EP3061544A1 - Blind fastener setting device - Google Patents

Abstract

There is provided a blind fastener-setting device (1) comprising a housing (2), a pulling device (5) which is displaceable relative to the housing (2), and a control device (6) which controls the pulling device (5). It would be desirable to provide such a blind fastener-setting device with a handling aid. For this purpose, it is provided that the control device (6) cooperates with a position sensor (16) which determines an orientation of the blind fastener-setting device (1) relative to the direction of gravity.

Description

The invention relates to a Blindbefestiger-setting device with a housing, a pulling device which is displaceable relative to the housing, and a control device which controls the pulling device.

Such a blind fastener-setting device can be used to set blind rivets or blind rivet nuts. Blind rivet and blind rivet nut are collectively called Blindbefestiger. When placing a blind fastener, the blind fastener is guided with its creator through an opening in a component or in a stack of components until its setting head rests against the component. Thereafter, the pulling device is moved in a pulling direction. As a result, a closing head is formed on the other side of the component. In a blind rivet while a train is exerted on a rivet mandrel, which breaks off when a predetermined force is reached. In the case of a blind rivet nut, the pulling force is transmitted via a threaded pin, which is screwed into an internal thread in the rivet. Blind fasteners are used in many fields of technology because of their ease of handling. Their ease of use, however, occasionally leads to a little careful work of a mechanic who is to set the Blindbefestiger. This may result in the blind fastener not sitting in the desired position or causing damage during or after the blind fastener has been set.

The invention has for its object to provide a Blindbefestiger-setting device with a handling aid.

This object is achieved with a blind fastener-setting device of the type mentioned above in that the control device cooperates with a position sensor which determines an orientation of the blind fastener-setting device relative to the direction of gravity.

Such a position sensor is known for example from the term "smartphones" mobile phones, in which a display in response to the orientation of the mobile phone relative to the direction of gravity is changed. It is now possible to use such a position sensor to determine the orientation of the blind fastener-setting device before placing a Blindbefestigers, during the setting of a Blindbefestigers or after setting a Blindbefestigers and thus to give the fitter assistance in whether he the Blindbefestiger-setting device handles correctly.

Preferably, the position sensor signals a permitted angular range of the blind fastener-setting device relative to the direction of gravity. This signaling may be accomplished by the position sensor outputting a signal when the blind fastener-setting device is within the allowable angular range or the signaling may be that the position sensor outputs a signal when the blind fastener setting device is not within the allowable angular range. The permitted angle range can also be referred to as the "permissible angular range". The signaling can be done in different ways. It may for example consist in a signal that is displayed on the outside of the blind fastener-setting device, for example by a light source or an acoustic signal. The signaling may also be that only internal signals are passed to the controller, as explained below.

In a preferred embodiment, it is provided that the angular range can be changed from the outside. This allows you to adapt the Blindbefestiger-setting device to different tasks. Depending on the position and orientation of the Blindbefestiger to be set, the blind fastener setting device can be adjusted accordingly.

Preferably, the pulling means has an opening position and the control means blocks movement to the opening position when the position sensor signals an orientation of the blind fastener setting means outside the allowable angular range. This embodiment is particularly advantageous when the Blindbefestiger-setting device is used for setting blind rivets. As explained above, the pulling device exerts a pulling force on a rivet mandrel of a blind rivet to form the closing head of the blind rivet. This rivet pin breaks off and is then held by the pulling device. Usually, the pulling device is then moved back to its open position, where it releases the rivet mandrel and where it can accommodate a rivet mandrel of a new blind rivet to be set. The riveted mandrel, which is released in the open position, should be picked up by a receptacle so that it does not fall out and interfere. The return of the draw gear in the open position is partially automatic, partly under the control a user. In either case, it may then happen that the blind fastener-setting device is accidentally held so that the rivet mandrel is not disposed of as actually desired in the receptacle, but falls forward out of the blind fastener-setting device. In unfavorable circumstances, this can result in the rivet mandrel being unable to be reached after falling out because it is in an unfavorable position. For example, if the blind rivet is placed in a motor vehicle, the rivet mandrel may fall into a cavity of the motor vehicle where it is no longer accessible to the installer, but later interferes with the user of the motor vehicle when the rivet mandrel is prone to rattling. If the position sensor now signals the control device that the blind fastener-setting device is in an orientation in which there is a risk that the rivet mandrel falls forward, ie in a situation in which the pulling device is inclined with its receiving end, then The control device can prevent the movement of the pulling device in the open position, so that the rivet mandrel can not accidentally fall out and interfere later.

