PROCESSING TOOL AND GUIDE ELEMENT FOR TRANSFERRING A COMPONENT FROM A PICK-UP POSITION TO A PROCESSING POSITION

Abstract

A processing tool used to transfer a component, in particular a joining element, from a pick-up position to a processing position. For process-reliable guidance, a guide element held in a hold-down-device is arranged, through which the component is pressed during operation and which exerts an elastic holding force. The guide element has a sleeve, in particular a metallic sleeve, which has a guide structure made of an elastomer. The guide structure is formed in particular by an elastomer ring or by several axial guide strips.

Claims

1. A processing tool for transferring a component from a pick-up position into a processing position, the processing tool comprising: a punch that transfers the component from the pick-up position to the processing position; a guide element in which the component is guided from the pick-up position to the processing position, the guide element is designed such that during operation it exerts an elastic holding force on the component in such a way that the punch presses the component through the guide element counter to the elastic holding force during operation, wherein the guide element has a sleeve in which a guide structure made of an elastomer is arranged for guiding and holding the component

2. The processing tool according to claim 1, wherein the guide structure comprises a plurality of strip-shaped elements and wherein the plurality of strip-shaped elements extend in an axial direction in the manner of guide strips or at least one strip-shaped element extends annularly in a circumferential direction.

3. The processing tool according to claim 2, wherein the sleeve comprises a number of grooves in which the number of strip-shaped elements are arranged.

4. The processing tool of claim 1, wherein the guide structure is applied to a mounting sleeve that is sandwiched between the guide structure and the sleeve.

5. The processing tool according to claim 1, in which the sleeve has at least one shoulder at its end on which the guide strips are supported.

6. The processing tool according to claim 1, wherein the guide structure is formed as a tube, the guide structure being optionally slotted in the axial direction, having a plurality of tube segments, or being formed closed in a circumferential direction.

7. The processing tool according to claim 1, in which the guide structure is designed as a ring which extends in the axial direction only over a partial region of the sleeve, the ring being designed optionally as a closed ring, as a slotted ring or as a segmented ring.

8. The processing tool of claim 7, wherein the ring is disposed in a lower portion of the sleeve.

9. The processing tool of claim 7, wherein the ring is engaged in an annular groove.

10. The processing tool of claim 1, wherein a shoulder is formed against which the guide structure abuts.

11. The processing tool according to claim 1, wherein a sensor is arranged in the region of the sleeve, which sensor is designed to detect a component (M) located in the sleeve.

12. The processing tool according to claim 11, wherein the sensor is arranged in a wall of the sleeve.

13. The processing tool according to claim 1, wherein the guide structure is made of a cellular material.

14. The processing tool according to claim 1, wherein the guide structure is made of a polyurethane elastomer.

15. The processing tool according to claim 1, wherein the elastic holding force is exerted exclusively by compressing the guide structure.

16. The processing tool of claim 1, wherein the guide structure has a wall thickness that ranges from 2 mm to 10 mm.

17. The processing tool of claim 1, wherein the sleeve has an upper retaining collar at its end.

18. The processing tool of claim 1, wherein the guide structure directly engages a hold-down device and the hold-down device forms the sleeve.

19. The processing tool of claim 1, wherein the processing tool is a press tool for pressing a press-fit element such as a nut into a workpiece.

20. A guide element for a processing tool according to claim 1, comprising a sleeve in which a guide structure made of an elastomer is arranged.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0063] The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitive of the present invention, and wherein: Examples of embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the figures. These show in partially simplified representations:

[0064] FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of a processing tool with a guide element, which has an elastic guide structure located in a sleeve,

[0065] FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of a processing tool in which the elastic guide structure is fixed directly in a hold-down device,

[0066] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the guide structure according to a first embodiment,

[0067] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the guide structure according to a second embodiment

[0068] FIGS. 5A-5E show half sections of various embodiments in which the guide structure is formed as a ring,

[0069] FIGS. 6A-6C are views of different variants of the guide structures in a tubular or annular configuration,

[0070] FIGS. 7A-7B are views from below of an exit side of the sleeve with inserted guide structure according to FIGS. 5A, 5B and FIGS. 5C, 5D,

[0071] FIGS. 8A-8D are semi-sections of various embodiments in which the guide structure is formed by a plurality of axial guide strips and in which the guide strips extend along a majority of the axial length of the sleeve,

[0072] FIG. 9A-9C show top views of an entry side of the sleeve with inserted guide structure according to FIGS. 8A-8C,

[0073] FIGS. 10A-10E show semi-sections of various embodiments in which the guide structure is formed by a plurality of axial guide strips and in which the guide strips extend over a short length in a lower region of the sleeve only, and

[0074] FIG. 11 is half section of a sleeve with a ring as a guide structure and with a sensor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0075] The processing tools shown in detail in FIGS. 1,2 are designed as press-fit tools 2 and are used for pressing components M, namely in particular press-fit nuts or also press-fit bolts shown in the figures, into a workpiece not shown in more detail here, which is for example a sheet with or without premanufactured holes.

