JP3907882B2 - Airbag folding method and apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an airbag folding method and an apparatus therefor, and more particularly, to a folding method that allows an airbag as an occupant restraint device of a vehicle to be deployed without hindrance and an apparatus having a simple structure therefor.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a folding method of this type, in principle, various modifications are known for either the regular folding of the used airbag or the irregular folding.
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in most cases, the devices used for airbag folding have a complex structure and require complex and expensive method control.
[0003]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
An object of the present invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for folding an airbag by a method for folding an airbag so as to ensure the unfolding of the airbag using an apparatus having a simple structure.
[0004]
The purpose of this is an uneven folding method for an airbag as a vehicle occupant restraint system, wherein the airbag is initially deployed and positioned in a funnel-shaped reduction guide, and along the reduction guide, This is achieved by a method for folding an airbag, characterized in that the airbag is drawn in the shrinking direction while being drawn out from the airbag, thereby achieving uneven lateral folding of the airbag.
[0005]
According to the present invention, the airbag can be folded irregularly (randomly) through a simple pull-out operation by the reduction guide that serves as an outward pushing guide. Despite the simplicity of the method used, an unobstructed deployment of the airbag is guaranteed even if the airbag is folded unevenly.
[0006]
In order to achieve the method according to the invention, only one device is required, the device comprising a reduction guide and a pulling means movable in the reduction direction for pulling out the airbag in the reduction direction. Through these, folding is achieved.
[0007]
Advantageous embodiments of the present invention are described in the description, drawings and dependent claims.
[0008]
According to a first advantageous embodiment, it is additionally pushed in the same or opposite direction as the withdrawal direction, and in particular this withdrawal is carried out with the aid of a plunger. Through this, the capacity of the airbag that has already been pushed together in the transverse direction is further reduced in the longitudinal direction, i.e. in the pull-out direction, through which favorable compression and folding of the airbag is achieved.
[0009]
This is effective when the airbag is pushed into the housing adjacent to the guide immediately after the airbag is pushed in the lateral direction. As a result, the airbag can be folded and packed into the housing housing in one operation step. According to a further advantageous embodiment, air is aspirated from within the airbag in advance or during folding to further reduce the packing volume.
[0011]
In the inventive method for uneven folding of the airbag, only the reduction guide can be provided. Furthermore, it preferably is adjacent parallel guide to the reduced guide.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The embodiment of the device for the uneven folding method of an air bag shown in FIG. 1 shows an outline of a reduction guide consisting of two thin plates 2 arranged at a predetermined inclination with respect to each other. The two thin plates are disposed on a support portion that extends in parallel to the drawer plane. Above the two thin plates is a cover plate whose details are not shown in the drawing (similarly extending parallel to the drawing plane).
[0013]
1, parallel guides formed by two thin plates 4 extending in parallel are adjacent to the lower ends of the two thin plates 2, and a “funnel-shaped” guide is formed as an aggregate.
[0014]
The airbag 1 is positioned in the guide body having the above-described shape in a deployed state so that the gas generator 12 of the airbag faces the direction of the parallel guide.
[0015]
The grip arm 3 (FIG. 1) is pushed into the guide body from below, and grips the lower end of the airbag at the gas generator 12 portion. Reference numeral 5 indicates a vacuum evacuation device that reduces the air bag packing volume through a pressure reducing action when necessary.
[0016]
In order to realize a method for uneven folding of the airbag 1, the gripping arm 3 moves in the direction of the arrow from the position shown in FIG. 1 through which the airbag is attached to the airbag. Together with the gas generator 12 thus drawn, it is pulled in the direction of the parallel guide 4 and folded in the lateral direction by the reduction guide 2. This folding is realized irregularly, i.e. chaotically with each other.
[0017]
After the gripping arm 3 reaches the final position shown in FIG. 2, the airbag is completely folded laterally. After further suction, the vacuuming device 5 can be removed and the gripping arm 3 is removed from the airbag 1, ie from the gas generator 12.
[0018]
