U.S. patent application number 12/294403 was filed with the patent office on 2009-04-30 for method and tool device for forming.
Invention is credited to Sebastian Rotter, Bernhard Spies, Heiko Thaler, York Widdel.
Application Number | 20090107204 12/294403 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38109612 |
Filed Date | 2009-04-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090107204 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Widdel; York ; et
al. |
April 30, 2009 |
METHOD AND TOOL DEVICE FOR FORMING
Abstract
The invention relates to a tool device for forming a section of
a body. The device includes at least one moveable retaining device
and at least one forming punch moveable in the direction of the
retaining device. The section to be formed is arranged between the
retaining device and the forming punch. The forming punch during
the forming is moved from an initial position into a defined end
position relative to the section to be formed. In order to limit
the construction space and the forces to be applied, the tool
device includes a wedge element which is in contact with the
retaining device and/or a die such that a movement of the wedge
element effects a movement of the retaining device and/or of the
die in the forming direction. Furthermore, a forming method is
provided with the aid of the tool device.
Inventors: |
Widdel; York;
(Barsinghausen, DE) ; Spies; Bernhard;
(Sindelfingen, DE) ; Thaler; Heiko; (Sindelfingen,
DE) ; Rotter; Sebastian; (Sindelfingen, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GREENBLUM & BERNSTEIN, P.L.C.
1950 ROLAND CLARKE PLACE
RESTON
VA
20191
US
|
Family ID: |
38109612 |
Appl. No.: |
12/294403 |
Filed: |
March 16, 2007 |
PCT Filed: |
March 16, 2007 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/DE2007/000474 |
371 Date: |
September 24, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
72/348 ;
72/379.2; 83/698.91 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B21D 22/02 20130101;
B21D 22/04 20130101; Y10T 83/9476 20150401 |
Class at
Publication: |
72/348 ;
72/379.2; 83/698.91 |
International
Class: |
B21D 22/00 20060101
B21D022/00; B21D 31/00 20060101 B21D031/00; B21D 28/34 20060101
B21D028/34 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 31, 2006 |
DE |
10 2006 015 458.4 |
Claims
1. A tool device for forming at least one section of a less
precisely positioned body by an amount such that the at least one
section to be formed lies relative to it the tool device in a more
precisely defined position, the tool device comprising: at least
one movable retaining device and at least one forming punch that is
movable in a direction of the retaining device, wherein the at
least one section to be formed is arranged between the retaining
device and the forming punch, and during the forming the forming
punch is brought from an initial position pinto a defined end
position relative to the at least one section to be formed; and a
wedge element that is in mating contact with at least one of the
retaining device and a die, in such a way that a movement of the
wedge element effects a movement of the retaining device and/or of
the die in a forming direction.
2. The tool device according to claim 1, wherein the forming punch
is fixed to one leg of an essentially L-shaped bracket and another
leg is slidably mounted on an end of a base of the tool device.
3. The tool device according to claim 2, wherein the wedge element
is formed by a wedge displacer that is guided in the base.
4. The tool device according to claim 3, wherein the wedge
displacer is actuated by a cylinder.
5. The tool device according to claim 1, wherein the tool device
includes a punching tool.
6. The tool device according to claim 1, further comprising a
spring mount is provided between the wedge element and the
retaining device and/or the die.
7. A method for the forming of at least one section on a less
precisely positioned body by an amount such that the section to be
formed lies in a more precisely defined position relative to the
tool device, with aid of the tool device according to claim 1.
8. A method for the forming of at least one section on a less
precisely positioned body by an amount such that the section to be
formed lies in a more precisely defined position relative to the
tool devices comprising: positioning of a retaining device on the
at least one section to be formed, forming of the at least one
section to be formed by moving a forming punch in a direction of
the retaining device, and displacing of die within the retaining
device in a direction of the forming punch with by moving the wedge
element, for smoothing of the formed section.