[0076] The press-fit tool 2 comprises a punch 8 movable in a cylinder 4 in the press-fit or axial direction 6, which is held in its upper starting position by spring force in the shown embodiment. The cylinder 4 is attached to a preferably plate-shaped feed unit 10. A holding-down device 12 with a guide element 14 inserted therein is attached to the underside of the feeding unit.

[0077] The components M to be pressed are fed individually to the press-fit tool 2 from a storage container via the feed unit 10 into a pick-up position 16. In the example, the feed unit 10 comprises a feed channel 18 in which the components M are lined up and then pushed one by one into the pick-up position 16. In this position, the respective component M is located within a channel in which it is then displaced by the punch 8 in the axial direction 6 during the setting process. In this pick-up position 16, the component M is preferably held in a spring-loaded manner by a holding device, for example by means of holding claws. This holding device comprises, for example, at least one elastically mounted latch or gripper arm. The latch arm is preferably mounted to pivot against a spring force for this purpose. The latch arm has a special contour with which the component M is gripped at least in partial areas, so that a play-free positioning of the component M in the pick-up position 16 is ensured.

[0078] In the illustrated embodiment, the feed unit 10 is arranged laterally and the feed channel 18 extends perpendicular to the axial direction 6 for lateral feeding of the press nuts M.

[0079] During the setting or machining process, the entire press-fit tool 2 is moved against the sheet metal in the axial direction 6 so that the blank holder 12 presses the sheet metal against a support, in particular a die. For pressing the nut M into the sheet metal, the punch 8 is moved in a positively driven controlled manner in the axial direction 6, for example hydraulically, pneumatically or also electrically. Here, the punch 8 presses the press nut M out of the pick-up position 16 and through the guide element 14 until the component M reaches the actual processing position 20 at the end of the hold-down 12. The processing position 20 is therefore defined by the end of the hold-down 12 and corresponds to the position at which the component M comes to rest on the workpiece before the actual press-fit process starts. For the subsequent press-in operation, the punch 8 exerts a defined press-in force on the component M, which usually leads to a deformation of the component M and/or the sheet metal.

[0080] The press-fit tool 2 is part of an automated device so that the successive press-fitting of a large number of components M takes place automatically. For this purpose, the individual components are automatically fed to the press-fit tool 2, which is automatically actuated with the aid of a control device and, if necessary, moved to a defined position for inserting the component into the sheet.

[0081] When the component M is transferred from the pick-up position 16 to the processing position 20, it is pressed through the guide element 14.

[0082] The guide element 14 generally includes a guide structure 22 made of an elastomeric material. The guide structure 22 is disposed within a sleeve 24. Namely, in a preferred embodiment, the guide structure 22 directly abuts an inner wall of the sleeve 24 with its outer periphery. The sleeve 24, at least the inner wall and, at least in some embodiments, also the guide structure 22 have the same cross-sectional geometry all around and are in particular circular in shape. Preferably, the guide structure 22 is fastened to the inner wall of the sleeve 24 by material bonding, in particular, for example, by bonding the elastomeric material of the preferably tubular guide structure 22 to the material of the sleeve 24. The sleeve 24 is preferably made of a metal, in particular steel.

[0083] The two embodiments according to FIGS. 1,2 differ first of all in that the guide element 14 in the embodiment according to FIG. 1 is formed by an assembly unit formed of the sleeve 24 and the guide structure 22. This common assembly unit forming the guide element 14 is located in the hold-down 12. In the variants according to FIGS. 1,2, the guide element 14 extends over the entire length of the hold-down 12 (viewed in the axial direction 6). Similarly, the guide structure 22 also extends over the entire length of the sleeve 24 and thus also of the hold-down device 12.

[0084] For easy fastening of the assembly forming the guide element 14, the sleeve 24 according to FIG. 1 has a circumferential fastening collar 26 at its upper end. This is preferably arranged, specifically clamped, between the hold-down device 12 and an underside of the feed unit 10. The hold-down device 12 and/or the underside of the feed unit 10 have, for example, a recess for positive reception of the fastening collar 26.

[0085] In contrast to the embodiment according to FIG. 1, in FIG. 2 the guide structure 22 is attached directly to an inner wall of the hold-down 12. In this case, therefore, the hold-down device 12 also forms the sleeve 24.

