Abstract: A metal fastening or joining apparatus is provided. In another aspect, a single piece die guard includes an integral die shield section and an integral retainer section, wherein a die anvil can be removed, and the die shield section has a low height and a small lateral square width. A further aspect employs a generally square peripheral shape for a die shield within which is an anvil and movable die blades, which are operable to fasten or join sheet metal workpieces together in an interlocking manner. In still another aspect, a projecting and/or peripheral orientation structure is on a backside of a workpiece fastening die assembly which allows for anvil reorientation without the need to also reorient a laterally surrounding die shield and retainer.

Abstract: A blind rivet fastening tool in which the jaws are open at the original position, and at a return step in which the tool is returned to the original position after a blind rivet is fastened the fastened blind rivet is pushed out. The tool comprises a hollow nose housing for housing a mandrel; a nose piece provided at a front end of the nose housing and having an opening; a floating piece provided at a front end of the inside of the nose piece; the floating piece having a though hole in which the mandrel is inserted; a jaw guide provided at the back side of floating piece and having an inside surface which has a smaller diameter toward the front end thereof; jaws provided inside the jaw guide for holding the mandrel; a pulling head and a jaw pusher for respectively pulling back and pushing forward the jaws.

Abstract: A swage collar and an internal sealing insert form a swage collar assembly used in combination with a structural fastener to prevent leakage through a connection of workpieces fastened together by the structural fastener. The swage collar has a hollow, generally cylindrical main body portion with a main central bore, and a base portion with an internal shoulder formed in the main central bore so as to form a seal receiving guide. The shaft of the fastener typically includes a threaded section and an unthreaded section, and the internal sealing insert interfaces with the threaded section and the unthreaded section of the shaft of the pin. In an alternate embodiment, the internal sealing insert interfaces with the unthreaded section of shaft of the pin.

Abstract: Crimping machines, including constructions thereof and methods for their manufacture and use. The crimping machines include at least a first load-bearing component that comprises a plurality of load-bearing laminates that are assembled and secured together. The first load-bearing component is installed in the crimping machine so that a crimping load of the crimping machine is imposed on the first load-bearing component during a crimping operation performed by the crimping machine.

Abstract: A replaceable deformable insert is disposed in a clinching die cavity having an annular recess adjacent the insert. A first layer is established on a second layer and secured between a retractable punch and the clinching die. The punch is pressed into the first layer to form a depression in the first and second layers. The first and second layers are compressed together between the punch and the clinching die, creating hydrostatic pressure in the first and second layers and the insert. A portion of the insert is extruded to fill the annular recess with insert extrudate, while a portion of the second layer is simultaneously radially extruded into an annular space previously occupied by the insert. A portion of the first layer is simultaneously radially extruded into an annular volume previously occupied by the second layer, thereby forming an interlocking assembly of the first and second layers and insert.

Abstract: A collet for a fastener installation tool having a pull section with a fastener engagement end and a plurality of teeth. The teeth include a first tooth with a first inner diameter, and each of the remainder of teeth includes a second inner diameter, the first inner diameter being greater than the second inner diameter. The pull section includes a protrusion extending from the fastener engagement end, thereby extending the length of the pull section. The pull section includes a cross-sectional thickness, wherein the collet is adapted to engage a pin member having a locking portion with a first diameter and a pull portion with a smaller second diameter. An increase in the difference between the first diameter of the locking portion and the second diameter of the pull portion of the pin member allows for a corresponding increase in the cross-sectional thickness of the collet, thereby extending the fatigue life of the tool.

Abstract: The invention provides a fastening method and a fastening tool which can stably fasten a nut to a bolt securely and with a small dispersion at a desired axial force. A fastened member is fastened by inserting a bolt to the fastened member, thereafter temporarily fastening a nut and the bolt, pulling a leading end of a shaft portion of the bolt in an axial direction of the bolt, rotating the nut so as to screw into the bolt while elastically deforming the bolt so as to generate an axial force, and thereafter canceling the pulling of the bolt.

Abstract: An assembly of sheet materials in which a first sheet of material and a second sheet of material are disposed in an overlapping relationship, with a plurality of joint portions being formed therebetween by drawing an overlapping part of the first and second sheets of materials at a plurality of positions. The plurality of joint portions includes at least one first joint portion in which the first sheet of material is laterally extruded into the second sheet of material and at least one second joint portion in which the first sheet of material and the second sheet of material are in contact with each other in a cup-like surface configuration.

