EP1454686B1 - Device and method for charging a riveting module with blind break-mandrel rivets or hollow-core rivets - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a device and a method for loading a vertically movable between a lower setting position and an upper loading position rivet module with mandrel break blind rivets or hollow rivets, consisting of sleeve and reusable mandrel.

The supply of Dornbruchblindnieten or hollow rivets and in particular the loading of a rivet module with Dornbruchblindnieten or hollow rivets is still problematic. The closest prior art results from US 5,400,942 A. This patent already describes a device for loading a vertically movable between a lower setting position and an upper loading position rivet module with Dornbruchblindnieten, wherein a rivet feed is present and next to the rivet module a receptacle for receiving the Dornbruchblindniete is provided with the mandrel upwards, which is arranged laterally movable between a position below the rivet feed and a position below the rivet module in loading position, wherein one or more compressed air nozzles can be arranged in the receptacle and / or in the rivet module, a negative pressure - or vacuum line ends.

In this arrangement according to the prior art, there is the problem that in certain operating positions of the remaining mandrel of Dornbruchblindniets or a hollow rivet gets stuck in the rivet module. According to the state of the art, a complex rivet mandrel extraction then had to be provided to ensure that the device is not blocked by stuck rivet mandrels.

Based on this prior art, it is an object of the present invention to further develop such a riveting device in such a way that it can be ensured even without a complicated Nietdornabsaugung that the riveting tool can be fitted free of annoying Nietdornresten with the next rivet.

According to the invention this object is achieved in a generic Nietdornzuführungsvorrichtung with the characterizing feature of the main claim 1. A method by which this object can also be achieved is described in claim 7.

The device according to the invention and the method according to the invention are also outstandingly suitable for processing so-called hollow rivets. Hollow rivets are rivets similar in appearance to breakaway blind rivets. In contrast to the breakaway blind rivets, however, the corresponding rivet mandrel does not tear off in hollow rivets, but is pulled out completely. As a result, the mandrel is reusable. Hollow rivets thus consist of a sleeve and a reusable mandrel.

The processing of the hollow rivets is usually done so that they are supplied sporadically, the reusable mandrel is inserted into the sleeve, and then the combination of mandrel and sleeve is then processed as a usual Dornbruchblindniet. During further processing, the only other difference emerges: The mandrel does not tear off when setting the rivet, but is completely pulled out of the rivet. It can then be used again.

According to the invention, a further compressed-air nozzle ending above the funnel is arranged next to it in the lateral direction of movement of the funnel. As a result, the remainder of the rivet mandrel remaining after the riveting operation in the rivet module can be blown out of the rivet module. The device can thus be operated even in vertical operation down without Nietdornabsaugung. This results in a high air and thus cost savings.

It is further preferred that the further compressed air nozzle is arranged on the rivet module side facing the funnel. In this way, the movements can be further optimized.

According to the invention, it is also particularly preferred if the funnel has a downwardly tapered section. In this way, the rivet supply pipe must only be replaced if the rivet head diameter changes to convert it to another type of rivet. In addition, the funnel must be replaced.

Further, it is preferred if the funnel above the conical portion has a slightly wider cylindrical portion and the transition between these two portions is formed by an annular horizontal surface whose outer diameter is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the rivet.

Further, it is preferred that the rivet feed is formed as a long, straight, vertically extending tube. In this way, the supply of rivets is further accelerated.

Furthermore, it is particularly preferred that all drive devices are designed as pneumatic cylinders. In this way, the costs for parts procurement and operation can be further minimized.

• Fig. 1 eine Schnittdarstellung der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung in Grundstellung;
• Fig. 2 die Vorrichtung der Fig. 1 in Ausblasstellung zum Ausblasen des Nietdorns;
• Fig. 3 die Vorrichtung der Fig. 1 wobei das Nietmodul in Ruhestellung gefahren ist;
• Fig. 4 die Vorrichtung der Fig. 1 wobei sich der Greifer geschlossen hat;
• Fig. 5 die Vorbereitung zur Übergabe des Niets an das Nietmodul;
• Fig. 6 das Nietmodul beim Zentrieren und Aufnehmen des Niets, mit anschließendem Öffnen des Greifers;
• Fig. 7 das Einblasen des Niets in das Nietmodul mit anschließendem Aufbau eines Nietvordruckes im Nietmodul selber. Hierbei werden die Spannbacken im Nietmodul (nicht dargestellt) bei geringem Hydraulikdruck geschlossen und halten den Niet in Position;
• Fig. 8 das mit dem neuen Niet geladene Nietmodul in Grundstellung;
• Fig. 9 die Rückkehr des Trichters in seine Grundstellung;
• Fig. 10 das Nietmodul in Nietposition;
• Fig. 11 das Nietmodul nach dem Setzen des Niets;
• Fig. 12 das Ausblasen des weiteren Nietdorns aus dem Nietmodul;
• Fig. 13 eine Darstellung eines erfindungsgemäßen Greifers für den Dorn des Blindniets mit einem Blindniet von der Seite;
• Fig. 14 den Greifer der Fig. 13 von oben in geschlossenem Zustand;
• Fig. 15 den Greifer der Fig. 13 von oben in geöffnetem Zustand.

