U.S. patent application number 09/828262 was filed with the patent office on 2001-08-09 for method for assembling seatbelt webbing with a sill-end bracket.
Invention is credited to Bainbridge, Douglas, Henderson, Paul, Hodgson, John, Slack, Paul, Weedall, Antony, Wise, Simon.
Application Number | 20010011411 09/828262 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 10864937 |
Filed Date | 2001-08-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010011411 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bainbridge, Douglas ; et
al. |
August 9, 2001 |
Method for assembling seatbelt webbing with a sill-end bracket
Abstract
An apparatus for assembling seatbelt webbing with a sill-end
bracket has a form-feeding member with a tapered channel for
receiving one end of a length of seatbelt webbing on an assembly
line. A webbing pull-through member engages one end of the webbing.
A bracket sensor senses the presence of a bracket at a correct
position in the bracket support. Means responsive to a signal from
a sensor may be provided for indicating the correct positioning of
the sill-end bracket for feeding the pull-through member through
the sill-end bracket. Means for driving the webbing into the
tapered channel are provided so that said one end is located at a
predetermined position relative to the form-feeding member. A
method of manual or automatic assembling seatbelt webbing with a
sill-end bracket is also disclosed.
Inventors: |
Bainbridge, Douglas; (Nr.
Carlisle, GB) ; Hodgson, John; (Carlisle, GB)
; Slack, Paul; (Carlisle, GB) ; Henderson,
Paul; (Carlisle, GB) ; Wise, Simon; (Carlisle,
GB) ; Weedall, Antony; (Carlisle, GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BREED AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY, INC
5300 ALLEN K BREED HIGHWAY
P O BOX 33050
LAKELAND
FL
33807-3050
US
|
Family ID: |
10864937 |
Appl. No.: |
09/828262 |
Filed: |
April 9, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
09828262 |
Apr 9, 2001 |
|
|
|
09516834 |
Mar 1, 2000 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
29/407.01 ;
29/709 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 29/49764 20150115;
Y10T 29/53039 20150115; Y10T 29/49778 20150115; Y10T 29/53061
20150115; Y10T 29/53065 20150115; B60R 22/24 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
29/407.01 ;
29/709 |
International
Class: |
B23P 021/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 22, 1999 |
GB |
9927602.4 |
Claims
We claim:
1. An apparatus for assembling seatbelt webbing with a sill-end
bracket, the apparatus comprising: a form feeding member having a
tapered channel for receiving one end of a length of seatbelt
webbing on an assembly line; a support for the sill-end bracket;
and a bracket sensor for sensing the presence of the sill-end
bracket at a correct position in the bracket support.
2. The apparatus for assembling seatbelt webbing with a sill-end
bracket according to claim 1 further comprising means responsive to
a signal from the sensor indicating the correct positioning of the
sill-end bracket for feeding the pull-through member through the
sill-end bracket.
3. The apparatus for assembling seatbelt webbing with a sill-end
bracket according to claim 1 further comprising means for driving
the webbing into the tapered channel.
4. The apparatus for assembling seatbelt webbing with a sill-end
bracket according to claim 2 further comprising means for driving
the webbing into the tapered channel.
5. The apparatus for assembling seatbelt webbing with a sill-end
bracket according to claim 3 wherein said driving means is arranged
to drive the webbing into the channel so that said one end is
located at a predetermined position relative to the form feeding
member.
6. The apparatus for assembling seatbelt webbing with a sill-end
bracket according to claim 4 wherein said driving means is arranged
to drive the webbing into the channel so that said one end is
located at a predetermined position relative to the form feeding
member.
7. The apparatus for assembling seatbelt webbing with a sill-end
bracket according to claim 1 further comprising means for
activating the pull-through member to engage the webbing and to
drive the pull-through member back.
8. The apparatus for assembling seatbelt webbing with a sill-end
bracket according to claim 5 further comprising means for
activating the pull-through member to engage the webbing and to
drive the pull-through member back.
9. The apparatus for assembling seatbelt webbing with a sill-end
bracket according to claim 6 further comprising means for
activating the pull-through member to engage the webbing and to
drive the pull-through member back.
10. The apparatus for assembling seatbelt webbing with a sill-end
bracket according to claim 1 further comprising a sensor associated
with the pull-through member for sensing when the pull-through
member is at predetermined position dependent on the required
webbing fold-over length.
