Abstract: Improved process and apparatus for assembling component parts by means of rivets or similar fasteners in which computer controlled robotic machining centers present selected tools in predetermined special position on opposing sides of the components which are held stationary in a fixture. The robots prepare the rivet holes at multiple selected locations, followed by repositioning of roboticly controlled tools at each hole location for the installation of the fasteners. Throughout hole preparation and fastener installation novel end effectors maintain a symmetrical balance of forces on the components in a manner which avoids stressing and deformation of the components, holding fixture and end assembly.

Abstract: Construction parts, particularly in the aircraft industry, are interconnected as follows.

Abstract: A riveting apparatus includes a body pivotable about a horizontal axis and having first and second arms extending therefrom. Riveting structure is provided on the arms for cooperating to install and fasten rivets through a workpiece positioned between the riveting structure. The body may be rotated between a substantially horizontal to a substantially vertical position to accommodate riveting a workpiece having varying contours. The apparatus allows riveting operations to be performed at any point on the workpiece while permitting the operator to position himself immediately adjacent the point of riveting to assure proper alignment of the workpiece and proper riveting thereof.

Abstract: A machine for setting eyelets and the like in printed circuit boards includes a generally U-shaped frame having a pair of spaced-apart support arms defining a workpiece receiving zone therebetween, a first tool movably mounted in one of the support arms, and a second tool fixedly mounted in the other support arm and axially aligned with the first tool. An adjustable torque screw is connected to the first tool for moving the first tool into aligned contact with the second tool at a pre-determined eyelet setting pressure. The adjustable torque screw insures that the eyelet setting pressure does not exceed the pre-determined eyelet setting pressure despite continued rotation of the adjustable torque screw.

Abstract: A device for automatically presenting mandrel rivets to the nosepiece of a rivet installation tool, which receives rivets from a supply in a slidably mounted transfer arm while the arm is in a retracted position, and axially and radially moves the arm relative to the tool axis to a position of alignment with receiving jaws within the tool. The rivet is then propelled into the tool's nosepiece from the transfer arm by an air blast. The presentation device may be separately mounted within a rivet installation machine, or may be mounted to the tool body in a hand-held configuration. A first version provides successive, separately actuated axial and angular movements of the transfer arm, while a second version provides simultaneous axial and angular movement of the arm. The rivet is held within the transfer arm by a vacuum, which vacuum may be rapidly changed to a positive pressure on command to propel the rivet from the arm into the tool.

Abstract: A portable self-piercing riveting system includes a pneumatically driven driver which forces a self-piercing rivet through a workpiece. An anvil carried on a pivotal clamp is moved into operative alignment with the driver on the blind side of the workpiece to receive and set a rivet. The clamp is part of a linkage mechanism which moves the anvil into and out of operative position. When the anvil is in an operative position to receive and set a rivet, the linkage mechanism is in a locked position whereby the impactive force received by the anvil is not transmitted to an actuator for the linkage mechanism.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivering properly positioned rivets to a hopper and including a venturi station, a conduit connected to the venturi station for delivering the rivets from the venturi station to the hopper and having a restricted end for automatically properly positioning the rivets, a rivet shaped slot for introducing the rivets into the venturi station, and components for creating a suction in the venturi station so that when the rivets are introduced into the venturi station by the rivet shaped slot the rivets are drawn by the suction created by the suction creating components through the venturi station and the delivering conduit from the rivet shaped slot to the restricted end of the delivering conduit where the rivets are automatically properly positioned in the hopper for riveting.

Abstract: A riveting device for the assemblage of two or more sheet metal sections (A, B) of a structure comprising a working unit (14) operable on one side of the sections (A, B) to be assembled and a clamping and bucking unit (26) operable one the opposite side of the sections. Both units (14, 26) comprise clamping means (16 and 31, 62, 72) respectively, by which the sections (A, B) are clamped together during the entire working cycle in each rivet position, i.e. during hole making, seal compound application, rivet insertion and rivet upsetting. The clamping means of the bucking unit (26) comprises a head (62; 90), one or more low inertia contact elements (72; 94) and a resilient impact absorbing means (66; 101, 102) provided between the contact element or elements (72; 94) and the head (62; 90).

Abstract: A device for assembling by riveting two or more sections of a sheet element structure wherein the sections (A, B) to be assembled are supported in a fixed stationary mode. A guide beam (16, 116) is clamped firmly against one side of the sections and supports a selectively movable working unit (17, 117) comprising drilling machines (45, 46) and rivet supplying and installing means (48,49) and a riveting hammer (50). A multiple or single point thrust and rivet bucking means (32, 132) is arranged on the opposite side of the sections (A, B) and comprises clamping force producing thrust elements (34; 134) as well as a rivet bucking die (41; 141). A computerized control system (43, 53) governs the operation cycles of the working unit (17;117) as well as the thrust and rivet bucking means (32; 132).

Abstract: An automatic drilling and riveting machine comprising a frame having a main body portion and having a front end portion disposed in a first plane, means for defining a drilling and riveting axis in the frame closely adjacent and substantially parallel to the first plane, and a ram and clamp assembly carried by the frame for holding a workpiece relative to the frame in a second plane substantially perpendicular to the first plane during drilling and riveting and for applying force for heading a rivet inserted in the workpiece. A transfer assembly carried by the frame main body portion selectively moves a drilling means and a rivet inserting and forming means each into and out of positional alignment with the drilling and riveting axis and when in such alignment toward and away from the workpiece for drilling a rivet-receiving hole in the workpiece and for inserting a rivet in the hole and forming a head on the inserted rivet in co-operation with the holding and force applying means.

