Magazine for a driving module

Abstract

The present invention relates to a magazine (106) for a driving module (102) for driving fasteners, which are connected to one another by means of a connecting means to form a fastener band, into a workpiece, wherein the magazine (106) has the following: a first receptacle (122) for holding at least one fastener band; a second receptacle (123) for holding at least one fastener band; a feed opening (130) which can be connected to a fastener inlet of the driving module, wherein the magazine (106) can be transferred between a first position in which the first receptacle (122) is aligned with the feed opening (130), and a second position in which the second receptacle (123) is aligned with the feed opening (130).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a magazine for a driving module, in particular a driving module for driving fasteners connected to one another by means of a connecting means to form a fastener strip into a workpiece. The invention further relates to a driving assembly with such a magazine.

[0002] Driving modules, such as pneumatic nailers, are well known in the art. A pneumatic nailer is a pneumatic driving module that can be used to drive and, in particular, shoot nails into various materials. To feed the nails to the pneumatic nailer, it is equipped with a magazine containing a large number of nails. The pneumatic nailer can automatically feed the nails one after the other, eliminating the need to insert each nail individually. The nails can be inserted into the magazine in the form of nail strips, for example, or inserted into a drum-shaped magazine as so-called "coil nails." Strip nails are a set of nails arranged side by side and connected to each other by wire, glue, paper, or a plastic band.The strip nails can be inserted into the magazine quickly and easily, so that the magazine can be reloaded in a short time.

[0003] Especially with the automation of production facilities, it is desirable to continually reduce downtime and the use of operating personnel. Nevertheless, the state of the art in strip magazines is for the strip nails to be inserted into the magazine manually. However, in production facilities for prefabricated houses, for example, so-called frame work stations, there is a very high throughput of nails. To reduce downtime, it is therefore common practice to continually lengthen the strip magazines so that they can accommodate more and more strip nails.

[0004] Of course, the length of the strip magazines is limited. On the one hand, the increasingly long strip magazines make it difficult to move the system without colliding with workpieces or other machine parts. On the other hand, the longer the strip magazines, the more difficult it becomes for operators to reload the strip nails, as these are usually inserted from above and are therefore limited solely by the operator's height.

[0005] Based on the above-mentioned problem, the present invention is based on the object of describing a magazine for driving modules with which a large number of fastening strips (e.g. strip nails) can be accommodated and reliably fed to the driving module (e.g. pneumatic nailer).

[0006] The present object is solved by the subject matter of independent patent claim 1. Advantageous developments of the present invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.

[0007] Accordingly, the present invention relates to a magazine for a driving module for driving fasteners connected to one another by means of a connecting means to form a fastener band into a workpiece, wherein the magazine comprises the following: a first receptacle for holding at least one fastener strip; a second receptacle for holding at least one fastener strip; a feed opening which can be connected to a fastener inlet of the driving module, wherein the magazine is transferable between a first position in which the first receptacle is aligned with the feed opening and a second position in which the second receptacle is aligned with the feed opening.

[0008] The invention is based on the provision of a plurality of receptacles for fastener strips, which can be selectively connected to the feed opening and thus to the corresponding driving module. The receptacles which are not currently connected to the feed opening, i.e. which are not aligned with the feed opening at the time, can be equipped with new fastener strips. The invention is not limited to a specific number of receptacles for holding the fastener strips. Rather, the magazine of the present invention can generally have an unlimited number of receptacles for fastener strips. The number of different positions of the magazine preferably corresponds to the number of receptacles in the magazine. Each receptacle can hold one or more fastener strips and selectively deliver them to the driving module.In particular, the fastener strips from each receptacle are delivered to the driving module when the respective receptacle is aligned with the feed opening. In other words, when the magazine is transferred from its first position to its second position, the first and second receptacles are moved relative to the feed opening so that one of the receptacles is aligned with the feed opening. The other receptacle is simultaneously offset from the feed opening. The receptacles not aligned with the feed opening can each be loaded with new fastener strips. Consequently, the magazine according to the invention can accommodate a very large number of fastener strips, since this is only limited by the number of receptacles and their size.

[0009] To transfer the magazine from its first position to its second position, the receptacles can be moved in different ways relative to the feed opening. In a first example, the first and second receptacles can be arranged displaceably, in particular laterally displaceable relative to the feed opening. According to this embodiment, the transfer of the magazine between the two positions resembles a shift register, in which the receptacles are pushed past the feed opening. Alternatively, the receptacles could also be arranged on a circular disk and aligned with the feed opening by rotation (i.e., in a revolver-like manner).

[0010] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the first and second receptacles are arranged on a common carriage, which is displaceable relative to the feed opening to transfer the magazine between the first and second positions. As will be explained in more detail later, the common carriage allows only a single drive arrangement to be used to move both receptacles simultaneously. Thus, a single movement can achieve the positioning of one of the receptacles in alignment with the feed opening while the other receptacle is moved away from the feed opening.

[0011] According to a further embodiment, the carriage is displaceable laterally relative to a longitudinal direction of the feed opening. Lateral displaceability of the carriage minimizes the space required by the magazine according to the invention. This also reduces the overall height of the magazine, simplifying the filling of the receptacles with fastener tapes.

