Method and Apparatus for Installing Fasteners
First Claim
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1. Apparatus for installing fasteners in a workpiece, comprising:
- a base;
a supply of fasteners mounted on the base;
means for mounting the base for movement over the surface of the workpiece;
at least one tool mounted on the base for installing the fasteners in the workpiece along an installation path; and
,controls mounted on the base for controlling the operation of the at least one tool.
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Abstract
Apparatus for installing fasteners in a workpiece is mounted for computer controlled movement over the workpiece surface. The apparatus includes all of the tools, fasteners, drives and controls on-board that are needed to operate autonomously, without external connections. The apparatus may also include an on-board power supply for powering the tools, drives and controls. A supply of fasteners is held in an on-board replaceable cassette. An on-board fastener transferring device transfers individual fasteners from the cassette to the tools.
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Citations
51 Claims
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1. Apparatus for installing fasteners in a workpiece, comprising:
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a base; a supply of fasteners mounted on the base; means for mounting the base for movement over the surface of the workpiece; at least one tool mounted on the base for installing the fasteners in the workpiece along an installation path; and
,controls mounted on the base for controlling the operation of the at least one tool. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. Autonomous apparatus for installing fasteners in a workpiece, comprising:
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a base including a process station where fastener installation processes are performed; a drive assembly for moving the base over the surface of the workpiece; a supply of fasteners mounted on the base; a fastener transferring device mounted on the base for transferring fasteners from the supply of fasteners to the process station; a plurality of tools mounted on the base for performing operations related to the installation of the fasteners; a tool changer; and
,controls mounted on the base for controlling the operation of at least one of the fastener transferring device, the tools and the drive assembly. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. Apparatus for installing fasteners in a workpiece, comprising:
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a base mounted for movement over the surface of the workpiece; a tool mounted on the base for performing fastener installation operations on the workpiece; a magazine mounted on the base for holding a supply of fasteners; and
,a device mounted on the base for transferring fasteners from the cassette to the tool. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A method of installing fasteners in a workpiece, comprising the steps of:
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(A) mounting a base on the workpiece; (B) moving the base to each of a plurality of locations on the workpiece where fasteners are to be installed; (C) moving each of a plurality of tools on the base to a process station on the base; and (D) performing fastener installation operations at process station using tools moved to the process station in step (C). - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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Specification