A hollow punch rivet is described having a flange and a rivet section. Furthermore, a method for the attachment of individual components to one another using a punch rivet is described, with at least one of the components being formed by a material of the composite material. The method includes the following steps: a) arrangement of the die button against one of the two components to be secured to one another, which are placed on one another, wherein the die button has a bore which is dimensioned to receive the rivet section, b) carrying out a relative movement of the punch rivet with the free end of the rivet section to the fore towards the components arranged on one another and in the direction of the die button, c) piercing of the components with the free end of the rivet section and introduction of the rivet section into the bore of the die button until the component contact surface comes into contact and the component adjacent to the flange, d) using a plunger in order to dilate the punch rivet at least locally and e) forming a rivet bead by reshaping the free end region of the rivet section.

A punch rivet for joining two workpieces, has a head and a shank. The shank is a hollow shank with a shank internal diameter (D3), a shank external diameter (D1) and a shank end face. On the shank end face is a ring cutting edge with the diameter (D4) that is smaller than the shank external diameter (D1) but greater than the shank internal diameter (D3). The ring cutting edge is radially spaced both from the shank external diameter (D1) and from the shank internal diameter (D3) by at least 20% of the radial shank wall thickness (M5). And the ratio D3/D1 of shank internal diameter D3 to shank external diameter D1 is smaller than 0.6.

A punch rivet for joining two workpieces, has a head and a shank. The shank is a hollow shank with a shank internal diameter (D3), a shank external diameter (D1) and a shank end face. On the shank end face is a ring cutting edge with the diameter (D4) that is smaller than the shank external diameter (D1) but greater than the shank internal diameter (D3). The ring cutting edge is radially spaced both from the shank external diameter (D1) and from the shank internal diameter (D3) by at least 20% of the radial shank wall thickness (M5). And the ratio D3/D1 of shank internal diameter D3 to shank external diameter D1 is smaller than 0.6.

The invention relates to a tool connection for arranging a riveting tool on a riveting tool receptacle, having a contact surface arranged on the riveting tool for supporting the riveting tool on a supporting surface arranged on the riveting tool receptacle. In order to provide a tool connection for arranging a riveting tool on a riveting tool receptacle, by means of which a repetitive riveting operation can be carried out without damage and it is particularly simple to replace the riveting tool, it is provided that a journal is arranged on one of the riveting tool or riveting tool receptacle and a journal receptacle is arranged on the other of the riveting tool or riveting tool receptacle, the journal can be introduced into and removed from the journal receptacle and the riveting tool can be releasably locked to the riveting tool receptacle by a magnetic force.

The invention relates to a tool connection for arranging a riveting tool on a riveting tool receptacle, having a contact surface arranged on the riveting tool for supporting the riveting tool on a supporting surface arranged on the riveting tool receptacle. In order to provide a tool connection for arranging a riveting tool on a riveting tool receptacle, by means of which a repetitive riveting operation can be carried out without damage and it is particularly simple to replace the riveting tool, it is provided that a journal is arranged on one of the riveting tool or riveting tool receptacle and a journal receptacle is arranged on the other of the riveting tool or riveting tool receptacle, the journal can be introduced into and removed from the journal receptacle and the riveting tool can be releasably locked to the riveting tool receptacle by a magnetic force.

A self-piercing riveting (SPR) die includes a die body including an outer surface, a lower surface that is parallel to and offset from the outer surface, and a side surface that circumscribes the lower surface. A distance between the lower surface and the outer surface is less than or equal to approximately 1.2 mm. An angle between the side surface and the lower surface is within a range between approximately 45 and 90 degrees. An inner diameter of the outer surface is within a range between approximately 9 and 13 mm.

A self-piercing riveting (SPR) die includes a die body including an outer surface, a lower surface that is parallel to and offset from the outer surface, and a side surface that circumscribes the lower surface. A distance between the lower surface and the outer surface is less than or equal to approximately 1.2 mm. An angle between the side surface and the lower surface is within a range between approximately 45 and 90 degrees. An inner diameter of the outer surface is within a range between approximately 9 and 13 mm.

A transfer station for temporarily storing at least one interchangeable die. The die can be removed by a joining tool to carry out a joining operation and can be returned back into the transfer station after the joining operation. The transfer station including a carriage that is movable between a first position, wherein a first die receptacle is in a standby position, and a second position, wherein a second die receptacle is in the standby position. In the standby position the chosen die receptacle is accessible by the joining tool when in its transfer position.

A transfer station for temporarily storing at least one interchangeable die. The die can be removed by a joining tool to carry out a joining operation and can be returned back into the transfer station after the joining operation. The transfer station including a carriage that is movable between a first position, wherein a first die receptacle is in a standby position, and a second position, wherein a second die receptacle is in the standby position. In the standby position the chosen die receptacle is accessible by the joining tool when in its transfer position.

An interchangeable die comprises a die head, on which a die feature is formed, and a die shank extending in an axial direction from the die head. The die shank includes a first axial shank section, which is adjacent to the die head, and a second axial shank section, which is arranged on the opposite axial side of the first axial shank section from the die head. The first axial shank section has a first diameter and the second axial shank section has a second diameter smaller than the first diameter. The die shank is introducible into a shank receptacle of a die receiving section of a joining tool. A fastening contour for fastening the interchangeable die to the joining tool is formed on the interchangeable die. The fastening contour is configured such that a plug-and-turn connection is establishable between the interchangeable die and the joining tool.