EP2801422A2 - Fastener selective pressure detector for a fastener setting device - Google Patents

Abstract

An abutment detector (94) for a connector comprising a fastener (66) for detecting the pressing of a fastener (30) having a fastener (66) mounted thereon against a target (62, 64) into which the fastener (66) is to be seated the contact pressure detector (94) has a contact pressure sensor (46; 106) which is set up to detect whether the fastening element (66) is pressed against the target object (62, 64) with a contact pressure, which contact pressure exceeds a predefined threshold value, and a shape feature recognition device ( 118), which is set up to enable the contact pressure sensor (46; 106) to recognize the contact pressure only when the fastening element (66) mounted on the shape feature recognition device (118) fulfills a predetermined shape feature.

Description

The invention relates to an Anpressdetektor for detecting the pressing of a setting device with a ready-shot fastener against a target, a setting device, a fastener, a setting arrangement and a method for setting a fastener in a target by means of a setting device.

For setting fasteners such as nails, bolts or the like, it is known to use devices in which a plunger is driven forward jerky, which acts on the fastener and this drives into the ground. So that the plunger can transmit a sufficient for the driving of the fastener pulse, it should be accelerated on the one hand to a high speed and on the other hand provided with a sufficiently large mass or connected. To achieve the high speed, different types of drives are known, for example, explosion-powered devices in which a propellant charge is ignited. Also known are devices in which a rotating flywheel is connected to the plunger via a coupling. For all types of drives, the plunger must be moved back to its original position, in order then to carry out a next fastening operation can. This backward movement can be realized by mechanical connections, in explosion-powered devices by diverting a portion of the drive gases, or manually by hand. When operating such a setting device so a high degree of operational safety is required.

EP 2,429,768 discloses a setting device for the sudden setting of nails, bolts or the like, which has a striking body with a striking mass, which via a plunger on the head of the bolt element to be set attacks and drives this underground. For driving the impactor a drive is provided, which consists of two a passage between them forming flywheels, which rotate in opposite directions about two parallel axes of rotation. The inserted between these flywheels impactor is slightly larger than the distance of the flywheels from each other in the transverse direction, so that they attack with great force on the surface of the impactor and accelerate it in the direction of the bolt to be set. After leaving the flywheels, the plunger strikes the bolt. To allow the striker to return between the two flywheels without removing them, the striker is rotated about its longitudinal axis to a position where its transverse extent is less than the distance between the two flywheels. As a result, he can be pulled back with little effort by a rubber band to its original position, where it is rotated back to the original angular position.

DE 10 2005 048 325 A1 discloses rivet detection on a riveting machine in which light reflected from a fastener to be tested is compared to a predetermined threshold to detect an allowable rivet. Thus, an allowable rivet is recognized by its reflectivity for light. The rivet recognition can also be combined with a state of charge detection of a rivet finger, ie it can be checked whether there is even a fastener in the rivet finger.

DE 10 2009 058 981 A1 discloses an apparatus for setting fastening elements, in which a pressure force exerted on the setting location of a fastening element can be detected with a pressure force sensor unit. If a predetermined setting force is reached or exceeded by the pressing force, a release signal for releasing the setting is output.

EP 0,699,490 A1 discloses a riveting machine in which a deformation of a workpiece in a rotating riveting tool by movement of a Piston is effected in the direction of a support surface. On the support surface, a receptacle is fixed, which carries two parts to be riveted together, namely a threaded stud with a supernatant and a plate-shaped receiving part with a supernatant. The riveting tool has an end face and serves as a first feeler. The riveting tool is surrounded by a key shell as a second feeler. Starting from a starting position, the riveting tool and the key shell move to the parts to be riveted until the key shell touches the receiving part. Another forward movement takes place at the moment its provisional end, in which the end face touches on the threaded studs. This placement is detected by a detector which measures a rising mechanical stress as it is placed, and when the output of the detector exceeds a threshold, this is interpreted as placement of the riveting tool on the threaded stud. Then it is determined by means of a displacement sensor, whether a height difference between rivet and receiving part and an absolute length of the rivet are within acceptable ranges. Only if this is the case, an electric motor for rotating the riveting tool is turned on, and the threaded stud is riveted to the receiving part by means of cold working and compression.

WO 2010/130 678 A1 discloses a setting tool in which protrudes from a front of a housing a nozzle, which is pressed by means of the setting device against a substrate to which an attachment is to be made, thereby overcoming a trigger lock. A bolt to be set is to be mounted in a holder near the nozzle.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a further improved fastener placement system.

This object is solved by the objects with the features according to the independent claims. Further embodiments are shown in the dependent claims.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a press-on detector for a plug-in connection with a fastening element for detecting the pressing of a setting device with a fastener that is ready for insertion against a target object into which the fastening element is to be set, wherein the contact pressure sensor is adapted to a contact pressure sensor recognize whether the fastening element is pressed against the target object with a contact pressure, which contact pressure exceeds a predetermined threshold value, and has a shape feature recognition device which is configured to enable the contact pressure sensor to recognize the contact pressure only if the fastening element mounted on the shape feature recognition device ( in particular by the shape of the feature recognition device) predetermined feature met. According to a further embodiment of the present invention is a fastener for a connector (in particular according to a key-lock principle) with a Anpressdetektor, in particular with a Anpressdetektor with the features described above, for detecting the pressing of a setting device with the settable fastener against a target object in which the fastening element is to be set created, wherein the fastening element has a shape feature (in particular a shape and size of a to be introduced into an orifice of the Anpressdetektors portion of the fastener), which cooperate with a shape feature recognition device (in particular an orifice of the Anpressdetektors with a shape and a size, which are specifically adapted to the receptacle of the inserted portion of the fastener; in particular, shape feature and shape feature recognition means the same size and ei ne to each other inverse shape) of the Anpressdetektors is set up such that a contact pressure of the Anpressdetektors the detection of a contact pressure thereby (in particular only by) is made possible that at the Form feature recognition device mounted fastener having the shape feature.

According to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a setting device, in particular a rivet setting device, is provided for setting a fastening element, wherein the setting device has a pressure detector with the features described above for detecting the pressing of the setting device with a settable fastening element against a target object, into which the fastening element set, and a drive unit for driving a movable plunger for acting on the fastener for setting the fastener into the target object, wherein the setting device is configured to activate the drive unit to trigger the setting of the fastener only when the Anpressdetektor pressing has detected with the predetermined threshold exceeding contact pressure.

According to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a setting arrangement is provided, which has a setting device with the above-described features for setting a fastening element and the fastening element, which in particular can be mounted ready for setting on or in the setting tool.

According to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a method is provided for setting a fastening element into a target object by means of a setting device, wherein in the method it is detected whether the fastening element, which is mounted ready to be mounted on the setting tool, is pressed against the target object with a contact pressure, exceeds a predetermined threshold, wherein the detection of the contact pressure is only possible if the mounted on the setting device fastener meets a predetermined shape feature. The activation of a drive unit for setting the fastening element is advantageously only released when it has been recognized that the contact pressure exceeds the predetermined threshold value.

According to the invention, the triggering of a setting process for setting a fastener, such as a rivet, allows high reliability. This is achieved because only when properly pressing a correctly identified by means of a Formfaktorabgleichs after the key-lock principle, on the setting tool mounted ready mounted fastener that is pressed with a defined contact force against a target object, the triggering of the setting process is made possible. By this Anpressdetektion an unintentional triggering of the setting process by a user or a triggering of the setting process can be prevented without directing the setting device to the target object. Furthermore, it can be guaranteed that the setting process can be triggered only when using a suitable fastening element, which fulfills the form criterion, which is a prerequisite for the pressure detection. A safely operable and at the same time user-friendly operating setting device can thus be realized in a robust manner.

A riveting tool, which drives rivets highly dynamically, must meet strict safety requirements. No riveting operation may be initiated unless the user presses the setting tool against an application or a target object. That this is fulfilled, a sensor ensures, for example, which electrically starts the Nietsetzprozess when the contact pressure by the sensor design meets specified requirements. At the same time the detector is designed so that no wrong rivet can be processed with the setting tool. Too large or too small setting head diameter are not recognized by the device and thus not released.

Illustratively, according to the invention, the shape feature recognition device of the contact pressure detector on the one hand and the shape feature of the fastener on the other hand form a specially adapted connection system of two interacting components, the way a plug connection, similar to a key and a lock, ensure that no unsuitable blind rivet (or other fastener) can be used with the setting tool. Since due to the inventive design of the setting device in part a much greater Eintreibgeschwindigkeit can be achieved than with conventional setting tools, a larger impact surface, which is associated with a blind rivet with a comparison with conventional blind rivets increased setting head, particularly advantageous. In addition, the use of blind rivets with increased setting head in the set state to a visually appealing appearance and a more planar surface of the connected by means of such fasteners metal sheets or the like.

Hereinafter, additional exemplary embodiments of the Anpressdetektors, the setting device, the setting arrangement and the method will be described.

According to one embodiment, the shape feature recognition device can check as a given shape feature whether a geometric size of the fastener or a component thereof is within a range between a predetermined minimum size and a predetermined maximum size. Only rivets with a value for the geometric size within this interval are processed by the device, otherwise it will not be possible to trigger a setting process. The shape feature recognition device can thus check a shape coding of the fastener and thus ensure that only technically and safety-related correct fasteners can be processed.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the shape feature recognition device may have a shape feature recognition flange which has a cavity through which a too small fastening element passes without an impact on the contact pressure sensor, and has a projection against which an excessively large fastening element is applied when contact pressure is applied, without being able to act on the contact pressure sensor. If the fastener is too small, that is, for this reason, does not meet the required shape feature, prevents the fastener used can act on the Anpresssensor, as it by a Central hole of the Anpresssensors falls through. On the other hand, if the fastener is too large and the required shape feature is not met for this reason, the fastener abut when applying to the shape feature recognition device on the projection or rest, without gaining mechanical contact with the Anpresssensor. Thus, both in terms of too large and in terms of too small fasteners a shape selection can be performed.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the shape feature recognition flange can also have a receiving groove (which can be arranged between the projection and the cavity), in which a fitting (ie suitably shaped and suitably large) fastening element is at least partially received in such a manner in order to be able to act on the contact pressure sensor , In a mechanical analogy, the receiving groove serves as a keyhole and the fastener as a key to make the contact pressure sensor accessible for detection. In this way it can be ensured that only suitable rivets are used in the rivet setting device, whereby the operational safety is increased.