Abstract: This system selects and delivers a rivet of correct size for workpiece thickness at each rivet location. Positive control of rivet orientation is provided at the crucial junction point of plural supply paths with the delivery path to the riveting machine. This is done by a simplified modular device, called a "transfer station," which hands off one rivet from the correct supply path to the delivery path, on demand by a measuring device. Positive rivet-orientation control is also provided everywhere else in the system, including the escapements and the injector--making it feasible to use a pneumatic tube for delivery to the injector. Thus only the measuring device and injector need be mounted to the installing head of the riveter. Orientation at the escapement is fixed by a dual-blade mechanism that constrains each rivet shank, keeping the rivet from toppling head-first into a pneumatic supply tube to the transfer station.

Abstract: A feeder for headed fasteners, such as rivets (43), driven at equal intervals through a tape (44), is applicable to a riveting machine (10) and includes a plunger (25) advanced and retracted through a guide bush (29) and with a punch (37) at its leading end. When the plunger (25) advances the punch (37) is driven through a delivery passage in the guide bush head (39). A guide tube (45) leads the tape (44) to bring fasteners (43) in sequence into the rivet delivery passage (52). An actuator (56), oscillatable in the guide bush (39), is moved to retracted position by the advancing plunger (25), and is automatically returned to advanced position when the plunger (25) retracts.

Abstract: Air pressure means for maintaining rivets in axial alignment as they pass through a feed tube to a riveting machine. The air pressure means comprises a circumferentially spaced series of air discharge passages directed obliquely toward the axis of the feed tube and in the direction of travel of the rivets whereby a conical pattern of air pressure is directed against the shanks of the rivets to urge them into axial alignment in the feed tube.

Abstract: A riveting apparatus comprises a portable riveting assembly which may be hand held or mounted on a robot arm. The assembly comprises a C-frame having an anvil mounted on one arm and a hydraulic ram mounted on the other arm. Rivets are supplied to a head assembly located between the anvil and piston rod via a flexible tube having a T-shaped cross-section. After a rivet has been supplied it is held positively in position ready for setting within pocket members by air pressure supplied along tube. Thus, the assembly can be moved rapidly and used in various orientations without displacing the rivet. Connections between the assembly and rivet supply and hydraulic power source are by way of flexible connections.

Abstract: An automatic drilling and riveting machine including a frame having a main body portion and having a front end portion disposed in a first plane, a drilling and riveting axis defined in the frame closely adjacent and substantially parallel to the first plane, and a ram and clamp assembly carried by the frame for holding a workpiece relative to the frame in a second plane substantially perpendicular to the first plane during drilling and riveting and for applying force for heading a rivet inserted in the workpiece. A transfer assembly carried by the frame main body portion selectively moves a drill and a rivet inserting and forming tool each into and out of positional alignment with the drilling and riveting axis and when in such alignment toward and away from the workpiece for drilling a rivet-receiving hole in the workpiece and for inserting a rivet in the hole and forming a head on the inserted rivet in co-operation with the ram and clamp assembly.

Abstract: A method for securing a thermoplastic part to another part by applying ultrasonic energy to a projection of the thermoplastic part in a direction substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the projection. The exposed end of the projection is urged into an open cavity disposed in a side wall of a horn adapted to undergo ultrasonic vibrations. The cavity further is disposed substantially at an antinodal region of longitudinal motion of the horn and oriented normal to the direction of longitudinal motion of the horn. The horn is rendered resonant along its longitudinal axis while the exposed end concomitantly is urged into the cavity.

Abstract: A device for setting a blind rivet is provided with an automatic rivet loading means. The rivet is fed through a rivet feeding pipe to the device and a parallel crank mechanism and slider cooperate to transport the rivet to the jaws of the setting tool.

Abstract: A delivery and locating apparatus for receiving an orientated rivet dispensed from a supply of rivets and positioning the rivet for a heading operation. The apparatus includes a gripping mechanism movable between a rivet receiving position and a rivet locating position and includes gripping surfaces which are biased together by a spring member for gripping the shank portion of a rivet provided from a delivery tube. The delivery tube includes a cam portion which separates the gripping surfaces against the bias from the spring member when the gripping mechanism moves into a rivet receiving position so that the shank portion of the rivet from the delivery tube can move freely between the gripping surfaces. As the gripping mechanism moves away from the delivery tube the gripping surfaces are forced together by the bias from the spring, and the gripping surfaces hold the shank portion of the rivet firmly as the gripping mechanism moves from its rivet receiving to its rivet locating position.

Abstract: A machine to insert and stake rivets in a flexible sheet is disclosed. The machine includes a riveting punch and an associated anvil and, in cooperation therewith a clamping device having parts which float relative to the riveting punch and the anvil so that during insertion and staking of the rivet, the sheet, and more particularly the opening in the sheet for receiving the rivet can be adequately supported at a variety of distances relative to the midpoint between the riveting punch and anvil. The clamping device includes a frame carried by the punch and a sleeve carried by the anvil which cooperate to clamp the flexible sheet; and the frame and sleeve are resiliently associated with the punch and the anvil such that portions of the riveting motion of the press will cause clamping prior to riveting.

Abstract: A hydraulically actuated power cylinder reciprocates a driver to exert a compressive force to upset a rivet with the power cylinder's movement being made to correspond to the movement of a pump cylinder by a fluid connection therebetween. The pump cylinder's movements are mechanically actuated according to a programmed cam and actuation is made to occur only during the riveting cycle by a control circuit operating a clutch and brake with the circuit inhibiting operation upon the sensing of a malfunction.