Device, system, and method for providing connection elements

Abstract

A device provides connection elements such as rivets or the like from a storage unit via at least one outlet for at least one connection element application, and a connection element is provided at an inlet by a further device for providing connection elements, to pass through to the outlet.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The invention described and claimed hereinbelow is also described in German Patent Application DE 10 2010 053 221.5 filed on Dec. 3, 2010. This German Patent Application, whose subject matter is incorporated here by reference, provides the basis for a claim of priority of invention under 35 U.S.C. 119(a)-(d).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a device for providing connection elements, such as rivet elements or the like, a system composed of at least two devices for providing connection elements, and a method for operating such a system.

Rivet connections have played an important role for many years in the aviation industry in particular. The automation of riveting applications is becoming increasingly significant since aircraft components are becoming increasingly larger.

In addition to carrying out riveting applications using rivet tools, providing rivet elements specifically and rapidly via related motion control poses a particular challenge to system manufacturers.

A known device for providing rivets (EP 1 531 966 B1) is equipped with a rivet storage unit designed as a cartridge cabinet comprising a number of rivet cartridges stacked one above the other. Using a transfer carriage which can be moved along the rivet cartridges, rivet elements are transferred from the particular rivet cartridge that has arrived to a rivet outlet.

The disadvantage of the known device for providing rivets is the fact that the storage capacity thereof is limited by the maximum stacking height of the rivet cartridges. Expanding the rivet storage unit involves considerable design complexity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The problem addressed by the invention is that of designing and developing the known device for providing connection elements such that the total storage capacity available is increased using simple design means.

The fundamental idea is that the total available storage capacity for connection elements, such as rivet elements and the like can be increased by connecting the device for providing rivets with at least one more device for providing rivets. The rivet elements requested from a rivet cartridge of one device for providing rivets are passed through the at least one downstream device for providing rivets.

The total available storage capacity can be increased to a nearly unlimited extent in the proposed manner using simple design means. To this end, it is specifically provided that the device for providing rivets comprise at least one rivet inlet in addition to the at least one rivet outlet. According to the invention, the system is designed such that a rivet element provided at a rivet inlet can be passed through to a rivet outlet.

In the preferred embodiment the transfer carriages of the device for providing rivets are used to pass the rivet elements through. This double use of the transfer carriage results in a solution that is compact and structurally relatively simple.

According to a second teaching, which is significant in and of itself, a system composed of at least two devices for providing rivets, which is connected in series in the manner described above, is claimed. Reference is made to the explanations of the device for providing rivets according to the invention.

According to a third teaching, which is also significant in and of itself, a method for operating the above-described system of at least two devices for providing rivets is claimed. Reference is also made here to the explanations of the device for providing rivets according to the invention.

The invention is explained below in greater detail with reference to a drawing that depicts only one embodiment. In the drawing:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a device for providing rivets according to the invention, in a perspective view at a slant from the front,

FIG. 2 shows two serially connected devices for providing rivets according to FIG. 1 during operation with one schematically depicted rivet tool, both in a side view,

FIG. 3 shows the cartridge locks of the device for providing rivets according to FIG. 1 a) in the locked state and b) in the unlocked state, both in a perspective view,

FIG. 4 shows a central supporting plate of the device for providing rivets according to FIG. 1 with transfer carriage installed, in a perspective view,

FIG. 5 shows the rivet control of the transfer carriage according to FIG. 4, in a perspective view,

FIG. 6 shows the rivet control according to FIG. 5 in a sectional view along section line VI-VI a) in the pass-through position and b) in the blocking position,

FIG. 7 shows the control shaft of the rivet control according to FIG. 5, in a perspective view.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

When used as intended, connection elements, such as rivet elements 1 and the like stored in the device for providing rivets R are preferably transferred to a rivet control, are received by the rivet control, and are transported further to the particular rivet application.

The device for providing rivets R is preferably equipped with an entirely special rivet control. An explanation of the preferred design thereof will now be presented in the sense of a complete depiction.

