Patent ID: 8359895
Filing Date: 2013-01-29
Classification: B21D

Abstract:
1. A vacuum nest for securely holding a metal panel during an edge hemming operation comprising: a frame having a material contacting surface along an outer border of the frame which conforms to a border region of a metal panel for providing support during the edge hemming operation, and a relieved surface located interior and subjacent to the material contacting surface, the relieved surface having a continuous groove formed therein adjacent said material contacting surface; and a continuous polymeric seal partially located within the continuous groove and extending above the relieved surface forming an elongated channel, said polymeric seal conforming to a region of the metal panel interior of the border region to define an enclosed sealed elongated channel; and a vacuum source in fluid communication with said elongated channel and operable to evacuate said enclosed sealed elongated channel for generating a downward clamping force sufficient to immobilize the metal panel in a direction generally parallel to said material contacting surface during the edge hemming operation.