WO1995011770A1

WO1995011770A1 - Device for use in a press to feed connecting components and secure them in workpieces by pressing

Info

Publication number: WO1995011770A1
Application number: PCT/DE1994/000833
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dieter Schmidt
Original assignee: Maschinenbau Dieter Schmidt
Priority date: 1993-10-28
Filing date: 1994-07-19
Publication date: 1995-05-04
Also published as: CZ109296A3; PL314127A1; SK51396A3; HU9601099D0; EP0725702A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for use in a press (8) to feed connecting components, preferably nuts, and secure them in workpieces (1) by pressing. The device has a pressing head (5) on a press component for inserting and pressing the connecting components, a rigid feed (24) to feed the securing components to the pressing head (5) and a device via which the connecting components are fed to the rigid feed or a loading position. The special feature is that the device consists of at least two components (19', 19'') which can be secured to two relatively movable press components and of which one comprises the pressing head and the other the loading position.

Description

Device for use in a press for feeding connecting elements and fastening them in workpieces by pressing

The invention relates to a device according to the preamble of claim 1.

The production of workpieces from a sheet drawn from a coil or from individual sheets or sheets using a press and a tool arranged in such a press (for example also follow-up tool) by punching, permanent deformation, etc. is known. It is also known here to provide the workpieces with connecting elements during manufacture in the press, namely by inserting or inserting the relevant connecting element into a prepared hole and then pressing the connecting element into the workpiece.

The connecting elements are, for example, bolt-shaped elements, such as screws, bolts, nuts, etc.

A known device for feeding and fastening connecting elements in workpieces essentially consists of a punching head which is provided on one of two counteracting tool or press parts and, by means of a press ram, the insertion of a connecting element into a prepared hole in a workpiece and below With the cooperation of the other of the counteracting tool or press parts, the subsequent pressing of the connecting element in the workpiece acts. The known device also has a rigid, also on the one tool or. Press part mounted feeder, the connecting elements via a flexible feeder (Hose) are fed by a sorting and feeding device and which forwards the connecting elements to the punching head.

In the context of the invention, “press” is basically to be understood as a machine with at least two tool or press parts that can be moved or counteracted relative to one another. A "press" is preferably a tool press of the type mentioned at the outset for producing workpieces from sheet metal, etc.

Counteracting tool or press parts are, in the present context, those parts of the press or the tool provided on this press that act directly or indirectly on the workpiece to be produced or on the sheet metal used for this purpose. Such tool or press parts are, for example, the hold-down device which goes up and down in accordance with the press stroke on the one hand and the counter tool interacting with it on the other hand, but also elements of the press which support this counter tool, for example a clamping plate on the press table or an intermediate plate fastened there for the counter tool etc.

Depending on the design of the tool, it is often necessary to provide the punching head on the movable tool or press part of the counteracting tool or press parts, for example on the kidney holder for feeding the connecting elements from above. The disadvantage here is that not only is the entire device moved up and down with the hold-down device, but above all the flexible feed moves continuously up and down following the press stroke and is therefore subject to increased wear. In addition, additional acceleration forces are exerted on those present in the flexible feed Fasteners exercised. The disadvantage, however, is in particular that the flexible feed and, if necessary, additional connection and supply lines (pneumatic or hydraulic lines, electrical control lines, etc.) allow free lateral access to the press, for example during assembly and disassembly work or for repairs and / or maintenance hinder.

The object of the invention is to provide a device which avoids the disadvantages of the abovementioned prior art and, without obstructing free access to the press, enables the connection elements to be fastened in workpieces to be fed to the punching head without interference and in a precise position.

To achieve this object, a device according to the invention is designed in accordance with the characterizing part of patent claim 1.

A special feature of the device according to the invention is that it is made at least in two parts, ie consisting of two assemblies, of which the first assembly on a first of the two counteracting press and tool parts and the other assembly on a second of the counteracting press or tool parts is attached. The second press or tool part is preferably the movable tool part. The device according to the invention enables it to be optimally accommodated and assembled in a press, and in particular simple and quick retrofitting of the entire device and simple and quick replacement of the individual structural units, in particular also the second structural unit comprising the punching head, are possible. The units can can be installed and removed as complete units, ie in particular it is not necessary to dismantle parts of the tool etc.

If the first structural unit is provided on the non-movable tool or press part and the second structural unit is provided on the movable press or tool part, a flexible feed for the connecting elements that is moved up and down with the movement of the press is also avoided.

Another advantage of the device according to the invention is that the feed force, which is biased with the connecting elements in the second conveyor section of the second structural unit for movement on the punching head, is determined solely by the first feed device.

The control of all functional elements, in particular also the control of the movement of the first feed element between its effective position and its non-effective position, as well as the actuation of the separating device provided in the separating head, are preferably carried out in the invention solely by the interaction of the structural units, so that this also separates them the second unit leading control and / or supply lines are avoided.

The device is preferably designed in such a way that the connecting elements are moved individually and in chronological succession, that is to say according to the respective requirement, via the external feed to the loading position, preferably by shooting. The connection elements are then not supplied by dynamic pressure from the sorting and supply device. This has the further advantage, in particular in the case of flexible external feeds, that Disruptions in the supply of the connecting elements by mutually jamming these elements is reliably avoided.

The connecting elements in turn form a closed row in the conveyor line, in which the connecting elements connect closely to one another, i.e. with normal operation, there is a precisely defined number of connecting elements in the second conveyor line at all times in the second conveyor line. The connecting elements are pretensioned there by the first feed device for movement to the punching head, independently of the feeding of the connecting elements from the sorting and feeding device to the loading position.

In the transfer situation, in which the transfer head is lowered onto the loading head at the bottom dead center of the press stroke, at least one connecting element is briefly actuated to transfer at least one connecting element from the loading position into the second conveying path.

The control, in particular, of the movement of the first feed element between its effective and its inactive position, and also the actuation of a separating or securing device provided in the loading head, which ensures that only the intended number of connecting elements is transferred to the second conveyor line in the invention are preferably carried out solely by the interaction of the structural units, so that special control and / or supply lines leading to the second structural unit are thereby avoided.

