Package making – Methods – With contents treating
Patent
1998-03-11
2000-09-12
Hail, III, Joseph J.
Package making
Methods
With contents treating
B65B 6304
Patent
active
061159980
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
DESCRIPTION
The invention relates to a method for folding an airbag for an airbag module according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a device for carrying out the method.
In order to be able to stow an airbag in an airbag module it is known to fold the airbag into a suitably small packet. Various ways of folding are known. From U.S. Pat. No. 4,173,356 for example different types of straight-line folding are known where the folds run in rays out from a centre or approximately parallel to each other. These types of folding have the drawback that they have to be gathered together at least when used for a vehicle airbag module so that when the airbag of this kind unfolds the internal pressure produced in some areas of the airbag prevents the opening of some folds. Furthermore the expense in folding is considerable.
From DE 44 22 276 A1 an airbag is known for an airbag module where the airbag has main folds which run at least in one part along closed paths round an imaginary centre on the substantially empty spread-out airbag. The closed main folds preferably describe circular paths or ellipses of slight eccentricity.
This path of the main folds has the advantage that the folded airbag can open very rapidly and quickly. More particularly during unfolding of such an airbag there is not the danger that the internal pressure produced in some area parts of the airbag will prevent the opening of further folds. This airbag can thereby be used for driver, passenger and side airbags. The drawback with this type of folding is that the expense for machine folding is high.
The object of the invention is therefore to reduce the expense of gathering an airbag into a size which allows storage in an airbag module whilst ensuring that easy complete unfolding of the airbag in the event of a crash is guaranteed.
This is achieved according to the invention through the characterising features of claim 1.
The method for folding the airbag is characterised according to the invention in that the spread-out empty airbag is gathered towards the centre inside a fixed vertical profiled section. As opposed to other types of folding known up until now with this method a chaotic folding is undertaken, i.e. the folds have no predetermined shape and direction. It was found however that this folding is substantially free of rear cut sections since the upper part of the airbag always remains at the top. Opening of all the folds is thereby guaranteed during the unfolding process of the airbag.
The gathering process can be carried out from all sides evenly within the predetermined height. With an asymmetric airbag module it is however expedient that the airbag is gathered in one direction and then in the direction at right angles to this alternately until the required size is reached. Gathering is thereby first undertaken at the sides where there is little space for storing the airbag in the airbag module.
The advantage of this process is that only a few gathering elements are required for gathering the airbag and that compared with known folding processes substantially fewer work steps are required. All airbag embodiments can be folded eg with arrester straps and rip seams.
The expense of folding the airbag is only increased by an insignificant amount if according to a further design of the invention a desired folding position and bending direction of the airbag fabric is imprinted in the spread-out empty airbag prior to gathering. This can be achieved if prior to gathering the spread-out empty airbag is pre-folded folded by mechanical forming elements and/or through heat, steam, pressure or vacuum action.
In a preferred embodiment of the method it is proposed to pleat the spread out empty airbag prior to gathering.
It is expedient if the inflating device or a simulator of the inflating device which keeps a space free for the inflating device which is to be installed later, is positioned and pre-fitted in the spread-out airbag before the latter is gathered.
A device for carrying out the method indicated above is characterised in that a lower pa
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Marotzke Thomas
Reh Stefan
Cooke Dermott J.
Hail III Joseph J.
Petri AG
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