EP1733821B1 - Rivet selecting and setting device - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a Nietauswahl- and -fixiervorrichtung for the introduction of rivet elements in components according to the preamble of claim 1 (see, eg DE 2 757 909 ).

From the point of view of automation of manufacturing processes, so-called riveting machines for automatic production of riveted joints in components are widely used in the field of connection technologies. Such a system is used for example in the US 4,208,153 disclosed. As a rule, these systems are structured in such a way that a central rivet storage is provided in which a large number of different rivet elements, which vary in their length, diameter and rivet type, are held in corresponding storage systems. These storage systems are associated with so-called rivet selection mechanisms, which are usually controlled electronically, which remove the rivet element required for each length, diameter and / or type from the storage system and feed it via line systems to the riveting tool. For a simplified selection of the rivet elements from the storage system, it is also known to assign the storage system a so-called Nietzwischenspeicher in which a certain number of rivet elements of the same type are already cached pre-separated. The transport of the rivet elements takes place in the piping systems usually pneumatic. Depending on the positioning of these storage systems and these possibly assigned Nietzwischenspeichem to the riveting tools to be fitted by these, the piping systems can sometimes have a considerable length. This is partly due to the fact that the large number of fasteners to be stored requires considerable storage space which is not regularly available directly in the respective production area.
Although pneumatic conveying systems allow high conveying speeds, long conveying paths between the storage system and the riveting tool to higher waiting times between individual riveting operations, which accumulate in the large number of rivets to be produced to considerable waiting and downtime. This negative effect then increases considerably if the rivet conveyed to the riveting tool is faulty or has the wrong dimensions due to incorrect sorting for the rivet connection to be produced. Then this unsuitable rivet element has to be conveyed back and a new rivet element has to be fed out of the storage system. During these conveying operations, the riveting tool must remain in unproductive waiting position.

It is therefore an object of the invention to avoid the disadvantages of the prior art described and in particular to propose an efficient working, low downtime realizing Nietauswahl- and -fixiervorrichtung.

This object is achieved by the characterizing features of claim 1.

By incorporating the rivet buffer into the rivet adapter, it is ensured that the rivet elements used to assemble the riveting tool have only short paths, so that unproductive downtimes can be considerably reduced or avoided altogether.

Since the reduction of downtimes is decisively dependent on how short the paths between the storage position of the rivet element and the position of the riveting tool are, the rivet buffer comprises at least one storage element movable relative to the rivet adapter. This has the particular advantage that even with large-volume cache always short transport routes are feasible, since the movable storage element is movable within the Nietzwischenspeichers in an optimal transfer position.

By a plurality of memory elements are arranged adjacent to each other disc-shaped and rotate around an axis of rotation lying anywhere in space, resulting in a particularly compact design of the Nietzwischenspeichers with short conveyor paths.

Characterized in that the memory element is formed by an openable and closeable gripper comprising at least two fixing fingers which form an openable and closable Nietfixiersenke at one end between them, a secure fixing and transporting of the rivet elements in the respective storage element is achieved.

A low-interference and safe operation of the opening and closing operation of the storage elements is then preferably ensured when the opening and closing of the storage element is effected by a positively driven ejector in such a way that the pusher is formed a driver of the process of the ejector, the fixing fingers of the gripper moving apart or towards each other.
In an advantageous embodiment of the drive of the pusher is pneumatically controlled.

A structurally simple and always reliably the rivet element fixing and releasing embodiment is achieved when the memory element is associated with a support structure coupled tongue and the driver can move the tongue linearly so that the tongue opens the fixing fingers of each gripper form-fitting and closes.

Direct and therefore short supply paths for the rivet element to the riveting tool also result from the fact that the known rivet finger, which is present in rivet adapters, picks up the rivet element positioned in the rivet fixing recess and transfers it to the riveting tool.

A large storage capacity of the Nietzwischenspeichers and at the same time short transport routes are characterized in a further advantageous embodiment of the invention achieved that the Nietzwischenspeicher a variety of annular around the. The axis of rotation pivotally arranged storage elements comprises, which are movable between loading positions and removal position and wherein the loading positions in the rivet feed region of the at least one Nietfördersystems and the removal positions in Nietübergabebereich the at least one Nietfingers.

