Device and system for conveying fastening elements

Abstract

One aspect of the invention relates to a system for conveying fastening elements from a supply device to a processing system. The system comprises the supply device which has a supply line connection and is designed to provide the fastening elements individually via the supply line connection. The system comprises at least one supply line portion which is coupled to the supply line connection and has a free end. The free end can be coupled to a processing device and / or another supply line portion. The supply line portion is designed to guide the provided fastening elements. The system comprises at least one vacuum-generating device which is in fluid communication with the free end of the at least one supply line portion and is designed to apply a vacuum to the supply line portion.

Description

[0001] Atlas Copco IAS GmbH, Case: 13N2024PA1070DE

[0002] Device and system for transporting fasteners

[0003] The present invention relates to systems for transporting fastening elements in a hollow supply line.

[0004] Technical background

[0005] Car body designs are becoming increasingly sophisticated in order to reduce CO2 emissions and increase crash safety. This leads to more complex manufacturing processes. Multiple materials with varying strength properties must be joined, such as high-strength steel, aluminum, cast iron, magnesium, carbon, or plastics. At the same time, limited accessibility and short cycle times within the manufacturing process pose a challenge.

[0006] Flow-drill fastening (FDF) is a solution to these challenges. This technology offers multi-material connections with single-sided access, using a single fastener as both drill and fastener. The fastener is rotated at high speed and under pressure to heat the material. This allows the fastener to be forced through the stack of materials, forming a thread – an efficient and flexible fastening method. Appropriate FDF system solutions ensure precise operation of the fastening process even in harsh production environments.

[0007] The use of automated or semi-automated FDF system solutions with integrated feeding for creating a detachable connection in the area of ​​flow-drilling screws requires a device or system to transport and provide the corresponding fastening or joining elements for processing.

[0008] According to the prior art, fasteners are conveyed from a feeding device to the processing equipment by means of an airflow, the airflow being generated by compressed air. The compressed air is usually supplied centrally. This type of transport is energy-intensive because the centrally supplied compressed air has a pressure much higher than required for transport and even has to be regulated down. DE 10 2022 133 843 A1 presents a feeding device in which the airflow is not generated by compressed air, but decentrally by means of a dedicated blower at the beginning of the feeding path. This increases energy efficiency.

[0009] Summary of the invention Atlas Copco IAS GmbH, Case: 13N2024PA1070DE

[0010] It is an object of the present invention to provide alternative compressed air-free embodiments for transporting fasteners from a feeding device to a processing device. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a transport system for fasteners that requires little maintenance. It is a further object of the present invention to further increase the energy efficiency of transporting fasteners compared to previously known feeding devices.

[0011] At least one of the problems, or further problems, that arise for a person skilled in the art from the present disclosure are solved by the subject matter of the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims and the description.

[0012] In one aspect of the invention, a system for transporting fasteners from a feeding device to a processing system is provided. The system comprises the feeding device, which has a feed line connection and is configured to dispense the fasteners individually via the feed line connection. The system includes at least one feed line section that is coupled to the feed line connection and has a free end. The free end can be coupled to a processing device and / or another feed line section. The feed line section is configured to guide the dispensed fasteners. The system includes at least one vacuum generation device that is arranged in fluid communication with the free end of the at least one feed line section and is configured to apply a vacuum to the respective feed line section.

[0013] In other words, the fastening elements are transported according to the invention by creating a vacuum at the end of the feed line. The fastening element is thus moved from the beginning to the end of the feed line by a suction effect. This eliminates the need to build up overpressure in the feed line upstream of each fastening element in relation to its direction of transport. The vacuum pulls the individual fastening elements through the feed line instead of pushing them.

[0014] The fastening element, also referred to as a joining device or fastening / connecting device, can be a screw, in particular a flow-drilling screw, wherein the fastening element is adapted to first be drilled into the workpiece and then fastened in the workpiece by means of a screw connection. The fastening element can comprise a head and a threaded underside. Preferably, the fastening elements are transported individually and head-first through the feed line.

[0015] Suction of the fastening elements in at least one supply line section by means of a negative pressure can be made more energy-efficient than pushing the fastening elements by means of a positive pressure, due to the Bernoulli effect, especially in the preferred orientation of the fastening elements.

[0016] At least one feed line section can be hollow. In one embodiment, the feed line section can be or comprise a feed hose in a round or profiled design. The feed line can be composed of one or more feed line sections. This means that at least one feed line section can be directly or indirectly connected to the feed line connection of the feed device. In the case of an indirect connection, a second feed line section can be connected to the free end of a first feed line section. That is, the second feed line section can be arranged downstream of the first feed line section in a transport direction of the fastening elements.

