Fastening aid for attaching components to a supporting component, as well as method and device for attaching such a fastening aid

Abstract

Fastening aid (1) for fastening components to a supporting component, in particular a body of a motor vehicle, comprising a plate-shaped carrier body (2) made of a hard component with a fastening side (3) and an attachment side (4), wherein the attachment side (4) is the side with which the fastening aid (1) is attached to the carrier component, and a soft component (13) which is provided on the attachment side (4), wherein the soft component (13) is formed of an adhesive material that can be activated through the carrier body (2), wherein a fastening element (5) is arranged on the fastening side (3) which can be connected to a counter fastening element of a component, characterized in that through holes (15) are provided in the carrier body (2) which extend from the mounting side (4) to the fastening side (3) and in which the soft component (13) is arranged in order to create a material-locking connection between the carrier body (2) and the soft component (13) when the soft component (13) has hardened, wherein the through holes (15) preferably each have a contour, in particular widenings on the fastening side (3), in which the soft component (13) is arranged in order to create a form-locking connection between the carrier body (2) and the soft component (13) when the soft component (13) has hardened.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a fastening aid for attaching components to a support component, in particular a body of a motor vehicle, as well as a method and a device for attaching such a fastening aid.

[0002] Recent developments in vehicle body construction aim to manufacture large sections of the body, or even the entire body, as a single piece, particularly through a single casting process. Such a manufacturing process is significantly simpler if the part being produced has as few grooves, recesses, undercuts, and / or attachment points as possible. This allows for a much simpler mold design. However, these attachment points are necessary to secure components, such as plastic trim panels or wiring harness fixings, to the body.

[0003] German patent application DE 10 2023 119 003 A1 discloses a sealing disc for closing an opening in a support component, particularly in a motor vehicle. The sealing disc has a sealing surface on which an adhesive material is applied. German patent DE 696 03 598 T2 discloses a device (e.g., a motor vehicle rearview mirror) and a method for bonding an object to a glass surface (e.g., a windshield). In this method, an adhesive layer (with a release strip) arranged on a support via adhesive contact is activated and cured by heating. German patent CN 2 04 021 022 U discloses a plug or stopper for a motor vehicle that seals an opening using a hot melt adhesive.

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide a fastening aid for attaching components to a support component, in particular a body of a motor vehicle, as well as a method and a device for attaching such a fastening aid, wherein the fastening aid is simple and functional in design and therefore cost-effective in manufacture.

[0005] A further object of the present invention is to provide a fastening aid for attaching components to a support component, in particular a body of a motor vehicle, as well as a method and a device for attaching such a fastening aid, wherein the fastening aid can be attached in a simple, precise, flexible and reliable manner.

[0006] A further object of the present invention is to provide a fastening aid for attaching components to a support component, in particular a body of a motor vehicle, as well as a method and a device for attaching such a fastening aid, wherein it is possible to attach several fastening aids quickly one after the other.

[0007] One or more of these problems are solved by the features of the independent patent claims. Advantageous embodiments are specified in the dependent dependent claims.

[0008] According to the invention, a fastening aid for attaching components to a support component according to claim 1 is provided. The fastening aid comprises a plate-shaped support body made of a hard component with a fastening side and an attachment side, wherein the attachment side is the side with which the fastening aid is attached to the support component. The fastening aid further comprises a soft component provided on the attachment side, wherein the soft component is formed from an adhesive material that can be activated through the support body. A fastening element is arranged on the fastening side, which can be connected to a counter-fastening element of a component. The support component is, for example, the body of a motor vehicle.

