Fastening device for fastening small components to a mounting surface by adhesive bonding

A fastening device for fastening a component provided with an adhesive flange to a mounting surface using a heat-activated adhesive that creates an adhesive bond between the component and the mounting surface, comprising:

• an induction coil retained by a coil carrier, the induction coil operable to heat at least one of the component and the adhesive, the induction coil having an axis;
• a holding device operable to hold a first end of the component when the fastening device is positioned in a bonding position, the first end being insertable into a through bore of the induction coil from outside the fastening device until a second end of the component defining a bearing surface larger than the through bore is oriented facing the mounting surface;
• and
• a housing having the holding mechanism displaceably positioned therein, the induction coil and the holding device together defining an assembly supported by the housing to be movable along the axis between two end positions;
• wherein the holding device is operable to temporarily hold the component in contact with the coil carrier with a holding force directed toward the bearing surface.

A fastening device for fastening components provided with an adhesive flange to a mounting surface using a heat-activated adhesive that creates an adhesive bond between the component and the mounting surface, comprising:

• an induction coil retained by a coil carrier, the induction coil operable to heat at least one of the component and the adhesive, the induction coil having an axis;
• a holding device operable to releasably hold a first end of the component when the fastening device is positioned in a bonding position, the first end being insertable into a through bore of the induction coil from outside the fastening device until a second end of the component defining a bearing surface larger than the through bore is oriented facing the mounting surface;
• and
• a housing having the holding mechanism displaceably positioned therein, the induction coil and the holding device together defining an assembly supported by the housing to be movable along the axis between two end positions;
• and
• a robot having an arm, the housing being one of rigidly or movably attached to the arm of the robot;
• wherein the holding device is operable to temporarily hold the component in contact with the coil carrier with a holding force directed toward the bearing surface and the robot is operable to move the assembly to the bonding position.

A method for adhesively fastening a component having an adhesive to a mounting surface using an induction coil connected to a coil carrier, a holding device, and a housing, the method comprising:

• supporting the induction coil and the holding device together defining an assembly from the housing, the assembly movable along an axis of the induction coil between two end positions;
• creating a holding force using the holding device to temporarily hold the component in contact with the holding device;
• moving the assembly and the component until the component contacts the mounting surface;
• energizing the induction coil to heat at least one of the component or the adhesive;
• and
• inserting a first end of the component into a through bore of the induction coil from outside the fastening device until a second end of the component defining a bearing surface larger than the through bore is oriented facing the mounting surface prior to the creating operation.