The rivet control serves very generally as the motion control of rivet elements 1 or the like. The motion control of rivet elements 1 comprises active driving of rivet elements 1 and passive blocking or release of rivet elements 1. In the context of an above-described device for providing rivets R, the rivet control preferably has the function of receiving and forwarding rivet elements 1, as will be shown. The term “motion control” therefore also has broad meaning.

FIGS. 5 to 7 show a preferred rivet control which is used here and preferably in the device for providing rivets R depicted in FIGS. 1 to 4. The rivet control is basically modular and comprises at least one rivet control unit 2, i.e. a total of six rivet control units 2 in this case. The design of a rivet control unit 2 is shown in the depictions according to FIG. 6. For simplicity, only one rivet control unit 2 is discussed in the following. All embodiments of this rivet control unit 2 apply for all further rivet control units 2 of the rivet control.

In the installed state, the rivet control is connected into the rivet material flow. To this end, each rivet control unit 2 is equipped with a rivet channel 3 through which particular rivet elements 1 can be pushed.

The transport of rivet elements 1 takes place here and preferably via a fluid flow which is introduced into the particular section of rivet channel 3. In the simplest case, the fluid is air.

The rivet channel 3 comprises an inlet section 3a for receiving rivet elements 1, and an outlet section 3b. Rivet elements 1 therefore travel in conveyance direction 4 from inlet section 3a to outlet section 3b and, from there, to the particular rivet application.

Rivet control unit 2 of the rivet control according to the invention comprises a control shaft 5 which extends through rivet channel 3 in a control region 6 between inlet section 3a and outlet section 3b. Basically, control shaft 5 can extend through only a portion of rivet channel 3. Here, and preferably, rivet channel 3 is extended through in entirety, preferably substantially transversely to rivet channel longitudinal axis 7.

Finally, control shaft 5 functions here in the manner of a shutoff valve. Accordingly, control shaft 5 provides a connection section 8 between inlet section 3a and outlet section 3b, which is open for rivet elements 1 and fluid in the pass-through position depicted in FIG. 6a. In contrast, FIG. 6b shows that control shaft 5, in a blocking position, substantially blocks the passage of rivet elements 1 and/or fluid between inlet section 3a and outlet section 3b.

To attain the pass-through position and the blocking position in regard to design, it is provided that control shaft 5 has a rivet channel pass-through bore 9 depicted in FIG. 6, the cross section of which substantially corresponds to the cross section of rivet channel 3 in inlet section 3a and/or in outlet section 3b. Depending on the position of control shaft 5, rivet channel pass-through bore 9 provides above-described connection section 8 between inlet section 3a and outlet section 3b of rivet channel 3, or rivet channel pass-through bore 9 blocks the passage of rivet elements 1 and/or fluid between inlet section 3a and outlet section 3b.

The function of rivet control unit 2 is not limited to the pure function of a shutoff valve, however. Instead, rivet control unit 2 comprises a transfer conveyor device 10 which serves to convey a rivet element 1 from inlet section 3a into outlet section 3b using a transfer fluid flow 11 (FIG. 6a). To this end, transfer conveyance device 10 comprises a plurality of fluid channels 12 which communicate with inlet section 3a of rivet channel 3 and can be created via transfer fluid flow 11. To this end, fluid channels 12 are coupled to a corresponding fluid supply 12a. The direction of transfer fluid flow 11 is determined by the orientation of fluid channels 12, which is shown in the depiction according to FIG. 6.

It has been shown that, in combination with conical opening 13 of inlet section 3a, transfer fluid flow 11 creates an underpressure in the region of conical opening 13 in the manner of the Venturi effect, thereby suctioning in rivet element 1 located in front of opening 13.

A certain fluid volumetric flow rate must be ensured to transport rivet elements 1 effectively. To this end, transfer conveyance device 10 comprises at least one ventilation opening 14 in the region of control shaft 5, via which at least a portion of transfer fluid flow 11 flows out. In a variant that is structurally particularly simple, control shaft 5 comprises a number of ventilation grooves 14 which lead into an outlet opening 9a of rivet channel pass-through bore 9 (FIG. 6, 7).

Furthermore, rivet control unit 2 is equipped with a transport conveyance device 15 for the further transport of a rivet element 1 from outlet section 3b to the rivet application using a transport fluid flow 16. Rivet element 1 is transported in the configuration shown in FIG. 6b).