[0009] Using the fastening aid, a component can be attached to a carrier component at any desired location. Fastening elements such as undercuts or locking tabs are no longer required on the carrier component itself. The fastening aid provides the fastening element directly on the carrier component. This allows for a simpler design of the carrier component. Any structures previously required to serve as fasteners are no longer necessary and can be omitted during the manufacturing process. This significantly simplifies production and reduces costs. Structures such as undercuts are particularly difficult to incorporate into the carrier component during production, requiring additional work steps or complex tooling. This is especially true if the carrier component is a body panel that is to be cast as a single unit.But it's not just the production of the support component that is simplified. Planning the support component before production can also be done more quickly, since the design of the support component is less complicated.

[0010] Attaching a component to a supporting structure at any point is possible because the mounting aid itself can be positioned anywhere on the supporting structure. The mounting aid requires no additional fasteners on the supporting structure. It features an adhesive material that allows it to be attached to the supporting structure. This makes the mounting aid highly versatile and easy to use. No additional fasteners, such as drilling holes, need to be added to the supporting structure. Furthermore, the adhesive material allows the mounting aid to be easily attached to surfaces of difficult-to-machine materials, such as metal.

[0011] An activatable adhesive is one that develops its adhesive effect as soon as activation energy is applied. This activation energy causes the adhesive to melt and, after hardening, form a strong bond with a surface. However, it is also possible for the adhesive to develop its adhesive effect without melting.

[0012] Because the soft component is made of an adhesive material that can be activated through the carrier body, the mounting aid is very easy to handle. The mounting aid can be precisely positioned as long as the soft component is not yet activated and attached exactly at the intended location if it does not need to be moved again.

[0013] For example, with some common fastening aids, it is necessary to remove a protective film before application. These types of fastening aids do not contain an adhesive material that can be activated through the backing material.

[0014] Since the fastening element can be flexibly attached to any point on a supporting component, its location can be adjusted even at short notice, for example, to compensate for an overhang of another component. Furthermore, the fastening element can be designed in any configuration. This allows for quick changes to the fastening element provided by the fastening aid. This can be particularly helpful when building prototypes.

[0015] The support body, apart from the fastening element, can be essentially smooth and comprise only the soft component. "Smooth" means that the support body has no grooves, recesses, or undercuts, particularly on the fastening side (except for the fastening element) and the mounting side. Furthermore, this feature can mean that the soft component is only present on the surface of the mounting side and that the soft component is not located on a radially or tangentially circumferential edge of the support body. This results in a very simple design for the fastening aid.

[0016] For example, the plate-shaped and preferably smooth support body can be circular in shape. However, the support body can also have any other shape, such as an oval, elliptical, or polygonal shape.

[0017] The carrier body can have a smooth mounting side (except for the fastening element), a smooth attachment side, and a smooth radially circumferential side wall, so that the surface of the carrier body consists only of these three smooth surfaces.

[0018] Similarly, the support body (except for the fastening element) can also be flat or planar. Thus, the support body can have a mounting side that is flat (except for the fastening element), a flat attachment side, and a flat radially circumferential side wall.

[0019] The carrier body can be manufactured using an injection molding process. Preferably, the carrier body and the fastening element are manufactured as a single piece from the same material, allowing them to be produced together in one injection molding process. However, it is also possible for the fastening element to be made of a different material than the carrier body and to be permanently bonded to it.

[0020] A completely smooth or flat surface is understood to be one that is free of undercuts, locking features, edges, or the like. However, a sprue for manufacturing the fastening aid using an injection molding process, as well as an opening for introducing the soft component over the hard component in the case of manufacturing using a two-component injection molding process, may be provided on the fastening side and / or the mounting side.

[0021] The soft component can be designed in such a way that it is not sticky in its delivered state or has no adhesive properties whatsoever, so that no dirt can adhere to it.

[0022] The carrier body and the fastening element can be made of PPT (polytrimethylene terephthalate) or PPA (polyphthalamide), particularly with glass fibers, and especially from a recycled material. Polyamides and other thermoplastics suitable for injection molding can also be used to form the carrier body and the fastening element.

[0023] The soft component can be made of TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) or TPS (terephthalic acid) and either a heat-activated adhesive or EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate). Ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers (EVAC or EVA) are copolymers made from ethylene and vinyl acetate.

