JP2557716B2 - Air bag folding method and folding device - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a method for folding an airbag before assembling the airbag to an airbag device mounted on a steering wheel or the like of an automobile, and a folding device used for the method. . More specifically, the air bag is laterally folded (see FIG. 6) and vertically folded (see FIG. 7) with a predetermined width facing each other with the center portion sandwiched between them. The present invention relates to a folding device used at that time.

In the following description of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the case where the lateral folding is set to three outer folding steps and the vertical folding is set to two outer folding steps will be described as an example. The same is true for different cases.

<Prior Art> A conventional example of a method for folding an airbag will be described with reference to FIGS.

Usually, a corresponding number of horizontal folding bars 1 and vertical folding bars 2 each having a width corresponding to each folding step of the horizontal folding and the vertical folding and having holding holes at both ends are prepared. , When folding horizontally and vertically,
In order to be able to set each of the folding bars 1 and 2, a pair of lateral folding bar holding pins 5 and 5 and a pair of vertical folding bar holding pins 6 are provided so as to project in the horizontal and vertical directions. Normally, one person becomes a folding operator M1 who folds the airbag b, and the other person becomes an auxiliary operator M2 who sets the folding bar and pulls out the folding bar after the folding by two persons' work.

First, the airbag b is spread on the workbench 4 and placed on the workbench 4, and the air in the airbag b is evacuated through the inflator mounting hole (not shown) provided in the lower portion of the airbag b.

The auxiliary worker M2 places the first folding bar on the airbag b.
After setting 1a, the folding operator M1 pulls as shown in the figure to perform the first-stage outer folding m1 on one side of the airbag b.

Then, the second folding bar 1b is set on the first folding bar 1a with the airbag b interposed therebetween, and the first step inner folding v1 on one side of the airbag b is performed.

Then, the third folding bar is set on the second folding bar 1b with the airbag b interposed therebetween, and the second step outer folding m2 on one side of the airbag b is performed.

When the folding on one side is completed by repeating this process, the airbag b on the front side is similarly processed, that is, the first and second ...
The airbag b is folded while setting the folding bars 1a, 1b ...

Subsequently, the horizontal folding bar holding pin 5 is put in the workbench 4, and the folding operator M1 holds the air bag b, and the auxiliary worker M2 pulls out the horizontal folding bar 1 to complete the horizontal folding. (See FIG. 6).

For lateral folding, change the folding direction by 90 degrees and perform the same procedure. That is, the vertical folding bar 2 is set in the vertical direction on the airbag b folded in the horizontal direction, and is used. The first-stage vertical outer folding / vertical inner folding m1, v1,
After performing the second-stage longitudinal outward folding m2 on each side, the folding bar 2 is pulled out to complete the longitudinal folding (see FIG. 7).

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> However, in the above method, the width dimensions of the first and second folding bars are slightly different, and the folding may be different between the vertical folding and the horizontal folding. There was a possibility that a wrong setting might occur due to a wrong setting of the bar. Also, since it is a two-person operation, the number of folding steps has increased.

In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a bag folding method and a folding device which are free from the risk of erroneous folding and can significantly reduce the number of folding work steps.

<Means for Solving the Problem> The airbag folding method of the present invention solves the above problem by the following configuration.

A method of folding an airbag in a predetermined number of steps by using a plurality of folding bars by facing the airbag from both sides with a predetermined width sandwiching the center part of the airbag. An outer folding bar having a predetermined number of steps is arranged, and the inner folding bar is inserted from both sides of the outer folding bar through the airbag in a state where the peripheral portion of the airbag is higher than the central portion on both sides of the outer folding bar. The airbag is slid between the outer fold bar and the inner fold bar to be folded by moving the outer fold bar one step or a plurality of steps at the same time so as to be inserted between the step folds of the outer fold bar. And

 The folding device of the present invention has the following configuration.