9. A method comprising: positioning of a retaining device with
respect to at least one section to be formed, without contact
taking place between the retaining device and the at least one
section, Joint displacement of a die and the retaining device with
the aid of the by moving a wedge element, until a contact takes
place between the retaining device and the die and the at least one
section to be formed, and forming of the at least one section to be
formed, by moving a forming punch in a direction of the retaining
device against resistance of a spring-mounted die.
10. The method according to claim 9, wherein a subsequent smoothing
of the at least one section to be formed is carried out.
11. The method according to claim 9, wherein a stop is formed by
the wedge element and the die and/or retaining device, which stop
limits the forming of the at least one section to be formed by the
forming punch.
12. The method according to claim 11, wherein a punch process is
subsequently carried out on the formed section.
13. A tool comprising: at least one retaining device; at least one
forming punch; a wedge element that is configured to move in mating
contact with at least one of the retaining device and a die to
effectuate movement of the retaining device and/or the die in a
direction towards the at least one forming punch.
14. The tool according to claim 13, wherein the wedge element
includes a wedge displacer that is guided in a base.
15. The tool according to claim 14, wherein the wedge element is
situated adjacent to correspondingly shaped surfaces facing away
the die or the retaining device.
16. The tool according to claim 14, wherein linear movement of the
wedge element translates into a movement of the at least one die
and the retaining device orthogonal to the linear movement of the
wedge.
17. The tool according to claim 13, wherein the wedge element is
formed by a wedge displacer moveable inside a stationary base that
holds the die and the retaining body.
18. The tool according to claim 13, wherein the wedge element is
configured to have a rotatory movement.
19. The tool according to claim 13, further comprising a spring
mount provided between the wedge element and the retaining device
and/or the die.
20. The tool according to claim 13, wherein the die is a stop for a
forming punch during forming
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to a tool device for forming at least
one section of a less precisely positioned body as well as a method
for the forming with the aid of the tool device.
[0003] 2. Discussion of Background Information
[0004] From DE 10 2004 038 208 A1, a tool device for the forming of
at least one section of a less precisely positioned body by an
amount such that the section to be formed lies in a more precisely
defined position relative to it, is known. This tool device
includes a movable retaining device as well as a forming punch that
can be moved in the direction of the retaining device, wherein the
section to be formed is arranged between the retaining device and
forming punch. During the forming, first the retaining device is
positioned on the section to be formed. Then the forming punch is
moved in the direction of the retaining device, which leads to a
forming of the section that is arranged between the retaining
device and forming punch.
[0005] According to this so-called free forming, a further process
step is usually carried out on the formed section, for example the
punching of a hole in this section. For this purpose the surface of
this section must first be smoothed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The invention includes a mechanism in the tool device with
which the free forming as well as process steps subsequent to the
free forming can be carried out in a simple manner and with the
smallest possible construction space.
[0007] This is achieved according to the invention by a tool device
for forming at least one section of a less precisely positioned
body by an amount such that the section to be formed lies relative
to it in a more precisely defined position, with at least one
movable retaining device and at least one forming punch that is
movable in the direction of the retaining device. The section to be
formed is arranged between the retaining device and forming punch,
and during the forming the forming punch is brought from an initial
position into a defined end position relative to the section to be
formed.
[0008] According to this the retaining device includes a wedge
element that is in mating contact with the retaining device and/or
a die in such a way that a movement of the wedge element effects a
movement of the retaining device and/or of the die in the forming
direction.
[0009] Die is to be understood to mean an element that exerts a
relative movement on the section to be formed and thereby effects a
further forming of the section, while retaining device is to be
understood to mean an element that is or is brought to be in mating
contact with the body and has the function of a brace.
[0010] In this manner a die for smoothing the surface is available
on the one side, which die can be moved by a drive movement in a
direction that does not lie directly in the forming direction.
Thus, no construction space for the drive of the die is blocked in
the actual forming movement. Therefore, the tool device can be
embodied very narrow and can be used for the forming of sections
that are accessible only from one side, even with cramped space
conditions. It can therefore be used in particular when sections of
bodies are to be formed that are already mounted in a larger unit,
for example a motor vehicle body.
