ELEMENT SUPPLY APPARATUS FOR A SETTING WELDING DEVICE, AN ELEMENT NEST AND A RETROFIT KIT FOR THE SETTING WELDING DEVICE AS WELL AS CORRESPONDING SUPPLY METHODS OF A WELDING AUXILIARY JOINING PART

Abstract

An apparatus of a setting welding device for an auxiliary joining part with a head and a shaft, includes a linear drive fastenable at the setting device and including an element nest at a movable end, in which an auxiliary joining part is releasably receivable from a transfer unit. The element nest is movable by the linear drive in a first direction. The element nest is supported in a floating manner, and is positionable via a mechanical stop alignment in abutment with an electrode punch in the joining direction below the electrode punch. And/or the element nest is connected with the linear drive via a mechanical direction-changing coupling component so that the element nest is movable by the linear drive in a second direction so that the auxiliary joining part is positionable at the joining location, wherein the second direction is not parallel to the first direction.

Claims

1. An element supply apparatus of a setting welding device for a welding auxiliary joining part with a head and a shaft, comprising the following features: a. a linear drive, which is fastenable at the welding setting device and which includes an element nest at a movable end, in which a welding auxiliary joining part is releasably receivable, in particular from a transfer unit, and b. the element nest is movable by means of a linear movement of the linear drive in a first movement direction at least to a joining location of the welding auxiliary joining part, wherein c1. the element nest is supported in a plane approximately perpendicular to a joining direction in a floating manner, in order to be positionable via a mechanical stop alignment in abutment with an electrode punch in the joining direction below the electrode punch, and/or wherein c2. the element nest is connected with the movable end of the linear drive via a mechanical direction-changing coupling component so that the element nest is movable by means of the linear movement of the linear drive in the first movement direction in a second movement direction so that the welding auxiliary joining part is positionable at the joining location, wherein the second movement direction is oriented at an angle unequal 0° and unequal 180° with respect to the first movement direction.

2. The element supply apparatus according to claim 1, which includes only one linear drive.

3. The element supply apparatus according to claim 1, in which the element nest includes two element jaws that are arranged opposite each other and spring relative to each other, with which the welding auxiliary joining part is releasably holdable and which are floatingly supported in a plane perpendicular to the joining direction.

4. The element supply apparatus according to claim 3, in which as a mechanical stop alignment, the element nest comprises a contour piece with an abutment contour face adapted to an outer shape of an electrode punch, wherein in particular, a face normal of the abutment contour face is oriented perpendicular to the joining direction.

5. The element supply apparatus according to claim 4, in which the element jaws are laterally fastened at the contour piece in a springy manner and the contour piece is arranged in a springingly deflectable manner in at least two, or in three, directions within a plane perpendicular to the joining direction.

6. The element supply apparatus according to claim 1, in particular in combination with claim 1, alternative c1, in which at the movable end of the linear drive, a downholder is arranged in a delivery direction to an electrode punch upstream the element nest, with which downholder by an abutment of the downholder at a component and by a further movement of the linear drive, the movement of the element nest is convertible into the second movement direction.

7. The element supply apparatus according to claim 1, in which the element nest is guided along a linear guide which, parallel to the first movement direction of the linear drive, guarantees a deferrable movement of the element nest in order to change the movement of the element nest from the first movement direction to the second movement direction.

8. A setting welding device for a welding auxiliary joining part with a head and a shaft in combination with the element supply apparatus according to claim 1.

9. A retrofit kit of an element supply apparatus according to claim 1 which is connectable with a setting welding device.

10. The element supply apparatus according to claim 2, in which the element nest includes two element jaws that are arranged opposite each other and spring relative to each other, with which the welding auxiliary joining part is releasably holdable and which are floatingly supported in a plane perpendicular to the joining direction.

11. The element supply apparatus according to claim 10, in which as a mechanical stop alignment, the element nest comprises a contour piece with an abutment contour face adapted to an outer shape of an electrode punch, wherein in particular, a face normal of the abutment contour face is oriented perpendicular to the joining direction.

12. The element supply apparatus according to claim 11, in which the element jaws are laterally fastened at the contour piece in a springy manner and the contour piece is arranged in a springingly deflectable manner in at least two directions within a plane perpendicular to the joining direction.

