EP3552731B1 - Setting unit for a punch rivet device and punch rivet device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a setting unit for a punch riveting device and a punch riveting device with such a setting unit

State of the art

Methods and devices for punch riveting are used to connect at least two components that are in particular planar in a connection area. A punch riveting process is characterized in that it is not necessary to pre-punch the components to be connected to one another. Rather, a rivet is pressed into the at least two components by means of a punch or a punch tool, with a correspondingly shaped counter-holder, for example in the form of a die, which interacts with the punch tool, ensuring that the rivet moves in a certain manner deformed within the components to be connected to one another in order to produce a force-fit and form-fitting connection between the components and at the same time to avoid penetration of the component facing away from the rivet.

Furthermore, for example EP 2 318 161 B1 or the DE 10 2014 203 357 A1 So-called ultrasonic self-piercing riveting methods and devices are known in which a vibration generator, such as an ultrasonic generator, is used to set one or more components vibrating when the components are connected. This oscillation reduces, for example, the force required to press in the rivet.

In the case of riveting processes, it is generally necessary for automated operation to feed the rivets and, in particular, to simply accommodate these rivets in the riveting device guarantee. From the DE 699 06 308 T2 For example, various options for riveting in a conventional punch riveting device are known. Further options for riveting are off WO 96/01161 A1 , which forms the basis for the preamble of claim 1, DE 199 05 527 A1 , US 2012/227256 A1 , US 6 592 015 B1 , DE 10 2015 108 621 A1 as DE 100 64 241 A1 known.

Disclosure of the invention

According to the invention, a setting unit for a punch riveting device with the features of independent claim 1 and a punch riveting device comprising such a setting unit are proposed.

Advantageous refinements are the subject matter of the subclaims and the description below.

The invention is based on a setting unit which is provided for a punch riveting device or which is used with a punch riveting device. A rivet can be held in this setting unit and it has a punch by means of which force can be applied to the rivet arranged in a mouthpiece of the setting unit and can be introduced into at least one component, preferably at least two components, during a riveting process. Such a setting unit is sometimes also referred to as a joining tool or it can be part of a joining tool. When arranged in a punch riveting device, the setting unit can be fastened to a frame, for example by means of a drive, as will be explained in more detail later.

One way of feeding and receiving the rivet in the setting unit or in the mouthpiece, even with manual processing, is now, for example, to use a belt or the like in which several rivets are held in a predefined position and arranged in a row. Such a belt can then be guided accordingly through the setting unit so that, for example, a new rivet is placed in front of the punch after each riveting process. Belt tracking can be coupled with the movement of the setting unit, for example, or it can also be carried out separately.

Another possibility, especially with larger series and with automatic processing, is to feed the rivets via a profile hose or the like. Rivets can be guided in a predefined orientation in such a profile hose will. The profile hose can then be coupled to a suitable point in the setting unit so that a rivet can be fed in the desired position or inserted into the setting unit for a riveting process. It is common here that the rivet
straight into that Mouthpiece is introduced, in such a way that the rivet - seen in the joining direction - is placed directly in front of the punch. For this purpose, a rivet can be inserted from the profile hose onto the mouthpiece via a rivet feed unit.

After the rivet has been inserted into the setting unit, it is usually necessary to hold the rivet in the setting unit until the rivet touches a component during the subsequent riveting process. In addition to the punch, the setting unit or the joining tool generally has a so-called hold-down device which surrounds the punch and serves to guide the rivet during the riveting process. The hold-down device usually rests on the component, while the punch is moved relative to the hold-down device in order to press the rivet into the component. The mentioned mouthpiece is usually part of such a hold-down device.

The problem with this type of rivet feed can be the accessibility to components, which is sometimes severely restricted by the arrangement of the rivet feed unit on the mouthpiece and thus very close to the components to be connected. This problem occurs particularly strongly with the mentioned punch riveting devices with vibration coupling, in particular so-called ultrasonic punch riveting devices, since there is very little free space for the rivet feed due to the necessary length or expansion of the vibration system in the joining direction.

According to the invention, a rivet guide device and a rivet feed unit are provided for the setting unit, through which the rivet can be introduced into the rivet guide device from outside, e.g. from a profile hose, the rivet in the rivet guide device being movable into the mouthpiece with a directional component guided in a joining direction of the setting unit .

The rivet supply unit, to which, for example, a profile hose or the like can be coupled, is therefore no longer arranged directly on the mouthpiece, but is spaced from it opposite to the joining direction (i.e. above in the case of, for example, vertical alignment with joining direction from top to bottom) and is with the mouthpiece through the rivet guide device tied together. In particular, the rivet feed unit can thus be arranged at the level of an area (or a section) of the punch, as seen in the joining direction. The accessibility to components is significantly increased because there are no or there are only minor interfering contours in the joint area in which the components to be connected are to be arranged. The rivet can for example be guided in the setting unit - or the rivet guide device as part of it.