As shown in FIG. 3, in the next step, the plunger 6 descends from above in the direction of the arrow, thereby realizing an integral axial press of the airbag 1. Through this, the airbag 1 can be compressed in the parallel guide 4.
[0019]
As further shown in FIG. 3, the housing 7 is connected to the lower end of the parallel guide 4 so that the air bag 1 located on the gas generator can be moved into the housing 7 by the plunger 6 without further assistance. Can be pushed into. Thereafter, the final compression is completed by placing the cover on the housing 7 or by placing the housing 7 on what corresponds to the cover assembly. Through this, the airbag is completely folded and packed. Despite the irregular folding, the airbag can be deployed without difficulty when the gas generator is ignited.
[0020]
4 and 5 show reference examples of apparatuses for uneven folding of airbags with the same reference numerals attached to the same portions.
[0021]
In this reference example , the thin plate 2 forming the reduction guide is connected to the two thin plates 4 of the parallel guide via joints 8 respectively. As shown in FIG. 4, the switching of the reduced guide to the parallel guide is accomplished after the method steps illustrated by FIGS. 1 and 2 are realized. At the stage where the folding in the vicinity of the thin plate 2 into the parallel position is finished, the parallel guides already formed by the thin plates 2 and 4 are made integrally. By this method, the housing housing 10 can be positioned above the parallel guide, and the airbag 1 can be pushed into the housing housing 10 as indicated by an arrow in FIG. For the sake of completeness, the base plate for moving the gas generator 12 has a cross section approximately equal to the cross section of the parallel guide, so that the gripping arm 3 for gripping the gas generator 12 places the entire airbag in the housing 10. Can be pushed in.
[0022]
In all the illustrated embodiments, it is preferred that a preferred breakable portion be formed in the housing or cover (not shown) that opens when the airbag is deployed. In addition, it is clear that the descriptions "upper" and "lower" used in the above description relate only to the drawings. In principle, the method and apparatus described above are independent of the direction in space.
[0023]
In the above-described embodiment, only two thin plates are drawn at a predetermined angle. A large number of guide elements 2 may be arranged in a cone shape, and it is not necessary to extend linearly for reduction. In principle, the cross-sectional shape of the reduction guide and the parallel guide may be arbitrary, and is not limited to a rectangular cross-section.
[0024]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, even if an airbag folding device having a simple configuration is used, an airbag folded unevenly using the same device can be deployed without any trouble when deployment is necessary. There is an effect.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of an apparatus in a first step of a method for folding airbags unevenly.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 in a second step.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of a third step of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;
FIG. 4 is a plan view of the second embodiment of the apparatus for folding in the second step.
5 is a plan view in a third step of the apparatus shown in FIG. 4. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Airbag 2 Thin plate (reduction guide)
3 Grip arm 4 Thin plate (parallel guide)
5 Vacuum pulling device 6 Plunger 7, 10 Housing housing 8 Joint 12 Gas generator

Claims (6)

A non-uniform folding method for an airbag as an occupant restraint system of a vehicle, wherein the airbag is initially placed in a funnel-shaped reduction guide in a deployed state, and air is removed from the airbag along the reduction guide. A method for folding an airbag, wherein the airbag is pulled in a contracting direction while being pulled out to achieve uneven folding of the airbag in the lateral direction . The airbag is to additionally the pulling direction the same or opposite direction, the folding method of the airbag according to claim 1, characterized in that so as to be integrally pushed with the aid of up plunger. 2. The airbag folding method according to claim 1, wherein after the airbag is folded in the lateral direction, the airbag is pushed into a housing housing adjacent to a parallel guide connected to the reduction guide . An apparatus for realizing the airbag folding method according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein a reduction guide having a funnel shape, means for extracting air from the airbag, and the air An airbag folding device comprising pulling means capable of moving the bag in a shrinking direction. Plunger airbag folding apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that is movable in the same as reduction direction and the opposite direction. Airbag folding apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the Haujin grayed is characterized in that provided at the end of the parallel guide for the housing.

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