Abstract: A separating device for separating joining elements is provided, comprising a housing having an opening and an outlet, and first and second sliding elements disposed within the housing. The first sliding element comprises a recess into which a clamping element of the second sliding element projects. A side wall of the clamping element and a side wall of the recess form a channel, of which at least an upper part, in the start positions of the sliding elements, is accessible for joining elements via the opening in the housing. The sliding elements can be operatively connected to an actuator so that the sliding elements can be moved by a linear movement of the actuator in a relative movement to the housing from their start positions into their end positions, in which the channel is positioned above the outlet, wherein a joining element is movable through the channel into the outlet.

Abstract: Handheld welding gun for welding an element to a component comprising a linear actuator unit with a linear actuator housing and a linear actuator rod adapted to actuate the holding unit in order to move the element between the lift position and the plunge position, the linear actuator rod extending partly inside and partly outside the linear actuator housing. A displacement measuring system communicates with a control card. The linear actuator, the displacement measuring system and the control card are connected together to form a compact actuator unit.

Abstract: A coupling device comprises a coupling body with a feed channel that passes through the coupling body in its longitudinal direction and extends between a first end and a second end of the coupling body. The device further comprises a locking element that is mounted in the coupling device with a bearing element so as to be rotatable about a pivot axis. The locking element is movable between a locking position and an open position. The device also comprises an elastic element that biases the locking element into the locking position. The locking element comprises a first lever arm and a second lever arm. The first lever arm comprises an abutment surface at its free end. The elastic element is in operative contact with the first lever arm of the locking element, so that the abutment surface of the first lever arm projects into the feed channel.

Abstract: A clip for a mounting assembly of a solar panel includes an elongated body and a flexible tab. The flexible tab extends from the elongated body. The flexible tab is configured to elastically deform from a relaxed position to a flexed position in response to a force. The flexible tab is configured to automatically return to the relaxed position absent the force.

Abstract: An example system includes an automated manufacturing tool device of an assembly line, a fieldbus module, and a controller including memory and at least one processor configured to receive input/output (I/O) frames via the fieldbus module and maintain a queue of I/O frames in memory, each I/O frame including a status of at least one I/O signal associated with the automated manufacturing tool device, and in response to a trigger, write contents of the queue of I/O frames to persistent storage as a binary file, copy a bitmap configuration file to the persistent storage according to a currently selected bitmap configuration, write a metadata file to the persistent storage, the metadata file including metadata associated with the queue of I/O frames and the bitmap configuration file, and display contents of the queue of I/O frames on a plot on a human-machine interface of the controller.

Abstract: Method for monitoring the behaviour of a welding gun and handheld welding gun for welding an element to a component comprising a sensor unit adapted to measure different parameters during the welding process, a processing system with a control card adapted to control one or more parameters of the welding process, wherein the sensor unit comprises a gyroscope sensor mounted within the housing, wherein the gyroscope sensor is arranged on the control card.

Abstract: An adapter device for attaching a tool such as a joining head or a component holder to an industrial robot comprises a first part and a second part. The first part is configured to be attached to a joining head which defines a joining axis or to a component holder for a component which defines a joining axis. The second part is configured to be attached to a robot arm. The first and second parts are connected to each other by a linear guide so that the first and second parts can be moved relative to each other in a displacement direction which is parallel to the joining axis. The first and second parts are elastically prestressed into a zero-displacement position. The second part, when being moved in the displacement direction, is elastically displaced against the first part when the first part is held against movements in the displacement direction.

Abstract: Joining method for joining at least two workpieces with a joining device. The joining device has a retaining device for a joining element, a clamping device, and a thermal device. The joining element can be guided along or arranged on a joining axis via the retaining device. With the clamping device, one or more workpieces can be compressed in a joining direction. The thermal device is arranged on the clamping device and moves together with the clamping device.

Abstract: A joining method for joining at least two workpieces with a joining device and a joining device for joining workpieces are disclosed. The joining device comprises a joining head having a retaining device for a joining element and by means of which the joining element can be guided along or arranged on a joining axis, a punch with which a setting movement of the joining element can be executed, the punch being movable along the joining axis by a first drive unit, and a clamping device with which one or more workpieces can be compressed in a joining direction, wherein the clamping device is movable through a second drive unit different from the first drive unit.

Abstract: A method for setting a self-piercing type rivet, a device for thermally assisting the riveting process of a self-pierce riveting tool, and a self-pierce riveting tool for setting a self-piercing type rivet are disclosed. The self-pierce riveting tool comprises a setting assembly with a mount in the form of a C-shaped frame having a first end and a second end, a punch disposed on the first end of the C-shaped frame, a clamping device mounted to the mount, a die disposed on the second end of the C-shaped frame and lying coaxially opposite the punch along a setting axis, and a drive unit that effects a relative movement of punch and die and which moves the punch relative to the mount. The self-pierce riveting tool further comprises a plasma torch mounted to the clamping device and connected to the mount through the clamping device.

