Crimping Tool

Abstract

A tool for crimping a first part ( 4 ) to a second part ( 5 ) by pinching a folded margin ( 6 ) of the first part against a margin ( 7 ) of the second part, the tool including a body ( 10 ) to which a wheel ( 11 ) is secured to rotate freely about an axis and to move in translation parallel to the axis of rotation, the tool including an alignment element ( 14 ) for aligning the wheel on an outer surface ( 8 ) of the folded margin.

1 - 7 . (canceled)  
   
   
       8 . A crimping tool for crimping a first part ( 4 ) to a second part ( 5 ) by pinching a folded margin ( 6 ) of the first part against a margin ( 7 ) of the second part, the tool comprising a body ( 10 ) to which a wheel ( 11 ) is secured free to rotate about an axis, wherein the wheel is secured to the body so as to be free also to move in translation parallel to the axis of rotation, and wherein the tool includes an alignment element ( 14 ) for aligning the wheel on an outer surface ( 8 ) of the folded margin.  
   
   
       9 . A crimping tool according to  claim 8 , wherein the wheel ( 11 ) is mounted to slide between two extreme positions, one of which is defined by an abutment ( 16 ,  22 ) having the same orientation as the outer surface, the wheel being urged resiliently towards said position.  
   
   
       10 . A crimping tool according to  claim 8 , wherein the wheel ( 11 ) is mounted to move freely in translation along its axis of rotation ( 15 ).  
   
   
       11 . A crimping tool according to  claim 8 , wherein the axis of rotation ( 20 ) of the wheel ( 11 ) is secured to a support ( 21 ) mounted to move freely in translation relative to the body ( 10 ).  
   
   
       12 . A crimping tool according to  claim 8 , wherein the alignment element comprises a portion ( 14 ) of the wheel ( 11 ) designed to come into contact with the outer surface ( 8 ) of the folded margin ( 6 ).  
   
   
       13 . A crimping tool according to  claim 9 , wherein said portion ( 14 ) of the wheel ( 11 ) is made of a material that is softer than the remainder of the wheel.  
   
   
       14 . A crimping tool according to  claim 9 , wherein said portion ( 14 ) of the wheel ( 11 ) is made of a material that is softer than that of the first part.