPVU (50) may include both a main roller (58) and a touch-up roller (60). The PPVU (50) is operatively associated with a programmable positioning apparatus in the form of a robotic arm (52) and a machine cell (10) whereby the position of the robotic arm (52) relative to the nest (30) dictates the applied pressure at the interface between the roller (72) and the nest (30).

Abstract: A robotic turntable drive arrangement in a robotic roller hemming system includes a turntable having a top plate and a lower frame. The top plate is rotatable about the lower frame. The turntable further includes a plurality of lock positions. The arrangement also includes a robot having an arm adapted for engagement with the turntable top plate. Movement of the robot arm while the robot arm is engaged with the turntable top plate rotates the turntable top plate.

Abstract: A roller folding head is disclosed. Roller folding heads are used, for instance, when fixing the frame of a sliding roof in an opening in the roof of a vehicle. In order to do this quickly and automatically, the roller folding head is provided with at least two pairs of rollers, each pair of rollers consisting of a pressure roller and a counter-roller which interact in order to bend a flange along a folding line at a specific angle. The folding process is carried out in several stages, one flange being crimped around another flange in a series of partial steps at an angle of 180°. One pair of rollers is provided for each step, at least two thereof being arranged on a roller folding head.

Abstract: A hemming machine having a nest adapted to support a part to be hemmed. A hold down is movable between a retracted position in which the hold down is spaced from the part and an extended position in which the part is sandwiched between the hold down and the nest and a guide surface is formed around the periphery of the hold down. A hemming head having a roller hemmer assembly and mounted to and manipulated by a robotic arm. The roller assembly includes a first roller which engages the guide surface during a roller prehemming operation of the part performed by the robotic arm and a second roller which prehems the part.

Abstract: A flange corner forming apparatus includes a die having a planar upper surface upon which a workpiece may be supported and side surfaces intersecting at a flange forming corner. A workpiece clamps the workpiece securely against the die with the flange corner of the workpiece extending along the corner of the die, and a forming roll cooperatively configured with respect to the flange forming corner and form the flange of the workpiece about the die corner. A wedge is movable between the workpiece and the die corner to support the flange as it is being formed by the roll. A controller controls the movement of the wedge, the forming roll and the clamp.

Abstract: A hemming tool providing a plurality of rollers for forming a hem flange. The rollers are disposed on an end effector that includes a pair of links that connect a tool support to a stationary bracket. The tool support and stationary bracket are shiftably mounted relative to each other in the manner of a four-bar link and shift relative to each other against the force of a force transducer or spring that moderates the force applied by the hemming tool to a workpiece by the selected roller.

Abstract: A tool and process utilizing the tool for forming a compressed-radius hem on a sheet metal assembly is provided. A concave portion on the tool is formed by at least two surfaces that together define a cavity. A flange on the perimeter of an outer panel is initially formed to an approximate perpendicular angle and is then formed to about 45°. In a final forming step, an intermediate portion of the flange is engaged by the cavity and is formed into a compressed-radius hem.

Abstract: The ribbon cable being folded is fixed with a first end, called the fixed end, on a folding table and guided with another end, called the manipulated end, by a handling device. The handling device brings the manipulated end into the position that it is supposed to have after folding, and the loop formed in this position of the ribbon cable is smoothed out by a folding device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for forming a corner bounded on three sides from a flat plate part, in particular sheet metal, whereby the side edges adjacent to the corner are folded back across a major part of their longitudinal extension parallel with the flat plate part and shaped on a curved path in the region in which the corner is to be formed from the folded-back side edge to the plane of the flat plate part. The pre-formed blank is then pressed at the curved transition region by means of at least one roller system (42), spanning the corner region (10) between the side edges, against a tool (16) and the corner shaped by forming the material and optionally trimmed in a cutting device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for forming a corner bounded on three sides from a flat plate part, in particular sheet metal, whereby the side edges adjacent to the corner are folded back across a major part of their longitudinal extension parallel with the flat plate part and shaped on a curved path in the region in which the corner is to be formed from the folded-back side edge to the plane of the flat plate part. The pre-formed blank is then pressed at the curved transition region by means of at least one roller system (42), spanning the corner region (10) between the side edges, against a tool (16) and the corner shaped by forming the material and optionally trimmed in a cutting device.

Abstract: In a process in roller folding a folding roller is moved against a workpiece. The urging force of the folding roller against the workpiece is resilient, and the folding roller moves in a path along the workpiece by means of a movement device provided with a control system. The urging force is sensed by a sensor, which is integral in or included in the movement device, and the output signal of the sensor is fed to the control system.