Abstract:
The invention relates to a device for holding elements ( 1 ) in a successive arrangement in the longitudinal direction in holding units ( 5 ). The holding units ( 5 ) are inseparably connected to edge strips ( 2, 3 ) via connecting webs ( 7 ). The elements ( 1 ) are arranged releasably in the holding elements ( 5 ). Thus the device can be reused and can be again equipped with elements ( 1 ) after removing the elements ( 1 ) from the holding units ( 5 ).

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a U.S. National Phase patent application based on International Application Serial No. PCT/EP2009/004240 filed Jun. 12, 2009, the disclosure of which is hereby explicitly incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a device for holding elements in a successive arrangement in a longitudinal direction. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    One known device is disclosed in DE 41 09 772 A1. In this device at least one edge strip has been provided, and several retaining units are designed in such a way that they hold elements made of plastic parts shaped, for example, in the form of push buttons. Each retaining unit is connected to the (or each) conveyor belt via at least one lateral connecting web which is aligned in perpendicular manner to the (or at least one) conveyor belt. This makes it possible to stockpile very economically elements held in a successive arrangement in the longitudinal direction in retaining units and to supply them to a handling tool which cuts through the (or any) mechanically relatively weak connecting web to apply the elements. 
         [0006]    DE 25 12 825 A1 discloses a device for holding elements designed in the form of screws in a successive arrangement in the longitudinal direction in which C-shaped retaining units are connected with each other via webs. The screws can be inserted in and removed from the C-shaped retaining units through a lateral opening. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention provides a device for holding elements in a successive arrangement in a longitudinal direction according to the type mentioned above, which arrangement can be reused and the elements can be applied in a relatively simple manner. 
         [0008]    Each retaining unit is permanently connected with at least one conveyor belt, and each retaining unit has a fixing arrangement by means of which an element can be fixed in releasable manner. In this way, the elements can be released from the retaining units without destroying the connection between the retaining units and the (or each) conveyor belt, and the device can be again equipped with elements to be applied. 
         [0009]    In one form thereof, the present invention provides a device for holding elements in a successive arrangement in the longitudinal direction with at least one edge strip and several retaining units for holding the elements, whereas each holding unit is connected with the (or at least one) edge strip via at least a lateral connecting web, characterized in that each retaining unit is permanently connected with at least one edge strip and that each retaining unit has one fixing arrangement with which an element can be fixed in releasable manner. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The above mentioned and other features and objects of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  a perspective view of the invention-based device, which involves a plane with two edge strips and several retaining units, in which one unit is supplied with an element designed as a machine screw, with the viewer facing the upper side; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  a sectional view of the embodiment according to  FIG. 1 , with the viewer facing the bottom side; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  a frontal side view of the embodiment according to  FIG. 1  showing the retaining unit supplied with the machine screw; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  a detailed perspective view of a further embodiment of an invention-based device, which has two edge strips and several retaining units, with the viewer facing the upper side of a retaining unit; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  a perspective view of the embodiment according to  FIG. 4 , with the viewer facing the bottom side of a retaining unit supplied with a machine screw. 
       
    
    
