Assembly tool comprising a marking function and method for forming markings in fastening elements by means of an assembly tool

Abstract

An assembly tool is provided for connecting a fastening element to at least one component. The assembly tool has a marking device, which is designed to apply a first type of marking to a fastening element when a first connecting step is finished, and to apply a second type of marking to a fastening element when a second connecting step is finished.

Claims

1. An assembly tool for connecting fastening elements to at least one component, the assembly tool comprising: a marking device of the assembly tool, wherein the marking device of the assembly tool provides a fastening element with a first type of marking upon completion of a first connection procedure by assembly tool, the first connection procedure being a procedure in which the fastening element is connected to a first component, the marking device of the assembly tool provides a further fastening element with a second type of marking upon completion of a second connection procedure by the assembly tool, the second connection procedure being a procedure in which the further fastening element is connected to a further component, and the said marking device has at least two different marking units which are configured to produce different markings.

2. The assembly tool according to claim 1, wherein the markings are provided in a fully automated manner upon completion of the connection procedures.

3. The assembly tool according to claim 1, wherein the first type of marking differs from the second type of marking in terms of at least one of: size, shape, depth, color, or position thereof.

4. The assembly tool according to claim 1, wherein the marking device comprises two marking units configured to generate mutually dissimilar markings.

5. The assembly tool according to claim 1, wherein the marking device of the assembly tool is configured to provide one or more further types of markings upon completion of one or more further connection procedures.

6. The assembly tool according to claim 1, wherein the markings are shape cuts or embossings in the fastening elements.

7. The assembly tool according to claim 1, wherein the markings are generated via a laser beam.

8. The assembly tool according to claim 1, wherein the markings are generated by applying a marking indicator.

9. The assembly tool according to claim 8, wherein the marking indicator is a paint or lacquer application.

10. The assembly tool according to claim 1, wherein the completion of a connection procedure occurs upon reaching a predefined torque and/or terminal angle of the fastening element.

11. The assembly tool according to claim 1, wherein the assembly tool is a screwdriver.

12. The assembly tool according to claim 11, wherein the screwdriver is a hand-held screwdriver.

13. An assembly system, comprising: an assembly tool according to claim 1; and a control unit operatively connected to the marking device of the assembly tool, wherein the control unit is configured to control the marking device.

14. The assembly system according to claim 13, wherein the control unit is coupled in terms of program technology to an assembly line.

15. A method of forming markings in fastening elements, the method comprising the acts of: providing an assembly tool for connecting the fastening elements to at least one component, the assembly tool having a marking device configured to provide a fastening element with a first type of marking upon completion of a first connection procedure and a further fastening element with a second type of marking upon completion of second connection procedure; providing at least one component and a plurality of the fastening elements; connecting a first of the fastening elements to the component via the assembly tool, wherein the first fastening element is provided with the first type of marking upon completion of the first connection procedure by the assembly tool; connecting a second of the fastening elements to the component via the assembly tool, wherein the second fastening element is provided with the second type of marking upon completion of the second connection procedure by the assembly tool, wherein the said marking device has at least two different marking units which are configured to produce different markings, the first connection procedure is a procedure in which the first of the fastening elements is connected to the component, and the second connections procedure is a procedure in which second of the fastening elements is connected to the component.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the provision of the first and second types of markings on the first and second fastening elements, respectively, is performed in a fully automated manner.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the method is a dual system marking method.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an assembly tool and of a fastening element according to one exemplary embodiment.

(2) FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a method for forming markings in fastening elements, according to one further exemplary embodiment.

(3) FIG. 3 is a depiction of an exemplary marking method, employing a dual system according to one further exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(4) Same or functionally equivalent component parts can be provided with the same reference sign in the exemplary embodiments and figures. In principle, the elements illustrated and the mutual size ratios thereof are not to be considered as true to scale. Rather, individual elements can be illustrated so as to be dimensioned excessively thick or large for the sake of improved clarity and/or improved comprehension.