Abstract: A swage collar and an internal sealing insert form a swage collar assembly used in combination with a structural fastener to prevent leakage through a connection of workpieces fastened together by the structural fastener. The swage collar has a hollow, generally cylindrical main body portion with a main central bore, and a base portion with an internal shoulder formed in the main central bore so as to form a seal receiving guide. The shaft of the fastener typically includes a threaded section and an unthreaded section, and the internal sealing insert interfaces with the threaded section and the unthreaded section of the shaft of the pin. In an alternate embodiment, the internal sealing insert interfaces with the unthreaded section of shaft of the pin.

Abstract: A fastener installation tool including an anvil member having a swage cavity, a collet having a pull section with a fastener engagement end and a plurality of teeth, and an anvil member. The plurality of teeth includes a first tooth with a first inner diameter, and each of the remainder of teeth includes a second inner diameter, the first inner diameter being greater than the second inner diameter. The collet has a protrusion extending the length of the pull section to increase the contact area with the anvil member. The anvil member includes a swage cavity with an entrance section, a swage land located adjacent to the entrance section, and an inner bore located adjacent to the swage land.

Abstract: A fastener installation tool including an anvil member having a swage cavity, a collet having a pull section with a fastener engagement end and a plurality of teeth, and an anvil member. The plurality of teeth includes a first tooth with a first inner diameter, and each of the remainder of teeth includes a second inner diameter, the first inner diameter being greater than the second inner diameter. The collet has a protrusion extending the length of the pull section to increase the contact area with the anvil member. The anvil member includes a swage cavity with an entrance section, a swage land located adjacent to the entrance section, and an inner bore located adjacent to the swage land.

Abstract: A universal offset pulling head assembly for exerting an axial pulling force on a fastener allows the same pulling head assembly to be utilized for a variety of different fastener sizes and types by exchanging a front plate assembly, where the front plate assembly may comprise variable nose pieces according to the type of fastener to be installed. Because the front plate assembly is subject to the most severe wear, other components of the pulling head assembly may continue to be utilized and the front plate assembly discarded. The disclosed pulling head assembly utilizes a stationary guiding member which prevents damage which might otherwise occur because of severe bending moments.

Abstract: A mounting device, for mounting a plurality of buttons on a product, includes a supporting member, a punching member, and a driving member The supporting member includes a supporting panel, a plurality of holding portions fixed on the supporting panel for supporting the product, a molding board having a plurality of molding holes a platform, and a base fixed on the platform for supporting the molding board. The punching member includes a retaining member positioned above the supporting member, and a plurality of cutters fixed to the retaining member The cutters cut the buttons off a button assembly, and couple to a vacuum generator for creating suction to hold the buttons. The driving member drives the punching member to mount the buttons on the product.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for utilizing an extreme offset nose assembly for installing fasteners are disclosed involving a drawbar, an anvil, and a collet. The drawbar having a first portion, a second portion, a third portion. The third portion transitioning from the second portion by a chamfer or a shoulder. The anvil having a cavity, a first aperture, and a second aperture. The collet having a first bore and a second bore. The drawbar having a section of the first portion disposed within the first aperture, a front section of the second portion threadedly engaged within the second bore of the collet, a rearward section of the second portion passing through the second aperture of the anvil thereby providing a bearing surface between the rearward section of the second portion and the second aperture of the anvil, and the third portion passing through the second aperture of the anvil.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for utilizing an extreme offset nose assembly for installing fasteners are disclosed involving a drawbar, an anvil, and a collet. The drawbar having a first portion, a second portion, a third portion. The third portion transitioning from the second portion by a chamfer or a shoulder. The anvil having a cavity, a first aperture, and a second aperture. The collet having a first bore and a second bore. The drawbar having a section of the first portion disposed within the first aperture, a front section of the second portion threadedly engaged within the second bore of the collet, a rearward section of the second portion passing through the second aperture of the anvil thereby providing a bearing surface between the rearward section of the second portion and the second aperture of the anvil, and the third portion passing through the second aperture of the anvil.

