Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates to a device for processing clips, screws, bolts, rivets, blind rivets, nuts, blind nuts or similar connecting elements. 
         [0002]    Processing or setting tools for processing connecting elements, also in the form of clips or clamping nuts from a magazine, are known in the art and offer the general advantage that during processing, a connection to a feed unit supplying the connecting elements via relatively heavy and rigid supply hoses supplying the connecting elements is not necessary, so that such setting tools can be designed to be lightweight and convenient, making them very user friendly. 
         [0003]    The disadvantage of such pre-existing setting tools, however, is that they require connecting elements in belt form, i.e. in a form in which the connecting elements are literally provided on a belt made of a suitable material, for example of plastic and/or paper and then separated from this belt during processing in the setting tool, or are connected with each other to form a unit accommodated in the magazine of the setting tool, in the form of material sections that can be separated during processing. This belt method not only involves additional expense, but also in many ways severely limits the freedom of the design of the connecting elements, in particular for adaptation to special requirements. 
         [0004]    Also known are setting heads, in particular for use in automatic systems, which are fed with the connecting elements to be processed by means of flexible supply lines or hoses, which are constantly connected with the respective setting head. For many applications, these setting heads cannot be used or can be used only to a limited extent, especially if the processing or setting of connecting elements needs to take place manually, i.e. through manual operation of the setting head. The relatively heavy weight and the limited flexibility of the supply line connected with the setting head for feeding the connecting elements restricts and impedes the handling of these units. 
         [0005]    It is an object of the invention is to present a device which avoids the aforementioned disadvantages and enables processing of connecting elements provided as bulk material in a simplified manner. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In the device according to the invention, which is used to process clips, screws, bolts, rivets, blind rivets, nuts, blind nuts, etc., the setting head for processing or for setting the connecting elements is part of a setting tool, which in addition to the setting head also comprises at least one magazine for holding a supply of non-belted connecting elements, so that the connecting elements can be processed from out of the magazine, namely without a connection between the setting tool and the supply station for feeding additional connecting elements. 
         [0007]    In the device according to the invention, the connecting elements are set for example by means of screwing, pressing, pulling, pushing, or combinations of these means. 
         [0008]    The at least one setting tool can be docked onto a supply station, namely for automatic refilling of its magazine with the non-belted connecting elements. 
         [0009]    In a preferred embodiment, at least two setting tools are provided, so that during processing of the connecting elements present in the magazine of one setting tool, the other setting tool is filled with the connecting elements. For this purpose, the supply station is then designed for example with a docking position for each setting tool. 
         [0010]    Connecting elements according to the invention are in particular clips, also in the form of clip-like connecting elements or clamping nuts, but also screws, nuts, bolts, etc. 
         [0011]    The setting tool is, for example, a hand-held tool with which the connecting elements are set or processed manually. However, the at least one setting tool can also be part of a system, for example, a robot system for automatic processing of connecting elements. 
         [0012]    Further embodiments, advantages and possible applications of the invention are disclosed in the following description of exemplary embodiments and accompanying drawings. All characteristics described and/or pictorially represented, alone or in any combination, are subject matter of the invention, regardless of their being summarized or referenced in the claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    The invention is described below in detail based on exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings, in which: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  shows in a very schematic functional depiction a device according to the invention for processing or setting connecting elements in the form of clamping nuts; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  shows in an enlarged component drawing a clamping nut after being pushed onto a workpiece; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  shows in a simplified depiction a setting tool according to the invention in the form of a screwing tool in supply or starting position (position a) and in working position (position b); 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  shows a supply station for the setting tool of  FIG. 3 ; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  shows in a schematic depiction the functional process during supply and setting of a connecting element with the setting tool of  FIG. 3 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]    The device generally designated  1  in  FIG. 1  is used for setting or placing clamping nuts  2  on workpieces  3 , for example on workpieces  3  manufactured from sheet metal, by stamping and bending so that the respective clamping nut  2  overlaps the respective workpiece  3  in the manner of a tab for example in the area of a workpiece edge. The clamping nuts  2  are designed for this purpose in the known manner as clips, namely essentially consisting of the two legs  2 . 1  and  2 . 2  and of a yoke section  2 . 3  connecting these two legs. The leg  2 . 2  is provided with an internally threaded bore  4 , opposite of which a matching recess  5  is allocated in the leg  2 . 1 . The clamping nuts  2  are manufactured for example from spring sheet steel or a suitable plastic. Clamping nuts of this type are known to persons skilled in the art. 