In order that the rivet selection and fixing device according to the invention can be used in a highly flexible manner for a wide variety of rivet element types, rivet diameters and rivet lengths and their precise conveyance, the rivet conveying system in one advantageous embodiment comprises one or more hose lines for conveying a wide variety of rivet elements from at least one rivet storage to the rivet buffer and wherein the one or more hose lines in rivet feed area via rivet element insert.

By a plurality of Nietelementeinlegern the intermediate memory associated annularly, which can also rotate around an axis of rotation and relative to the storage elements, a further reduction of the conveying path and the required conveying time is achieved.

In order that the rivet elements can be transferred precisely from the rivet element inserts to the storage elements, in an advantageous embodiment of the invention the rivet element inserts are assigned rivet stoppers which in an advantageous embodiment can be opened or closed by means of setting cylinders for releasing or braking the rivet elements.

A functionally reliable guidance of the memory elements is obtained when the memory elements are guided in the rivet buffer during its rotational movement in a slotted guide.

A particularly advantageous embodiment of the slotted guide results when the slotted guide passage openings are formed, through which the storage elements and the one or more ejectors can be removed. this has in particular the advantage that the storage elements and the pusher can be easily replaced if damaged or retrofitted to other rivet element types. In this context, it is of particular advantage if the storage elements are integrated by means of quick-change clamping device in the buffer, so that the assembly and disassembly effort is significantly reduced.

In addition, by being able to service a plurality of rivet storage locations, each supply tube ensures that each particular type of rivet element is stocked in a sufficient number in the rivet buffer. A particularly advantageous arrangement of the rivet storage locations results when the frequently required rivet elements are assigned to directly adjacent storage elements, which finally results in a further reduction of the delivery movements.

The storage capacity of the rivet wipe storage device according to the invention can also be further increased by feeding the rivet element inserts on rivet storage locations arranged on different ring surfaces, and wherein each ring surface comprises rivet elements of one rivet type and of different lengths.

A particularly advantageous method according to the invention for operating a rivet selection and fixing device results when the thickness of the components to be connected in the connection region is determined first, after the determined thickness a rivet element of suitable length selected from the Nietzwischenspeicher and by rotation of the selected rivet storing the memory element is transferred to a rivet transfer area to a rivet finger and wherein the rivet finger the rivet element supplies the riveting tool while the emptied storage element moves into a rivet feeding area and is fed in this via a Nietfördersystems with a new rivet. In this way, the Nietzwischenspeicher is already equipped with a new rivet during the riveting process, so that almost no bottleneck-related downtime occur.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the storage capacity of the rivet buffer can also be increased if a plurality of planes with memory elements arranged in a ring-shaped manner in the rivet buffer are provided.

A reduction of the transport paths within the rivet adapter can also be achieved in an advantageous embodiment of the invention in that the rivet transfer region in which the rivet element is transferred from the storage element to the rivet finger is in the region of the riveting tool.

Figur 1

eine schematische Gesamtansicht der erfindungsgemäßen Nietauswahl- und -fixiereinrichtung

Figur 2

eine Detailansicht eines Nietadapters mit erfindungsgemäßen Nietzwischenspeicher

Figur 3

eine Detailansicht des erfindungsgemäßen Nietzwischenspeichers

Figur 4

eine Detailansicht der Greifer des Nietzwischenspeichers

Figur 5

eine weitere Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Nietzwischenspeichers

Further advantageous embodiments are the subject of further subclaims and are described below with reference to an embodiment shown in several figures. Show it:

FIG. 1

a schematic overall view of the rivet selection and fixing device according to the invention