Abstract: A swage collar and an internal sealing insert form a swage collar assembly used in combination with a structural fastener to prevent leakage through a connection of workpieces fastened together by the structural fastener. The swage collar has a hollow, generally cylindrical main body portion with a main central bore, and a base portion with an internal shoulder formed in the main central bore so as to form a seal receiving guide. The shaft of the fastener typically includes a threaded section and an unthreaded section, and the internal sealing insert interfaces with the threaded section and the unthreaded section of the shaft of the pin. In an alternate embodiment, the internal sealing insert interfaces with the unthreaded section of shaft of the pin.

Abstract: An article for packaging an item is described. The article comprises packaging material gathered into a neck and a clip fastening the neck, the clip comprising a top section and two legs connected by the top section, the top section comprising an internal face and an external face, the two legs being folded inward to contact each other, the folded legs and the top section defining a space securing the neck, and the clip further comprising at least one of a shoulder extending from the external face and a pin extending from the internal face into the space. In another embodiment, the invention comprises a plurality of these clips connected by extensions. In another embodiment, the invention further comprises a clipper for using the clips, the clipper having at least one of a notch in the rail of the clipper, a notch in the guide rail of the clipper, and a protrusion in the guide rail of a clipper.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for utilizing an extreme offset nose assembly for installing fasteners are disclosed involving a drawbar, an anvil, and a collet. The drawbar having a first portion, a second portion, a third portion. The third portion transitioning from the second portion by a chamfer or a shoulder. The anvil having a cavity, a first aperture, and a second aperture. The collet having a first bore and a second bore. The drawbar having a section of the first portion disposed within the first aperture, a front section of the second portion threadedly engaged within the second bore of the collet, a rearward section of the second portion passing through the second aperture of the anvil thereby providing a bearing surface between the rearward section of the second portion and the second aperture of the anvil, and the third portion passing through the second aperture of the anvil.

Abstract: A pulling head having jaws that have a conical angle of at least forty-five degrees, and preferably sixty degrees, relative to a longitudinal axis about which the jaws are arranged. Another pulling head includes an elastic collet that has a plurality of fingers. Each of the fingers includes an internal jaw area, and a back end of the elastic collet preferably contacts a bushing. Preferably, the bushing provides high and reliable push force and also acts as a shock absorber during operation. The fingers of the elastic collet are configured to open and close during tool operation, and are configured to grip a break stem of a fastener such that there is no side loading. The elastic collet is also configured such that the fingers stay accurately centered and positioned, eliminating any possibility of jaw damage caused by the jaws tumbling, being off-center, or being otherwise positioned incorrectly.

Abstract: The invention provides a fastening method and a fastening tool which can stably fasten a nut to a bolt securely and with a small dispersion at a desired axial force. A fastened member (20) is fastened by inserting a bolt (21) to the fastened member (20), thereafter temporarily fastening a nut (22) and the bolt (21), pulling a leading end (21b) of a shaft portion (21c) of the bolt (21) in an axial direction of the bolt (21), rotating the nut (22) so as to screw into the bolt (21) while elastically deforming the bolt (21) so as to generate an axial force, and thereafter canceling the pulling of the bolt (21).

Abstract: A fastening tool draws a mandrel (5) to allow a caulking portion of the mandrel to deform a stem of a rivet (2) so that workpieces are fastened together. The fastening tool used in this process includes a nosepiece having a protrusion. During caulking, the protrusion of the nosepiece applies a force on a flange of the rivet to form a recess in the rivet flange and thereby peel a coating of the workpieces. As a result, electrical conductivity between the workpieces and the rivet is obtained.

Abstract: A tubular fastener element (34) is inserted into an opening (44) in a wall (W) until a flange (40) at the trailing end of the fastener element (34) is in contact with the wall (W). Then, an externally threaded end (32) of a rod (28) is inserted into a center opening (56) in the fastener element (34) from the flange side (42) of the wall (W) and is mated with internal threads (52) in the fastener element (34) beyond the second side (50) of the wall (W). A tubular mandrel (24) that surrounds the rod (28) is moved into contact with the entrance portion of the center opening (56) in the tubular fastener (34). The outside diameter of the mandrel (24) is larger than the inside diameter (58) of the center opening (56) in the fastener element (34). The rod (28) is retracted to cause a reduced thickness wall portion (46) of the fastener element (34) to collapse and form a second radial flange (60) on the second side (50) of the wall (W).

