EP1243359B1 - Blind-rivet tool - Google Patents

Abstract

A blind riveting device for placing blind rivets includes a device head, wherein an opening for receiving a rivet bolt and a suction device for producing a negative pressure for holding the rivet bolt in the opening are arranged in the head. A control unit for switching the suction device on and off by an actuating element is provided at a handle which is connected to the head. For facilitating the manipulation of the blind riveting device, the actuating element can be locked in a switched-on position.

Description

The invention relates to a Blindnietgerät for setting blind rivets with a device head, in which an opening for receiving a rivet mandrel and a suction arrangement is arranged for generating a negative pressure, which holds the mandrel in the opening, and with a control device for switching on and off of the suction arrangement with an actuator on a handle, which is connected to the device head.

Such a blind riveting tool is known from EP 1 013 358 A2. In the known blind riveting a control bolt is arranged on the handle, which can be pressed by means of the middle finger to activate the suction arrangement. A lever may also be arranged on the control bolt so that the suction arrangement can be activated with the lower three fingers of one hand, ie the middle finger, the ring finger and the little finger, when the blind riveting tool is engaged for setting rivets. When the suction arrangement has been activated, then the vacuum is maintained a rivet mandrel of a blind rivet, which is inserted into the mouthpiece of the blind riveting, firmly, so that the blind rivet does not fall out, even if the Blindnietgerät is directed downward. If you let go of the handle of the blind riveting, then the suction is switched off again, so that unnecessary Luftverbrauch can be avoided.

However, this embodiment has the disadvantage that working with such a blind riveting tool can not be carried out with the required safety and reliability during prolonged use. Although the compressed air required for generating the negative pressure is only switched on when the blind riveting tool is engaged. However, it is relatively cumbersome and requires constant concentration to always hold the blind riveting tool in the required position in the hand so that the aspiration assembly remains on or remains activated. It is imperative that for proper operation of the blind riveting always at least one finger must press the control pin or the lever attached thereto. This results in a forced attitude of the fingers on the handle of the blind riveting, which does not allow a fatigue-poor working and often can cause that in unfocused grip conditions malfunction of Blindnietgeräts be caused. The malfunctions are either falling out of the blind rivet during riveting operations, where the mouthpiece is directed downwards, or the residual mandrel is not sucked off after completion of the riveting process. Since such Blindnietgerät is usually used for assembly purposes, where two or more parts to be riveted, the installer must align the parts relative to each other, so that the holes that are provided for receiving the blind rivets, in Überdekkung come to each other. In such a handling of the parts there is a risk that the fitter changes his hand position on the handle so that the suction is no longer active and is accidentally shut down. In this case, a blind rivet inserted in the opening of the mouthpiece may fall out. This not only requires the insertion of a new blind rivet, but the fallen out blind rivet may interfere with the rest of the workflow during installation considerably. If the residual mandrel is not sucked into the receptacle after riveting, the mandrel may fall forward, resulting in an interruption of the work rhythm, or possibly cause a blockage within the channel for the residual mandrel disposal.

The invention is therefore based on the object to make working with the blind riveter for the user more comfortable.

This object is achieved in a blind riveter of the type mentioned in that the actuating element for the intake in a switch-on position can be locked.

With this configuration it is achieved that the suction arrangement can be activated when grasping the Blindnietgeräts. In this regard, the ease of use is just as good as in the known device. However, after the successful activation of the intake assembly, the installer no longer has to be careful to hold certain switches, push buttons or levers with a certain force or orientation of his hand to maintain activation of the intake assembly. Once activated suction arrangement remains rather switched on until it is turned off again by a conscious action of the fitter. Working is therefore also made functionally safer. Since the actuator is arranged on the handle, but the fitter gets a reminder so that he will usually remember the deliberate release of the blind rivet to disable the intake. A greatly increased air loss is therefore not associated with the fixability of the actuator in the on position.

In a preferred embodiment it is provided that the actuating element is designed as a slide. A slider can be moved approximately parallel to the surface of the handle. So he stands only a small distance from the surface of the handle. Thus, the grip of the fitter is not disturbed despite the presence of the actuator when the fitter grips the blind riveting. If the installer does not want it, he is not forced to operate the actuator. The slide can therefore be left in its switch-off position if the fitter does not consider it necessary to activate the suction arrangement.