[0012] According to a further embodiment, the magazine has a drive arrangement for displacing the carriage, wherein the drive arrangement is designed to displace the carriage by predetermined increments. The step-by-step control of the carriage ensures that at any given time only one of the receptacles is aligned with the feed opening. This also ensures that with each change of position, i.e. with the alignment of a new receptacle with respect to the feed opening, a predetermined number of fastener strips is transferred to the driving module. The number of fastener strips is determined by the capacity of the individual receptacles. For example, each receptacle can be designed to accommodate a single fastener strip.Thus, with each step of the drive arrangement, i.e. with each transfer of the magazine to a further position, a single fastener strip can be added.

[0013] According to a further embodiment, the first and second receptacles are designed to align the respective fastener strip along their longitudinal axes, wherein the predetermined step size corresponds to a distance between the longitudinal axes of the first and second receptacles. By adapting the predetermined step size to the distance between the longitudinal axes of the receptacles, it is ensured that the feed opening is aligned with one of the receptacles in every position of the magazine. Sensors for checking the alignment of the receptacle with respect to the feed opening can therefore be omitted.

[0014] According to a further embodiment, the carriage has a plurality of locking recesses arranged next to one another at a distance corresponding to the predetermined pitch. The locking recesses can, for example, be arranged on a side of the carriage opposite the first and second receptacles. The drive arrangement preferably has a corresponding projection which is designed to engage in a first locking recess when the magazine is in the first position and to engage in a second locking recess arranged next to the first locking recess when the magazine is in the second position. By providing the locking recesses on the carriage, the alignment of the first and second receptacles with respect to the feed opening can be further specified. Furthermore, it is ensured that the carriage of the magazine is locked in its selected position until the drive arrangement moves it further.An unforeseen change of the magazine positions can thus be effectively prevented.

[0015] According to a further embodiment, the drive arrangement has a first slide for moving the carriage relative to the feed opening in a first direction and a second slide for moving the carriage in a second direction, wherein the first direction is opposite to the second direction. The slides can be driven, for example, by a linear actuator. The two slides make it easy to move from the first position to the second position and back. The first slide can move the holders one after the other past the feed opening in the manner of a shift register and align them one after the other in alignment with the feed opening. The second slide is used to move the carriage past the feed opening again in the opposite direction in order to travel through the individual positions of the magazine once again.

[0016] According to a further embodiment, the first slider and the second slider each have an active configuration, in which the slider is in operative engagement with the carriage, and a passive configuration, in which the slider is mechanically decoupled from the carriage. The magazine is designed such that one slider is in the active configuration while the other slider is in the passive configuration. According to this embodiment, only one slider is in operative engagement with the carriage at a time, so that wear on the carriage or sliders, as well as any frictional forces, can be minimized.

[0017] According to a further embodiment, the carriage has adjusting means for transferring the first or second slide between the active configuration and the passive configuration. Accordingly, the actuating means can be passive elements which, upon contact with the respective slide, transfer the slide between the active and passive configurations. In particular, the adjusting means can, for example, be arranged on the carriage in such a way that, in an end position of the carriage, they transfer the two slides simultaneously between their respective configurations. This achieves an automatic change in the operative engagement of the slides with the carriage and a corresponding, automatic change in the direction of the carriage.

[0018] According to a further embodiment, the first receptacle and the second receptacle each have a guide channel for guiding a fastener strip, wherein the first and second receptacles are arranged next to one another such that the guide channels of the first and second receptacles run parallel to one another. The parallel guide channels allow the fastener strips to be inserted into the receptacles particularly easily and quickly. For example, they can be inserted into the guide channels of the receptacles, similar to a strip magazine.

[0019] According to a further embodiment, the magazine has a third receptacle for holding a fastener strip, wherein the magazine can be moved into a third position in which the third receptacle is aligned with the feed opening. As already mentioned above, the present invention is not limited to a specific number of receptacles. Rather, any number of receptacles can be provided in the magazine.

[0020] According to a further embodiment, the magazine has a contact surface which is designed to hold the fastening strips in the first and second receptacles when the receptacles are not aligned with the feed opening, wherein the first and second receptacles are movable relative to the contact surface when the magazine is transferred between its first and second position. The contact surface can, for example, be designed as a rod which prevents the fastening strips from falling out of the guide channels of the respective receptacle under the force of gravity. In other words, the contact surface makes it unnecessary to secure the fastening strips against the force of gravity within the receptacle in any other way. Rather, when the magazine is moved between the first and second positions, the fastening strips slide over the contact surface until they are aligned with the feed opening.The fastener strips of the holder, which is aligned with the feed opening, are not held back by the contact surface and can pass through the feed opening with the help of gravity.

[0021] According to an exemplary embodiment, the contact surface can have at least one through-opening aligned with the feed opening, wherein the through-opening is designed such that fastener strips can be guided from the first and / or second receptacle via the through-opening into the feed opening. As an alternative to the permanent through-opening shown here, the contact surface can have a flap aligned with the feed opening to guide the fastener strips from the receptacles toward the feed opening.

[0022] According to a further embodiment, the feed opening is funnel-shaped. This allows the fastener strips falling from the aligned receptacles to be caught and guided toward the driving module. The funnel-shaped feed opening thus also serves to compensate for tolerances in the positions of the receptacles relative to the feed opening achieved by the drive arrangement.

[0023] According to a further embodiment, the first and second receptacles share a common partition. In other words, the first and second receptacles according to this embodiment are arranged directly next to each other, so that the structure of the magazine and in particular of the slide can be kept as small as possible. The use of partitions also saves material for forming the receptacles.