13. The element supply apparatus according to claim 2, in particular in combination with claim 1, alternative c1, in which at the movable end of the linear drive, a downholder is arranged in a delivery direction to an electrode punch upstream the element nest, with which downholder by an abutment of the downholder at a component and by a further movement of the linear drive, the movement of the element nest is convertible into the second movement direction.

14. The element supply apparatus according to claim 2, in which the element nest is guided along a linear guide which, parallel to the first movement direction of the linear drive, guarantees a deferrable movement of the element nest in order to change the movement of the element nest from the first movement direction to the second movement direction.

15. The element supply apparatus according to claim 3, in particular in combination with claim 1, alternative c1, in which at the movable end of the linear drive, a downholder is arranged in a delivery direction to an electrode punch upstream the element nest, with which downholder by an abutment of the downholder at a component and by a further movement of the linear drive, the movement of the element nest is convertible into the second movement direction.

16. The element supply apparatus according to claim 3, in which the element nest is guided along a linear guide which, parallel to the first movement direction of the linear drive, guarantees a deferrable movement of the element nest in order to change the movement of the element nest from the first movement direction to the second movement direction.

17. The element supply apparatus according to claim 10, in particular in combination with claim 1, alternative c1, in which at the movable end of the linear drive, a downholder is arranged in a delivery direction to an electrode punch upstream the element nest, with which downholder by an abutment of the downholder at a component and by a further movement of the linear drive, the movement of the element nest is convertible into the second movement direction.

18. The element supply apparatus according to claim 10, in which the element nest is guided along a linear guide which, parallel to the first movement direction of the linear drive, guarantees a deferrable movement of the element nest in order to change the movement of the element nest from the first movement direction to the second movement direction.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0050] The designs of the present disclosure are explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It shows:

[0051] FIG. 1 a perspective lateral view of a setting welding device with an embodiment of an element supply apparatus,

[0052] FIG. 2 a detail enlargement of FIG. 1,

[0053] FIG. 3 an enlarged view of an embodiment of a section of the element supply apparatus,

[0054] FIG. 4 an enlarged view of the element supply apparatus with element nest at the moved end of the linear drive,

[0055] FIG. 5 an enlarged view of the moved end of the linear drive in combination with the connected element nest at a transfer unit of the setting welding device,

[0056] FIG. 6 an enlarged view of an embodiment of the element nest,

[0057] FIG. 7 a further view of the element nest according to FIG. 6 in connection with the moved end of the linear drive,

[0058] FIG. 8 a resting of the element nest with downholder on a component adjacent to a joining location,

[0059] FIG. 9 a further view of the delivering of a welding auxiliary joining part to a joining location with the help of the element nest and the moved end of the linear drive,

[0060] FIG. 10 a schematic view of the interacting of a contour piece of the element nest with the electrode punch during delivering of a welding auxiliary joining part to a joining location,

[0061] FIG. 11 an enlarged lateral view of the arrangement and orientation of the welding auxiliary joining part below the electrode punch with the help of the interaction between electrode punch as well as contour piece of the element nest,

[0062] FIG. 12 a schematic view of a releasing movement of the element nest from the welding auxiliary joining part which is clamped between component and electrode punch,

[0063] FIG. 13 a flow chart of an embodiment of a supply method for a welding auxiliary joining part to a joining location, and

[0064] FIG. 14 a further embodiment of the supply method of a welding auxiliary joining part to a joining location.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0065] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a welding setting device 1 with an element supply apparatus 3. The element supply apparatus 3 is arranged adjacent to the rear part of a C-bracket 5. Thus, the interfering contour of the setting welding device 1 adjacent to the components B to be connected with one another is decreased. Furthermore, the setting welding device 1 may comprise a transfer or providing unit 7 which is supplied with welding auxiliary joining parts. From there, the welding auxiliary joining parts are transferred to the element supply apparatus 3, such as individually, as is explained further below. Moreover, the setting welding device 1 comprises a known coupling unit 9 for connecting with a robot (not shown).

[0066] The element supply apparatus 3 may be connected via at least one clamping piece K or Shim with the setting welding device 1. The clamping piece K forms the basis for connecting the element supply apparatus 3 with setting welding devices 1 of different types of construction and size. Furthermore, it forms the basis for offering the element supply apparatus 3 as a retrofit kit (see below) and for combining it with available setting welding devices 1.

