Abstract: A joining tool unit including a hold-down device, a linearly movable tool, and a tool counter element. The hold-down device and the tool counter element are provided opposite each other, a workpiece lies on the tool counter element when the workpiece is arranged on the joining tool unit, and the hold-down device is arranged to be supported on a surface of the workpiece. The hold-down device has a light-guiding system, and the light-guiding system is designed to guide a light beam of a light in the direction of a joint location of the workpiece when the workpiece is arranged on the joining tool unit. The light-guiding system is provided on the hold-down device such that the light beam is irradiated onto the joint location solely at an angle which is greater than 0° relative to a movement axis of the linearly movable tool.

Abstract: A joining tool unit including a hold-down device with a movable tool and a tool counter element. The hold-down device together with the movable tool and the tool counter element are provided opposite each other. A workpiece can be positioned between the hold-down device and the tool counter element in the arranged state. The movable tool and the tool counter element interact in order to form a joint connection. A light-guiding system is formed on the hold-down device, to conduct a light beam in the direction of a joint location of the workpiece when the workpiece is arranged on the joining tool unit. A flow channel for a fluid is defined along a section of the light beam up to a workpiece-side end of the hold-down device.

Abstract: A device for clinch joining a component, including a retaining portion for positioning the device at a holder and a main body with a die unit and a punch unit, the main body being mounted on the retaining portion by a bearing point. A drive unit reversibly drives a linearly movable actuating element coupled to a punch or to a die element, along a joining axis of the device to act on the component present between the punch unit and the die unit. The main body moves relative to the retaining portion at the bearing point. A control apparatus between the actuating element and the retaining portion positions the main body relative to the retaining portion in accordance with the position of the actuating element along the joining axis as a result of the driven movement of the actuating element.

Abstract: A system for processing elements, including a supply device, a processing device and a hollow transport line. The supply device and the processing device are connected via the hollow transfer line. The processing device processes elements, and the supply device supplies elements to the hollow transfer line so that the elements are transferred to the processing device via the hollow transfer line in order to supply the processing device with the elements. A pneumatically operated system component is provided to operate the system. The system includes a gas compressor unit for providing compressed and/or accelerated pressurised air. The gas compressor unit is in an installation space that accommodates the system. The gas compressor unit takes air in from the environment of the processing device and/or from the environment of the supply device in the installation space and provides compressed and/or accelerated pressurised air for the pneumatically operated system component.

Abstract: A system for processing elements, including a supply device, a processing device and a hollow transport line. The supply device and the processing device are connected via the hollow transfer line. The processing device processes elements, and the supply device supplies elements to the hollow transfer line so that the elements are transferred to the processing device via the hollow transfer line in order to supply the processing device with the elements. A pneumatically operated system component is provided to operate the system. The system includes a gas compressor unit for providing compressed and/or accelerated pressurised air. The gas compressor unit is in an installation space that accommodates the system. The gas compressor unit takes air in from the environment of the processing device and/or from the environment of the supply device in the installation space and provides compressed and/or accelerated pressurised air for the pneumatically operated system component.

Abstract: A supply device designed as a separately positionable peripheral unit for supplying a processing device with elements, wherein a connection point is designed with a hollow transfer line that can be connected to the supply device such that the elements can be transferred in the hollow transfer line from the connection point to the processing device. The elements are transferred by means of a gas flow. The supply device has a gas flow generation device that transfers the elements from the connection point due to the gas flow provided by the gas flow generation device. The supply device is provided in an installation space, and the gas flow generation device takes in air from the environment of the supply device in the installation space of the supply device in order to provide the gas flow.

Abstract: An adapter element for attaching a die holder to a tool clamp is provided. The adapter element includes a mounting element for mounting the die holder. The adapter element has mounting mechanisms that connect the adapter element and a connecting mechanism of a clamp bow of the tool clamp, whereby automatic attachment and/or automatic release between the adapter element and the clamp bow is enabled.

