Interchangeable die, joining tool and joining method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016288197-A1
Application number	US-201615185594-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 17, 2016
Priority date	Dec 18, 2013
Publication date	Oct 6, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An interchangeable die for a joining tool includes a die head partially defining a die feature, and a die shank which extends from the die head in an axial direction and is insertable into a shank receptacle of a die receiving portion of a joining tool. A fastening contour is partially defined on the interchangeable die for fastening the interchangeable die on the joining tool. The fastening contour is structured for fastening the interchangeable die on the joining tool by a motion including an insert movement and a rotate movement.

First claim

1 . An interchangeable die for installation in a joining tool that includes a die receiving portion with a shank receptacle by means of a rotating device, said interchangeable die comprising:
a die head partially defining a die feature open axially upward thereon; a die shank which extends from the die head in an axial downward direction and is insertable into the shank receptacle of the die receiving portion of the joining tool; a fastening contour partially defined in the shank of the interchangeable die for fastening the interchangeable die on the joining tool by a motion including an insert movement and a rotate movement; and a rotary entrainment contour partially defined in a circumferential portion of the head of the interchangeable die and including a groove extending in a chord-like manner; and whereby the rotating device is able to grasp the rotary entrainment contour and rotate the interchangeable die.

2 . An interchangeable die according to claim 1 , wherein the fastening contour comprises:
a first circumferential portion including a blocking portion; a second circumferential portion including a release portion; and in a first rotational position the die shank is one of axially insertable into or axially removable out of the shank receptacle; and in a second rotational position there is a connection, which is one of positive locking or non-positive locking in the axial direction, to the joining tool.

3 . An interchangeable die according to claim 2 , wherein the release portion of the fastening contour comprises an axial recess partially defined by the die shank, open radially outward, and axial extending; and the blocking portion comprises a transverse recess partially defined by the die shank, open radially outward, and extending transversely with respect to the axial direction.

4 . An interchangeable die according to claim 2 , wherein the first and the second circumferential portions connect together in the circumferential direction.

5 . An interchangeable die according to claim 1 , and further comprising a die latching device releasably securable to the joining tool in one of a latched rotational and a latched longitudinal position.

6 . An interchangeable die according to claim 5 , wherein the die latching device is located on a circumferential portion of the die shank.

7 . An interchangeable die according to claim 5 , wherein the die latching device is located on a shank end face remote from the die head.

8 . An interchangeable die according to claim 1 , and further comprising an identification device which is one of:
optically detectable, or able to generate a characteristic acoustic signal which is acoustically detectable in the case of a movement of the interchangeable die relative to a die receiving portion.

9 . An interchangeable die for installation in a joining tool that includes a die receiving portion with a shank receptacle by means of a rotating device, said interchangeable die comprising:
a die head partially defining a die feature open axially upward thereon; a die shank which extends from the die head in an axial direction and is insertable into the shank receptacle of the die receiving portion of the joining tool; and a fastening contour partially defined in the shank of the interchangeable die for connecting the interchangeable die on the joining tool by a motion including an insert movement and a rotate movement; and the rotate movement is between an angle of relative rotation of 45° to 135° between the inter changeable die and the joining tool.

10 . A joining tool operable using an interchangeable die including a die shank, the joining tool comprising:
a C-frame; a die holder releasably connected to the C-frame and including a die receiving portion with a shank receptacle for receiving the die shank; and a fastening device is located on the die receiving portion for fastening the interchangeable die on the joining tool ( 50 ) by a motion including an insert movement and a rotate movement.

11 . A joining tool according to claim 10 , wherein the fastening device of the die receiving portion includes a blocking member engageable with the interchangeable die in order to secure the interchangeable die in the joining tool against movement in an axial direction with one of a positive locking or non-positive locking manner.

12 . A joining tool according to claim 11 wherein the blocking member projects into the shank receptacle of the die receiving portion.

13 . A joining tool according to claim 12 , wherein the blocking member includes a chord-like projection into and across the shank receptacle.

14 . A joining tool according to claim 10 , and further comprising a tool latching device operable for releasably securing the interchangeable die in one of a rotationally and axially latched position, when the die is received in the die receiving portion.

15 . A joining tool according to claim 14 , characterized in that the tool latching device moves one of axially or radially into engagement with the die shank.

16 . A method for joining a first workpiece to a second workpiece, the method of joining comprising the steps of:
storing an interchangeable die at a transfer station, the die including a die head and a die shank; providing a joining tool including a die receiving portion for an interchangeable die; moving the joining tool to the transfer station; inserting the interchangeable die into the die receiving portion of the joining tool with a relative axial movement, and then rotating the interchangeable die in the die receiving portion with a relative rotation movement having an angle of rotation in the range of 45° to 135°, and pushing a fastener with the joining tool through the first workpiece and into the second workpiece with the interchangeable die opposite the fastener on a far side of the second workpiece.

17 . A method for joining a first workpiece to a second workpiece according to claim 16 , and further comprising the step of:
removing the interchangeable die from the transfer station by grasping the die at a rotary entrainment contour partially defined in a circumferential portion of the head of the interchangeable die and including a groove extending in a chord-like manner;

18 . A method for joining a first workpiece to a second workpiece according to claim 17 , wherein the step of rotating the die includes:
grasping the rotary entrainment contour with a rotating device and rotating the interchangeable die thereby.

Assignees

• Newfrey Llc

Inventors

• Tripp Andreas
• Kohlstaedt Timo
• Moeser Joachim

Classifications

• B21J15/025

  Setting self-piercing rivets · CPC title

• B21J15/36 Primary

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