11. The apparatus for assembling seatbelt webbing with a sill-end
bracket according to claim 8 further comprising a sensor associated
with the pull-through member for sensing when the pull-through
member is at predetermined position dependent on the required
webbing fold-over length.
12. The apparatus for assembling seatbelt webbing with a sill-end
bracket according to claim 9 further comprising a sensor associated
with the pull-through member for sensing when the pull-through
member is at predetermined position dependent on the required
webbing fold-over length.
13. A method for assembling seatbelt webbing with a sill-end
bracket, the method comprising the steps of: (a) placing a sill-end
bracket in a bracket support; (b) feeding a webbing pull-through
member through an opening in the sill-end bracket; (c) driving one
end of a length of seatbelt webbing into the wide part of a tapered
channel of a feeding member; (d) sensing when the webbing is at a
predetermined position; (e) activating the pull-through member to
engage the end of the webbing; (f) pulling the pull-through member
back through the sill-end bracket to pull the webbing through the
form feeding member channel and through the sill-end bracket.
14. The method for assembling seatbelt webbing with a sill-end
bracket according to claim 13 wherein in step (f) the pull-through
member is pulled back to a predetermined position, sensed by a
sensor and arranged in dependence of the required webbing fold-over
length.
15. The method for assembling seatbelt webbing with a sill-end
bracket according to claim 13 wherein any of the steps are
automated.
16. The method for assembling seatbelt webbing with a sill-end
bracket according to claim 14 wherein any of the steps are
automated.
17. The method for assembling seatbelt webbing with a sill-end
bracket according to claim 13 wherein any of the steps are
performed manually.
18. The method for assembling seatbelt webbing with a sill-end
bracket according to claim 14 wherein any of the steps are
performed manually.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for assembling
a vehicle safety restraint, particularly a seatbelt.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A seatbelt system generally comprises a single piece of
elongate webbing fixed at three points so that it passes across
both the lap and diagonally across the torso a vehicle occupant.
The seatbelt is fixed to the vehicle chassis on each side of the
seat and is fixed to the side of the vehicle above the vehicle
occupant's shoulder, usually to a load-bearing pillar of the
vehicle known in the industry as the "B-pillar".To provide
flexibility at the fixing point and allow the belt to adapt to
different sizes and shapes of vehicle occupants, the webbing is
fixed to the B-pillar by a pivotally mounted bracket known as a
sill-end bracket. The sill end bracket is sometimes referred to as
a D-ring because it has a shape reminiscent of a side oriented
letter "D". The webbing passes through a slit-shaped hole in the
sill-end bracket (D-ring) and over a generally horizontal bar
formed by the vertical line of the "D". The sill-end bracket is
mounted to the vehicle by a bolt that allows the bracket to pivot
to set the webbing at the correct orientation for the vehicle
occupant being restrained without twisting or pinching the
webbing.
[0003] On the assembly line the webbing and sill-end bracket
(D-ring) must be assembled together by passing the webbing through
the hole in the bracket. Traditionally this is done manually and
there is considerable waste due to operator error since the
operation is difficult. It is desired to increase the speed and
efficiency of the assembly line.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] According to one aspect of the present invention there is
provided an apparatus for assembling seatbelt webbing with a
sill-end bracket, the apparatus comprising: a form feeding member
having a tapered channel for receiving one end of a length of seat
belt ebbing on an assembly line; a webbing pull-through member
having means for engaging one end of the webbing; a support for the
sill-end bracket; and a bracket sensor for sensing the presence of
the sill-end bracket at a correct position in the bracket
support.
[0005] Preferably the apparatus further comprises means responsive
to a signal from the sensor indicating the correct positioning of
the sill-end bracket.
[0006] Means are also provided for driving the webbing into the
tapered channel, preferably so that said one end is located at a
predetermined position, relative to the form-feeding member. There
may also be provided means for activating the pull-through member
to engage the webbing and to drive the pull-through member
back.
[0007] Preferably the pull-through member is associated with a
sensor for sensing when the pull-through member is at a
predetermined position dependent on the required webbing fold-over
length.