It is also preferred that the control device has a valve tappet which engages in the on position in a recess on the inside of the slider. The slider is thus locked without additional components. The holding force is applied by the supplied compressed air, which acts on the valve stem. This has the additional advantage that the lock is stopped when the compressed air is switched off, for example at the end of an assembly. At the start of operation, the installer always finds a defined state.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, it is provided that the slide for switching the intake assembly is movable upwards in the direction of the device head. In general, the actual setting mechanism for setting the blind rivets, the device head, "top" is arranged while a possibly existing pneumatic-hydraulic drive member is located at the lower part. The fitter must therefore consciously push the slider when gripping the blind riveting to activate the intake or he can activate the intake by only loosely accesses when grasping the Blindietgerätes and lifts the device. Due to the loose access, the fitter can let the blind rivet almost deliberately slip when lifting through his hand and thus move the slider on which the middle finger rests, practically by exploiting the weight of the blind riveting tool in the lockable on position. To turn off the intake but a conscious act is always required by the installer must push back the slide when turning off the device in its off position. The fitter can prevent slippage of the blind riveting tool and thus activation of the suction arrangement if he firmly packs the blind riveting tool when gripping.

It is preferably provided that the slide has a projection at its end located in the switch-on direction. This facilitates handling by the hand of the fitter. The projection serves as an abutment for a finger of the hand. Thus, if the blind rivet slides downwards slightly due to its own weight under the effect of gravity in the hand of the fitter, then the projection remains on a finger of the Hand, for example, hang the middle finger, so that the slider is moved relative to the blind riveting.

It is particularly preferred that the projection is received in the on position in a recess which is formed in a housing projection, which is arranged below a triggering element. The trigger element is used to trigger the actual blind riveting, d. H. a pulling operation in which a pulling mechanism pulls on the rivet mandrel to set the blind rivet. The slider is thus below this trigger element. When the slider has been moved to its on position, then the projection of the slider is recessed in the housing projection, so that no disturbing corners or edges occur.

Preferably, the slider protrudes from the handle. This facilitates the operation. The installer can then grasp the slider easier. However, it is possible that the slider protrudes only a small distance from the handle, so that in principle results in the same grip behavior, as in a handle without slider. In addition, the installer gets in this embodiment always a small indication to turn off the intake after completion of the rivet setting process again. This indication could be given by a completely integrated into the handle slide only by other means.

It is also advantageous if the slider has a recessed grip. The grip recess allows the finger of the hand of the installer with which the blind riveting tool is gripped to actuate both in one direction, ie to switch on or activate the suction arrangement, as well as in the other direction, ie to turn off the suction, causes. In both cases, only a small movement of the hand of the fitter is required relative to the blind riveting tool. In addition, a better adaptation of the handle to the shape of the human hand is achieved with the selected shape of the slider. This increases the sense of comfort when working with the blind riveting tool.

Preferably, the slider has a length in the range of 1.5 to 3 cm. With this length it is ensured that the slider is actuated by only one finger, preferably the middle finger. The risk of a false operation is kept small. The ring finger and the little finger of the hand grasping the blind riveting tool are used exclusively to hold the blind riveting tool to the handle. These two fingers have no function for activating the suction arrangement.

Preferably, the slider has a directed in Ausschaltrichtung end, which forms an overlap region with the handle. If the slider is moved to the on position, then there is no gap between the handle and the slider, in which the fitter could pinch when the slider is pushed back in its off position.

Preferably, the slider has an active surface which actuates the valve stem during displacement. The active surface may be formed as an inclined surface or as a curved or curved surface. This is a particularly simple way to transfer the movement of the slider to a valve tappet that moves into another Direction, preferably perpendicular thereto, moves. When the slider is moved to the on position, then presses the active surface, such as the inclined surface, the valve stem into the handle and thus opens a channel for the compressed air from a supply port to the intake. When the slide has reached its switch-on position, the valve stem, which is permanently pressed by the air pressure with a constant force in the direction of the slide, engages in a depression which is located on the contact surface between the slide and the valve lifter. As a result, the slider is locked with a defined force in its on position and can not slip independently even when you release the device or the slide and thus possibly switch off the intake.

