# US 10,479,024 B2 · Device for setting a setting element in a component

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- Number: US 10,479,024 B2
- Document ID: US10479024B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/305,771
- Filed: 2015-04-13
- Published: 2017-02-16
- Granted: 2019-11-19
- Earliest claimed: 2014-04-23
- Assignees: Weber Schraubautomaten GmbH
- Applicants: WEBER SCHRAUBAUTOMATEN GmbH
- Inventors: Ralf Wiethoff; Jochen Hartmann
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10479024B2

## CPC

- B29C 65/0672: {Spin welding}
- B29C 65/069: {the welding tool cooperating with specially formed features of at least one of the parts to be joined, e.g. cooperating with holes or ribs of at least one of the parts to be joined}
- B29C 65/608: {the integral rivets being pushed in blind holes}
- B29C 65/7437: {the tool being a perforating tool (perforating as mechanical pre-treatment B29C66/02242)}
- B29C 66/1122: {Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints (B29C66/45, B29C66/472, B29C66/52272 take precedence)}
- B29C 66/30325: {making use of cavities belonging to at least one of the parts to be joined}
- B29C 66/32: {Measures for keeping the burr form under control; Avoiding burr formation; Shaping the burr (deburring welded articles B29C37/04)}
- B29C 66/322: {Providing cavities in the joined article to collect the burr}
- B29C 66/474: {said single elements being substantially non-flat}
- B29C 66/721: {Fibre-reinforced materials (B29C66/729 takes precedence)}
- B29C 66/72525: {comprising honeycomb cores}
- B29C 66/7254: {honeycomb structures}
- B29C 66/73116: {of different melting point, i.e. the melting point of one of the parts to be joined being different from the melting point of the other part}
- B29C 66/742: {to metals or their alloys}
- B29C 66/7465: {Glass}
- B29C 66/7487: {Wood}
- B29C 66/8322: {Joining or pressing tools reciprocating along one axis}
- B29C 66/92311: {with special measurement means or methods}
- B29C 66/9261: {by controlling or regulating the displacement of the joining tools}
- B29C 66/92615: {the gap being non-constant over time}
- F16B 5/01: by means of fastening elements specially adapted for honeycomb panels
- F16B 19/02: Bolts or sleeves for positioning of machine parts, e.g. notched taper pins, fitting pins, sleeves, eccentric positioning rings
- B29C 65/645: {using friction or ultrasonic vibrations}
- B29C 66/863: {Robotised, e.g. mounted on a robot arm}
- B29C 66/9221: {by measuring the pressure, the force or the mechanical power}
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D)

## Abstract

The invention relates to a device for setting a setting element having a first plastic material in a component having a second plastic material, comprising a rotational advancing unit, by means of which the setting element can be rotated about an axis of rotation and simultaneously an axial force acting in the direction of the axis of rotation can be applied to the setting element in order to drive the setting element into the component, a friction welding joint thereby being produced between the setting element and the component, a differential-distance measuring apparatus for measuring the differential distance between a surface of the component and a surface of the driven setting element, and a control unit for controlling the rotational advancing unit in dependence on the measured differential distance.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus for setting a setting element comprising a first plastic material in a component comprising a second plastic material, the apparatus comprising:
a rotary feed unit by which the setting element can be set into rotation about an axis of rotation and simultaneously an axial force acting in the direction of the axis of rotation can be exerted onto the setting element to drive the setting element into the component while producing a friction welding connection between the setting element and the component;
a differential distance measuring device for measuring a differential distance between a surface of the component and a surface of the driven setting element; and
a control unit for controlling the rotary feed unit in dependence on the measured differential distance, wherein the control unit is configured to control the rotary feed unit such that on reaching a predefined differential distance, representing a maximum penetration depth of the setting element in the component comprising the second plastic material, the setting element is rotated before the end of a setting procedure over a predetermined period of time with an axial force reduced to approximately zero.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus in accordance with claim 1,
wherein the differential distance measuring device is arranged adjacent to the axis of rotation.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus in accordance with claim 1,
wherein the control unit is adapted so that it controls the rotary feed unit such that, on reaching the maximum predefined differential distance, the setting element is rotated before the end of the setting procedure over the predetermined period of time with a feed speed reduced to approximately zero.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus in accordance with claim 1,
further comprising a force measuring device for measuring the axial force exerted onto the setting element.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The apparatus in accordance with claim 4,
wherein the rotary feed unit can be regulated by the control unit, with an axial force exerted onto the setting element; a torque exerted on the setting element; a number of revolutions of the setting element per time; and/or an absolute number of revolutions of the setting element as a control variable.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus in accordance with claim 1,
wherein the control unit is adapted such that it divides a setting procedure into a plurality of stages and regulates the rotary feed unit in at least two stages with different control variables.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The apparatus in accordance with claim 1,
wherein the rotary feed unit has an electric motor feed drive.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The apparatus in accordance with claim 1,
wherein the rotary feed unit has an electric motor rotary drive.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The apparatus in accordance with claim 1,
further comprising supply means for the automatic supply of setting elements from a setting element store.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The apparatus in accordance with claim 9,
wherein the supply means comprises one of a pneumatic supply device, a pick & place system and a magazine containing a number of setting elements.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The apparatus in accordance with claim 10,
wherein, if the supply means comprises the magazine, then the magazine is an exchangeable magazine containing a number of setting elements.