[0008] According to a second aspect of the invention, a method for
assembling seatbelt webbing with an opening in a sill-end bracket
comprises the steps of: placing the sill-end bracket in a bracket
support; feeding a webbing pull-through member through an opening
in the sill-end bracket; driving one end of a length of seat belt
webbing into the wide part of a tapered channel of a feeding
member; sensing when the webbing is at a predetermined position;
activating the pull-through member to engage the end of the
webbing; pulling the pull-through member back, through the sill-end
bracket to pull the webbing through the form feeding member channel
and through the sill-end bracket. Preferably, it is pulled back to
a predetermined position, sensed by a sensor and arranged in
dependence of the required webbing fold-over length.
[0009] An apparatus and method according to the present invention
can ensure that the sill-end of the webbing is in the correct
position and orientation, and that the webbing fold-over is in the
correct orientation of the desired length and of the required
fold-over form. Preferably the whole operation is automated but
many of the steps can be performed manually with an improvement in
efficiency nonetheless. The number of operators on the assembly
line may be reduced and operator errors can be substantially
reduced or even eliminated. Thus speed and efficiency of the
assembly line may be of enhanced and the resulting product of a
more consistently reliable quality.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] For a better understanding of the present invention and to
show how the same may be carried into effects reference will now be
made to the accompanying drawings in which:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of apparatus
according to the first aspect of the invention at an early stage of
a method according to the second aspect of the invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of apparatus of the
first aspect of the invention at an intermediate stage of a method
according to the second aspect of the invention;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of seatbelt webbing and a sill-end
bracket assembled using the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0014] In the figures a length of seatbelt webbing 1 has an end 2.
A form feeding horn 3 has a tapered internal channel 7. A sill-end
bracket 4 has a slot 10 therein. A webbing pull-through device 5
has hinged jaws 6 at one end for gripping the end 2 of the webbing
1.
[0015] The form feeding horn 3 is formed in two parts and is shown
in FIG. 1 in a closed position with the two parts fixed together
and in FIG. 2 in an open position with the two parts separated to
facilitate its removal from the assembly.
[0016] The sill-end bracket 4 is held in a holding member 8 that is
fitted with a sensor 9 to detect the correct positioning of the
sill-end bracket 4. Once the sensor 9 indicates that the sill-end
bracket is correctly positioned the apparatus feeds the
pull-through device 5 through the slot 10 in the sill-end bracket.
The end 2 of the webbing 1 is fed into the channel 7 of form
feeding horn 3 up to a predetermined position which is sensed by a
second sensor 11. When the pull-through device and the webbing are
in the correct positions the pull-through device is activated to
grip the end 2 of webbing 1 between the jaws 6. The pull-through
device 5 is then drawn back through the sill-end bracket 4 thus
drawing the webbing 1 through the tapered channel 7 of form feeding
horn 3. The tapered channel rolls both of the sides of the webbing
over by equal amounts toward the centerline of the webbing as shown
in FIGS. 2 and 3.
[0017] The pull-through member is retracted to a predetermined
position that is detected by sensor 12 and can be adjusted
depending on the required webbing fold-over length. The
pull-through member is then stopped and the jaws 6 disengage the
end 2 of the webbing. The two parts 3a, 3b of form feeding horn 3
are pulled apart as shown in FIG. 2 to remove the horn from the
assembly. The sill-end bracket 4 is removed from the holding member
8 and the assembly is ready for the next stage of the production
process.
[0018] Of course some of the steps may be performed manually rather
than completed automatically. The sensors 9, 11, 12 may be arranged
to provide visual and/or audio prompts to an operator. An
improvement in the efficiency of the assembly line will nonetheless
be observed because the form feeding horn facilitates the correct
fold-over orientation for the webbing and use of the pull-through
member allows an accurate fold-over length to be determined.
[0019] The top-plan view in FIG. 3 shows the webbing 1 passed
through the sill-end bracket 4 and still attached to the
pull-through member 5 by jaws 6. It clearly illustrates how the
webbing is folded generally equally from each side, this being the
correct webbing fold-over form for the webbing to pass easily
through the sill-end bracket hole and thus for consistent
performance of the complete assembly of the webbing and sill-end
bracket.
[0020] It is understood that the invention is not limited to the
particular apparatus and methods herein illustrated and described,
but embraces such modified forms thereof as may come within the
scope of the following claims.
* * * * *