According to the invention, the mouthpiece is part of a hold-down device that at least partially surrounds the punch, the rivet guide device being part of the hold-down device. A particularly compact design of the setting unit is thus possible.

According to the invention, the rivet guide device has a rail, in particular a profile rail, for guiding the rivet, which rail extends from the rivet feed unit to the mouthpiece. This enables the rivet to be guided in a particularly simple and stable manner, in particular also in the correct alignment.

According to the invention, the rail is not arranged in such a way that the rivet can be moved completely guided within the hold-down device. This gives the rivets extra protection. According to the invention, it is provided that the rail is arranged and integrated into the hold-down in such a way that the rivet can be moved partially guided outside the hold-down. For this purpose, the rail can be formed, for example, as a part of the hold-down device, in which the hold-down device has a correspondingly shaped, elongated opening or recess. The setting unit can thus be designed to be particularly compact and light.

It is advantageous if the setting unit is designed in such a way that the rivet can be actively moved from the rivet feed unit into the mouthpiece. In particular, the rivet can be actively moved from the rivet supply unit into the mouthpiece by means of compressed air and / or by means of rivets arranged in contact with one another in the rivet guide device. This ensures that the rivet is fed in "overhead" even when the setting unit or the corresponding punch riveting device is used. However, it is also conceivable to guide or move the rivet in the rivet guide device by means of gravity, in particular if it is not intended to be used "overhead".

It is particularly preferred if the punch forms a component of a vibration system which can be coupled to a vibration generator in such a way that it can be set to vibrate when the rivet is pressed into the at least one component. With this type of setting unit or associated punch riveting device, the problems with respect to Accessibility has so far been particularly great, as mentioned, which is why the proposed rivet guide device is particularly advantageous here. With regard to a more detailed explanation of the oscillating system, reference is made to the remarks below on the punch riveting device, which apply accordingly here.

The invention also relates to a punch riveting device for connecting at least two components by means of a rivet, with a setting unit according to the invention and a counter holder, between which (or in particular between the punch and the counter holder) the at least two components and the rivet can be arranged, and with a Drive by means of which a force can be exerted on the punch in the joining direction.

The drive can in particular be arranged on a frame of the punch riveting device. If the punch riveting device has an oscillating system, this can in particular be attached to the drive and movable relative to the frame by means of the drive. The oscillating system includes the punch, which in turn can in particular be designed as part of a sonotrode used in the oscillating system. This sonotrode can also form the stamp or serve as a stamp. The vibration system can in particular also have a vibration converter, for example an electro-mechanical converter such as a piezo converter, to which the vibration generator can be or is coupled and which is connected to the sonotrode. In particular, a booster (i.e. an amplitude amplifier) can also be provided, via which the vibration converter is connected to the sonotrode. Furthermore, the vibration system can be coupled or can be coupled to a vibration generator in such a way that it can be caused to vibrate when the rivet is pressed into the at least two components. The vibration generator can preferably be a frequency or sound generator, in particular an ultrasound generator, in particular as a function generator.

With regard to the further refinements and advantages of the self-piercing riveting device, reference is made to the statements on the setting unit, which apply accordingly here.

Further advantages and embodiments of the invention emerge from the description and the accompanying drawing.

It goes without saying that the features mentioned above and those yet to be explained below can be used not only in the respectively specified combination, but also in other combinations or on their own, without departing from the scope of the present claims.

The invention is shown schematically in the drawing using exemplary embodiments and is described in detail below with reference to the drawing.

Figure description

Figure 1

shows, in a simplified and schematic manner, a production facility with a punch riveting device according to the invention.

Figure 2

shows schematically a punch riveting device not according to the invention.

Figure 3

shows schematically a setting unit according to the invention in a preferred embodiment.

Figure 4

shows schematically a setting unit according to the invention in a further preferred embodiment.

Detailed description of the drawing

In Figure 1 a production facility 100 is shown in a simplified and schematic manner. The production facility 100 can be, for example, an industrial robot in a production hall, for example for an automobile body shop.

The manufacturing device 100 has a support structure 3 arranged on a floor and two mutually connected and movable arms 4 and 5 arranged thereon. At the end of the arm 5, a punch riveting device 10 according to the invention is arranged in a preferred embodiment, which is only shown schematically here and is described in more detail below.

Furthermore, a computing unit 80 is shown, which is, for example, a control unit of the punch riveting device 10. The computing unit 80 can also be provided as a control unit for the entire production facility, i.e. in addition to the punch riveting device, in particular also for controlling the movable arms. Furthermore, display means 81, for example a display, are provided on which, for example, current operating parameters of the punch riveting device can be displayed. The element 81 can also be a combined display / input means, for example a touchscreen.

