Roller hemming apparatus

Abstract

A roller hemming apparatus is disclosed. A roller hemming apparatus for hemming an outer panel with respect to an inner panel according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include a tool body mounted at a front end of an arm of a robot, a pre-hemming roller mounted to a front side of a mounting block, which is disposed at a lower portion of the tool body, through a first mounting bracket, a main hemming roller mounted to a rear side of the mounting block through a second mounting bracket, and at least one heater mounted at a lateral side of the mounting block and configured to heat a flange portion of the outer panel.

Claims

1. A roller hemming apparatus for hemming an outer panel having a flange portion with respect to an inner panel using an arm of a robot which has a front end, the roller hemming apparatus comprising: a tool body mounted at the front end of the arm of the robot and having a lower portion; a mounting block disposed at the lower portion of the tool body and having a first side, a second side and a third side; a pre-hemming roller mounted to the first side of the mounting block; a first mounting bracket mounting the pre-hemming roller to the first side of the mounting block; a main hemming roller mounted to the second side of the mounting block; a second mounting bracket mounting the main hemming roller mounted to the second side of the mounting block; and at least one heater mounted at the third side of the mounting block and configured to heat the flange portion of the outer panel, wherein the heater generates heat by receiving electric power and blow a hot wind to the flange portion of the outer panel.

2. The roller hemming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pre-hemming roller is formed in a tapered shape having a cross-sectional diameter which is gradually decreased from a rear side to a front side.

3. The roller hemming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the heater is mounted through a fixing bracket that is fixedly mounted at the third side of the mounting block, and configured to be tilted toward the pre-hemming roller and the main hemming roller.

4. The roller hemming apparatus of claim 1, wherein a lower portion of the first mounting bracket is bent away from the first side of the mounting block and the pre-hemming roller is rotatably mounted at the lower portion of the first mounting bracket.

5. The roller hemming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the heater comprises: an air blower pipe connected to a compressor through an air supply line; and a heating line mounted in the air blower pipe and configured to generate heat by receiving electric power.

6. The roller hemming apparatus of claim 5, wherein the heating line is formed in a coil shape and disposed along a length direction of the air blower pipe.

7. The roller hemming apparatus of claim 5, wherein a temperature sensor, which measures a temperature of the heat and transmits a signal corresponding thereto to a controller, is mounted in a lower portion of the air blower pipe.

8. The roller hemming apparatus of claim 7, wherein the controller controls an amount of the electric power applied to the heating line and an amount of compressed air supplied from a compressor based on the measured temperature.

9. A roller hemming apparatus for hemming an outer panel having a flange portion with respect to an inner panel using an arm of a robot which has a front end, the roller hemming apparatus comprising: a tool body mounted at the front end of the arm of the robot and having a lower portion; a mounting block disposed at the lower portion of the tool body and having a first side, a second side and a third side; a pre-hemming roller mounted to the first side of the mounting block; a first mounting bracket mounting the pre-hemming roller to the first side of the mounting block; a main hemming roller mounted to the second side of the mounting block; a second mounting bracket mounting the main hemming roller mounted to the second side of the mounting block; at least one heater mounted at the third side of the mounting block and configured to heat the flange portion of the outer panel; and a mounter configured to mount the heater through a fixing bracket that is fixedly mounted at the third side of the mounting block and change a position of the heater, wherein the heater comprises an air blower pipe connected to a compressor through an air supply line and a heating line mounted in the air blower pipe to generate heat by receiving electric power.

10. The roller hemming apparatus of claim 9, wherein a cap connected to the air supply line is mounted to an upper portion of the air blower pipe, and a hot wind is blown through a lower portion of the air blower pipe.

11. The roller hemming apparatus of claim 10, wherein a temperature sensor, which measures a temperature of the hot wind and transmits a signal corresponding thereto to a controller, is mounted in the lower portion of the air blower pipe.

12. The roller hemming apparatus of claim 9, wherein the heating line is formed in a coil shape and disposed along a length direction of the air blower pipe.

13. The roller hemming apparatus of claim 9, wherein the mounter comprises: a first link coupled to the fixing bracket; a second link coupled to the first link; and a fixer coupled to the second link and configured to fix the air blower pipe.