[0024] If the fastening aid is made of plastic, then it has a high degree of tightness and strong water-repellent properties.

[0025] The fastening aid can be made of a heat-resistant material, in particular a heat-resistant plastic. The fastening aid can be made of recycled material.

[0026] The soft component is designed in terms of material and thickness to achieve a high holding force after bonding.

[0027] The soft component can be activated by one or more of the following activation methods: - preferably using ultrasound, - by means of electromagnetic radiation, in particular infrared light, wherein the carrier body is permeable to electromagnetic radiation and the soft component is opaque to electromagnetic radiation, - using hot air, - by means of induction, wherein the carrier body is designed in such a way that a current can be induced which heats the carrier body, and / or wherein a current is induced in the carrier component which heats the carrier component in an area of ​​the fastening aid, or - by means of physical pressure.

[0028] The various activation methods are preferably designed to introduce a high energy input into the adhesive material. This allows the adhesive to be activated quickly and the mounting aid to be applied rapidly.

[0029] When using electromagnetic radiation as an activation method, the carrier body is made of a material that is essentially transparent to electromagnetic radiation. This primarily refers to materials that are not electrically conductive. This allows the electromagnetic radiation to reach the soft component almost unimpeded in order to activate it. Simultaneously, the soft component can be made of a material that absorbs electromagnetic radiation. In this case, the electromagnetic radiation is absorbed by the soft component and transfers energy to it, thereby heating it.

[0030] If the soft component is activated using hot air, it is advantageous for the soft component to have a lower melting point than the hard component. This prevents the hard component from melting when the soft component is activated.

[0031] In the activation method using induction, the carrier body can be made of a material into which a current can be induced, heating the carrier body. This is in particular a material that is at least partially metallic.

[0032] It is also possible that the support component is made of such a material that a current can be induced in it, heating the support component in a specific area of ​​the mounting aid. "Specific area of ​​the mounting aid" refers to an area of ​​the support component's surface onto which the mounting aid is to be applied, and which is sufficiently large (but not too large) to activate the soft component.

[0033] It can also be provided that both the support body and the support component are made of a material into which a current can be induced.

[0034] In activation methods using ultrasound, electromagnetic radiation, hot air, and induction, it is preferably provided that the soft component is activated through the carrier body. However, it is also possible for the soft component to be activated through the carrier component, provided that the structural design of the carrier component permits this.

[0035] The fastening element can be designed as one of the following elements: - a pin with or without an integrated locking element, - a bushing with a blind hole, with or without an internal thread, with or without at least one integrally formed detent element, - a bolt with at least one movable wing element molded onto it, which is designed in such a way that it acts as a barb for a counter-fastening element, - a bolt with or without external threads, - one catch, - an eyelet, - a locking tab, or - an undercut.

[0036] The fastening element can be designed in such a way that it can form a bayonet lock together with a corresponding counter-fastening element.

[0037] The fastening element can be of any design. Since any fastening element can be subsequently attached to a finished support component using the fastening aid, support components for various applications can be produced uniformly. The fasteners required for each individual application can be provided by the fastening aid, thanks to the arbitrary design of the fastening elements.

[0038] A counter-fastening element, which is to be attached to the fastener, is designed to correspond to the fastener so that it can be attached to the fastener. That is, if the fastener has a thread, for example, then the counter-fastening element is also designed with a thread.

[0039] The fastening element can be restricted to a central area of ​​the fastening side in a top view, so that the fastening aid can be contacted around an edge area of ​​the fastening side using an activation device.

[0040] The fastening element is preferably limited to a central area of ​​the fastening surface in a top view. This means that the fastening element has no structures that extend beyond the central area of ​​the fastening surface in such a way that an activation device cannot be placed on the fastening surface. The activation device is preferably a device that can be placed completely around the perimeter of the fastening surface to activate the soft component. In such a placed state, the fastening element is preferably received by a cavity of the activation device, allowing the activation device to reach the surface of the fastening surface.