In Figure 2 a punch riveting device 10 according to the invention is shown schematically. The punch riveting device 10 has a frame 60, which is preferably in the form of a C-frame or C-bracket, on which the individual components in a punch riveting device are usually arranged in order to be able to assume the desired position relative to one another. Via the frame 60, the punch riveting device 10 can, for example, be attached to an arm as in FIG Figure 1 be shown attached, in particular also rotatable or pivotable.

The punch riveting device 10 has a setting unit 70, which in turn has a punch (or a sonotrode) 15, for example with a round cross section. A rivet 20 is arranged in the setting unit 70, in particular in a mouthpiece 72 of the setting unit 70. The mouthpiece 72 in turn is designed as part of a hold-down device 16 in the exemplary embodiment shown. A rivet feed unit 75, to which, for example, a profile hose 90 can be coupled, a rivet can be inserted into the setting unit 70 from outside and brought there into the position shown in the mouthpiece 72 via a rivet guide device 71. For a detailed explanation of the setting unit 70, which is shown only schematically here, reference is made to the following figures with the associated description.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the punch 15 is surrounded radially by the (sleeve-shaped) hold-down device 16 and is arranged to be movable relative to this in the longitudinal direction. The hold-down device is in this case preferably attached by means of a spring to a so-called zero amplitude passage of the ram, ie a position of the ram at which oscillation amplitudes are zero or at least as low as possible. In particular, the punch 15 and thus the setting unit 70 is coupled to a drive 50 which is used to drive a Pressing the rivet 20 into the two components 11, 12 applies the required force F in the joining direction R. The drive 50 can be controlled by means of the computing unit 80, for example. The force F can be specified, for example, via a setpoint value and recorded as an actual value.

The holding-down device 16 or the mouthpiece 72 are also set up to press against the surface of the component 11 facing the punch 15 with a holding-down force. A separate drive can be provided for this purpose, for example. However, the hold-down device can also (as shown here) be coupled to the drive of the punch or to the punch itself, for example by means of a spring.

A counter holder in the form of a die 18 is arranged on the side of the two components 11, 12 opposite the setting unit 70. The punch 15 and the die 18, like the hold-down device 16, are arranged in the vertical direction and can be moved relative to one another, the die 18 itself generally not being movable. The hold-down 16 and the die 18 serve to clamp or compress the two components 11, 12 between the hold-down 16 and the die 18 during processing by the punch 15.

The rivet 20, here by way of example a semi-hollow punch rivet, preferably consists of a material that is harder than the materials of the two components 11, 12, at least in the area of a rivet shank. The flat upper side of the rivet facing away from the component 11 is arranged in operative connection with the punch 15, which rests flat against the upper side of the rivet 20.

As part of an oscillation system 39, the stamp 15 is operatively connected to an (electro-mechanical) oscillation converter 30, for example a piezo converter. The vibration converter 30 is in turn connected to an (electrical) vibration generator 32, for example an ultrasonic generator, in particular a function generator. In this way, oscillations or vibrations can be generated and coupled onto the punch and thus the rivet. In particular, by means of the vibration generator 32, ultrasonic vibrations with an amplitude (distance between maximum positive and negative amplitude of a vibration, especially measured at the interface between punch and rivet) between 10 μm and 110 μm are generated (corresponds to an amplitude of 5 µm to 55 µm) and a frequency between 15 kHz and 35 kHz or possibly higher. The vibration generator 32 is connected to the computing unit 80 (or can also be part of the computing unit) and can be controlled by it.

The drive 50 can be, for example, a drive with a ball, roller, planetary thread or thread roller screw drive or the like, which is suitable for applying a force F for pressing the rivet 20 into the components 11, 12. A holding device 35, for example in the form of a frame or a rack, is attached to the drive 50. The setting unit 70 or the oscillation system 39, which in the present case comprises the oscillation converter 30, a booster (amplitude amplifier) 31 and the stamp or the sonotrode 15 and the hold-down device 16, is arranged on the holding device 35.

In Figure 3 a setting unit 70 according to the invention is shown schematically in a preferred embodiment. This can be, for example, the ones already in Figure 2 Acting setting unit shown or the setting unit 70 can be used with the punch riveting device shown there.

A rivet guide device 71 designed as a profile rail is integrated in the hold-down device 16 in the side wall shown on the left in the figure. The profile hose 90 is coupled to a rivet feed unit 75 arranged on the setting unit 70 or the hold-down device 16, so that rivets 20 can be fed to the setting unit 70. Rivets dispensed by the profile hose 90 can initially be rotated in the rivet feed unit 75 and then transferred into the profile rail 71.