In the following an embodiment of the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It shows:

• Fig. 1 is a sectional view of the device according to the invention in the basic position;
• FIG. 2 shows the device of FIG. 1 in blow-out position for blowing out the rivet mandrel; FIG.
• FIG. 3 shows the device of FIG. 1 with the rivet module in the rest position; FIG.
• Fig. 4 shows the device of Fig. 1 with the gripper closed;
• 5 shows the preparation for transferring the rivet to the rivet module;
• 6 shows the rivet module during centering and picking up the rivet, with subsequent opening of the gripper;
• Fig. 7, the blowing of the rivet in the rivet module with subsequent construction of a riveting in the rivet module itself. Here, the jaws in the rivet module (not shown) are closed at low hydraulic pressure and hold the rivet in position;
• 8 shows the rivet module loaded with the new rivet in the basic position;
• 9 shows the return of the funnel to its basic position;
• FIG. 10 shows the riveting module in the riveting position; FIG.
• 11 shows the rivet module after setting the rivet;
• FIG. 12 shows the blowing out of the further rivet mandrel from the rivet module; FIG.
• 13 is an illustration of a gripper according to the invention for the mandrel of the blind rivet with a blind rivet from the side.
• FIG. 14 shows the gripper of FIG. 13 from above in the closed state; FIG.
• Fig. 15, the gripper of FIG. 13 from above in the open state.

Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a device according to the invention in basic position in a sectional view. The device according to the invention comprises a riveting module 10, which is equipped with a riveting equipment 12 for processing break-open rivets 100. The rivet module 10 is vertically movable up and down by means of a carriage 14 on a Base frame 16 stored. The carriage 14 is moved up and down by means of the two pneumatic cylinders 18, 20. Between the rivet module 10 and the outer pneumatic cylinder 18, a rigid, straight, long tube 22 is arranged, the inner diameter of which is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the blind rivet 100. This tube 22 serves as a rivet feed, the Dornbruchblindniete be from a commercial separation device with the head blown forward / down via a normal rivet feed into the feed tube 22 by means of compressed air.

In the basic position shown in Fig. 1 is located just below the feed tube 22, a funnel 24, which consists of a lower, downwardly tapered portion 26 and above this conical portion 26, slightly wider cylindrical portion 28. The transition between these two sections 26, 28 is formed by an annular horizontal surface whose outer diameter is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the rivet. Accordingly, the inner diameter of the cylindrical portion 28 is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the rivet 100. The hopper 24 is bolted to a horizontally displaceable slide 30 with integrated pneumatic cylinder.

At the lower tip of the conical portion 26 of the hopper 24, a compressed air nozzle 32 is attached. Alternatively or additionally, a suction air or vacuum line can be arranged in the mouthpiece of the rivet module 10. At the outer, ie the rivet module 10 facing the end of the carriage is still another compressed air line 34 is provided with a arranged at the height of the upper end of the hopper 24 further compressed air nozzle 36.

Between the feed tube 22 and the hopper 24 is also attached to the slide 30 also mounted gripping mechanism 38. This gripping mechanism consists of a pneumatic angle gripper and two special centering gripper arms. The pneumatic stop cylinder 40 provides for a Intermediate position of the carriage 30. The exact function of the gripping mechanism 38 will be explained below with respect to Figs. 13 to 15, which illustrate the gripping mechanism 38 in detail. The cylinder 40 is disposed on the carriage 30.

In the following the operation of the device according to the invention of FIG. 1 will be explained in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 12.

As already said, Fig. 1 shows the basic position of the device according to the invention at the beginning of the work. The first blind rivet 100 has already been deposited by the feed tube 22 and the open gripping mechanism 38 head-first in the funnel 24, with the head of the blind rivet resting either on the circular-shaped horizontal surface or in the conical portion of the funnel 24. The gripping mechanism 38 is now closed.