14. The roller hemming apparatus of claim 13, wherein the fixer is formed for surrounding an external circumference of the air blower pipe, and the air blower pipe is fixed through a fixing ring.

15. The roller hemming apparatus of claim 14, wherein the fixing ring is fitted to the external circumference of the air blower pipe and is coupled to the fixer using a bolt.

16. The roller hemming apparatus of claim 15, wherein the lower portion of the air blower pipe is tilted toward the pre-hemming roller and the main hemming roller using the bolt as a shaft.

17. The roller hemming apparatus of claim 13, wherein a guide slot is formed in the second link in a length direction.

18. The roller hemming apparatus of claim 17, wherein the pre-hemming roller is formed in a tapered shape having a cross-sectional diameter which is gradually decreased from a rear side to a front side, a lower portion of the first mounting bracket is bent away from the first side of the mounting block, and the pre-hemming roller is rotatably mounted at the lower portion of the first mounting bracket.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The drawings are provided for reference in describing exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and the spirit of the present invention should not be construed only by the accompanying drawings.

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a part assembling system to which a roller hemming apparatus is applied according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a roller hemming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a roller hemming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(5) FIG. 4 is a front view of a roller hemming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(6) FIG. 5 is a side view of a roller hemming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(7) FIG. 6 is a side view of a pre-hemming roller and a main hemming roller applied to a hemming roller apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(8) FIG. 7 is a partially cut-away perspective view of a heater applied to a roller hemming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(9) FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a mounter applied to a roller hemming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(10) FIGS. 9 and 10 are views illustrating an operation of a roller hemming apparatus according an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(11) TABLE-US-00001 <Description of symbols> 1: outer panel 1a: flange portion 2: inner panel 5: clamping pad 7: hemming die 8: frame 9: robot 10: tool body 11: mounting block 31: pre-hemming roller 32: main hemming roller 35: first mounting bracket 37: second mounting bracket 50: heater 51: air blower pipe 52: fixing bracket 53: air supply line 55: compressor 57: cap 59: temperature sensor 61: heating line 63: power supply line 70: mounter 71: first link 72: second link 73: guide slot 75: fixer 77: fixing ring 79: fastening hole 81: bolt 82: nut 90: controller 100: roller hemming apparatus 200: part assembling system

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

(12) The present invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. As those skilled in the art would realize, the described embodiments may be modified in various different ways, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.

(13) The drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. Like reference numerals designate like elements throughout the specification.

(14) The sizes and thicknesses of elements shown in the drawings are provided selectively for convenience of description, such that the present invention is not limited those shown in the drawings and the thicknesses are exaggerated to make some parts and regions more clear.

(15) In addition, some of elements are called a first, a second, etc., throughout the detailed description in an effort to distinguish such elements from one another because they have the same configurations, but in the following description, such a sequence is not limiting.

(16) In addition, unless explicitly described to the contrary, the word comprise and variations such as comprises or comprising will be understood to imply the inclusion of stated elements but not the exclusion of any other elements.

(17) Further, the terms -unit, -means, -er, and member described in the specification mean units for processing at least one function or operation.

(18) FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a part assembling system to which a roller hemming apparatus is applied according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(19) As shown in FIG. 1, a roller hemming apparatus 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may be applied to a part assembling system 200 for assembling a part (such as a door assembly, a hood, a trunk, a tailgate, a wheel arch, or a fender) assembled to a vehicle body.

(20) The part may include an outer panel 1 (referring to FIG. 2) and an inner panel 2 (referring to FIG. 2), and the outer panel 1 and the inner panel 2 are assembled by sealer coating and hemming processes.

(21) The part assembling system 200 includes a clamping pad 5, a hemming die 7, and the roller hemming apparatus 100.

(22) The clamping pad 5 is configured to clamp the outer panel 1 and the inner panel 2 loaded on a marriage jig (not shown), and includes clampers (not shown) for clamping the outer panel 1 and the inner panel 2.