A folding device used to fold an airbag in a predetermined width so as to face each other from both sides so as to fold outward and inwardly fold in multiple stages by using a plurality of folding bars, the center of which is the airbag. A set portion capable of setting a portion, a support portion on which the peripheral portion of the airbag can be placed with the set portion interposed, and at least one of the left and right sides above the set portion and arranged so as to be able to move forward and backward. A plurality of outer fold bars, and a plurality of inner fold bars arranged on both front and rear sides of the setting portion so as to be inserted between the outer fold bars via the airbag. It is characterized by

<Examples> Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on Examples. The same parts as those in the conventional example are designated by the same reference numerals, and the whole or part of the description thereof will be omitted.

(1) In the present invention, it is a precondition that the airbag b is a folding device to be used when the airbag b is faced from both sides with a predetermined width from both sides and a plurality of folding bars are used to perform the multi-stage folding. And Therefore, it is also possible to make only the horizontal folding as shown in FIG. 6 a basic folding pattern, and further add the vertical folding shown in FIG. 7 for further folding.

(2) As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the folding device according to the present embodiment has (a) a workbench A, (b) a lateral folding unit B, and
(C) Vertical folding means C and (d) Bag holding means D
Consists of

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a half cutout of a folding device, FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of a partial cutout, and FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of the same.

(A) Workbench A: A workbench having a size capable of holding the airbag b in an unfolded state can be formed and has a width substantially the same as a lateral folding width capable of setting the center of the airbag b. The central plate 11 of the transverse flow as a setting part and the laterally long front plate 12 and the rear plate 13 as a support part on which the peripheral part of the airbag b can be placed in front of and behind the central plate 11 are symmetrical. The front plate 12 and the rear plate 13 are movable relative to the central plate 11 between the same plane position and the upper position. That is, the peripheral portion of the airbag b is relatively moved so as to be located above the central portion.

Specifically, a connecting column 18 is provided on an inner folding bar holder 17 of a lateral folding unit B, which will be described later, connected to the piston rods 15a of the first vertical cylinders 15 arranged below and in front of the center plate 11.
The front plate 12 or the rear plate 13 is arranged via the above, and can be vertically driven. On the contrary, move the center plate 11 up and down,
The relative movement may be performed. In FIG. 3, 8 is a suction pipe for bleeding air from the airbag b.
Since it is not an essential step to remove the air from the airbag b, the suction pipe 8 may be omitted. Further, since the width of the lateral folding is determined by the width of the lateral folding outer folding bar 21 of the lateral folding means B, which will be described later, the width of the center plate is not necessarily substantially the same as the width of the lateral folding. May be.

Further, at the center of the center plate 11, an airbag mounting tool incorporated in the periphery of the inflator mounting hole of the airbag b.
10 is provided with a metal fitting set hole 9 (Fig. 4A)
reference).

As the supporting portion, members such as the front plate 12 and the rear plate 13 other than the inner folding bar 26 of the lateral folding means B described later are shown, but the uppermost step of each inner folding bar 26 is shown. The front plate and the rear plate may be used in combination, and they may be used as the supporting portion.

(B) Lateral folding means B: a plurality of outer folding bars arranged above the central plate 11 on at least one of the left and right sides so as to be driven forward and backward.
21, and is arranged below each of the front plate 12 and the rear plate 13,
When located above the central plate 11, the inner folding bars of a plurality of stages (flat plate-like shape) can be moved forward and backward so as to be inserted through the airbag b between the step gaps of the outer folding bars 21. ) 26 and.

Specifically, on both sides in the longitudinal direction above the central plate 11,
The outer fold bar 21 divided into two is held in three steps facing the holding block 23 on the carriage 22. The carriage 22 is allowed to travel on the rail 24 and is connected to the piston rod 25a of the first horizontal cylinder 25. In the figure,
The outer fold bar 21a on the upper tier is the outer fold bar 2 on the middle and lower tiers.
It is formed narrower than 1b and 21c. In addition, although not necessarily required, it is desirable that the outer folding bars 21 divided in the width direction be close to each other in the width direction. In the figure, 20 is a stopper of the truck 22.

When the inner folding bar (inner folding plate) 26 is positioned above the central plate 11 by the first vertical cylinder 15, the inner folding bar 26 is narrowed from the upper stage by three stages in front and back with the central plate 11 interposed therebetween. They are arranged in order 26a, 26b, 26c so as to face each other. Each inner folding bar 26 is held by a pair of holding rails 27 having slide groove portions on both sides. The holding rail 27 is supported by an angle 28. Further, the upper surface of each end of each inner folding bar 26 is connected to each piston rod 29a of each pair of second horizontal cylinders 29 mounted on the inner folding bar holding table 17.