Further developments of the invention are the subject of the subclaims. The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the figures using exemplary embodiments. Show it:

Figures 1 and 2, a connecting element in the form of a nut and a sheet or workpiece before inserting this nut into a hole prepared in the workpiece or after inserting and fastening the nut in the workpiece by pressing;

FIGS. 3 and 4 in a simplified representation and in a side view an embodiment of the device according to the invention, together with a press provided with this device, the first structural unit being mounted on the lower part of the press and the second structural unit being mounted on the hold-down device, specifically when the press is open Press or with hold-down device against the workpiece;

FIGS. 5 and 6 in an enlarged partial representation and side view, the structural units of the device according to the invention in a first relative position (with the press open) and in a second relative position (with the press closed or in the transfer situation);

7 shows a simplified representation and a top view of the two conveying sections or the T-guides of the structural units forming these conveying sections in the case of structural units in the transfer situation; 8 shows a simplified representation of a section corresponding to line II in the case of structural units located in the first relative position;

9 shows a section corresponding to the section line II-II of FIG. 8 through the conveying path of the second structural unit;

FIG. 10 shows a section along the line III-III of FIG. 8, but with structural units located in the second relative position or transfer situation;

11 shows a schematic representation of the course of the movement of the feed element of the second structural unit, which is designed as a feed rocker, when the second structural unit is lifted off the first structural unit;

12 shows the punching head of the device in vertical section;

13 shows the punching head of FIG. 12 in a view from above, with the carrier removed;

14 shows a representation similar to FIG. 6, the structural units or their separating or loading head and take-over head in the take-over position in a further embodiment of the invention;

15 shows a simplified representation and a side view of the transfer head of the devices of FIGS. 5-14;

16 shows a further embodiment of the invention;

17 shows a section through the feed hose forming the outer feed; Fig. 18 is a section along the line IV-IV of Fig. 16;

19 is a section along the line V-V of FIG. 16th

In the figures, 1 is a workpiece produced from sheet metal by stamping, which is shown in the figures for the sake of simplicity as a flat workpiece, but can also have any other required shape. 2 designates a connecting element which, in the embodiment shown, is designed as a nut, which has a collar 2 'in an opening 3 made in the workpiece 1 by punching, by inserting or inserting and then pressing in using the press-in ram 4 (plunger). of the punching head 5 and a pressing ring 6 is fastened in a lower tool part or counter tool 7. The workpiece 1 is produced in a press 8 in a tool provided in this press, in which the nut 2 is then also attached to the workpiece 1 by pressing, as is known to the person skilled in the art.

The press 8 essentially consists of a press frame 9, which forms the lower part 10 of the press and on which the press ram 11 is guided so that it can be moved up and down in the vertical direction.

A clamping plate 12 is provided on the lower part 10, on which the lower tool part or counter tool 7 is fastened via an intermediate plate 13. A clamping plate 14 is provided on the underside of the press ram 11, to which an upper tool part 15 in the form of a punch holding plate is fastened. Furthermore, the press 8 has a spring-loaded hold-down device 16, which is arranged between the upper tool part 15 and the counter tool 7 and, when the press is closed, acts against the force of hold-down springs 17 which act between the hold-down device 16 and the tool part 15 Support workpiece 1.

For the controlled feeding of the nuts 2 to the "insertion area" of the tool, at which (insertion area) these nuts are inserted into the relevant opening 3 of a workpiece 1 and which is designated by 18, the one in FIGS 19 designated device, which consists of two units 19 'and 19' ', of which the unit 19' is mounted on the lower tool part or on the intermediate plate 13 and the unit 19 '' on the underside of the hold-down device 16.

The assembly 19 has a conveyor line 20 which is connected at one end via a flexible hose 21 to a sorting and feeding device 22 which is arranged on the side of the press 8 and via which the nuts 2 each follow one another in close succession and in a prescribed position or orientation (exact position) of the conveyor section 20. Like the hose 21, this is designed such that the nuts 2 inevitably remain in their predetermined position and / or orientation. The conveying direction of the conveyor section 20 is indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 3. The conveyor section 20 essentially consists only of a guide rail or T-guide 27 and a carrier 26 supporting it, ie it is not an active conveyor line. Rather, the nuts 2 are moved further in the hose 21 and in the conveying path 20 by the dynamic pressure generated by the device 22.

At the end facing away from the hose 20, a separating or loading head 23 is formed or provided on the conveying path 20, the design of which is described in more detail below and which, together with the conveying path 20, forms the structural unit 19 '.

The assembly 19 ″ essentially consists of the likewise horizontal conveyor section 24, which at one end merges into the punching head 5 provided in the insertion region 18 of the tool and at the other end is connected to a take-over head 25, which in the Working strokes of the press 8 cooperate with the separating head 23 in the manner described in more detail below. With the end having the take-over head 25, the structural unit 19 ″ moved with the hold-down device 16 projects laterally beyond the hold-down device 16. The nuts 2 are thus fed to the insertion area 18 laterally from the outside of the tool.

The conveyor section 24 is also a passive conveyor section which, like the conveyor section 20, is formed by a T-guide 27 '. 9, this T-guide 27 ', which forms the conveyor section 24 and is provided on the underside of a carrier 26', is shown in section. The carrier 26 ′ extends essentially over the entire length of the conveyor section 24 and is connected at both ends to the take-over head 25 or to the punching head 5. The assembly 19 ″ is fastened to the underside of the hold-down device 16 with the support 26 ′. Similar to the conveyor section 24, the conveyor section 20 is also formed, but in the special embodiment with the difference that the T guide there 27 is not (like the T-guide 27 ') open or slotted on the underside, but on the top in the longitudinal direction of the guide.

During operation, the conveyor lines 20 and 24 are each occupied by a large number of nuts 2, in such a way that these nuts connect closely to one another in the longitudinal direction L or L 'or in the direction of conveyance A or B of the respective conveyor line, and in particular in the conveyor line 24 there is a precisely predetermined number of nuts 2 at all times. By means of a feed element provided in the take-over head 25, which in the embodiment shown is formed by a feed rocker 28, the nuts 2 arranged in the conveying path 24 are also for movement from the take-over head 25 in the direction of the punching head 5 (arrow B in FIG. 3) biased by a feed force in such a way that in each case a nut 2 in the punching head 5 or in a tappet channel 49 (FIG. 12) formed there is ready for introduction into a workpiece 1.

The basic mode of operation of the device 19 can be described as follows:

If the press moves to the bottom dead center, when the punching head 5 is pressed against the workpiece 1 via the hold-down springs 17, a nut 2 provided in the punching head 5 is finally inserted into the opening 3 of the workpiece with the help of the press-in ram 4 and then during the further downward stroke of the press the fastening of the nut 2 in the workpiece 1 in the manner described above by pressing.

At the bottom dead center of the press stroke, the separating head 23 and the take-over head 25 simultaneously engage in one another in such a way that in the closed state of the Press 8 corresponding transfer situation (second relative position) of the assembly 19 'and 19''the conveyor section 20 with its end formed at the separating head 23 merges into the end of the conveyor section 24 formed at the take-over head 25, that is to say the conveyor section 20 in the conveyor section 24 continues. In the illustrated embodiment, the conveyor lines 20 and 24 are at the bottom dead center of the press coaxially in a common horizontal axis.

The separating head 23 has a separating or securing device 29 which is essentially formed from two pairs of stops 30 and 31 (in particular FIGS. 7, 8 and 10) and whose mode of operation is described in more detail below.

