Abstract: The present invention relates to a setting device for fastening a functional element to a workpiece, in particular to a sheet metal component. The setting device comprises a die for receiving and supporting the workpiece and a setting head having a setting die which cooperates with the functional element and by which the functional element can be fastened to the workpiece in an axial setting movement. The setting device further comprises a checking device for determining the quality of a connection of the functional element to the workpiece, wherein the checking device has a sensor having a first contact section, which can be electrically conductively contacted with the functional element, and having a second contact section that can be electrically conductively contacted with the workpiece. The present invention furthermore relates to a corresponding method of fastening a functional element to a workpiece.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for fastening a functional element to a section of a workpiece and/or for reshaping a section of the workpiece, comprising a support device for supporting the workpiece, wherein the workpiece section has a first surface facing the support device and a second surface facing away from the support device. The support device comprises a first support element having a first workpiece support surface that is associated with the first surface, and a second support element having a second workpiece support surface that faces away from the first workpiece support surface and that is associated with a supporting surface. The first and the second support element are movable relative to one another by a spreading device such that the first and the second workpiece support surface can be moved away from one another in an axial direction, in particular wherein the axial direction extends perpendicular to the first and/or second workpiece support surface.

Abstract: A self-punching functional element serves for fastening to a workpiece, in particular to a high-strength sheet metal part, and comprises a functional section; and a fastening section that has a contact surface for an engagement of a setting device, an end face remote from the contact surface, and an outer peripheral surface connecting the contact surface and the end face. The end face is radially outwardly bounded by a punching edge for punching a slug out of the workpiece, and at least one projection is provided at the outer peripheral surface adjacent to the contact surface, said projection rising from the outer peripheral surface in a radial direction and extending further outwardly in the radial direction than the punching edge.

Abstract: A self-punching functional element serves for the fastening to a workpiece and comprises a head part that has an abutment surface for introducing a punching force directed in a punching direction into the functional element and a rivet section that extends away from the head part in the punching direction and that comprises a free end that is provided with a first punching edge for punching a slug out of the workpiece. The functional element further comprises a functional section that has a punching pilot that is radially surrounded by the rivet section, that extends away from the head part in the punching direction, and that has a second punching edge for punching a hole into the slug. The second punching edge is set back with respect to the first punching edge in the punching direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a functional unit for attachment to a workpiece, in particular to a sheet metal part, said functional unit comprising a fastening element having a fastening section for the rotationally fixed fastening of the functional unit to the workpiece and having a head part that adjoins the fastening section in an axial direction and that has a functional section and a head part support surface remote from the fastening section; and a fixing element that can be fixed to the functional section of the head part of the fastening element by means of a rotational movement and that has a fixing element support surface that, in a state of the fixing element installed at the fastening element, faces the head part support surface such that an attachment part can be clamped between the head part support surface and the fixing element support surface.

Abstract: A method of connecting a first component and a second component with the aid of an auxiliary joining part, wherein the auxiliary joining part is formed from a pin and a plate. A position of intended fracture is present between the plate and the pin. The first component, the second component and the auxiliary joining part are brought into a stacked arrangement such that the plate contacts the first component and the pin projects away from the side of the plate remote from the first component. A force is exerted on the pin of the auxiliary joining part in the direction towards the stacked components which leads to a fracture at a position of intended fracture and the pin is used in order to pierce slugs from the stacked components. The end of the pin which is pressed through the second component, and/or a washer which is optionally provided there, is deformed in order to provide a form-locked connection to the second component or to a washer which is provided there.

Abstract: The invention relates to a functional element, in particular to a bolt element, for attachment to a workpiece, in particular a sheet metal part. The functional element comprises a fastening section that has a reshaping section that can be reshaped to fasten the functional element to the workpiece, in particular wherein the reshaping section is a rivet section, and a functional section having a functional region, wherein the functional section is connected, in particular is rotationally fixedly connected, to the fastening section. The fastening section and the functional section are produced from different materials.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a self-punching functional element that is adapted for punching into a workpiece, in particular into a sheet metal part. It comprises a head part forming a flange and having a contact surface for contact with the workpiece; and a punching section that extends away from the head part, in particular from the contact surface, and that is in particular arranged coaxially to a central longitudinal axis of the functional element. The punching section has a peripheral punching edge at its free end for punching through the workpiece and surrounds a cavity in a peripheral direction, said cavity having an opening defined by the punching edge. An inner wall of the punching section facing the cavity has at least one elevated slug securing portion projecting radially inwardly into the cavity, in particular wherein the elevated portion has the form of a rib extending in an axial direction.

Abstract: A component assembly is described which consists of a component and an element attached to the component and formed as an alignment element. The element has a head part, a component contact surface provided at an end face of the head part and a collar arranged inside the component contact surface and projecting away from it. The collar has a cross-sectional shape which is non-circular. The collar is inserted with clearance into an aperture of the component formed complimentary to the cross-sectional shape of the collar and has outer surfaces which converge in the direction of the said end face of the head part and with respect to the central longitudinal axis of the element and form an acute angle with the latter.