[0017] The free end of the at least one supply line section shall be designated as the end of the supply line section that forms an outlet of the fastening elements. The free end of the at least one supply line section is the end that is opposite a connection of the at least one supply line section to the supply device.

[0018] The vacuum generating device can comprise a vacuum generator, a vacuum pump, or a blower connected to it via its intake side. The vacuum generating device can be configured to create a relative vacuum in the range of 2% to 50%, preferably 5% to 25%, in at least one supply line section. In other words, even a small vacuum may be sufficient to move the fasteners in the at least one supply line section.

[0019] The feeding device may include a chamber for receiving fasteners. The chamber may have a capacity to receive at least 1000, preferably at least 3000, and even more preferably at least 6000 fasteners. The feeding device may include a blade conveyor. Atlas Copco IAS GmbH, Case: 13N2024PA1070DE

[0020] In one embodiment, the system may further include a processing unit or a process device. A feed line section may be coupled to the processing unit. The processing unit may include a vacuum generation unit, wherein the vacuum generation unit is arranged in fluid communication with the free end of the feed line section.

[0021] In one embodiment, the vacuum generating device can be arranged directly at the free end of the supply line section or connected to the free end of the supply line section by means of a coupling line that is guided parallel to the supply line section.

[0022] In other words, the vacuum generation unit can be integrated directly into the processing unit, but this requires sufficient installation space. Depending on the processing unit, more or less installation space is available for the vacuum generation unit without negatively impacting the application possibilities of a joining tool of the processing unit, e.g., regarding the accessibility of joining points on the component.

[0023] In this case, a coupling line, e.g., a second hose, can be routed parallel to the feed hose. The coupling line can be designed to be long enough that the vacuum generator attached to its free end lies outside the area critical for the installation space of the joining tool.

[0024] Vacuum generation can be centralized, e.g., for a section of production with several process devices, or decentralized for each joining tool.

[0025] Brief description of the characters

[0026] Embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail below with reference to two figures.

[0027] Fig. 1A shows a first exemplary embodiment of a system 100 for transporting fastening elements according to one aspect of the invention.

[0028] Fig. 1B shows a second exemplary embodiment of a system 100 for transporting fastening elements according to one aspect of the invention.

[0029] Detailed description

[0030] Figures 1A and 1B each show a system 100 for transporting fasteners 5. The system 100 can comprise a feed device 2, at least one feed line section 10, and at least one vacuum generation device 20. Optionally, the system 100 can also comprise a processing system 3. The processing system 3 can, in particular, be or comprise an FDF system configured to process the fasteners 5. The vacuum generation device 20 is configured to apply a vacuum to the feed line section 10 at its free end in order to draw the fasteners 5 through the feed line section 10 in the transport direction T.

[0031] The feed device 2 can have a feed line connection 4 to which at least one feed line section 10 is coupled. The feed line can have one or more feed line sections 10. Each of the feed line sections 10 of a feed line can be subjected to a vacuum, namely by means of its own vacuum generating devices 20, one or more shared vacuum generating devices (not shown), or a combination thereof.

[0032] In the embodiment according to Fig. 1A, the vacuum generating device 20 can be directly coupled to the free end of the supply line section 10.

[0033] In the embodiment according to Fig. 1B, a coupling line 30 can be routed parallel to the feed line 10, with the vacuum generating device 20 being directly coupled to the free end of the coupling line 30. This allows the vacuum generating device 20 to be arranged away from the transport and / or processing path of the fastening elements 5, so that the vacuum generating device 20 does not impair the functionality of the processing system, in particular the movement range of the joining tool.

Claims

Atlas Copco IAS GmbH, Case: 13N2024PA1070DE Patentansprüche 1. System (100) for transporting fasteners (5) from a feeding device (2) to a processing system (3), the system (100) comprising: the feeding device (2) which has a feed line connection (4) and is configured to provide the fasteners (5) individually via the feed line connection (4); at least one feed line section (10) which is coupled to the feed line connection (4) and has a free end, wherein the free end can be coupled to a processing device (3) and / or another feed line section (10), and wherein the feed line section (10) is configured to guide the provided fasteners (5); and at least one vacuum generation device (20) which is arranged in fluid communication with the free end of the at least one feed line section (10) and is configured to apply a vacuum to the respective feed line section (10).

2. System according to claim 1, further comprising a processing device (3), wherein a feed line section (10) is coupled to the processing device (3), wherein the processing device (3) comprises a vacuum generating device (20), wherein the vacuum generating device (20) is arranged in fluid communication with the free end of the feed line section (10).

3. System according to claim 2, wherein the vacuum generating device (20) is arranged directly at the free end of the supply line section (10) or is connected to the free end of the supply line section (10) by means of a coupling line (30) which is guided parallel to the supply line section (10).

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