Fastening device, fastening device system and method for feeding fasteners

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11396040-B2
Application number	US-202117313426-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 6, 2021
Priority date	May 6, 2020
Publication date	Jul 26, 2022
Grant date	Jul 26, 2022

Abstract

A fastening device for feeding fasteners to a workpiece and for joining it, the fastening device comprising a fastening tool, a fastening device system. The fastening device including a magazine arrangement mounted on the fastening tool. The magazine arrangement having a magazine for holding a fastener, a magazine plate, and a base plate. The magazine plate includes a plate body and a closure arrangement with a closure slider adapted to move between an open position and a closed position, and a toggle mechanism adapted to move the closure slider from the closed position to the open position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fastening device for transporting a fastener to a workpiece and for joining the fastener to the workpiece, the fastening device comprising:
a fastening tool that is movable by a programmable handling device and operable for joining the fastener;
a magazine arrangement mounted on the fastening tool, the magazine arrangement including a magazine operable for holding the fastener, the magazine including an inlet, and an outlet, and a magazine hose;
a magazine plate extending at the inlet of the magazine, and a base plate extending along the magazine and to which the magazine is connected;
a sensor adapted to detect the presence of a fastener in the magazine; and

wherein the magazine plate includes a plate body and a closure arrangement, the closure arrangement including:
a closure slider adapted to move between an open position, in which the inlet of the magazine is open and a closed position in which the inlet is closed,
an elastic member biasing the closure slider in the closed position, and
a toggle mechanism adapted to move the closure slider from the closed position to the open position.

2. A fastening device according to claim 1 , wherein the toggle mechanism is movable between a first position, in which the closure slider is in the closed position, and a second position, in which the closure slider is in the open position, and wherein the toggle mechanism includes a first arm, a second arm, and a pivoting joint located between the first arm and the second arm, such that first arm and the second arm are pivotably connected.

3. A fastening device according to claim 2 , wherein the toggle mechanism includes a rear bearing arranged at a free end of the second arm of the toggle mechanism and adapted to roll on the magazine plate.

4. A fastening device according to claim 1 , wherein the closure slider includes a compressed air channel which communicates with the magazine hose when the closure slider is in the closed position.

5. A fastening device according to claim 4 , wherein the magazine is a first magazine, the magazine hose is a first magazine hose, and wherein the magazine arrangement further includes a second magazine for accommodating a second fastener, the second magazine having a second inlet and a second outlet and a second magazine hose, the magazine plate extends at the second inlet of the second magazine and the base plate extends along the second magazine, and the second magazine is connected to the base plate.

6. A fastening device according to claim 5 , wherein the closure slider further includes a second compressed air channel which communicates with the second magazine hose when the closure slider is in the closed position.

7. A fastening device according to claim 5 , wherein the sensor is adapted to detect the presence of a fastener in the first or second magazine, and wherein the sensor is connected to the base plate, and a spacer is located between the first and the second magazine hose, and the spacer includes a demounting arrangement operable for removal and replacement of the first or second magazine hose.

8. A fastening device according to claim 7 , wherein the demounting arrangement includes an elastic pin adapted to be moved between a locked position and a release position.

9. A fastening device according to claim 8 , wherein the spacer includes a spacer body, an anchoring body, and the elastic pin, and wherein the anchoring body is fixed to the base plate and extends longitudinally orthogonal to the base plate, and wherein the anchoring body includes a first recess and a second recess, and in which the elastic pin is elastically biased toward the locked position.

10. A fastening device according to claim 9 , wherein the spacer body is slidable relative to the anchoring body between a working position, in which the first or second magazine are operable to receive the fastener, and a maintenance position, in which the first or second magazine are removable from the fastening device.

11. A fastening device according to claim 1 and further comprising a feed device, and wherein the magazine arrangement has a first centering element cooperating with a second centering element from the feed device.

12. A fastening device according to claim 11 , wherein the first centering element includes one of a centering recess or a centering pin, and the second centering element includes the other of the centering recess or the centering pin.

13. A fastening device according to claim 12 , wherein the centering pin extends longitudinally and has a non-constant cross-section.

14. A fastening device according to claim 11 , wherein the feed device further includes a docking surface and a filling station, the filling station further including a feed hose, and wherein the toggle mechanism further includes a bearing between a first arm and a second arm of the toggle mechanism and adapted to roll on the docking surface and arranged such that the pressure of the docking surface on the toggle mechanism allows the toggle mechanism to move the closure slider from the closed position to the open position.

15. A method comprising:
providing a fastening device for transporting a fastener to a workpiece and for joining the fastener to the workpiece, the fastening device comprising:
a fastening tool that is movable by a programmable handling device and operable for joining the fastener;
a magazine arrangement mounted on the fastening tool, the magazine arrangement including a magazine operable for holding the fastener, the magazine including an inlet, and an outlet, and a magazine hose;
a magazine plate extending at the inlet of the magazine, and a base plate extending along the magazine and to which the magazine is connected,
a sensor adapted to detect the presence of a fastener in the magazine; and
wherein the magazine plate includes a plate body and a closure arrangement, the closure arrangement including:
a closure slider adapted to move between an open position, in which the inlet of the magazine is open and a closed position in which the inlet is closed,

an elastic member biasing the closure slider in the closed position, and
a toggle mechanism adapted to move the closure slider from the closed position to the open position;

moving the magazine arrangement to a feed device, wherein the feed device includes a tube section and an outlet opening;
orienting the magazine arrangement with respect to the outlet opening;
aligning the magazine arrangement and the feed device through an interaction of respective centering elements;
moving the magazine arrangement and the feed device into contact with each other such that a docking surface of the feed device pushes the toggle mechanism of the magazine arrangement from a first position and thereby opens the closure slider of the magazine arrangement; and
conveying the fastener through the tube section and the outlet opening into the magazine arrangement.

16. A fastening device operable for transporting a fastener to a workpiece and for joining the fastener to the workpiece, the fastening device movable by a programmable handling device between a joining position at the workpiece and a reload position, and the fastening device comprising:
a fastening tool; and
a magazine arrangement mounted on the fastening tool, the magazine arrangement including:
a magazine operable for holding the fastener and including an inlet, an outlet, and a magazine hose between the inlet and the outlet;
a base plate extending along the magazine and to which the magazine is connected; and
a magazine plate extending at the inlet of

Assignees

• Newfrey Llc

Inventors

• Tripp Andreas
• Lippert Stefan

Classifications

• B21J15/28

  Control devices specially adapted to riveting machines not restricted to one of the preceding subgroups · CPC title

• B21J15/32 Primary

  Devices for inserting or holding rivets in position with or without feeding arrangements · CPC title

• B25J11/007

  Riveting · CPC title

• B21J15/025

  Setting self-piercing rivets · CPC title

• B23P19/005

  by using flowing gases · CPC title