The receiving groove may have an outer diameter in a range between about 9.0 mm and about 11.5 mm. In particular, the receiving groove in the context of a technical game can have the same outer diameter as a setting head of a male blind rivet. In other words, the switching range of the contact pressure detector may be such that a blind rivet is accepted only if its outer diameter is between about 9.0 mm and about 11.5 mm. Otherwise, the shape feature is not met, such a rivet will not allow a sufficiently strong pressing against the Anpressdetektor, which is a prerequisite for the release of the setting process.

According to one embodiment, the contact pressure sensor may be an electrical contact sensor or ohmic contact sensor (ie, a contact sensor which makes it possible to establish a direct, electrically conductive contact between two electrical contacts conductive contact elements as a sensor event detects), which, when the contact pressure exceeds the predetermined threshold value, the event of the presence of an electrical or ohmic contact between contact elements electrically detects which contact elements are spaced below the predetermined threshold from each other without contact. With such an ohmic contact sensor, it is possible to obtain a quasi-digital statement "contact yes / no", which is reliably possible with high error robustness and even in the presence of interference signals. As an alternative to an ohmic contact sensor, however, it is also possible, for example, to use a capacitive contact sensor which recognizes a changed capacitance and thus changed electrical properties when a distance between two capacitor plates is changed.

According to one embodiment, the contact pressure sensor may have a plurality of thin-film rings flexibly connected to one another, in particular formed as a laminate structure. Through the thin-film rings, a portion of the fastener can be passed. The thin-film rings, when the contact pressure of another portion of the fastener exceeds the predetermined pressure threshold, are compressed such that two of the thin-film rings (which may be referred to as "contact thin-film rings") which were previously spaced contact-free, come into electrical contact with each other. Such a multilayer structure to a sensor is highly compact. The thin film rings may be rings having a diameter that is at least a factor of 10 greater than a thin film ring thickness. Furthermore, such a thin-film ring can have a central opening, wherein the openings or central bores of the thin-film rings connected to one another to form a laminate structure can be aligned in order to form a common passage opening for the fastening element. Such a laminate structure can be obtained by gluing or otherwise bonding the individual thin-film rings and forms a flat structure. The flexibly connected thin-film rings are an arrangement which, when exerting an external pressure, can change the relative position between the individual thin-film rings, thereby triggering the sensor event. In particular, this can be done by contacting two initially electrically isolated thin-film rings when the contact pressure exceeds the threshold value. Then, an electric current flows between these contact thin film rings when an electric voltage is applied therebetween. The arrangement of thin-film rings forms a miniaturized sensor that can reliably detect the application of the required contact pressure even in the tightest of spaces.

With such a thin-film structure, a microswitch for pressing detection of a setting device is illustratively provided. In accordance with the nature of a rivet, the sensor is very short buildable. In order to obtain the shortest possible mandrels and ultimately a short setting tool, there is only a limited space between the setting head and the setting tool. Despite its compact design, the sensor is protected against the high forces that prevail during closing head formation. The described thin-film architecture fulfills these requirements.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the two thin-film rings may be formed from an electrically conductive material and only come into ohmic contact with one another when the contact pressure exceeds the predetermined threshold value. If a voltage is applied between the two thin-film rings, then a current flow between them can only be detected when the predetermined threshold value is exceeded, which can be interpreted as a sensor event.

According to one embodiment, a spacer ring (which may also be referred to as a "spacer thin film") may be provided between the two thin film rings of an electrically insulating material which, when the contact pressure does not exceed the predetermined threshold, keeps the two contact film rings spaced from each other. Illustratively, such Spacer layer ring can be formed by a number of circular ring segments, which can be mechanically connected to each other by one or more radially extending connecting strips. If the contact pressure is increased above the predetermined threshold value, an electrically conductive contact is exerted in one or more of the through holes between the previously spaced-apart electrically conductive contact thin-film rings, with which the sensor event can be detected. A perforated spacer ring has proven to be reliable, on the one hand exclude a false sensor event with small shocks or force effects and on the other hand to reliably detect the provision of a sensor event when exceeding the contact pressure.

In one embodiment, another of the thin film rings may be a spring ring (which may also be referred to as a "spring thin film ring") configured to define at least one pressure point on the two contact film layers when the portion of the fastener passes through the thin film rings and the other portion of the fastener acts on the thin-film rings. Such a spring thin film ring may be formed of sheet metal or steel, for example, and has spring properties, i. a Hooke reset characteristic. The spring thin-film ring can be designed to define exactly how a contact pressure can be transmitted to the two electrically conductive contact thin-film rings. As a result, a reproducible sensor arrangement is achieved, since the force is applied to the two contact thin-film rings in a well-defined manner.

According to one embodiment, the spring thin-film ring can comprise spring arms, each of which is formed by at least one annular leaf-shaped leaf spring, each of the spring arms having a projection with which a respective pressure point is defined on the two contact thin-film rings. Thus, the spring thin-film ring can be arranged as an arrangement of circular rings, in particular concentric circular rings, which via one or a plurality of radially extending strips of material are interconnected. The projections may be, for example, point contacts. The spring thin-film ring can then forward the force exerted on it to the electrically conductive contact thin-film rings at the locations of the projections.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the thin-film rings connected to one another flexibly can have an adhesion layer, to which they can be fastened to an opening of the setting device. Such an adhesive layer makes it possible to attach the laminate structure of the thin-film rings at the mouth of the setting device, whereby unwanted detachment is reliably avoided. Other attachments, for example, with a magnetic fastening force, but are also possible.

According to one embodiment, the shape feature recognition device may comprise a plate spring with an annular collar, which can be arranged buried or arranged sunk in a mouth opening of the setting device, that when the fastening element fulfills the predetermined shape feature, the mounted on the shape feature recognition device fastener when applying the contact pressure on the annular Collar presses. The annular collar can outgrow in cross-section as a quarter circle of an annular, in particular annular, plate spring and thus protrude in the direction of the fastener to be mounted from the sensor assembly. A diameter of the remaining central opening of the cup spring then defines the minimum size that a fastener must have in cross section in order to meet the shape feature and thus to reach the sensor assembly can.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the contact pressure detector may have a thin-film support ring between the disk spring and the thin-film rings connected to one another in a flexible manner. The thin-film support ring may be, for example, a metal ring, which forms a stable intermediate ring between the plate spring and the laminate structure in order to support a defined introduction of force.

According to an embodiment, the plurality of thin-film rings flexibly connected together, the plate spring and optionally (i.e., if present) the thin-film support ring may together have a thickness in a range between about 0.5 mm and about 3 mm. A diameter may range between about 5 mm and about 30 mm. As a result, a small size of the microswitch (for example, diameter x thickness equal to 15 mm x 1 mm) can be achieved. Overall, the arrangement of thin-film rings and disc spring can form a thin-film carrier, which can be placed flat on an opening of the setting device.

According to another embodiment, the shape feature recognition device may have a cover and a patch in the non-pressing state through a gap such a separate safety sleeve that when applying the contact pressure and fulfillment of the predetermined shape feature, the fastener pushes the safety sleeve into the gap and thereby recognize the Anpresssensor allows a suitable fastener is pressed against the target object with a contact pressure exceeding the predetermined threshold value. Only if the geometry of the fastener allows to reduce or close the gap between the cover and the safety sleeve when exerting a contact pressure, it comes through the concomitant displacement of the safety sleeve relative to the lid to a sensor event.

According to one embodiment, the Anpresssensor may have a decoupled from the safety sleeve first contact element and having a coupled with the safety sleeve second contact element, wherein upon pressing the safety sleeve in the gap, the first contact element and the second contact element are brought into contact, which is recognized that the Fastening element is pressed with the predetermined threshold exceeding contact pressure against the target object. The two contact elements may be ohmic or electrical contact elements, the digitally able to generate a signal that provides information about whether or not the contact pressure exceeds the threshold value.

According to one embodiment, the contact pressure sensor may have a biasing element for specifying the threshold value, which is set up to generate such a mechanical bias, that the gap is maintained in the contact-free state and the gap is formed again after the elimination of a previously applied contact pressure. The biasing element can thus reset the safety sleeve repeatedly in a state spaced from the lid, so that after a sensor event, the arrangement is immediately ready to detect a new sensor event.

According to one embodiment, the biasing element may connect as an annular spring to an end face of the safety sleeve opposite an end portion of the safety sleeve. Thus, a sensor event and a restoring force can be ensured circumferentially at the mouth of the setting device. According to one embodiment, the lid may be cup-shaped with a jacket and a perforated end face. The lid may be partially covered on the perforated end face by a ring portion of the safety sleeve (wherein preferably the perforation of the lid is aligned with a perforation of the ring portion, so that a portion of the fastener can be passed through the superposed perforations). The cover may be spanned on the jacket by spaced-apart strip-shaped sections of the safety sleeve. The perforation of the end face and the ring portion allow a fastener to be mounted on or in such an arrangement. The overstretching of the lid by means of the safety sleeve can define a well-defined starting position. According to one embodiment, a control unit may be provided which releases a user-side triggering of the setting of the fastening element in the target object by means of the drive unit, when the Anpressdetektor has detected the appropriate pressing. Such a control unit can, for example a processor (CPU or microprocessor) that uses an electrical sensor signal as a prerequisite to enable a set operation.