[0011] Furthermore, through the wedge element, the very high forces
that are required for smoothing the surface of the section or for
bracing during the forming can be absorbed without further clamping
measures.
[0012] In an advantageous embodiment, the forming punch is fixed to
one leg of an essentially L-shaped bracket and the other leg is
slidably mounted on the end of a base of the tool device. The base
and bracket thereby form forming tongs that are suitable for being
inserted into clearances.
[0013] In a further preferred exemplary embodiment of the tool
device, the wedge element is formed by a wedge displacer that is
guided in the base. The wedge displacer can be moved in a very
simple manner by a cylinder likewise mounted on the base. Only a
very small force needs to be applied by the cylinder to move the
wedge element.
[0014] Furthermore, the tool device advantageously includes a
punching tool. With the aid of a punching tool a through hole,
which serves for example to accept fixing means, can be produced in
the section to be formed.
[0015] In a further possible exemplary embodiment, a spring mount
is provided between the wedge element and the retaining device
and/or die. In this way a prestressing force can be exerted on the
die or the retaining device, which enables a simple return of these
elements into their initial positions.
[0016] Moreover, a method for the forming of at least one section
on a less precisely positioned body is provided by an amount such
that the section to be formed lies in a more precisely defined
position relative to it, with the aid of a tool device according to
the invention. This method excels through the use of a wedge
element for moving a die and/or a retaining device for smoothing
the surface of the formed section or for generating a counteracting
force. Through this simple and space-saving means, the method can
be used advantageously even with bodies that are difficult to
access.
[0017] In an advantageous embodiment, the method comprises the
following steps: first the positioning of the retaining device on
the section to be formed takes place, then the section to be formed
is formed by a movement of the forming punch in the direction of
the retaining device. Then the die is displaced within the
retaining device in the direction of the forming punch with the aid
of the wedge element, for the smoothing of the surface of the
formed section.
[0018] In a further possible embodiment, first the positioning of
the retaining device with respect to the section to be formed takes
place, without a contact taking place between the retaining device
and the section. Then, a joint displacement of the die and the
retaining device takes place until a contact takes place between
the retaining device and the section. Then, the section to be
formed is formed by a movement of the forming punch in the
direction of the retaining device against the resistance of the
spring-mounted die. In this way the contact of the retaining device
with the section to be formed is accelerated and simplified.
[0019] In a further preferred embodiment, a stop is formed by a
wedge element and the die, up to which the stop, the section to be
formed is formed by the forming punch. Thus, the wedge gains an
additional function and serves for the formation of a stop that
moreover can be adjusted in height in the forming direction.
Furthermore, the formed section is simultaneously smoothed
thereby.
[0020] Advantageously, a punching process is subsequently carried
out on the formed section. This can be carried out in a simple and
precise manner on the surface of the section to be formed that was
smoothed in advance.
[0021] Further embodiments and advantages of the invention appear
from the remaining subordinate claims and the specification.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] In the drawings, the invention is explained in more detail
based on several exemplary embodiments. The drawings show:
[0023] FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic representation of an exemplary
embodiment of the tool device,
[0024] FIG. 2 shows a detail representation of the tool device
according to FIG. 1 with the forming punch in an initial
position,
[0025] FIG. 3 shows a detail representation according to FIG. 2
with the forming punch in an end position,
[0026] FIG. 4 shows a detail representation according to FIG. 3
with the die during the smoothing of the section to be formed,
[0027] FIG. 5 shows a detail representation of a further exemplary
embodiment of the tool device with the forming punch in an initial
position,
[0028] FIG. 6 shows a detail representation according to FIG. 5
after the contact of the retaining device, and
[0029] FIG. 7 shows a detail representation according to FIG. 5
after the forming of the section to be formed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0030] FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic representation of a tool device
1 that comprises a base 27, which is fixed for example to an
industrial robot or to a robot arm and that can be moved in space
by the robot.
