Die changing apparatus

A method of changing a die using a die changing apparatus, the die changing apparatus comprising:

• a first die support, the first die support having first and second die supporting portions which are spaced from one another, and a transfer arrangement comprising a first grip portion, the method comprising:
• supporting a plurality of dies on the first die support,
• moving the first die support so that either the first die supporting portion or the second die supporting portion are located at a first transfer position;
• the first grip portion gripping a die from one of the first and second die supporting portions when said one of the first and second die supporting portions is located at the first transfer position, and the transfer arrangement thereby removing said gripped die from the first die support;
• moving the transfer arrangement, independently of the first die support, between a first configuration in which said gripping can occur, and a second configuration in which the first grip portion releases said die and passes said die to a second die support of a rivet setter located at a second transfer position;
• and
• wherein the transfer arrangement comprises a second grip portion, and wherein in the first configuration of the transfer arrangement the second grip portion grips a second die from the second die support of a rivet setter located at the second transfer position at the same time that the first grip portion grips the die from one of the first and second die supporting portions when said one of the first and second die supporting portions is located at the first transfer position, and wherein in the second configuration of the transfer arrangement the second grip portion releases said second die and passes it to a disposal target.

A method of manufacturing a product, the method comprising:

• fastening together two or more layers of a material using a rivet setter in combination with a die changing apparatus,
• supporting a plurality of dies on a first die support and a second die support of the rivet setter,
• moving the first die support so that either a first die supporting portion or a second die supporting portion of the first die support are located at a first transfer position;
• a first grip portion of a transfer arrangement gripping a die from one of the first and second die supporting portions when said one of the first and second die supporting portions is located at the first transfer position, and a second grip portion of the transfer arrangement gripping a second die from a second die support located at the second transfer position at the same time that the first grip portion grips the die from one of the first and second die supporting portions, the transfer arrangement thereby removing said gripped die from the first die support and said gripped second die from the second die support;
• and
• moving the transfer arrangement, independently of the first and second die supports, between a first configuration in which said gripping can occur, and a second configuration in which the first grip portion releases said die and passes said die to the second die support located at the second transfer position and the second grip portion releases said second die and passes it to a disposal target.