FIG. 2

a detailed view of a rivet adapter with Nietzwischenspeicher invention

FIG. 3

a detailed view of the Nietzwischenspeichers invention

FIG. 4

a detailed view of the gripper of the Nietzwischenspeichers

FIG. 5

a further embodiment of the Nietzwischenspeichers invention

FIG. 1 schematically shows a Nietauswahl- and -fixiervorrichtung 1 in a non-illustrated support frame 2 about axes of rotation 3 and / or translation axes 4 movably receiving the rivet adapter 5 according to the invention. The rivet adapter 5 comprises, in a manner to be described in more detail, at least one riveting tool 6 for introducing rivet elements 7 into the components 8 to be joined together, at least one rivet finger 9 conveying the rivet element 7 to the riveting tool 6, and at least one rivet buffer 10 according to the invention, which applies the rivet element 7 the rivet finger 9 passes. The Nietzwischenspeicher 10 is at one end with a Nietfördersystem 11 in operative connection. In a manner known per se, the rivet conveying system 11 initially comprises a rivet storage 12, which in the illustrated embodiment The rivet memory 12 accommodates a multiplicity of rivet cassettes 14 known per se and therefore not described in more detail. Each of the rivet cassettes 14 is usually equipped with rivet elements 7 of a certain rivet type, a certain rivet length and / or a specific rivet diameter. In the simplest case, the rivet storage 12 can also be designed according to the cited in the introduction to the prior art as an interconnection of Vorratsbehältem with separation systems. In the illustrated embodiment, the separation of the rivet elements 14 stored in the rivet cassettes 14 takes place in a manner known per se by a pressurized line system 15, which removes the rivet elements 7 from the rivet cassettes 14. In the simplest case, the line system 15 is designed so that in each case a hose line 16 is provided for the rivet elements 7 of a diameter. Finally, the hose conduits 16 lead into the intermediate storage device 10 integrated into the rivet adapter 5 according to the invention, so that the rivet elements conveyed in the hose lines 16 finally reach the rivet wedge storage device 10 arranged in the immediate vicinity of the riveting tools 6. In order for the rivet selection and fixing device 1 to provide a rivet element 7 which is specially adapted to the respective layer thickness 17 of the components 8 to be joined by the rivet conveying system 11 and the rivet buffer 10 connected thereto, the rivet adapter is also a known layer thickness measuring device 18, for example a camera 19 assigned, which receives the layer thickness 17 of the components to be joined 8. From this layer thickness signal X, a so-called rivet selection signal Y is generated in an evaluation and control unit 20, which leads in a manner to be described in more detail to the provision of the required rivet element 7 in the rivet buffer memory 10. At the same time, this rivet selection signal Y is also transmitted to the rivet storage unit 12 of the rivet conveying system 11, so that the rivet element 7 provided by the buffer store 10 can be refilled in the rivet buffer store 10.

FIG. 2 shows a detailed representation of a known Nietadapters 5 is fixed on a top-side flange 21 to a support frame 2, not shown. Since such Nietadapter 5 are well known, only those details of Nietadapters 5 are described in detail, which is necessary for understanding the invention are. On the support frame 22 of the rivet adapter 5, the rivet tool holder 23 with integrated riveting tool 24 is arranged in its front-side area. In order to achieve a high degree of flexibility in the production of riveted joints, the tool holder 23 can be arranged horizontally and vertically displaceable with the riveting tool 24 in a manner not shown, as well as rotatable about axes of rotation. The riveting tool 24 is also assigned at any point a Nietelementaufnahme 25, which is equipped by the aforementioned Nietfinger 9 with rivet elements 7. The rivet finger 9 itself relates the rivet elements 7 from a Nietzwischenspeicher 10 according to the invention is integrated in the Nietadapter 5 and in the illustrated embodiment, in close proximity to the Nietelementauf exception 25 of the tool holder 23 is arranged, so that the Niethnger 9 for equipping the riveting tool 24 with rivet elements. 7 only have to travel very short distances. In the illustrated embodiment, the rivet finger is moved via translationally not shown pneumatic drives in the horizontal and vertical directions. However, it is within the scope of the invention that the rivet finger 9 for conveying the rivet element 7 from the Nietzwischenspeicher 10 to the riveting tool 24 can perform any translational and rotational movements in space.

