Method and apparatus for actuating riveting tooling

• US 6,543,121 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2002
• Issued: 04/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gemcor Automation, LLC
• Original Assignee: General-Electro Mechanical Corp.
• Inventors: Andrews, Mark J., Kittelberger, Bernhard, Roberts, Bradley M., Kellner, Robert J., Speller, Thomas H. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bryant, David P.
• Application Number:
  US10/101,288
• Publication Number:
  US 20020100156A1
• Time in Patent Office: 386 Days
• Field of Search: 295/250.6, 292/435.3, 29/33.R, 29/34.B, 292/435.4, 294/070.9, 294/071, 173/165, 173/149, 724/54, 227/154, 227/41, 227/57
• US Class Current: 29/525.06
• CPC Class Codes: B21J 15/26 operated by rotary drive, e.g. by electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B21J 15/28 Control devices specially adapted to riveting machines not restricted to one of the preceding subgroups
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 5/40 by feed shaft, e.g. lead screw
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49778 with aligning, guiding, or instruction
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49956 Riveting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/51 Plural diverse manufacturing apparatus including means for metal shaping or assembling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5118 Riveting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5377 Riveter

Abstract

Riveting apparatus wherein a planetary roller screw delivers the high forces required for actuating the fastener upset tooling. In order that precise control of the entire upset operation may be obtained, a servo-controlled electric motor operates the actuator. In order that different machining operations may be performed on a workpiece without having to provide an actuator for each tool, the tools are engaged in turn by the actuator for performing riveting and other machining in succession.

Claims

1. Riveting apparatus comprising tooling for upsetting fasteners, a shaft, a nut, a mechanism to convert rotary motion of one of said shaft and said nut to linear movement of the other of said shaft and said nut to actuate said tooling to upset fasteners, said mechanism comprising a plurality of rollers assembled between said shaft and said nut in a planetary arrangement around said shaft, and a motor for rotating said one of said shaft and said nut.

2. Riveting apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said motor comprises a servo-controlled electric motor.

3. Riveting apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising an arrangement to engage said other of said nut and said shaft to a plurality of tools for actuation thereof in turn for performing riveting and other machining in succession.

4. Riveting apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said arrangement comprises a transfer assembly for moving said tools in turn into alignment with said other of said nut and said shaft.

5. Riveting apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said motor includes a shaft, and the apparatus further comprises gearing for coupling said motor means shaft to said one of said shaft of said nut.

6. Riveting apparatus according to claim 5 further comprising a first housing for said nut and a second housing for said motor.

7. Riveting apparatus comprising tooling for upsetting fasteners, a shaft, a nut, a mechanism to convert rotary motion of one of said shaft and said nut to linear movement of the other of said shaft and said nut for actuating said tooling for upsetting fasteners, and a servo-controlled electric motor for effecting rotary motion of said one of said shaft and said nut.

8. Riveting apparatus according to claim 7 further comprising an arrangement to engage said other of said nut and said shaft to a plurality of tools for actuation thereof in turn for performing riveting and other machining in succession.

9. Riveting apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said arrangement comprises a transfer assembly for moving said tools in turn into alignment with said other of said nut and said shaft.

10. Riveting apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said motor includes a shaft, and the apparatus further comprises gearing for coupling said motor means shaft to said one of said shaft and said nut.

11. Riveting apparatus according to claim 10 further comprising a first housing in which is contained said nut and a second housing for said motor.

12. A method of riveting comprising inserting a fastener in position for riveting, positioning tooling for upsetting the fastener, providing a planetary arrangement of rollers around a shaft and engaged between a nut and the shaft for converting rotary motion of one of the nut and shaft to linear motion of the other of the nut and shaft, rotating said one of the nut and shaft to thereby effect linear movement of the other of said nut and shaft to thereby actuate said tooling to upset the fastener.

13. A method according to claim 12 further comprising servo-controlling the rotation of said one of the nut and shaft.

14. A method of riveting comprising inserting a fastener in position for riveting, positioning tooling for upsetting the fastener, coupling an electric motor to one of a nut and a shaft for rotating thereof, converting the rotation of said one of the nut and the shaft to linear motion of the other of the nut and the shaft to thereby actuate the tooling for upsetting the fastener, and servo-controlling the motor.