[0024] According to a further embodiment, the first receptacle and the second receptacle are pivotable relative to the feed opening in order to transfer the magazine between the first and second positions. According to this embodiment, for example, an arcuate (e.g., semicircular) carriage can be provided which carries the receptacles. The arcuate carriage can be pivoted relative to the feed opening in order to arrange the respective receptacles individually, in alignment with the feed opening. The receptacles can accordingly be pivotably arranged on a circular arc. Alternatively, the carriage could be designed like a revolver, so that the receptacles are arranged on a circular disk.

[0025] According to a further embodiment, the first receptacle and / or the second receptacle is configured to accommodate at least two fastener strips, wherein the two fastener strips are arranged one behind the other in the first and / or second receptacle. In other words, each receptacle can accommodate not just one, but several fastener strips. The receptacles can each form a receiving channel / through-channel configured to accommodate two or more fastener strips in series, i.e., one behind the other. This allows the capacity of the magazine to be further increased without increasing the lateral dimensions of the magazine.

[0026] According to a further embodiment, in the first position only the first receptacle is aligned with the feed opening, while in the second position only the second receptacle is aligned with the feed opening.

[0027] According to a further aspect, the present invention relates to a driving arrangement for fasteners, the driving arrangement comprising: a driving module for driving fasteners connected to one another by means of a connecting means to form a fastener strip into a workpiece; and a magazine as described above, wherein the magazine is connected to the driving module in such a way that fastener strips can be transferred to the driving module via the feed opening.

[0028] According to one embodiment, the driving module is a pneumatic driving module and has a compressed air supply for driving in the fasteners, wherein the magazine has a drive arrangement for transferring the magazine between the first position and the second position, and wherein the drive arrangement is a pneumatic drive arrangement which is connected to the compressed air supply of the driving module. According to this embodiment, a single compressed air supply can be used to drive the fasteners into the workpiece and simultaneously transfer the magazine between its two positions. For this purpose, it is only necessary to supply small quantities of compressed air to the drive arrangement. The use of compressed air to control the drive arrangement has the advantage that no additional energy source is required and the control of several functions of the driving arrangement can be easily synchronized with one another.For example, a compressed air pulse can be sent toward the drive assembly each time the driving module is actuated. It should be noted at this point that the driving module can alternatively be electrically or otherwise designed. In this case, electrical signals could be used to control the magazine instead of compressed air. The electrical signals could be used to drive electric linear actuators to move the magazine between the first and second positions.

[0029] According to a further embodiment, the driving arrangement has a compressed air valve which is provided between the compressed air supply and the pneumatic drive arrangement, wherein the compressed air valve is designed to establish a connection between the compressed air supply and the pneumatic drive arrangement when the driving module requires further fastening means, and to interrupt the connection as long as the driving module has sufficient fastening means available. As already indicated above, according to one embodiment, a compressed air pulse can be sent to the drive arrangement when the driving module is actuated. However, in order to prevent a complete fastener strip from being added each time the driving module is actuated, the compressed air valve is provided which only transmits the compressed air pulse to the drive arrangement when a new fastener strip is required.

[0030] According to a further embodiment, the driving arrangement has a longitudinal magazine which is arranged between the magazine and the driving module, wherein the longitudinal magazine is designed to accommodate at least two fastener strips one behind the other. According to this embodiment, the magazine according to the invention is an additional magazine which can be mounted on the longitudinal magazine of the driving arrangement. Thus, the magazine according to the invention can also be retrofitted to existing driving arrangements without having to replace the longitudinal magazine. The magazine accordingly offers a simple and quick way of increasing the capacity of the driving arrangement for fastener strips and thus reducing downtimes. The longitudinal magazine connects the feed opening of the magazine according to the invention with the fastener inlet of the driving module.Thus, fastener strips that are fed out of the magazine via the feed opening are first transferred to the longitudinal magazine before they can be used by the driving module.

[0031] According to a further embodiment, the compressed air valve is designed to establish a connection between the compressed air supply and the pneumatic drive arrangement when only one fastener strip is present in the longitudinal magazine. For this purpose, the compressed air valve can, for example, be connected to a mechanical button which determines whether one or more fastener strips are present in the longitudinal magazine. If more than one fastener strip is present in the longitudinal magazine, the magazine remains in its current position until only one fastener strip remains in the longitudinal magazine. At this time, the drive arrangement is controlled by the compressed air valve so that the magazine moves to its next position and a new fastener strip is added to the longitudinal magazine.

[0032] According to a further embodiment, the magazine can be pivoted relative to the driving module between an operating position and a maintenance position. This can be used, for example, to remove a longitudinal magazine from the driving module for maintenance purposes without first removing the (additional) magazine.

[0033] In the following description of the figures, the invention is explained in more detail with reference to the embodiments shown in the figures. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a driving arrangement according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the magazine according to the invention of the driving arrangement according to FIG. 1 ; FIG. 3 a front view of the magazine according to FIG. 2 ; FIG. 4 a side view of a slide of the magazine according to FIG. 3 ; FIG. 5 a perspective view from below of the carriage according to FIG. 4 ; FIG. 6 a perspective view of a slider in the active configuration; FIG. 7 a perspective view of the slider according to FIG. 6 in the passive configuration; FIG. 8 an enlarged view of the driving module of the driving arrangement according to FIG. 1 ; FIG. 9 a rear view of the driving module according to FIG. 1 ; FIG. 10 a perspective view of a holding device for the magazine according to the invention according to the embodiment of the driving arrangement according to FIG. 1 and FIG. 11 is a schematic representation of a pressure valve and associated actuating means within the holding device.