In regard to fluid flow, control shaft 5 can provide a different seal in the blocking position, as indicated above. Here, and preferably, control shaft 5 is equipped with a sealing surface 18 which serves as a seal with respect to housing 19 of rivet control unit 2.

FIG. 7 shows that, in the embodiment that is depicted and preferred, a plurality of control shafts 5 have been combined to form one control shaft 21. This accounts for the fact that, in this case, at least two adjacently disposed rivet control units 2, specifically a total of six adjacently disposed rivet control units 2 are provided, wherein control shafts 5 of rivet control units 2 are each provided by an axial section of common control shaft 21.

The device for providing rivets R according to the invention, which is depicted in FIGS. 1 to 4, is now equipped preferably with a rivet control described above.

As explained above, the device for providing rivets R serves to provide rivet elements 1 or the like for at least one rivet application. As indicated in FIG. 2, the rivet application is performed by an automated rivet tool N. FIG. 2 also shows that two devices for providing rivets R are connected in series, as described below.

The device for providing rivets R comprises a rivet storage unit 24 in which preferably different rivet elements 1 can be stored. The device for providing rivets R also comprises at least one rivet outlet 25, i.e. a total of 6 rivet outlets 25 in this case.

In this case, the rivet storage unit 25 is equipped, in the manner of a cartridge cabinet, with at least two stacked rivet cartridges 26 which are replaceable, in particular, each of which comprises at least one output flange 27 or the like for dispensing rivet elements 1. Output flange 27 of rivet cartridge 26 can have different configurations. In this case, and preferably, output flange 27 is tubular, as shown in the depiction in FIG. 3a).

In a particularly preferred embodiment, a transfer carriage 28 is provided, which comprises an above-described rivet control comprising a plurality of rivet control units 2 in this case and preferably. Rivet control units 2 are designed to accommodate different rivet elements 1, thereby ensuring that the appropriate rivet control unit 2 is used depending on which rivet element 1 should be transferred. Transfer carriage 28 is disposed on a central supporting plate, as shown in FIG. 4.

In order to orient the appropriate rivet control unit 2 to the particular desired rivet cartridge 26, transfer carriage 28 is movable along rivet cartridge 26 in stacking direction 29 thereof. A rivet control unit 2 of the rivet control can therefore be oriented toward a rivet cartridge 26 to transfer a rivet element 1 from particular rivet cartridge 26 to particular rivet control unit 2.

Two positions of transfer carriage 28 are shown in FIG. 2. Output sections 3b of rivet control units 2 are connected to above-described rivet outlets 25. Furthermore, each rivet control unit 2 comprises an input flange 30 assigned to input section 3a of rivet channel 3 to receive rivet elements 1, wherein output flange 27 on the rivet cartridge side and input flange 30 on the rivet control side are separated by a gap when a rivet element 1 is transferred.

A form-fit connection of any type therefore does not occur between the two flanges 27, 30. FIG. 4 shows, in the detailed depiction at the bottom, how output flange 27 on the rivet cartridge side is positioned relative to the rivet control and input flanges 30 located there. Due to the fact that a gap is always present between output flanges 27 on the rivet cartridge side and input flanges 30 on the rivet control side, it is sufficient to move transfer carriage 28 and the rivet control overall with only one degree of freedom. To ensure flawless transfer, it has proven advantageous for the gap to lie in a range between approximately 0.2 mm and approximately 0.6 mm. A gap width of approximately 0.4 mm is particularly preferred in this case.

It has already been mentioned that different rivet cartridges 26 preferably store rivet elements 1 having different dimensions, at least in part, wherein transfer carriage 28 therefore comprises a plurality of rivet control units 2 adapted to the different dimensions. The adaptation of rivet control units 2 mainly relates to the diameter of rivet channel 3 and the related connectors, as shown in the detailed depiction at the top in FIG. 4, for instance.

A transfer of a rivet element 1 from a rivet cartridge 26 is explained in the following as an example.