According to one embodiment, the setting device may have a user-actuated trigger mechanism. This can be set up in such a way that a supply of the drive unit can be activated by driving a trigger actuating element (for example a drive motor is switched on, which sets the flywheels in motion), by means of actuation of a securing actuating element a triggering lock which activates the setting of the fastening element again pressing the trigger actuating element before unlocking the trigger lock locks, is unlocked, and by pressing the trigger actuation element after unlocking the trigger lock setting the fastener is triggered. This allows the triggering of a setting process for setting a fastening element, such as a rivet, with high security and at the same time a high level of operating convenience, with simultaneous energy-saving operation of the setting device, which is often designed as a hand-held device, being possible with a short setting time. The high level of security can be achieved by triggering the setting process is only possible when a user has triggered a trigger lock by pressing the fuse actuating element before triggering by means of the trigger actuation element, whereby an unintentional triggering is prevented. The high ease of use is achieved in that the combinational actuation of trigger actuator and safety actuator is implemented in an extremely intuitive manner to the setting device. Furthermore, since the starting of the drive unit already takes place during a first actuation of the triggering actuating element upstream in time, the setting time is short, since the drive motor has already been set in motion when the setting process is triggered. Due to the temporally upstream starting of the drive motor peak loads of an associated power supply unit (in particular of a battery) are avoided in this energy-saving manner, since the drive motor is now slower hochfahrbar without thereby prolonging the setting time, since before enabling the triggering of the setting, the security barrier must still be overcome by the user.

The sensor may further be provided with an overload protection. Such overload protection avoids destruction of the sensor if too much force is applied.

According to one embodiment, the fastening element may be designed as a blind rivet and have a rivet mandrel with a mandrel head and a predetermined breaking point between rivet mandrel and mandrel head and a hollow rivet, which surrounds a central portion of the rivet mandrel and at an end remote from the mandrel head has an annular setting head. The annular setting head can then be structurally adapted to a receiving groove of the Anpressdetektors to allow for the key-lock principle, a response of the Anpressdetektors.

In particular, the annular setting head may have an outer diameter in a range between about 9.0 mm and about 11.5 mm, in particular in a range between about 9.1 mm and about 9.7 mm. It should be noted that such a blind rivet has a larger setting head diameter than is the case according to the relevant standards (compare, for example, DIN EN ISO 15979 or ISO 15983). Since, for safety reasons, a reliable matching between the fastening element and the pressure detector is to be guaranteed according to the invention, it can be reliably ruled out by said measure that unsuitable, conventional blind rivets are used with the device.

• Fig. 1 zeigt einen Anpressdetektor zum Detektieren des Anpressens eines Setzgeräts mit daran montiertem Befestigungselement gegen ein Zielobjekt gemäß einem exemplarischen Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung.
• Fig. 2 zeigt schematisch einen Schnitt durch ein Setzgerät gemäß einem exemplarischen Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung.
• Fig. 3 bis Fig. 8 zeigen Querschnittsansichten eines Setzgeräts gemäß einem exemplarischen Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung in unterschiedlichen Betriebszuständen.
• Fig. 9 zeigt eine räumliche oberseitige Ansicht des Setzgeräts gemäß Fig. 3 bis
• Fig. 8 und eine Ansicht von einzelnen Baugruppen dieses Setzgeräts.
• Fig. 10 zeigt eine räumliche, unterseitige Ansicht des Setzgeräts 30 gemäß Fig. 3 bis Fig. 9.
• Fig. 11 bis Fig. 21 zeigen einen Auslösemechanismus eines Nietsetzgeräts gemäß einem exemplarischen Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung.
• Fig. 22 bis Fig. 27 zeigen unterschiedliche Ansichten eines Anpressdetektors zum Detektieren des Anpressens eines Niets mittels des Setzgeräts aus Fig. 3 bis Fig. 21 gemäß einem exemplarischen Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung in einem Betriebszustand ohne eingesetztem Niet (Fig. 23 und Fig. 24) bzw. mit eingesetztem Niet (Fig. 25 bis Fig. 27).
• Fig. 28 bis Fig. 32 zeigen unterschiedliche Ansichten eines Anpressdetektors zum Detektieren des Anpressens eines Niets mittels eines Setzgeräts gemäß einem anderen exemplarischen Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung.
• Fig. 33A und Fig. 33B zeigen unterschiedliche Ansichten eines Blindniets gemäß einem exemplarischen Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung zum Zusammenwirken mit einem Anpressdetektor zum Detektieren des Anpressens eines solchen passenden Blindniets.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the following figures.

• Fig. 1 shows a Anpressdetektor for detecting the pressing of a setting device mounted thereon fastener against a target object according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.
• Fig. 2 schematically shows a section through a setting tool according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.
• Fig. 3 to Fig. 8 show cross-sectional views of a setting device according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention in different operating conditions.
• Fig. 9 shows a spatial top-side view of the setting device according to Fig. 3 to
• Fig. 8 and a view of individual assemblies of this setting device.
• Fig. 10 shows a spatial, underside view of the setting device 30 according to Fig. 3 to Fig. 9 ,
• Fig. 11 to Fig. 21 show a triggering mechanism of a rivet setting device according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.
• FIGS. 22 to 27 show different views of a Anpressdetektors for detecting the pressing of a rivet by means of the setting device Fig. 3 to Fig. 21 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention in an operating state without rivet inserted ( FIGS. 23 and 24 ) or with inserted rivet ( Fig. 25 to Fig. 27 ).
• FIGS. 28 to 32 show different views of a pressure detector for detecting the pressing of a rivet by means of a setting device according to another exemplary embodiment of the invention.
• FIGS. 33A and 33B show different views of a blind rivet according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention for cooperation with a Anpressdetektor for detecting the pressing of such a matching blind rivet.

The same or similar components in different figures are provided with the same reference numerals.

Fig. 1 10 shows components of a rivet setting apparatus 30, and more particularly a pressing detector 94 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention and a triggering mechanism 156 operatively coupled thereto for actuating the setting of a blind rivet 66 into two metal plates 62, 64 to be joined together.

A plunger 10 is operatively connected to a striker 9 and can be accelerated by means of flywheels 13. If the plunger 10, starting from the in Fig. 1 shown operating state accelerates to the left, so meets an end 11 of the plunger 10 on a rear end face of the blind rivet 66, whereby this is driven into the metal plates 62, 64 to be fastened together. The flywheels 13 may be rotated by means of a drive motor 134, as illustrated by arrows 14. The flywheels 13 can (as in Fig. 1 shown) may be arranged at a distance from the impactor 9 and then do not act on the striker 9. However, the flywheels 13 can also be driven towards each other and accelerate when the impactor 9 is between them, the impactor 9 and consequently the plunger 10th

As in Fig. 1 is schematically shown, the trigger mechanism 156 exactly two actuators or release buttons 5, namely a trigger actuator 58 and a fuse actuator 60. Both actuators 58, 60 are mechanically actuated by the hand of a user and can be configured as buttons or buttons or lever switching elements ,

By actuating the trigger actuation element 58, the drive motor 134 can be activated to drive the flywheels 13 and thus to provide drive energy for accelerating the ram 10. For this purpose, the trigger actuation element 58 must be actuated so that it acts on a first microswitch 122, which depending on the actuation time of the trigger actuation element 58, the drive motor 134 (an electric motor in the illustrated embodiment) selectively on or off. By means of a second microswitch 124, a setting process can be triggered by actuation of the triggering actuating element 58, that is to say an action of the drive energy of the drive motor 134 on the striking member 9 and thus the tappet 10 is made possible. To enable the triggering of the setting process, but before a trigger lock in the form of a mechanically acting locking member 126 to overcome, unlock or transfer to an unlocked. This is only as described below by a very specific concerted actuation of the trigger actuation element 58 and the safety actuation element 60 by a user. In total, a three-stage actuation process is to be executed by a user to trigger a setting process:

In a first operating step, the in Fig. 1 1), the trigger actuator 58 is actuated so that the drive motor 134 is activated to provide electrical drive power for setting the blind rivet 66. In other words, the drive motor 134 and consequently the flywheels 13 are set in motion by operating the trigger actuator 58 for a period Δt greater than a first threshold value T ₁ . For example, the first threshold T _{1 may be} 0.5 seconds.

In an in Fig. 1 Then, after step (1), the securing operation member 60 is operated with the operation step (2). Thereby, the locking member 126, which has previously prevented the triggering of the setting of the blind rivet 66, unlocked. Only by the fact that step (2) has been carried out, the user-side performing a subsequent operation step (3) allows, which then the actual setting process can be triggered.

This means that by re-activating the trigger actuation element 58 after unlocking the trigger lock in the form of the blocking member 126 by performing step (2), the setting of the blind rivet 66 is made possible. By the actuating step (3) the flywheels 13, which have already been set in motion or in rotation, are moved toward one another or at least one is moved translationally in the direction of the other so that they can act laterally on the impactor 9 released for a movement, whereby the impactor body 9 according to Fig. 1 is accelerated to the left, whereby the plunger 10 in turn strikes the blind rivet 66 and thereby the setting of the blind rivet 66 is performed in the metal plates 62, 64 to be fastened to each other.

If a user has set the drive motor 134 in motion by carrying out the actuating step (1), but the user does not want to perform a setting process or switch off the setting device 30 again, the user can actuate the trigger actuating element 58 again without simultaneously actuating the safety actuating element 60 for a period .DELTA.t> T ₂ = 3 s stop the drive motor 134 again or disconnect from its power supply. T ₂ can also take other values. Furthermore, a shutdown takes place when no further operation takes place within a predetermined time window, for example 30 s.

The described mechanism for initiating the setting process combines a high degree of safety with a user-friendly operating comfort and an energy-saving mode of operation. Because by the drive motor 134 early, i. already sufficiently long before the actual setting process, is set in motion, this can ramp up to operating speed over a relatively long period of time, since the actual setting even the release of the mechanical locking member 126 can be waited by a user. Thus, although the drive motor 134 is activated relatively early, peak load intervals during operation of the drive motor 134 can be avoided. As a result, total operating energy can be saved.

In the Fig. 1 The arrangement shown also shows the contact pressure detector 94. By means of the contact pressure detector 94, it is detected whether the blind rivet 66 mounted on the rivet setting device 30 is properly pressed against the metal plates 62, 64 to be fastened to each other before setting. The contact pressure detector 94 has a contact pressure sensor 106 (for example a pressure or force sensor, which can be configured as a multi-layer sensor), which is set up to detect whether the blind rivet 66 is pressed against the metal plates 62, 64 with a sufficient contact pressure. The decision criterion may be whether the contact pressure exceeds a predefinable contact pressure threshold.