[0086] In both cases, therefore, a sleeve 24 is provided which surrounds the guide structure 22 circumferentially. The sleeve 24 has a high rigidity and strength in each case, so that it is not elastically yielding compared to the elastic guide structure 22.

[0087] When the component M is pressed through the guide structure 22, this results in only the material of the guide structure 22 being elastically compressed at a respective current position of the nut M. Immediately after the component M has been pushed through, the material relaxes again and the guide structure 22 resumes its original geometry. Accordingly, the guide structure 22 has an inner dimension, in particular an inner diameter d1, which is slightly smaller than an outer diameter or a maximum outer dimension d4 of the component M. The guide structure 22 further has an outer dimension, in particular an outer diameter d2. The punch 8, in turn, is guided as accurately as possible within the guide structure 22, thus preferably having an outer diameter which is matched to the inner diameter d1 of the guide structure 22. Preferably, the punch 8 has a (circular) punch surface corresponding to the component M, in particular an outer diameter d4.

[0088] In the embodiments according to FIGS. 1 and 2, it is provided that the guide structure 22 has an insertion chamfer or a conical widening at its upper end. This is formed, for example, by a conical material removal on the inside of the guide structure 22, as indicated in FIG. 1. Alternatively, the guide structure 22 is widened conically overall at its upper end, as is shown in FIG. 2. In this case, the sleeve 24 also has a corresponding conical widening.

[0089] The guide structure 22 has an overall wall thickness w that is in the range of 2 to 10 mm and in particular in the range of 2 to 4 mm. The wall thickness w is constant over the entire length of the guide structure 22.

[0090] In the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2, the guide structure 22 is a tube, i.e. a hollow cylindrical element, which is at most expanded in the upper region. In some embodiments, the tube has an inner contour that deviates from the circular shape, but preferably continues to be a hollow cylindrical element with a cylinder outer surface that abuts the sleeve 24.

[0091] In all embodiments described hereinbefore as well as hereinafter, the guide structure 22 is made of a highly elastic, abrasion-resistant material, specifically a polyurethane elastomer as previously described.

[0092] FIGS. 3 and 4 show two design variants for possible (cross-sectional) configurations of the guide structure 22 in the form of a tube. In each case, the tube has an inner contour that deviates from the circular shape.

[0093] As an alternative to the variants shown, the tube has a circular (cross-sectional) inner contour with the inner diameter d1 (inner dimension) and the outer diameter d2 (outer dimension) (cf. FIGS. 1, 2). In all variants, the tube preferably has a constant cross-sectional contour in the longitudinal direction 6. Alternatively, the tube—as shown for example in FIG. 2—is somewhat widened at the upper end and/or provided with an insertion chamfer.

[0094] The design with the non-circular inner contour, which deviates from the circular shape, generally ensures that the component M compresses the elastic tube 22 only in certain areas (viewed over the circumference). That is, the component M is only in contact with the elastic tube 22 in certain areas. Generally, the inner contour of the tube 22 deviates from an outer contour of the component M. The particular advantage is to be seen in the fact that material of the tube 22 can deviate in the circumferential direction. Overall, this measure allows the holding force applied by the guide element 14 to be adjusted in a desired manner.

[0095] In the variant shown in FIG. 3, the inner contour is wave-shaped.

[0096] In the embodiment according to FIG. 4, the inner contour is trilobular.

[0097] In all variants described above or below, the inner diameter d1 defines the inner dimension of the guide structure 22, which is smaller than an outer dimension of the component M. The outer dimension of the component M can be defined by a component outer circle with a component outer diameter d4, which is drawn as an example in FIGS. 3 and 4. This lies between the inner diameter d1 and the outer circle diameter d3, for example lying midway between the two diameters d1, d3. The guide structure 22 further has a (maximum) wall thickness w.

[0098] In the case of the unslotted tube shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 as the guide structure 22, the attachment of the tube to the sleeve 24 involves a certain amount of assembly work. And to reduce this, the various alternatives for the guide structure 22 described below are provided. The guide structure 22 is formed either in one or more parts. In particular, it has one or more strip- or strip-shaped elements and is formed by these in particular. The sleeve 24 used in the variants described below is preferably formed by the hold-down 12.

[0099] According to a first variant, the guide structure 22 is formed by an annular structure, hereinafter briefly referred to as ring 28. This variant is explained in more detail in particular in connection with FIGS. 5 and 6. In this respect, the ring 28 is a short tube, which therefore only extends over a short section in the axial direction 6.