Abstract: An adapter enables a universal assembly machine to manufacture buttons with either flat backs or formed backs. The machine comprises a rotatably indexable die table to which are mounted pickup and crimp dies. A ram die is advancable and retractable in a pickup stroke and a crimp stroke. Indexing the die table causes a shifter post to rotate a ram outer ring into a pickup mode or a crimp mode to suit the ram pickup and crimp strokes, respectively. The universal assembly machine manufactures buttons with flat backs by using the adapter on the same crimp die pedestal as is used for manufacturing buttons with formed backs. The adapter has a top surface that is in the location relative to the ram die that suits flat back buttons. The adapter enables the same crimp die pedestal to be used for manufacturing both flat back and formed back buttons.

Abstract: An offset nose assembly for installing fasteners is provided that generally includes a drawbar, a swage anvil and a collet. The drawbar has three portions with the third portion transitioning from the second portion by a chamfer, the chamfer being of a preselected angle that is adapted to positively engage a chamfer of a preselected angle of a piston of a fastener installation tool. Additionally, a generally L-shaped guard assembly is provided that is disposed on the collet to cover a gap defined between the collet and the swage anvil. Also, a deflector is provided that is attached to a nut that is threadedly engaged with the rearward end of a bore in the collet, the deflector having a section of a uniform constant outside diameter that integrally transitions to a section that has an outside diameter that gradually lessens along its length.

Abstract: A hydraulic installation tool for installing fasteners is provided, that includes a housing having a first portion adapted to receive a drawbar and a second portion adapted to receive a piston, a gland and a retaining ring. A generally L-shaped drawbar is disposed in the first portion of the housing and a piston, a gland and a retaining ring is disposed in the second portion of the housing. The hydraulic installation tool is useful in securing lockbolt or swage type fasteners.

Abstract: A tubular fastener element (34) is inserted into an opening(44) in a wall (W) until a flange (40) at the trailing end of the fastener element (34) is in contact with the wall (W). Then, an externally threaded end (32) of a rod (28) is inserted into a center opening (56) in the fastener element (34) from the flange side (42) of the wall (W) and is mated with internal threads (52) in the fastener element (34) beyond the second side (50) of the wall (W). A tubular mandrel (24) that surrounds the rod (28) is moved into contact with the entrance portion of the center opening (56) in the tubular fastener (34). The outside diameter of the mandrel (24) is larger than the inside diameter (58) of the center opening (56) in the fastener element (34). The rod (28) is retracted to cause a reduced thickness wall portion (46) of the fastener element (34) to collapse and form a second radial flange (60) on the second side (50) of the wall (W).

Abstract: A universal assembly machine manufactures conventional buttons with formed backs. The machine comprises a rotatably indexable die table to which are mounted pickup and crimp dies. The die table indexes about a center column of the machine frame. A ram die is advancable and retractable in a pickup stroke and a crimp stroke by means of a handle. The ram die includes a ram outer ring that is rotatable by means of a shifter post joined to the die table. Indexing the die table causes the shifter post to rotate the ram outer ring into a pickup mode or a crimp mode to suit the ram pickup and crimp strokes, respectively. The universal assembly machine also manufactures buttons with flat backs by using a different crimp die pedestal than is used with the formed backs. An adapter on the crimp die pedestal used with formed backs allows that crimp die pedestal to also be used for manufacturing buttons with flat backs. The invention also embraces button medallions.

Abstract: A method of blind riveting to secure together a plurality of members (26, 27, 28) with aligned apertures, using a blind rivet comprising a tubular shell (11) with a head (13) and a stem (12) extending through the tubular shell. The method comprises the steps of: inserting the shell through the aligned apertures, from the near face of the near member, so that the remote end of the shell protrude beyond the remote face of the remote member and the nearest end of the shell is substantially level with the near face of the near member; supporting the near end of the shell while pulling the stem head to form a remote blind head; applying a force to the near member with respect to the stem, until any gap (28) between the members is taken up and deforming the now protruding portion of the shell to form a near-side head of the rivet. The invention also encompasses a blind riveting apparatus and blind rivets for carrying out the method described above.