The separating device 29 is designed so that during the press stroke from bottom dead center in the direction of top dead center, ie in a transfer phase of this movement, in the (phase) of the press ram 4 after the nut 2 has been pressed into workpiece 1. Starting position is moved back and the punching head 5 can be filled with a new nut 2, but the punching head 5 still bears against the workpiece 1 or, via this, against the lower tool 7 due to the action of the hold-down springs 17, that is to say the units 19 and 19 ' continue to be in the transfer situation, each of the first nut 2 (at the separating head 23) in the conveyor line 20 is inserted (at the take-over head 25) into the conveyor line 24, specifically by the dynamic pressure generated by the device 22. For this purpose, the feed rocker 28 is pivoted out of the movement space of the nuts 2 in the conveyor sections 20 and 24 during the loading or transfer phase, so that the nut 2 to be transferred passes under the feed link 28 from the conveyor section 20 into the conveyor section 24 can be introduced. As soon as the take-over head 25 lifts off the separating head 23 following the movement of the hold-down device 16, the separating device 29 or the stops 30 there block the conveying path 20 in the region of its end formed on the separating head 23 and the feed rocker 28 swivels into its active or effective position, in which this rocker rests against the last nut 2 introduced into the conveyor section 24 and thereby prestresses all nuts 2 in the conveyor section 24 for movement in the direction of arrow B.

At the next press stroke, the nut 2 present in the control head 5 is again inserted into a workpiece 1 and fastened there at the bottom dead center, whereupon another nut 2 from the separating head 23 or from the loading position 20 ″ in there during a renewed transfer phase the take-over head 25 or into the end of the conveyor section 24 there, etc.

All movements of the functional elements in the singling head 23 and in the transfer head 25, in particular the movement of the stops 30 and the transfer of the feed lever 28 into the inactive position and then back into the active position, are inevitably effected by the relative movement or the movement stroke between the take-over head 25 and the separating head 23, that is to say in that control surfaces on the take-over head 25 act on corresponding control surfaces on the separating head 23 at the bottom dead center of the press stroke and during the transfer phase. In addition, during the bottom dead center of the press stroke, during the transfer phase and also in a subsequent partial area of the press stroke from bottom dead center to top dead center on the separating head 23, there are functional elements, namely the stops 31 there, in the transfer head 25 or effective in the conveyor section 24 there. The device 19 not only ensures proper feeding of the nuts 2 to the insertion area 18 of the tool, but in particular also offers the advantage that lines such as control lines, supply lines, hoses for feeding the nuts 2 etc. lead to the hold-down device 16 Avoid active control and actuation elements on the assembly 19 ″. The area between the hold-down device 16 and the lower tool 7 is therefore freely accessible, in particular when the press is in the top dead center. By controlling the functional elements of the separating head 23 and the take-over head 25 solely through the relative movement between these heads, simple means also ensure that these functional elements work synchronously with the press stroke.

The separating head 23, the take-over head 25, the punching head 5 and a modified device 19a are explained in more detail below.

Separating head 23 and transfer head 25

Figures 5-11 show these heads in detail.

The separating head 23 has a housing 32 which is arranged in the region of the end of the conveyor section 20 below this conveyor section, ie below the T-rail 26 forming this conveyor section and the associated carrier 27. In the housing 32, the two stops 30 are provided in a vertical axial direction, ie in an axial direction perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the conveyor path 20 and in the direction of the press stroke, by a predetermined amount (double arrow C), namely - 1.5 -

against the action of a compression spring 33 from an active position, in which each stop 30 extends into the conveyor path 20 from below, into a non-effective position, in which each stop is arranged outside the conveyor path 20, namely below the level of the underside 20 'this conveyor line. In the embodiment shown, the stops 30 are part of a single slide 30 '.

Furthermore, the two stops 31 are also slidably provided in the housing 32 against the action of a compression spring 34 in the vertical axis direction, in such a way that these stops 31 project in an effective position over the plane of the underside 20 'and from this effective position can be moved down. The stops 31 are also part of a single slide 31 '.

As shown in FIG. 7 in particular, the stops 30 and also the two stops 31 are each offset in a horizontal axial direction perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the conveyor path 20 and arranged symmetrically to the longitudinal axis L, in such a way that the two in the conveying direction A of the conveyor path 20 Stops 31 follow the two stops 30.

The stops 30 and 31 are further designed and spaced from one another in the direction of the longitudinal axis L such that when a nut 2 abuts against the two stops 31, which is denoted by 2a in FIG. 7, the stops 30 in their effective position in Pass a gusset between the nut 2a and the nut 2b immediately following in the conveying direction A and abutting against the nut 2a, and thus in the manner described later when the take-over head 25 is lifted from the singling head 23 and in this case with the take-over head 25 - led mother 2a can hold back the mother 2b and the subsequent nuts on this against the back pressure of the device 22 in the conveyor section 20.

A block 35 is attached above the conveyor line or the guide 27 'forming this conveyor line, which has an upwardly projecting projection 36, which forms a control surface 37 for the feed rocker 28 on its upper side. The projection 36 is located in relation to the conveying direction A in front of the stops 30.

The take-over head 25 consists of a housing 38 which is fastened to the top of the conveyor section 24 or to the top of the carrier 26 there and with its underside forms, inter alia, contact surfaces 39. When the take-over head 25 is lowered on the separating head 23, they come to the side of the conveyor section 20, ie outside the movement space of the nuts 2 in this conveyor section 20, against the upper side of a stop 30 and press it against the action of the spring 33 from the active position down to the inactive position. When the take-over head 25 is lowered onto the individualization head 23, the plane E1 of the underside of the conveyor section 20 lies in a common horizontal plane with the plane E2 of the underside of the conveyor section 24. The beginning of the conveyor section 24 in the take-over head 25 is marked by an underside of the Take-over head open recess 40 and formed by two angle pieces 41, each projecting laterally with a leg portion 41 'beyond the lower edge of the recess 40 and thereby together with the recess 40 form a T-shaped guide groove or T-guide, which then merges into the T-guide 27 '. In the angle pieces 41 and the swivel sections 41 'there are recesses 42, one recess 42 for each stop 31 such that when the head 23 is lowered Transfer head 25 each stop 31 protrudes through a recess 42 into the conveyor line 26 or into the initial region of this conveyor line formed on the transfer head 25. The recesses 42 are offset in the direction of the longitudinal axis L 'of the conveying path 24 relative to the beginning of this conveying path in the conveying direction B by an amount such that a nut, namely the nut 2a of FIG. 7, which in relation to the conveying direction B in front of the Recesses 42 and with the take-over head 25 lowered in front of the stops 31 part (take-over area 24 ') of the conveyor section 24 and against which stops 31 projecting upward through the cut-outs 42 are almost completely received by the conveyor track 24 or its take-over area 24' is.

In the housing 38, the feed rocker 28 is also pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L 'by means of a hinge pin 43. The articulated lever 43 or its axis is located above the conveyor section 24, specifically in the embodiment shown in the vertical direction approximately above the recesses 42.