As shown in Fig. 2, the stop cylinder 40 is moved upwards and then the carriage 30 is moved to the outside, so that the further compressed-air nozzle 36 is moved under the mouth opening of the riveting equipment 12. In this position, compressed air is now blown through the compressed air line 34 and the compressed air nozzle 36 in the riveting equipment, so as to possibly still remove in this existing Dornreste an earlier processed rivet. In this way, in any operating position, even in the operating position shown here vertically downwards, a complex Dornabsaugung.

As shown in Fig. 3, now the inner pneumatic cylinder 20 is actuated. This pushes himself and the associated with him outer pneumatic cylinder 18 upwards. As a result, the carriage 14 and the rivet module 10 connected thereto are also lifted.

As shown in Fig. 4, now the stop cylinder 40 moves back.

As shown in FIG. 5, the carriage 30 is now moved further outwards until the mandrel 110 of the broken-open break rivet 100 stands exactly under the opening of the nosepiece of the riveting equipment 12. The mouthpiece of riveting equipment 12 is now opened.

As shown in Fig. 6, now moves the pneumatic cylinder 20 together again. As a result, the carriage 14 and thus the rivet module 10 is moved downward, so that now the mandrel 110 of the Dornbruchblindniets 100 exactly centered in the mouthpiece of the riveting equipment 12 inserted. The exact centering of the mandrel 110 on the position of the opening of the mouthpiece of the riveting equipment 12 is effected by the gripping mechanism 38 which holds the mandrel 110 in a well-defined position. Now, however, the centering is ensured by the mouthpiece of the riveting 12, the gripping mechanism 38 can thus be opened again.

Once the gripping mechanism 38 is opened, compressed air is blown through the compressed air nozzle 32 in the hopper 24. As a result, the broken-wire break rivet 100 is lifted and completely blown into the rivet setting head 12, as already shown in FIG. In this way, it is not necessary to lower the rivet setting head 12 far enough for the rivet 100 to reach the processing position in the rivet setting head 12. In addition, so positioning tolerances can be compensated.

As an alternative to the injection of compressed air through the compressed air nozzle 32, a vacuum or vacuum line can be arranged in the mouthpiece, which is put into operation as soon as the gripping mechanism 38 is opened. The Dornbruchblindniet 100 is so sucked into the mouthpiece, instead of, as previously described, blown. In this way it can be better ensured that the Dornbruchblindniet enters properly into the mouthpiece. The further procedure is the same again, regardless of whether pressure or suction air is applied. Moreover, it is also possible to combine both methods, so that at the same time injected through the funnel compressed air and simultaneously sucked through the mouthpiece.

Now, the jaws in the riveting equipment 12 close around the mandrel 110 of the broken-wire rivet 100. The blind rivet 100 is thus now in the position suitable for processing in the riveting equipment 12.

As shown in Fig. 8, the rivet 10 must now be raised so that the carriage 30 can go back laterally and the rivet module 10 can then be moved past the carriage 30 in processing position. For this purpose, first, as shown in Fig. 8, the inner pneumatic cylinder 20 is actuated again, so that this raises the associated pneumatic cylinder 18, so that the carriage 14 and the rivet 10 again.

Fig. 9 accordingly shows the state in which the carriage 30 is moved back again, the gripping mechanism 38 is still open. In this state, the next permanent break rivet 100 can already be fed through the feed pipe 22 and deposited in the hopper 24.

10 then shows the state in which the rivet module is in the processing position. In this case, the pneumatic cylinder 20 is retracted and the pneumatic cylinder 18 fully extended. The carriage 14 is thereby moved all the way down. The mandrel break blind rivet 100 can now be set by the rivet module 10. The gripping mechanism 38 is closed.

After setting, the rivet module 10 moves back again, as shown in Fig. 11 by the pneumatic cylinder 18 is retracted again. As can be clearly seen in FIG. 11, the broken-off remainder of the mandrel 110 of the broken-open break rivet 100 is still in the rivet armature 12. As soon as the rivet module 10 is in the position shown in FIG. 11, the carriage 30 can again move as far outward as possible be driven until the mouthpiece of Nietsetzkopfes 12th just below the other compressed air nozzle 36 is located. Compressed air is now supplied to the compressed air nozzle 36 through the compressed air line 34. At the same time, the mouthpiece of the rivet setting head 12 is opened, the air stream expels the remains of the mandrel 110 upwards. At the rivet module 10 can then be connected, for example, above a discharge hose through which the remainder of the mandrel are passed into a suitable waste container. As far as the state of FIG. 2 is concerned, the state of FIG. 12 corresponds to the state of FIG. 2, the sequence of operations therefore continues cyclically with FIG. 3.