[0034] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a driving assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. The driving assembly 100 has a driving module 102 for driving fasteners, which are connected to one another by means of a connecting means to form a fastener strip, into a workpiece. In the embodiment shown here, the driving module 102 is designed as a pneumatic nailer, which is supplied with strip nails via a corresponding magazine. The driving assembly 100 shown here can, for example, be part of an automated production system, such as is used in particular for the construction of prefabricated wooden houses.

[0035] The driving assembly 100 includes a longitudinal magazine 104. The longitudinal magazine 104 is connected at a first end to the driving module 102. In particular, the longitudinal magazine 104 is connected to a receiving area for fasteners (e.g., nails) of the driving module 102, so that fastener strips inserted into the longitudinal magazine 104 can be used directly by the driving module.

[0036] The driving assembly has an additional magazine 106, which is designed according to the present invention. The magazine 106 is arranged at a second end of the longitudinal magazine 104. The magazine 106 can be referred to as a lateral magazine because, in contrast to the longitudinal magazine 104, it is designed to arrange the fastener strips laterally next to one another and to selectively displace them in a lateral direction in order to feed them to the driving module 102. In the embodiment of the driving assembly shown here, the magazine 106 is therefore an additional magazine that expands the capacity of the driving assembly 100 for fastener strips. The magazine 106 can be quickly and easily attached to existing driving assemblies that have previously only been equipped with a longitudinal magazine. For this purpose, the additional magazine 106, i.e. the lateral magazine, is arranged at the second end of the longitudinal magazine 104.

[0037] However, according to an alternative embodiment not shown, it is also conceivable to dispense with the longitudinal magazine 104 and to connect the magazine 106 directly to the driving module 102.

[0038] The driving assembly 100 has a holding device 108 designed to support the magazine 106. For this purpose, the holding device 108 is connected at a first end to a support plate 109. The support plate 109 also serves to secure the driving module 102. The magazine 106 is attached to a second, opposite end of the holding device 108. The holding device 108 thus serves to align the magazine 106 with respect to the driving module 102 and the longitudinal magazine 104.

[0039] The magazine 106 has a carriage 110 with a plurality of receptacles for fastener strips 112. The carriage 110 is movable laterally relative to a longitudinal axis of the longitudinal magazine 104. For this purpose, it is supported on guide rails 114, 116.

[0040] An enlarged view of magazine 106 is the FIG. 2 As already indicated above, the carriage 110 can be moved along the guide rails 114, 116 between end stops 118, 120 in order to align the different holders with respect to a feed opening 130. As can be seen from the FIGs. 2 bis 4 As can be seen, the carriage has a plurality of retaining brackets 120. The retaining brackets 120 are arranged parallel to one another. In particular, the retaining brackets 120 are arranged in a FIG. 4 schematically indicated distance A from each other. The distance A between adjacent retaining brackets 120 forms a through channel, which serves as a receptacle for the fastening strips. FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of a first receptacle 122, which is formed by the through-channel between the first two retaining brackets. Next to the first receptacle 122, a second receptacle 123 is arranged, which is defined by the second and third retaining brackets 120. Of course, each additional retaining bracket defines a further through-channel and thus a further receptacle for fastening strips. The number of receptacles for fastening strips on the carriage 110 thus corresponds to the number of retaining brackets -1. The distance A between the adjacent retaining brackets corresponds at least to the diameter of the fastening strips to be used. The through-channels of the receptacles 122, 123 of the carriage 110 are continuous, so that the fastening strips can generally be pushed from one end to the other end of the receptacles 122, 123.

[0041] The magazine 106 has a particularly FIG. 3 shown contact surface, which prevents the fastening strips from slipping / falling out of the through-channels of the receptacles 122, 123 as long as they are not aligned with the feed opening 130. According to the embodiment shown here, the contact surface is formed by two rod-shaped elements 124, 126. Of course, the contact surface can also have any other shape. In the FIGs. 1 bis 3 In the position of the magazine 106 shown, the carriage 110 is arranged such that the first receptacle 122 is aligned with the feed opening 130. At the level of the feed opening 130, the contact surface has a through opening 128. In other words, in the FIGs. 1 bis 3 In the first position of the magazine 106 shown, the first receptacle 122 is aligned with the feed opening 130. Fastener strips located in the first receptacle 102 can be guided, for example, by gravity through the through-opening 128 of the contact surface into the feed opening 130. The remaining receptacles, such as the second and third receptacles 123, 125, cooperate with the contact surface so that the fastener strips located in the other receptacles cannot slip out of the receptacles. Returning to the illustration according to FIG. 4 It should be mentioned that falling out or pulling out of the fastening straps upwards in FIG. 4 is also prevented by the carriage 110. In particular, the carriage 110 has a plurality of grooves 134, 135, which are part of the through-openings between the retaining brackets 120. A width B is greater than the distance A between adjacent retaining brackets 120, so that undercuts are formed for guiding the heads of the fastening means (for example, nail heads). The undercuts are formed in particular by webs 136, 138, which partially cover the grooves 134, 135. The webs 136, 138 also serve to connect the retaining brackets 120 to a base body of the carriage 110.

[0042] As already indicated above, the carriage 110 is movable laterally relative to the feed opening 130. For this purpose, the carriage 110 is guided on the guide rails 114, 116. By moving the carriage 110 along the guide rails 114, 116 relative to the feed opening 130, the magazine 106 can be moved from the FIG. 3 shown first position into any further position, for example second or third position.