         [0020]    The device  1  in the depicted embodiment consists of two separate functional elements or units, namely of a mobile setting tool  6  and a filling or loading station  7 . The setting tool  6  contains within a housing  8  one magazine  9  formed essentially by a guide for holding a supply of non-belted or not mutually connected clamping nuts  2 . In the depicted embodiment the clamping nuts  2  in the magazine  9  are arranged closely adjacent to each other so that they respectively lie against each other with the end  2 . 4  open toward the yoke section  2 . 3  pointing downward and oriented with their legs  2 . 1  and  2 . 2  perpendicular or crosswise to the longitudinal extension of the magazine  9 . By feed means not depicted, for example by a carrier or pusher under the effect of at least one spring element the clamping nuts  2  accommodated in the magazine  9  are preloaded in the direction of arrow A to a head end of the setting tool  6  or to the setting head  10  there. 
         [0021]    At the setting head  10  the magazine  9  or the guide forming said magazine ends in a supply position  11 , which is also the upper end of a joining channel  12  forming the processing position, which (joining channel) is open on a bottom side of the setting tool  6  in the area of the head end  10  and has a cross section which is adapted to the clamping nuts  2 , so that the respective first clamping nuts  2  provided in feed direction A in the magazine  9  and therefore at the supply position  11  can be brought out in direction of arrow B with their open side  2 . 4  front first and secured against twisting in the joining channel  12  and pushed onto the workpiece  3 . For pushing or setting the respective clamping nuts  2 , a feed element, e.g. ram  13  is provided, which with its lower ram surface  14  in  FIG. 1  forms a contact surface for the yoke section  2 . 3  of the respective clamping nuts  2  while being pushed out or set (arrow B). The ram  13  can be moved by an actuating mechanism  15 . 
         [0022]    The actuating mechanism  15 , which for example is activated by an actuating lever (not depicted) provided on the setting tool  6 , comprises for example a pneumatic piston-cylinder arrangement for moving the ram  13  during setting, as well as spring means for the return movement of the ram  13  to its starting position. The actuating mechanism  15  is supplied by a supply line or a supply hose  16 . 
         [0023]    The fixed supply station  7  is designed so that the setting tool  6  can be docked and undocked at a docking position on the docking station  7  (double arrow C), in particular so that after docking the magazine  9  of the setting tool  6  is automatically refilled by means of the supply station  7  with clamping nuts  2 , so that the magazine  9  then again contains the maximum possible number of clamping nuts  2 . 
         [0024]    The supply station  7  in the depicted embodiment is designed in a housing  17  with a buffer zone or a buffer magazine  18 , namely for holding a plurality of clamping nuts  2 , which are provided in this buffer zone  18  in non-belted form, i.e. not mutually connected and closely following each other, in an orientation which corresponds to the orientation of the clamping nuts  2  in the magazine  9 . After docking of the setting tool  6  on the supply station  7  the end of the magazine  9  furthest away from the setting head  10  adjoins an end of the buffer zone  18  so that the clamping nuts  2  can be refilled from the buffer zone  18  into the magazine  9 . 
         [0025]    The supply station  7  further comprises a connecting element feed unit  19 , which in the depicted embodiment is formed by a vibrating or oscillating pot and which serves to hold a plurality of clamping nuts  2  in loose form or as bulk material. The buffer zone  18  is supplied with clamping nuts  2  from the connecting element feed unit  19  via a guide with corresponding baffles, so that the buffer zone  18  is always filled with the required number of clamping nuts  2  and the clamping nuts  2  in the buffer zone  18  are always oriented correctly or as required. 
         [0026]    The supply station  7  for example also supplies the power required for actuation of the setting tool  6  or of the ejecting element or ram  13  there, for example in the form of compressed air. 