[0067] Beside the C-frame, which supports a counter electrode E, the setting welding device 1 comprises an electrode punch S or generally a welding electrode. The two designations electrode punch S and welding electrode refer to the same part of the setting welding device 1. This term is occasionally used in different ways in dependency of the setting force to be used for the welding auxiliary joining part, here, however, it should be used synonymously. Therefore, the electrode punch S serves as an element for applying a mechanical setting force onto the welding auxiliary joining part and as an electrode for applying an electric load onto the welding auxiliary joining part. In FIG. 2, an enlarged view of the setting welding device 1 is shown.

[0068] A further embodiment of the element supply apparatus 3 is illustrated in larger detail in FIGS. 3 and 4. The element supply apparatus 3 comprises at least one linear drive 10 with a movable end 12 and a fixed end 14. According to further embodiments, the linear drive 10 is a pneumatic cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder or a servomotor or generally any common actuator with which a change of length can specifically be generated. The linear drive 10 moves the moveable end 12 via its change of length into a first movement direction R.sub.10 or contrary to it. This is illustrated with the arrow R.sub.10 in FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0069] An element nest 30 is fastened at the moved end 12 of the linear drive. The element nest 30 serves for the receiving, the transporting and the transferring of a single welding auxiliary joining part 2 at a joining location (see below).

[0070] The element nest 30 is guided parallel to the linear drive 10 at a linear guide 16. For this purpose, the element nest 30 may be fastened at a slide 17 which runs on a rail 18. The slide 17 may be stopped and/or blocked in its movement on the rail 18. This design of the movement of the element nest 30 with the help of the linear guide 16 and the slide 17 may form a basis for realizing the functionality of the element supply apparatus 3.

[0071] It may be preferred that the element nest 30 that is described in more detail further below be moved with only one linear drive 10 for supplying a welding auxiliary joining part 2 to the joining location. In a combination with the linear guide 16, this may enable a reliable reaching of the joining location and of the transfer unit 7 for welding auxiliary joining parts 2. Furthermore, with the targeted use of only one linear drive 10, the effort for sensor technology and drive technology compared with known setting welding devices is reduced.

[0072] The element supply apparatus 3 in the configuration with only one linear drive 10 is illustrated in an enlarged form in FIG. 5. According to an embodiment, the welding auxiliary joining part 2 is blown to a transfer position via a profile tube 8 in the providing unit 7. A locking element may prevent the welding auxiliary joining part 2 from exiting the providing unit 7 in an uncontrolled way. As soon as the element nest 30 according to FIG. 5 is arranged adjacent to the providing unit 7, the welding auxiliary joining part 2 is moved into the element nest 30 with the help of a plurality of interacting levers and an activating actuator 6.

[0073] In order to arrange the element nest 30 adjacent to the transfer unit 7, the movable end 12 of the linear drive 10 may be connected with the element nest 30 via a mechanical, direction-changing coupling component 20. The coupling component 20 is a construction similar to a knee lever, each of which providing a fastening 22, 24, such as a fastening piston each, for the moved end 12 of the linear drive 10 and for the element nest 30. The coupling component 20 may be formed by a rotatably arranged coupling lever with the several fastening points.

[0074] The fastening pistons 22, 24 allow a rotation of the interconnected components, relative to one another. Both fastening pistons 22, 24 (see FIGS. 5 and 8) may lie on a common line. Laterally to this imagined connecting line between the fastening pistons 22, 24, a further fastening piston 26 is provided at the slide 17 of the linear guide 16. The fastening piston 26 guarantees a rotating of the coupling component 20 about the fastening 26.

[0075] The coupling component 20 may be spring-preloaded against the moved end 12 of the linear drive 10. This means that only when the moved end 12 of the linear drive 10 reaches a threshold force during the movement into the first movement direction R.sub.10, the coupling component 20 starts a rotation about the fastening 26. When comparing FIGS. 5 and 8, the rotation movement of the coupling component 20 becomes obvious. In order to actuate this rotation movement of the coupling component 20 about the fastening 26, the movement of the slide 17 of the linear guide 16 may be blocked. This makes the moved end 12 push against the coupling component 20 through the fastening 22, in order to rotate the coupling component 20 about the fastening 26 after reaching the threshold force. As the fastening piston 24 may be guided in a first long hole 29A of a connecting block 28 between the coupling component 20 and the element nest 30, the rotation of the coupling component 20 into the direction of the element nest 30 generates a movement or relocation of the element nest 30 away from the moved end 12 into the direction R.sub.30 (see arrow in FIGS. 5 and 8).

