Fastening machines

• US 20050284910A1
• Filed: 04/08/2005
• Published: 12/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael Butler, Nicholas Richard Clew, Ralph Fuhrmeister, Rupert Andrew Craythorn, Shane Peter Matthews, Stuart Edmund Blacket, Wojciech Gostylla
• Original Assignee: Michael Butler, Nicholas Richard Clew, Ralph Fuhrmeister, Rupert Andrew Craythorn, Shane Peter Matthews, Stuart Edmund Blacket, Wojciech Gostylla
• Inventors: Clew, Nicholas Richard, Gostylla, Wojciech, Fuhrmeister, Ralph, Blacket, Stuart Edmund, Butler, Michael, Matthews, Shane Peter, Craythorn, Rupert Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 7,487,583 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/112
• CPC Class Codes: B21J 15/025 Setting self-piercing rivets
• CPC Class Codes: B21J 15/10 Riveting machines electric heating elements H05B
• CPC Class Codes: B21J 15/32 Devices for inserting or holding rivets in position with or without feeding arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 11/00 Connecting or disconnecting metal parts or objects by metal-working techniques not otherwise provided for connecting sheet metal or metal tubes, rods or profiles B21D39/00; riveting B21J; soldering, unsoldering, welding B23K; hand tools for connecting wire or strip B25B25/00; connecting metal parts by adhesives F16B11/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/1407 the articles being fed from a container, e.g. a bowl
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49 Method of mechanical manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49943 Riveting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49947 by applying separate fastener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49956 Riveting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5118 Riveting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5343 Means to drive self-piercing work part
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53478 with magazine supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5377 Riveter

Abstract

Fastener delivery apparatus for automatically selecting and delivering fasteners such as rivets to a setting tool. The fasteners are pre-loaded in a package and dispense via at least one fastener delivery tube that interconnects the setting tool to a fastener feeder device. The fastener feeder device releases selected fasteners from the package into the delivery tube. The fasteners are transportable individually or in groups in the tube from the feeder device to the tool. A transfer station attached to the tool or the delivery tube transfers a fastener from the delivery apparatus into the tool, the transfer station being moveable between a first position in which an exit of the transfer station is adjacent to the tool so that a delivered fastener may be inserted by the transfer station into the tool and a second position in which it is clear of the tool so as to permit the tool or a portion thereof to move towards a workpiece to insert a loaded fastener. The delivery tube has wear resistant elements. The apparatus allows smooth, rapid and reliable delivery of fasteners of various sizes and types to the nose of a setting tool in any particular order and provides all the fastener types for any particular work cycle.

Claims

1. Fastener supply apparatus for a fastener setting tool comprising at least one fastener delivery tube for interconnecting the setting tool and a fastener reservoir, the fasteners being transportable individually or in groups in the tube from the reservoir towards the tool, an intermediate buffer disposed between the delivery tube and the tool for temporarily storing a plurality of fasteners, the buffer having an outlet that is connectable to the tool, the delivery tube being releasably connectable to said intermediate buffer by a docking device.

2. Fastener supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the docking device has a first portion connected to an outlet end of the delivery tube and a second portion connected to an inlet end of the intermediate buffer, the first and second portions being movable relative to each other to engage and provide a fastener path between the tube and the buffer.

3. Fastener supply apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first portion has a fastener gate that is closed by a biasing member when the portions are disengaged and is opened against the force of the biasing when the portions are engaged.

4. Fastener supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein there is provided a transfer station for transferring a fastener delivered from the outlet of the buffer into a fastener delivery passage in a nose of the tool.

5. Fastener supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the buffer has an escapement mechanism at its outlet.

6. Fastener supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the buffer is disposed adjacent to said tool.

7. Fastener supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the buffer is in the form of a magazine.

8. Fastener supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the delivery tube is flexible.

9. Fastener supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein there is provided at least one source of compressed air that is connected to said delivery tube and which supplies the air to the tube so as to propel the fasteners along the tube.

10. Fastener supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein there is more than one buffer.

11. Fastener supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the docking device operates automatically.

12. Fastener supply apparatus for a fastener setting tool comprising at least one fastener delivery tube for interconnecting the setting tool and a fastener reservoir, the fasteners being transportable individually or in groups in the tube from the reservoir towards the tool, an intermediate buffer magazine disposed between the delivery tube and the tool for temporarily storing a plurality of fasteners, the buffer having an inlet and an outlet, an escapement mechanism disposed at the outlet for selectively releasing one or more fasteners from the buffer and delivering it to the tool, the delivery tube being releasably connectable to said inlet of said intermediate buffer by a docking device.

13. Fastener supply apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the docking device has a first portion at the outlet of the delivery tube and a second portion at the inlet of the intermediate buffer magazine, the first and second portions being movable relative to each other to engage and provide a fastener path between the tube and the buffer.

14. Fastener supply apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the first portion has a fastener gate that is closed by a biasing member when the portions are disengaged and is opened against the force of the biasing when the portions are engaged.