The Nietzwischenspeicher 10 according to the invention to be described in more detail is a rotary drive 27 extending along a vertical axis of rotation 26 on the top side, which can be associated, for example, pneumatically with rotational movement. The rotary drive 27 is drivingly connected at least with the annularly arranged memory elements 28 of the Nietzwischenspeichers 10 so that they can be rotated about the vertical axis of rotation 26 in accordance with the indicated arrow 29 in the counterclockwise direction and counterclockwise relative to the Nietadapter 5 and arranged in different positions. For equipping the storage elements 28 with rivet elements 7, the rivet element inserts 31 designed as rivet stops 30 are assigned to the annularly arranged storage elements 28 over part of the circumferential circle formed by them. On the upper side, the rivet inserters 31 have adapter sleeves 32, which respectively receive the previously described hose lines 16 of the rivet conveying system 11, so that the rivet elements 7 removed from the rivet storage 12 are connected via the line system 15 of FIG Rivet conveyor system 11 and said hose lines 16 are fed directly to the Nietzwischenspeicher 10 and used in a manner to be described in a specific memory element 28.

Fig. 3 shows a detailed representation of the Nietzwischenspeichers invention 10. The Nietzwischenspeicher 10 is mounted on a support frame structure 32 on the support frame 22 of the rivet adapter 5. On an upper base plate 33, which forms the axis of rotation 26 of the Nietzwischenspeichers 10 rotational drive 27 is supported. It is within the scope of the invention that the rotary drive 27 may be arranged outside the axis of rotation 26 of the Nietzwischenspeichers 10 and the drive power is transmitted via a gear stage, not shown on a, the rotation axis 26 forming central shaft of the Nietzwischenspeichers 10.

The bottom side of the rotary drive 27 exiting drive shaft 34 is screwed in the region of a flange-shaped shoulder 35 formed thereon with a guide ring 36 having a guide groove 37 in its radially outer region. In this guide groove 37, the memory elements according to the invention 28 are annular and adjacent to each other with its radially inner end portion via a so-called support structure 58 is inserted. In the radially inner end region of the support structures 58 recesses 38 are formed, which engage in the guide groove 37 of the guide ring 36, so that the guide groove 36 at the same time forms a positive sliding guide 39 for the support structures 58 and the memory elements receiving them 28. Each of the memory elements 28 is designed as a so-called gripper 40, whose gripping and fixing function is achieved in that it by two each to each other and away from each other movable fixing fingers 41, as in FIG. 4 represented, is formed. This pivotal movement of the fixing fingers 41 can be realized, for example, that the fixing fingers 41 are pivoted in its rear region by means of screw 42 to a base 43 of the respective gripper 40, wherein the pivoting movement can take place against the action of a spring, not shown, so that the fixing fingers 41 always in the closed position in which the fixing fingers 41 abut each other, are forced. On the front side, the adjoining fixing fingers 41 form a rivet fixing recess 44 between them, into which a rivet element 7 will be described in greater detail Way can be used. In a so-called rivet transfer region 45, in which the gripper 40 is located in the effective region of the riveting finger 9, a pusher 46 is assigned to the gripper at the bottom. The pusher 46 is fixed by means of a Ausschiebeschlittens 48 on the lower base plate 47 of the support frame structure 32 of the latch 10. The Ausschiebeschlitten 48 takes on top in linear guideways 49, a movable driver 50, the linear movement is controllable. The driver 50 engages during its linear movement in the respective gripper 40 formed on the bottom side guide groove 51 and forces at radially outward movement the FiXierFnger 4.1 of the gripper 40 via a form-fitting engaging in the fixing finger 41 tongue 59 apart, while in opposite movement of the driver 50 and the tongue 59 forcibly pivot the fixing fingers 41 back into their closed position.

The movement of the driver 50 and the tongue 59 is controlled in the illustrated embodiment on the control and evaluation unit 20 already described so that the gripper 40 always releases a rivet held by him 7 in the removal position 52 when the rivet finger 9 in the Rivet transfer area 45 for receiving a rivet element 7 remains. The rivet finger 9 assumes the rivet element 7 released by the gripper 40 and transfers it to the riveting tool 24 in the manner already described.