[0100] According to a second basic variant, the guide structure 22 is formed by several guide strips 30 each extending in the axial direction 6. This embodiment variant is explained in more detail with reference to FIGS. 8-10.

[0101] FIGS. 5A to 5E each show half-sectional views of the sleeve 24 with the elastic guide structure 22 formed as a ring 28. The sleeve 24 is formed as a cylindrical sleeve with a radially projecting fastening collar 26. An insertion side is defined in the region of the fastening collar 26, and an exit side is defined at the opposite end of the sleeve, which is formed by a lower end of the sleeve 24. In each case, the ring 28 is disposed in the lower third of the sleeve 24. The ring 28 is spaced from the lower end, for example by at least half a ring width, viewed in axial direction 6. The maximum distance of the ring 28 from the lower end is one and at most two times the width of the ring 28 measured in axial direction 6.

[0102] In the embodiment according to FIG. 5A, the ring is applied to the cylindrical inner wall of the sleeve 24 and, in particular, bonded thereto. The same applies to the design variant according to FIG. 5B. In the latter, the ring 28 is bevelled at its upper end face and forms there an especially conical insertion chamfer 32, which facilitates the penetration of the component M.

[0103] This insertion chamfer reduces the axial load on the ring 28 when the component M is pressed through, compared to the variant shown in FIG. 5A.

[0104] The embodiments according to FIGS. 5C and 5D differ from the previously described variants in that the sleeve has an annular groove 34 in which the ring 28 is inserted. The depth of the annular groove 34 in the radial direction is less than the corresponding depth of the material of the ring 28, so that the ring 28 thus protrudes in the radial direction into the interior of the sleeve 24. An inner diameter of the sleeve 24 is adapted to the outer diameter of the component M, so that the latter is already somewhat guided over the entire length of the sleeve 24 and the risk of tilting, for example, is reduced.

[0105] Due to the smaller inner diameter of the sleeve 14, which preferably also forms the hold-down device 12, compared to the variants described above, the overall inner diameter of the hold-down device 12 is also smaller, which is advantageous for the entire pressing process.

[0106] The particular advantage of this embodiment with the annular groove 34 is to be seen in the form-fit retention of the ring 28 and also in the fact that the ring 28 projects radially into the sleeve 24. Both measures result in the forces acting on the ring 28 when the component M is pressed through being low or being well absorbed by the form fit. The low load is further improved by the insertion chamfer 32 as shown in FIG. 5D. The variant shown in FIG. 5D forms a preferred variant for the design of the guide element 14 especially for the pressing of a nut.

[0107] Finally, in the embodiment according to FIG. 5E, instead of the annular groove 34, a recess is provided at the lower end of the sleeve 24 so that a shoulder 36 is formed. The ring 28 can therefore be pressed in and pushed against this shoulder 36 from below.

[0108] FIGS. 6A to 6C show different embodiments of the ring 28. Each of these variants can be combined with any of the variants shown in FIGS. 5A to 5E. In the embodiment variant according to FIG. 6A, the ring 28 is formed as a closed ring. In the embodiment according to FIG. 6B, the ring 28 is formed as an open ring, which thus has a (single) slot. In this embodiment, the ring 28 is therefore formed in the manner of a snap ring. This slotted or open design facilitates assembly. In the embodiment variant according to FIG. 6C, the ring 28 is formed by several ring segments, which are also referred to as tube segments 38. In the illustrated embodiment, a total of 3 ring segments are provided, each extending nearly over 120°. This segmented design also facilitates assembly.

[0109] The tube or hose shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, which extends over the entire length of the sleeve 24, is formed as a closed annular structure when viewed in cross-section, for example, as shown in FIG. 6A. Alternatively, the tube may also assume the embodiment according to FIGS. 6B or 6C, i.e. be formed as a single-slotted tube or also a multiple-slotted tube, or have multiple tube segments 38.

[0110] With reference to FIGS. 7A, 7B, which each show a view from below of the guide element 14, namely of the embodiments according to FIGS. 5A, 5B (FIG. 7A) and of the embodiments according to FIGS. 5C, 5D (FIG. 7B), it is readily apparent that in the latter embodiment, in which the ring 28 is located in the annular groove 34, the ring 28 and thus the elastomeric material protrudes only slightly into the interior of the sleeve 24.

[0111] FIGS. 8A to 8D show different embodiments in which the guide structure 22 is formed by a plurality of guide strips 30 extending in the axial direction 6. In this case, the guide strips 30 extend over the entire or at least almost the entire length (more than 75% of the length) of the sleeve 24. As can be seen from the views according to FIGS. 9A to 9C, only a few guide strips 30, for example 3-6 and in the illustrated embodiment four, are arranged distributed around the circumference of the sleeve 24.

