This invention concerns a method of joining metal sheets, comprising the following operating0 steps: a) providing a first metal sheet and a second metal sheet intended to be joined together in the vicinity of a first and a second straight edge, respectively; b) bending said first metal sheet parallel to said first edge so as to obtain a first edge flap; c) bending into a U- or V-shape a portion of said second metal sheet parallel to said second edge to obtain a longitudinal pocket in such a way that between said second edge and said pocket a second edge flap is defined; d) coupling said first metal sheet with said second metal sheet inserting said first flap inside said pocket; e) bending said pocket and the first flap inserted therein against said second flap so as to create an irreversible mechanical joint between the two metal sheets.

A modular roller hemming system having a base assembly, a replaceable anvil, a spider arm assembly, a plurality of support arms for supporting the spider arm assembly, and a plurality of repositionable unit tools. The anvil is 3-D printed of a polymer composite material and may be replaced with similarly manufactured anvils having different form factors for receiving various shaped and dimensioned workpiece assemblies. The plurality of support arms are repositionable on the base assembly, the spider arm assembly is reconfigurable, and the plurality of unit tools are moveable to accommodate various anvils having different form factors. The support arms includes an upper segment that is detachable from the lower segment to facilitate the changeover of anvils.

In one embodiment, the method includes providing a double sheet metal element including the two sheet metal end sections; and creating a connecting section along the connecting line. The creation of the connecting section includes introducing a first depression into the double sheet metal element, and creating a first folded section of the double sheet metal element. The method further includes orienting the connecting section relative to an extension plane of the double sheet metal element so that the connecting section extends perpendicularly to the extension plane.

A panel hemming device includes: a fixing die on which a panel is placed and having a supporting surface stepped upward to be parallel with an end of the panel; a hemming shaft having a first side coupled to a tool and having a second side to which a hemming roller, which contacts a top of the supporting surface when fixed to the fixing die, is coupled; a rotary shaft having a first side coupled to the first side of the hemming shaft to receive torque and having a second side, which contacts a bottom of the fixing die when fixed to the fixing die; and a case supporting an outer surface of the hemming shaft disposed through the case and coupled to a first end of the rotary shaft such that the rotary shaft can rotate upward or downward with respect to the first end.

The disclosure relates to a method for producing a overlapping connection, in which at least two overlapping components are connected to one another via a folded flange, with a first edge of a first component being folded over a second edge of a second component to form the folded flange, along with a body component that includes such an overlapping connection for a vehicle and a stamping tool for such a body component. According to the disclosure at least one connection region is formed on the folded flange, in which the stamping tool stamps the first component through the second component at least one stamping point, with displaced material of the first component passing into the second component and producing a positive connection.

An automotive panel assembly according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes a first panel, a second panel, and a flange of the first panel folded over an edge region of the second panel to hem together the first and second panels. The flange of the first panel includes a textured geometry that interlocks with a textured geometry of the edge region.

Described herein is a new method and device for operating a hemming head of the type comprising a hemming roller (101) and a second, opposed, roller (102), which are rotatable about respective axes contained in one and the same plane. The method includes variation of the position of the second roller that is opposed to the hemming roller as a function of a signal indicating the force exerted by said second roller on the metal sheet and/or as a function of a signal indicating the position of the head along the machining path.

A roller hemming device includes a backing metal, a guide roller, a bending roller, a pressing unit, and a swinging unit. The backing metal includes an abutment surface and a guide surface. The abutment surface is brought into abutment against a first panel member. The guide roller is moved in an extending direction of the guide surface with abutting against the guide surface. With being moved synchronously with the guide roller, the bending roller presses a bent peripheral edge portion of the first panel member via the backing metal such that the bent peripheral edge portion of the first panel member is pinched between the bending roller and the guide roller, and folds the bent peripheral edge portion of the first panel member back to a periphery edge portion of a second panel member. The pressing unit presses the bending roller toward the backing metal.

Provided is a press forming method for a composite material. A press forming method for a composite material including an upper metal member, a resin member, and a lower metal member, and including: producing the lower metal member having first and second coating films respectively bonded to upper and lower surfaces thereof; producing the composite material including the upper metal member, a first hot melt member, the resin member, a second hot melt member, and the lower metal member; cutting an area spaced inward a predetermined distance from a lengthwise edge of the composite material by using a T-cutter, such that only the lower metal member remains; removing the upper metal member, the first hot melt member, the resin member, and the second hot melt member that are located outside the cut area; and folding the lower metal member by an angle of 180 degrees by using a hemming die.

A panel hemming device includes: a fixing die on which a panel is placed and that has a supporting surface stepped upward to be parallel with an end of the panel; a hemming shaft having a first side coupled to a tool and having a second side to which a hemming roller, which comes in contact with a top of the supporting surface when fixed to the fixing die, is coupled; a rotary shaft having a first side coupled to the first side of the hemming shaft to receive torque and having a second side coming in contact with a bottom of the fixing die when fixed to the fixing die; and a case supporting an outer surface of the hemming shaft disposed through the case and coupled to a first end of the rotary shaft such that the rotary shaft can rotate upward or downward with respect to the first end.