Fastening device, fastening device system and method for feeding fasteners

Abstract

A fastening device for feeding fasteners to a workpiece and for joining it, the fastening device comprising a fastening tool, a fastening device system. The fastening device including a magazine mounted on the fastening tool for holding a fastener. The magazine includes an isolation module located an outlet of the magazine and including a drawer with a recess and an exit port. The drawer is operable to move between a first position, wherein the recess is aligned with the outlet of the magazine, and a second position, wherein the recess is aligned with the exit port.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fastening device for transporting a fastener to a workpiece and for joining it, the fastening device comprising:
 a fastening tool operable for joining the fastener to the workpiece;   a magazine mounted on the fastening tool and operable for holding the fastener, the magazine including an inlet and an outlet, and;   an isolation module located at the outlet of the magazine and including a drawer with a recess and an exit port, and wherein the drawer is operable to move between a first position, wherein the recess is aligned with the outlet of the magazine, and a second position, wherein the recess is aligned with the exit port.   
     
     
         2 . A fastening device according to  claim 1 , wherein the magazine outlet and the exit port are not aligned and the drawer slides linearly between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         3 . A fastening device according to  claim 1 , wherein the recess is a through passage defined in the drawer and open at a first end and a second end. 
     
     
         4 . A fastening device according to  claim 1 , wherein the drawer is moved by an actuator. 
     
     
         5 . A fastening device according to  claim 4 , wherein the actuator is at least one of an electrical actuator or a pneumatic actuator. 
     
     
         6 . A fastening device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the magazine is a first magazine, the inlet is a first inlet, and the outlet is a first outlet;   the fastening device further comprises a second magazine mounted on the fastening tool with a second inlet and a second outlet;   wherein the drawer is further operable to move between a third position, wherein the recess is aligned with the second outlet of the second magazine, and the second position, wherein the recess is aligned with the exit port.   
     
     
         7 . A fastening device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the magazine is a first magazine, the inlet is a first inlet, and the outlet is a first outlet;   the fastening device further comprises a second magazine mounted on the fastening tool with a second inlet and a second outlet;   the recess of the drawer is a first recess and the drawer further includes a second recess; and   wherein the drawer is further operable to move between a third position, wherein the second recess is aligned with the second outlet of the second magazine, and a fourth position, wherein the second recess is aligned with the exit port.   
     
     
         8 . A fastening device according to  claim 1 , and further comprising a closure located at the inlet of the magazine, and the closure including:
 a closure slider adapted to move between an open position, in which the inlet of the magazine is open and a closed position in which the inlet is closed,   an elastic member biasing the closure slider toward the closed position, and   a toggle mechanism operable to move the closure slider from the closed position to the open position.   
     
     
         9 . A fastening device according to  claim 8 , wherein the toggle mechanism is movable between a first toggle position, in which the closure slider is in the closed position, and a second toggle position, in which the closure slider is in the open position, and wherein the toggle mechanism includes a first arm, a second arm, and a pivoting joint located between the first arm and the second arm, such that first arm and the second arm are pivotably connected. 
     
     
         10 . A fastening device according to  claim 9 , wherein the toggle mechanism further includes a rear bearing arranged at a free end of the second arm of the toggle mechanism and adapted to roll on a magazine plate. 
     
     
         11 . A fastening device according to  claim 8 , wherein the closure slider includes a compressed air channel which communicates with the magazine when the closure slider is in the closed position. 
     
     
         12 . A fastening device according to  claim 11 , wherein the magazine is a first magazine, and wherein the fastening device further comprises a second magazine mounted on the fastening tool for accommodating a second fastener, the second magazine having a second inlet and a second outlet. 
     
     
         13 . A fastening device according to  claim 12 , wherein the closure slider further includes a second compressed air channel which communicates with the second magazine when the closure slider is in the closed position. 
     
     
         14 . A fastening device according to  claim 12 , wherein the first magazine includes a first magazine hose and the second magazine includes a second magazine hose. 
     
     
         15 . A fastening device according to  claim 14 , and further comprising a spacer located between the first magazine hose and the second magazine hose, and the spacer includes a demounting arrangement operable for the removal and the replacement of the first magazine hose or the second magazine hose. 
     
     
         16 . A fastening device according to  claim 15 , wherein the demounting arrangement includes an elastic pin operable to be moved between a locked position and a released position. 
     
     
         17 . A fastening device according to  claim 16 , wherein the spacer includes a spacer body, an anchoring body, and wherein the anchoring body is fixed to the base plate and extends longitudinally orthogonal to the base plate, and wherein the anchoring body includes a first recess and a second recess, and in which the elastic pin is elastically biased toward the locked position. 
     
     
         18 . A fastening device according to  claim 17 , wherein the spacer body is slidable relative to the anchoring body between a working position, in which the first magazine or the second magazine are operable to receive the fastener, and a maintenance position, in which the first magazine or the second magazine are removable from the fastening device. 
     
     
         19 . A fastening device according to  claim 1  and further comprising a feed device, and wherein the magazine includes a first centering element cooperating with a second centering element of the feed device. 
     
     
         20 . A fastening device according to  claim 19 , wherein the first centering element includes one of a centering recess or a centering pin, and the second centering element includes the other of the centering recess or the centering pin.