Abstract: A joining tool unit including a hold-down device, a movable tool, a tool counterpart element, a drive unit, a light source and a control unit. The hold-down device and the movable tool are provided opposite the tool counterpart element, the hold-down device being movable in the direction of the tool counterpart element by the drive unit. The joining tool unit joins a workpiece arranged on the joining tool unit by movement of the movable tool relative to the tool counterpart element. The control unit performs open- and/or closed-loop control of the drive unit, and the control unit is designed for open- and/or closed loop control of the light source. The joining tool unit is designed to move the hold-down device in the direction of the tool counterpart element to a position at which the hold-down device and the tool counterpart element touch the workpiece arranged on the joining tool unit.

Abstract: A joining tool unit including a hold-down device, a linearly movable tool, and a tool counter element. The hold-down device and the tool counter element are provided opposite each other, a workpiece lies on the tool counter element when the workpiece is arranged on the joining tool unit, and the hold-down device is arranged to be supported on a surface of the workpiece. The hold-down device has a light-guiding system, and the light-guiding system is designed to guide a light beam of a light in the direction of a joint location of the workpiece when the workpiece is arranged on the joining tool unit. The light-guiding system is provided on the hold-down device such that the light beam is irradiated onto the joint location solely at an angle which is greater than 0° relative to a movement axis of the linearly movable tool.

Abstract: A joining tool unit including a hold-down device with a movable tool and a tool counter element. The hold-down device together with the movable tool and the tool counter element are provided opposite each other. A workpiece can be positioned between the hold-down device and the tool counter element in the arranged state. The movable tool and the tool counter element interact in order to form a joint connection. A light-guiding system is formed on the hold-down device, to conduct a light beam in the direction of a joint location of the workpiece when the workpiece is arranged on the joining tool unit. A flow channel for a fluid is defined along a section of the light beam up to a workpiece-side end of the hold-down device.

Abstract: A joining tool unit having a movable tool, a tool counter element, a drive unit, a light-guiding system, a light source, and a monitoring unit. The movable tool and the tool counter element are arranged opposite each other on the joining tool unit, and the light-guiding system is designed to conduct light of the light source in the direction of a joint location of a workpiece when the workpiece is arranged on the joining tool unit, wherein the movable tool can be moved by the drive device in the direction of the tool counter element, and the workpiece is joined by the movement of the movable tool in the direction of the tool counter element when the workpiece is arranged on the joining tool unit. The monitoring unit controls and/or regulate the drive unit and to control and/or regulate the light source and/or a component of the light-guiding system.

Abstract: A joining tool unit including a hold-down device, a movable tool, a tool counterpart element, a drive unit, a light source and a control unit. The hold-down device and the movable tool are provided opposite the tool counterpart element, the hold-down device being movable in the direction of the tool counterpart element by the drive unit. The joining tool unit joins a workpiece arranged on the joining tool unit by movement of the movable tool relative to the tool counterpart element. The control unit performs open- and/or closed-loop control of the drive unit, and the control unit is designed for open- and/or closed loop control of the light source. The joining tool unit is designed to move the hold-down device in the direction of the tool counterpart element to a position at which the hold-down device and the tool counterpart element touch the workpiece arranged on the joining tool unit.

Abstract: A device for clinch joining a component, including a retaining portion for positioning the device at a holder and a main body with a die unit and a punch unit, the main body being mounted on the retaining portion by a bearing point. A drive unit reversibly drives a linearly movable actuating element coupled to a punch or to a die element, along a joining axis of the device to act on the component present between the punch unit and the die unit. The main body moves relative to the retaining portion at the bearing point. A control apparatus between the actuating element and the retaining portion positions the main body relative to the retaining portion in accordance with the position of the actuating element along the joining axis as a result of the driven movement of the actuating element.