Furthermore, the in Fig. 1 only partially shown setting device 30 on the muzzle side a Formmerkmalerkennungsflansch 118 which is shaped so that it allows the Anpresssensor 106 due to a mechanical shape recognition mechanism, the detection of the contact pressure only when the mounted on the Formmerkmalerkennungsflansch 118 blind rivet 66 fulfills a predetermined shape feature. The blind rivet 66 has an annular setting head 98, which can only press against the contact pressure sensor 106 and thus activate the contact pressure sensor 106 to generate a sensor signal when the setting head 98 on the one hand is large enough not to fall through the narrow right-hand central bore of the feature recognition flange 118 On the other hand, if the setting head 98 is small enough to be inserted into the left larger central opening of the feature recognition flange 118. This can ensure that only the shape characteristic fulfilling blind rivets 66 are processed with the Nietsetzgerät 30. As a result, the reliability is further increased.

If the Anpresssensor 94 that the blind rivet 66 is pressed with a sufficiently large force against the metal plates 62, 64, so he reports a signal to a processor or a control unit 136. The control unit 136 then activates the drive motor 134 (ie, is activated Engine in Fig. 8 acting on the spindle) provided that the actuators 58, 60 are operated simultaneously as described above.

Fig. 2 schematically shows a setting tool according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, which has a housing 1. The housing 1 has a front end 2, in which a holder 3 is arranged for a bolt to be set or a blind rivet to be set. The housing 1 contains a handle 4, on which a user can attack. On the handle 4 is a shutter button 5 or more shutter buttons 5 are arranged, with the help of which the user can initiate a setting process and thus perform. From the front end 2 of the housing 1 protrudes a connected to the holder 3 nozzle 6, which is to be made against a substrate to which an attachment, is pressed to thereby overcome a trigger lock. At the foot of the handle 4 and on an underside of the housing 1, a receptacle 7 for a power supply unit (for example, an accumulator, a battery or a power adapter) is attached.

• Ein erster Motor 8 dient dazu, zwei Schwungräder 13 in Rotation zu versetzen. Wirken die in Rotation versetzten Schwungräder 13 auf einen Schlagkörper 9 und nachfolgend auf einen Stößel 10 ein, so wird der eigentliche Beschleunigungsvorgang des Stößels 10 auf einen in die Halterung 3 bzw. den Stutzen 6 eingesetzten Blindniet ausgelöst. Der erste Motor 8 kann als Elektromotorausgebildet sein, der über einen Keilriemen (nicht gezeigt in Fig. 2) die Schwungräder 13 in Rotation versetzt.

This in Fig. 2 The setting tool shown contains two motors:

• A first motor 8 serves to set two flywheels 13 in rotation. If the flywheels 13 set in rotation act on a striking body 9 and subsequently on a plunger 10, the actual acceleration process of the plunger 10 is triggered on a blind rivet inserted into the holder 3 or the connecting piece 6. The first motor 8 may be formed as an electric motor connected via a V-belt (not shown in FIG Fig. 2 ) sets the flywheels 13 in rotation.

A second motor 18 serves to move the two flywheels 13 against each other such that they are delivered to the striker 9 out. This means that in the example shown, the upper of the two flywheels 13 is subjected to a translation in the direction of the impactor 9, so that subsequently the two flywheels 13 engage opposite surfaces of the impactor 9, which - when the first motor 8 the flywheels 13 rotational energy prepares - the setting process triggers. The second motor 18 is also used, in another operating state of the setting device, to deduct a residual mandrel from the blind rivet after retracting a blind rivet into sheet metal plates or the like and to withdraw it into the interior of the setting device. The second motor 18 may have an electric motor and act on a spindle driven thereby as the actual drive.

The impactor 9 is under the influence of the flywheels 13 in the housing 1 along its own longitudinal direction movable and has at its front end to the plunger 10, the end 11 to hit the head of a Setzniets or bolt, which is attached to the bracket 3 and the nozzle 6 is mounted.

The striking body 9, the rear end in Fig. 2 is still visible, is stored and guided in a guide 12, which determines his path. The guide 12 passes between the two flywheels 13 therethrough. The flywheels 13 are by means of parallel, perpendicular to the plane of the Fig. 2 stored extending axes and are driven in the direction of arrows 14 by the motor 8 in opposite directions. Their distance from each other is matched to the impactor 9, that this, when it is arranged in a first position between the two flywheels 13, is touched by the surfaces of both flywheels 13. As a result, the flywheels 13 are able to convert their rotary motion into a linear movement of the impactor 9. The distance is further adapted to the impactor 9, that this, when it is arranged in a second position between the two flywheels 13, is spaced from the surfaces of the flywheels 13. A transfer of the setting device between the two positions accomplished the motor 18th

To set a bolt mounted in the holder 3 or the socket 6 into a target object, a user presses the socket 6 with the bolt inserted against the target object and presses the release button (s) 5. The motor 8, see also Fig. 10 , now drives the flywheels 13. The impactor 9 and the flywheels 13 are brought into operative connection by means of the motor 18, whereby the plunger 10 is accelerated in the direction of the bolt. Thereby, the plunger 10 exerts a driving force on the bolt, which is consequently driven into the target object. After driving the bolt, for which the plunger 10 is conveyed with its end 11 on the head of the bolt, which is housed in the socket 6, the striker 9 can be pushed back or withdrawn. For this purpose, a tension element 21 can serve, which is fastened, for example, at the rear end of the impactor 9 and, for reasons of saving space, is guided around the housing 1 by one and optionally a plurality of deflection rollers (s) 20. Again by means of the motor 18, the residual mandrel is pulled, which is then fully conveyed into the housing 1.

In the following, reference is made to Fig. 3 to Fig. 21 a fully automatic riveting tool 30 for direct assembly of blind rivets according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention described.

First show Fig. 3 to Fig. 8 Cross-sectional views of Rietsetzgeräts 30 in different operating conditions. Based on this, a rivet setting cycle will be described below.

Fig. 3 shows the Nietsetzgerät 30 in a starting position. This initial position corresponds to an operating condition that is assumed after a blind rivet 66 (shown in FIG Fig. 4 ) into two metal plates 62, 64 (shown in FIG Fig. 4 ) has been driven. In this case, a front Blindnietteil remains with a positive locking head in the metal plates 62, 64 now attached to each other, wherein by means of retraction of a residual mandrel 32 of the blind rivet 66 after its driving into the metal plates 62, 64 at a predetermined breaking point 34 of

Residual mandrel 32 is separated from the front Blindnietteil, whereby the blind rivet 66 is divided into two separate rivet parts. The residual mandrel 32 remains within the rivet setting device 30, as in FIG Fig. 3 shown. The predetermined breaking point 34 of the blind rivet 66 forms the transition between the in Fig. 3 Restdorn shown 32 and the already driven front Blindnietteil.

According to Fig. 3 The collet 36 has clamping jaws 38 for engaging the remaining mandrel 32, wherein corresponding profilings on abutting surfaces of the clamping jaws 38 on the one hand and the remaining mandrel 32 on the other hand for a safe provide mutual support.

In the in Fig. 3 shown operating state further triggering a Nietsetzung is prevented. By means of an Anpressdetektiereinheit 46 can be detected whether a blind rivet 66 inserted into the holder 3 by a user against a target object, in particular a metal plate 62, 64, is pressed or not. For security reasons, only upon successful detection Such a pressing by means of the Anpressdetektiereinheit 46 allows a subsequent setting process. If the rivet setting device 30 is pressed against a target object without inserted blind rivet 88, a safety sleeve 88 is not completely pressed on - there is a gap between a cover 90 and the safety sleeve 88. However, pressing contacts of the contact pressure detection unit 46 are only closed if the safety sleeve 88 fits into the Deepening of the lid 90 is pressed. This is mechanically impossible without inserted blind rivet 66. A rivet setting can not be triggered in this state without inserted blind rivet 66, since a solenoid 40 (best seen in Fig. 4 ) locks the trigger mechanism until the contact between contact elements on the pressure detecting unit 46, which are operatively coupled to the safety sleeve 88, is closed. Fig. 3 further shows a return spring 92 for returning the safety sleeve 88 to a home position when a pressing is terminated. According to Fig. 3 but a contact on the safety sleeve 88 is interrupted, the solenoid 40 is in a locking position.

The plunger 10 is according to Fig. 3 by means of an indicated with reference numeral 42 plunger lock, which may be formed as a latch mechanism secured. Furthermore, according to Fig. 3 the flywheels 13 in an open state. The associated flywheel drive is switched off.

A tappet feed 52 is designed to guide the tappet 10 or the impact body 9 interacting with the tappet 10. Tension springs 54 are provided on the tappet feed 52, which can be tensioned during the later movement of a spindle 50 and relaxed during rivet driving in order to pre-accelerate the tappet 10 from engagement with the flywheels 13. The spindle 50 can be driven by means of a motor 18 (in particular an electric motor) in order to carry out a linear spindle movement for triggering a riveting operation. A speed selection switch 56 is user-operable to set a desired operating or target speed of the drive motor 8. Fig. 3 Incidentally, there is also a V-belt 55 of the driver 8. The rotational speed may be adjusted based on characteristics (for example, material, thickness, number) of the components to be connected to each other by a rivet connection, in the example shown, the metal plates 62, 64.

In order to prepare a subsequent setting process after a previous setting operation, a riveting rivet 66 can be inserted into the riveting setting device 30.

Fig. 4 shows the rivet setting device 30 in an operating state in which the new blind rivet 66 has been inserted into socket 6, the remaining mandrel 32 has already been transferred to a collecting container and the rivet setting device 30 at two metal plates 62, 64 to be fastened together by forming a riveted joint as a target object for the blind rivet 66 is pressed.

• Bevor ein nachfolgender Nietsetzvorgang begonnen werden kann, wird zunächst der Restdorn 32 in eine Dornentsorgungseinheit 44 überführt, wo er gemeinsam mit einer Vielzahl von anderen Restdornen gelagert werden kann. Hierfür wird ein neuer Blindniet 66 in die Halterung 3 nachgeschoben, womit dieser Blindniet 66 den Restdorn 32 zu einem Magnethalter der Dornentsorgungseinheit 44 vorschiebt, welcher Magnethalter Magneten zum Unterstützen der Dornentsorgung hält.