(23) The hemming die 7 may be a hemming jig for receiving the outer panel 1 and the inner panel 2 clamped by the clamping pad 5, and is installed on a frame 8.

(24) A clamping pad 5 and a hemming die 7 are well known to a person skilled in the art, and thus a detailed description thereof will be omitted in this specification.

(25) In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the roller hemming apparatus 100 is used for hemming an edge portion of the part loaded on the hemming die 7 through roller hemming method. In particular, a flange portion 1a of the outer panel 1 is bent toward an edge portion of the inner panel 2 and is pressed by the roller hemming apparatus 100.

(26) FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a roller hemming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(27) As shown in FIG. 2, the roller hemming apparatus 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is mounted at a front end of an arm of a robot 9 having a predetermined behavior pattern. The robot 9 may be an articulated robot. As the robot 9 is controlled by a controller 90 and is moved along a predetermined route, the roller hemming apparatus 100 moves along edge portions of the outer panel 1 and the inner panel 2 to hem the flange portion 1a of the outer panel 1.

(28) In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the outer panel 1 hemmed through the roller hemming apparatus 100 may include a high strength portion formed of a high strength material such as magnesium or ultra-high tensile steel.

(29) Hereinafter, an example in which the outer panel 1 and the inner panel 2 are hemmed and assembled using the roller hemming apparatus 100 will be described. However, it should be understood that the scope of the present invention is not limited to the panels, and the technical spirit of the present invention may be applied to various types of panels for various uses.

(30) In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the roller hemming apparatus 100 may be configured to soften and hem the high strength portion of the panels by locally heating the high strength portion.

(31) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a roller hemming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a front view of a roller hemming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a side view of a roller hemming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a side view of a pre-hemming roller and a main hemming roller applied to a hemming roller apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a partially cut-away perspective view of a heater applied to a roller hemming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(32) As shown in FIG. 3 to FIG. 5, a roller hemming apparatus 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include a tool body 10, hemming rollers 31 and 32, and heaters 50.

(33) The tool body 10 is configured to support constituent elements to be described below, and may be formed into one body or at least two bodies connected to each other.

(34) The tool body 10 may include accessory elements for supporting the constituent elements, such as various kinds of brackets, bars, rods, plates, housings, cases, blocks, rails, collars, etc.

(35) However, because the aforementioned accessory elements are for installation of the respective constituent elements in the tool body 10, except for an exceptional case, the aforementioned accessory elements are generally referred to as the tool body 10 in the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(36) The tool body 10 is mounted at the front end of the arm of the robot 9. The robot 9 is teaching-controlled by the controller 90, and the tool body 10 is moved and rotated in multi-axis directions by the robot 9.

(37) The tool body 10 may be releasably mounted at the front end of the arm of the robot 9 through a tool exchanger (not shown).

(38) The hemming rollers 31 and 32 are mounted to a front side and a rear side of a mounting block 11 that is disposed at a lower portion of the tool body 10 based on the figures.

(39) The mounting block 11 may be mounted rotatably clockwise and counter clockwise at the tool body 10. In addition, the mounting block 11 may be mounted at the tool body 10 to be movable in a vertical direction.

(40) Hereinafter, the hemming roller mounted to the front side of the mounting block 11 is referred to as a pre-hemming roller 31, and the hemming roller mounted to the rear side of the mounting block 11 is referred to as a main hemming roller 32 (also referred to as a final hemming roller in this art).

(41) The pre-hemming roller 31 may be configured to pre-hem the flange portion 1a of the outer panel 1. For example, the pre-hemming roller 31 primarily pre-hems the flange portion 1a such that an angle between the outer panel 1 and the flange portion 1a becomes about 80 degrees. After that, the pre-hemming roller 31 secondarily pre-hems the flange portion 1a such that the angle between the outer panel 1 and the flange portion 1a becomes about 40 degrees. The pre-hemming roller 31 may be formed in a tapered shape having a cross-sectional diameter which is gradually decreased from the rear side to the front side.

(42) The pre-hemming roller 31 is mounted to the front side of the mounting block 11 through a first mounting bracket 35. The lower portion of the first mounting bracket 35 may be bent frontward, and the pre-hemming roller 31 may be rotatably mounted at the lower portion of the first mounting bracket 35.

