Abstract: The present disclosure concerns apparatus and methods for reinforcing composite materials by insertion of reinforcement pins. Example embodiments include an apparatus for reinforcing a composite preform, comprising: a carriage for introducing reinforcement pins into the composite preform, the carriage comprising a drill module, a pin feeder module and a tamper module, the assembly being translatable relative to the composite preform, wherein the drill module and pin feeder module are exchangeable between a common actuation position on the carriage.

Abstract: An improved hand tool for dispensing plastic fasteners having a novel anvil design that prevents inadvertent user needle sticks during operation of the hand tool and a needle having a novel casing that further prevents inadvertent user needle sticks during the replacement of the hand tool needle. The casing has a needle assembly opening at the front of the barrel portion and a trigger slot at the front of the handle portion. The hand tool further has a hollow needle disposed on one end of a needle assembly. The hand tool further has a trigger that is pivotally mounted within the casing that extends out from the trigger slot. The trigger is capable of moving the needle assembly between the retracted and extended positions. The anvil has a needle guard, a main portion, and a fabric slot. The fabric slot separates the needle guard from the main portion.

Abstract: An improved hand tool for dispensing plastic fasteners having a novel anvil design that reduces inadvertent user needle sticks during operation of the hand tool and a needle having a novel casing that further reduces inadvertent user needle sticks during the replacement of the hand tool needle. The hand tool has a gun shaped casing with a barrel portion and a handle portion. The casing has a needle assembly opening at the front of the barrel portion and a trigger slot at the front of the handle portion. The hand tool further has a hollow needle disposed on one end of a needle assembly. The needle assembly is slidably movable back and forth between a retracted position disposed substantially within casing and an extend position disposed substantially out of the casing through the needle assembly opening. The hand tool further has a trigger that is pivotally mounted within the casing that extends out from the trigger slot.

Abstract: A device for dispensing an individual plastic fastener from a supply of fastener stock includes a motor-driven head assembly adapted to receive the supply of fastener stock, sever an individual fastener from the supply and in turn eject the severed fastener. The head assembly includes a pair of needle block assemblies that retain corresponding hollow needles, each needle block assembly being shaped to define a feed channel that transitions a side rail for the fastener stock into axial alignment behind its corresponding needle. In addition, at least one needle block assembly includes a rearward shelf and a forward bowing plate. In use, the lowermost cross-links of the fastener stock fittingly align between the shelf and the bowing plate. In this manner, the lowermost cross-links are limited to distort uniformly upward within the single plane defined by the pair of feed channels, thereby optimizing feed reliability of the device.

Abstract: An automated drill and rivet machine is provided for riveting a work piece. The machine is moveable with respect to the work piece, and sensors locate sequential rivet sites along the work piece. A control system directs the movement and operation of the machine at sequential rivet sites for drilling and mashing. A method for automatically fastening components is provided including the steps of indexing an automated drill and rivet machine at a first work site and placing the machine in a first mode in which the machine to repeatedly performs the steps of drilling, storing the work site location, sensing a next work site, and moving the machine to the next work site. The operator then inserts a fastener at the previous drilling work sites and places the machine in a second mode in which the machine repeatedly performs the steps of returning to a previous work site and mashing the rivets at the previous work site.

Abstract: The invention is a stapler and staple guide assembly for same. The stapler provides automated stapling for stacks of sheet material regardless of stack thickness. In a first embodiment two staple guides load individual sheets or small stacks of sheets onto a staple with the staple supported in a base. The staple is then cut to an appropriate height and cinched. In another embodiment, numerous split guides may be cascaded to increase staple loading speed. Other improvements to a stapling process include dimpling sheets of material and/or pre-drilling sheets of material to simplify loading sheets onto a staple.