To fill the empty by means of Nietfingers 9 gripper 40, these are pivoted about the rotational axis 26 in a feed position 54 lying in a rivet feed region 53. In the rivet feeding region 53, the rivet element inserts 31, which are adapted to the various rivet element types and designed as rivet stoppers 30, are arranged. About the evaluation and control unit 20, the respective gripper 40 is pivoted in the loading position 54 in a position below that Nietelementeinlegers 31, which includes the correct length, diameter and rivet Nietelement 7. When opening the respective rivet element inserter 31, a rivet element 7 is released from the rivet element insert 31 and inserted into the respective rivet fixing recess 44 of the gripper 40 in a compressed air-supported manner. If this filling process is complete, the rotatably mounted storage elements pivot 28 in such a position that now again the next after length, diameter and rivet type of the rivet finger 9 to be taken rivet 7 enters the loading position 54. The control that the respectively required rivet element 7 is pivoted into the loading position 54 can, for example, be such that first, as described, a layer thickness measuring device 18 determines the layer thickness 17 in the connection region of the components 8 to be joined together and then after this layer thickness a rivet element 7 determined appropriate length and pivoted into the loading position 54.

A further optimization of the loading times can be achieved, above all, by an efficient arrangement of the rivet element inserts 31 and the type of intermediate storage of the rivet elements 7 in the grippers 40. By first arranging a plurality of rivet inserters 31 in the rivet feeding area 55, rivet elements 7 of different types, different diameters and different lengths can be simultaneously provided. The flexibility will be greater, the more rivet insert 31 are present. In addition, the rivet elements 7 may be arranged in the storage elements 28 so that frequently needed, but differently dimensioned rivet elements 7 are received adjacent to one another by the grippers 40. This has the advantage that for removal and filling always only short, time-saving swivel movements must be performed. A further significant increase in storage capacity would also result from having multiple annular storage levels and associated rivet inserts 31 superimposed so that the number of available storage spaces 57 in the rinse buffer would increase significantly. In a manner not shown, the movement of the rivet finger 9 and the structure of the rivet conveyor system 11 would then have to be adapted to this multi-layer arrangement of the storage elements 28. In addition, it is within the scope of the invention that the rivet insert 31 could be pivoted about the vertical axis of rotation 26, so that the gripper to be filled 40 and the rivet element 31 containing the required rivet element 7 could be moved towards each other at the same time, so that further reduce the Befüilzeiten left. It is also within the scope of the invention that the storage elements 28 of the inventive Nietzwischenspeichers 10 moves in a manner not shown directly translationally are arranged or fixed, in which case the Nietfinger 9 must perform a correspondingly adapted movement. This would, inter alia, the advantage that the rotary drive 27 could be omitted.

In order to ensure flexible use of the rivet buffer memory 10 according to the invention, the memory elements 28 can be exchangeably integrated into the rivet buffer memory 10 in an advantageous embodiment of the invention. This can be achieved, for example, in that the guide groove 37 of the guide ring 36 has passage openings in the form of cutouts 56, via which the storage elements 28 and the slide 46 can be removed and replaced. In this way it is possible that the Nietzwischenspeicher 10 can be used on the one hand for a variety of types of rivet and on the other hand defective memory elements 28 and defective slide 46 can be easily replaced. A particularly advantageous embodiment results in this context, when the memory elements 28 are integrated, for example by means not shown Schnellwechselspanneinrichtungen in the Nietzwischenspeicher 10.

According to Fig. 5 For example, the rivet inserters 31 may also be configured such that the rivet stoppers 30 form a pot-shaped closure of the respective hose line 16 and wherein the rivet stoppers 30 are assigned pneumatic cylinders 55 which can open or close the respective rivet insert 31 in the direction of the rivet fixing recess 44 of the gripper 40. Each hose 16 is assigned a separate Nietstopper 30 with pneumatic cylinder 55. In this embodiment, the rivet wipe storage device 10 according to the invention is designed such that the rivet stoppers 30 transfer the rivet elements 7 received by them to the storage elements 28 which are arranged in a ring shape. In this connection, a particularly high storage capacity is achieved if the rivet stoppers 30 provided for different rivet shapes are each arranged on different circumferential circles, so that in the temporary storage device 10 according to the invention a complete ring surface for storing rivet elements 7 is available for each rivet type and different lengths of this rivet type stands. This considerably increases the storage capacity of the rivet buffer memory 10 again.