       [0016]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Although the exemplifications set out herein illustrate embodiments of the invention, in several forms, the embodiments disclosed below are not intended to be exhaustive or to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention to the precise forms disclosed. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view (with the viewer facing the upper side) of an embodiment of an invention-based device for holding elements  1 , designed, for example, in the form of machine screws, in a successive arrangement in a longitudinal direction, which device is preferably produced from a hard-elastic plastic material in a continuous, or a quasi continuous process such as injection molding, extrusion, or embossing. The embodiment according to  FIG. 1  has two edge strips  2 ,  3 , which are aligned in parallel arrangement at a distance to each other. Each edge strip is designed with a toothed structure  4  which, according to the representation in  FIG. 1 , is arranged on the upper side facing the viewer. The toothed structures  4  serve the purpose of engaging with drive elements of a handling tool (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) for applying the elements  1 . 
         [0018]    Between the edge strips  2 ,  3 , in a successive arrangement regularly spaced in a longitudinal direction of the edge strips  2 ,  3 , several retaining units are arranged which are adjusted in an article-specific manner to the respective elements to be held, each retaining unit being provided with a circumferentially closed planar retaining ring  6 . In this embodiment, the retaining rings  6  are connected with both edge strips  2 ,  3  via two pairs of lateral connecting webs  7 , which correspond in width approximately to the width of the retaining ring  6 , and which are aligned in perpendicular manner to the edge strips  2 ,  3 . 
         [0019]    Furthermore, each retaining unit  5  has a fixing arrangement, which is molded via locking stands  8  to one side of the retaining ring  6 , in this embodiment represented in  FIG. 1  the upper side facing the viewer. In the embodiment according to  FIG. 1 , four locking stands  8  have been provided, which are arranged diametrically opposite from each other at an angular distance of 90 degrees. Each locking stand  8  is designed with a positioning lug  10  which extends to the inside radially over an internal side  9  of the retaining ring  6 . In addition, the fixing arrangements of each retaining unit  5  are provided with counter flange connectors  11  which are molded to the internal side  9  of the retaining rings  6  and protrude radially to the inside, with each counter flange connector  11  being arranged in the center between two locking stands  8 . In the embodiment according to  FIG. 1 , the counter flange connectors are arranged in the planar region of the retaining ring  6 . 
         [0020]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of a retaining unit  5  according to the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1 , with a view to the bottom side opposite of the toothed structure  4  which, according to the representation in  FIG. 2 , is facing the viewer. The representation in  FIG. 2  shows that each counter flange connector  11  has a rounded frontal side at the free end protruding into the internal space of the retaining ring  6 . On both sides of the connecting region of each respective counter flange connector  11  a reduction recess has been provided which extends in radial direction from the internal side  9  of the retaining ring  6  to the external side  13  of the retaining ring  6 . In this way, by exerting a perpendicular force from the upper side in the direction of the bottom side of an element  1  (not shown) arranged in the retaining unit  5 , each counter flange connector  11  can be moved with relatively little effort out of the planar region of the retaining ring  6  in order to release the element  1  and maintain the connection between the retaining unit  5  and the edge strips  2 ,  3 . As a result, each retaining unit  5  is permanently connected with the edge strips  2 ,  3 , provided the device is used in accordance with the intended purpose. 
         [0021]      FIG. 3  shows a frontal side view of the embodiment according to  FIG. 1 , with a view to an element  1  in the form of a machine screw arranged in a retaining unit  5 . Said machine screw is designed with a shaft  15 , a head plate  16 , and a tool attachment structure  17 .  FIG. 3  shows that each locking stand  8  has a lead-in chamfer  18  on the side facing away from retaining ring  6 , which lead-in chamfer  18  which is inclined toward the positioning lug  10 . On the side facing the retaining ring  6 , a clamping slope is available which, in the representation of  FIG. 3 , rests against the upper side of the head plate  16  facing away from the retaining ring  6 . The bottom side of the head plate  16  facing the retaining ring  6 , in turn, rests on the counter flange connectors  11  (not shown in  FIG. 3 ). As a result, the respective element  1  is firmly fixed by the fixing arrangement formed by the locking stand  8  and the counter flange connectors  11 . 
         [0022]    For applying an element  1 , a force has to be exerted on the respective element  1  from the upper side of the retaining ring  6  in the direction of the bottom side of the retaining ring  6  in order to release the element  1  from the fixing arrangement. For this purpose, it is advantageous to leave sufficient space between the locking stands  8  and the tool attachment structure  17  to allow a tool (not shown in  FIG. 2 ) to engage with the tool attachment structure  17 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 4  shows a detailed perspective view of a further embodiment of an invention-based device with a view to the upper side which, according to the representation of  FIG. 4 , is facing the viewer. The embodiment according to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3  and the embodiment according to  FIG. 4  have corresponding components provided with the same reference numerals, which are subsequently not explained in detail.  FIG. 4  shows that in this embodiment the counter flange connector  11  is connected with the retaining ring  6  on the side facing away from the locking stand  8  via a respective web portion  20  which extends in perpendicular manner to the respective counter flange connector  11 . As a result, the counter flange connectors  11  with bearing portions  21  are arranged in a planar region which is offset from the planar region of the respective retaining ring  6 , forming a relatively large receiving area between the positioning lugs  10  and the counter flange connectors  11  to hold the relatively thick elements  1 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 5  shows the embodiment according to  FIG. 4  with a view to the bottom side facing the viewer (as shown in the representation according to  FIG. 5 ) with an element  1  inserted in the retaining unit  5 .  FIG. 5  shows that a radial distance exists between the head plate  16  of the element  1  and the internal side  9  of the retaining ring  6 , so that the element  1  is fixed in the retaining ring  6  with a certain play within the scope of elasticity of the locking stand  8  in order to compensate tolerances. 
         [0025]    While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.