[0076] The movement or relocation of the element nest 30 into the direction R.sub.30 takes place in a second movement direction which differs from the first movement direction R.sub.10 of the linear drive. This movement into the second movement direction R.sub.30 may be caused by the linear drive 10 without an additional drive into the second movement direction R.sub.30 becoming necessary.

[0077] While the rotation of the coupling component 20 is transferred onto the element nest 30 with the help of the connecting block 28 and the first long hole 29A, a second long hole 29B safeguards the movement direction R.sub.30 of the connecting block 28 and thus of the element nest 30. For this purpose, at least one guide pen 32 of the element nest 30 engages into the second long hole 29B and allows only a movement of the element nest 30 into the course direction of the second long hole 29B.

[0078] Both movement directions R.sub.10 and R.sub.30 may be aligned to each other neither parallel nor anti-parallel. Rather, the two movement directions R.sub.10 and R.sub.30 enclose an angle unequal 0° and unequal 180°.

[0079] When delivering the element nest 30 to the providing unit 7 into the direction R.sub.30, the slide 17 is decelerated in order to actuate the rotation of the coupling component 20 about the fastening 26, in particular a fastening pen or fastening piston. For this purpose, the moveable end 12 of the linear drive 10 moves into the direction R.sub.10. After receiving a welding auxiliary joining part 2 by the element nest 30, the end 12 of the linear drive 10 may move contrary to the direction R.sub.10 (see FIG. 5). Accordingly, the coupling component 20 makes a rotation about the fastening piston 26 in the opposite direction to R.sub.30. The element nest 30 is moved back into its initial position adjacent to the moved end 12 of the linear drive 10, as is shown in FIG. 4.

[0080] An analogous movement of the element nest 30 is used for delivering the welding auxiliary joining part 2 to the joining location in the joining direction R.sub.F below the electrode punch S. As can be recognized from FIG. 8, in the initial position, the linear drive 10 delivers the element nest 30 into the direction R.sub.10 to the components B. In the initial position of the element nest 30, the coupling component 20 may be spring-preloaded and has not yet been rotated into the direction of the element nest 30 about the fastening piston 26.

[0081] A downholder 40 may be arranged adjacent to the element nest 30 and upstream in the direction R.sub.10 of the element nest. The downholder 40 may be fastened at the slide 17, which is guided by the linear guide 16. Due to the movement of the linear drive 10 into the direction R.sub.10, the downholder 40 pushes onto the component B and blocks a further movement of the slide 17 and the element nest 30 into the direction R.sub.10. The force which is applied by the downholder 40 onto the components B reduces or removes an existing clearance between the components B and thus prepares the establishing of a joining location.

[0082] The blocking of the further movement of the slide 17 by the downholder 40 corresponds with the blocking or decelerating of the slide 17 at the providing unit 7 (see above). When the linear drive 10 is extended in the direction R.sub.10 also after the resting of the downholder, i.e. the end 12 continues to move into the direction R.sub.10, the linear drive 10 overcomes the threshold force of the coupling component 20 and starts the rotation of the coupling component 20 about the fastening piston 26. In this way, the element nest 30 is relocated or displaced into the direction of the joining location above a lower electrode E (see FIG. 9).

[0083] The downholder 40 may be configured in a furcate way with two arms 42, 44. There is a free space between the arms 42, 44 into which the element nest 30 moves the welding auxiliary joining part 2 via the rotation of the coupling component 20 (see FIGS. 9 and 7).

[0084] Subsequently, the welding auxiliary joining part 2 is clamped at the component 2 by the electrode punch S and is thereby held (see FIGS. 10 and 11).

[0085] Before the welding auxiliary joining part 2 is joined into the components B, the linear drive 10 shortens and moves the end 12 contrary to the direction R.sub.10. By that, the coupling component 20 is rotated back into its initial position and the element nest 30 is removed from the electrode punch S, as can be seen from a comparison of FIGS. 11 and 12.