[0043] The receptacles 122, 123, 125 of the magazine 106 each have a longitudinal axis L1, L2. The longitudinal axis is defined in particular by the orientation of the retaining brackets 120. In order to release the magazine 106 from its FIG. 3 To transfer the first position shown into the second position, the carriage 110 is displaced by a distance between the longitudinal axis L1 of the first receptacle 122 and a longitudinal axis L2 of the second receptacle 123. In particular, the carriage 110 is moved to the left in the direction shown in FIG. 3 shown illustration. By being moved into the second position, the first receptacle 122 is pushed past the feed opening 130, so that the longitudinal axis L1 of the first receptacle 122 is no longer aligned with the feed opening 130. At the same time, the second receptacle 123 is arranged in alignment opposite the feed opening 130. In other words, in the second position of the magazine 106 (not shown here), the longitudinal axis L2 is arranged on a longitudinal axis of the feed opening 130, so that the second receptacle 123 is aligned with the feed opening 130. A fastening strip (not shown) that may be located in the second receptacle 123 can therefore be introduced into the feed opening 130 through the through-opening 128.

[0044] To reach the third and any subsequent position of the magazine, the carriage 110 can be moved step by step relative to the feed opening 130 (for example, to the left in FIG. 3 ). This causes the second receptacle 123 to be pushed past the feed opening, and the third receptacle 125 is aligned with the feed opening 130. The same applies to each subsequent receptacle of the magazine 106.

[0045] In the embodiment shown here, each receptacle is designed to receive one fastener strip. Since the magazine shown in the figures has a total of thirteen receptacles, thirteen fastener strips can be provided in the magazine 106. To completely empty the magazine 106, the carriage 110 must be removed from the FIG. 3 The first position shown can be moved twelve times until the thirteenth receptacle is finally aligned with the feed opening 130. It should also be noted at this point that new fastener strips can, in principle, be refilled immediately. Specifically, fastener strips in each receptacle 122, 123, 125 can be refilled at any time, as long as the respective receptacle 122, 123, 125 is empty or has space for additional fastener strips.

[0046] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the underside of the carriage 110 of the magazine 106 according to the invention according to the FIGs. 3 and 4As shown, the underside of the carriage 110 has a plurality of recesses, which serve, on the one hand, to drive the carriage and, on the other hand, to position the carriage. In particular, the underside has a plurality of first drive recesses 140, which are arranged next to one another parallel to guide rails 114, 116 of the magazine 106. A plurality of second drive recesses 164 are arranged parallel to the plurality of first drive recesses 140.

[0047] The carriage 110 also has locking recesses 152 on its underside. The locking recesses 152 are arranged parallel to the recesses 140, 146. The locking recesses 152 are arranged between the drive recesses 140, 146. The centers of the locking recesses 152 are arranged at a distance from one another which corresponds to the distance between the longitudinal axes L1, L2 of the receptacles. Thus, the locking recesses 152 serve to lock the carriage 110 in the above-mentioned positions of the magazine 106. In particular, each of the locking recesses 152 is aligned with a corresponding receptacle. In detail, the center of each locking recess 152 is in a plane with the longitudinal axis of one of the receptacles of the magazine 106. For moving the carriage 110 in the FIGs. 1 bis 3 In the lateral direction shown, along the guide rails 114, 116, the magazine 106 has the FIGs. 6 and 7The sliders 200 are shown. The sliders are designed to engage in the drive recesses 140, 146 and thus move the carriage 110 stepwise along the guide rails 114, 116.

[0048] Each of the drive recesses 140, 146 has a shoulder region 142 and a ramp region 144. The shoulder region 142 is formed by a wall running substantially perpendicular to the surface of the carriage 110. A wall of the first locking recesses opposite the shoulder 142 is formed as a ramp region 144, i.e., the wall extends at an acute angle to the surface of the carriage 110.

[0049] The FIG. 5 It can also be seen that the carriage 110 has a first longitudinal groove 151 and a second longitudinal groove 153. The first longitudinal groove 151 extends parallel to the locking recesses and the drive recesses. The second longitudinal groove 153 extends parallel to the first guide groove 151 and thus parallel to the locking recesses 152 and the drive recesses 140, 146.

[0050] The longitudinal grooves 151, 153 serve to reduce the weight of the carriage 110.

[0051] The carriage has adjusting means 154, 156, 158, 160, which are each arranged at opposite ends of the guide grooves 151, 153. As will be explained in more detail later, the adjusting means 154, 156, 158, 160 serve to move the first and second slides of the magazine 106 between the active configuration ( FIG. 6 ) and the passive configuration ( FIG. 7 ) to be transferred.

[0052] Finally, the FIG. 5 It can also be seen that the retaining brackets 120 of the magazine 106 are detachably connected to the carriage 110 via screw connections 162, 164.

[0053] The FIGs. 6 and 7 are sliders for driving the carriage 110 according to the driving arrangement 100 according to FIG. 1 As already indicated above, the magazine 106 has, in particular, two such sliders 200. A first slider serves to displace the carriage 110 in a first direction, lateral to the longitudinal axis of the feed opening. The second slider serves to displace the carriage in the opposite direction, lateral to the longitudinal axis of the feed opening 130. The two sliders are preferably constructed identically.

[0054] The slider 200 has a base body 202. A contact finger 204 is pivotally arranged on the base body 202. The contact finger 204 is in particular between the FIG. 6 active configuration shown and the one in FIG. 7 shown passive configuration of the slider can be pivoted.

[0055] The slider 200 has a return spring 206 which moves the contact finger 204 into the FIGs. 6 and 7 shown positions. The return spring 206 is connected at a first end 208 to the contact finger 204. At a second end 210, the return spring 206 is connected to the base body 202 of the slider.