[0041] It is also possible that the activation device does not make continuous contact with the surface of the mounting side. It may be designed so that certain areas of the surface remain uncovered. Any protruding structures of the fastener can then extend into these areas without interfering with the positioning of the activation device on the surface of the mounting side.

[0042] The fastening aid can have a shape that is complementary to a surface of the supporting component.

[0043] The plate-shaped carrier body can have a curved or other shape, so that it can also be applied to a non-flat surface, while still ensuring full-surface contact between the application side, in particular the adhesive material, and the surface.

[0044] The carrier body may have a structure on the attachment side, with areas provided where no soft component is located.

[0045] The soft component can be arranged across the entire surface of the closure side. Alternatively, the soft component can be arranged in an annular or circular disc shape, or in any pattern, on the application side. It can be provided that the soft component covers approximately at least 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, or 100% of the surface area of ​​the application side of the carrier body.

[0046] The more surface area the soft component covers on the attachment side of the carrier body, the higher the holding force of the fastening aid after bonding.

[0047] The soft component can be designed to be approximately flush with a tangentially or radially circumferential side wall of the carrier body. Alternatively, webs or other shapes can be provided on the mounting side to define the soft component, with the soft component again being approximately flush with these shapes.

[0048] The soft component can have a structure on the application side, wherein drainage channels are formed in the structure that extend at least partially in an approximately outward direction towards the edge of the carrier body.

[0049] Excess air, which accumulates particularly during the positioning of the mounting aid between the soft component and the surface to be bonded, can be vented via the drainage channels. During the melting process of the soft component, this air can be forced outwards by the soft component itself along the drainage channels. Applying pressure to the mounting side of the carrier body can be advantageous in this process, as it forces the air out.

[0050] The drainage channels also allow for the removal of molten adhesive material and / or contaminants that may occur during the application process.

[0051] The drainage channels preferably extend substantially outwards in a radial direction. The structure can, for example, be designed as a ribbed structure, a diamond structure, or a waffle structure, and thus as a directional structure with drainage channels extending at least approximately outwards in a radial direction, which may be interconnected.

[0052] The support body can have a wall thickness of a maximum of 5 mm, 4 mm, 3 mm, 2 mm, or 1 mm.

[0053] It is also possible for the support body to have a maximum wall thickness of 0.9 mm, 0.8 mm, 0.7 mm, 0.6 mm, or 0.5 mm. To compensate for any resulting weakening due to the thinner wall thickness of the support body, the support body can have radially circumferential stiffening ribs extending outwards at equal intervals.

[0054] The support body can be designed in the shape of a circular disk and preferably has a diameter of 40 mm or 30 mm or 20 mm.

[0055] Through holes may be provided in the carrier body, extending from the application side to the fastening side, in which the soft component is arranged in order to create a material-bonded connection between the carrier body and the soft component, particularly when the soft component has hardened.

[0056] This arrangement strengthens the bond between the hard and soft components. This means that once the soft component is activated, it is more difficult to separate from the hard component. This prevents the carrier body from being torn away from the soft component by a force, especially a tensile force, acting on the fastener.

[0057] It can also be provided that the fastening element has at least one cavity and / or at least one through-hole in which the soft component is also located. This further strengthens the connection between the hard component and the soft component as soon as the soft component is activated.

[0058] The through holes can each have a contour, in particular widenings on the fastening side, in which the soft component is arranged in order to create a positive connection between the carrier body and the soft component, especially when the soft component has hardened.

[0059] This arrangement, when the soft component is activated, further strengthens the connection between the hard and soft components. Therefore, after activation of the soft component, an even greater force, particularly tensile force, is required to separate the carrier body from the soft component.

