Abstract: A pneumatic actuator includes an splined shaft which cooperates with a cam follower so that displacement of the shaft is purely axial for a substantial portion of its forward displacement but the final displacement portion rotates the follower and hence the transfer arm.

Abstract: Rivets are delivered from a feed chute to a transfer location and blown through a feed tube to a loading device. The presence of a rivet is sensed both at the transfer location and at the loading device and a fault indicator is operated in the event a rivet sensed and transported from the transfer location does not wind up in the loading device. The operator hits the reset button which blows clean air thru the feed tube in an attempt to free the jammed rivet. In the event this does not occur, the system assumes the operator cleared the jam and loads the next rivet into position to be transferred and continues the cycle.

Abstract: An automatic riveting machine is disclosed which counts the rivets, as set, to control the feeding of rivets from a feeder to the rivet track or chute. The track will be resupplied after a selected number of rivets are set or sooner should the track become prematurely empty by removal of rivets from the track.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for automated and semi-automated installation of blind rivets, comprising mechanical, pneumatic, and electronic subassemblies, with self-diagnostic capabilities. The system includes a rivet transfer arm external to the installation tool, which receives pneumatically fed rivets in a "home" position and transfers the rivets to an "advanced" position of alignment with the tool's nosepiece. A mandrel collection system routes separated mandrels from the tool to a remote receptacle through a channel under vacuum. Various sensors detect rivet placements, mechanism positions, and air pressure conditions, and signals from such sensors together with user inputs are received by a central processing unit (CPU). The CPU diagnoses the state of the installation system, produces command signals for a plurality of solenoid valves to regulate the system pneumatics, and reports status and fault conditions to the operator.

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.