In this case, it is preferred that the control device controls the pulling device in the opening position as soon as the position sensor signals an orientation of the blind fastener setting device in the permitted angular range. This further simplifies handling. Basically, the fitter must align the blind fastener-setting device only slightly obliquely upward, so that the pulling device with its Nietdornaufnahmeende points upwards. The puller is then moved to its open position and then releases the rivet pin so that the rivet pin can fall into the receptacle and be discarded.

In an alternative or additional embodiment, it may be provided that the control device only controls the traction device in a pulling direction when the position sensor has an allowed working range of Blind fastener setting device signaled relative to the direction of gravity. The work area can match the angle range. He can also differ from that. For example, when dummy fastener is to be placed in the roof area of an interior of a motor vehicle, the blind fastener-setting device must be aligned when setting the blind fastener so that the receiving end of the pulling device facing upward. Optionally, one can also define an angle to the direction of gravity, which must comply with the drawbar. Only when the blind fastener-setting device has such an orientation relative to the direction of gravity, it is ensured that the dummy fastener is set in the desired manner. Accordingly, the control device allows movement of the pulling device only if this orientation is given. If the fitter keeps the blind fastener-setting device wrong, that is not in the permitted working range, then no movement of the pulling device and a setting of Blindbefestigers is prevented.

Here too, it is advantageous if the permitted working range can be changed from the outside. The allowed workspace may also be referred to as an "allowable" workspace. By changing the permitted working range, the blind fastener setting device can be adapted to different work tasks. So you can, for example, set a first allowable work area when Blindbefestiger should be placed in the roof area of the interior of a motor vehicle and the Blindbefestiger-setting device when setting a Blindbefestigers "up" must show. A second working range can be set if the same blind fastener-setting device is to be used for setting blind fasteners in the floor area of the interior of the motor vehicle. In this case, the blind fastener jig must point "down" when placing the blind fasteners.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, it is provided that the control device cooperates with a storage device in which for successive setting operations of blind fasteners each a permitted working area for the alignment of the blind fastener setting device is stored relative to the direction of gravity, the control device controls the traction device only in the pulling direction when the blind fastener-setting device has an orientation relative to the direction of gravity during a setting operation, which corresponds to the working area stored for this setting process. In many cases, the Blindbefestiger to be set to have different orientations to gravity. For example, if you want to set several blind fasteners first on a side wall or A-pillar of a motor vehicle and later in the ceiling area, then the Blindbefestiger have a different orientation in the ceiling area than the other Blindbefestiger. One can now specify a workflow in which, for example, a predetermined number of Blindbefestigern first in the A-pillar or side wall of the motor vehicle and then a predetermined number of blind fasteners in the ceiling area of the interior of the motor vehicle to be set. For each Blindbefestiger there is then a permitted angle relative to the direction of gravity. Only when the installer adheres to this angle with a certain tolerance range, the blind fastener setting device is active and the pulling device acts on the blind fastener to form the closing head. If the fitter holds the blind fastener setting device incorrectly, ie not in the desired orientation, a setting process is not possible. Such a workflow can also be referred to as a profile. The storage device may contain several different profiles in a so-called profile list. Depending on the requirement, the installer can select one of the profiles from the list.

Preferably, the control device interacts with an actuating device with which an effect of the position sensor can be overridden. It may well be the case that the installer wants to set a Blindbefestiger, although the location, so the orientation of the blind fastener-setting device relative to the direction of gravity, is chosen in and of itself not applicable. In this case, the fitter can actuate the actuator in a certain manner, for example, press several times, so that the control device then moves the pulling device in the pulling direction. However, since in this case a conscious action of the installer is required, such an override of the signal of the position sensor is quite acceptable.

• die einzige Figur eine stark schematisierte Darstellung einer Blindbefestiger-Setzvorrichtung.

The invention will be explained below with reference to a preferred embodiment in conjunction with the drawing.
Hereby shows:

• the single figure is a highly schematic representation of a Blindbefestiger-setting device.

A Blindbefestiger-setting device is formed in the present embodiment as Blindniet-setting tool 1. The Blindniet-setting tool 1 has a housing 2, which carries a mouthpiece 3 at its front end. The mouthpiece 3 has a feed opening 4. The blind rivet setting device 1 has a pulling device 5 whose movement is controlled by a control device 6. The movement of the traction device 5 can only take place in two directions, which are symbolized by a double arrow 7. Here, a direction of movement of the pulling device 5 away from the mouthpiece 3 is referred to as a pulling direction.