[0056] The slider 200 has a screw / bolt 212, which is connected to the contact finger 204. The screw / bolt 212 is arranged, in particular, on a side of the contact finger opposite the return spring 206. The screw 212 serves to transfer the slider 200 between the active configuration according to FIG. 6 and the passive configuration according to FIG. 7 as will be explained in more detail below.

[0057] A connecting piece 216 is arranged on a side surface of the base body 202. The connecting piece 216 of the slide serves to connect the slide 200 to the piston rod of the linear actuator (not shown). The base body 202 of the slide also has longitudinal grooves 218, 220, which serve to move the slide parallel to the carriage 110. For this purpose, springs of the drive assembly engage in the longitudinal grooves 218, 220.

[0058] A first slider 200 is arranged relative to the carriage 110 such that it cooperates with the plurality of first drive recesses 140. A second slider 200 is arranged relative to the carriage 110 such that it selectively cooperates with the plurality of second drive recesses 146. As will be explained in more detail below, at any time only one of the two sliders is in the active configuration according to FIG. 6 , while the other slider in the passive configuration according to FIG. 7 The above-mentioned adjusting means 154, 156, 158, 160 ensure that the two slides are automatically and simultaneously transferred between their two configurations (in opposite directions).

[0059] To move the carriage 110 to the right in FIG. 5 a first slider 200 is brought into operative engagement with the drive recesses 140. In particular, during the displacement in the first direction (to the right in FIG. 5 ) the contact finger 204 of the slider 200 is arranged in one of the first drive recesses 140. When the slider 200 moves relative to the carriage 110, the contact finger 204 strikes the shoulder 142 of the corresponding drive recess 140. The slider pushes the carriage 110 in the first direction (to the right in FIG. 5 ). The linear actuator of the drive arrangement is set in such a way that it moves the carriage by the above-mentioned step size, i.e. by the distance between the longitudinal axes of the recesses. After the carriage 110 is moved by the slider by one step size to the right (in FIG. 5 ), the slider 200 is retracted in the opposite direction. When the slider 200 is retracted, the back of the contact finger 204 comes into contact with the ramp area 144 of the corresponding drive recess 140. However, this contact does not result in the movement (ie, retraction) of the carriage 110 in the opposite, second direction (to the left in FIG. 5 ). Rather, the contact between the ramp area 144 of the drive recess 140 and the ramp-like rear side of the contact finger 204 causes the contact finger 204 to be temporarily pressed towards the base body 202 of the slider 200, so that the slider can be displaced to the left relative to the carriage 110. However, when the contact finger 204 is temporarily pivoted, it is not transferred into the passive configuration. Rather, after the temporary pivoting, the contact finger 204 is returned by the return spring 206 to the Fig. 6 shown position so that the contact finger 204 can cooperate with the shoulder of the next drive recess, as explained in more detail below.

[0060] A displacement of the slider 200 relative to the carriage 110 by the above-defined step size results in the contact finger 204 engaging in the next drive recess 140. In this position, the front side of the contact finger 204 of the first slider 200 is in contact with the shoulder of the next drive recess 140. During repeated extension of the linear actuator, the carriage 110 is again moved by one step size in the first direction (to the right in FIG. 5 ). The first slider remains in its active configuration until the carriage 110 is fully moved in the first direction (to the right in FIG. 5 ) was postponed.

[0061] While the first slider is in operative engagement with the plurality of first drive recesses 140, the second slider is in the FIG. 7 shown passive configuration. In the passive configuration, the contact finger 204 is pivoted toward the base body 202 such that it cannot come into contact with the drive recesses. In other words, while the first slider is in contact with the plurality of first drive recesses 140, the second slider is decoupled from the plurality of second drive recesses 146.

[0062] As soon as the carriage 110 is completely in the first direction (right in FIG. 5 ), the first slider comes into contact with the adjusting means 154, in particular via the screw 212 or the bolt. At the same time, the second slider comes into contact with the adjusting means 158, in particular via the screw 212 or the bolt. The adjusting means 154 is designed as a ramp, which serves to pivot the contact finger 204 of the first slider 200 towards the base body, i.e. in the direction of the passive configuration. The adjusting means 158 is designed as a contact hook and serves to lift the contact finger 204 of the second slider 200 upwards, i.e. away from the base body 202 of the slider into the active configuration. In particular, the adjusting means 154, 158 are designed to come into contact with the screw / bolt 212 of the corresponding slider in order to pivot the contact finger 204 between the active and passive configurations against the restoring force of the restoring spring.

[0063] As soon as the first slider is in the passive configuration according to FIG. 7 and the second slider into the active configuration according to FIG. 6 the carriage 110 can be moved in the second direction (to the left in FIG. 5 ) which is opposite to the first direction. At this point, it should be noted that the plurality of second drive recesses are arranged in a mirror image to the plurality of first drive recesses 140. In particular, the ramp regions 150 of the second drive recesses 146 point in the second direction (to the right in FIG. 5 ), while the ramp areas 144 of the first drive recesses 140 in the first direction (in FIG. 5 to the left). To move the carriage 110 in the second direction, the front side of the contact finger 204 of the second slider presses step by step against the shoulder regions 148 of the second drive recesses 146 and pushes the carriage 110 step by step in the second direction. It should also be noted at this point that the first and second sliders are oriented in opposite directions. As soon as the carriage 110 has been completely moved in the second direction, the first slider comes into contact with a third actuating means 156 while the second slider comes into contact with a fourth actuating means 160. The third actuating means 156 is designed as an actuating hook in order to transfer the first slider from its passive configuration to its active configuration. The fourth actuating means is designed as a ramp which transfers the second carriage from its active configuration to its passive configuration.