First, transfer carriage 28 orients one of the rivet control units 2 toward the desired rivet cartridge 26, and so the input flange 30 on the rivet control side is centered on output flange 27 on the rivet cartridge side. A separating device (not depicted) provided in rivet cartridge 26 then releases a single rivet element 1 which passes through the gap between the two flanges 27, 30 and is received by input section 3a of rivet control unit 2. To this end, transfer conveyance device 10 is activated in a timely manner, and so rivet element 1 is drawn into input section 3a via the above-mentioned Venturi effect, and is then conveyed into output section 3b via transfer fluid flow 11. Control shaft 21, which has been situated in the pass-through position until now, is then transferred to the blocking position (transition from FIG. 6a to FIG. 6b). Finally, transport conveyance device 15 is activated, and so rivet element 1 is conveyed further via the build-up of a pressure wave via fluid channel through bore 17 to rivet tool N via tube line 20.

A decisive aspect of the teaching according to the invention is the fact that the device for providing rivets R is designed such that it can be connected in series to a further device for providing rivets R. This further aspect does not require that a transfer carriage 28 be provided.

The essential aspect is that, in addition to rivet outlet 25, at least one rivet inlet 25a be provided, and that the arrangement be designed such that a rivet element 1 provided at rivet inlet 25a can be passed to rivet outlet 25. One rivet tool N can therefore be supplied with rivet elements 1 by a plurality of devices for providing rivets R without the need to provide any type of conveyance switch between the devices for providing rivets R and rivet tool N.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the device for providing rivets R is equipped with an above-described transfer carriage 28, wherein transfer carriage 28 can be moved into a pass-through position to transfer a rivet element 1 from a rivet inlet 25a to a rivet outlet 25, thereby enabling a rivet element 1 to be transferred to transfer carriage 28. Of particular significance is the fact that transfer carriage 28 is now used for two purposes, namely to transfer rivet elements 1 from rivet cartridges 26 and to transfer rivet elements 1 that have been provided at rivet inlet 25a.

As shown in the depiction according to FIG. 2, the pass-through position (FIG. 2, right) is different from the transfer position (FIG. 2, left), in which a rivet control unit 2 is oriented toward a rivet cartridge 26 to transfer a rivet element 1 from particular rivet cartridge 26 to particular rivet control unit 2.

A row of pass-through flanges (not depicted) are provided in the region of the pass-through position, which are disposed in a row with output flanges 27 of rivet cartridges 26 and substantially do not differ geometrically from output flanges 27. The pass-through flanges are each connected via a tube segment to a rivet inlet 25a, as shown in FIG. 2. When transfer carriage 28 is situated in the pass-through position, input flanges 30 of rivet control units 2 are oriented toward the pass-through flanges, wherein an above-described gap is preferably provided here as well between the opposing flanges. For the rest, the transfer procedure is largely identical to the procedure described above for transferring rivet elements 1 to rivet cartridges 26:

If the aim, for instance, is to provide a rivet element 1 from a rivet cartridge 26 of the device for providing rivets R, which is shown on the left in FIG. 2, rivet element 1 is transferred from desired rivet cartridge 26 to transfer carriage 28 situated there, and is conveyed further in the direction of rivet outlet 25 situated there. Via tube line 20, rivet element 1 reaches a transfer flange of the device for providing rivets R shown on the right in FIG. 2, passes through the gap there, and reaches inlet section 3a of particular rivet control unit 2. There, the above-described transfer procedure is carried out once more, and so rivet element 1 is conveyed further to rivet tool N.

According to a second teaching according to claim 6, which is significant in and of itself, a system composed of at least two devices for providing rivets, which is connected in series in the manner described above, is claimed. Reference is made to the explanations provided above for the device for providing rivets R according to the invention.

The essential aspect according to the second teaching is the fact that rivet inlet 25a or rivet inlets 25a of a downstream device for providing rivets R is/are connected to rivet outlet 25 or rivet outlets 25 of a further, upstream device for providing rivets R. The term “connected” is to be understood broadly in the sense of any type of coupling.

In short, a device for providing rivets R is “downstream” if the rivet inlet 25a or rivet inlets 25a thereof are downstream of rivet outlet 25 or rivet outlets 25 of an upstream device for providing rivets R. The definition of an “upstream” device for providing rivets R is therefore also established.

