Patent ID: 7455746

Claim:
A method for clinching pieces of metal plate, comprising the steps of: positioning two pieces of sheet metal in a clinching station, the clinching station including a support, a lifting device and a clinching die for supporting the two pieces of sheet metal during a clinching operation, the two pieces of sheet metal being provided with at least one area of their edges whereon is applied a hot-curing resin; maintaining the two pieces of sheet metal in the clinching die with a presser applying a force to the piece of sheet metal opposite the clinching die; performing a clinching operation by manipulating a clinching tool with a robotic arm, wherein the clinching tool is coupled to a wrist of the robotic arm, along the at least one area of the edges of said pieces; and polymerizing the resin by heating the clinched edges, wherein polymerizing comprises the steps of: lifting the pieces of sheet metal with the lifting device to a raised position above the clinching die at the end of the clinching operation; removing the clinching tool from the wrist; coupling an induction heating device to the wrist; and carrying out an induction heating operation in the clinching station with the induction heating device which performs a localized heating of the clinched edges when the two pieces of sheet metal are in the raised position with respect to the clinching die.