[0060] Furthermore, a device for attaching a fastening aid as described above to a support component, in particular a motor vehicle body, is provided. The device comprises a reservoir for holding fastening aids, in particular various types of fastening aids, with a soft component. The device further comprises a traversing device for supplying one of the fastening aids from the reservoir to an activation device. The device also includes an activation device for positioning the fastening aid at a location to be attached on the support component and for generating ultrasound, electromagnetic waves, hot air, an induced voltage, or physical pressure to activate the soft component and attach the fastening aid.

[0061] The storage container can be designed as a magazine that includes a movable cylinder, with the help of which the fastening aids can be brought into a forward position of the storage container.

[0062] The activation device is designed to position the fastening aids at the installation site and then attach them directly using one of the activation methods. The activation device has a head element designed to receive and hold a fastening aid and simultaneously activate the soft component.

[0063] Furthermore, the activation device has interchangeable components that can be attached depending on the activation method. These components contain the means necessary to provide the respective activation method.

[0064] The traversing device is designed to supply a fastening aid from the reservoir to the activation device. For this purpose, the traversing device may include a traversing cylinder that can pick up the fastening aid at the foremost position of the reservoir and move it to the head element of the activation device. The reservoir and the activation device are preferably arranged relative to each other such that the foremost position of the reservoir is horizontally adjacent to the head element of the activation device. This way, the traversing device only has to travel a short and straight path.

[0065] The storage container, the activation device, and the traversing device are preferably coupled to each other in such a way that they form a single unit. This unit preferably includes a movement device with which it can be moved to reach different locations on the support component. For this purpose, the unit can be mounted on a movable robot arm.

[0066] The activation device is in particular an ultrasonic welding device with a sonotrode designed to emit ultrasonic waves.

[0067] The advantages described above with reference to the fastening aid apply analogously to the device according to the invention for attaching such a fastening aid.

[0068] Furthermore, a method is provided for attaching a fastening aid as described above to a supporting component, in particular the body of a motor vehicle, using a device for attaching such a fastening aid as described above. The method comprises the following steps: - Keeping fastening aids in a storage container, - Providing one of the fastening aids from the storage container for a moving device, - Feeding the fastening aid to an activation device by means of the traversing device, - Positioning the fastening aid at a location to be attached to the supporting component using the activation device, and - Attaching the fastening aid to the location to be attached by activating a soft component of the fastening aid using the activation device.

[0069] This method allows fastening aids to be quickly attached to different locations one after the other.

[0070] The method provides that the soft component is preferably activated by ultrasound or by electromagnetic radiation, in particular infrared light, or by hot air or by an induced voltage that is induced in a carrier body of the fastening aid and / or in the supporting component, or by physical pressure. Activation of the soft component triggers an adhesive effect, thereby creating an adhesive (material-bonded) connection between the fastening aid and the supporting component.

[0071] Furthermore, the method stipulates that the activation of the soft component occurs through the carrier body of the fastening aid. The carrier body is designed to be transparent if activation is achieved using electromagnetic radiation. If activation is achieved using an induced voltage that is to be induced in the carrier body, then the carrier body is at least partially metallic so that a current can be induced.

[0072] The advantages described above with reference to the fastening aid and the device for attaching such a fastening aid apply analogously to the inventive method for attaching the fastening aid with such a device.

[0073] Further tasks, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the description and the exemplary embodiment shown in the accompanying figures. These show in: Fig. 1 a perspective top view of a schematic representation of a fastening aid according to the invention with a fastening element in the form of a bolt with wing elements, in Fig. 2 a schematic side view of the fastening aid according to the invention with the fastening element in the form of a bolt with wing elements, in Fig. 3 a perspective top view of a schematic representation of the fastening aid according to the invention with a fastening element in the form of a pin with an integrally formed locking element, in Fig. 4 A schematic side view of the fastening aid according to the invention with the fastening element in the form of a pin with an integrally formed locking element, in Fig. 5 a perspective top view of a schematic representation of the fastening aid according to the invention with a fastening element in the form of a bushing with molded-on locking elements, in Fig. 6 a side-section schematic representation of the fastening aid according to the invention with the fastening element in the form of a bushing with molded-on locking elements, in Fig. 7 a perspective top view of a schematic representation of a soft component of the fastening aid according to the invention, in Fig. 8 a side-section schematic representation of the soft component of the fastening aid according to the invention, and in Fig. 9 a representation of a device for attaching the fastening aid according to the invention.