When each inner folding bar 26 is located above the central plate 11, the front plate 12 and the rear plate 13 disposed above each inner folding bar 26 are located at the peripheral edge of the airbag b. , And when each inner folding bar 26 advances,
It is adapted to be inserted between the step gaps of the outer folding bar 21 via the airbag b.

(C) Vertical folding means C: A pair of push-up members 31 capable of pushing up both side positions corresponding to the bag vertical-direction folding end width in the central plate 11.
A plurality of vertical outer folding bars 33 arranged vertically above the central plate and arranged in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the outer folding bars 21 of the lateral folding means B; It is arranged between the upper and lower sides of the vertical folding bar 33, and the central plate 11
It is composed of a pair of vertical inward folding bars 34 which form a pair that can be moved forward and backward with respect to the central portion of the above, and can be approached and separated from each other.
Specifically, it is as follows.

The push-up member 31 is arranged such that its upper end is substantially flush with the work surface of the work table A at a steady position, and is connected to the piston rod 32a of the second vertical cylinder 32.

In addition, each of the vertical direction outer folding bars 33 is divided into two and arranged in the upper and lower stages 33a and 33b, and a pair of two vertical direction inner folding bars 34a, which are paired with each other, are installed in the upper stage 30 of the gantry. It is held by a gate-shaped vertical folding bar holding arm 37 connected to the piston rod 35a of the cylinder 35. 36
Is a guide post.

On the vertical folding bar holding arm 37, three holding rods 38, 39, 40 are horizontally installed in a row in the upper and lower rows. The upper holding rod 38 holds the holding arm 37 so that it can be driven in the vertical direction.
Piston rod 41 of the fourth vertical cylinder 41 installed above
It is connected to a through an auxiliary holding arm 42. In addition,
Both ends 38a of the upper holding rod 38 are extended and guided by elongated holes (not shown) formed in the side wall of the vertical folding bar holding arm 37.

The upper and lower vertical fold bars 33a and 33b are held by the upper and lower holding rods 38 and 40 via holding blocks 43 and 44, respectively. Lower pair of holding blocks 43, 43
It is desirable that they can be brought close to each other like the outer folding bar 21 described above.

In addition, the suspension holding rod 39 has a slide holding block.
A pair of vertical inward folding bars 34a, 34a are slidably held via 45, 45. Slide holding block 45 here
Is each third horizontal cylinder installed on both sides of the holding arm
It is connected to a piston rod 47a of 47. Each of the vertical inward folding bars 34a is slidably held by the slide holding block 45 through the slide groove 45a, and the base portion of the pair of fourth horizontal cylinders 49 installed on the rear wall of the slide holding block 45. It is connected to the piston rod 49a.

(D) Bag pressing means D: The bag pressing means D in this embodiment is provided on the center plate 11 of the workbench A at both sides of the airbag b vertical folding end width and at both outer sides thereof after the lateral folding is completed. Airbag b
The inner folding holding member 51 and the outer folding holding member 53 are arranged above the central plate 11 so as to be able to hold each of them.

Specifically, each presser member 51, 53 is composed of a pair of presser blocks 52, 52, and each presser block 52, 52 is attached to the piston rod 55a of the fifth vertical cylinder 55 arranged in the gantry lower stage 50. It is connected. Reference numeral 56 is a guide post.

Further, in order to ensure the pressing effect of the pressing members 51, 53, when the inner folding plates 26 are moved forward by the second horizontal cylinder 29 and face each other, the pressing block 52,
Notches c1 and c2 are formed at the front end of each lateral folding inner folding bar 26 so that 52 can directly press the folded airbag b after lateral folding. This notch may be only the uppermost inward folding bar 26a.

The outer and inner fold bars of each of the lateral folds and the vertical folds do not have to be flat fold bars as shown in the drawing, but may be frame-like or rod-like. Also,
The driving means is not limited to the cylinder, and may be any link mechanism or the like.