There the rivets 20 can then be moved in the direction of the mouthpiece 72, whereby they are partially guided outside the hold-down device or are arranged in such a way that they are partially located outside of the hold-down device 16, here with one end of the rivet shank. There, the profile rail 71 can then be designed in such a way that the rivets are rotated again so that they can be arranged in the desired position in front of the punch 15. A rivet 20 can then be held in position on the punch 15, for example by means of magnetic force.

Furthermore, a compressed air connection 76 is shown schematically, via which compressed air can be introduced into the rivet feed unit 75 or the rivet guide device 71 in order to actively move or move a rivet from the rivet feed unit 75 along the rivet guide device or profile rail 71 into the desired position in the mouthpiece 72. to spend. For this purpose, the rivets can each be brought individually from the rivet supply unit 75 to the mouthpiece 72.

In Figure 4 a setting unit 70 'according to the invention is shown schematically in a further preferred embodiment which, for example, is also shown in FIG Figure 2 Self-piercing riveting device shown can be used.

A rivet guide device 71 designed as a profile rail is integrated in the hold-down device 16 in the side wall shown on the left in the figure. The profile hose 90 is coupled to a rivet feed unit 75 arranged on the setting unit 70 'or the hold-down device 16, so that rivets 20 can be fed to the setting unit 70'. Rivets guided in the profile tube 90 can already be aligned in such a way that they are no longer rotated in the rivet feed unit 75, but only transferred into the profile rail 71.

There the rivets 20 can then be moved in the direction of the mouthpiece 72, in which case they are completely guided within the hold-down device. There the profile rail 71 can then be designed in such a way that the rivets are rotated again so that they can be arranged in the desired position in front of the punch 15. A rivet 20 can then be held in position on the punch 15, for example by means of magnetic force.

In the embodiment shown here, a rivet 20 can be actively moved or brought into the desired position in the mouthpiece 72 by the rivet supply unit 75 along the rivet guide device or profile rail 71 with a directional component in the joining direction R by being pushed through rivets that are in contact with one another. By feeding a further rivet into the rivet feed unit 75, for example a rivet located at the other end of the rivet guide device or profile rail 71 can be brought into the desired position or position in front of the punch 15.

Claims (7)

1. Setting unit (70, 70') for a punch riveting device (10), in which setting unit a rivet (20) can be held, comprising a punch (15) by means of which the rivet (20) arranged in a mouthpiece (72) of the setting unit can be subjected to force (F) and can be introduced into at least one component (11, 12) in a riveting operation,

   comprising a rivet guide apparatus (71) and a rivet feed unit (75), by way of which the rivet (20) can be introduced from the outside into the rivet guide apparatus (71),

   wherein the rivet (20) in the rivet guide apparatus (71) can be moved into the mouthpiece (72) so as to be guided by way of a directional component in a joining direction (R) of the setting unit (70, 70'),

   wherein the mouthpiece (72) is part of a holding-down means (16) which at least partially surrounds the punch (15),

   wherein the rivet feed unit (75) is spaced apart from the mouthpiece (72) counter to the joining direction (R) and is connected to the mouthpiece (72) by the rivet guide apparatus (71),

   wherein the rivet guide apparatus (71) is part of the holding-down means (16), wherein the rivet guide apparatus (71) has a rail for guiding the rivet (20), said rail extending from the rivet feed unit (75) up to the mouthpiece (72),

   characterized in that the rail is arranged, and integrated in the holding-down means (16), in such a way that the rivet (20) can be moved in a guided manner partially outside of the holding-down means (16).
2. Setting unit (70, 70') according to Claim 1, wherein the rivet feed unit (75), as seen in the joining direction (R), is arranged at the height of a region of the punch (15) .
3. Setting unit (70, 70') according to either of the preceding claims, wherein the punch (15) forms a component part of a vibrating system (39) which can be coupled to a vibration generator (32) in such a way that said system can be set in vibration when the rivet (20) is being pushed into the at least one component (11, 12).
4. Punch riveting device (10) for connecting at least two components (11, 12) by means of a rivet (20), having a setting unit (70, 70') according to one of the preceding claims and a counterholder (18), between which the at least two components (11, 12) and the rivet (20) can be arranged, and having a drive (50) by means of which a force can be exerted on the punch (15) in the joining direction (R).
5. Punch riveting device (10) according to Claim 4, having a vibrating system (39) for setting at least one component part (11, 12, 15, 18, 20) involved in the connection of the at least two components (11, 12) by means of the rivet (20) in vibration.
6. Punch riveting device (10) according to Claim 4 or 5, configured in such a way that the rivet (20) can be moved into the mouthpiece (72) actively by the rivet feed unit (75).
7. Punch riveting device (10) according to Claim 6, configured in such a way that the rivet (20) can be moved into the mouthpiece (72) actively by the rivet feed unit (75) by means of compressed air and/or by means of rivets which are arranged so as to contact each other in the rivet guide apparatus (70').

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