As the rivet setting device 30 in the in Fig. 4 will be described in the following:

• Before a subsequent Nietsetzvorgang can be started, the remaining mandrel 32 is first transferred to a mandrel disposal unit 44, where it can be stored together with a variety of other residual thorns. For this purpose, a new blind rivet 66 is pushed into the holder 3, whereby this blind rivet 66 advances the remaining mandrel 32 to a magnet holder of the mandrel disposal unit 44, which magnet holder holds magnets to support the mandrel disposal.

Now a in Fig. 4 Trigger 5, not shown, is actuated (eg, tapped) by a user a first time to start rivet setting device 30, thereby causing flywheels 13 to move. The flywheels 13 are set to a user-side set speed in rotation. The displacement of the flywheels 13 in rotation thus takes place when the trigger 5 has been actuated for the first time, since this triggers the starting of the drive motor 8 for driving the flywheels 13. The trigger 5, which has a trigger actuating element 58 and a securing actuating element 60, which is used for triggering a riveting operation for reasons of Operational safety both must be pressed in Fig. 9 and Fig. 10 shown.

By pressing the rivet setting apparatus 30 against the metal sheets 62, 64 with sufficient force, the contact in the pressing detection unit 46 is closed in operative connection with the safety sleeve 88, and the solenoid 40 outputs the lock or triggering mechanism 232 (FIG. Fig. 15 ) free. If a blind rivet 66 is inserted into the rivet setting device 30, the safety sleeve 88 is pressed into the recess in the cover 90 when the rivet setting device 30 is pressed against the metal plates 62, 64. The Anpresskontakt is closed and the solenoid 40 unlocks the trigger mechanism. The actual settlement can now be triggered via the trigger 5.

For this purpose, the user operates after the first actuation of the trigger actuation element 58, the safety actuation element 60 and thereby unlocks a mechanical release lock, which has previously prevented the full pressing of the trigger actuation element 58. Only after this unlocking a further or further actuation of the trigger actuation element 58 is mechanically enabled, whereby it comes to triggering a Nietsetzvorgangs.

As a result of the repeated actuation of the trigger actuation element 58 after the unlocking, a first phase of a spindle stroke of the spindle 50 is moved forward (ie in accordance with FIG Fig. 4 to the left), for which the motor 18 provides drive energy. This advancement of the spindle 50 causes, if by a previous Nachschieben a new blind rivet 66 of the remaining mandrel 32 has been advanced to the magnet holder, that the residual mandrel 32 is further pulled by magnets of the magnet holder into the magnet holder inside.

In a subsequent second phase of the spindle stroke of the spindle 50 to the front of the remaining mandrel 32 is held in the magnet holder. Further, a plunger carriage is pulled forward and the tension springs 54 are biased. With energy from this bias, the plunger 10 can be pre-accelerated later by relaxing the tension springs 54 before the Tappet 10 is subjected by means of the flywheels 13 of a main acceleration. The flywheels 13 can be closed with or via Spindelhub, ie moved toward each other to subsequently act on the striker 9 of the plunger 10 can. Trip levers of the release mechanism can be preloaded. The release levers are pivotally mounted and cooperate with other levers when releasing the plunger 10 to trigger the setting process.

If the spindle 50 has reached its foremost position, the remaining mandrel 32 is disposed of in the mandrel disposal unit 44 in a third phase of the spindle stroke. The magnet holder, during the spindle stroke, guided by a guided in turn in a slide guide 74 guide member 76 down and releases a Eintreibbahn along which then the plunger 10 can be moved to the newly inserted blind rivet 66 in the metal sheets 62, 64th collect. The slotted guide 74 has a guide recess in which the guide element 76 can be inserted, which in turn acts on the magnet holder. Thus, the guide member 76 is a body which can be guided in the slotted guide 74 and thereby activates or deactivates the forward movement of the plunger 10 by controlling the magnetic holder and on the other hand contributes to the residual mandrel disposal.

The plunger 10 is then pre-accelerated by relaxing the tension springs 54. If the plunger 10 or its impact body 9 comes into the sphere of influence of the compressed flywheels 13, they accelerate the pre-accelerated plunger 10 to such a speed that the plunger 10 drives the new blind rivet 66 into the metal sheets 62, 64.

Fig. 5 5 shows the rivet setting device 30 in an operating state in which the blind rivet 66 inserted into the holder 3 is driven into the metal plates 62, 64 to be joined by the end 11 of the ram 10 coming back onto the blind rivet 66.

When the spindle 50 has been moved sufficiently far forward, the rivet initiation is triggered by means of a triggering mechanism (see also FIG Fig. 11 ) or trigger 70. As a result, the plunger 10 is released, and the driving operation is carried out. Immediately after the riveting process, the flywheels 13 are again in an open state, ie, they no longer act on the ram 9.

The plunger or the plunger feed 52 is then retracted back to the starting position. The retraction of the plunger 10 to the starting position is effected by means of the spring 54 (and by means of springs 228, 224, see, for example Fig. 15 ), carried out. An associated ram repeating system 72 is shown in FIG Fig. 9 designated by reference numeral 72. The ram repeating system 72 provides for returning the plunger 10 to the initial state after a riveting operation has been performed. The ram repeating system 72 includes the pulleys 20 and the tension member 21 which is attachable to the shock body 9 at one end and which is deflected over the pulleys 20 on the principle of a cable. By providing these pulleys 20, the ram repeating system 72 and consequently the entire riveting tool 30 can be made compact.

Fig. 6 shows the Nietsetzgerät 30 in a state in which the plunger 10 is braked and the residual energy of the plunger 10 is dissipated. This over-energy of the plunger 10 is reduced by means of a plunger brake 48, which is formed in the described embodiment as an elastomeric brake. The plunger brake 48 can receive kinetic energy of the plunger 10 when moving the plunger 10 for driving the blind rivet 66 and thus act as an attenuator.

As a result of the drive-in path resulting when the blind rivet 66 is driven in, which the setting device 30 travels in the direction of the metal sheets 62, 64 and to the latter, the setting tool 30 must now be attached to the metal sheets 62, 64 or be tracked to this, in order to pull of the remaining mandrel 32 perform. Fig. 7 shows how the Rietsetzgerät 30 is postponed. By repositioning the contact on the safety sleeve 88 is closed again. Meanwhile, the plunger 10 and the striking mass or the impactor 9 already repeated by the as a string (for example, an inelastic nylon cord or an elastomeric cord) trained tension element 21, ie according to Fig. 7 transported to the right, and secured at the respective starting position. Now a mandrel process is triggered, the result Fig. 8 shows.

Fig. 8 shows the rivet setting device 30 in forming a closing head. The spindle 50 moves back. The jaws 38 become wedged in a profiled portion of the blind rivet 66 such that the residual mandrel 32, ie, the rear portion of the blind rivet 66, is torn off by restoring movement from the remainder of the blind rivet 66 (remaining in the metal plates 62, 64). The residual mandrel 32 is thus pulled and formed the closing head. The mandrel break takes place at the predetermined breaking point 34. In the mandrel drawing process, the rivet setting device 30 thus applies a Fig. 8 to the right acting force on the driven blind rivet 66 in order to cause breakage of the blind rivet 66 at the predetermined breaking point 34 in such a way that only the residual mandrel 32 remains inside the rivet setting device 30, whereas the front blind rivet part, which effects the actual fastening function, within the remains to be joined metal plates 62, 64 remains. In the rivet setting process described, a closing head is produced on the part of the blind rivet 66 remaining within the metal plates 62, 64 and thus a form-locking connection which holds the metal plates 62, 64 together.

A comparison between FIGS. 7 and 8 shows that in the final phase of the setting process, the guide element 76 is guided within a guide recess of the guide slot 74. The spindle 50 moves after the mandrel pulling back to the front to the starting position. After this process, the rivet setting device 30 is again in the in Fig. 3 shown starting position.

Fig. 9 shows a three-dimensional view and individual assemblies of the rivet setting 30th

Shown is, inter alia, a drive-in unit 78, which activates the driving of the blind rivet 66 into the components to be interconnected allows the above-mentioned and described in more detail below trigger mechanism.

To the drive-in unit 78, the plunger feed 52 and a rocker 80 with a spring assembly 82 are connected. The rocker 80 with the spring assembly 82 serves as a lever mechanism for opening and closing the flywheels 13 for space-saving transfer of force to the storage of the flywheels 13 to move them toward each other or move away from each other. As a result, the adjustment of a mutual axial distance between the flywheels 13 is made possible to accelerate the plunger 10 by the flywheels 13 either for rivet driving or not. A bias of at least one of the flywheels 13 against the plunger 10 ensures the exercise of a sufficiently high frictional force of the flywheel or wheels 13 on the plunger 10, wherein the degree of interaction can be adjusted by adjusting the frictional force. By interposing a lever mechanism in the form of the rocker 80 between acting as a biasing spring spring assembly 82 and the flywheels 13, a realization of the drive mechanism is possible even under tight space conditions.

The mandrel removal unit 44 can be mounted on a mandrel tractor unit 84. The mandrel removal unit 44 is used to dispose of a residual mandrel 32 of a blind rivet 66, which remaining mandrel 32 is demolished during the setting process of the blind rivet 66 and remains within the rivet setting device 30. In this case, an undesirable jamming or tilting of the remaining mandrel 32 in a channel between a mounting location (where the blind rivet 66 is mounted before or for setting) and a residual mandrel receptacle (which can accommodate many remaining mandrels 32, which are then disposed of batchwise or in groups can) avoided. This takes place in that the channel is at least and preferably partially provided or lined with a frictional positive guide structure, in particular an elastomer hose, along which the residual mandrel 32 is moved by means of friction tight and without Ausweichmöglichkeit along. Thus, the free mobility or the number of Movement degrees of freedom of the remaining mandrel 32 specifically limited, thus preventing a jamming or tilting promoting sideways and / or sliding movement of the remaining mandrel 32.

The drive-in unit 78 and the mandrel unit 84 are loosely inserted into each other. On the drive-in unit 78 there are eccentric clamping levers 79, which can be transferred for clamping the drive-in unit 78 and mandrel unit 84. After tilting the clamping lever the driving unit 78 is pulled over a housing in the direction Dornzugeinheit 84. The mandrel unit 84 is thereby pressed against the housing. The driving unit 78 and the mandrel unit 84 may alternatively be coupled together in other ways, for example by means of a screw connection.