         [0027]    One of the advantages of the device  1  is that the setting tool  6  can be designed to be small and very convenient, making it possible to set the clamping nuts  2  also in hard-to-access areas of workpieces  3 . The setting tool  6  can be oriented as required to the contour or orientation of the area of a workpiece  3  to be supplied with the respective clamping nuts  2 , i.e. the setting tool  6  enables not only setting of the respective clamping nuts  2  in vertical direction from top to bottom, but also in any other axial direction. 
         [0028]    The convenient design of the setting tool  6  results in particular from the fact that the setting tool  6  exhibits a relative simple and lightweight construction and also that supply lines or hoses for supplying the clamping nuts  2  are avoided. The supply line  16  can be designed to be very lightweight and flexible, as opposed to conventional supply hoses. 
         [0029]    If the clamping nuts  2 , as described above, are oriented in the magazine  9  so that they are oriented with the open side  2 . 4  toward the bottom side of the setting tool  6 , i.e. each clamping nut  2  at the processing or supply position  11  is facing the joining channel  12  with the open side  2 . 4 , then an especially simple construction results due to the fact that only one movement in a single axial direction is necessary to set each clamping nut  2 , namely a movement of the ejecting element or ram  13  in the direction of arrow B. 
         [0030]    A general advantage of the described device  1  is that the clamping nuts  2  of the filling or supply station  7  can be fed as loose bulk material, which avoids the disadvantages of the belt technology commonly used in the past. 
         [0031]      FIGS. 3 and 4  show in a simplified depiction a setting tool  6   a  and a supply station  7   a  for loading the setting tool  6   a  or the magazine  20  provided on said setting tool with connecting elements, which are depicted in  FIG. 5  very schematically by  21  and in this embodiment are screws, for example self-cutting screws. The setting tool  6   a  is therefore a “screw driver” for inserting the connecting elements  21  embodied as screws in workpieces  22 . 
         [0032]    The magazine  20  of the setting tool  6   a  is likewise used for holding a supply of connecting elements  21 , which are provided consecutively in the magazine in a pre-defined orientation. For insertion of the connecting elements  21  in the likewise only very schematically depicted workpiece  22 , each connecting element  21 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , is moved from the magazine  20  by means of an internal conveyor or forward feed element (not depicted), for example by means of a motorized pusher, in the direction of arrow D from the magazine  20  or from a loading or supply position formed there to a processing position  23  formed within the setting tool  6   a  and from this position then moved by means of a screw head  24  in an axial direction parallel to the connecting element axis, i.e. in the direction of arrow E, onto the workpiece  22  and screwed into the workpiece  22  by the rotary driven screw head  24 . 
         [0033]    Preferably the setting tool  6   a  is designed so that after each screwing or setting process and prior to activating of the setting tool  6   a  for setting a further connecting element  21 , a connecting element  21  respectively is automatically moved to the processing position  23 . 
         [0034]    As can be seen in the depiction of the positions a and b in  FIG. 3 , the housing  25  of the setting tool  6   a , which (housing) also accommodates the screw head  24  and the motorized drive for the screw head  24 , can be moved relative to the magazine  20  in the direction of arrow E against the effect of recoil springs for example from a starting position (position a in  FIG. 3 ), in which the screw head  24  is outside of the processing position  23 , into a working position (position b in  FIG. 3 ). During this movement the screw head  24  is first moved into the loading or processing position  23  and then is moved increasingly further with the connecting element  21  in the direction of arrow E, namely for insertion of this connecting element into the workpiece  22 . After insertion of the connecting element  21  into the workpiece  22  the housing  25  is moved back with the screw head  24  relative to the magazine  20  into the starting position. 
         [0035]    As  FIG. 3  further shows, during the setting of the respective connecting element  21  the setting tool  6   a  is supported on the workpiece  22  with a support surface  26  formed by the front side of the magazine  20 . The front side of the magazine  20  thereby forms the setting head  10   a  of the setting tool  6   a . The axial forward feed motion of the screw head  24  and of the respective connecting element  21  in the direction of arrow E during setting takes place for example manually by moving the housing  25  held on the housing handle  25 . 1  relative to the magazine  20  held or secured on the magazine handle  20 . 1 . 