[0086] As the downholder 40 is not fixed by the electrode punch S, a further movement of the end 12 removes the element nest 30 from the component B. Accordingly, the welding setting process between the electrode punch S and the counter electrode E with the intermediary arranged welding auxiliary joining part 2 can be carried out.

[0087] In order to receive the welding auxiliary joining part 2 in an optimal way at the providing unit in the element nest 30 and to position it below the electrode punch S, the element nest includes a pair of springing element jaws 33 and a contour piece 34. The element jaws 33 are configured relative to each other in a springing way. For this purpose, the element jaws 33 preferably consist of a spring steel sheet. As the element jaws 33 are positioned opposite each other, they form a springing, thong-like arrangement in order to hold the welding auxiliary joining part 2 between themselves in a releasable manner. In order to support the hold of the welding auxiliary joining part 2 between the element jaws 33, the inner sides of the element jaws 33 which face each other have an inner contour that is adapted to the shape of the welding auxiliary joining part 2.

[0088] According to a further design of the element nest 30, the element jaws 30 are supported in a floating way in a plane that is approximately perpendicular to the joining direction R.sub.F. Supported in a floating way means that the element jaws 33 can deviate joining locationly into the direction R.sub.S according to FIG. 6 in order to compensate possible alignment tolerances to, for example, the electrode punch S.

[0089] For this purpose, the element jaws 33 are connected with the contour piece 34. The contour piece 34 comprises an abutment contour face 35 which is discussed in more detail further below. The contour piece 34 is pivotably held in a coupling block 36 via a holding pen 37. The holding pen 37 runs through a furcate clearance in an approximately parallel way to the joining direction R.sub.F. The contour piece 34 is arranged within the furcate clearance with a holding opening. Accordingly, the contour piece 34 can pivot about the holding pen 37 in the plane approximately perpendicular to the joining direction R.sub.F (see arrows R.sub.S). The pivoting movement of the contour piece may be limited by spring sheets 38 that are arranged on both sides. They are fastened laterally at the coupling block 36 by means of pens 39 and reach up to the contour piece 34.

[0090] Beside the fastening of the spring sheets 38, the pens 39 also provide for a guiding of the element nest 30 in the long hole 29B of the connecting block 28.

[0091] As can be recognized from FIG. 6, the element jaws 33 are fastened at the contour piece 34. Accordingly, the element jaws 33 are supported in the same floating way as the contour piece 34.

[0092] FIG. 7 shows a design of the element nest 30 in a view contrary to the joining direction R.sub.F, i.e. from below. It can be recognized from there that the coupling block 36 is held in a recess 48 in a spring-preloaded way via a spring 46. This arrangement guarantees a compensation movement of the contour piece 34 and the element jaws 33 along the arrow R.sub.A in dependency of an action of force onto the contour piece 34. Thus, the element nest 30 may provide a floating hold of the welding auxiliary joining part 2 in the plane perpendicular to the joining direction R.sub.F, which guarantees a tolerance compensation or deviation, respectively, of the welding auxiliary joining part 2 into three directions within this plane.

[0093] Based on the above-described embodiments of the element supply apparatus 3 alone or in combination with the element nest 30, the element delivery or supply in the setting welding device 1 with shortened cycle times and a low instrument-based effort with regard to sensors and drives can be realized. Because it may be possible with only one linear drive 10 to take over the welding auxiliary joining part 2 at the providing unit 7 and to subsequently supply it reliably to the joining location under the electrode punch S. It is precisely this effective delivery that is guaranteed by the only one linear drive 10 and the movement of the element nest 30 into the two different movement directions R.sub.10 and R.sub.30 via the direction-changing coupling component 20.

[0094] In addition to that or in combination of an existing delivery system of a welding setting device 1, the element nest 30 realizes a tolerance-compensating receiving of a welding auxiliary joining part 2 at the providing unit 7 and/or a tolerance-compensating arrangement or positioning of the welding auxiliary joining part 2 at the joining location below the electrode punch S. Because the floating support of the holding position of the welding auxiliary joining part 2 between the element jaws 33 in combination with the contour piece 34 constitute an effective preciseness when approaching the providing unit 7 and at the electrode punch S.