A controller 86 may include a processor that controls the rivet setting operation of the rivet setting device 30. The control unit 86 is executed in the embodiment shown as a control board.

The ram repeating system 72 is based on an inelastic but flexible tension member 21 (in particular a cord) in combination with an in Fig. 9 not shown and separate, during setting process clamping energy receiving clamping element (in particular a tension spring). Thus, a low-wear ram repeating system 72 is provided for retrieving the plunger 10 after a setting operation in an initial position for preparing a subsequent further setting process. The inelastic but flexible tension member 21 has favorable sliding friction properties, whereas the tension member can effectively build a clamping force when the plunger 10 moves away from its initial position during the setting process. This allows the repetition of the mass of ram 10 and striker 9 over a large distance.

With the trigger 5, an unintentional and dangerous triggering a setting process can be excluded by ensuring that the setting process is triggered only when the user deliberately actuates the trigger mechanism. The deliberate release operation is carried out according to the invention via two independent actuators 58, 60. In this case to actuate the backup actuator 60 so that the trigger actuator 58 is fully released to trigger the setting process, ie a preferably mechanically acting release lock can be overcome. Separated from the trigger actuator 58 is a locking member which blocks the trigger actuator 58 until the backup actuator 60 is actuated. If the safety operating element 60 is not actuated, the user can start the drive motor by tapping the trigger actuation element 58. Release for starting the drive-in process takes place only when the safety actuation element 60 has been actuated and subsequently the trigger actuation element 58 is actuated once more.

Fig. 10 shows a bottom view of the setting device 30 according to Fig. 3 to Fig. 9 , In the following, reference is made to Fig. 11 to Fig. 21 a trigger mechanism 232 of the setting device 30 described in more detail.

Fig. 11 first shows the portion of the setting device 30, which forms the trigger mechanism 232.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show the triggering mechanism 232 in a locked state. The rear of the plunger 10 arranged impactor 9 is held by means of a locking pawl 214. The locking pawl 214 engages in the locked state in a designated as a locking recess 212 groove in the striker 9 a. Thus, in the illustrated locked state, the plunger 10 is not yet movable. The spring-loaded latch pawl 214 is operatively coupled to a ram lock lever 222 which performs the function of the trip lock. The plunger locking lever 222 is locked as long as by a solenoid 40 as unlocking until the setting device 30 muzzle side, ie at the location of the inserted blind rivet 66, is pressed against metal sheets 62, 64 and thus a safety circuit is closed. As further in Fig. 12 can be seen, the plunger locking lever 222 acts by means of a gate-guided lever mechanism with a release lever 208 to which a tension spring 228th is mounted, and with a clamping lever 220 together. Fig. 13 shows that the locking pawl 214 is biased by means of a coil spring as a pawl suspension 234 in the direction of the locking recess 212.

FIGS. 14 and 15 show the triggering mechanism 232 in a first operating condition. Prior to actuation of a trigger actuation element 58, the trigger mechanism is in the in FIGS. 14 and 15 shown position. A plunger slide 236 is in a rearward position and is locked via the plunger locking lever 222, which also holds the plunger 10 and the striker 9 in the rearward position. The solenoid 40 locks the plunger locking lever 222 and thus prevents disengagement of the plunger 10 and the impactor 9. The release lever 208 is held with the tension spring 228 in the starting position. The clamping lever 220 is spring-loaded with a leg spring as a torsion spring 224 in the clockwise direction and is pressed against a stop 240. An attack angle is in Fig. 15 designated by reference numeral 238.

FIGS. 16 and 17 show the triggering mechanism 232 in a second operating condition. If the riveting tool 30 is pressed correctly against metal sheets 62, 64 and the actuators 58, 60 are actuated, the drive spindle 50 (not shown in FIG FIGS. 16 and 17 ) moved forward. The solenoid 40 is actuated (when the setting tool is pressed with inserted blind rivet 66 against metal sheets 62, 64) and unlocks the plunger locking lever 222. The spindle 50 also drags the plunger slide 236 with. As a result, the compression springs 54 are compressed, which builds up bias. The trigger lever 208, which is rotatably mounted on this, is pulled under the stop angle 238 along. In this case, the tension lever 220 is rotated counterclockwise downwards over a curve on the trigger lever 208. The leg spring 224 is thus biased and pushes over the tensioning lever 220 the release lever 208 against the stop angle 238 upwards.

FIGS. 18 and 19 show the triggering mechanism 232 in a third operating condition.

If the spindle 50 has reached the front position, the clamping lever 220 is biased to the maximum. The trigger lever 208 was pulled out from the stop angle 238. The leg spring 224 may now relax and urge the release lever 208 upward counterclockwise against the ram lock lever 222. If by this time the setting device 30 is still pressed, the plunger lock lever 222 is not locked by the solenoid 40 and thus can be pivoted, which releases the plunger 10 and the striker 9.

FIGS. 20 and 21 show the triggering mechanism 232 in yet another mode of operation.

In this operating state, the trigger lever 208 has been rotated by the torsion spring 224 via the tension lever 220 and has opened the plunger lock lever 222. The impactor 9 has been pushed between the flywheels 13. As soon as a carriage hook 242 disengages the plunger carriage 236, it is pulled to the right via the tension spring 228. The trigger lever 208 is pulled up over the stop bracket 238 until it reaches the home position again.

• Zunächst wird nach einem vorherigen Setzvorgang ein neuer Blindniet 66 in eine Mündung des Nietsetzgeräts 30 eingesetzt, womit dieser Blindniet 66 einen Restdorn 32 zu einem Magnethalter der Dornentsorgungseinheit 44 schiebt.

By means of in Fig. 3 to Fig. 21 the rivet setting device 30 shown, the following operating method can be performed:

• First, after a previous setting operation, a new blind rivet 66 is inserted into an opening of the rivet setting device 30, whereby this blind rivet 66 pushes a remaining mandrel 32 to a magnet holder of the mandrel removal unit 44.

If no previous setting process has taken place, a first blind rivet 66 is inserted into the mouth of the rivet setting device 30.

Then the trigger actuator 58 is actuated for the first time to activate the motor 8 and bring the flywheels 13 into rotation and operating speed.

Now the rivet setting device 30 is pressed with inserted blind rivet 66 to the metal sheets 62, 64 to control the solenoid 40 for releasing the locking of the plunger structure 9, 10 upon successful detection of pressing by the Anpressdetektiereinheit 46.

The user then actuates the lock actuator 60, thereby unlocking a mechanical trip lock, thus allowing the trigger actuator 58 to actuate the rivet setting operation again.

This results, by a spindle movement and a lever mechanism, for moving in the remaining mandrel 32 further into the rivet setting device 30, for biasing a force acting on the plunger 10 biasing spring to close the flywheels 13, for transferring the remaining mandrel 32 in a mandrel box, for pre-accelerating Tappet 10 and the impactor 9 by relaxing the previously biased biasing springs and finally to further accelerate the plunger 10 by interacting with the rotating, closed flywheels 13th

The setting process is initiated by the plunger 10 impinges on the muzzle 66 used rivet and this drives into the metal sheets 62, 64. Excess energy of the plunger 10 is received by the plunger brake 48 made of an elastomeric material.

Immediately after the riveting process, the flywheels 13 are returned to an open state.

The plunger structure 9, 10 is retracted by means of a ram repeating system 72 back to the starting position.

After re-pressing the Nietsetzgeräts 30 a Dornzugprozess is triggered, ie a retraction of the driven blind rivet 66 in the direction of the setting device 30, whereby a front piece of Blindniets 66 to form a closing head in the metal plates 62, 64 remains and this holds together form-fitting, whereas a residual mandrel 32 from the front Piece is demolished at the predetermined breaking point 34 and remains in the rivet setting device 30.

Now the described process can be repeated cyclically.

Fig. 22 again shows the rivet setting device 30 according to Fig. 3 to Fig. 21 and a pressure detector 94 provided at the mouth side.

Fig. 23 shows an enlarged view of the Anpressdetektors 94. In this embodiment, the shape feature recognition device 118 has a lid 90 and a patch on it and in the non-pressing state through a gap 89 (see Fig. 24 ) separate safety sleeve 88. Only when exerting the contact pressure (and upon fulfillment of the predetermined shape feature) of a blind rivet 66, the safety sleeve 88 presses into the gap 89. This is in the operating state according to FIGS. 23 and 24 not the case.

However, if this is the case, the Anpressdetektiereinheit 46 can detect that the blind rivet 66 is pressed against the metal plate 62 with a pressure exceeding the predetermined threshold. An enlarged view of the Anpressdetektiereinheit 46 in Fig. 24 shows that this has a decoupled from the safety sleeve 88 first contact element 142 and

a second contact element 144 rigidly coupled to the safety sleeve 88. Upon pressing the safety sleeve 88 into the gap 89, the first electrical contact element 142 and the second electrical contact element 144 are brought into contact with each other, since upon movement of the safety sleeve 88 this entrains the second electrical contact element 144. By producing an ohmic contact between the first electrical contact element 142 and the second electrical contact element 144, an electrical sensor signal is generated, which is indicative that the blind rivet 66 is pressed against the metal plate 62 with the contact pressure exceeding the predetermined threshold value.

Furthermore, a biasing or restoring spring 92 configured as an annular spring is provided for predetermining the threshold value, which generates such a mechanical pretension that, in the non-pressing state, the gap 89 is maintained and after the elimination of a previously applied contact pressure, the gap 89 is again formed. Best in Fig. 24 It is shown that the return spring 92 is annularly connected to one of the end face of the safety sleeve 88 opposite end portion of the safety sleeve 88. The lid 90 of the Anpressdetektors 94 is cup-shaped and includes a jacket-shaped, approximately hollow cylindrical portion and a perforated end face. The lid 90 is partially covered at the perforated end face of a ring portion of the safety sleeve 88, see Fig. 23 , Further, the lid 90 is spanned on the jacket of four mutually spaced by 90 ° strip-shaped sections of the safety sleeve 88.

