A fastening device for feeding fasteners to a workpiece and for joining it, the fastening device comprising a fastening tool, a fastening device system. The fastening device including a magazine mounted on the fastening tool for holding a fastener. The magazine includes an isolation module located an outlet of the magazine and including a drawer with a recess and an exit port. The drawer is operable to move between a first position, wherein the recess is aligned with the outlet of the magazine, and a second position, wherein the recess is aligned with the exit port.

A self-piercing rivet for connecting high-strength steels. The rivet having a head which has a head diameter (DH); a shank which has a shank diameter (DS); and, located at the foot end of the shank opposite the head, the shank has radially outward a flat surface section and radially inward an axial recess defining an axial depth (LB). The ratio of axial depth (LB) of the recess to the shank diameter (DS) is smaller than 0.3.

The invention relates to a connection comprising at least two components having the following features: a first component and a second component, of which at least the second component comprises reinforced plastic, a self-piercing connection element (30) having a head and a shaft, the head thereof being supported on the first component and the shaft thereof running completely through the first and the second component, and a disc-shaped counter bearing to which the shaft is fastened such that the at least two components are fastened between the head and the counter bearing. The invention further relates to a method for the production of said connection.

A method of joining first and second layers of material according to the principles of the present disclosure includes applying a layer of adhesive between the first and second layers and allowing the adhesive layer to at least partially cure. The method further includes piercing the first layer with a headless end of a rivet after the adhesive layer is cured, deforming the second layer with the headless end of the rivet, and bending the headless end of the rivet radially outward.

A method for producing an assembly unit includes providing the assembly unit with an assembly part and at least one welding element serving for the thermal joining of the assembly part to a basic construction. The welding element is fixed in a through opening of the assembly part with at least one form-locking connection acting in the direction of the center longitudinal axis of the through opening and having a first end face, a second end face facing away from the first, and a peripheral surface that interconnects the end faces. The welding element has two side faces running parallel to each other and pointing away from each other, a profile that ensures the at least one form-locking connection and two transverse surfaces which connect the side faces one to the other.

A self-piercing rivet escapement mechanism for a rivet setting machine includes a self-piercing rivet track in which self-piercing rivets are receivable. A first resiliently biased jaw is biased towards a closed configuration in which the first resiliently biased jaw retains self-piercing rivets in the self-piercing rivet track. The first resiliently biased jaw is moveable to an open configuration in which a self-piercing rivet can escape the self-piercing rivet track. The first resiliently biased jaw is configured to move from the closed configuration to the open configuration upon exertion of a load upon the first resiliently biased jaw.

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.

A method of inserting a rivet into a workpiece comprises moving the rivet and workpiece relative to one another, along a longitudinal axis of the rivet, so as to drive the rivet into the workpiece. The rivet is rotated about its longitudinal axis, relative to the workpiece, for at least part of the time during which it is in contact with the workpiece. The speed of said rotation, or the speed of movement along the longitudinal axis of the rivet, is altered at least once before driving of the rivet into the workpiece is complete. One axial end of the rivet has a tip for piercing the workpiece, and the rivet has a substantially cylindrical shank extending longitudinally from the tip. The shank has one or more surface irregularities.

An in-line fastener track selection device comprises a stator having first, second and third fastener conduits; a rotor, rotatably mounted with respect the stator about a rotation axis, and comprising a rotor body and a connection space. The rotor is rotatable between a first position in which the connection space adjoins the first and second fastener conduits, such that, in use, a fastener may pass between the first and second fastener conduits via the connection space, and a second position in which the connection space adjoins the first and third fastener conduits, such that, in use, a fastener may pass between the first and third fastener conduits via the connection space.

A joining method for connecting a first component to a second component without pre-punching. The first component and the second component are positioned relative to one another prior to the connection by an auxiliary joining element, which is joined via a joining device to the components positioned relative to one another. The auxiliary joining element firstly passes through the first component without pre-punching and is then connected to the second component without pre-punching. Before the components are connected by the auxiliary joining element, the first component is thermally pre-treated at the joining area via an electric arc formed between the first component and an electrode of the joining device. A heat-affected zone is formed on the first component in the joining area, and the first component in is weakened or melted in the heat-affected zone.