Further, it is within the skill of one skilled in the art to modify the described embodiment in a manner not shown or to use it in other machine systems to achieve the effects described without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Rivet selection and fixing device

2

supporting frame

3

axis of rotation

4

translation axis

5

Nietadapter

6

riveting tool

7

rivet

8th

component

9

Niettinger

10

Nietzwischenspeicher

11

Nietfördersystem

12

Nietspeicher

13

cassette cabinet

14

Nietkassette

15

line system

16

hose

17

layer thickness

18

Layer thickness measuring device

19

camera

20

Evaluation and control unit

21

flange

22

supporting frame

23

toolholder

24

riveting tool

25

Nietelementaufnahme

26

Rotation axis 58

27

rotary drive

28

storage element

29

direction of rotation

30

Nietstopper

31

Nietelementeinleger

32

Supporting frame construction

33

plinth

34

drive shaft

35

paragraph

36

guide ring

37

guide

38

recess

39

link guide

40

grab

41

Fixierfinger

42

screw

43

base

44

Nietfixiersenke

45

Nietübergabebereich

46

ejector

47

plinth

48

Ausschiebeschlitten

49

guideway

50

takeaway

51

guide

52

removal position

53

Nietzuführbereich

54

loading position

55

actuating cylinder

56

countersink

57

memory

58

supporting structure

59

tongue

X

Layer thickness signal

Y

Nietauswahlsignal

Claims (23)