The feed rocker 28 is designed as a double-armed lever with respect to the hinge pin 43 and the hinge axis formed by this hinge pin.

At one end the feed rocker 28 forms a nose 44 which is a contact surface for the last nut 2 (in the illustration of FIG. 7 nut 2a) inserted into the conveyor section 24. In the illustration selected for FIGS. 5 and 6, the nose 44 can be pivoted counterclockwise into the conveying path 24 or the front end of this conveying path by pivoting about the articulation pin 43 and by pivoting the feed rocker 28 around the articulated arm. pin 43 in the clockwise direction from the conveying path 26 in a non-operative position of the conveyor ^'rschwinge 28 herausge¬ be pivoted.

At the other end of the feed rocker 28 pull springs 45 engage at one end, which are held at their other end on the housing 38, in such a way that the feed rocker 28 is biased into its effective position by the tension springs 45 and in this effective position on the Nose 44 in the direction of arrow B exerts the feed force on the nuts 2 arranged in the conveyor section 24.

On the feed rocker 28 * a projection 46 is also provided, which is assigned a stop 47 on the housing 38. This stop 47 can be moved manually by means of a handle 47 'provided on the outside of the housing between an effective position in which the stop 47 lies in the movement path of the projection 46 and an inactive position in which the stop 47 lies outside the Movement path 46 is arranged.

A spring-loaded design of the stop 47 and an inclined surface 46 'on the projection 46 further ensures that when the stop 47 is in its active position, the feed rocker 28 can be pivoted into its inactive position against the action of the tension springs 45, and that stop 47 located in the active position is prevented from pivoting of the feed rocker 28 into its effective position by the projection 46 coming into abutment against this stop, the feed rocker 28 is rather held in an intermediate position by the projection 46 resting against the stop 47, in which the Feed rocker .28 lies outside the conveyor line 24 and, when the take-over head 25 is lowered onto the singling head 23, also lies outside the conveyor line 20. On one side of the feed rocker 28, a roller 48 is freely rotatably mounted, which comes to bear against the control surface 37 of the projection 36 during the downward movement of the take-over head 25, specifically before the bottom dead center of the press stroke is reached, so that at further lowering and approaching the take-over head 25 to the separating head 26, the feed rocker 28 is pivoted into its inactive position against the action of the tension springs 45, which is achieved when the take-over head 25 bears against the separating head 23, the structural units 19 ' and 19 '' are thus in their second relative position or transfer situation to one another. In this state, the position of the nose 44 above the conveying paths 20 and is also due to the control surface 37 and the roller 48 lying against this control surface

24 exactly and necessarily defined by the position of the heads 23 and 25.

The interaction of the separating head 23 and the take-over head 25 can essentially be described as follows:

With normal operation, i.e. especially when the stop 47 is not effective, is always when the take-over head

25 is lowered onto the separating head 23 and bears against it, the feed rocker 28 is pivoted into the inactive position by the roller 48 resting against the control surface 37. At the same time, the stops 30 are moved into their non-effective position by the contact surfaces 39, so that when the plunger 4 returns to its starting position, there is space for a further nut 2 in the conveying path 24 in the conveying direction B onto the take-over area 24 'is created in the following, by means of the dynamic pressure of the device 22, the first nut 2, which is present in the conveyor line 20 or in the loading position 20''there, is introduced into the take-over area 24' of the conveyor line 24. This nut, designated 2a in FIG. 7, then bears against the stops 31 projecting into the conveyor section 24. If the take-over head 25 is moved upward with the hold-down device 16, the nut 2a arranged in the take-over area 24 'is also moved. With the upward movement of the take-over head 25, the stops 30 also come into their effective position, so that the nut 2b following the nut 2a carried by the take-over head 25 is initially retained in the conveying path 20 by the nut 2a and then by the stops 30. With the upward movement of the take-over head 25, the feed rocker 28 is also increasingly pivoted into its effective position, so that this feed rocker then finally comes to rest with its nose 44 against the nut 2a in the take-over area 24 'and this nut from the take-over area 24' in the conveyor section 24 pushes in as soon as the stops 31 have completely moved out of this conveyor section, so that this nut is then in the conveying direction behind the recesses 42 and does not cover these recesses either.

The stops 31 achieve an exact and reproducible positioning of the nut 2a taken over, regardless of the tolerances of the nuts 2 already in the conveyor section 24, which considerably simplifies the taking over and separation.

The spring-loaded design of the stops 31 means that these stops also break. then prevented if there is a nut 2 when the take-over head 25 is lowered onto the singling head 23 at the take-over area 24 'of the conveyor section 24 and in particular in the area of the recesses 42.

Characterized in that the bottom of the conveyor line 24 at the beginning of this conveyor line by the elbows 41 or their legs Sections 41 'is formed, a tear-off protection is also achieved in such a way that when a nut 2 transferred to the conveyor section 24 is only incompletely introduced into the takeover area and protrudes from the conveyor section to such an extent that this nut on the Conveyor section 20 or another part of the separating head 23 gets stuck when lifting the take-over head 25, the conveying section 24 does not break, but at most only the elbows 41 are bent, which, however, can be easily replaced.

The sequence of the pivoting movement of the feed rocker 28 is shown in the positions a - e in FIG. 11. This illustration shows that the pivoting movement of the feed rocker 28 is controlled by the control surface 37 and in particular also by the arrangement of the roller 48 in relation to the articulated bolt 43 such that when the feed rocker 28 is pivoted into the active position Nose 44 increasingly approaches the adopted nut 2a, the lifting space 25 also creating the movement space necessary for the nose 44 to rest over the first nut remaining in the conveying path 20 (nut 2b of FIG. 7) can move past.

Punching head 5

The design of the punching head 5 is shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. The punching head 5 forms, at the take-over head 25, the end of the conveyor section 24 which is distant, with a tappet channel 49 with its axis extending in the direction of the press stroke, which is open on the underside 5 'of the punching head 5 for removing the respective nut 2 and in which the press-in tappet 4 is axial is displaceable, namely between an effective position in which the lower end face 4 'of the plunger 4 lies above the conveyor section 24, and a working position in which the end face 4 'with the press pressure against the top of the nut 2 moved downward in the tappet channel 49 rests with the press pressure in the opening 3 of the workpiece 1 in order to insert and press the nut. The tappet channel 49 is open on the underside of the punching head 5 and is formed there by a plate 5 ′ which forms the underside of the punching head 5.

As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the press ram 4 is guided axially displaceably in the axial direction in a housing 50 fastened to the upper side of the conveying path 24 or the upper side of the carrier 26 'there, against the action of the press ram 4 there surrounding return spring 50. The upper end face 4 ″ of the press ram 4 acts at the lower dead center of the press stroke of the punch 51 provided on the tool part 15.

