Patent GB-824584-A (GB)
Title: Clinching machine for door overlap flanges
IPC: B21D39/02
Filed: 1957-10-04
Abstract: 824,584. Seaming. BUDD CO. Oct. 4, 1957 [Oct. 4, 1956], No. 31103/57. Class 83 (4). A machine for clinching a flange projecting from a first sheet metal panel against a marginal portion of a second sheet metal panel in, e.g. the manufacture of automobile doors, includes a rigid frame having a stationary bed member provided with a surface for engaging the outer surface of the first sheet metal panel, and a clinching toolhead disposed adjacent said bed surface and in opposing relation thereto, said tool head being mounted on one or more levers which are actuated by mechanism to cause said clinching tool-head to be moved first in a lateral direction with respect to said bed surface, thereby bending said flange of the first sheet metal panel towards said bed surface and then in a direction perpendicular to said bed surface, whereby said flange and marginal portion are given a final set. Machine frame.-A horizontal bed frame 37 is supported on a base 38 by columns 36. Upright guide tubes 40 are spaced from and rigidly connected to the columns 36 which are surmounted by converging frames 42. The bed frame has upright circumferential walls 44, 45 for supporting the flanges 30 of the lower door panel 25. The wall 45 (Fig. 3), has an abutment 47 for engaging the flange of the upper door panel 26. Loading and unloading devices.-The guide tubes 40 accommodate rods 48 which support structures 52, 53 shaped to the contour of the panels 25, 26 respectively. The support structures are operated by an hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder 55 to place the panels on the walls 44, 45 and hold them firmly in position. After the clinching operation the support structures are raised and the press operator pushes the seamed panels on to counter balanced unloading arms 58 over rollers 59. Clinching mechanism.-The driving mechanism for the clinching devices comprises an hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder 62 mounted on the base 35 and reciprocating a vertically slidable plate 64. Surrounding the bed frame 37 and floatingly supported on springs 73 carried by the bed frame is a frame 70 on which are fulcrumed levers 76 carrying the clinching tools 84 for seaming the flanges 29, 30. The levers 76 are connected to links 67 pivoted on the plate 64 by pairs of links 79. In operation, upward movement of the plate 64 causes the links 67 to swing and the clinching tool end of the levers 76 moves inwardly until a projection 88 on the inner side of the lever engages the frame 70 whereupon the linkage 67, 79 causes the flange 70 and the clinching tool levers to move downwardly to finally set the joint. Spring-loaded positioning members 92 slidably carried in sleeves 93 on the outside of the frame 71 (Fig. 21), define the location of the door panels. The clinching tool for the flanges 32, 34 of the panels is operated from plate 64 by means of a pivoted arm 97 (Fig. 10), the outer end of which, through a bar 104, is pivoted to the clinching tool levers 107 and also linked to the wall 45 of the bed frame 37. In operation upward movement of the plate 64 causes the lever 107 and the crimping head to move downwardly, the tool edge 113 engaging the inclined edge 120 of the abutment 47 on the wall 45 thereby forcing the upper end of the lever 107 to swing inwardly about the pin 106 until a cam surface 117 on the lever engages a surface 122 on the abutment 47. As this movement progresses the tool surfaces 114, 113 engage in succession the inwardly directed flange 34 of the panel 25 and turn it downwardly over the flange 32 of the panel 96. In the final movement the lower end of the lever 107 is pulled inwardly to effect an outward movement of the clinching tool to compress the joint. The machine may be automatically operated after placing two panels on the supports 52 until return of the clinched door and the supports 52 to the initial raised position.