Next, a folding method using the airbag folding device will be described mainly with reference to FIG.
In the following description, although the drive means is not particularly specified, it is assumed that the above drive cylinders operate by sequential control.

(1) The airbag b in which the airbag mounting tool 10 is incorporated in the inflator mounting hole is set on the central plate 11 of the workbench A through the fitting of the mounting tool 10 to the metal fitting setting hole 9, and then, , The air in the airbag b is sucked by a vacuum pump (see FIG. 4A). The air bleeding is unnecessary if the airbag on the workbench A has almost no wrinkles.

(2) Move the lateral folding outer folding bar 21 above the center plate 11 of the workbench A toward the center plate 11, and when it comes to a fixed position, lower the outer folding bar 21 to lower the outer folding bar. The airbag b is pressed by the bar 21c (see FIG. 4B).

(3) Next, place the inner folding bar 26 for lateral folding in the front /
Along with the rear plates 12 and 13, the central plate 11 is lifted to a predetermined position, and the peripheral edge of the airbag b is lifted.
Inner folding bar 26 via the airbag b in order from the bottom
Is advanced from the front and the rear toward the central plate 11 of the workbench A so as to be inserted between the step gaps of the outer folding bar 21, and lateral folding is sequentially performed from the lower step (see FIG. 4C). At this time, a plurality of outer folding bars 21 may be simultaneously advanced.

In this way, the airbag b is slid between the outer folding bar 21 and the inner folding bar 26 to perform folding, and the lateral folding is completed (see FIG. 4D).

(4) Subsequently, the outer folding bar 21 is pulled out, the inner and outer folding holding members 51, 53 hold down the airbag b after the lateral folding, and the inner folding bar 26 is pulled out sequentially (fourth).
(See Figure E). At this time, the outer folding bars 21 forming each pair are
It is desirable to reduce the width slightly. Further, it is desirable that the inner folding bar 26 be pulled out in order from the top.

In the above, the removal order of each folding bar may be reversed, that is, the inner folding bar 26 may be removed and then the outer folding bar 21 may be removed.

(5) Then, lower the vertical folding bar 33,
While pressing the airbag b, the inner folding presser member 51 is raised, and in this state, the push-up member 31 is actuated so that both side positions of the vertical outer folding bar 33 of the airbag b are changed to the upper vertical folding bar 33a. Partially push it up so that it is raised further (see FIG. 4G). The push-up member 31 is formed in a substantially U-shaped cross section.

(6) Next, the vertical inward folding bar 34a is moved forward and moved inward (opposing direction) through the space between the push-up members 31 having a substantially U-shaped cross section (see FIG. 4H).

(7) In this way, the airbag b is folded to the outside in the vertical direction by a folding bar.
Folding is performed by sliding between 33 and the longitudinal inner folding bar 34 to complete the first-stage longitudinal outer folding and inner folding (see FIG. 4H). When the first-stage vertical direction outer folding / inner folding is completed in this way, the upper-stage vertical direction outer folding bar 33a is lowered to press the airbag b and raise the airbag b in that state to the working position of the operator (operator). For easy removal of the bag). In this state, a single operator who set the airbag b is to hold the upper vertical folding bar.
Hand-folding is performed so that it winds toward the upper surface of 33a, and the vertical folding is completed. Then, the airbag b after the folding is completed is pulled out to the front. At this time, it is desirable from the standpoint of drawing workability to reduce the overall width of each of the vertical direction outer folding bars 33.

Since the airbag b is folded by sliding between the folding bars as described above, it is desirable that the thickness of the airbag b is 6 mm or less as a whole, and the thinner it is, the easier it is to fold.

<Operation and Effect of the Invention> Since the airbag folding method and device of the present invention have the above-described configurations, the following operation and effects are achieved.

The folding operation of the airbag can be performed by only setting and taking out by one folding operator, which eliminates the need for an auxiliary operator as in the conventional case. Further, since the folding bars are automatically set in sequence, there is no possibility that the folding bars are set incorrectly. Furthermore, since the folding is performed by sliding between the folding bars, the airbag can be folded with an accurate dimension with less wrinkling.