Whenever the plunger 4 is moved back from the working position into the starting position, a new nut 2 is moved into the plunger channel 49 via the conveying action generated by the feed rocker 28, which pivots a pawl 52 against a spring. The pawl 52 acts with a sensor, for example with a proximity switch 53, which is actuated by the pawl 52 only when there is a nut 2 in the tappet channel 49. If the sensor 53 is not actuated at the top dead center of the press, i. H. If a sensor signal confirming the presence of a nut 2 is missing, an error display or error signal is hereby initiated in a control device 54 of the press 8, with which the press is then switched off.

The plunger solution for the press ram 4, ie the actuation of the press ram 4 via the additional plunger 51 has the advantage, inter alia, of a short overall length and a small movement stroke for the press ram 4. It goes without saying that modifications are possible for the punching head 5, in particular also depending on the connecting elements to be processed in each case.

Device 19a

FIG. 14 shows, in a representation similar to FIG. 6, the separating head 23a and the transfer head 25a of a device 19a which, like the device 19, consists of two structural units 19a 'and 19a' ', of which the structural unit 19a' in turn is Press lower part 10 or is fastened to the intermediate plate 13 there and the assembly 19a ″ having the takeover head 25a on the hold-down device 16.

The device 19a differs from the device 19 essentially only in that instead of the manually operable stop 47 in the housing 38 of the transfer head 25a, a motor-operated stop 55 is provided, which in the embodiment shown in FIG. 14 is designed as a slide, which in turn interacts with the projection 46 of the feed rocker 28, is displaceable between an effective and inactive position in an axial direction perpendicular to the axis of the press stroke and perpendicular to the axis of the hinge pin 43 and forms a stop for the projection 46 in the active position such that when the projection 46 abuts against the stop 55, the feed rocker 28 is again in the intermediate position described above, which corresponds to an inactive position of the rocker 28. The stop 55 is moved in each case when the take-over head 25a rests on the singling head 23a by means of a double-acting pneumatic cylinder 56 accommodated in the housing 32 of the singling head and into one or the other position Then remains in this position until the take-over head 25a has lowered again onto the separating head 23a and the cylinder 56 has been actuated accordingly. The fact that the cylinder 56 is located in the separating head 23a also avoids control lines etc., which are required for controlling the stop 55 and lead to the take-over head 25a.

For the control by the cylinder 56, the stop 55 has on its underside a projection 57 which has at its lower, free end two inclined surfaces 58 and 59 which are arranged in the manner of a roof, which are each in planes perpendicular to the plane of the drawing in FIG. 14. In the separating head 23a, two control slides 60 and 61 are provided, which are guided in the vertical direction, ie in the direction of the press stroke, to be displaceable in the longitudinal direction by a predetermined amount and have inclined surfaces 62 and 63 at their upper ends. Of these, the inclined surface 62 provided on the control slide 60 interacts with the inclined surface 58 and the inclined surface 63 provided on the control slide 61 cooperates with the inclined surface 59. By means of the cylinder 56, the two control slides 60 and 61 are controlled in such a way that in one position of the cylinder 56, for example, the inclined surface 62 is raised relative to the inclined surface 63 and in the other position of the cylinder 56 the inclined surface 63 is raised relative to the inclined surface 62 . When the take-over head 25a is lowered, the raised inclined surface 62 or 63 comes into contact with the associated inclined surface 58 or 59, so that, depending on the position of the inclined surfaces 62 and 63, the stop 55 is in its inactive position (when the inclined surface 63 is raised) or is moved into its effective position (with the inclined surface 62 raised) or maintains its state corresponding to the position of the inclined surfaces 62 and 63. For the opposite stroke movement on the piston rod 67 of the cylinder 56, which is arranged with its axis in a plane which includes the longitudinal axes of the control spool 60 and 61, and in this plane in an axial direction perpendicular to the axis of the control spool by a predetermined The amount can be moved back and forth, a control body 68 designed as a slide is attached, the lower side of which rests against a sliding surface 68 'and has a flat surface 69 on its upper side and an inclined surface 70 and 71 on both sides thereof.

Each spool 60 and 61 has at its lower end a flat end face 72 (spool 60) and 73 (spool 61) and an inclined surface 74 (spool 60) and 75 (spool 61).

The arrangement is also such that in each position of the cylinder 56, the flat surface 72 or 73 of the respectively raised control slide 60 or 61 abuts against the flat surface 69 and the inclined surface 75 or 74 of the lowered control slide 61 or 60 of this oblique ¬ face assigned inclined surface 71 or 70. In the illustration selected for FIG. 14, the control slide 61 is in the raised position, so that the flat surface 73 bears against the flat surface 69 and the inclined surface 74 is opposite the inclined surface 70. By controlling the cylinder 56 appropriately, the control body 68 can be moved to the left from the position shown in FIG. 14, as a result of which the control slide 60 is raised via the inclined surfaces 70 and 74 and its flat surface 72 finally abuts against the flat surface 69, while the same ¬ the plane surface 73 disengages from the plane surface 69 and the control slide 61 is lowered by the inclined surface 71 sliding on the inclined surface 71. The raised control slide 60 or 61 is secured in this position by the flat surface lying against the flat surface 69.

The control of the cylinder 56 takes place during the period in which the take-over head 25a is lifted from the singling head 23a, depending on a signal supplied by the control device 54 in such a way that in normal operation, with each press stroke of the press 8, a nut 2 is inserted into a workpiece 1, the control slide 61 is in the raised position and thus the stop 55 remains in its inactive position. The control slide 60 is only raised if, for example, a nut 2 is not to be inserted into a specific workpiece 1 in accordance with a specific production program or if a nut 2 has not been inserted into a workpiece 1 due to a fault.

The stop 55 is still moved into the active position when a nut 2 cannot be inserted into the workpiece 1 in question, e.g. Strip cut, missing opening 3, strip end, etc.

Resilient backstops 76 are still present on the conveyor section 24, specifically at the beginning of this conveyor section (FIG. 7) and also in the region of the end or in the region of the channel 49, which (backstops) prevent the nuts 2 from moving back. 13 shows the punching head 5 from the top with the carrier 26 'removed. The two there provided on the tappet channel 49, resilient and designed as pawls backstops are further designed so that they not only prevent a backward movement of the nut 2 and the respective, located in the tappet channel 49 nut 2 by underhand grip when in the starting position Secure the tappet 4 against falling out of the tappet channel, but at the same time press the nut 2 arranged in the tappet channel 49 in the conveying direction B against the pawl 52. In this way, with a nut 2 located in the tappet channel 49, a signal from the sensor 53 confirming this state is achieved even when the feed rocker 28 is in its inactive position.

In order to ensure proper functioning, the effective length of that part of the conveyor section 24 which lies between the stops 31 and the punch-head end of this conveyor section is selected such that a predetermined number of nuts 2 are found in this section of the conveyor section, each of which relates to the possible tolerances have the largest outside diameter D _max , ie the length of this part of the conveyor section 24 = nxD _max , where n is the number of nuts 2.