1. Rivet-selecting and -fixing apparatus (1) comprising a riveting tool (6), a rivet adapter (5), which accommodates at least the riveting tool (6) and is intended for introducing a rivet element (7) into components (8) which are to be connected, and a rivet-conveying system (11) which comprises an interim rivet store (10), wherein the rivet adapter (5) is in operative connection with a rivet store (12) via at least the rivet-conveying system (11), which comprises the interim rivet store (10), and wherein a multiplicity of storage elements (28) are arranged in annular fashion, and adjacent to one another, in the interim rivet store (10) and can circulate about an axis of rotation (26) located in any desired direction in space,
   characterized
   in that the interim rivet store (10) is integrated in the rivet adapter (5), and in that each storage element (28) is formed by an openable and closable gripper (40) which comprises at least two fixing fingers (41) which, at one end, form an openable and closable rivet-fixing hollow (44) between them.
2. Rivet-selecting and -fixing apparatus according to Claim 1,
   characterized
   in that the storage element (28) is opened and closed by a push-out means (46) such that the push-out means (46) is assigned at least one driver (50) which, upon displacement within a push-out carriage (48), moves the fixing fingers (41) of the gripper (40) apart from one another or towards one another.
3. Rivet-selecting and -fixing apparatus according to Claim 2,
   characterized
   in that the storage element (28) is assigned a tongue (59) coupled to a carrying structure (58), and the driver (50) can displace the tongue in linear fashion such that the tongue (59) opens and closes the fixing fingers (41) of the respective gripper (40) in a form-fitting manner.
4. Rivet-selecting and -fixing apparatus according to either of preceding Claims 2 and 3,
   characterized
   in that the driver (50) is activated pneumatically.
5. Rivet-selecting and -fixing apparatus according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized
   in that the rivet element (7) positioned in the rivet-fixing hollow (44) is accommodated by at least one rivet finger (9) and is transferred to the at least one riveting tool (23-25).
6. Rivet-selecting and -fixing apparatus according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized
   in that the interim rivet store (10) comprises a multiplicity of storage elements (28) which are arranged in annular fashion such that they can be pivoted about the axis of rotation (26) and which can be moved between charging positions (54) and removal positions (52), and wherein the charging positions (54) are located in the rivet-supply region (53) of the at least one rivet-conveying system (11) and the removal positions (52) are located in the rivet-transfer region (45) of the at least one rivet finger (9).
7. Rivet-selecting and -fixing apparatus according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized
   in that the rivet-conveying system (11) comprises one or more hose lines (16) for conveying the rivet elements (7) from at least one rivet store (12) to the interim rivet store (10), and wherein the hose lines (16) have rivet-element feeders (31) in the rivet-supply region (53).
8. Rivet-selecting and -fixing apparatus according to Claim 7,
   characterized
   in that the rivet-element feeder (31) are arranged in annular fashion and can be rotated about the axis of rotation (26) of the interim rivet store (10) relative to the storage elements (28).
9. Rivet-selecting and -fixing apparatus according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized
   in that the rivet-conveying system (11) comprises a multiplicity of hose lines (16) and associated rivet-element feeders (31) for various rivet-element shapes.
10. Rivet-selecting and -fixing apparatus according to Claim 9,
    characterized
    in that the various rivet-element shapes are determined by the rivet length, the rivet diameter and/or the type of rivet.
11. Rivet-selecting and -fixing apparatus according to one of Claims 7-10,
    characterized
    in that the rivet element feeders (31) are assigned rivet stoppers (30).
12. Rivet-selecting and -fixing apparatus according to Claim 11,
    characterized
    in that the rivet stoppers (30) are opened and closed by means of actuating cylinder (55).
13. Rivet-selecting and -fixing apparatus according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized
    in that the storage elements (28) of the interim rivet store (10) are guided in a guide track (39).
14. Rivet-selecting and -fixing apparatus according to Claim 13,
    characterized
    in that the guide track (39) has through-passage openings (38) for installing and removing the storage elements (28) and the push-out means (46).
15. Rivet-selecting and -fixing apparatus according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized
    in that the storage elements (28) are integrated in an exchangeable manner in the interim rivet store (10).
16. Rivet-selecting and -fixing apparatus according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized
    in that the storage elements (28) of the interim rivet store (10), these storage elements being configured as grippers (40), are integrated in the interim rivet store (10) by means of a quick-change clamping device.
17. Rivet-selecting and -fixing apparatus according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized
    in that each hose line (16) of the rivet-conveying system (11) is assigned a multiplicity of storage elements (28), which form rivet-storage locations (57).
18. Rivet-selecting and -fixing apparatus according to Claim 17,
    characterized
    in that the rivet-storage locations (57) of a hose line (16) comprise rivet elements (7) of the same type and/or diameter but of different rivet lengths.
19. Rivet-selecting and -fixing apparatus according to either of Claims 17-18,
    characterized
    in that the rivet elements (7) are assigned to the rivet-storage locations (57) such that frequently required rivet elements (7) are stored in adjacent rivet-storage locations (57).
20. Rivet-selecting and -fixing apparatus according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized
    in that the rivet-element feeders (31) charge rivet-storage locations (57) arranged on different annular surfaces, and wherein each annular surface comprises in each case rivet elements (7) of a single type and of different lengths.
21. Rivet-selecting and -fixing apparatus according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized
    in that the interim rivet store (10) has a multiplicity of storage levels comprising storage elements (28).
22. Rivet-selecting and -fixing apparatus according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized
    in that the rivet-transfer region (45) is arranged in the region of the at least one riveting tool (23-25)-23. Method of operating a rivet-selecting and -fixing apparatus (1) comprising a riveting tool (6), a rivet adapter (5), which accommodates at least the riveting tool (6) and is intended for introducing a rivet element (7) into components (8) which are to be connected, and a rivet-conveying system (11), which comprises an interim rivet store (10), wherein the rivet adapter (5) is in operative connection with a rivet store (12) via at least the rivet-conveying system (11), which comprises the interim rivet store (10),
    characterized
    in that, in the first instance, the layer thickness (17) in the connecting region of the components (8) which are to be connected is determined, a rivet element (7) of suitable length is selected, in accordance with the layer thickness (17) determined, from the interim rivet store (10) and, by virtue of rotation of that storage element (28) of the interim rivet store (10) which is storing the selected rivet element (7), is transferred into a rivet-transfer region (45) to a rivet finger (9), and wherein the rivet finger (9) supplies the rivet element (7) to the riveting tool (23-25), while the emptied storage element (28) moves into a rivet-supply region (53) and, therein, is charged with a new rivet element (7) via a rivet-conveying system (11).

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