[0064] In the manner described above, each of the two sliders can move the carriage into all positions of the magazine 106, so that each recess is aligned with the feed opening 130. However, returning the carriage is only possible with the other slider.

[0065] The FIGs. 8 and 9 is an enlarged view of the driving module 102. As can be seen from the FIG. 8 As can be seen, the driving module according to the embodiment shown here is a pneumatic nailer. This has a compressed air connection 170, via which a compressed air discharge line is connected to the driving module 102 designed as a pneumatic nailer. A portion of the compressed air applied to the compressed air connection 170 is used via a control line 174 to perform further functions of the driving arrangement 100. For example, the air branched off via the control line 174 can be fed to a control valve 178 ( FIG. 9 ). For example, a trigger actuator can be automatically triggered by the control air via the control valve 178. At the same time, the trigger signal, i.e., the pulsed control air signal, can be used to move the drive arrangement described above.

[0066] In the embodiment shown here, the trigger signal is also used as a control signal for the drive assembly. However, it is not necessary or even possible to advance the magazine 106 by one position each time the trigger is released, since otherwise a new fastener strip would be inserted into the longitudinal magazine 104 for each fastener ejection.

[0067] To control the advancement of the lateral magazine 106 according to the present invention, a control device is provided which ensures that the longitudinal magazine 106 is only moved from a first position to a second position when the driving module 102 requires additional fastener strips. In the embodiment illustrated here, the lateral magazine 106 is only moved to the next receptacle when there is sufficient space in the longitudinal magazine 104.

[0068] In the FIGs. 10 und 11 An exemplary control device 186 is shown, with which it can be ensured that fastener strips are only refilled, i.e., that the magazine 106 is only moved when they are needed in the longitudinal magazine 104. The control device 186 according to the embodiment shown here is provided in the holding device 108. In FIG. 10 The holding device is shown without the longitudinal magazine 104. An actuating means 187 of the control device 186 protrudes from the housing of the carrier device 108. The actuating means is pivotally arranged in the housing of the holding device 108.

[0069] In FIG. 11 The control device and the associated actuating element 187 are shown without the housing of the holding device 108. As can be seen, the part of the actuating means that normally protrudes from the housing extends into the interior of the longitudinal magazine 104. The actuating means 187 is pivotable about a pivot axis 188. The pivot axis 188 is articulated to the housing of the holding device 108.

[0070] A compressed air valve 190 is also part of the control device 186. The compressed air valve 190 is mounted inside the holding device (not shown) and has a switch 194, which can be actuated by the actuating means 187. For this purpose, in particular, an actuating surface 192 of the actuating means 187 can be brought into contact with the switch 194 to actuate it. The compressed air valve 190 can, for example, be a "normally open" valve, which, in the non-actuated state, has a connection between the compressed air inlet 196 and the compressed air outlet 198.

[0071] The compressed air valve 190 according to FIG. 11 is shown in the non-actuated position. In this state, there is a passage between the compressed air inlet 196 and the compressed air outlet 198. The compressed air inlet 196 is connected to the control valve 178. The compressed air outlet 198 is connected to the drive arrangement of the magazine 106. The compressed air control pulses generated by the control valve 178 can therefore be FIG. 11 shown, non-actuated position to the drive assembly via the pneumatic valve 190. Consequently, in the position shown in FIG. 11 shown position of the compressed air valve 190 for moving / displacing the magazine between the positions described above. It should be mentioned at this point that the compressed air control pulses preferably serve to actuate one or more compressed air valves of the slide. To move the first and second slides 200, for example, the compressed air present at the compressed air connection 170 (also known as working compressed air) is branched off via a T-piece and used for the drive arrangement. This compressed air supply (working compressed air) is connected to the slides via a control valve (not shown). The control valve is opened by the compressed air control pulses when the (control) compressed air valve 190 is not actuated, i.e., is in the open state.

[0072] The compressed air control pulses are transmitted until the actuating means 178 is activated, i.e., pivoted toward the compressed air valve 190. The actuating means 187 is actuated in particular by fastener strips that are fed from the lateral magazine 106 into the longitudinal magazine 104. As soon as a sufficient number of fastener strips are present in the longitudinal magazine 104, the actuating means 187 is pivoted over the uppermost (last) fastener strip toward the compressed air valve 190, so that the compressed air valve interrupts the connection between the compressed air inlet 196 and the compressed air outlet 198. From this point on, the compressed air control pulses from the control valve 178 are no longer transmitted to the magazine 106, so that it remains in its last position and no further fastener strips are transferred to the longitudinal magazine 104.

[0073] The actuating means 187 of the control device 186 is in the FIG. 11 shown position, so that the actuating means 187 is automatically pivoted away from the compressed air valve 190 as soon as there is sufficient space in the longitudinal magazine 104, that is to say as soon as there is sufficient space for further fastening strips in the longitudinal magazine.

[0074] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown in the figures, but results from a combination of all features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. Magazine (106) for a driving module (102) for driving fasteners, which are connected to one another by means of a connecting means to form a fastener band, into a workpiece, wherein the magazine (106) has the following: - a first receptacle (122) for holding at least one fastener band; - a second receptacle (123) for holding at least one fastener band; - a feed opening (130) which can be connected to a fastener inlet of the driving module, wherein the magazine (106) can be transferred between a first position in which the first receptacle (122) is aligned with the feed opening (130), and a second position in which the second receptacle (123) is aligned with the feed opening (130), and wherein the feed opening (130) is preferably funnel-shaped.