[0031] On this base 27, an essentially L-shaped bracket 23 is
mounted that is movable in the direction of the double arrow, for
example by an electromotive drive 47, relative to the base 27. The
bracket 23 comprises two legs 21, 25, which are arranged
perpendicular to one another, so that the free end of the second
leg 25 can be displaced with respect to the base 27. At this free
end an essentially circular cylindrical forming punch 9 is situated
that is rigidly connected to the second leg 25. The longitudinal
axis of the forming punch 9 corresponds to the forming direction 17
and thus runs parallel to the first leg 21 of the bracket 23.
[0032] Opposite the forming punch 9, a retaining device 7 is
situated on the base 27 of the tool device 1. The retaining device
7 comprises a retaining body 8 rigidly connected to the base 27,
which retaining body 8 essentially has the form of a circular
cylindrical jacket. Furthermore, the tool device 1 comprises a die
15. The die 15 is essentially circular cylindrical, wherein its
outer diameter is smaller than the inner diameter of the retaining
body 8. Thus, the die 15 is movable inside the retaining body 8 in
the axial direction. This tool device 1 is also called forming
tongs.
[0033] FIG. 2 shows a detail view of the tool device 1. It is
discernible in FIG. 2 (and FIG. 3) that the movement of the die 15
and the retaining device 7 in the forming direction 17 is generated
by a corresponding linear movement 39 of a wedge element 19 that is
situated adjacent to correspondingly shaped surfaces 41, 43 facing
away, of the die 15 or of the retaining body 8. The linear movement
39 of the wedge element 19 is turned by 90.degree. by the wedge
form, so that the die 15 as well as the retaining body 8 undergo a
movement in the forming direction 17. Deviating from this exemplary
embodiment, it is possible in principle to displace the die 15 and
the retaining device 7 individually or together, as will be
explained below.
[0034] In this exemplary embodiment, the wedge element 19 is formed
by a wedge displacer 29. This is provided inside the base 27 and
can move in the base 27. The drive of the wedge displacer 29 takes
place by a cylinder 31 connected for example pneumatically to the
base 27. However, the drive can also take place hydraulically or
electrically, depending on the desired drive power. Through the
turning of the movement of the wedge displacer 29 by 90.degree.,
the tool device 1 can be embodied very narrow in the forming
direction 17, so that it can be used even with little working space
available.
[0035] In addition to the translatory movement of the wedge
displacer 29, a rotatory movement of the wedge element 19 or a
combined rotatory and translatory movement of it is possible. Thus,
for example the wedge element 19 can additionally have a
non-rotationally symmetrical geometry, through which a rotation of
the wedge displacer 29 effects a movement of the die and/or of the
retaining device 7 in the forming direction 17. This could for
example be a tapered geometry combined with an eccentric
geometry.
[0036] In operation, the tool device 1 is brought into the initial
position 11 shown in FIG. 2 with the aid of a robot. In this
initial position 11, the retaining body 8 is situated in mating
contact with a section 3, which is to be formed, of a body 5, for
example a sheet metal component of an automobile body.
[0037] Subsequently, a displacing movement of the bracket 23 with
the forming punch 9 fixed thereon takes place in the forming
direction 17 relative to the unmoved base 27. The section 3 to be
formed is thereby formed by the forming punch 9 in the direction of
the die 15, until the forming punch 9 has reached the end position
13 shown in FIG. 3. The forming punch 9 is situated thereby in the
end position 13 not touching a part of the retaining device 7;
rather, it is a so-called free forming. The defined movement of the
forming punch 9 for the forming can take place in a path-controlled
manner or limited by a stop arranged remotely from the forming
punch 9 and the retaining device 7, as is shown in detail in DE 192
994 0038 A1 or in DE 192 2004 038 209 A1.
