| 摘要 |
<p>A clinching apparatus (1) for joining overlapping portions of sheet material (2). The apparatus includes a die (3) comprising a plurality of discrete forming elements (5). Guide means are provided to force the forming elements (5) into close abutment in a closed configuration in response to movement thereof in a first direction to define a void (16) bounded by an effectively continuous peripheral surface (17), and to permit the forming elements (5) to move apart into an open configuration in response to movement thereof in second opposite direction. The apparatus further includes a punch (20) operable in conjunction with the die (3) to force the sheet material (2) into the void (16) to form a clinch (21) fastening the overlapping portions together. The clinch (21) is releasable from the die (3) by movement of the forming elements (5) in the second direction toward the open configuration.</p> |
