Method and device for forming a roll fold

Abstract

A method for forming a hem by roller hemming may involve providing a first component with a flange portion having an edge and a second component, and producing a hem that connects the first and second components. The hem may be produced by a roller-hemming head that comprises a rolling edge and maneuvers essentially along the flange portion relative to the first component. The object of specifying a method for forming a hem by roller hemming, wherein the formation of wrinkles in the hem flange can be easily reduced or avoided, can be achieved, in the case of a method of the type in question, in that the rolling edge of the roller-hemming head, at least in part, takes up position on, and maneuvers along, the flange portion, and does so at a spacing from the edge of the flange portion.

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A method for forming a hem by roller hemming, the method comprising:
 providing a first component and a second component, wherein the first component comprises a flange portion with an edge; and   forming a hem that connects the first and second components at least in part, wherein the hem is produced by a roller-hemming head that comprises a rolling edge, wherein the rolling edge of the roller-hemming head is positioned on the flange portion and maneuvers substantially along the flange portion at a spacing from the edge of the flange portion.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising defining the spacing of the rolling edge of the roller-hemming head from the edge of the flange portion in a component-dependent manner. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the spacing between the rolling edge of the roller-hemming head and the edge of the flange portion is in a range of 1 mm to 4 mm. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the spacing between the rolling edge of the roller-hemming head and the edge of the flange portion is in a range of 2 mm to 3 mm. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14  wherein a positioning angle of the roller-hemming head relative to the flange portion is at least in part in a range of 10° to 30°. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14  wherein a positioning angle of the roller-hemming head relative to the flange portion is at least in part in a range of 20° to 25°. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14  wherein a corner radius of the rolling edge of the roller-hemming head tends toward zero. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 14  wherein at least one of the first component or the second component is a sheet. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 14  wherein at least one of the first component or the second component is a composite sheet. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 14  wherein forming the hem comprises a pre-hemming step and a definitive-hemming step. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the roller-hemming head is one of a plurality of roller-hemming heads, wherein the plurality of roller-hemming heads maneuver substantially along the flange portion and perform the pre-hemming and definitive-hemming steps. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the rolling edge of the roller-hemming head performs the pre-hemming step and the definitive-hemming step at the spacing from the edge of the flange portion for at least a portion of the pre-hemming step and the definitive-hemming step. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising separating off an edge portion produced as a result of the rolling edge of the roller-hemming head being positioned on the flange portion and maneuvering substantially along the flange portion at the spacing from the edge of the flange portion. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the hem is configured as a flat hem or a teardrop hem. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the first component and the second component are part of a vehicle body. 
     
     
         29 . An apparatus for forming a hem by roller hemming that connects a first component and a second component, the apparatus comprising:
 a roller-hemming head with a rolling edge;   means for relative maneuvering of the roller-hemming head along a flange portion of the first component, wherein the flange portion comprises an edge, wherein the hem is produced at least in part by the means for relative maneuvering of the roller-hemming head; and   a control unit for activating the means for relative maneuvering of the roller-hemming head, the control unit configured to cause the means for relative maneuvering of the roller-hemming head to position the rolling edge on and maneuver the rolling edge along the flange portion at a spacing from the edge of the flange portion.   
     
     
         30 . An arrangement comprising a first component and a second component, wherein the first and second components are connected at least in part by a hem, with the first component including a flange, wherein the hem is produced by a roller-hemming head that comprises a rolling edge, wherein the rolling edge of the roller-hemming head is positioned on the flange portion and maneuvers substantially along the flange portion at a spacing from the edge of the flange portion.