Patent ID: 9731340
Date: 2017-08-15
CPC Classifications: B21J,F16B

Claim:
1. A process monitoring method of a joining operation of a joining element at a speed of at least 5 m/s into at least one component with the aid of a setting device, said setting device comprising a plunger for setting the joining element, a buffer which limits a maximum deflection of the plunger in a joining direction, and a distance measurement sensor with which the deflection of the plunger can be detected, wherein the monitoring of the process comprises the following steps: detecting the path of the plunger during the joining operation as a function of the time in the form of a distance-time curve using the distance measurement sensor; detecting a contact of the plunger on the buffer, wherein the buffer of the setting device comprises a force sensor that detects a setting force of the plunger when contacting the buffer; outputting of the setting force by the buffer when the plunger contacts the buffer, wherein the contacting of the plunger on the buffer below a minimum setting force, as detected by the force sensor, is not detected as contacting of the plunger of the buffer for purposes of that detecting step; and evaluating the distance-time curve such that, in the presence of one maximum representing a sufficient driving of the joining element into the at least one component followed by one minimum in the distance-time curve representing a reaction of the at least one component to the plunger moving the at least one component back against the joining direction, and without detecting contact of the plunger on the buffer, a joint connection is judged to be acceptable during the joining operation covering a period in which the plunger drives the joining element into the at least one component in the joining direction and the plunger experiences a reaction from a component to the joining element causing the plunger to move opposite the joining direction.