Finally, 77 designates a cylinder provided on the tool part 15 for a control slide 78 which, in an effective position, enables the press force to be transmitted from the punch 51 to the press ram 4 at the bottom dead center of the press stroke, namely in that the slide 78 has a support surface forms for the upper end of the stamp 51. By means of the cylinder 77, which is also controlled by the control device 54, the slide 78 can be moved into an inactive position, in which the upper end of the plunger 51 is not supported against the slider 78 and, as a result, the plunger 51 has a free thickness of the slide 78 results in a corresponding movement stroke, with which the press-in ram 4 is not actuated via the plunger 51 in the bottom dead center of the press stroke.

Device 19b

FIGS. 16-19 show the separating or feed head 23b in a representation similar to that in FIGS. 6 and 15 and the transfer head 25b of a device 19b which, like the device 19, consists of two structural units, namely of the structural units 19 with the loading or loading head 23b and of the structural unit 19b ″ with the transfer head 25b. The assembly 19b 'is in turn attached to the lower press part 10 or to the intermediate plate 13 there and the assembly 19b''to the hold-down device 16.

The device 19a differs from the device 19 essentially only in that the loading head 23b is provided instead of the singling head 23a, specifically for a mode of operation in which at the bottom dead center of the press stroke (transfer situation) that at the end of the conveying path 20 or the nut 2 present at the loading position 20 ″ there is not introduced by the dynamic pressure, but rather by a feed element, namely by a feed rocker 80 from this loading position 20 ″ into the transfer area 24 ′ of the conveyor section 24. Due to this special design of the loading head 23b, it is in particular also possible to convey the nuts 2 from the device 22 via the feed hose 21 one after the other and in a controlled manner by shooting into the loading position 20 ″, the nuts 2 in the Feed hose 21 are oriented relative to one another and to the conveying direction in the same way as in the rigid conveying sections 20 and 24, namely with their axes perpendicular to the conveying direction A or B and parallel to one another. In order to maintain this orientation, the feed hose 21 has, as in the previously described embodiments, the channel 21 ′ shown in FIG. 17 with a rectangular cross section, which is adapted to the axial height and to the diameter of the nut 2. By shooting in the nuts 2 (using Compressed air) from the device 22 to the loading position 20 ″, even with a large length of the hose 21, reliable delivery of the nuts 2 is ensured without the risk of these nuts jamming against one another.

Furthermore, in the case of the device 19b, in normal operation, the conveyor section 24 is fully occupied with nuts 2, i.e. At any time there is a precisely predetermined number of nuts 2 in this conveyor line, which connect to one another there in the sealing position and form a row.

At the bottom dead center of the press stroke, not only the first nut 2 located in the conveyor section 24 or in the ram channel 49 is also disposed of in device 19b, i.e. attached to the workpiece 1, but there is also a transfer of a nut 2 from the loading position 20 to the transfer area.

The feed rocker 80 can be pivoted at its lower end below the level of the conveyor section 20 by means of a hinge pin 81 about a horizontal axis lying perpendicular to the conveying direction A, i.e. about an axis that is perpendicular to this conveying direction and at the same time also perpendicular to the axis of the nuts 1 in the conveying path 20.

In the embodiment shown, the feed rocker 80 is made of flat material essentially similar to a flat lever and, with its larger surface sides, lies perpendicular to the axis of the hinge pin 81.

The length of the feed rocker 80 and the swivel angle for this rocker are selected such that the upper end, which is distant from the joint pin 81 or a heavy section 80 'forming this end, and a feed nose 80''formed on this section do not effective The position or normal and initial position of the rocker 80 is pivoted away from the loading position 20 ″ and is located below the level of the conveyor path 20, so that nuts 2 above the feed rocker 80 located in the normal position pass it past the loader position 20 ''. 16, this normal position is indicated by broken lines. The position of the feed rocker 80, which it occupies at the end of its feed stroke, in which the rocker 80 with the feed nose 80 ″ extends through the slot 82 from below into the conveying path and extends in the conveying direction A along the Conveyor track moves.

The pivoting of the feed rocker 80 guides the feed stroke and return stroke, i.e. between the normal position and the maximum stroke position from this back to the normal position is carried out by a double-acting pneumatic cylinder 83, specifically controlled by the control device 54.

The loading head 23b also has the spring-loaded stops 30 and 31, which form the securing device 29 and of which the stops 30 of their active position precisely define the loading position 20 '', i.e. Stops for the respective nut 2 at this loading position and the two stops 31 precisely define the takeover area 24 ', i.e. Form stops for the nut 2 which is reloaded or conveyed into the take-over area 24 '.

A backstop 84 is provided on the conveying path 20 in the conveying direction A in front of the loading position 20 ″, which is formed by a lever which can be pivoted about a vertical axis against the action of a compression spring or another spring element and which has a hook end in the Conveying path 20 extends in such a way that it can avoid the nuts 2 moving in the conveying direction A, but prevents the nuts 2 from moving past in the opposite direction of the conveying direction A. The backstop 84 is positioned so that between it and the stops 30 in its active position there is a space in the conveyor path 20 which is somewhat larger than the diameter of a nut 2. The backstop 84 in particular also causes the loading position to rebound 20 '' injected nut 2 prevented.

At the loading position there is also a pawl 85 which can be pivoted against the action of a compression spring and which interacts with a sensor 86, for example with a proximity sensor, in such a way that the sensor 86 only exists when a nut 2 is present at the loading position 20 '', i.e. a signal confirming the presence of a nut 2 is provided between the backstop 84 and the stops 30 in the active position.

The basic operation of the device 19b can be described as follows:

With regard to the insertion and fixing of a nut 2 in a bore 3 of a workpiece 1, the device corresponds to device 19. Reference can be made to the corresponding description.

In a possible embodiment of the invention, the feed rocker 80 is controlled so that it is normally in its initial or normal position and only performs a feed stroke and subsequent return stroke during the bottom dead center of the press movement. In this case, before the bottom dead center of the press stroke is reached, the control device 54 controls the Device 22 one among two shot into the loading position 20 via the empty hose 21 and the empty conveying path 20, specifically when the sensor 86 reports the absence of a nut 2. If the press has reached bottom dead center, the pneumatic cylinder 83, whose piston rod 88 is connected to the feed rocker 80 via a pivot pin 89, is actuated by a sensor 87 via the control device 54 for a feed stroke and a subsequent return stroke, whereby on past the stops 30, which are in their inactive, lowered position, the nut located at the loading position 20 ″ is reloaded into the take-over area 24 ′ by the feed rocker 80 or its feed nose 80 ″.