[0074] The following describes in more detail a fastening aid 1 for attaching components to a supporting component, in particular a motor vehicle body ( Fig. 1 to 8).

[0075] The fastening aid 1 has a completely circular support body 2. The support body 2 is made of a rigid component and comprises a fastening side 3 and an attachment side 4. The attachment side 4 is the side with which the fastening aid 1 is attached to the support component. The rigid component is a stable plastic material.

[0076] A fastening element 5 is integrally formed on the carrier body 2 at the center of the fastening side 3. The carrier body 2 and the fastening element 5 are formed as a single piece, allowing them to be manufactured using an injection molding process.

[0077] The fastening element 5 can be of any design. The fastening element 5 can be a bolt 6 with several movable wing elements 7 molded onto it, which are designed to act as barbs for a counter-fastening element ( Fig. 1 and Fig. 2) It may also be provided that the fastening element 5 is a pin 8 with a detent element 9 molded onto it ( Fig. 3 and Fig. 4) The fastening element 5 can also be a bushing 10 with a blind hole 11 and integrally formed locking elements 12 ( Fig. 5 and Fig. 6).

[0078] The fastening side 3, apart from the fastening element 5, and the mounting side 4 are smooth and circular in a top view.

[0079] A soft component 13 is arranged across the entire surface of the attachment side 4. The soft component 13 is made of an activatable adhesive material. When activation energy is applied, the adhesive material develops its adhesive effect and can be attached to a substrate.

[0080] The soft component 13 has a structured surface 14 on the side facing away from the attachment side 4. Due to the structure 14, the soft component 13 does not adhere as well to the carrier component before activation, which means it can be easily removed again.

[0081] The carrier body 2 has several through holes 15. The through holes 15 extend from the mounting side 4 to the fastening side 3 and are filled with the soft component 13. In addition, extensions 16 are provided on the fastening side 3, in which the soft component 13 is also arranged ( Fig. 7 and Fig. 8) If the soft component 13 is activated, then the soft component 13 creates an additional material-bonded and form-fitting connection between the carrier body 2 and the soft component 13 in the through holes 15 and in the widenings 16.

[0082] A device 20 for attaching a fastening aid 1 as explained above to a support component, in particular a motor vehicle body, is described in more detail below ( Fig. 9).

[0083] The device 20 comprises a vertically arranged, elongated, and cylindrical storage container 21 and an activation device 22 arranged adjacent to it. The activation device 22 is also elongated and arranged vertically. A horizontally extending travel mechanism 23 is provided in a lower vertical area.

[0084] The storage container 21, the activation device 22, and the traversing device 23 are coupled together and form a unit. The unit is connected to a motion device (not shown) by means of which the unit can be moved in space.

[0085] Furthermore, the storage container 21 is designed as a magazine and for holding a large number of vertically arranged fastening aids 1. Each fastening aid 1 comprises a fastening side 2 with a fastening element 5 and an attachment side 4 with a soft component 13. The fastening aids 1 are held with the attachment side 4 facing the support component.

[0086] The storage container 21 includes a movable cylinder, which allows the fastening aids 1 to be moved into a forward position within the storage container 21. The forward position is the position of the fastening aid 1 that is to be attached next by the device 20. This position is accordingly located at the end of the storage container 21 closest to the support component.