[0038] In this exemplary embodiment, a smoothing of the formed
section 3 takes place subsequent to the forming. This is necessary
because the embossing surface exhibits unevennesses after the free
forming, which unevennesses make a further processing difficult: a
flat embossing surface is achieved in that the die 15, as shown in
FIG. 4, is moved towards the formed section 3 in the forming
direction 17 through a linear movement 39 of the wedge displacer
29. The die 15 then exerts a correspondingly high force on the
section 3, which leads to a smoothing of this section 3. For
example, the cylinder 31 exerts a specified force on the wedge
displacer 39 over a certain time period, which the wedge displacer
29 transfers to the die 15. This procedure of embossing with
subsequent surface smoothing is also called controlled
embossing.
[0039] In a subsequent process step, at least one through hole can
be punched in the section 3 formed in a precisely positioned
manner, for example with the aid of the punching tool 33. The
punching tool 33 is situated in this exemplary embodiment behind
the forming punch 9 and is moved through it, in order to attach for
example a fastening means thereto.
[0040] In FIGS. 5 through 7, a further exemplary embodiment of the
tool device 1 is shown. The same parts are labeled with the same
reference numbers. Only the differences between the exemplary
embodiments will be dealt with below.
[0041] The example according to FIGS. 5 through 7 differs from the
first example in that the wedge element 19 is used to position the
retaining device 7 as well as the die 15 such that the free forming
can be carried out. This is therefore a touch procedure. The
retaining body 8 as well as the die 15 can be jointly displaced in
the forming direction 17 by the wedge element 19. Furthermore, a
spring mount 35 is provided between the die 15 and the wedge
element 19, so that the die 15 can again be moved in the forming
direction 17 relative to the retaining body 8.
[0042] In operation, the tool device 1 is now first pre-positioned
relative to the body 5 or to the section 3 to be formed, for
example, by the robot. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the wedge
displacer 29 is actuated via the cylinder 31, so that through the
movement of the wedge element 19, opposing bodies 8 as well as the
die 15 jointly move in the forming direction 17, which is inclined
at 90.degree. to the wedge displacing movement 39, until they lie
adjacent to the section 3. The pressure of the cylinder 31 must be
adjusted thereby so that no deformation of the section 3 takes
place, as yet. Through the design of the wedge element 19, a
self-retarding now occurs when an opposing force is applied
depending on the angle of the wedge element 19 and its material, so
that the retaining body 8 can no longer move axially.
[0043] Then the forming punch 9 is again conducted into the end
position 13 by a defined path, as shown in FIG. 7, so that the
forming of the section 3, as explained in the first example, takes
place. The die 15 thereby yields correspondingly. In a subsequent
punching procedure, the die 15 is needed thereby in order to offer
the required resistance to the punching tool 33.
[0044] In the method shown in FIGS. 5 through 7, it is furthermore
possible to carry out an additional smoothing of the section 3
after the free forming. With thin metal sheets, the smoothing of
the section 3 takes place automatically through the spring force
exerted on the die 15 by the spring mount 35. If they are thicker
metal sheets, a second wedge element movable relative to the first
wedge element can be provided for the smoothing after the forming,
which second wedge element in a subsequent process step effects a
movement of the die 15 in the direction of the section 3 relative
to the retaining body 8, so that the die 15 exerts the force on the
section 3 that is necessary for the smoothing. This could also take
place through a combination of a translatory movement of the wedge
element 19 for fixing the retaining body 8 with a subsequent
rotatory movement to the movement of the wedge element 19 in the
forming direction 17 to the section 3 with the force required for
the smoothing. For this purpose the wedge element 19 would have to
have a corresponding geometry, as explained above.
[0045] With the arrangement shown in FIGS. 5 through 7, it is
furthermore possible to use the die 15 as a stop for the forming
punch 9 during the forming of the section 3. For this purpose
either the die 15 must be arranged so as to be immovable with
respect to the retaining device 7 with the axial distance to the
surface 45 facing the body 5 that corresponds to the desired
forming depth of the section 3. Alternatively, the spring mount 35
can be designed so that the die 15 withdraws as shown and at a
defined depth offers a sufficiently high resistance to limit the
forming.
* * * * *