FIGS. 23 and 24 show the Anpressdetektor 94 in an operating condition in which no blind rivet 66 is mounted on the setting device 30. Show against it Fig. 25 to Fig. 27 a state in which such a blind rivet 66 is mounted to the setting device 30 ready to be set.

According to Fig. 24 a pressing of the safety sleeve 88 against the metal plate 62 can not allow triggering a sensor event, since due to the absence of a correctly assembled blind rivet 66, the shape feature is not met and thus the gap 89 can not be closed. As a result, the contact members 142 and 144 can not be brought into electrically conductive contact.

In contrast, this is according to Fig. 25 to Fig. 27 allows. Fig. 25 shows in a spatial view and Fig. 26 shows in a cross-sectional view that now a blind rivet 66 is mounted mouth side. Fig. 27 shows how the inserted blind rivet 66 is pressed against the metal plate 62.

Since the annular setting head 98 presses against the safety sleeve 88 in such a way that the gap 89 between the safety sleeve 88 and the cover 90 is reduced and finally closes, the electrical contact elements 142, 144 also come into mutual contact. This can be interpreted as a sensor event in the form of an electrical signal. The in Fig. 27 shown operating state in which the safety sleeve 88 is pressed into the gap 89 is marked with reference numeral 96.

Is the setting tool pressed in without the rivet 66 inserted ( FIGS. 23 and 24 ), the safety sleeve 88 is not fully pressed (see gap 89 between cover 90 and safety sleeve 88). The Anpresskontakte 142, 144 but only closed when the safety sleeve 88 is pressed into the recess of the lid 90. This is not possible without rivet 66. A riveting can not be triggered because a solenoid (in FIGS. 23 and 24 not shown) locks the trigger until the contact is closed.

If a rivet 66 is used ( Fig. 25 to Fig. 27 ), the safety sleeve 88 is pressed into the recess in the lid 90 when pressed against a substrate. The Anpresskontakte 142, 144 are closed and the solenoid unlocks the trigger mechanism. The settlement can now be triggered via the trigger.

FIGS. 28 to 32 show a pressure detector 94 according to another exemplary embodiment of the invention.

This one is in Fig. 28 shown in an exploded view, in the disc-like or annular components of the Anpressdetektors 94 are shown separated from each other. A contact pressure sensor 106 of the contact pressure detector 94 designed as a multi-layer sensor has a plurality of thin-film rings 110, 112, 114, 116 which are flexibly connected to one another and which are in Fig. 29 are shown separated from each other. In Fig. 28 on the other hand, the thin-film rings 110, 112, 114, 116 are bonded to a laminate structure.

The thin-film rings 110, 112, 114, 116 each have a central bore, through which a shaft part of a blind rivet 66 can be passed. In the laminated state according to Fig. 28 For example, the laminate arrangement of the thin-film rings 110, 112, 114, 116 is compressed upon application of a contact pressure exerted by a setting head 98 of a blind rivet 66 on the laminate arrangement.

When the predetermined threshold value (which is indicative of a required minimum contact pressure) is exceeded, two electrically conductive thin-film rings 110, 112 (also referred to as electrically conductive foil rings) make electrical conductive contact with each other, thereby triggering a sensor signal which is transmitted via an electrically conductive conductor strip 154 Control unit (not shown) can be supplied. Instead of the conductor strip 154, other electrically conductive connections can be provided. The conductor strip 154 has, as in Fig. 29 shown, two electrically conductive strips, one of which is connected to an associated one of the electrically conductive thin-film rings 110, 112. The two electrically conductive strips are separated from one another by means of an electrically insulating intermediate strip 160, which is connected to a spacer ring 116 of electrically insulating material.

The spacer ring 116 made of an electrically insulating material separates the electrically conductive thin-film rings 110, 112. If the contact pressure does not exceed the predetermined threshold value, the spacer ring 116 holds the two electrically conductive thin-film rings 110, 112 spaced from each other. However, if the contact pressure exceeds the predetermined threshold, at least one of the two electrically conductive thin-film rings 110, 112 is deformed or pushed into or through holes in the spacer ring 116, whereby the electrically conductive thin-film rings 110, 112 come into contact with each other.

A spring ring 114 is formed as a further thin-film ring and defines pressure points for the two thin-film rings 110, 112, when the shaft of the blind rivet 66 is passed through the thin-film rings 110, 112, 114, 116 and the setting head 98 on the thin-film rings 110, 112, 114, 116 presses. How best in Fig. 29 can be seen, the spring ring 114 has two spring arms, which are both formed by an annular leaf spring 146. Each of the spring arms has a projection 148, with which a respective pressure point on the electrically conductive thin-film rings 110, 112 is defined.

By means of an adhesive or adhesion layer 150, which in Fig. 29 The laminate structure of the thin-film rings 110, 112, 114, 116, ie, the multilayer sensor 106, can be fastened to an orifice 108 of the setting device 30 on the right-hand side of the electrically conductive thin-film ring 110. This is in Fig. 28 shown. Fig. 28 further shows that a plate spring 102 is provided with an annular collar 152.

Further, a thin film support ring or support plate 104 may be provided between the plate spring 102 and the multi-layer sensor 106.

As best in the cross-sectional view of Fig. 30 can be seen, the plate spring 102 including ring-shaped collar 152 is recessed in a mouth opening of the setting device 30. When the blind rivet 66 satisfies the predetermined shape feature, the blind rivet 66 mounted on the feature recognition flange 118 presses on the annular collar 152 of the plate spring 102 upon application of the pressing pressure, thereby triggering a sensor signal.

Like also on the basis of Fig. 30 1, the shape feature recognition flange 118 has a cavity 138 defined by the inner diameter d of the annular collar 152, through which a too small rivet 66 passes when the contact pressure is applied, without being able to act on the contact pressure sensor 106. At a projection 140 (limited inwardly by inner diameter D) is at an applied contact pressure too large rivet 66 on the outside, without being able to act on the Anpresssensor 106. In a receiving groove 158 can, as in Fig. 30 shown, with applied contact pressure a matching rivet 66 (outer diameter L of the setting head 98) are taken in order to act on the Anpresssensor 106 can.

In Fig. 31 is a larger view of the mouth area to see and shown that a total thickness h of the thin-film rings is 1 mm and that a ring diameter H = 15 mm. This allows a compact arrangement. Gripping grooves of the rivet 66 are provided with reference numeral 100.

In Fig. 32 is an even larger view of the mouth area to see.

The multilayer flexible printed circuit board described above, see Fig. 29 is constructed such that the lower conductive foil 110 and the upper conductive foil 112 join each other as soon as a defined force is applied to the spring plate 114. The spring plate 114 has a design which defines the pressure point on the conductive films 110, 112. Via the spacer ring 116, the conductive films 110, 112 separated from each other, and the adhesive film 150 allows attachment to the mouth 108. The various layers are all pressed together and glued together and form the multi-layer sensor 106th

The support plate 104 and the plate spring 102 transmit the required contact force for switching the multi-layer sensor 106. It is pasted behind a dome and thus protected from excessive forces.

In addition, the plate spring 102, the annular collar 152 (see Fig. 30 ), so that only rivets 66 can be processed with corresponding shape features. Too large setting head 98 rests on the projection 140, too small a rivet 66 slips through the annular collar 152, wherein the multi-layer sensor 106 then does not trigger.

FIG. 33A and 33B. 14 show different views of a blind rivet 66 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention for cooperating with a pressure detector 94 for detecting the pressing of such a mating blind rivet 66.

The in Fig. 33A Blind rivet 66 shown is configured to form a positive connection with a pressure detector 94, wherein a blind rivet 66 correctly recognized by the pressure detector 94, together with the presence of a sufficiently large contact pressure, is the prerequisite for a subsequent setting process to be triggered. For this purpose, it is necessary for a shaping feature 98 of the blind rivet 66 to fit geometrically with respect to its size and to a shape feature recognition device 118 of the contact pressure detector (94). Then it is a contact pressure sensor 106 of the Anpressdetektors 94 allows to detect the detection of a contact pressure.

The blind rivet 66 has a cylindrical rivet mandrel 32 (which can have an end tip) with a mandrel head 31 which has been widened at the end and a mechanically weakened predetermined breaking point 34 between the rivet mandrel 32 and the mandrel head 31. Furthermore, the blind rivet 66 has as a second component a sleeve-shaped rivet 33 with an end-side collar-like widening. Rivet mandrel 32 and rivet 33 are frictionally hidden with each other. The hollow rivet 33 encloses a central portion of the rivet mandrel 32 and has an annular setting head 98 at an end facing away from the mandrel head 31. The shape and size of the latter represents the abovementioned shape feature of the blind rivet 66. The annular setting head 98 has an outer diameter B in a range between 9.0 mm and 11.5 mm, in particular in a range between 9.1 mm and 9, 7 mm. The annular setting head 98 has an axial thickness a in a range between 0.8 mm and 1.2 mm, has an axial length A in a range between 8 mm and 20 mm and has an inner diameter b in a range between 2.5 mm and 3.5 mm.

Furthermore, in Fig. 33A schematically shows an end portion of the Anpressdetektors 94, which has a receiving groove 158 as a shape feature recognition device 118, which is adapted to the setting head 98 in terms of their dimensions. The receiving groove 158 has a relation to the setting head 98 inverse form. Like the annular setting head 98, the receiving groove 158 has an outer diameter C in a range between 9.0 mm and 11.5 mm. Of course, a person skilled in the art will recognize that a technically conditioned play can be provided between the setting head 98 and the receiving groove 158, so that the setting head 98 can be inserted into the receiving groove 158 without jamming, for example by means of mere muscular force.

To set the blind rivet 66 is inserted into the mouth of the Anpressdetektors 94. Fit in the sense of a positive connector cooperating and matched components in the form of Setting head 98 and receiving groove 158 in terms of size and shape together, so setting head 98 can dive into the receiving groove 158 positively and fill them substantially gap-free. A setting process with too large or too small or incorrectly shaped setting heads 98 of blind rivets 66 is impossible because with them a correct pressing can not be detected. If the blind rivet 66 is inserted properly into the mouth of the contact pressure detector 94, then the contact pressure sensor 106 can detect whether a contact pressure of the blind rivet 66 mounted ready for setting fulfills a predetermined criterion. If this is the case, the blind rivet 66 along an arrow in Fig. 33A into a target object, for example the two in Fig. 33B shown metal sheets 62, 64, are driven.