[0087] A first holding device 24 is provided to fix the fastening aid 1 in this position and to make it available to the traversing device 23. For this purpose, the first holding device 24 can release the fixed fastening aid 1 in the forward position, thereby allowing the fastening aid 1 to be picked up by the traversing device 23.

[0088] The traversing device 23 comprises a traversing unit 25 with which a fixing unit 26 can be moved horizontally between the front position on the storage container 21 and the activation device 22. The fixing unit 26 allows the fastening aid 1 to be picked up from the first holding device 24 on the storage container 21 and fixed in place.

[0089] Accordingly, the activation device 22 has a second holding device 27 with which the fastening aid 1 can be received by the activation device 22. The fixing unit 26 can also be configured to form the second holding device 27.

[0090] The movable unit is designed to move the activation device 22 towards the support component, so that the fastening aid 1 can be arranged on the support component with the soft component 13 leading by means of the activation device 22.

[0091] In the present embodiment, the activation device 22 is designed as an ultrasonic welding device. At one end facing the support component, the activation device 22 comprises a sonotrode with which ultrasonic waves can be emitted.

[0092] If a fastening aid 1 is attached to the support component by means of ultrasonic waves, then the unit consisting of storage container 21, activation device 22 and traversing device 23 can be moved to a next location where a fastening aid 1 is to be arranged.

[0093] The sonotrode 28 can have the following features: - Cycle time < 1 s (0.2 s welding) - Sonotrode pressure: ± 200 N - Temperature generated at the hot melt adhesive: 110 to 140 °C - Ambient temperature within which the sonotrode is preferably operated: -30°C to 50°C - Maximum ambient temperature within which the sonotrode is functional: -40 °C or 80 °C.

[0094] Furthermore, a method for attaching a fastening aid 1 as described above to a support component, in particular a body of a motor vehicle, is described in more detail using a device 20 as described above for attaching such a fastening aid 1.

[0095] A unit consisting of a storage container 21, an activation device 22, and a traversing device 23 is located in a neutral position above the support component. "Unit" means that the storage container 21, the activation device 22, and the traversing device 23 are coupled together and can be moved together.

[0096] A large number of vertically arranged fastening aids 1 are stored in the elongated cylindrical storage container 21. Each fastening aid 1 comprises a fastening side 2 with a fastening element 5 and an attachment side 4 with a soft component 13. The fastening aids 1 are stored with the attachment side 4 facing the supporting component.

[0097] By means of a movable cylinder, the fastening aids 1 are gradually moved to a forward position of the storage container 21. The forward position is the position of the fastening aid 1 that is to be attached next by the device 20. This position is accordingly located at the end of the storage container 21 closest to the support component.

[0098] The fastening aid 1 of the traversing device 23 is provided at the front position.

[0099] The fastening aid 1 is picked up by means of the traversing device 23 and transported horizontally to the activation device 22.

[0100] The activation device 22 receives the fastening aid 1 and positions it at a location to be attached on the support component, so that the soft component 13 is in contact with the support component. The fastening aid is positioned by a substantially vertical movement of the activation device 22 towards the support component. A slight contact pressure can be exerted on the fastening aid 1 by means of the activation device 22.

[0101] Ultrasound waves are generated by means of a sonotrode 28 of the activation device 22 after the assembly. The soft component 13 is acted upon by the ultrasound waves and thus activated. Through activation, the soft component 13 melts and bonds with the carrier component.

[0102] After the fastening aid 1 has been attached to the support component, the activation device 22 is returned to its neutral position. From this position, the next fastening aid 1 can be attached by moving the unit consisting of the storage container 21, the activation device 22, and the transport device 23 together to the next location where a fastening aid is to be positioned on the support component.

[0103] After attaching a fastening aid 1, quality control can be carried out by means of an optical inspection or by means of a tensile test (by applying a tensile force to the fastening aid 1).