(43) The main hemming roller 32 finally hems the flange portion 1a that is pre-hemmed by the pre-hemming roller 31. For example, the main hemming roller 32 finally hems the flange portion 1a such that the angle between the outer panel 1 and the flange portion 1a becomes 0 degree.

(44) The main hemming roller 32 is mounted to the rear side of the mounting block 11 through a second mounting bracket 37. The second mounting bracket 37 is fixed to the mounting block 11 in a straight line shape, and the main hemming roller 32 may be rotatably mounted at a lower portion of the second mounting bracket 37.

(45) Hemming angles of the pre-hemming roller 31 and the main hemming roller 32 can be changed according to behavior of the robot 9. In a state that the flange portion 1a is pressed by the pre-hemming roller 31 and the main hemming roller 32, the pre-hemming roller 31 and the main hemming roller 32 are moved and rotated along the flange portion 1a so as to fold the flange portion 1a toward the edge portion of the inner panel 2.

(46) In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the heater 50 may be configured to heat the flange portion 1a having the high strength portion of the outer panel 1 while the flange portion 1a is hemmed.

(47) In detail, the heater 50 blows a hot wind to the flange portion 1a of the outer panel 1 while the flange portion 1a is hemmed. That is, the heater 50 blows the hot wind to the flange portion 1a so as to soften the flange portion 1a, thereby reducing the strength thereof.

(48) The heaters 50 are mounted, respectively, at both lateral sides of the mounting block 11 with the pre-hemming roller 31 and the main hemming roller 32 disposed therebetween. The heaters 50 may be mounted at both lateral sides of the mounting block 11 through fixing brackets 52. The fixing brackets 52 are fixedly mounted at both lateral sides of the mounting block 11, respectively.

(49) The heater 50 generates heat by receiving electric power, and is configured to blow the hot wind to the flange portion 1a of the outer panel 1. In particular, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the heater 50 can blow the hot wind to the flange portion 1a in advance of the pre-hemming roller 31 or the main hemming roller 32 that is moved according to behavior of the robot 9. To this end, the heater 50 may include an air blower pipe 51 and a heating line 61.

(50) The air blower pipe 51 is configured to blow the hot wind to the flange portion 1a, and is connected to a compressor 55 through an air supply line 53.

(51) The compressor 55 compresses air and supplies the compressed air to the air blower pipe 51 through the air supply line 53. A cap 57 connected to the air supply line 53 is mounted to an upper portion of the air blower pipe 51. The hot wind is blown through a lower portion of the air blower pipe 51.

(52) An amount of the compressed air supplied from the compressor 55 is controlled by the controller 90.

(53) The heating line 61 is configured to generate heat by receiving electric power, and is mounted in the air blower pipe 51. The heating line 61 may receive electric power through a power supply line 63 and generate heat with electrical resistance.

(54) The heating line 61 may be formed in a coil shape, and disposed in the air blower pipe 51 along a length direction of the air blower pipe 51. An amount of the electric power applied to the heating line 61 is controlled by the controller 90, and a heating temperature of the heating line 61 is adjusted depending on the amount of electric power.

(55) In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, when the heating line 61 generates heat by receiving the electric power and the compressed air is supplied to the air blower pipe 51, the hot wind at a predetermined temperature is blown to the flange portion 1a through the air blower pipe 51.

(56) In addition, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a temperature sensor 59, which measures a temperature of the hot wind and transmits a signal corresponding thereto to the controller 90, may be mounted in the lower portion of the air blower pipe 51.

(57) For example, the temperature sensor 59 may transmit the measured temperature of the hot wind blown through the air blower pipe 51 to the controller 90.

(58) The controller 90 may control the amount of the electric power applied to the heating line 61 and the amount of the compressed air supplied from the compressor 55 based on the measured temperature.

(59) Since the strength of the flange portion 1a is inversely proportional to a temperature thereof, the controller 90 may calculate an estimated strength of the flange portion 1a based on the measured temperature.