In a preferred embodiment, it is provided that the slide is arranged on the front of the handle and can be actuated by the middle finger of an operator. With the index finger is usually pressed an actuating button to trigger a setting process, it is therefore used to actuate the trigger element. The middle finger is free in itself, so is available for moving the slider.

It is also advantageous if the slide is arranged on the back of the handle and can be actuated by a palm or a saddle between the thumb and forefinger of one hand. It is not limited to an operation on the front.

Advantageously, it is provided that an actuator is provided, with the air supply to the intake is interruptible. The suction arrangement is only required if riveted obliquely or vertically downwards and must be prevented by the suction by means of Vakuumansaugung that the blind rivet falls out of the device. For sucking the torn off rivet mandrels, the suction arrangement described above is not needed. Therefore, in a horizontal riveting or overhead riveting the suction can be completely turned off, whereby significant amounts of air can be saved. This is done by the air duct is closed for the intake by means of an additional actuator. In this case, the slider, which is normally used for switching on and off the suction arrangement, remain in the locked on position without the air can flow into the suction arrangement.

Fig. 1

einen schematischen Schnitt durch ein Blindnietgerät, bei dem die Ansauganordnung nicht aktiviert ist,

Fig. 2

den gleichen Schnitt mit aktivierter Ansauganordnung, und

Fig. 3

einen vergrößerten Ausschnitt aus Fig. 2.

The invention will be described below with reference to a preferred embodiment in conjunction with the drawings. Show here:

Fig. 1

a schematic section through a blind riveting in which the suction assembly is not activated,

Fig. 2

the same section with activated suction, and

Fig. 3

an enlarged detail of FIG. 2.

1 shows a blind riveting tool 1, which has in its upper part a device head 2, which is followed by a handle 3 at the bottom. At the front end, the device head 2 has an opening 4. Further, the device head 2 has a passageway 15 which from the opening 4 at the front end of the device head 2 extends to the rear end. At the rear end of the device head 2, a collecting container 16 (only indicated) via a bayonet lock 20 with the device head 2 is connected.

The passageway 15 is partially bounded by a pressure tube 13. This forms together with a nozzle tube 14, a nozzle 12 at the rear end of the pressure tube 13. Through this nozzle 12 a suction assembly 9 is formed, with the help of which it is possible, a blind rivet, the rivet mandrel has been inserted through the opening 4 in the device head 2 to hold it there, even if the blind riveting tool 1 is held so that the opening 4 facing downward in the direction of gravity.

The handle 3 has at its front side 7 a slide 6, which can be moved from the position shown, which is referred to below as the switch-off position in the direction of the device head 2. If the slide 6 is displaced to the end position in the direction of the device head 2, it is in a position which is referred to below as the switch-on position. This position is shown in FIG. The slider 6 is guided in the handle 3 in lateral guides not shown, so that although it can be moved up and down, but can not be moved out of the handle 3.

On the inside of the slide 6, a valve stem 21 of a valve is arranged, which controls the air supply to the nozzle 12. In the off position of the slider 6 shown in Fig. 1, the air supply to the nozzle 12 is interrupted. In the switching position shown in FIG. 2, the air supply to the nozzle 12 is released. The valve with the valve stem 21 is arranged in a channel 10 which connects a compressed air connection 11 via an actuator 8 with the intake assembly 9. The valve stem 21 may be provided in a manner not shown with a return spring. In many cases, however, the air pressure from the compressed air connection 11 is sufficient to move the valve tappet 21 back into its closed position when the slide 6 no longer holds the valve tappet 21 in the open position. If the slide 6 has reached its switch-on position, the valve plunger 21 engages in the depression 48, which is located on the inside of the slide 6, due to the constant restoring force acting permanently in the direction of the slide 6 by the air pressure. Thereby, the slider 6 is actively locked in the on position even when the slider 6 is released by the operator. If the slide 6 to be pushed back into the off position, the valve stem 21 must first be pressed over a slope in the recess 48 inward until it slips over the corner 49. As a result, the slider 6 is freely displaced.

