Interchangeable die transfer station, joining tool system and joining method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016288198-A1
Application number	US-201615185726-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 17, 2016
Priority date	Dec 18, 2013
Publication date	Oct 6, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A transfer station for temporarily storing at least one interchangeable die. The die can be removed by a joining tool to carry out a joining operation, and can be returned back into the transfer station after the joining operation. The transfer station including a die receptacle for holding the die, and a rotating device for rotating the die in the receptacle in order to establish an axial engagement between the die and the joining tool.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A transfer station for temporarily storing an interchangeable die defining a longitudinal axis and including a die head and a die shank, and wherein the interchangeable die can be taken out of the transfer station by a joining tool to carry out a joining operation which uses the interchangeable die and can be returned to the transfer station again once the joining operation has been carried out, said transfer station comprising:
a base; a die receptacle located on the base and open in a radial direction transverse to the longitudinal axis and into which the interchangeable die can be inserted in the radial direction ( 98 ′) transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis; a rotating device operable for rotating the die relative to the base for presentation to and engagement with the joining tool; and a U-shaped portion located in the base and partially around the receptacle; and the U-shaped portion is rotatable in relation to the base between a transfer position, wherein the U shaped portion is open in the radial direction and a locked position, wherein the U-shaped portion closes the receptacle in the radial direction; and in the transfer position the interchangeable die is insertable into the die receptacle, and in the locked position the die is held securely in the transfer station.

2 . A transfer station according to claim 1 , and further comprising a stationary frame, and the base is mounted to the frame in a floating manner.

3 . A transfer station according to claim 1 , wherein the die receptacle is a first die receptacle and the transfer station further comprises:
a second die receptacle; a stationary frame on which the base is movably supported; and a standby drive operable to move the base relative to the frame and whereby one of the first die receptacle or the second die receptacle may be presented to the joining tool in a standby position.

4 . A transfer station according to claim 1 , wherein the die includes a rotary entrainment contour partially defined in a circumferential portion of the die head by a chord-like groove, and:
the die receptacle is configured to hold the die by the entrainment contour.

5 . A transfer station according to claim 1 wherein the die receptacle is configured such that the die shank protrudes in relation to the die receptacle.

6 . A transfer station according to claim 1 , and further comprising an ID sensor operable to read an ID device located on the interchangeable die.

7 . A transfer station for temporarily storing an interchangeable die defining a longitudinal axis and including a die head and a die shank, and wherein the interchangeable die can be taken out of the transfer station by a joining tool to carry out a joining operation which uses the interchangeable die and can be returned to the transfer station again once the joining operation has been carried out, said transfer station comprising:
a base; a first die receptacle and a second die receptacle located on the base and open in a radial direction transverse to the longitudinal axis and into which the interchangeable die can be inserted in the radial direction transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis; a stationary frame on which the base is movably supported; and a standby drive operable to move the base relative to the frame; and whereby one of the first die receptacle or the second die receptacle may be presented to the joining tool in a standby position.

8 . A transfer station according to claim 7 , and further comprising a rotating device operable for rotating the die relative to the base for presentation to and engagement with the joining tool.

9 . A transfer station according to claim 7 , and further comprising:
a U-shaped portion located in the base and partially around the first die receptacle; and the U-shaped portion is rotatable in relation to the base between a transfer position, wherein the U shaped portion is open in the radial direction and a locked position, wherein the U-shaped portion closes the first die receptacle in the radial direction; and in the transfer position the interchangeable die is insertable into the first die receptacle and in the locked position the die is held securely in the transfer station.

10 . A transfer station according to claim 7 , and further comprising an elastic connecting element located between the frame and the base, and enabling relative movement between the frame and the base.

11 . A joining tool system comprising:
a plurality of interchangeable dies, each of a die defining a longitudinal axis and including a die head and a die shank a joining tool including a die receiving portion operable for engaging a die; and a transfer station including:
a base;
a die receptacle located on the base and open in a radial direction transverse to the longitudinal axis and into which the interchangeable die can be inserted in the radial direction transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis;
a rotating device operable for rotating the die relative to the base for presentation to and engagement with the joining tool;
a U-shaped portion located in the base and partially around the receptacle; and the U-shaped portion is rotatable in relation to the base between a transfer position, wherein the U shaped portion is open in the radial direction, and a locked position, wherein the U-shaped portion closes the receptacle in the radial direction; and in the transfer position the interchangeable die is insertable into the die receptacle and in the locked position the die is held securely in the transfer station; and
wherein the plurality of dies are connectable in each case to the die receiving portion of the joining tool by an engagement 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 interchangeable die and the joining tool.

12 . A joining tool system according to claim 11 , wherein the joining tool is operable for executing a joining process on a workpiece arrangement which is arranged on the interchangeable die, and wherein the joining tool is operable to exert an axial force onto the workpiece arrangement in a first axial direction, and wherein the insert movement is realized in the opposite axial direction in one of a positive locking or non-positive locking manner.

13 . 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.

14 . A method for joining a first workpiece to a second workpiece according to claim 13 , 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;

15 . A method for joining a first workp

Assignees

• Newfrey Llc

Inventors

• Tripp Andreas
• Kohlstaedt Timo
• Moeser Joachim

Classifications

• B21J15/10

  Riveting machines (electric heating elements H05B) · CPC title

• Y10T483/1731

  including matrix · CPC title

• B21J15/025

  Setting self-piercing rivets · CPC title

• B21J15/36 Primary

  Rivet sets, i.e. tools for forming heads; Mandrels for expanding parts of hollow rivets · CPC title

• Y10T29/5118

  Riveting · CPC title