Patent ID: 9610632
Date: 2017-04-04
CPC Classifications: B21J,B23P

Claim:
1. An apparatus for feeding joining elements, comprising: a joining tool that is movable by a programmable handling unit, the joining tool configured to perform a joining connection between two workpieces using at least one joining element; a magazine mounted on the joining tool and adapted to receive the at least one joining element, the magazine having an inlet opening; a filling station having a tubular section with an outlet opening, the tubular section adapted to feed the at least one joining element to the magazine so that, when the at least one joining element is being conveyed from the filling station into the magazine, the inlet opening of the magazine first receives the at least one joining element after the at least one joining element exits the filling station through the outlet opening, wherein the apparatus is adapted to convey the at least one joining element from the filling station into the magazine when the inlet opening of the magazine is aligned with the outlet opening of the filling station, and a control device that is programmed to control a relative position of the magazine and the filling station so that the magazine is spaced apart from the filling station when the at least one joining element is being conveyed from the filling station into the magazine, wherein the magazine has an insertion section between the inlet opening and a receiving section of the magazine, the insertion section widening from the receiving section towards the inlet opening such that the joining element is centered during entry into the magazine.