Basically, the system can be designed very generally such that rivet elements 1 are passed through at least one downstream device for providing rivets R. Furthermore, it is also possible for at least one downstream device for providing rivets R to simultaneously be an upstream device for providing rivets R, and vice versa.

It is furthermore possible, in the case of large systems in particular, for at least two upstream devices for providing rivets R and/or at least two downstream devices for providing rivets R to exist.

The proposed solution according to the second teaching makes it possible to connect the devices for providing rivets R in a largely arbitrary manner. Basically, parallel connections are also possible, in which a plurality of devices for providing rivets R are upstream in respect of a single device for providing rivets R, wherein the individual device for providing rivets R is then a downstream device for providing rivets R in the sense described above.

According to a third teaching, which is also significant in and of itself, a method for operating an above-described system of at least two devices for providing rivets R is claimed.

An essential aspect according to the third teaching is the fact that, as described above, a rivet element 1 is transported via a rivet outlet 25 of an upstream device for providing rivets R to the rivet inlet 25a of a downstream device for providing rivets R and, in the downstream device for providing rivets R is passed to rivet outlet 25a thereof. It is preferably provided, as described above, that transfer carriage 28 is moved into a pass-through position for passing through a rivet element 1 in downstream device for providing rivets R, and rivet element 1 to be passed through is transferred to transfer carriage 28. Reference is made here as well to the embodiments above for further details.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a device for providing connection elements such as rivets and the like, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.

Claims

1. A device for providing connection elements, comprising a connection element storage unit providing connection elements via at least one connection element outlet for at least one connection element application; at least one connection element inlet; and a further device for providing connection elements and configured so that a connection element provided at said inlet by said further device is passed through to said outlet.

2. A device for providing connection elements as defined in claim 1, wherein said storage unit has at least two stacked cartridges each having at least one output flange for dispensing connection elements; further comprising a transfer carriage with at least one connection element control for receiving and further transporting the connection elements and moveable along said cartridges in a stacking direction to orient a connection element control unit of the control to the cartridge to transfer the connection element from a respective one of the cartridges to a respective one of the control units.

3. A device for providing connection elements as defined in claim 1, wherein said at least two stacked cartridges are replaceable.

4. A device for providing connection elements as defined in claim 2, wherein said transfer carriage is moveable into a pass-through position to pass the connection element through from said inlet to said outlet so that the connection element is passed through said transfer carriage.

5. A device for providing connection elements as defined in claim 4, wherein said pass-through position is different from transfer positions, in which the control unit is oriented toward the cartridge to transfer the connection element from a respective one of said cartridges to a respective one of said control units.

6. A device for providing connection elements as defined in claim 2, further comprising at least one pass-through flange assigned to said at least one inlet, so that said at least one control unit situated in a pass-through position is oriented toward said least one pass-through flange to transfer the connection elements.

7. A system comprising at least two devices for providing connection elements according to claim 1, including a downstream device for providing connection elements and an upstream device for providing connection elements and arranged so that said inlet of said downstream device is connected to said outlet of said upstream device.

8. A system as defined in claim 7, wherein said inlets of said downstream device are connected with said outlets of said upstream device.

9. A system as defined in claim 7, wherein the system is configured so that the connection elements are passed through by said at least one downstream device for providing connection elements.

10. A system as defined in claim 9, wherein said at least one downstream device for providing connection elements is simultaneously an upstream device for providing connection elements.

11. A system as defined in claim 7, wherein the system includes at least two devices for providing connection elements, selected from the group consisting of at least two upstream devices for providing connection elements, at least two downstream devices for providing connection elements, and both.

12. A method for operating the system including at least two devices for providing connection elements as defined in claim 7, comprising the steps of transporting a connection element by the outlet of said upstream device for providing connection elements to said inlet of said downstream device for providing connection elements; and passing by the connection element the downstream device for providing connection elements through said outlet of said downstream device for providing connection elements.

13. A method as defined in claim 12; further comprising moving the transfer carriage into a pass-through position for passing through the connection element in the downstream device for providing connection elements; and transferring the connection element to be passed through to the transfer carriage.