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: 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 method for sensing the presence of a fastener in a feeder and fastening system for joining a fastener to a workpiece comprises a head with a receiving element for receiving the fastener, a joining drive element, a feeder for feeding fasteners from a magazine to the receiving element, a feeding tube adapted to receive fasteners from the magazine and through which the fasteners are driven to the receiving element by compressed air. The feeder further includes a pressure sensor for sensing the pressure of compressed air flowing through the feeding tube and a microprocessor for processing and computing the pressure to detect the presence or passage of a fastener in the feeding tube.

Abstract: A joining apparatus magazine temporarily stores a plurality of joining elements loaded from a loading station and feeds the joining elements to a joining head connected to an assembly line robot. The magazine comprises a housing connectable to the joining head; a drive motor; and a rotary body rotatable about an axis by the drive motor. The rotary body includes a plurality of chambers for temporarily storing joining elements. The magazine further comprises a loading arrangement operable for loading joining elements into the chambers; and an unloading arrangement operable for discharging a joining element from the chamber toward the joining head. The loading arrangement and the unloading arrangement are coupled together such that either a chamber can be loaded or a chamber can be unloaded.

Abstract: A joining apparatus magazine temporarily stores a plurality of joining elements loaded from a loading station and feeds the joining elements to a joining head connected to an assembly line robot. The magazine comprises a housing connectable to the joining head; a drive motor; and a rotary body rotatable about an axis by the drive motor. The rotary body includes a plurality of chambers for temporarily storing joining elements. The magazine further comprises a loading arrangement operable for loading joining elements into the chambers; and an unloading arrangement operable for discharging a joining element from the chamber toward the joining head. The loading arrangement and the unloading arrangement are coupled together such that either a chamber can be loaded or a chamber can be unloaded.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for feeding joining elements to a joining tool is presented. The joining tool may be movable by a programmable handling unit, and a magazine for receiving at least one joining element may be mounted on the joining tool. The magazine may be moved to a filling station that has a tubular section with an outlet opening. An inlet opening of the magazine may be oriented in relation to the outlet opening. At least one joining element may be conveyed to the tubular section so that it passes through the tubular section, the outlet opening, the inlet opening, and into the magazine. During the orienting, the magazine may be oriented in relation to the outlet opening such that the magazine is spaced apart from the filling station during the conveying of the at least one joining element.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for feeding joining elements to a joining tool is presented. The joining tool may be movable by a programmable handling unit, and a magazine for receiving at least one joining element may be mounted on the joining tool. The magazine may be moved to a filling station that has a tubular section with an outlet opening. An inlet opening of the magazine may be oriented in relation to the outlet opening. At least one joining element may be conveyed to the tubular section so that it passes through the tubular section, the outlet opening, the inlet opening, and into the magazine. During the orienting, the magazine may be oriented in relation to the outlet opening such that the magazine is spaced apart from the filling station during the conveying of the at least one joining element.