2. Magazine (106) according to claim 1, wherein the first and the second receptacle (123) are arranged on a common carriage (110) which is displaceable relative to the feed opening (130) in order to transfer the magazine (106) between the first and second positions, wherein the carriage (110) is preferably displaceable laterally to a longitudinal direction of the feed opening (130).

3. Magazine (106) according to claim 2, wherein the magazine (106) has a drive arrangement for displacing the carriage (110), wherein the drive arrangement is designed to displace the carriage (110) by predetermined increments.

4. Magazine (106) according to claim 3, wherein the first and second receptacles (122, 123) are configured to align the respective fastener strip along their longitudinal axis, and wherein the predetermined pitch corresponds to a distance between the longitudinal axes of the first and second receptacles (122, 123) from one another; and / or wherein the carriage (110), in particular on a side opposite the first and second receptacles (122, 123), has a plurality of locking recesses (152) arranged next to one another at a distance corresponding to the predetermined pitch, and wherein the drive arrangement has a projection configured to engage in a first locking recess (152) in the first position of the magazine (106) and to engage in a second locking recess in the second position of the magazine (106).which is arranged next to the first locking recess; and / or wherein the drive arrangement has a first slider (200) for displacing the carriage (110) relative to the feed opening in a first direction and a second slider (200) for displacing the carriage (110) in a second direction, wherein the first direction is opposite to the second direction, wherein the first slider (200) and the second slider (200) preferably each have an active configuration in which the slider (200) is in operative engagement with the carriage (110), and a passive configuration in which the slider (200) is mechanically decoupled from the carriage (110), and wherein the magazine (106) is preferably designed such that one slider (200) is in the active configuration, while the other slider (200) is in the passive configuration, wherein the carriage (110) preferably has adjusting means (154, 156, 158,160) for transferring the first or second slider between the active configuration and the passive configuration.

5. Magazine (106) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first receptacle (122) and the second receptacle (123) each have a guide channel for guiding a fastener strip, and wherein the first and the second receptacle (123) are arranged next to one another such that the guide channels of the first and second receptacles run parallel to one another.

6. Magazine (106) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the magazine (106) has a third receptacle (125) for holding a fastener tape, and wherein the magazine (106) is transferable into a third position in which the third receptacle (125) is aligned with the feed opening (130);and / or wherein the magazine (106) has a contact surface which is designed to hold the fastening means strips in the first and second receptacles when the receptacles are not aligned with the feed opening (130), and wherein the first and second receptacles (123) are movable relative to the contact surface when the magazine (106) is transferred between its first and second positions, wherein the contact surface preferably has at least one through-opening which is aligned with the feed opening (130), and wherein the through-opening is preferably designed such that fastening means strips can be guided from the first or second receptacle, via the through-opening, into the feed opening (130); 7. Magazine (106) according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first and second receptacles (123) share a common partition wall.

8. Magazine (106) according to claim 1 or according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the first receptacle (122) and the second receptacle (123) are designed to be pivotable relative to the feed opening (130) in order to transfer the magazine between the first and second positions.

9. Magazine (106) according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the first receptacle (122) and / or the second receptacle (123) is designed to receive at least two fastening means bands and wherein the two fastening means bands are arranged one behind the other in the first and / or second receptacle.

10. Magazine (106) according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein in the first position only the first receptacle (122) is aligned with the feed opening (130) and in the second position only the second receptacle (123) is aligned with the feed opening (130).

11. A driving arrangement for fasteners, the driving arrangement comprising: - a driving module (102) for driving fasteners connected to one another by means of a connecting means to form a fastener strip into a workpiece; and - a magazine (106) according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the magazine (106) is connected to the driving module (102) in such a way that fastener strips can be transferred to the driving module (102) via the feed opening, the magazine preferably being pivotable relative to the driving module between an operating position and a maintenance position.

12. Driving arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the driving module (102) is a pneumatic driving module (102) and has a compressed air supply for driving the fasteners, wherein the magazine (106) has a drive arrangement for transferring the magazine between the first position and the second position, and wherein the drive arrangement is a pneumatic drive arrangement which is connected to the compressed air supply of the driving module.

13. Driving arrangement according to claim 12, wherein the driving arrangement comprises a compressed air valve (190) which is provided between a control air supply and the pneumatic drive arrangement, and wherein the compressed air valve (190) is designed to establish a connection between the control air supply and the pneumatic drive arrangement when the driving module (102) requires further fastening means, and to interrupt the connection as long as the driving module (102) has sufficient fastening means available;or wherein the driving arrangement comprises a compressed air valve which is provided between the compressed air supply and the pneumatic drive arrangement, and wherein the compressed air valve is designed to establish a connection between the compressed air supply and the pneumatic drive arrangement when the driving module (102) requires further fastening means, and to interrupt the connection as long as the driving module (102) has sufficient fastening means available.; 14. Driving arrangement according to one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the driving arrangement has a longitudinal magazine (104) which is arranged between the magazine (106) and the driving module (102), and wherein the longitudinal magazine (104) is designed to receive at least two fastening strips one behind the other.

15. Driving arrangement according to claim 14 in combination with claim 12 or 13, wherein the compressed air valve (190) is designed to establish a connection between the compressed air supply or the control air supply and the pneumatic drive arrangement when only one fastener strip is present in the longitudinal magazine (104).

Images