Abstract: Riveting apparatus wherein a planetary roller screw delivers the high forces required for actuating the fastener upset tooling. In order that precise control of the entire upset operation may be obtained, a servo-controlled electric motor operates the actuator. In order that different machining operations may be performed on a workpiece without having to provide an actuator for each tool, the tools are engaged in turn by the actuator for performing riveting and other machining in succession.

Abstract: A control system and method for automatic fastening machines wherein a multi-axes motion controller is utilized in place of the conventional PLC or CNC control to provide for virtually an immediate change in system response when the systems feedback devices indicate the need for variance. The major advantage of the process control approach of the present invention is that all system feedback information is controlled via a single on board processor thus eliminating any communication lag associated with multi controller applications. This also provides for an improvement in fastener installation cycle time. An additional advantage to the approach of the present invention is the elimination of many mechanical hard stops and their respective electrical position switch indicators, which in turn reduces the chance for machine breakdowns resulting in a greater increase in productivity.

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 system control for directing and monitoring the operation of an automatic fastening machine, such as automatic drilling and riveting machine, by gathering, recording, and processing relevant data from each drilling and riveting cycle. The cycle data then becomes part of a master record that is useful for logging maintenance schedules, for establishing real-time cycle trends and for historical purposes. Real-time cycle trends are particularly beneficial to effect corrections in subsequent cycles.

Abstract: In an automatic fastening machine for installing fasteners in a workpiece provided with a hole for receiving a fastener having a longitudinal axis, wherein a work axis extends through the hole and wherein the fastener is held in a holding position prior to installation in the hole so that the fastener is oriented with the longitudinal axis thereof parallel to the work axis, a method and apparatus for detecting tipped or mis-oriented fasteners while in the holding position and prior to being upset in the workpiece, the method and apparatus utilizing at least one beam of energy which is influenced by the fastener orientation. Energy is radiated along at least one path intersecting the fastener when in the holding position and the radiated energy is received and a response is given to the amount of energy interrupted by the fastener in a manner providing an indiction if the fastener longitudinal axis is not parallel to the work axis.

Abstract: Riveting apparatus wherein a planetary roller screw delivers the high forces required for actuating the fastener upset tooling. In order that precise control of the entire upset operation may be obtained, a servo-controlled electric motor operates the actuator. In order that different machining operations may be performed on a workpiece without having to provide an actuator for each tool, the tools are engaged in turn by the actuator for performing riveting and other machining in succession.

Abstract: The invention relates to slug riveting apparatus wherein a pair of opposed rivet head forming anvils move relatively toward each other to form heads at the opposite ends of a cylindrical rivet blank, more or less simultaneously, after the blank has been inserted in the workpieces. An annular elastomeric polyurethane member is associated coaxially with one of the rivet head forming anvils and has a bore for receiving and resiliently gripping a cylindrical rivet blank. The elastomeric annular member holds the blank during insertion of the blank in the workpieces as the anvils move relatively toward each other, and the rivet blank is moved out of engagement with the elastomeric annular member by the associated head forming anvil during the head forming operation by resilient radial expansion of the elastomeric annular member. The rivet forming anvils have flat bottomed head forming recesses with sloping side walls.