Abstract: Multiple fasteners are fed to a workpiece from a flexible carrier tape (2) in which the fasteners are mounted. The carrier tape passes through a guide and indexing means to bring a fastener into axial alignment with a plunger and, optionally, a die. The fasteners are pre-loaded in the carrier tape in a pattern which simultaneously brings a fastener into axial alignment with a plunger and a die at each of a plurality of fastening positions relative to the workpiece.

Abstract: A self-pierce rivet includes a shank and a head at one end of the shank. The other end of the shank of the rivet is provided with an axially extending slot. The head is non-circular and is formed with substantially mutually perpendicular major and minor dimensions, the minor dimension of the head extending substantially parallel to the slot. The shank of the rivet may be provided with a central hole extending from the free end of the shank towards the head. The head of the rivet may be substantially rectangular.

Abstract: A fastening incorporates a tubular rivet (11) passing through an aperture in a workpiece (17, 19). The rivet has a tubular shank (15) which is deformed outwardly to retain the rivet in the aperture, the extent of the deformation being such that the tubular shank is rolled outwardly, for example through an angle greater than 180.degree., forming a toroid in which material which was originally on an inner surface of the tubular shank prior to deformation is on an outer surface of the toroid and able to contact the workpiece (19) and also that material which was originally on an outer surface of the tubular shank prior to deformation is on an inner surface of the toroid and is distant from the workpiece. The deformation is referred to as a "full-roll".

Abstract: Tools (3, 4) mounted on the free ends of the arms of a C-frame applicator are aligned by providing the arms of the C-frame (1) in a form which is capable of flexing between a first position in which the axes of the tools (3, 4) are disposed at an angle relative to each other and a second position in which the axes of the tools are coaxial with each other. A workpiece (6) is arranged between the tools and a predetermined clamping load is applied to the workpiece (6) sufficient to flex the C-frame (1) from the first position towards the second position and bring the tools (3, 4) substantially into coaxial alignment. One or more of the tools (3, 4) is then actuated to apply a force to the workpiece (6).

Abstract: A mounting mechanism for mounting a fastener applicator on a positioning mechanism. The mounting mechanism incorporates fluid actuators for applying compensating forces and turning moments that counteract the effects of the applicator weight by bringing the forces and turning moments into substantial equilibrium or predetermined directional bias so that the applicator is movable by a minimal force. The fluid actuators thereby enabling final correction of the applicator position and orientation prior to fastener application by movement of the fastener applicator relative to the position mechanism as a result of contact between the applicator and the workpiece.

Abstract: A closure (30) for an aperture (70) with a co-operative peripheral rim profile, such as the mouth of a container, the closure incorporating a self-locking fastener element (40) which cooperates with the rim profile and locks the closure on to the aperture upon limiting engagement thereof.