Punch rivet supply device and punch riveting device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10589340-B2
Application number	US-201715650392-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 14, 2017
Priority date	Jul 15, 2016
Publication date	Mar 17, 2020
Grant date	Mar 17, 2020

Abstract

A supply device for a joining element which has a shaft, extending along a joining element axis with a first diameter, and an adjacent head with a second diameter which is greater than the first diameter. The supply device comprising a base enclosing a first joining element channel, a second joining element channel and a third joining element channel, which are at least partially arranged in a common channel plane, and which each have a cross-section which is adapted to the shape of the joining element. And the first and the second joining element channels are orientated relative to each other at a switching angle which is in a range from 5° to 45°, while the first and the second joining element channels merge into the third joining element channel at a junction with a switching arrangement.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A supply device for a joining element, the joining element including a shaft, which extends along a joining element axis and which has a first diameter, and an adjacent head, with a second diameter which is greater than the first diameter; wherein the supply device comprises:
a base which partially defines a first joining element channel, a second joining element channel and a third joining element channel which are at least partially arranged in a common channel plane and which each have a cross-section which is adapted to the shape of the joining elements and which each have an opening, and wherein the first and the second joining element channels are orientated relative to each other at a switching angle which is in a range from 5° to 45°, and wherein the first and the second joining element channels merge into the third joining element channel at a junction, and wherein the first, second, and third joining element channels are constructed as a polygon and each define a cross section including a head region and a shaft region with the shaft region perpendicular to the head region; and
a switching arrangement located in the base at the junction.

2. A supply device according to claim 1 , wherein the switching arrangement is a passive switching arrangement.

3. A supply device according to claim 1 , wherein the cross-section of the first, second, and third joining element channels are each constructed in such a manner that the joining element axes of the joining element, when conveyed therein, are orientated parallel with the channel plane, such that the joining elements are conveyed in a horizontal posture.

4. A supply device according to claim 3 , wherein the head regions of the first and the second joining element channels merge in a continuous manner into the head region of the third joining element channel.

5. A supply device according to claim 1 , wherein the cross-sections of the first, second, and third joining element channels are each constructed in such a manner that the joining element axes of the joining elements, when conveyed therein, are orientated transversely relative to the channel plane with the joining element axis oriented transversely to a longitudinal direction of the channels.

6. A supply device according to claim 1 , and wherein the switching arrangement includes a switching element supported in the base so as to be able to be moved between a first position, wherein the first joining element channel is connected to the third joining element channel, and a second position, wherein the second joining element channel is connected to the third joining element channel.

7. A supply device according to claim 6 , wherein the switching arrangement further includes a catch device operable for temporarily holding the switching element one of the first and the second positions.

8. A supply device according to claim 6 , wherein the switching element is a pivoting member and can be pivoted about a switching axis which is orientated transversely relative to the channel plane.

9. A supply device according to claim 6 , wherein the switching element includes a sliding member displaceable parallel with the channel plane.

10. A supply device according to claim 9 , wherein the sliding member partially defines a fourth joining element channel and a fifth joining element channel which are arranged in the channel plane beside each other, and wherein the first position of the switching element the fourth joining element channel connects the first joining element channel and the third joining element channel, and wherein the second position of the switching element the fifth joining element channel connects the second joining element channel and the third joining element channel.

11. A supply device according to claim 6 , wherein the switching arrangement further includes an actuation member operable for moving the switching element between the first position and the second position.

12. A supply device according to claim 1 , wherein the base includes a first base member and a second base member which are connected to each other at a connection plane, and wherein the connection plane is orientated parallel with the channel plane.

13. A supply device according to claim 12 , wherein the first, second, and third joining element channels are constructed in the first base portion, and the second base portion forms a planar cover for the joining element channels.

14. A joining device for installing a joining element in a workpiece, the joining element including a shaft, which extends along a joining element axis and which has a first diameter, and an adjacent head, with a second diameter which is greater than the first diameter; and wherein the joining device comprises:
a joining head operable for installing the joining element in the workpiece;
a joining element supply arrangement operable for supplying the joining elements to the joining head, and the joining element supply arrangement includes a supply channel through which joining elements can be transported, and
a supply device operable for connecting the joining head and the joining element supply arrangement; and wherein the supply device includes:
a base which partially defines a first joining element channel, a second joining element channel and a third joining element channel which are at least partially arranged in a common channel plane and which each have a cross-section which is adapted to the shape of the joining, and wherein the first and the second joining element channels are orientated relative to each other at a switching angle which is in a range from 5° to 45° and wherein the first and the second joining element channels merge into the third joining element channel at a junction, and wherein the first, second, and third joining element channels are constructed as a polygon and each define a cross section including a head region and a shaft region with the shaft region is perpendicular to the head region; and
a switching arrangement located in the base at the junction.

15. A joining device according to claim 14 , wherein the joining element supply arrangement further includes a blown air generator connectable with the supply channel and operable for blowing a joining element towards the joining head via the supply channel.

16. A supply device for a joining element, the joining element including a shaft, which extends along a joining element axis and which has a first diameter, and an adjacent head, with a second diameter which is greater than the first diameter; wherein the supply device comprises:
a base which partially defines a first joining element channel, a second joining element channel and a third joining element channel which are at least partially arranged in a common channel plane and which each have a cross-section which is adapted to the shape of the joining elements and which each have an opening, and wherein the first and the second joining element channels are orientated relative to each other at a switching angle which is in a range from 5° to 45°, and wherein the first and the second joining element channels merge into the third joining element channel at a junction; and
a switching arrangement located in the base at the junction and including a switching element supported in the base and movable between a first position, wherein the first joining element channel is connected to the third joining element channel, and a second position, wherein the second joining element channel is connected to the third joining element channel, and further includes a catch device operable for temporarily holding the swit

Assignees

• Newfrey Llc

Inventors

• Kohlstädt Timo
• Lippert Stefan
• Möser Joachim
• Meier Michael

Classifications

• B23P19/002

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• F16B19/086

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• F16B19/06

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• B21J15/46

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• B21J15/025

  Setting self-piercing rivets · CPC title