Abstract: A method for joining components, particularly metal components, via a joining element which is deformed during the joining process, comprising the following steps: coating a joining element with a temperature-stable coating; preheating at least one of at least two components in an area of a joining location to a preheating temperature in the range from 90° C. to 1,400 ° C., preferably by plasma-heating, laser-heating, electric arc heating and/or induction heating, wherein the components are stacked on top of each other; and driving the coated joining element into the stacked components.

Abstract: A blind fastener presenter assembly for presenting blind fasteners to a screw tool of a blind fastener setting tool. The part presenter comprises receiver, a gripper, and a handover unit. The receiver is configured to successively deliver the blind fasteners from a storage location to the gripper. The gripper is configured to receive, orient, and secure the blind fastener in place after it is received from the receiver. The handover unit is configured to move the gripper from a nested position where the gripper receives the blind fastener from the receiver to an extended position where the gripper delivers the blind fastener to the threaded screw tool for setting in the workpiece.

Abstract: A corner head includes a driving body, a driven body, a bell crank, and a support pin. The driving body and the driven body both include a guiding portion. The bell crank includes first and second guided portions and is rotatable about the support pin. The guided portions are slidable within the respective guiding portions of the driving body and the driven body. When the driving body is moved in a first direction, the first guided portion is guided by the guiding portion of the driving body and moves in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; the bell crank rotates about the support pin; the second guided portion is guided by the guiding portion of the driven body and moves in a third direction different from the second direction; and the driven body moves in a fourth direction perpendicular to the third direction.

Abstract: A nut includes an inner body, an outer body, and a pair of arms. The arms connect the inner and outer bodies to one another while allowing the inner body to move relative to the outer body from a first position, in which a majority of the inner body is disposed outside of the outer body, to a second position, in which a majority of the inner body is disposed within the outer body. The inner body and the arms are insertable into a hole in a component when the inner body is in the first position and, when the inner body is moved from the first position to the second position after the arms are inserted through the hole, the arms deform radially outward such that a portion of the component surrounding the hole is captured between an annular flange on the outer body and the arms.

Abstract: Cable-guide arrangement for a motor vehicle sliding door and pivoting arrangement comprising a pivoting arm adapted to receive cables and a support member adapted to be arranged on a vehicle body. The support member comprises a base plate with a first and a second receiving portion, the pivoting arm rotatably mounted to the support member. A cap is connected to the base plate and defines with the base plate a protective chamber, in which the cables can extend. The pivoting arm is a two-part piece having a first casing and a second casing with a sealing ring.

Abstract: Handheld welding gun for welding an element to a component comprising a linear actuator unit with a linear actuator housing and a linear actuator rod adapted to actuate the holding unit in order to move the element between the lift position and the plunge position, the linear actuator rod extending partly inside and partly outside the linear actuator housing. A displacement measuring system communicates with a control card. The linear actuator, the displacement measuring system and the control card are connected together to form a compact actuator unit.

Abstract: An assembly for securing at least one tube to a threaded stud includes a pin and a bracket. The pin includes an elongated body, a driving head disposed at one end of the pin, and a coupling head disposed at the other end of the pin. The pin has a bore for receiving the threaded stud. The bracket includes at least one finger and at least one receptacle for receiving and retaining the at least one tube. The pin is insertable into a bore in the bracket to a first position in which the at least one finger of the bracket engages the coupling head and thereby inhibits withdrawal of the pin from the bore in the bracket. The pin is rotatable relative to the bracket using the driving head to thread the pin onto the threaded stud and thereby insert the pin further into the bore in the bracket.

Abstract: A cage nut assembly is disclosed that includes a cage and a nut. The cage includes a plate having a hole, sidewalls extending from opposite sides of the plate, and an open bottom extending between bottom edges of the sidewalls. The nut includes a base, a neck, and a flange. The neck extends through the hole in the cage. The flange and the base of the nut capture the plate of the cage therebetween to secure the nut within the cage. A method of making such a cage nut assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: An outer component has an opening therein defining an outer component mating wall, and a collar is configured to be inserted into the opening in the outer component. The collar has a collar mating wall with an outer surface and including a number of protrusions. A recess can surround each protrusion so that an overall protrusion height between a base of the protrusion and a distal end thereof is greater than a protruding distance between an outermost portion of the outer surface of the collar mating wall and the distal end of the protrusion. The configuration of the protrusions, including the number thereof, can be designed to provide a press-fit insertion force of 50 Newtons or less, and to provide a friction retention force sufficient to retain the collar within the opening of the outer component under its own weight, throughout relevant tolerance ranges for the mating walls.

Abstract: A blind rivet fastener for an electrical contact assembly includes a rivet shaft and a rivet head. The rivet shaft includes an elongated, hollow sleeve extending coaxially to a longitudinal center axis of the blind rivet fastener and having an outer sleeve surface. The rivet head extends radially at a first end of the sleeve. The rivet shaft includes at least one ridge configured to scratch at least one component to which the blind rivet fastener is configured to attach. The at least one ridge projects from the rivet head and extends along a portion of the outer sleeve surface. A fastening arrangement includes such a blind rivet fastener.