Abstract: A rotary turret head apparatus for installing a fastener such as a rivet. The rotary turret head apparatus has a plurality of machining and fastener installation tools disposed perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the turret. The individual tools are independently powered and the entire turret head apparatus is fed toward the workpiece by a single actuator mechanism such as a roller screw or hydraulic cylinder thereby eliminating the need for a separate actuating mechanism for each tool and eliminating the need for engagement of each tool with a central actuating mechanism.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tool position detection assembly that aligns a tool relative to a feature within a lap joint of a first panel and a second panel. The detection assembly includes an indexing device engageable to the feature. The indexing device includes a reflecting member having a width. The assembly also includes an end-effector movable along at least one axis parallel to the lap joint for positioning the tool. The end-effector has a dual laser device for detecting when the device is aligned with the reflecting member.

Abstract: Tool assembly for riveting parts, comprising: a first and a second frame (2, 5) capable of being mounted on a shaped structure "C" or on separate robot arms (60, 61); a pair of sheet-holding devices (3, 6) each mounted on one of the frames and at least one of each is provided with a device (11) for displacing it relative to the corresponding chassis with a force corresponding to the clamping provided for holding the parts to be riveted during drilling; at least one drill (20, 21) mounted on a frame, a device (41) for placing a rivet (40) in a hole drilled by the drill, this device being carried by a frame; a percussion riveting hammer (51) carried by a frame and an associated counter-piece (54) carried by the other frame, integral with a reaction dolly (52). The elements carried by each frame are all capable of being displaced between an active position and a rest position.

Abstract: An apparatus for inserting wire into an intermittently fed insulating body (I) of a structural element (B), with a wire supply device (6, 7) disposed on a pivotable base plate (1) and with a device (15, 16, 21) for forming and shaping a wire receiving duct, wherein, in the feed direction of the structural element, the forming and shaping device is disposed in front of the wire supply device as well as at the same angle as it and on the same side of the insulating body and is fixedly connected with the wire supply device, can be moved together with it in the direction toward the insulating body of the structural element and away from it and is pivotable together with it.

Abstract: A tagging apparatus for attaching tags to plants includes a frame member, a holding/clamping member operably connected to the frame member for holding a tag, and a first jaw movably mounted on the frame member. The first jaw is adapted to close against a second jaw on the frame member, with the jaws including surfaces forming an opening adapted to enclose a plant stem/branch when closed. A pneumatically driven mechanism is attached to the frame member and is adapted to grip and advance a strip of flexible material onto the surfaces so that the surfaces direct the strip of flexible material around the opening means to form a loop around the plant stem/branch. The apparatus also includes a pneumatically powered cutter and stapler mechanism attached to the frame member for cutting the strip from a roll of strip material and then for stapling the strip of flexible material in the loop around the stem/branch and to the tag to thus permanently retain the tag to the stem/branch.

Abstract: A movable frame is supported by a counter balancing winch or a robot and carries a horizontally movable shuttle on which is mounted a motor driven drill spindle and a parallel spaced anvil both movable in a vertical direction by corresponding fluid cylinders. A clamping bushing is supported by the frame for receiving a drill bit carried by the drill spindle and then receiving a rivet carried by spring fingers on the anvil. A J-shaped or C-shaped slide member is supported by the frame for vertical movement and carries a ram which opposes the anvil when in the clamping bushing. A hydraulic cylinder is mounted on the frame and has a downwardly projecting piston rod connected to the slide member, and a clamping tool is supported adjacent the ram by a fluid cylinder within the slide member.

Abstract: Process and device for guiding wire sections through an intermittently advanced insulating body, consisting at least partially of non-pliable material, of a component; wherein, between successive advancing steps a channel for receiving the wire is initially formed in the insulating body and only then is the wire advanced by a wire supply guided through the reception channel from one of the two sides of the insulating body.

Abstract: A multiple-task end effector attachment for the articulated head of a computer controlled robotic machining center capable of imparting multi-axis linear and rotational movements to the end effector which comprises opposingly aligned master and slave related tool heads that carry multiple tool drivers receptive of selectively changeable tooling. The tool heads are interjoined and rigidly supported in opposing alignment on opposite sides of fixture held stationary work pieces by means of an intervening generally U-shaped yoke or frame of selected configuration dedicated to the particular shape of the parts assembly. The master tool head of the end effector is connected directly to and carried by the mobile head of the robot which powers and controls the positioning and operation of both tool heads of the end effector.