The result of this driving process shows Fig. 33B , By driving set head 98 abuts against metal sheet 62 and is stopped there. After a subsequent Dornzugprozess, ie a retraction of the mandrel 32 in the direction of an arrow in Fig. 33B , Nietdorn 32 is demolished at the predetermined breaking point 34 from the rest of the blind rivet 66. By a deforming relative movement between the mandrel head 31 and rivet 33 has the setting head 98 opposite a closing head 35 is formed. By setting head 98 and closing head 35, the metal sheets 62, 64 are firmly connected.

The provision of a blind rivet 66 with an unusually large setting head 98 having an outer diameter B in a range between 9.0 mm and 11.5 mm has advantages. First, due to the resulting large contact surface on the metal sheets 62, 64, the setting tool can be operated at high insertion speeds, so that even relatively thick metal sheets 62, 64 can be riveted. Second, a large bearing surface results in an approximately flat, low-dents or free boundary between the metal sheets 62, 64 and the set blind rivet 66, thus providing a visually attractive and low-stress configuration. Third, a use of foreign rivets can be made mechanically impossible, which increases the reliability.

In addition, it should be understood that "no other elements or steps are excluded and" a "or" an "are not meant to exclude a plurality." Further, it should be understood that features or steps described with reference to any of the above embodiments are also incorporated in Combination with other features or steps of other embodiments described above may be used, and reference signs in the claims are not intended to be limiting.

Claims (15)

Contact pressure detector (94) for a plug connection with a fastening element (66), in particular with a fastening element (66) according to one of claims 20 to 22, for detecting the pressing of a setting device (30) with the settable fastening element (66) against a target object (62 , 64) into which the fastening element (66) is to be placed, wherein the pressing detector (94) has: a contact pressure sensor (46, 106) which is set up to detect whether the fastening element (66) is pressed against the target object (62, 64) with a contact pressure, wherein the contact pressure sensor (46, 106) does not switch until the contact pressure reaches a predetermined value Threshold exceeds; a shape feature recognition device (118) which is set up to enable the contact pressure sensor (46; 106) to recognize the contact pressure only if the fastening element (66) mounted on the shape feature recognition device (118) fulfills a predetermined shape feature. The pressure detector (94) of claim 1, wherein the shape feature recognition means (118) checks as a predetermined shape feature whether a size (L) of the fastener (66) or a component (98) of the fastener (66) is within a range between a predetermined minimum size (i.e. ) and a predetermined maximum size (D). The pressure detector (94) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the shape feature recognition means (118) has a shape feature recognition flange comprising: a cavity (138) through which a too small fastening element (66) passes when the contact pressure is applied, without being able to act on the contact pressure sensor (46, 106); a protrusion (140) against which an excessively large fastening element (66) is applied when contact pressure is applied, without being able to act on the contact pressure sensor (46, 106); and a receiving groove (158), in particular with an outer diameter (C) in a range between 9.0 mm and 11.5 mm, in which a fitting fastening element (66) is at least partially accommodated in such a way in order to apply pressure to the contact pressure sensor (46 106). The contact pressure sensor (94) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the contact pressure sensor (46; 106) is designed as an ohmic contact sensor which, when the contact pressure exceeds the predetermined threshold, the event of the presence of an ohmic contact between contact elements (142, 144 110, 112) electrically signals which contact elements (142, 144, 110, 112) are spaced away from each other electrically below the predetermined threshold value. The contact pressure detector (94) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the contact pressure sensor (106) has a plurality of thin-film rings (110, 112, 114, 116) flexibly connected to one another, in particular formed as a laminate structure, wherein the thin-film rings (110, 112, 114 , 116), a portion of the fastener (66) is guided through and wherein the thin film rings (110, 112, 114, 116), when the contact pressure of another portion of the fastener (66) exceeds the predetermined threshold, are compressed so that two Contact thin-film rings (110, 112) get in particular electrical contact with each other. The pressure detector (94) of claim 5, further comprising at least one of the following features: the two contact thin-film rings (110, 112) are formed of an electrically conductive material and, when the contact pressure exceeds the predetermined threshold, come into direct electrical contact with each other; between the two contact thin film rings (110, 112) there is provided a through-hole spacer ring (116) made of an electrically insulating material which, when the contact pressure does not exceed the predetermined threshold, keeps the two contact thin film rings (110, 112) spaced from each other; another of the thin-film rings (110, 112, 114, 116) is a spring thin-layer ring or a spring ring (114) which is designed to have at least one pressure point for the defined application of pressure to the two contact thin-film rings (110, 112) to be brought into contact with one another. define, when the portion of the fastener (66) is passed through the thin-film rings (110, 112, 114, 116) and the other portion of the fastener (66) acts on the thin-film rings (110, 112, 114, 116), wherein the spring thin-film ring or Spring ring (114) in particular has spring arms, each of which is formed by at least one circular ring-shaped leaf spring (146), wherein each of the spring arms has a projection (148) with which a respective pressure point on the two contact thin-film rings (110, 112) is defined; the thin-film rings (110, 112, 114, 116) which are connected flexibly to one another have an adhesion layer (150) with which they can be fastened to an opening (108) of the setting device (30); the shape feature recognition device (118) has a plate spring (102) with an annular collar (152) which can be arranged sunk or recessed in a mouth opening of the setting device (30), that when the fastening element (66) fulfills the predetermined shape feature Fastening element (66) mounted on the shape feature recognition device (118) when applying the contact pressure on the annular collar (152) presses, in particular comprising a thin-film support ring (104) between the plate spring (102) and the thin-film rings (110, 112, 114, 116) connected to one another in a flexible manner, and / or wherein the plurality of thin-film rings (110, 112, 114, 116) connected to one another in a flexible manner Disc spring (102) and the optional thin-film support ring (104) together have a thickness (h) in a range between 0.5 mm and 3 mm and / or a diameter (H) in a range between 5 mm and 30 mm. Anpressdetektor (94) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the shape feature recognition device (118) has a cover (90) and a patch thereon and in non-pressing state through a gap (89) such a separate safety sleeve (88) that when exercising the When the predetermined shape feature is satisfied, the fastening element (66) presses the safety sleeve (88) into the gap (89) and thereby allows the contact pressure sensor (46) to detect that a fastening element (66) which satisfies the shape characteristic has a contact pressure exceeding the predetermined threshold value is pressed against the target object (62, 64). The pressure detector (94) of claim 7, further comprising at least one of the following features: the contact pressure sensor (46) has a first contact element (142) decoupled from the safety sleeve (88) and a second contact element (144) coupled to the safety sleeve (88), the safety sleeve (88) being pressed into the gap (89). the first contact element (142) and the second contact element (144) are brought into particular electrical contact with each other, whereby it is recognized that the fastening element (66) is pressed against the target object (62, 64) with the contact pressure exceeding the predetermined threshold value; the contact pressure sensor (46) has a biasing element (92) for specifying the threshold value, which is set up to produce such a mechanical bias that the gap (89) is maintained in the non-pressing state and, after elimination of a previously applied contact pressure, the gap (89) is formed again, in particular wherein the biasing element (92) as an annular spring on one of an end face of the safety sleeve (88) opposite end portion of the safety sleeve (88) adjoins; the lid (90) is cup-shaped with a jacket and a perforated end face, wherein the lid (90) is partially covered on the perforated end face of a ring portion of the safety sleeve (88); and wherein the lid (90) is spanned on the jacket by spaced apart strip-shaped sections of the safety sleeve (88). Setting device (30), in particular rivet setting device (30), for setting a fastening element (66), wherein the setting device (30) comprises: a pressure detector (94) according to any one of claims 1 to 8 for detecting the pressing of the setting device (30) with a settable fastening element (66) against a target object (62, 64) into which the fastening element (66) is to be placed; a drive unit (13) for driving a movable plunger (10) to act on the fastener (66) to set the fastener (66) in the target object (62, 64); wherein the setting device (30) is arranged to activate the drive unit (13) only to trigger the setting of the fastening element (66) when the contact pressure detector (94) presses a fastening element (66) which satisfies the shape characteristic with the predetermined threshold value exceeding contact pressure has detected. Fastening element (66) for a plug connection with a pressure detector (94), in particular with a pressure detector (94) according to one of claims 1 to 8, for detecting the pressing of a setting device (30) with the settable fastening element (66) against a target object (62 , 64) into which the fastening element (66) is to be placed, wherein the fastening element (66) comprises: a form feature (98) adapted to cooperate with a shape feature recognition device (118) of the Anpressdetektors (94) such that a contact pressure sensor (46; 106) of the Anpressdetektors (94), the detection of a contact pressure is characterized in that at the shape feature recognition device (118) mounted fastener (66) has the shape feature (98). A fastener (66) according to claim 10, formed as a blind rivet (66), comprising: a rivet mandrel (32) having a mandrel head (31) and a predetermined breaking point (34) between rivet mandrel (32) and mandrel head (31); a rivet (33) which encloses a central portion of the rivet mandrel (32) and at an end facing away from the mandrel head (31) has an annular setting head (98). Fastening element (66) according to claim 11, wherein the annular setting head (98) at least as part of the shaping feature has an outer diameter (B) in a range between 9.0 mm and 11.5 mm, in particular in a range between 9.1 mm and 9 , 7 mm. Setting arrangement, comprising: a setting device (30) according to claim 9 for setting a fastening element (66); the fastening element (66), in particular according to one of claims 10 to 12, further in particular ready for setting on or in the setting device (30) mounted. A method of setting a fastener (66) in a target (62, 64) by means of a setting device (30), the method comprising: Detecting whether the fastening element (66), which is arranged to be settable on the setting device (30), is pressed against the target object (62, 64) with a contact pressure which exceeds a predetermined threshold value, wherein the detection of the contact pressure is only possible when the fastening element (66) arranged in a ready-to-settle manner on the setting tool (30) fulfills a predetermined shape feature. The method of claim 14, further comprising enabling activation of a drive unit (13) to set the fastener (66) only when it has been detected that the contact pressure exceeds the predetermined threshold.

Images