However, the feed rocker 80 is preferably controlled differently from the foregoing in such a way that, in normal operation, when the press moves from top dead center to bottom dead center, this rocker is in an intermediate position in which one at the loading position 20 '' standby nut 2 is pressed with this rocker against the stops 30. When the hold-down device 16 and the transfer head 25b have pressed the stops 30 into their inactive position at the bottom dead center, the feed rocker 80 pushes the nut 2 from the loading position 20 ″ into the transfer area 24 ′. If the press has left bottom dead center and accordingly there is no nut 2 at the loading position 20 ″, the rocker 80 is pivoted into its starting position, for example controlled by the sensor 86, and a new nut 2 ′ is shot into the loading position 20 ″. reloaded.

Irrespective of the control of the feed rocker 80 described above, the feed rocker 28 of the Takeover head 25b in the lower stroke position of the press in each case in the non-effective position and pivots when moving the press up to its effective position, with which the nut 2 picked up at the takeover position 24 'by the takeover head 25b is then pushed into the conveyor path 24 by the rocker 28 and forms the last mother there.

If the nut 2 present in the punching head was not disposed of in a previous work cycle of the press, the nut transferred to the takeover area 24 'remains at this takeover area, which then already exists at the next dead center of the press or when the takeover head 25b is next lowered onto the loading head 23b is occupied by a nut 2, which is reported, for example, by a sensor to the control device 54 provided on the take-over head 25b, which in this case does not control the pneumatic cylinder 83 for a movement of the feed rocker 80. In principle, however, it is also possible to carry out the control in such a way that the pneumatic cylinder 83 is inevitably actuated at the bottom dead center of the press in order to pivot the feed rocker 80. If the take-over area 24 'is still occupied by a nut 2, the nut 2 which is ready at the loading position 20' 'is pressed against the latter, but the latter remains at the loading position 20' 'when the press is moved up again.

The pneumatic pressure is set to a predetermined value by a pressure control valve, which does not lead to destruction even when the take-over area 24 'is set.

The takeover head 25b corresponds to the takeover head 25 in terms of its design and function. The invention has been described above using exemplary embodiments. It goes without saying that numerous changes and modifications are possible without departing from the inventive idea on which the invention is based.

For example, it is also possible to design the stops 30 and / or 31 as separate slides.

Reference list

Workpiece, 2a, 2b nut * collar

Opening or hole

Press ram ' ₍ , 4''end face

Punching head 'underside

Compression ring

Counter tool

Press

Press frame

Press lower part

Press ram

Clamping plate

Intermediate plate

Clamping plate upper tool part

Hold-down

Hold-down spring

Nut insertion area, 19a, 19b device ',, 19''unita' ¹ , 19a '' unit b '', 19b '' unit

Conveyor line 'bottom of conveyor line' loading position

Feed hose 'channel

Sorting and feeding device, 23a, 23b separating head Conveyor line 'transfer area, 25a, 25b transfer head, 26' carrier, 27 'T-guide

Feed arm

Separating device, 31 stops ', 31' slide

Housing, 34 compression spring

Log

head Start

Control surface

casing

Contact surface

Recess

Elbow 'thigh

Recess

Hinge pin

nose

Tension spring

Projection 'bevel

Stop 'handle

role

channel

Return spring

stamp

pawl

Sensor or proximity switch

Control device

Stop or slide cylinder

Projection, 59 bevel, 61 spool, 63 bevel

Piston rod

Control body * sliding surface

Flat surface, 71 inclined surface, 73 flat surface, 75 inclined surface

Backstop

cylinder

pusher

Feed arm 'section' 1 feed nose

Hinge pin

slot

Pneumatic cylinder

Backstop

pawl

sensor

Piston rod

Hinge pin

Claims

claims

Device for use in a press (8) for feeding connecting elements (2) and fastening them in workpieces (1) by pressing, with a punching head (5) provided on a tool or press part of the press (8), with which the connecting elements (2) are inserted and pressed into the workpieces (1) with a rigid feed (20, 24) for feeding the connecting elements (2) to the punching head (5), in which the connecting elements (2) are in a row connect tightly to one another, with a device (22) for feeding the connecting elements (2) to the rigid feed (20, 24), and with means for producing one of the connecting elements (2) in the rigid feed (20, 24) in the direction of the feed force moving the punching head (5),

The device consists of at least two structural units (19 ', 19' '; 19a', 19a '', 19b ', 19b' '), of which a first structural unit (19', 19a ', 19b') is attached to a first tool - or press part (7, 13) of two tool or press parts which can be moved relative to one another during the press stroke and the second structural unit (19 '', 19a '', 19b '') is mounted on the second tool part (16),

that the first assembly (19 ', 19a', 19b ') has a separating or loading head (23, 23a, 23b) and the second assembly (19' ', 19a' ', 19b' ') has a take-over head (25, 25a, 25b),

the separating or loading head (23, 23a, 23b) and take-over head (25, 25a, 25b) matched to one another in this way are that the separating or loading head (23, 23a, 23b) and the take-over head (25, 25a, 25b) connect to one another in a transfer situation with tool or press parts (7, 16) approximated to one another and complement each other in such a way that in this Transfer situation transfer the number of connecting elements (2) that have been introduced into a workpiece (1) from a loading position (20 ″) or a first conveyor section (20) of the first assembly to a second conveyor section (24) of the second assembly becomes,

wherein at least one first feed element (28) is provided on the transfer head (25, 25a, 25b) for generating the feed force, and

means (36, 37, 48) are provided which control the first feed element (28) in such a way that it is in an inactive position in the transfer situation and in the effective position when the structural units move away from the transfer situation Position reached.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the rigid guide is divided and formed by a first conveyor section (20) assigned to the first structural unit and by a second conveyor section (24) associated with the second structural unit, and in relation to a Direction of conveyance (A, B) of the rigid feed or the conveying sections (20, 24) the first conveying section (20) ends at the separating or loading head (23, 23a, 23b) and the second conveying section (24) at the transfer head (25, 25a) , 25b) begins.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized gekenn¬ characterized in that at the takeover head (25, 25a, 25b) at least a force accumulator, preferably at least one spring accumulator formed by at least one spring (45), is provided for generating the feed force.

Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that at least one control surface (37) is provided on the separating or loading head (23, 23a, 23b) against which a counter surface (48) on the first is reached before the transfer situation is reached Feed element (28) or on the energy accumulator comes to rest, in such a way that the first feed element (28) is moved from the active position into the inactive position against the action of the energy accumulator via the control surface (37) and the counter surface (48) .

Device according to one of claims 1-4, characterized in that on the take-over head (25, 25a, 25b) there is provided a locking element, for example formed by a stop (47, 55) or a slide, which is between an inactive position and an active position is movable and in the active position locks the first feed element (28) in its inactive position against the action of the energy accumulator.

Device according to one of claims 1-5, characterized in that the first feed element (28) has a section, for example a nose (44), with or with which the first feed element (28) in its effective position in the second conveyor path (24) for a system against a - 4.1

orderly connecting element (2) and that the section (44) is in the inactive position of the feed element (28) outside the second conveyor section (24),

the first feed element (28) preferably being in its non-effective position at least with the section (44) to the side or above the second conveyor path (24).