In the following, the gripping mechanism 38 will be explained in detail with reference to FIGS. 13 to 15.

FIG. 13 shows the gripping mechanism 38 from the side while holding the mandrel 110 of a broken-open rivet 100. The gripping mechanism includes a split arm 42 into which another arm 44 engages.

As can be clearly seen in FIGS. 14 and 15, the two arms 42, 44 are each pivotally mounted about a vertical axis. When closed, the two arms 42, 44 engage each other in such a way that the mandrel 110 is firmly caught. As can be seen in Fig. 15, the main problem of the construction of the gripping mechanism 38 is that the gripping mechanism 38 must not be too large in the open state, but nevertheless the breakaway blind rivet 100 must pass between the two arms 42, 44. However, when closed (Figure 14), the gripping mechanism 38 must retain the very thin mandrel 110.

To solve this problem, the two arms 42, 44 designed as shown in Fig. 15. They have a widened gripping area, in each of which a sloping recess is attached, which encloses a right angle and is rotated by 45 ° against the direction of the arms 42, 44. In this way, both a firm gripping of the mandrel 110 as shown in Fig. 14 can be achieved, as well as an opening so far that the entire Dornbruchblindniet 100 passes through, as shown in Fig. 15, without the device 38 in the open state unnecessarily much space needed to the side.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

riveting module

12

placing head

14

carriage

16

base frame

18

pneumatic cylinder

20

pneumatic cylinder

22

feed pipe

24

funnel

26

Cone-shaped section

28

Cylindrical section

30

Another sled

32

Compressed air nozzle / funnel

34

Compressed air line (further)

36

Further compressed air nozzle

38

gripping mechanism

40

stop cylinder

42

poor

44

poor

100

Dornbruchblindniet

110

mandrel

Claims (8)

1. Apparatus for charging break-mandrel blind rivets (100) or hollow core rivets consisting of a shell and a reusable mandrel into a riveting module (10) which is movable between a lower placing position and an upper charging position having a rivet feed (22), wherein at the side of the riveting module (10) a funnel (24) for receiving the rivets (100) with the mandrel (110) facing upwardly is positioned movably between a position below the rivet feed (22) and a position below the riveting module (10) positioned in the charging position, wherein in the tip of the funnel (24) there is/are provided one or more pressurised air nozzles (32) and/or a negative pressure line or vacuum line is ending in the riveting module, characterised in that a further pressurised air nozzle (36) is positioned in the lateral direction of movement of the funnel (34) beside the same which is ending above the funnel (34).
2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that the further pressurised air nozzle (36) is positioned on the side of the funnel (24) facing the riveting module (10).
3. Apparatus according to any of the claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the funnel (24) is having a cone-shaped section (26) tapering downwardly.
4. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterised in that the funnel (24) above the cone-shaped section (26) is having a slightly broader cylindrical section (28) and that the transition between these two sections (26, 28) is formed by an annular horizontal area, the exterior diameter of which is slightly larger than the exterior diameter of the rivet (100).
5. Apparatus according to any of the claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the rivet feed (22) is performed as a long straight vertically ending tube.
6. Apparatus according to any of the claims 1 to 5, characterised in that all motive means (18, 20) are performed as pneumatic cylinders.
7. A method for loading break-mandrel blind rivets (100) or hollow core rivets consisting of a shell and a reusable mandrel into a riveting module (10) which is movable between a lower placing position and an upper charging position having a rivet feed (22) in which the rivets (100) with their head downwardly are deposited in a funnel (24) positioned at the side of the riveting module, the funnel (24) laterally is moved below the retracted riveting module (10), the riveting module (10) is moved forwardly so far that the mandrel of the rivet (100) is projecting into a nosepiece of the riveting equipment (12) of the riveting module (10) and that thereafter the rivet (100) by means of pressurised air is blown out of the funnel (24) or by means of suction air or vacuum from the nosepiece is completely blown into or sucked into the nosepiece, respectively, the rivet being held by the closing jaws or the vacuum and the funnel (24) being sidewardly retracted, characterised in that after finalising the riveting procedure a further pressurised air nozzle (36) is moved below the nosepiece opening of the riveting equipment (12) and pressurised air by means of the further pressurised air nozzle (36) is blown into the riveting equipment (12) to remove possibly remainders of the mandrel being present therein.
8. A method according to claim 7, characterised in that the rivet (100) by means of a gripping mechanism provided above the funnel (24) preferably designed in the form of a scissors-like acting pincers device (38) is held and centered at the mandrel thereof as soon as being dropped into the funnel (24).

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