(5) FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of an assembly tool 1 for connecting fastening elements 2 to a component (not illustrated), according to one exemplary embodiment. The assembly tool 1 has a marking device 3 which is configured for providing a first fastening element 2, which in the exemplary embodiment illustrated is configured as a screw, with a first type of marking upon completion of a first connection procedure, and providing a second fastening element 2 with a second type of marking upon completion of a subsequent second connection procedure. The marking device 3 in the exemplary embodiment illustrated has two marking units 31, 32 which are configured as impact pins.

(6) The impact pins are mounted so as to be axially displaceable in a housing of the marking device 3 and are guided in this housing. The fastening element 2 can be provided with the markings by way of embossing via the impact pins. The impact pins thus function as embossing tools. The impact pins preferably generate markings of dissimilar shape and/or size. Alternatively or additionally, the impact pins can also generate markings of dissimilar depth. The assembly tool 1, by virtue of the dissimilar markings, can be used without any special prior alignment or orientation, respectively. Providing the fastening elements 2 with the markings is performed upon reaching a predefined nominal torque.

(7) Supply lines and solenoids for moving the impact pins can furthermore be disposed in the housing of the marking device 3. The impact pins in a non-energized state are disposed so as to be movable in the guide. Should a solenoid be energized by a defined alternating voltage, the associated impact pin travels at a respective frequency in the axial direction. One solenoid and one supply line are preferably provided for each of the impact pins.

(8) According to one alternative preferred exemplary embodiment, the assembly tool 1 has a marking device 3 having four marking units 31, 32 which in each case are configured as impact pins and in each case can generate mutually dissimilar markings.

(9) A schematic illustration of a method for forming markings in fastening elements according to one exemplary embodiment is shown in FIG. 2. In step (a), an assembly tool 1 which has a marking device 3 for forming various types of markings is provided. In step (b), a plurality of fastening elements 2 and at least one component are furthermore provided. In step (c), a first fastening element 2 is connected to the component by the assembly tool 1, wherein the marking device 3 upon completion of the connection procedure provides the first fastening element 2 with a first type of marking. Subsequent thereto in a method step (d), a second fastening element 2 is connected to the component by the assembly tool 1, wherein the marking device 3 upon completion of the connection procedure provides the second fastening element 2 with a second type of marking.

(10) According to one further exemplary embodiment, further connection procedures in which further fastening elements 2 are connected to the component follow, wherein the marking device 3 of the assembly tool 1 upon completion of each of the connection procedures provides the respective fastening element 2 with further types of markings. The various types of markings herein each differ, in terms of the size, shape, depth, color, and/or position thereof, for example. Providing the fastening elements with the markings is, in each case, preferably performed in a fully automatic manner. For example, the marking device 3 can be connected to a control unit which controls the marking device 3 or the marking units 31, 32 of the marking device 3, respectively.

(11) FIG. 3 shows a depiction of an exemplary marking method which can be employed in the case of the method described herein. A marking device 3 which has four marking units 31, 32 can be used herein, for example. The four marking units 31, 32 can in each case be configured as impact pins A, B, C, D, for example, wherein the impact pins can in each case generate mutually dissimilar types of markings in a fastening element.

(12) No marking can thus be performed in the case of a first screw upon reaching a predefined torque, for example. In the case of the subsequent second screw, the latter is provided with a marking by means of the impact pin D. The third screw obtains a marking by the impact pin C, and the fourth screw is provided with a marking by both the impact pin C as well as by the impact pin D.

(13) Sixteen different marking patterns can thus be achieved by way of the four impact pins A, B, C, D by using various combinations of the impact pins used in each case by means of the dual system illustrated in FIG. 3. Assembly sequences having up to sixteen individual connection procedures can thus be documented on account thereof.

(14) According to further exemplary embodiments, the features that are described in the exemplary embodiments shown can also be combined with one another. Alternatively or additionally, the exemplary embodiments shown in the figures can have further features according to the embodiments of the general description.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(15) 1 Assembly tool 2 Fastening element 3 Marking device 31, 32 Marking unit A, B, C, D Impact pins

(16) The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.