15. Fastener supply apparatus according to claim 12, wherein there is provided a transfer station for transferring a fastener delivered from the outlet of the buffer into a fastener delivery passage in a nose of the tool.

16. Fastener supply apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the buffer is disposed adjacent to said tool.

17. Fastener supply apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the delivery tube is flexible.

18. Fastener supply apparatus according to claim 12, wherein there is provided at least one source of compressed air that is connected to said delivery tube and which supplies the air to the tube so as to propel the fasteners along the tube.

19. Fastener supply apparatus according to claim 12, wherein there is more than one buffer magazine.

20. Fastener supply apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the docking device operates automatically.

21. Fastener supply apparatus for a fastener setting tool comprising at least one fastener delivery tube for interconnecting the setting tool and a fastener reservoir, the fasteners being transportable individually or in groups in the tube from the reservoir towards the tool, an intermediate buffer magazine disposed between the delivery tube and the tool for temporarily storing a plurality of fasteners, the buffer having an inlet and an outlet, the delivery tube being releasably connectable to said inlet of said intermediate buffer by an automatic docking device, the outlet of the buffer magazine being connectable to said tool, the docking device having fastener a retention gate that is closed when the delivery tube and buffer are disengaged and is opened when the portions are engaged.

22. Fastener supply apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the gate is biased to the closed position by a biasing member.

23. Fastener supply apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the docking device has a first portion connected to, or at, the outlet of the delivery tube and a second portion connected to, or at, the inlet of the intermediate buffer, the first and second portions being movable relative to each other to engage and provide a fastener path between the tube and the buffer.

24. Fastener supply apparatus according to claim 21, wherein there is provided a transfer station for transferring a fastener delivered from the outlet of the buffer into a fastener delivery passage in a nose of the tool.

25. Fastener supply apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the buffer has an escapement mechanism at its outlet.

26. Fastener supply apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the buffer is disposed adjacent to said tool.

27. Fastener supply apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the delivery tube is flexible.

28. Fastener supply apparatus according to claim 21, wherein there is provided at least one source of compressed air that is connected to said delivery tube and which supplies the air to the tube so as to propel the fasteners along the tube.

29. Fastener supply apparatus according to claim 21, wherein there is more than one buffer.

30. Fastener setting apparatus comprising a fastener setting tool, a reservoir of fasteners and fastener supply apparatus interconnecting the tool and the apparatus, the fastener supply apparatus comprising at least one fastener delivery tube extending from the reservoir towards the tool, the fasteners being transportable individually or in groups in the tube from the reservoir towards the tool, an intermediate buffer disposed between the delivery tube and the tool for temporarily storing a plurality of fasteners, the buffer having an outlet that is connected to the tool, the delivery tube being releasably connected to said intermediate buffer by a docking device.

31. Fastener setting apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the tool has a nose with a fastener delivery passage through which the fastener passes when being inserted into a workpiece.

32. Fastener setting apparatus according to claim 31, further comprising a transfer station for transferring a fastener delivered from the outlet of the buffer into a fastener delivery passage in a nose of the tool.

33. Fastener setting apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the nose has a side port that is connected to the transfer station and via which a fastener enters the delivery passage.

34. Fastener supply apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the buffer is disposed adjacent to said tool.

35. Fastener supply apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the delivery tube is flexible.

36. Fastener supply apparatus according to claim 31, wherein there is provided at least one source of compressed air that is connected to said delivery tube and which supplies the air to the tube so as to propel the fasteners along the tube.

37. Fastener supply apparatus according to claim 31, wherein there is more than one buffer.

38. Fastener supply apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the docking device operates automatically.

39. Fastener setting apparatus comprising a fastener setting tool, a reservoir of fasteners and fastener supply apparatus interconnecting the tool and the apparatus, the fastener supply apparatus comprising at least one fastener delivery tube extending from the reservoir towards the tool, the fasteners being transportable individually or in groups in the tube from the reservoir towards the tool, an intermediate buffer magazine disposed between the delivery tube and the tool for temporarily storing a plurality of fasteners, the buffer having an inlet and an outlet, an escapement mechanism disposed at the outlet for selectively releasing one or more fasteners from the buffer and delivering it to the tool, the delivery tube being releasably connectable to said inlet of said intermediate buffer by a docking device.

40. Fastener setting apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the tool has a nose with a fastener delivery passage through which the fastener passes when being inserted into a workpiece.

41. Fastener setting apparatus according to claim 39, further comprising a transfer station for transferring a fastener delivered from the outlet of the buffer into a fastener delivery passage in a nose of the tool.

42. Fastener setting apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the nose has a side port that is connected to the transfer station and via which a fastener enters the delivery passage.

43. Fastener supply apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the buffer is disposed adjacent to said tool.

44. Fastener supply apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the delivery tube is flexible.

45. Fastener supply apparatus according to claim 39, wherein there is provided at least one source of compressed air that is connected to said delivery tube and which supplies the air to the tube so as to propel the fasteners along the tube.

46. Fastener supply apparatus according to claim 39, wherein there is more than one buffer.

47. Fastener supply apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the docking device operates automatically.