A device for setting a connecting element on a workpiece includes a setting unit having a setting head which is movable in a feed direction into a working position, the connecting element can be fastened on the workpiece by the setting head, and a feed unit can feed the connecting element to the setting head. The feed unit is movable in the feed direction from an initial position into an intermediate position for transferring a connecting element to the setting head. A method for setting a connecting element on a workpiece by using the device is also provided.

The riveting machine for riveting two parts has a motorized-drive system (2) with an output shaft, a set (3) of mutually articulated link rods, with a first link rod (31) mounted to rotate with the output shaft and a second link rod (32) articulated to the first link rod (31), a ram (4) articulated to the second link rod (32) at one of its ends and equipped at its opposite end with an upper rivet die (5), a guide device (6) having a through-orifice in which the ram (4) is engaged, and a lower rivet die (9), able to collaborate with the upper rivet die (5) to upset the rivet, when the rivet is placed inside an orifice pierced through the parts, between the upper and lower rivet dies. The rotation of the output shaft drives the movement of the ram (4) to allow, through the link rods (31, 32) moving from a folded position to a deployed position, lowering the upper rivet die (5) to bring the rivet into the orifice.

A joint is formed in a stack of at least two sheets of light metal alloy, using a self-piercing rivet that is fully hollow. The rivet is coated at least along a portion of its bore by a lubricant and pierces the upper surface thereof and such that the shank deforms outwardly to interlock with the materials but without penetration to the die side of the material. The outside diameter of the shank of the rivet is 5.4 mm or less. The die has a volume that is less than 60% or 70% of the effective solid volume of the rivet.

A riveting device for setting a blind rivet element includes a mandrel, a first motor comprising a first operative connection to the mandrel, and a second motor comprising a second operative connection to the mandrel. The mandrel is configured to have a rotational movement be transmitted thereto to screw the mandrel into the blind rivet element, and to be retracted into the riveting device by a retraction movement to produce an at least partial plastic deformation of the blind rivet element. The first motor transmits the rotational movement to the mandrel via the first operative connection. The second motor transmits the retraction movement to the mandrel via the second operative connection.

Fastener delivery apparatus for automatically selecting and delivering fasteners such as rivets to a setting tool. The fasteners are pre-loaded in a package and dispense via at least one fastener delivery tube that interconnects the setting tool to a fastener feeder device. The fastener feeder device releases selected fasteners from the package into the delivery tube. The fasteners are transportable individually or in groups in the tube from the feeder device to the tool. A transfer station attached to the tool or the delivery tube transfers a fastener from the delivery apparatus into the tool, transfer station is adjacent to the tool so that a delivered fastener may be inserted by the transfer station into the tool and a second position in which it is clear of the tool so as to permit the tool or a portion thereof to move towards a workpiece to insert a smooth, rapid and reliable delivery of fasteners of various sizes and types to the nose of a setting tool in any particular order and provides all the fastener types for any particular work cycle.

The riveting machine for riveting two parts has a motorized-drive system (2) with an output shaft, a set (3) of mutually articulated link rods, with a first link rod (31) mounted to rotate with the output shaft and a second link rod (32) articulated to the first link rod (31), a ram (4) articulated to the second link rod (32) at one of its ends and equipped at its opposite end with an upper rivet die (5), a guide device (6) having a through-orifice in which the ram (4) is engaged, and a lower rivet die (9), able to collaborate with the upper rivet die (5) to upset the rivet, when the rivet is placed inside an orifice pierced through the parts, between the upper and lower rivet dies. The rotation of the output shaft drives the movement of the ram (4) to allow, through the link rods (31, 32) moving from a folded position to a deployed position, lowering the upper rivet die (5) to bring the rivet into the orifice.

Provided are self-aligning riveting tools and methods of utilizing such tools for installing rivets. A tool includes an aligning sleeve, which is slidably coupled to a first die. Furthermore, the tool includes a die holder, which is slidably coupled to a second die. During operation, the aligning sleeve is positioned over the rivet head thereby axially aligning the first die relative to the rivet, even before the first die contacts the rivet head. The second die contacts the rivet shank end thereby axially aligning the rivet relative to the second die and the die holder. Advancing the die holder toward the first die first clamps the rivet in the tool and then proceed with forming the rivet tail. The rivet remains coaxial with both dies during all of these operations.

A die chanter for a die of a joining device, a die dome adapted to the die and a method for removing a die of a joining device and a method for inserting a die into a joining device. The die has a head having upper and bottom sides, and a shaft extending from the bottom side and receivable and lockable in a dome without rotation. The shaft comprises: at least one first web forming an undercut on two sides by which the shaft is lockable in the dome by a linear inserting movement, at least one second web, the length of which is adaptable to a diameter of the dome to ensure a lateral guiding of the shaft in the dome and which is arranged between the head and the first web, and an ejection surface by which the die can be moved out of the dome.

A method of riveting using a plastically deformable plastic rivet is provided. The method includes positioning the plastic rivet in front of the rivet on a component, of a motor vehicle, and deforming the rivet by a riveting die by applying a riveting force, such that a rivet holds the component wherein the rivet is with a rivet dynamometer and the riveting force is measured and a rivet is set with a predetermined breaking point.

A fastening method comprising using a control apparatus to select a first upsetting volume of an upsetting die, using a punch to push a first fastener into a workpiece and using the upsetting die to upset the first fastener, then using the control apparatus to select a second upsetting volume of the upsetting die, using the punch to push a second fastener into a workpiece and using the upsetting die to upset the second fastener, or using the punch and the upsetting die to form a clinch joint.