[0095] With respect to FIG. 5, the contour piece 34 moves against a stop 50 with its abutment contour face 35 at the providing unit 7. As the stop 50 aligns the contour piece 34 and thus the element jaws 33 through the floating support (see above), the element jaws 33 are positioned precisely for the takeover of the welding auxiliary joining part 2 in front of the providing unit 7. Accordingly, the welding auxiliary joining part 2 is then only transferred through the providing unit 7 between the element jaws 33 or is inserted there or clamped there. For this process, no sensor technology is necessary which monitors the exact positioning of the element nest 30 at the providing unit 7 or the presence of the welding auxiliary joining part 2 in the element nest 30.

[0096] The positioning of the welding auxiliary joining part under the electrode punch S prior to the joining location process is also precise due to the construction of the element nest 30, in particular due to the floating support of the element jaws 33 in combination with the contour piece 34. The delivery of the welding auxiliary joining part 2 to the joining location may be carried out according to two different approaches. According to a first embodiment, which is illustrated in FIG. 9, firstly, the welding auxiliary joining part 2 is positioned approximately precisely above the counter electrode E. This position is, however, not necessarily sufficiently precise for subsequently carrying out the setting welding process with the electrode punch S. Instead, the electrode punch S is moved in the joining direction R.sub.F into the contour piece 34 and against the abutment contour face 35 in a next step. Due to the floating support of the contour piece 34 and of the welding auxiliary joining part 2 which is held by the element jaws 33, the welding auxiliary joining part 2 is aligned optimally with the electrode punch S and to the counter electrode E by means of the electrode punch S. Subsequently, the welding auxiliary joining part 2 is clamped by the electrode punch S at the component B, the element nest 30 is removed and the setting welding process is carried out.

[0097] According to a further design, in FIG. 11, another positioning of the welding auxiliary joining part 2 under the electrode punch S is illustrated. Here, the electrode punch may be located in a position adjacent to the component B and thus to the joining location. Due to the combined movement of the linear drive 10 and the coupling component 20, the element nest 30 is moved into the direction R.sub.30 to the electrode punch 20 until the contour piece 34 abuts the electrode punch S with the abutment contour face 35. As the abutment contour face 35 drives on full contact with the lateral surface or the outer surface of the electrode punch S, in particular of the radial outside of the same, the welding auxiliary joining part 2 is positioned via the floating support of the contour piece 34 precisely under the electrode punch S at the same time.

[0098] Subsequently, the electrode punch S moves into the joining direction R.sub.F and clamps the welding auxiliary joining part 2 at the component B. After having removed the element nest 30 from the clamped welding auxiliary joining part 2 (see FIG. 12), the setting welding process is carried out.

[0099] It follows from the above explanations that the mode of operation and cycle time of existing setting welding devices can be improved both with the element providing apparatus 3 and with the element nest 30 alone or in combination. Furthermore, the effort for drive technology and sensor technology may be reduced by that. Therefore, the present disclosure also comprises a retrofit kit with an element providing apparatus 3 and/or the element nest 30 for existing setting welding devices. Furthermore, the present disclosure similarly comprises a setting welding device 1 with the above-described element supply apparatus 3 alone or in combination with the element nest 30 or with the element nest 30 alone.

[0100] With respect to the flow chart in FIG. 13, the supply method of the welding auxiliary joining part 2 to the joining location in the setting welding device 1 with the above-described element supply apparatus 3 can be summarized with the following steps. First of all, in step Z1, a delivering of the occupied element nest 30 takes place with the linear movement of the linear drive 10 in the first movement direction R.sub.10 at least to a joining location of the welding auxiliary joining part 2, with the welding auxiliary joining part 2 being releasably held by the two element jaws 33 of the element nest 30 that are arranged opposite to each other and in a springing way relative to each other. In step Z2, the downholder 40 which is fastened at the linear drive 10 rests at the at least one component B. Subsequently, in step Z3, the element nest 30 moves through the mechanical, direction-changing coupling component 20 into the second movement direction R.sub.30 for the positioning of the welding auxiliary joining part at the joining location by means of a further moving of the linear drive 10 in the first movement direction R.sub.10.

[0101] In step Z4, a moving of the element nest 30 up against or into abutment with the electrode punch S may take place, which causes the mechanical stop alignment of the element nest 30 abutting laterally at the electrode punch S and the welding auxiliary joining part 2 which is held between the element jaws 33 being positioned in the joining direction R.sub.F below the electrode punch S.

