A die button for the punching in and fastening of a fastener element having a piercing section to a planar workpiece, in particular a sheet metal part. The die button includes a jacket. Also included is a die plunger movably arranged in the jacket. Further included is a biasing device for pressing the plunger against the workpiece when the workpiece is supported on the jacket with a pressing force made available by the biasing device and selected such that the die plunger first moves when a slug has been detached from the workpiece by the piercing section of the fastener element.

A component assembly having a stacked arrangement comprising an upper and lower sheet part, of which at least one is formed as an organic sheet composite part, with an auxiliary joining part and with at least one apertured metal washer, wherein the auxiliary joining part has a functional section having an undercut at one end and also has a piercing section at the other end having a lateral shaft surface and a shaft recess formed therein, wherein the metal washer contacts a surface of the organic sheet composite part, with the functional section or the piercing section extending through an aperture of the metal washer and wherein washer material has been driven into the undercut or into the at least one shaft recess.

A method of installing a fastener to a structure with a first and a second workpiece, fastening assembly and fastener is disclosed herein. Provided is a stud having a head, and a shaft. The head and shaft extend along a longitudinal axis (X) and define a shaft length (Ls), wherein the shaft comprises a locking portion, the locking portion defining a shaft diameter (Ds). A collar is adapted to be fitted over the locking portion of the shaft and includes a first collar end, a second collar end and a central through bore which extends from the first collar end to the second collar end. The central through bore is defines a bore diameter (Db) and a main portion is adapted to be swaged onto the locking portion. A ratio of the bore diameter (Db) to the shaft diameter (Ds) is above 1.10:1.

A component assembly having a stacked arrangement comprising an upper and lower sheet part, of which at least one is formed as an organic sheet composite part, with an auxiliary joining part and with at least one apertured metal washer, wherein the auxiliary joining part has a functional section having an undercut at one end and also has a piercing section at the other end having a lateral shaft surface and a shaft recess formed therein, wherein the metal washer contacts a surface of the organic sheet composite part, with the functional section or the piercing section extending through an aperture of the metal washer and wherein washer material has been driven into the undercut or into the at least one shaft recess.

A system for processing elements, including a supply device, a processing device and a hollow transport line. The supply device and the processing device are connected via the hollow transfer line. The processing device processes elements, and the supply device supplies elements to the hollow transfer line so that the elements are transferred to the processing device via the hollow transfer line in order to supply the processing device with the elements. A pneumatically operated system component is provided to operate the system. The system includes a gas compressor unit for providing compressed and/or accelerated pressurised air. The gas compressor unit is in an installation space that accommodates the system. The gas compressor unit takes air in from the environment of the processing device and/or from the environment of the supply device in the installation space and provides compressed and/or accelerated pressurised air for the pneumatically operated system component.

A pierce nut insertion tool is provided. In another aspect, a pierce nut feeding mechanism has a mechanically independent driver actuator from that of a punch. A further aspect of the present tool employs a member, moveable with a punch, that retains a pierce nut prior to fastening of the nut to a workpiece. An additional aspect uses a fluid actuated nut feeder including a piston.

A method for the connection of sheet parts, of which at least one is formed as an organic sheet part, with the aid of an auxiliary joining part and an apertured metal washer, the auxiliary joining part having a functional section with an undercut and a piercing section with a shaft surface and a shaft recess. The sheet parts and the metal washer are brought into a stacked arrangement in such a way that the metal washer contacts the organic sheet part. The piercing section slugs are punched out of the stacked sheet parts. The auxiliary joining part is joined to the metal washer. The other of the undercut or of the shaft recess is brought into a holding engagement with a sheet part not formed as an organic sheet metal part or with a further metal washer.

The present invention relates to a setting device for fastening a functional element to a workpiece, in particular to a sheet metal component. The setting device comprises a die for receiving and supporting the workpiece and a setting head having a setting die which cooperates with the functional element and by which the functional element can be fastened to the workpiece in an axial setting movement. The setting device further comprises a checking device for determining the quality of a connection of the functional element to the workpiece, wherein the checking device has a sensor having a first contact section, which can be electrically conductively contacted with the functional element, and having a second contact section that can be electrically conductively contacted with the workpiece. The present invention furthermore relates to a corresponding method of fastening a functional element to a workpiece.

A die button for the punching in and fastening of a fastener element having a piercing section to a planar workpiece, in particular a sheet metal part. The die button includes a jacket. Also included is a die plunger movably arranged in the jacket. Further included is a biasing device for pressing the plunger against the workpiece when the workpiece is supported on the jacket with a pressing force made available by the biasing device and selected such that the die plunger first moves when a slug has been detached from the workpiece by the piercing section of the fastener element.

A method of feeding a fastener in a machine for installation onto a workpiece, the method includes a) feeding a fastener into a block having channel with a stop against which the fastener abuts in a fastener loading position, the channel is at least partially covered by a flexible retainer plate that captures the fastener within the channel, b) moving the block relative to a pin to engage the fastener with the pin, the pin has a longitudinal pin axis, c) forcing the fastener into the retainer plate in a direction of the longitudinal pin axis to deflect the retainer plate away from the channel and disengage the fastener from the stop, d) retracting the block relative to the pin to support the fastener on the pin clear of the block, and e) securing the fastener to the workpiece.