Elongated-member-driving apparatus – With means to move or guide member into driving position
Patent
1996-10-11
1998-07-14
Smith, Scott A.
Elongated-member-driving apparatus
With means to move or guide member into driving position
227112, 227113, 227119, 227149, B21J 1530, B25B 2308
Patent
active
057791279
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
THIS INVENTION relates to improved fastening machines. In particular, this invention relates to improved punch/setting tool combinations for fastening machines.
2. Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 4,615,475 (Fuhrmeister) (=AU-B-28506/84 (566811)=International Publication No. WO 84/04710) discloses a feeder for headed fasteners, where the fasteners, mounted in tape, are sequentially advanced into alignment with the punch and die assembly of a fastening machine by an oscillating actuator, which is timed by the plunger holding the punch, the actuator releasably engaging the stems of the fasteners to advance the fasteners.
The feeder, and the fastening machine, has proved commercially successful in a wide range of industries. There are certain applications, however, eg. in the automotive and white goods industries, where the dimensions of the feeding head preclude the use of the above described type of fastening machine to fasten components together, where limited space is available.
In addition, the minimum radius of curvature of the tape entering and leaving the feeder head also limits the reduction of size of the feeder hereinbefore described to suit such applications.
In our International Application No. PCT/AU94/00013 (International Publication No. WO 94/15730), we disclose improved setting tools for the delivery of fasteners to a workpiece, where the fasteners are centered and stabilized by, eg. pins, balls, fingers, or resilient annular discs in the fastener delivery passage. The setting tools are particularly suitable for fasteners where the stem (or shank) length is less than, or equal to, the diameter of the head.
In certain applications, limited access to the workpieces being fastened precludes the use of the setting tools disclosed in the above International Application.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved fastening machine which has better nose access.
It is a preferred object to provide a fastening machine where the centralizing elements of the fastening machine can be raised to a position unrelated to fastener length.
It is a further preferred object to provide a vacuum to the fastener actuator to releasably retain the fastener thereto as the fastener is delivered to the workpiece.
It is a still further preferred object to provide a machine where the fastener is centralized on the fastener actuator as it is advanced in the fastener delivery passage.
It is a still further preferred object to provide a machine where the fasteners are fed to the setting tool by tape, blow feed, manually or the like.
The term "fastener" shall include rivets, screws and other like fastening devices.
The term "fastener actuator" includes a punch when the fastener is a rivet; a driver when the fastener is a screw; or other tooling appropriate to insert or apply the fastener after its delivery by the nose assembly.
The term "stem" of a fastener shall be hereinafter used to also include a "shank" of a fastener.
The term "fastener support means" includes means which guide or orient an advancing fastener as occurs, eg. in tape feed machines, where initial support may be by the tape, and the term includes means which engage either or both of the head and stem of an advancing fastener.
In one aspect, the present invention resides in a fastener actuator for a fastening machine wherein: actuator releasably secures a fastener to the nose as the fastener is advanced towards a workpiece.
In a second aspect, the present invention resides in a setter tool and fastener actuator assembly for a fastening machine including: and a fastener supply passage to enable fasteners to be transferred from a fastener supply to the fastener delivery passage; delivery passage to move a fastener therefrom to a workpiece to be fastened thereby; delivery passage, and fastener actuator to releasably secure a fastener to the nose as the actuator moves through the fastener delivery passage and is advanced towards the workpiece.
The releasable fastener re
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Blacket Stuart Edmund
Gostylla Wojciech
Henrob Ltd.
Smith Scott A.
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