(60) As a result, the controller 90 may control the amount of the electric power applied to the heating line 61 and the amount of the compressed air supplied from the compressor 55 by comparing the estimated strength of the flange portion 1a and a reference strength.

(61) The reference strength may be set by a person of ordinary skill in the art in consideration of an actual strength of the flange portion 1a for easily hemming the flange portion 1a.

(62) When the estimated strength of the flange portion 1a is greater than or equal to the reference strength, the controller 90 increases the amount of the electric power applied to the heating line 61 and the amount of the compressed air supplied from the compressor 55.

(63) When the estimated strength of the flange portion 1a is less than the reference strength, the controller 90 decreases the amount of the electric power applied to the heating line 61 and the amount of the compressed air supplied from the compressor 55.

(64) Herein, it is described that the heater 50 includes the heating line 61 and the air blower pipe 51, but it is should be understood that the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto.

(65) In accordance with another exemplary embodiment, the heater 50 may be configured such that high frequency radiant heat or laser beams are irradiated to the flange portion 1a.

(66) FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a mounter applied to a roller hemming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(67) In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the heater 50 may be provided to be tilted in a progression direction of the pre-hemming roller 31 and the main hemming roller 32, and a position of the heater 50 may be changed with respect to the fixing bracket 52.

(68) To this end, the roller hemming apparatus 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may further include a mounter 70 that mounts the heater 50 through the fixing bracket 52. The mounter 70 is configured to tilt the heater 50 and change the position of the heater 50.

(69) In detail, the mounter 70 may tilt the lower portion of the heater 50 toward the hemming rollers 31 and 32. In addition, the mounter 70 may change the position of the heater 50 with respect to the hemming rollers 31 and 32, and fixes the heater 50. That is, the mounter 70 may move the heater 50 in forward and backward directions and fix the heater 50 at the moved position.

(70) The mounter 70 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include a first link 71, a second link 72, and a fixer 75.

(71) The first link 71 is coupled to the fixing bracket 52 that is fixedly mounted at the lateral side of the mounting block 11. One end portion of the first link 71 may be coupled to the fixing bracket 52 using a bolt 81 and a nut 82.

(72) The second link 72 is coupled to the first link 71. One end portion of the second link 72 may be coupled to the other end portion of the first link 71 using a bolt 81 and a nut 82.

(73) A guide slot 73 may be formed in the second link 72 in a length direction. In this case, the other end portion of the first link 71 is coupled to the guide slot 73 formed at the one end portion of the second link 72 using the bolt 81 and the nut 82.

(74) The fixer 75 is configured to fix the air blower pipe 51 of the heater 50, and is coupled to the other end portion of the second link 72. The fixer 75 may be coupled to the guide slot 73 formed at the other end portion of the second link 72 using a bolt 81 and a nut 82.

(75) The fixer 75 may be formed in a C shape for surrounding an external circumference of the air blower pipe 51. The shape of the fixer 75 is not limited thereto, and may be variously modified. For example, the fixer 75 may be formed in a D shape or an O shape. The fixer 75 may fix the air blower pipe 51 through a fixing ring 77.

(76) The fixing ring 77 may be fitted to the external circumference of the air blower pipe 51 and be coupled to the fixer 75. Both lateral sides of the fixing ring 77 may be coupled to both lateral sides of the fixer 75 using bolts 81.

(77) In detail, holes (not shown) corresponding to both lateral sides of the fixer 75 are formed at both lateral sides of the fixing ring 77, and fastening holes 79 corresponding to the holes of the fixing ring 77 are formed at the both lateral sides of the fixer 75.

(78) The fixing ring 77 is coupled to the fixer 75 by fastening the bolt 81 while being fitted to the external circumference of the air blower pipe 51, and thus the air blower pipe 51 is fixed to the fixer 75 through the fixing ring 77.

(79) By adjusting tightness of the bolt 81, the lower portion of the air blower pipe 51 may be tilted toward the hemming rollers 31 and 32 using the bolt 81 as a shaft.

(80) An operation of the roller hemming apparatus 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will hereinafter be described in detail with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 10.