         [0036]    The motorized drive for rotation of the screw head  24  during screwing in of the respective connecting element  21  into the workpiece  22  is for example an electric or pneumatic drive. This drive is activated for example by manual actuation of an actuating element  27 , which is provided on the housing  25  in the area of the housing handle  25 . 1 . Other possibilities for activating and controlling the motorized drive of the setting tool  6   a  are also conceivable. Generally it is also possible to control the motorized drive of the setting tool  6   a  by a sensor element, which responds to the relative position of the housing  25  in relation to the magazine  20 , i.e. it switches on the motorized drive when the housing  25  has been moved relative to the magazine  20  out of the starting position. It is further possible to link the function of the actuating element  27  with a further actuating element acting between the magazine  20  and the housing  25  in the manner of an AND function, so that the motorized drive of the setting tool  6   a  can only be actuated when the screw head  25  is moved out of the starting position. 
         [0037]    The supply station  7   a  corresponds with respect to its basic function to the supply station  7 . The supply station  7   a  likewise comprises a feed unit for the connecting elements  21 , for example in the form of a vibrating or oscillating pot, and a loading and buffer zone (not depicted), in which the connecting elements  21  are supplied in a pre-defined orientation and position, so that this supply of connecting elements  21  then is inserted into the magazine  20  after docking of the setting tool  6   a  onto the supply unit  7   a.    
         [0038]    The invention was described above based on exemplary embodiments. It goes without saying that modifications and variations are possible, without abandoning the underlying inventive idea on which the invention is based. 
         [0039]    A device according to the invention for processing clamping nuts  2  was described above. It goes without saying that instead of clamping nuts  2 , other functional or connecting elements can also be processed with the device according to the invention, of course by respectively adapting the respective setting tool, the supply or filling station and the magazines or buffer magazines provided there. 
         [0040]    It was assumed above that the setting tool  6  is a hand-held tool, with which the connecting elements (e.g. clamping nuts  2 ) are manually set and processed. However, the setting tool  6  can also be part of an automatic processing mechanism, for example of a robot-supported system and thereby for example so that the setting tool  6 , for processing of the connecting elements accommodated in the magazine  9 , is taken from the supply station  7  by a robot arm or by an adapter provided there and after processing of the connecting elements, is returned to the supply station  7  for automatic refilling of the magazine  9 . 
         [0041]    It was assumed above that the filling or supply station  7  is designed for docking of a setting tool  6 . A preferred embodiment of the invention provides for a filling or supply station  7  in the manner that at least two setting tools  6  can be docked independently of each other for automatic refilling of their magazines  9 , so that for example during processing of the connecting elements present in the magazine  9  of a setting tool the magazine of the other setting tool  6  docked on the supply station  7  is automatically refilled with connecting elements. 
       REFERENCE LIST 
       [0000]    
       
           1  device for setting clamping nuts 
           2  clamping nut 
           2 . 1 ,  2 . 2  leg 
           2 . 3  yoke section 
           2 . 4  open side of the clamping nut  2   
           3  workpiece 
           4 ,  5  openings in leg  2 . 2  and  2 . 1   
           6 ,  6   a  setting tool 
           7 ,  7   a  supply station 
           8  housing of setting tool  6   
           9  magazine in setting tool 
           10 ,  10   a  head end of setting tool  6  or  6   a    
           11  processing or supply position 
           12  joining channel 
           13  ram 
           14  ram surface 
           15  actuating element for ram  13   
           16  supply line 
           17  housing of supply station 
           18  buffer zone or buffer magazine 
           19  clamping nut feed unit, e.g. vibrating or oscillating pot 
           20  magazine 
           20 . 1  handle on magazine 
           21  connecting element 
           22  workpiece 
           23  processing position 
           24  screw head 
           25  housing 
           25 . 1  housing handle 
           26  contact or support surface on magazine  20   
           27  actuating element 
           28  feed unit for connecting elements 
         A feed direction of clamping nuts  2  in magazine  9   
         B joining direction during setting of the clamping nuts  2   
         C docking and undocking movement 
         D movement of the connecting elements  21  into supply position 
         E forward feed motion 
         F relative motion of the housing  25  and/or of the screw head  24  relative to the magazine  20

Technology Category: 7