[0112] In the embodiment according to FIGS. 8A and 9A, the individual guide strips 30 are applied to the cylindrical inner surface of the sleeve 24. In all embodiments of FIGS. 8A to 8D, the guide strips 30 are equally distributed around the circumference. They are formed as narrow guide strips 30, so that the distance in the circumferential direction between two adjacent guide strips 30 is significantly greater than the width of a respective guide strip 30 in the circumferential direction.

[0113] In the embodiment according to FIGS. 8B and 9B, grooves 40 are formed on the inner wall of the sleeve 24, which extend in the axial direction 6 and therefore form longitudinal grooves. The guide strips 30 lie in these grooves 40.

[0114] In the embodiment according to FIG. 8C, the sleeve 24 has a shoulder 36 at its lower end, which is designed in particular as a circumferential annular shoulder and on which a respective guide strip 30 is supported with its lower, front end in a form-fitting manner. This means that in the region of the shoulder 36, the wall thickness of the sleeve 26 is increased compared to the preceding cylindrical section. In the embodiment variant with grooves 40, shoulders 36 can also be provided in a respective groove 40.

[0115] The embodiment according to FIG. 8D shows an exemplary embodiment in which a mounting sleeve 42 is additionally provided. This is in particular a plastic sleeve with increased rigidity compared to the guide structure 22. Generally, the guide structure 22 is attached to this mounting sleeve 42 and forms a prefabricated assembly unit therewith. Particularly in the preferred embodiments, in which the sleeve 24 is formed by the hold-down device 12, a prefabricated structural unit is thereby provided as a replacement element. The mounting sleeve 42 is thereby preferably pressed into the sleeve 24. In principle, the mounting sleeve 42 can be combined with all embodiments described herein. The wall thickness of the mounting sleeve 42 is preferably less than that of the sleeve 24.

[0116] The embodiment shown in FIG. 8D builds on the embodiment shown in FIG. 8C with the shoulder 36. The prefabricated assembly with the mounting sleeve 42 and the guide strips 30 attached to the inside of the latter is therefore supported on the annular shoulder 36. The mounting sleeve 42 is preferably designed as a cylindrical sleeve in all embodiments.

[0117] As an alternative to the embodiments according to FIGS. 8A to 8D with the guide strips 30 extending at least over almost the entire length of the sleeve 24, FIGS. 10A to 10E show embodiments with guide strips 30 extending only over a short axial length. Preferably, the guide strips 30 extend only over a maximum of ⅓ or a maximum of ¼ or even a maximum of 10% of the length of the sleeve 24.

[0118] In the embodiment according to FIGS. 10A, 10B, the guide strips 30 are attached to the lowermost end of the sleeve 24. In the embodiments according to FIGS. 10C, 10D, the guide strips 30 are attached at a distance from the bottom end. The distance is preferably less than the axial length of the guide strips 30.

[0119] Finally, in the embodiment according to FIG. 10E, a recess with a shoulder 36 is again provided, similar to the embodiment according to FIG. 5E.

[0120] The distribution of the guide strips 30 around the circumference is provided in the embodiments according to FIGS. 10A to 10E in the same manner as in the embodiments according to FIGS. 8A to 8D.

[0121] FIG. 11 shows an example of the additional arrangement of a sensor 44.

[0122] This is a position sensor which detects whether a component M is located in the guide element 14 and preferably also whether it is in the correct position. In the embodiment shown, the sensor 44 is arranged on the sleeve 12,24 and, in particular, is inserted into a receptacle or through-hole in the wall of the sleeve 24.

[0123] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 11, the ring 28 is used as the elastic guide structure 22, preferably in a circumferentially closed variant. Alternatively, the ring is slotted or divided into ring segments. The sensor 44 is arranged directly above the ring 28.

[0124] In the embodiments with the ring 28 in a lower region, the component M falls generally downward through the sleeve 12,24 toward the ring 28 and is caught and held by the ring 28, so to speak, before the actual setting process begins. During the actual setting process, the component M is then forced through the ring 28. The sensor 44 ensures that the component M is in the correct position and has not become stuck in the sleeve 12, 24 above the ring 28 due to jamming, for example.

[0125] In all variants, a further sensor is preferably arranged on the upper region of the sleeve 12, 24, specifically in the region of the pick-up position 16, which determines whether a component M is located in the pick-up position 16. In the embodiments with the ring 28, the sensor 44 is therefore preferably arranged on the sleeve 12, 24 in addition to this further sensor. Alternatively, the further sensor is dispensed with and only the sensor 44 is provided.

[0126] The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to be included within the scope of the following claims.