(81) FIGS. 9 and 10 are views illustrating an operation of a roller hemming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(82) First, the clamping pad 5 of the part assembling system 200 clamps the outer panel 1 and the inner panel 2 loaded on the marriage jig, and the outer panel 1 and the inner panel 2 are installed on the hemming die 7.

(83) The roller hemming apparatus 100 is moved toward edge portions of the outer panel 1 and the inner panel by the robot 9.

(84) As the roller hemming apparatus 100 is moved along the predetermined route by the robot 9, the pre-hemming roller 31 and the main hemming roller 32 move along edge portions of the outer panel 1 and the inner panel 2 to hem the flange portion 1a of the outer panel 1.

(85) In detail, the pre-hemming roller 31 primarily pre-hems the flange portion 1a such that the angle between the outer panel 1 and the flange portion 1a becomes about 80 degrees. After that, the pre-hemming roller 31 secondarily pre-hems the flange portion 1a such that the angle between the outer panel 1 and the flange portion 1a becomes about 40 degrees.

(86) The main hemming roller 32 finally hems the flange portion 1a that is pre-hemmed by the pre-hemming roller 31 such that the angle between the outer panel 1 and the flange portion 1a becomes 0 degree.

(87) Herein, hemming angles of the pre-hemming roller 31 and the main hemming roller 32 can be changed according to the behavior of the robot 9. Further, in a state that the flange portion 1a is pressed by the pre-hemming roller 31 and the main hemming roller 32, the pre-hemming roller 31 and the main hemming roller 32 are moved and rotated along the flange portion 1a so as to fold the flange portion 1a toward the edge portion of the inner panel 2.

(88) As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the heater 50 blows the hot wind to the flange portion 1a to soften the flange portion 1a while the flange portion 1a is hemmed, thereby reducing the strength of the flange portion 1a.

(89) When the heating line 61 of the heater 50 generates heat by receiving electric power and the compressed air is supplied to the air blower pipe 51 from the compressor 55, the hot wind at the predetermined temperature is blown to the flange portion 1a of the outer panel 1.

(90) The heater 50 can blow the hot wind to the flange portion 1a of the outer panel 1 in advance of the pre-hemming roller 31 or the main hemming roller 32 that is moved according to behavior of the robot 9.

(91) The heater 50 adjusts a blow angle of the hot wind through the mounter 70.

(92) By adjusting the tightness of the bolt 81 fastening the fixing ring 77 to the fixer 75, the lower portion of the air blower pipe 51 is tilted toward the hemming rollers 31 and 32 using the bolt 81 as the shaft.

(93) In addition, the mounter 70 changes the position of the heater 50 with respect to the hemming rollers 31 and 32, and fixes the heater 50.

(94) The mounter 70 moves the heater 50 in forward and backward directions and fixes the heater 50 at the moved position.

(95) As the bolt 81 coupling the first link 71 and the second link 72, and the bolt 81 coupling the second link 72 and the fixer 75 are loosened and fastened, the fixer 75 can be moved and fixed at the moved position.

(96) In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the temperature sensor 59 measures the temperature of the hot wind and transmits the measured temperature of the hot wind to the controller 90 while the hot wind is blown to the flange portion 1a through the air blower pipe 51.

(97) The controller 90 calculates the estimated strength of the flange portion 1a based on the measured temperature. When the estimated strength of the flange portion 1a is greater than or equal to the reference strength, the controller 90 increases the amount of the electric power applied to the heating line 61 and the amount of the compressed air supplied from the compressor 55.

(98) When the estimated strength of the flange portion 1a is less than the reference strength, the controller 90 decreases the amount of the electric power applied to the heating line 61 and the amount of the compressed air supplied from the compressor 55.

(99) As described above, the roller hemming apparatus 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention can blow the hot wind to the high strength portion of the panels through the heater 50.

(100) The flange portion 1a is softened by the hot wind while the flange portion 1a is hemmed.

(101) As a result, spring back and cracks can be prevented from being generated in the flange portion 1a by heating the flange portion 1a.

(102) Further it is possible to suppress occurrence of hemming defects such as insufficiency of a bend degree of the flange portion 1a, thereby improving quality of the hemmed part.

(103) While this invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be practical exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.