Claims

[1] Fastening aid (1) for fastening components to a support component, in particular a body of a motor vehicle, comprising a plate-shaped carrier body (2) made of a hard component with a fastening side (3) and an attachment side (4), wherein the attachment side (4) is the side with which the fastening aid (1) is attached to the carrier component, and a soft component (13) which is provided on the attachment side (4), wherein the soft component (13) is formed of an adhesive material that can be activated through the carrier body (2), wherein a fastening element (5) is arranged on the fastening side (3) which can be connected to a counter fastening element of a component, characterized by, that through holes (15) are provided in the carrier body (2) which extend from the mounting side (4) to the fastening side (3) and in which the soft component (13) is arranged in order to create a material-bonded connection between the carrier body (2) and the soft component (13) when the soft component (13) has hardened, wherein the through holes (15) preferably each have a contour, in particular widenings on the fastening side (3), in which the soft component (13) is arranged in order to create a positive-locking connection between the carrier body (2) and the soft component (13) when the soft component (13) has hardened. [2] Fastening aid (1) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the soft component (13) can be activated by one or more of the following activation methods: - preferably using ultrasound, - by means of electromagnetic radiation, in particular infrared light, wherein the carrier body (2) is transparent to the electromagnetic radiation and the soft component (13) is opaque to the electromagnetic radiation, - using hot air, - by means of induction, wherein the carrier body (2) is designed such that a current can be induced which heats the carrier body (2), and / or wherein a current is induced in the carrier component which heats the carrier component in an area of ​​the fastening aid (1), or - by means of physical pressure. [3] Fastening aid (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that the fastening element (5) is designed as one of the following elements: - a pin with or without an integral locking element (12), - a bushing (10) with a blind hole (11), with or without an internal thread, with or without at least one integrally formed detent element (12), - a bolt (6) with at least one movable wing element (7) formed on it, which is designed in such a way that it acts as a barb for a counter fastening element, - a bolt (6) with or without external thread, - one catch, - an eyelet, - a resting nose, - an undercut, or - that the fastening element (5) is designed in such a way that it can form a bayonet lock together with a corresponding counter-fastening element. [4] Fastening aid (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by , that the fastening element (5) is restricted to a central area of ​​the fastening side (3) in a top view of the fastening side (3), so that the fastening aid (1) on the fastening side (3) can be contacted around an edge area of ​​the fastening side (3) by means of an activation device (22). [5] Fastening aid (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by , that the fastening aid (1) has a shape which is complementary to a surface of the supporting component. [6] Fastening aid (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by , that the carrier body (2) has a structure (14) on the attachment side (4), wherein areas are provided where no soft component (13) is arranged. [7] Fastening aid (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by , that the soft component (13) on the attachment side (4) has a structure (14) wherein drainage channels are formed in the structure (14) which extend at least section by section approximately in the direction outwards towards the edge of the carrier body (2). [8] Device for attaching a fastening aid (1), according to any one of claims 1 to 7, to a support component, in particular a body of a motor vehicle, comprising a storage container (21) for holding fastening aids (1), in particular different types of fastening aids (1), with a soft component (13), a movement device (23) for providing one of the fastening aids (1) from the storage container (21) to an activation device (22), and the activation device (22) for positioning the fastening aid (1) at a location to be attached on the support component and for generating ultrasound or electromagnetic waves or hot air or an induced voltage or physical pressure to activate the soft component (13) and attach the fastening aid (1). [9] Method for attaching a fastening aid (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7 to a support component, in particular a body of a motor vehicle, comprising a device for attaching such a fastening aid (1) according to claim 8, comprising - Providing fastening aids (1) in a storage container (21), - Providing one of the fastening aids (1) from the storage container (21) for a moving device (23), - Feeding the fastening aid (1) to an activation device (22) by means of the traversing device (23), - Arranging the fastening aid (1) by means of the activation device (22) at a location to be attached to the supporting component, and - Attaching the fastening aid (1) to the location to be attached by activating a soft component (13) of the fastening aid (1) by means of the activation device (22).

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