Abstract: A C-shaped frame for a cold-joining tool has two leg sections spaced apart from one another and a connection section. A punch unit and a die unit are provided opposite one another to define a tool axis. The C-shaped frame has a first surface side and a second surface side. An outer contour of the C-shaped frame is determined by an outer edge of the C-shaped frame in the transition between the two surface sides. The C-shaped frame includes a reinforcing section provided on the outer edge along the outer contour of the C-shaped frame. There are multiple portions of the reinforcing section, each with an associated thickness dimension of the portion, over a profile of the reinforcing section as seen along the outer edge. The extent of the respective portions along the outer edge and parallel to a surface side is in each case at least 30 millimetres.

Abstract: A process monitoring method for monitoring the joining of at least two workpieces by means of a self-piercing riveting device having a joining gun including a) a total sheet metal thickness, a rivet length and a bending constant of the joining gun are detected for a plurality of joining operations for each operation before joining; b) a punch path for a certain force, an end force, a path end value for the end force, a setting path of the rivet, and a rivet head end position are detected for the plurality of joining operations; c) a force/path window for the joining operations is determined; and d) a determined force/path window of one additional joining operation is compared to the force/path window of the joining operations determined in step c), and the additional joining operation is monitored so that any joining-related defects are identified.

Abstract: A device for stamping a depression in a sheet-like workpiece and for piercing the workpiece in the region of the stamped depression, including a punch unit and a die unit between which the workpiece can be positioned. The punch unit has a punch with a forming punch and with a piercing punch. The forming punch bears against a side of the workpiece in the region of the depression during the stamping of the depression. The piercing punch pierces the workpiece in the region of the depression. The forming punch and the piercing punch are moved along a joining axis of the device. The forming punch and the piercing punch are accommodated in a punch housing, and the forming punch and the piercing punch are driven via a common hydraulic supply system relative to the punch housing along the joining axis of the device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an adapter element for attaching a die holder to a tool clamp, in particular, for attaching a die holder to a joining clamp. The adapter element is characterized in that the adapter element comprises a mounting element and the mounting element is designed to arrange the die holder, the adapter element having mounting mechanisms, the mounting mechanisms being designed to arrange the adapter element on a connecting mechanism of a clamp bow of the tool clamp such that automatic attachment of the adapter element to the clamp bow and/or automatic release from the clamp bow is realized.

Abstract: A C-shaped frame for a cold-joining tool has two leg sections spaced apart from one another and a connection section. A punch unit and a die unit are provided opposite one another to define a tool axis. The C-shaped frame has a first surface side and a second surface side. An outer contour of the C-shaped frame is determined by an outer edge of the C-shaped frame in the transition between the two surface sides. The C-shaped frame includes a reinforcing section provided on the outer edge along the outer contour of the C-shaped frame. There are multiple portions of the reinforcing section, each with an associated thickness dimension of the portion, over a profile of the reinforcing section as seen along the outer edge. The extent of the respective portions along the outer edge and parallel to a surface side is in each case at least 30 millimetres.

Abstract: A device for attaching a joining element to a component section, which device is for a tool for attaching the joining element to the component section, wherein the joining element is adapted to be temporarily placed in a holding position and then shifted out of the holding position onto the component section by a linearly movable punch of the tool, wherein the joining element is temporarily placed in the holding position by means for providing a pressure difference in a region of the holding position, wherein the pressure difference on the temporarily placed joining element provides a holding force that acts on the joining element, so that the joining element is held positionally fixed in the holding position.

Abstract: A device for attaching a joining element to a component portion for a tool comprising a die unit and a punch that is linearly movable on a working axis of the tool from a retracted position on the tool to the die unit and back again, wherein the working axis coincides with a punch longitudinal axis, and wherein the punch, in its forward movement to the die unit, transports in the direction of the component portion a joining element which has been temporarily placed on the device in a holding position. The device includes a positioning portion, in the region of the holding position, which is tailored to a joining element and configured such that the joining element is held with a predefined orientation in such a way in the holding position that a longitudinal axis of the joining element deviates spatially from the working axis of the tool.