At its upper end, the slider has an inclined surface 44, which acts on the valve stem 21. When the slider 6 is displaced as described, the valve lifter 21 is pushed into the handle 3 via the downward force acting on the inclined surface 44.

The slider 6 has a recessed grip 40 which is formed so that the middle finger of the hand of an operator or a mechanic comes to rest in this recessed grip 40 when the fitter takes the blind riveter 1 on the handle 3. The slider 6 has at its upper end on a projection 41, by means of which it is relatively easy to move the slider 6 in the switch-on position shown in Fig. 2. The installer can either deliberately move the slider 6 with the middle finger in the on position or the fitter grips the blind riveter only with a loose grip. When gripping the handle 3, the index finger automatically comes to a triggering device 47, the middle finger on the slider 6 to the plant. If the fitter raises the blind riveting device held loosely and deliberately slides it through his hand, the middle finger will shift the slider 6 upward until the slider 6 in the recess 45 on the housing projection 46 moves towards the middle Plant comes. The housing projection 46 is located below the triggering device 47, with the help of which ultimately the setting process for the blind rivet is triggered. The triggering device 47 is formed in a conventional manner as a pressure switch.

At its upper end, the slider 6 on its inside a button 44 which acts on the valve stem 21 when moving the slider 6. When the slider 6, as described, is moved, the valve stem 21 is pressed by means of an inclined plane in the handle 3 and opens the air supply into the channel 10. The trigger member 47 may be formed as an actuating knob.

Also, to turn off the intake 9 is a conscious act the installer is required. He must move the slider 6 back to the off position. This is facilitated by the recessed grip 40. The fitter must therefore only with his hand a small movement down to move the slider 6 in the position shown in Fig. 1. Since the slide 6 protrudes by a small distance from the handle 3, so at the lower end also a small projection 42 is formed, the movement of the slide 6 by the hand of the fitter no further difficulties.

The projection 42 is formed on an overlap region 43 with which the slider 6 covers the handle 3. In this way, gaps or gaps on the surface of the handle 3 are prevented.

In the switch-on position shown in FIG. 2, the upper end of the slide 6 is received in a recess 45 which is formed in a housing projection 46, which is arranged below a trigger element 47, with the help of which finally the setting process for a blind rivet is effected. The triggering element 47 is formed in a conventional manner as a pressure switch.

The slider 6 has a length in the range of about 1.5 to 3 cm. This length is chosen so that the slider 6 can always be operated with only one finger, preferably the middle finger of one hand. This avoids uncontrolled movements of the slider 6 by accidental operations by other fingers.

At the rear end of the passage channel 15, a safety device 17 is further arranged. This has a disc 19 which is partially pivotable in the cross-sectional area 18 of the passage channel 15.

To use the blind riveter 1, the fitter must take this in the hand. In this case, he takes the blind riveter 1 on the handle 3. If the fitter needs the suction device for holding the rivets in Blindnietgerät 1, because obliquely down or vertically down riveted, the Ansaugvorrrichtung is activated by the installer either the slider 6 conscious moves up to the stop upwards in the direction of the device head 1 or the fitter raises the blind riveting tool 1 with a loose grip. He can thus let the Blindnietgerät 1 under the action of weight or gravity usually slide a small distance down and thereby move the slider 6 relative to the handle 3, because the middle finger rests on the projection 41 of the slider 6. The middle finger shifts the slider 6 until it comes to rest in the recess 45 of the housing projection 46. The slider 6 thereby activates the suction assembly 9 by causing the displacement of the valve stem 21 inwardly. By this movement of the valve stem 21, the valve is opened.

By opening the valve, the pressure channel 10 is released from the compressed air connection 11 to the intake assembly 9. This is now acted upon with compressed air, which flows in between the pressure tube 14 and the nozzle 12. The nozzle effect creates an intake in the passageway.

The user can now insert the rivet mandrel of a blind rivet into the opening 4. Due to the suction effect of the blind rivet is held at this point, even if the device head 2 is inclined downwards.

When the fitter removes the handle 3, e.g. covered with a relaxed hand position or changed his hand position on the handle 3 while the slider 6 is not touched, the effect of the intake 9 is still not interrupted, because the slider 6 is fixed in the ON position. Even if the fitter puts the blind riveting tool 1 out of his hand, for example, to align the parts to be connected relative to each other, there is no risk that the blind rivet will fall out of the opening 4.

