Crimping Unit for a Crimping Tool

Abstract

A crimping unit is provided for a crimping tool for crimping workpieces. The unit includes a stand element for securing the crimping unit, a carrier element which is connected to the stand element in a linearly movable manner relative the stand element in a first movement direction, a slide element which is connected to the carrier element in a linearly movable manner relative to the carrier element in a second movement direction, and a crimping element which is designed to crimp the workpiece and is rigidly connected to the carrier element. The second movement direction is oriented substantially perpendicular to the first movement direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A crimping unit for a crimping tool for crimping workpieces, comprising:
 a stand element for fastening the crimping unit;   a carrier element which is connected to the stand element so as to be movable linearly in a first direction of movement relative to the stand element;   a slide element which is connected to the carrier element so as to be movable linearly in a second direction of movement relative to the carrier element, wherein the second direction of movement is oriented substantially perpendicularly to the first direction of movement; and   a crimping element which is configured to crimp the workpiece and is connected rigidly to the slide element.   
     
     
         2 . The crimping unit as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the crimping element comprises:
 a first crimping portion at least for precrimping the workpiece, and/or   a second crimping portion at least for finish-crimping the workpiece.   
     
     
         3 . The crimping unit as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the first crimping portion is inclined or curved with respect to the first direction of movement. 
     
     
         4 . The crimping unit as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the carrier element is movable in the first direction of movement at least between a first starting position and a first end position. 
     
     
         5 . The crimping unit as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the slide element is movable in the second direction of movement at least between a second starting position, a precrimping position and/or a finish-crimping position. 
     
     
         6 . The crimping unit as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the slide element is movable in the second direction of movement at least between a second starting position, a precrimping position and/or a finish-crimping position. 
     
     
         7 . The crimping unit as claimed in  claim 1 , where the carrier element and/or the slide element are each configured to be movable linearly by at least one pneumatically and/or hydraulically actuable drive. 
     
     
         8 . A crimping tool for crimping a workpiece, comprising:
 a crimping bed for receiving the workpiece to be crimped, and   at least one crimping unit as claimed in  claim 1 .   
     
     
         9 . The crimping tool as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the crimping tool comprises at least one holding-down device for fixing the workpiece to the crimping bed. 
     
     
         10 . The crimping tool as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the stand element of the crimping unit is arranged in a fixed position with regard to the crimping bed. 
     
     
         11 . The crimping tool as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein
 the crimping unit is arranged such that the first direction of movement is oriented for a lifting movement or lowering movement of the carrier element relative to the crimping bed, and   the second direction of movement is oriented for a linear movement of the crimping element in the direction of the crimping bed.   
     
     
         12 . The crimping tool as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the crimping tool comprises a plurality of crimping units, and the crimping units are arranged adjacently to one another. 
     
     
         13 . A method for crimping a workpiece via a crimping tool having one or more crimping units, the method comprising the acts of:
 a. inserting a first sheet into a crimping bed of the crimping tool;   b. arranging a second sheet on the first sheet;   c. pre-crimping a flange of the first sheet and/or the second sheet via a crimping unit, the crimping unit comprising a stand element, a carrier element connected to the stand element so as to be movable linearly in a first direction of movement relative to the stand element, a slide element connected to the carrier element so as to be movable linearly in a second direction of movement relative to the carrier element, the second direction of movement being oriented substantially perpendicularly to the first direction of movement, and a crimping element connected rigidly to the slide element, wherein the pre-crimping of the flange is carried out with the crimping element by way of a first linear movement of the carrier element in the first direction of movement; and   d. finish-crimping the pre-crimped flange with the crimping element of the crimping unit by way of a second linear movement of the carrier element in the first direction of movement.   
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the act of pre-crimping firstly comprises a linear movement of the slide element in the second direction of movement to arrange the crimping element over the flange to be pre-crimped. 
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the act of finish-crimping following the pre-crimping, firstly comprises a return movement of the carrier element counter to the movement of the carrier element in the first direction of movement, and/or a linear movement of the slide element in the second direction of movement from the pre-crimping position into a finish-crimping position for positioning the crimping element over the pre-crimped flange. 
     
     
         16 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein
 in the act of precrimping a first crimping portion of the crimping element is arranged over the flange to be precrimped, and   in the act of finish-crimping, a second crimping portion of the crimping element is arranged over the precrimped flange.   
     
     
         17 . The method as claimed in  claim 13 , further comprising the act of:
 before precrimping the flange, fixing the first and/or second sheet with regard to the crimping bed via a holding-down device.   
     
     
         18 . A method of retrofitting a pressing and/or crimping tool having a crimping bed, the method comprising the acts of:
 providing one or more crimping units according to  claim 1 ; and   connecting the one or more crimping units to the crimping tool by fastening the stand element of the crimping unit in a fixed position with regard to the crimping bed of the crimping tool.