In a manner known per se, the pulling device 5 has a pulling mechanism 8 with two clamping jaws 9. The clamping jaws 9 are arranged in a chuck housing 10. The chuck housing 10 has an inner cone and the jaws 9 have a corresponding Outer cone on. The clamping jaws 9 are pressed by a pressure piece 11 under the action of a compression spring 12 in the chuck housing 10, so that a diameter of a receiving channel 13 decreases.

In the illustrated opening position, however, the clamping jaws 9 come to rest against the mouthpiece 3, wherein the chuck housing 10 can move under the action of the control device 6 still a small distance to the mouthpiece 3, so that the jaws 9 can move apart and the diameter of the receiving channel 13 enlarge. In this state, a rivet mandrel of a blind rivet (not shown) can be inserted. If the traction device 5 is then moved in the pulling direction, ie away from the mouthpiece 3, then the chuck housing 10 acts on the clamping jaws 9, which pinch the rivet mandrel and can exert a tensile force on the rivet mandrel in a further movement of the traction device 5. By the movement of the pulling device 5, the rivet mandrel, as is known per se, pulled by a rivet of the blind rivet, forming a closing head. Upon further movement of the traction device 5, the rivet mandrel breaks off.

At the mouthpiece 3 remote from the end of the housing 2, a receptacle 14 is arranged, in which the torn-off rivet mandrels are to be received.

The blind rivet setting device 1 also has an operating knob 15 with which a setting process for the blind rivet can be triggered. For this purpose, the control knob 15 is connected to the control device 6.

Furthermore, the blind rivet setting device 1 has a position sensor 16 which determines an orientation of the blind rivet setting device 1 relative to the direction of gravity. More specifically, an orientation of the receiving channel 13 of the pulling device 5 is determined relative to the direction of gravity.

A first adjusting device 17, for example a rotary knob, is provided in order to set a permissible or permitted angular range for the receiving channel 13. The position sensor 16 may then emit a signal if the orientation of the blind rivet setting device 1 relative to the direction of gravity is within this permitted or permissible angular range, or it may emit a signal if this is not the case.

Furthermore, the blind rivet setting device has a second adjusting device 18, which is also connected to the position sensor 16 and adjusts a permitted or additional working range. Also, the work area defines angles that the Blindnietsetzgerät 1 may take relative to the direction of gravity. If this is the case, this can be signaled by the position sensor 16. The position sensor 16 may also signal if this is not the case.

The two adjusting devices 17, 18 can also be connected directly to the control device 6.

The position sensor 16 can be used for several purposes.

One such purpose is to prevent torn-off rivet pins from falling out of the blind rivet setting tool 1. This danger exists if, after tearing off a rivet mandrel, the blind rivet setting device 1 is held so that the receiving channel 13 is held downwards with a certain inclination, so that the riveted rivet mandrel can emerge from the charging opening 4 and fall down.

To prevent this, the position sensor 16 cooperates with the control device 6 so that the control device 6, a movement of the Pulling device 5 in the open position, ie in the position where the jaws 9 are pushed out through the mouthpiece in one direction from the chuck housing 10, blocked, as long as the blind rivet setting device 1 relative to the direction of gravity does not have the correct orientation. In other words, a movement of the pulling device 5 in the open position is only possible if the receiving channel 13 is aligned at least horizontally, but better if the receiving channel 13 with the feed opening 4 obliquely upward. Namely, in this position, the torn-off rivet pin can slip into the receptacle 14.

The control device 6 can also be switched so that it blocked at a wrong attitude of the blind rivet setting device 1, ie with the receiving channel 13 obliquely down, movement of the pulling device 5 in the open position indeed. However, as soon as the operator holds the blind rivet setting device 1 correctly, ie holds the receiving channel 13 with the loading opening 4 obliquely upward, a return movement of the pulling device 5 to the opening position takes place automatically.

A second possible use for the position sensor 16 results from the fact that it is possible to check whether an operator or fitter keeps the blind rivet setting device 1 in the correct orientation when setting a blind rivet.

If, for example, a blind rivet is to be placed in a ceiling area of an interior of a motor vehicle, then it is inevitable that the receiving channel 13 with the charging opening 4 must face upwards. This can be relatively easily controlled by means of the position sensor 16. So if the receiving channel 13 with the feed opening 4 is not facing up, then controls the Control device 6, the towing device 5 also not in towing device, but moves the pulling device 5 not at all.

Since the blind rivet setting device 1 should be usable for different work tasks, one can change with the help of the second adjusting device 18 the respectively permissible or permitted working range.