7. Device according to one of claims 1-6, characterized in that the stop (57, 55) or the locking element for the first feed element (28) can be moved manually and / or by motor between the non-active position and the active position.

8. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that for the motor movement of the stop (55) on this control surfaces (58, 59) are provided, which are located in the transfer situation units (19a ', 19a' ') with at least one control surface (62, 63) cooperate, which can be actuated by an actuator provided in the separating or loading head (23a), for example hydraulic cylinder (56).

9. The device according to claim 8, characterized in that the control surfaces at the stop (55) are inclined surfaces (58, 59), and that these inclined surfaces and by the actuator (56) controlled inclined surfaces (62, 63) on the separating or loading head (23a) are assigned.

10. Device according to one of claims 1-9, characterized in that the first feed element is a first Feed rocker (28) which is pivotable about the axis of a hinge pin (43) on the take-over head (25, 25a) and on which the energy accumulator (45) acts.

11. The device according to claim 10, characterized in that the axis of the hinge pin (43) is perpendicular or transverse to a plane which is the conveying direction (B) of the second conveyor section (24) in the region of the take-over head (25, 25a) and the axial direction of the press stroke.

12. Device according to one of claims 1-11, characterized in that a sensor device (52, 53) is provided on the punching head (5), which delivers an error signal when in a predetermined stroke position of the press stroke, for example at top dead center of the press stroke, there is no connecting element (2) in the punching head (5).

13. Device according to one of claims 1-12, characterized in that on the second conveyor section (24) backstops (76) for the connecting elements (2) are provided.

14. Device according to one of claims 1-13, characterized in that on the first feed rocker (28) with respect to the axis of the hinge pin (43) a projection or a roller (48) is provided, which is connected to the control surface (37) cooperates.

15. The device according to any one of claims 1-14, characterized in that in the transfer situation of the Bau¬ units (19 ', 19'',19a', 19a '', 19b ', 19b'') the first conveyor section (20) passes into the second conveyor section (24).

16. The device according to one of claims 1-15, characterized in that the singling or loading head (23, 23a, 23b) at the end of the first conveyor section (20) or at the loading position (20 '') a Verein¬ has or safety device (29), which is actuated immediately or when the transfer situation is reached preferably by the approaching heads (23, 23a; 23b; 25, 25a, 25b) and the transfer only the required number of connecting elements (2nd ) from the first conveyor section (20) to the second conveyor section (24).

17. The apparatus according to claim 15, characterized in that the separating and securing device (29) has at least a first stop (30) at the end of the first conveyor section (20) or at the loading position (20 ''), which is at a distance from each other Units (19 ', 19' ', 19a', 19a '', 19b ', 19b' ') extend into the first conveyor section (20) and retain the connecting element (2) arranged at the loading position (20' '), and that the stop (30) is moved out of the first conveyor section (20) in the transfer situation of the structural units.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, characterized in that the first stop (30) is movable or displaceable in the axial direction of the press stroke.

19. Device according to one of claims 1-18, characterized in that at the singling or loading head (23, 23a, 23b) at least a second stop (31) is provided which extends into the transfer situation in the second conveyor section (24) that in the second conveyor section (24) in the conveying direction (B) before the second stop (31) a partial area is formed in which can only accommodate a predetermined number of connecting elements (2), for example a single connecting element (2).

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, characterized in that the at least one second stop (31) is spring-loaded.

21. Device according to one of claims 1-20, characterized in that the second conveyor section (24) is provided at its start on the take-over head (25, 25a, 25b) with a tear-off protection (41, 41 ').

22. Device according to one of claims 1-21, gekennzeich¬ net by a between a press ram (4) of the punching head (5) and this press ram actuating the tool part (15) arranged slide (78), which by means of an actuator, for example a control cylinder (77), can be moved from an active position, in which the press ram performs a ram stroke during the press stroke to the bottom dead center, into an inactive position, in which a ram stroke does not take place during the press stroke.

23. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second feed element provided on the loading head (23b) is a second feed rocker (80) which can be pivoted about the axis of a hinge pin (81) on the loading head (23b).

24. The device according to claim 23, characterized in that the axis of the hinge pin (81) is perpendicular or transverse to a plane which is the conveying direction (A) of the first conveyor section (20) at the loading position (20 '') and the axial direction of the Press stroke includes.

25. The device according to any one of claims 1-24, characterized in that the device (22) for feeding the connecting elements (2) to the rigid feed is designed so that the connecting elements (2) each individually if necessary via an external feed ( 21) are conveyed to a loading position (20 '') of the loading head (23b), and that at least one second feed element (80) is provided on the loading head (23b) in order to provide a connecting element (2) in the transfer situation, which at the end the first conveyor section (20) formed loading position (20 '') is ready to insert into the second conveyor section (24).

26. The device according to claims 25, characterized in that the second feed element has a contact surface or feed nose (80 '') and from an initial position in which the second feed element or its feed surface (80 '') outside the first conveyor section (20th ) is arranged for a feed stroke and a subsequent return stroke is movable such that the second feed element (80) with the feed surface or nose (80 '') extends at least during the feed stroke into the first conveying path (2.0) and extends there in the conveying direction (A) moves.

27. The apparatus of claim 25 or 26, characterized by an actuating element, preferably by a piston-cylinder unit, for example pneumatic piston-cylinder unit (83) for actuating the second feed element (80).

28. Device according to one of claims 1-27, characterized in that the supply of the connecting elements (2) to the loading position (20 '') in each case via an outer conveying path, preferably via a flexible hose (21) individually and by injection with compressed air.

29. Device according to one of claims 1-28, characterized in that the connecting elements are nuts (2), that the nuts in the outer feed (21) are arranged with their axes perpendicular to the conveying direction (A) and parallel to each other, and that the outer feed (21) is formed by a tube in a rectangular channel (21 ') adapted to the height and diameter of the nuts (2) in cross section.

30. Device according to one of claims 1-29, characterized in that a second sensor device (86) is provided at the loading position (20 ''), which cooperates with a control device (54) in such a way that when at the loading position (20 '') is not a prescribed number of connecting elements (2), the external feed device (22) is actuated for the injection of at least one connecting element (2) to the loading position (20 '').

31. Device according to one of claims 1-30, characterized in that the second feed device (80) is controlled by the control device (54), preferably taking into account the signal of at least one third sensor (87), in such a way that the second feed element (80 ) in the transfer situation, from a starting or normal position corresponding to its ineffective position, a feed stroke and then a return stroke or from an intermediate layer securing a connecting element (2) at the loading position (20 ″) executes a feed stroke, then a return stroke into the starting position and, after shooting in a connecting element (2) to the loading position (20 ″), performs a partial stroke into the intermediate position.

32. Device according to one of claims 1 - 31, gekenn¬ characterized by at least one further backstop (84) which is provided in the conveying direction (A) of the first conveyor section (20) before the loading position (20 '').