Alignment tool for fastener feed mechanism

• US 10,350,759 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2017
• Issued: 07/16/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Zivari, Kia Miriam, Talus, Zachary David, Deans, Derek John
• Primary Examiner(s): Bennett, George B
• Application Number:
  US15/676,224
• Publication Number:
  US 20190047150A1
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 33613, 33645
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1687 Assembly, peg and hole, palletising, straight line, weaving pattern movement
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 5/25 for testing the alignment of axes
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45064 Assembly robot
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 901/45 Compliance

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for aligning a fastener feed mechanism. One embodiment is an apparatus that includes an alignment tool that aligns a fastener feed mechanism with a chamber of a fastening device that receives fasteners. The alignment tool includes a tip section having a diameter less than a diameter of the chamber, a chamber fit section that extends from an end of the tip section in a lengthwise direction and has a diameter corresponding with the diameter of the chamber, a lip that protrudes radially from the chamber beyond the diameter of the chamber, and a fitting member that extends from the lip in the lengthwise direction.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an alignment tool that aligns a fastener feed mechanism with a chamber of a fastening device that receives fasteners, the alignment tool comprising;

a tip section having a diameter less than a diameter of the chamber;

a chamber fit section that extends from an end of the tip section in a lengthwise direction and has a diameter corresponding with the diameter of the chamber;

a lip that protrudes radially from the chamber beyond the diameter of the chamber; and

a fitting member that extends from the lip in the lengthwise direction.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the tip section increases in diameter according to a curve along the lengthwise direction as distance from a first end of the tip section increases,

the lip prevents the tip section from entering the chamber by more than a predefined amount, and

the fitting member defines a cut-out volume that mates with an arm of the fastener feed mechanism.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein:

the cut-out volume defined by the fitting member defines channels that correspond with locations of set screws in the arm of the fastener feed mechanism.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein:

the tip section increases in diameter according to a circular curve.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein:

the curve forms a circular arc of greater radius than the diameter of the chamber fit section.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein:

the tip section comprises an ogive.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the chamber fit section is detachable from the lip; and

the fitting member is detachable from the lip.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising:

multiple chamber fit sections that each have a different diameter and corresponding tip section; and

multiple fitting members that each define a different cut-out volume that mates with a different arm of a fastener feed mechanism.

9. A method comprising:

placing a fitting member of an alignment tool onto an arm of a fastener feed mechanism;

loosening components of the fastener feed mechanism that control a position of the fastener feed mechanism;

sliding the alignment tool into a chamber until a lip of the alignment tool prevents further insertion of the alignment tool into the chamber; and

adjusting the components of the fastener feed mechanism to maintain a position of the arm determined during the alignment.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

acquiring the alignment tool, wherein;

sliding the alignment tool into the chamber aligns a central axis of the alignment tool with a central axis of the chamber.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein:

the position defines a location of an actuator about which the arms rotate.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein:

sliding the alignment tool into the chamber comprises;

sliding a tip section having a diameter less than a diameter of the chamber into the chamber, the tip section increasing in diameter according to a curve along a lengthwise direction as distance from a first end of the tip section increases; and

sliding a chamber fit section that extends from a second end of the tip section in the lengthwise direction and has a diameter corresponding with the diameter of the chamber.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein:

placing the fitting member onto the arm comprises sliding the arm onto a cut-out volume defined by the fitting member.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein:

the lip prevents further insertion of the alignment tool by extending radially beyond a diameter of the chamber.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein:

loosening the components comprises tightening one or more set screws at the fastener feed mechanism.

16. A system comprising:

a fastener feed mechanism comprising;

multiple arms that rotate about a central axis to deliver fasteners to a chamber of a fastening device that receives fasteners;

an actuator that drives rotation of the arms about the central axis; and

gripping tools that extend from each arm for holding fasteners being delivered to the chamber; and

an alignment tool that aligns the fastener feed mechanism with the chamber of the fastening device, the alignment tool comprising;

a tip section having a diameter less than a diameter of the chamber;

a chamber fit section that extends from an end of the tip section in a lengthwise direction and has a diameter corresponding with the diameter of the chamber;

a lip that protrudes radially from the chamber beyond the diameter of the chamber; and

a fitting member that extends from the chamber in the lengthwise direction.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein:

the tip section increases in diameter according to a curve along the lengthwise direction as distance from a first end of the tip section increases,

the lip prevents the tip from entering the chamber by more than a predefined amount, and

the fitting member defines a cut-out volume that mates with an arm of the fastener feed mechanism.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein:

the tip section increases in diameter according to a circular curve.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein:

the curve forms a circular arc of greater radius than the diameter of the chamber fit section.

20. The system of claim 16 wherein:

the tip section comprises an ogive.

21. The system of claim 16 wherein:

the chamber fit section is detachable from the lip; and

the fitting member is detachable from the lip.

22. The system of claim 21 further comprising:

multiple chamber fit sections that each have a different diameter and corresponding tip section; and

multiple fitting members that each define a different cut-out volume that mates with a different arm of a fastener feed mechanism.

23. The system of claim 16 wherein:

a cut-out volume defined by the fitting member defines channels that correspond with locations of set screws in the arm of the fastener feed mechanism.