The blind rivet setting device 1 may further comprise a memory device 19, which is connected to the control device 6. The memory device 19 has a charging input 20 to which, for example, a computer or the like can be connected by cable or wireless in order to input specific values into the memory device 19.

For example, these values may again be different working areas, ie angles relative to the direction of gravity, and these angles may be provided with a certain tolerance. The memory device 19 is usable in cases where a series of blind rivets are to be successively set, which have different orientations relative to the direction of gravity. In this case, you can store the individual angles in the memory device 19. The control device 6 then compares with each setting operation whether the orientation of the blind rivet setting device 1 relative to the direction of gravity corresponds to the orientation desired for this setting operation, which is stored in the storage device 19. Only if this is the case, the traction device 5 is actuated. Different alignments may arise, for example, when blind rivets are to be placed on a vertical or curved wall and then in a ceiling area of a room, for example, the interior of a vehicle. In this case, for example, the first five blind rivets to set with an orientation in which the receiving channel 13 horizontally, ie at an angle of 90 ° to Direction of gravity is aligned, while the then to be set blind rivets each have an orientation with an angle greater than 90 ° to the direction of gravity, which increases with each rivet. The last blind rivets in the ceiling area must then be set with an orientation of the blind rivet setting device 1, which corresponds to the direction of gravity.

The "posture control" of the blind rivet setting tool 1 in setting and the "posture control" of the blind riveting setting tool 1 after the rivet mandrel is torn off can be combined. However, they can also be used individually in a blind rivet setting device.

In a blind rivet setting tool tearing off a rivet mandrel is not a problem. Here, however, one can monitor the orientation of the blind fastener-setting device when setting the blind rivet nut.

In a manner not shown, it is also possible to signal to the outside whether the blind rivet setting device 1 has the correct orientation in space before or during a setting process or after tearing off a rivet mandrel. For this purpose, for example, be provided on the housing 2 LEDs or you can use an acoustic signal that indicates to the fitter or the operator whether it holds the device properly.

The setting process is normally triggered by the control knob 15. However, the pressing of the control knob 15 is not sufficient to trigger a setting operation when the position sensor 16 does not allow a setting operation or a retraction of the pulling device 5 in the open position.

However, there may be situations in which the installer still wants to be able to move the towing device 5. In this case can be provided be that one overrides, for example, by pressing the control button 15 twice the effect of the position sensor 16, thus causing a movement of the pulling device 5, even if the blind rivet setting device 1 does not have the correct orientation in space.

The control device 6 may have an electric, pneumatic or hydraulic drive. In a blind rivet nut setting tool, the control device 6 can also cause the traction device 5 to rotate in order to screw a mandrel out of a blind rivet nut or to screw it into the blind rivet nut.

Claims (9)

Blind fastener-setting device (1) with a housing (2), a pulling device (5) which is displaceable relative to the housing (2), and a control device (6) which controls the pulling device (5), characterized in that the control device (6) cooperates with a position sensor (16) which determines an orientation of the blind fastener-setting device (1) relative to the direction of gravity. Blind fastener-setting device according to claim 1, characterized in that the position sensor (16) signals a permitted angular range of Blindbefestiger-setting device (1) relative to the direction of gravity. Blind fastener setting device according to claim 2, characterized in that the angular range is variable from the outside. Blind fastener-setting device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the pulling device (5) has an opening position and the control device (6) blocks a movement in the open position when the position sensor (16) alignment of the blind fastener-setting device (1) outside of the permitted angle range signaled. Blind fastener setting device according to claim 4, characterized in that the control device (6) controls the pulling device (5) in the open position as soon as the position sensor (16) signals an orientation of the blind fastener-setting device (1) in the allowable angular range. Blind fastener-setting device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the control device (6) controls the pulling device (5) in a pulling direction only when the position sensor (16) a permitted working range of Blindbefestiger-setting device (1) relative to Direction of gravity signaled. Blind fastener-setting device according to claim 6, characterized in that the permitted working range is variable from the outside. Blind fastener setting device according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the control device (6) cooperates with a storage device (19), for each successive setting operations of blind fasteners each a permitted working area for the alignment of the blind fastener-setting device (1) relative to the direction of gravity is stored, wherein the control device (6), the traction device (5) only in Pull direction controls when the Blindbefestiger-setting device (1) during a setting operation has an orientation relative to the direction of gravity corresponding to the stored for this setting operation area. Blind fastener-setting device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the control device (6) cooperates with an actuating device (15) with which an effect of the position sensor can be overridden.

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