An insertion device for application of an insertion head, which has at least one infusion cannula and/or at least one piercing tip for piercing into the body of a patient, the insertion device comprising a) a housing (1a, 1b) having at least one contact surface for placing the insertion device on an application point on the body of the patient, wherein the housing (1a, 1b) has a first housing part and a second housing part, and wherein the first housing part carries at least a part of the at least one contact surface, and the second housing part is pivotable or displaceable in relation to the first housing part from a base position into a charging position, and wherein the two housing parts (1a, 1b) are arranged in the base position in a relative position in relation to one another which they assume during the application of the insertion head; b) holding means supported by the first housing part which are designed for the purpose of temporarily holding the insertion head ready for application in the holding means in a first position, in which both of the at least one infusion cannula and/or the at least one piercing tip are set back in relation to the contact surface, wherein the holding means are accessible in the charging position for insertion of the insertion head to be applied into the folding means; and wherein the second housing part is moveable back into the base position after the insertion of the insertion head into the holding means; c) drive means (8, 9) which are designed to move the insertion head, which is held in the holding means in the first position, by means of an insertion movement from the first position into a second position, in which both of the at least one infusion cannula and/or the at least one piercing tip protrude substantially completely beyond the contact surface; d) a propulsion element comprised by the drive means (8, 9), which is designed to strike the insertion head out of the holding means at the beginning of the insertion movement and thus detach it therefrom, whereby the insertion head completes at least the largest part of the insertion movement detached from the holding means. a) a housing (1a, 1b) having at least one contact surface for placing the insertion device on an application point on the body of the patient, wherein the housing (1a, 1b) has a first housing part and a second housing part, and wherein the first housing part carries at least a part of the at least one contact surface, and the second housing part is pivotable or displaceable in relation to the first housing part from a base position into a charging position, and wherein the two housing parts (1a, 1b) are arranged in the base position in a relative position in relation to one another which they assume during the application of the insertion head; b) holding means supported by the first housing part which are designed for the purpose of temporarily holding the insertion head ready for application in the holding means in a first position, in which both of the at least one infusion cannula and/or the at least one piercing tip are set back in relation to the contact surface, wherein the holding means are accessible in the charging position for insertion of the insertion head to be applied into the folding means; and wherein the second housing part is moveable back into the base position after the insertion of the insertion head into the holding means; c) drive means (8, 9) which are designed to move the insertion head, which is held in the holding means in the first position, by means of an insertion movement from the first position into a second position, in which both of the at least one infusion cannula and/or the at least one piercing tip protrude substantially completely beyond the contact surface; d) a propulsion element comprised by the drive means (8, 9), which is designed to strike the insertion head out of the holding means at the beginning of the insertion movement and thus detach it therefrom, whereby the insertion head completes at least the largest part of the insertion movement detached from the holding means.