Abstract: A nozzle for a vacuum mounting head of a component placement machine. The nozzle includes a positioning block defining a plurality of spaced apart pads on top of the block with each of the pads having a pad hole in the top of the pad. The positioning block also defines an opening in the bottom of the block for mounting the nozzle on the vacuum mounting head. The positioning block further defines an interior air passage connecting each of the pad holes with the opening in the bottom of the block for the application of a vacuum force by the nozzle.

Abstract: An apparatus for installing a pushnut fastener on a rod or stud comprises a body having a guideway extending axially thereof with a pushrod mounted in the guideway and having a sleeve-like end portion movable between a first position extending out of the body and a second position within the body. A radially resilient tubular chuck having an open inlet end and open outlet end is joined to the body for holding a fastener in axial alignment with the sleeve-like end portion of the pushrod when the pushrod is in the first position. An air cylinder functions to move the pushrod from the second to the first position when energized and to return the pushrod to the first position when de-energized. A feed line supplies pushnut fasteners to the inlet end of the chuck when the pushrod is in the second position and a drive assembly is operable when the air cylinder is energized for driving the pushrod from the first position to a third position inwardly beyond the second position.

Abstract: A composite, friction weldable stud is used to affix a first plate to a second plate made of dissimilar materials. The stud has a first body made of material compatible with the first plate, with the body having a shank and a collar extending outwardly therefrom of a predetermined diameter. The collar has a first surface extending toward the shank with grooves to mate with cooperating ridges of a chuck of a friction-welding tool. The stud further includes a second body of material compatible with the second plate. The second body has a friction-weldable nose extending outwardly from the collar and substantially coaxial with an axis of the first body. The first and second bodies have cooperating threaded for affixing the two bodies together so that they can move as a unit. A hole is formed in the first plate which is larger than the nose but smaller than the collar. The nose is placed through the first hole into contact with the second plate.