[0102] In the subsequent step Z5, the welding auxiliary joining part 2 is clamped at the joining location by the electrode punch S in the joining direction R.sub.F against the adjacent component B and in the next step Z6, the element nest 33 is removed from the electrode punch S. Thereby, a releasing of the welding auxiliary joining part 2 from the springing hold of the element jaws 33 also takes place.

[0103] As has already been described above, besides the delivering of the welding auxiliary joining part 2 to the joining location, the element supply method is also used for taking up a welding auxiliary joining part at the providing unit 7. In a step Z7, a moving of the element nest 30 parallel to the first movement direction R.sub.10 of the linear drive 10 adjacent to the providing unit or transfer unit 7 for a welding auxiliary joining part may be blocked. In this way, the element nest 30 is moved by the mechanical direction-changing coupling component 20 into the second movement direction R.sub.30 into the direction of the providing unit 7. This movement serves for the positioning of the element nest 30 at the providing unit 7 by the further moving of the linear drive 10 in the first movement direction R.sub.10.

[0104] With a subsequent step Z8, the element nest 30 is moved up against or into abutment with the providing unit 7. The mechanical stop alignment of the element nest, in particular the contour piece 34 with its abutment contour face 35, is driven to full contact to the stop 50 of the providing unit 7 and abuts there. In this way, the two element jaws 33 that are arranged in a springing manner relative to each other are positioned in a transfer position of the providing unit 7 in order to receive the welding auxiliary joining part 2. Subsequently, in step Z9, the welding auxiliary joining part 2 is moved out from the providing unit 7 between the element jaws 33 of the element nest 30 so that the welding auxiliary joining part 2 is releasably held there.

[0105] Finally, at a blocked movement of the element nest 30 parallel to the first movement direction R.sub.10, the linear drive 10 is moved contrary to the first movement direction R.sub.10, which causes the element nest 30 to being positioned back into an initial position via the mechanical, direction-changing coupling component 20 contrary to the second movement direction R.sub.30. After conclusion of the positioning-back, the occupied element nest 30 is delivered to the joining location with the linear movement of the linear drive 10 in the first movement direction R.sub.10.

[0106] If the setting welding device is only equipped in combination with the above described element nest 30, the supply method of the welding auxiliary joining part to the joining location can be summarized with the following steps under reference to the flow chart in FIG. 14. Firstly, in a first step S1, a delivering of the occupied element nest 30 with the at least one drive 10 to the joining location adjacent to the electrode punch S takes place, with the welding auxiliary joining part 2 being releasably held by the two element jaws 33 of the element nest that are arranged opposite to each other and spring relative to each other. In a further step, the element nest 30 is moved up against or into abutment with the electrode punch S, which causes the mechanical stop alignment of the element nest 30, i.e. the contour piece 34 with the abutment contour face 35, abutting laterally at the electrode punch S and the welding auxiliary joining part which is held between the element jaws 33 being positioned in the joining direction R.sub.F below the electrode punch S.

[0107] Alternatively to this step, firstly, the element nest 30 with the welding auxiliary joining part 2 held therein may be positioned adjacent to the joining location, which may be adjacent to the counter electrode E on the component. Subsequently, the electrode punch S is then moved in joining direction R.sub.F until abutment of the contour piece 34 with the abutment contour face 35 at the outside of the electrode punch S. In this way, due to the floating support of the welding auxiliary joining part 2 in the element nest 30, too, the welding auxiliary joining part 2 is fittingly positioned under the electrode punch S.

[0108] Subsequently, such as in step S3, a clamping of the welding auxiliary joining part 2 by the electrode punch S in the joining direction R.sub.F against the adjacent component B takes place at the joining location and in step S4, a removing of the element nest 30 from the electrode punch S and thereby a releasing of the welding auxiliary joining part 2 from the springing hold of the element jaws 33 takes place.

[0109] In the course of the two above-described positioning possibilities of the welding auxiliary joining parts 2 below the electrode punch S, a compensation of tolerances in a plane approximately perpendicular to the joining direction R.sub.F between the electrode punch S and the element nest 30 thus takes place in a subsequent step when moving the element nest 30 up against or into abutment with the electrode punch S with the help of the floating support of the element nest 30 with respect to its fastening to the element supply apparatus.