Crowder assemblies, hemming apparatus, and related components for manufacturing operations

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to crowder assemblies, hemming apparatus, and related components for manufacturing operations. In one or more embodiments, crowder assemblies are used to retain panels that are hemmed together using a hemming apparatus. In one or more embodiments, a crowder assembly for manufacturing operations includes a base, a first support bar coupled to the base and extending relative to an outer face of the base, and a second support bar coupled to the first support bar and oriented at an angle relative to the first support bar. The second support bar includes an opening. The crowder assembly includes a crowder block positioned in the opening of the second support bar, and a flat spring. The flat spring includes a first end segment coupled to the base, and a second end segment coupled to the crowder block. The flat spring biases the crowder block in response to movement of the crowder block.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A crowder assembly for manufacturing operations, comprising:
 a base;   a first support bar coupled to the base and extending relative to an outer face of the base;   a second support bar coupled to the first support bar and oriented at an angle relative to the first support bar, the second support bar comprising an opening;   a crowder block positioned in the opening of the second support bar; and   a flat spring comprising:
 a first end segment coupled to the base, and 
 a second end segment coupled to the crowder block, wherein the flat spring biases the crowder block in response to movement of the crowder block. 
   
     
     
         2 . The crowder assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the flat spring comprises one or more middle segments extending between the first end segment and the second end segment. 
     
     
         3 . The crowder assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the first end segment is flat, the second end segment is arcuate, and the one or more middle segments are arcuate. 
     
     
         4 . The crowder assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the flat spring includes a strip of sheet metal having one or more bends and a thickness that is less than  2 . 0  mm. 
     
     
         5 . The crowder assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the flat spring comprises aluminum. 
     
     
         6 . The crowder assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more bends are spaced from the first support bar. 
     
     
         7 . The crowder assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the opening is a recess formed in one end of the second support bar. 
     
     
         8 . The crowder assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the second support bar is spaced from the base, the one end of the second support bar partially surrounds an outer perimeter of the crowder block, and the flat spring is positioned at least partially in a space between the second support bar and the base. 
     
     
         9 . The crowder assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the second support bar further comprises a pair of tapered edges intersecting the one end. 
     
     
         10 . The crowder assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the crowder block:
 comprises a first tapered end,   comprises a second end opposing the first tapered end, and   moves through the opening and towards the base in response to force applied to the first tapered end of the crowder block.   
     
     
         11 . The crowder assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the crowder block has a block height that is larger than a bar height of the second support bar. 
     
     
         12 . The crowder assembly of  claim 11 , wherein a first portion of the crowder block is positioned on a first side of the second support bar, and a second portion of the crowder block is positioned on a second side of the second support bar. 
     
     
         13 . The crowder assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the crowder block comprises a front surface facing away from the base, and the front surface is coplanar with or disposed outwardly of an outward edge of the second support bar. 
     
     
         14 . The crowder assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the second support bar does not enclose the front surface of the crowder block, thereby, leaving the front surface open to a surrounding environment. 
     
     
         15 . The crowder assembly of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the second support bar has a bar width that is larger than the bar height, and a bar length that is larger than the bar width; and   the base has a base height, a base width that is larger than the bar width, and a base length that is smaller than the bar length.   
     
     
         16 . A hemming apparatus for manufacturing operations, comprising:
 a table comprising a plurality of table recesses formed in a plurality of table surfaces; and   a plurality of crowder assemblies aligning with the plurality of table recesses, at least one crowder assembly of the plurality of crowder assemblies comprising:
 a base positioned outwardly of a respective table recess of the plurality of table recesses, 
 a first support bar coupled to the base and extending relative to an outer face of the base, 
 a second support bar coupled to the first support bar and oriented at an angle relative to the first support bar, the second support bar comprising an opening, 
 a crowder block positioned in the opening of the second support bar, and 
 a flat spring positioned at least partially between the crowder block and the base. 
   
     
     
         17 . The hemming apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the base has a base height, a base width that is larger than a recess width of the respective table recess, and a base length. 
     
     
         18 . The hemming apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the crowder block is positioned in the respective table recess, and the second support bar extends into the respective table recess. 
     
     
         19 . The hemming apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the second support bar further comprises a pair of tapered edges intersecting one end in which the opening is formed. 
     
     
         20 . The hemming apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the pair of tapered edges are positioned at least partially in the respective table recess.