Abstract: A self-piercing rivet element is provided with a body part having a thread cylinder and with a hollow rivet section to be pressed into an as yet unpierced component. In this arrangement, the rivet section is designed to be at least regionally dilatable by means of a die button and tapers in the direction of the central longitudinal axis and away from the body part. The hollow rivet section has, in the region of the transition to the body part, a diameter, which is larger than the outer diameter of the thread cylinder. Furthermore, the rivet section has a closed peripheral wall and an opening at its free end which corresponds at least substantially in diameter to the core diameter of the thread cylinder. Furthermore a component assembly, a method for the manufacture of the component assembly and the die button are claimed.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for attaching functional elements, e.g. composed of metal, to a component, in particular to a component comprising fiber-reinforced plastic, while using a setting head, wherein the functional element has a contact surface provided with adhesive and wherein the adhesive can be supplied to the setting head in individual depots adapted to the functional elements on a carrier band is characterized in that the functional elements are taken over by a guide device and are each pressable to an adhesive depot and are subsequently guidable with the adhering adhesive depots and separately from the carrier band in the setting head to the setting position in front of a setting die.

Abstract: The invention relates to a joining element comprising a shaft to be placed into a component; a head provided at a first end of the shaft; and a punching element attached in a losable manner to a second end of the shaft remote from the head.

Abstract: A hole punch and a method for piercing a workpiece wherein a hole punch includes a sheet metal part and a piercing body attached thereto which carries out the piercing function and which is provided with a thread cylinder or can be provided with a thread cylinder, for example by pressing a threaded pin into a centrally arranged passage of the hole punch, wherein the hole punch can also be formed in one piece as a piercing body with a sheet metal-like flange. Furthermore a method is claimed for the manufacture of the hole punch.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a hole in a component consisting of a composite material, such as a fiber or fabric reinforced plastic part, wherein the component, having first and second oppositely disposed sides, is placed with its first side on a support having an iris diaphragm. A tip which diverges in the axial direction is pressed from the second side of the component through the component, which optionally has a pre-piercing, for formation of the hole or for enlargement of the pre-piercing. The iris diaphragm has a smaller starting opening which receives a narrower region of the tip and opens into a larger opening with increasing penetration of the component by the tip, the component is supported during hole formation over an as large as possible area from the first side. A piercing aid in the form of an iris diaphragm or a die button is likewise claimed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of fastening a rivet element to a workpiece which has a preshaped hole provided for the reception of a rivet section of the rivet element and which is made planar at least in the region around the preshaped hole. Prior to the fastening process, the workpiece is positioned at a well-defined spacing from a contact surface of a die by means of at least one spacer which is fixedly connected to the die for the reshaping of the rivet section during the fastening process, so that a gap is formed between a wall of the hole and a punch of the die, which is provided for the reshaping of the rivet section. The rivet section is introduced into the gap in the course of the fastening process and is reshaped by the punch in order to engage behind the workpiece in the region of the hole.

Abstract: A functional element having a section that has a flange, that projects away from a side of the flange, and is adapted for an aperture-free punching into a sheet metal part and having a shaft part that projects away from a side of the flange opposite the first side, that satisfies a function and that is provided with a longitudinal axis. The flange and the section are arranged at least substantially coaxially to the shaft part. The section is formed as a hollow cylinder that has notches extending in parallel with the longitudinal direction at at least one of its outer jacket surface and its inner jacket surface. The section has a diverging frustoconical shape that runs out at least substantially at the free end at the inner side of the section in the region of its free end and that serves for the widening of the section on the punching in the sheet metal part. A component assembly and a method of producing the latter is also claimed.

Abstract: A method of fastening a rivet element to a workpiece, which has a preshaped hole provided for a reception of a rivet section of the rivet element and which is made planar at least in the region around the preshaped hole. Prior to the fastening process, the workpiece is positioned at a well-defined spacing from a contact surface of a die by at least one movably and/or elastically configured spacer of the die for a reshaping of the rivet section, so that a gap is formed between a wall of the hole and a punch of the die, which is provided for the reshaping of the rivet section. The rivet section is introduced into the gap in a course of the fastening process and is reshaped by the punch in order to engage behind the workpiece in the region of the hole.

Abstract: A functional element having a functional portion, a generally tubular rivet portion and a ring-like sheet metal contact surface is characterised in that features of shape are provided at the rivet portion for co-movement of the sheet metal part during the formation of the rivet bead, in particular at the free end of the rivet portion and/or at the radially outer side of the rivet portion, at least in the region adjacent the free end of the rivet portion. A component assembly comprising a functional element and a sheet metal part as well as a method for the attachment of a functional element to the sheet metal part are also claimed.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method are provided for attaching functional elements of metal to a component, in particular to a component comprising fiber reinforced plastic, using a setting head, wherein the functional element has a contact surface (12) provided with adhesive. In this respect, the adhesive within the setting head is applied to the functional element before the attachment of the functional element to the component.

Abstract: A die button for the punching in and fastening of a fastener element having a piercing section to a planar workpiece, in particular a sheet metal part. The die button includes a jacket. Also included is a die plunger movably arranged in the jacket. Further included is a biasing device for pressing the plunger against the workpiece when the workpiece is supported on the jacket with a pressing force made available by the biasing device and selected such that the die plunger first moves when a slug has been detached from the workpiece by the piercing section of the fastener element.