Therefore, the number of man-hours for the folding work can be significantly reduced, and there is no fear that the folding dimension error will occur.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic half sectional front view showing an example of an airbag folding device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of FIG. 1, and FIGS. H is an explanatory view of a bag folding process using the device of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a schematic explanatory view of a conventional bag folding work, and FIG. 6 is a plan view and a schematic side view thereof when the lateral folding of the bag is completed, FIG. 7 is a plan view and a schematic front view of the bag when the vertical folding of the bag is completed. 11 …… Workbench center plate (set part), 12 …… Workbench front plate (support part), 13 …… Workbench rear plate (support part), 21 …… Horizontal lateral folding bar, 26… … Horizontal inner folding bar, 31 …… Pushing member, 33 …… Vertical outer folding bar, 34 …… Vertical inner folding bar, 51 …… Inner folding retainer, 53 …… Outer folding retainer, A …… Work table, B ... Lateral folding means, C ... Vertical folding means, D ... Bag holding means, b ... Airbag.

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A method of folding an airbag in a predetermined number of steps by using a plurality of folding bars by facing the airbag from both sides with a predetermined width sandwiching the center portion of the airbag. On the bag, an outer fold bar consisting of a predetermined number of steps is arranged, and the inner fold bar is inserted from both sides of the outer fold bar in a state where the peripheral portion of the airbag is higher than the central portion on both sides of the outer fold bar. The airbag is slid between the outer folding bar and the inner folding bar by folding the outer folding bar and the inner folding bar by moving one step or a plurality of steps simultaneously so that the airbag is inserted between the step gaps of the outer folding bar. A method of folding an airbag, which is characterized by: 2. A method of folding an airbag in a predetermined number of steps by using a plurality of folding bars by facing the airbag from both sides with a predetermined width sandwiching the center portion of the airbag. An outer fold bar having a predetermined number of steps is arranged on the bag, and the inner fold bar is attached to the air fold bar from both sides of the outer fold bar with the peripheral portion of the airbag on both sides of the outer fold bar being higher than the central portion. The airbag is slid between the outer fold bar and the inner fold bar so that the airbag is slid between the outer fold bar and the inner fold bar so that the airbag is slid between the outer fold bar and the outer fold bar so as to be inserted between the outer fold bars. A step of folding, and a vertical direction consisting of a predetermined number of steps arranged in a direction orthogonal to the lateral direction above the center of the airbag while pressing the laterally folded airbag from above. A side folding bar is arranged, and with the airbag folded laterally on both sides of the vertical outside folding bar being higher than the central portion, the longitudinal inside folding bar is pulled from both sides of the vertical outside folding bar. , The laterally folded airbag is moved through the laterally folded airbag between the step gaps of the longitudinally outwardly folded bar so that the laterally folded airbag is provided with the longitudinally outwardly folded bar, and the longitudinal direction. A method of folding an airbag, comprising: a step of sliding the inner folding bar and a folding bar to perform vertical folding. 3. A folding device for use when an airbag is folded outward in a predetermined width with a center portion of the airbag sandwiched therebetween from both sides, and an inside fold is folded in multiple stages using a plurality of folding bars. A set portion that can set the center portion of the airbag, a support portion that can mount the peripheral portion of the airbag with the set portion sandwiched between them, and a forward movement to at least one of the left and right sides above the set portion. With multiple stages of outer folding bars arranged so that it can be retracted,
Folding of the airbag, comprising a plurality of inner folding bars arranged on both front and rear sides of the setting portion so as to be inserted through the airbag between step gaps of the outer folding bars. apparatus. 4. A folding device for use when a plurality of folding bars are used to fold an airbag so as to face each other with a predetermined width from both sides with a center portion of the airbag interposed therebetween. A lateral fold means having a bar and an inner fold bar arranged so as to be insertable through the airbag between the step gaps of the outer fold bar; and a longitudinal direction of the outer fold bar of the lateral fold means. A plurality of vertical outer folding bars disposed in a direction orthogonal to the vertical outer folding bars, and a vertical inner folding bar insertable between the vertical outer folding bars via the laterally folded airbag. A folding device for an airbag, comprising: a vertical folding unit having a.