Abstract: An arrangement for riveting of sheet material (33) with devices for drilling (7), for the positioning of rivets (8), for the driving of rivets (9) and for the positioning of a bucking bar device. The arrangement of the invention is characterized in that the three above-mentioned devices (7-9) are so arranged as to be capable of adjustment one at a time, into a certain operating position in relation to a frame (3). The frame (3) is precisely adjustable by means of a robot (6), in relation to the sheet material (33), on one side of the sheet material (33) while the bucking bar device (28) is adjustable on the other side of the sheet material (33) by means of a second robot (32).

Abstract: Dimpling and riveting a workpiece wherein the workpiece is clamped, the dimpling, drilling and riveting occur sequentially while the workpiece is clamped, and the workpiece is heated prior to dimpling. During clamping a pressure foot force is applied to one side of the workpiece, and during dimpling a force is applied to the opposite side causing slight movement of the workpiece against the pressure foot force. The dimpled recess in the workpiece is about the shape of a truncated cone and a rivet-receiving hole is drilled through the workpiece in the recess. To provide a fluid-tight seal, the minor diameter of the truncated cone is made slightly greater than the diameter of the rivet-receiving hole thereby providing an annular step between the hole and the outwardly diverging wall of the dimpled recess. During upsetting of the rivet the workpiece material is compressed radially around the annular step to provide a fluid-tight seal between rivet and workpiece.

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: 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: This automatic riveting machine can access confined component parts, has a imple sensor system to locate component part edges which allows it to be used in special equipment or in robots. The riveting machine has a mounting bracket to which a rivet supply unit, a riveting unit, and a drill feed advance unit are movably attached. A pneumatic cylinder drives each unit from its resting position into the operating position while shock absorbers brake these movements. Another pneumatic cylinder locks all units into the resting position when the compressed air supply in interrupted. The rivet supply unit pneumatically shoots single rivets into pre-drilled holes in the component parts. The riveting unit is constructed as a so-called alligator riveting press which clamps the component parts together and presses or rivets the heads of the rivets. The drill feed advance unit drills holes into multiple component parts while locating their edges, pressing them together, and compensating for any positional tolerances.

Abstract: An automatic fastener selection apparatus for sensing the composite thickness of a plurality of workpieces, determining which one of a plurality fastener sizes is appropriate for joining the workpieces together, and generating a dispensing signal representing the appropriate fastener size. Sensing apparatus provides a signal which is a function of the composite thickness of the workpieces, and this signal is processed by a selection circuit. The selection circuit generates an output signal in response to the signal from the sensing apparatus, and this output signal represents only one of a plurality of different fastener sizes. A triggering circuit then receives the output signal and generates the dispensing signal in response thereto.

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 drilling and driving device provides, in combination, a drilling tool for drilling a borehole and a percussion attachment for driving fastening elements into the borehole. The drilling device includes a housing into which a drilling tool can be inserted. The percussion attachment is pivotally mounted on the housing so that it can be positioned over the drilling tool for driving the fastening element or it can be pivotally displaced so that the drilling tool can be used. In its displaced position, the percussion attachment can be loaded with a fastening element from a magazine located on the housing.

Abstract: A woodworking machine for fastening together wood picture frames, cabinet doors, case goods, and the like, with joint nails driven into sawed kerfs. The machine combines the two operations of sawing the kerfs and inserting the joint nails. Workpieces to be joined are clamped to movable fixtures. Actuators move the workpiece fixtures apart to permit the entry of a rotary kerfing saw to cut kerfs in the facing surfaces to be joined. Other actuators move the kerfing saw into position and into the workpieces to cut the kerf, then withdraw the saw and move it back into a retracted position out of the way. The workpiece fixtures are then moved to bring the workpieces together so that the sawed kerfs become a single kerf ready to receive a joint nail. The workpiece fixtures may also move the workpieces forward, up to the nailing head. The nailing head then pushes a joint nail into the kerf, fastening the workpieces together.