On the other hand, if the installer intends to interrupt the assembly process and consequently no longer needs the suction arrangement, he pushes down the slide 6 with the middle finger until it stops, in order to deactivate the suction arrangement 9.

About an actuator 8, the pressure channel 10 can be additionally interrupted. If the user does not need the suction arrangement 9, because it is not intended to rivet obliquely or vertically downwards, but horizontally or upwardly, he can switch off the suction function via the actuator 8. For this purpose, the actuator 8 is moved in a simple manner and the channel 10 is closed. In this application, the slider 6 can be moved to the ergonomically favorable switch-on and thus the valve stem 21 are pressed into the open position without the air 10 can flow into the nozzle assembly 9 via the channel. As a result, the slider 6 can always remain in the locked on position and need not be operated when the mounting operation is interrupted. As soon as the user wants to return to the suction device, he can activate it again by switching on via the actuator 8. This will be the Channel 10 released again and the intake assembly 9 can be switched on and off by moving the slider 6. The removal of the demolished rivet mandrels takes place with the air, which has previously served as a drive medium for the riveting process.

In the event that the collecting container 16 is removed from the device head 2, the safety device 17 is activated, which cooperates with the bayonet lock 20 of the collecting container 16.

When attaching the collecting container 16, the bayonet lock 20 moves the disc 19 of the safety device 17 from an initial position and thereby biases a spring. Once the receptacle 16 is removed, this spring relaxes again and the disc 19 returns to its original position. In this initial position, the disc 19 blocks the cross-sectional area 18 of the passage channel 15 just so far that a torn-off rivet mandrel of a blind rivet can not be blown out to the rear and thus possible injuries are prevented. By contrast, the compressed air can pass through the safety device 17 to such an extent that no overpressure can build up before the safety device 17. Thus, the torn-off mandrel can be blown out neither at the rear nor at the front end of the device head 2.

Claims (14)

1. Blind riveting device for setting blind rivets by means of a device head (2) in which an opening (4) for receiving a rivet spike and a suction arrangement (9) for generating a partial vacuum is arranged to hold the rivet spike firmly in place in the opening, and having a control device for switching the suction arrangement (9) on and off by means of an actuating element (6) on a handle (3) connected to the device head, characterised in that the blind riveting device possesses means for locking the actuating element (6) for the suction arrangement in an ON position.
2. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the actuating element is constructed in the form of a slide (6) .
3. Device according to claim 2, characterised in that the control device has a valve tappet (21) which in the ON position engages in a depression (48) on the inside of the slide (6).
4. Device according to claim 2 or 3, characterised in that for switching on the suction arrangement (9) the slide (6) is movable upwardly in the direction of the device head (2).
5. Device according to any of claims 2 to 4, characterised in that on its end located in the direction of switching on the slide (6) has a projection (41).
6. Device according to claim 5, characterised in that in the ON position the projection (41) is accommodated in a recess (45) constructed in a housing projection (46) which is arranged below a trigger element (47).
7. Device according to any of claims 2 to 6, characterised in that the slide (6) protrudes out of the handle (3).
8. Device according to any of claims 2 to 7, characterised in that the slide (6) has a grip hollow (40).
9. Device according to any of claims 2 to 8, characterised in that the slide (6) has a length in the range of 1.5 to 3 cm.
10. Device according to any of claims 2 to 9, characterised in that the slide (6) has an end pointing in the direction of switching off which forms a region of overlap (43) with the handle (3).
11. Device according to claim 3 or any of claims 4 to 10 when dependent on claim 3, characterised in that the slide (6) has an active surface (44) which actuates the valve tappet (21) when displaced.
12. Device according to any of claims 2 to 11, characterised in that the slide (6) is arranged on the front side of the handle (3) and is actuable by the middle finger of an operator.
13. Device according to any of claims 2 to 11, characterised in that the slide is arranged on the rear side of the handle and is actuable by the ball of a thumb or a saddle point between the thumb and index finger of one hand.
14. Device according to any of claims 1 to 13, characterised in that a controlling element (8) is provided by means of which the air supply to the suction arrangement is interruptable.

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