Loading pin for a joining device, joining device and joining element feed method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10850341-B2
Application number	US-201715627937-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 20, 2017
Priority date	Jun 20, 2016
Publication date	Dec 1, 2020
Grant date	Dec 1, 2020

Abstract

A loading pin, for a joining device, having a first axial end portion connectable to an axial drive, and having a second axial end portion which is realized for the purpose of exerting an axial force onto a joining element in order to push the joining element into a holding device and/or in order to support the joining element axially during a joining process, wherein the loading pin comprises an axial hollow channel portion through which a joining element is guidable in an axial feed direction. The loading pin partially defines a lateral joining element feed opening, via which a joining element is feedable into the hollow channel portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A loading pin for a joining device with an axial drive, the loading pin operable for exerting an axial force onto a joining element in order to push the joining element into a holding device or to support the joining element axially during a joining process, the loading pin comprising:
a first axial end portion connectable to the axial drive;
a second axial end portion opposite the first axial end portion;
an axial hollow channel portion partially defined in the loading pin and open towards the holding device and through which the joining element is guidable in an axial feed direction toward the holding device,
a lateral feed opening, defined in a radial side of the loading pin between the first axial end portion and the second axial end portion, and through which the joining element is feedable into the hollow channel portion.

2. The loading pin according to claim 1 further comprising a one-way passage located on the second axial end portion, and through which one-way passage a first portion of a joining element is able to emerge in the axial feed direction, but through which one-way passage the first portion of the joining element is not able to return into the hollow channel portion in an axial direction opposite to the feed direction.

3. The loading pin according to claim 2 , wherein the one-way passage is a passive one-way passage.

4. The loading pin according to claim 2 wherein the one-way passage is partially defined by a plurality lugs, and each lug has a radially resilient free end, and the radially resilient free ends are deflectable between a radially inward blocking position and a radially outward second position in which second position the first portion of the joining element passes through the one-way passage.

5. The loading pin according to claim 4 , wherein the blocking position the lugs are operable to transmit the axial force to the joining element in the holding device.

6. The loading pin according claim 1 , wherein the loading pin additionally partially defines a guide contour between and connecting the lateral feed opening and the axial hollow channel portion.

7. A joining device for setting a joining element supplied from a joining element feed device, the joining device comprising:
a joining element receiver partially defining a receiver channel operable for guiding the joining element, and further partially defining an axially extending loading pin guide;
an axial drive;
a holding device operable to support the joining element axially during a joining process
a loading pin, mounted in the loading pin guide so as to be axially displaceable between a feed position and a joining position and operable for exerting an axial force onto the joining element in order to push the joining element into the holding device, the loading pin including:
a first axial end portion connectable to the axial drive;
a second axial end portion opposite the first axial end portion;
an axial hollow channel portion partially defined in the loading pin and open towards the holding device and through which the joining element is guidable in an axial feed direction toward the holding device,
a lateral feed opening, defined in a radial side of the loading pin between the first axial end portion and the second axial end portion, and through which the joining element is feedable into the hollow channel portion.

8. The joining device according to claim 7 , whererin a maximum travel distance of the loading pin is smaller than a maximum axial length of a joining element.

9. The joining device according to claim 7 , whererin the holding device at a first axial end is mounted on the joining element receiver, and at a second axial end the holding device further includes a plurality of radially resilient holding tongues.

10. The joining device according to claim 9 , wherein the loading pin further includes a one-way passage connected to the axial hollow channel portion, and the one-way passage comprises a plurality of radially resilient lugs with free ends in the axial feed direction.

11. The joining device according to claim 10 , wherein the loading pin and the holding device are connected so that a joining element is conveyable completely through the hollow channel portion and through the one-way passage and is stoppable in an intermediate position by the holding tongues.

12. The joining device according to claim 10 , wherein the holding device is operable for holding the joining element in the joining position by the holding tongues pressing from radially outside onto the lugs of the one-way passage of the loading pin.

13. The joining device according to claim 10 , wherein the one-way passage of the loading pin and the holding device are arranged in such a manner with reference to one another that a flange portion of the joining element is conveyable through the hollow channel portion and through the one-way passage and is stoppable in an intermediate position by the holding tongues.

14. The joining device according to claim 9 , wherein the holding device is operable for holding the joining element in the joining position by the holding tongues radially abutting directly against the joining element.

15. The joining device according to claim 7 , wherein the loading pin guide portion has a guide cross section, and the loading pin has a loading pin cross section operable for axial movement within the guide cross section.

16. Method for feeding a joining element into a joining device, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a joining device comprising:
a joining element receiver partially defining a receiver channel operable for guiding the joining element, and further partially defining an axially extending loading pin guide;
an axial drive;
a holding device operable to support the joining element axially during a joining process
a loading pin mounted in the loading pin guide so as to be axially displaceable between a feed position and a joining position and operable for exerting an axial force onto the joining element to push the joining element into the holding device, the loading pin including:
a first axial end portion connectable to the axial drive;
a second axial end portion opposite the first axial end portion;
an axial hollow channel portion partially defined in the loading pin and open towards the holding device and through which the joining element is guidable in an axial feed direction toward the holding device,
a lateral feed opening, defined in a radial side of the loading pin between the first axial end portion and the second axial end portion, and through which the joining element is feedable into the hollow channel portion;
a one-way passage on the second end portion of the loading pin;

feeding the joining element into the receiving channel and from there radially through the lateral joining element feed opening into the loading pin;
turns the joining element as it passes into the axial hollow channel portion; and
passing a first portion of the joining element through the one-way passage of the loading pin.

Assignees

• Newfrey Llc

Inventors

• Schneider Michael
• Schug Alexander
• Hain Jochen

Classifications

• B23K11/0053 Primary

  Stud welding, i.e. resistive · CPC title

• B23K9/202 Primary

  by means of portable equipment, e.g. stud-welding gun · CPC title

• B23K9/206

  with automatic stud supply · CPC title