US 12,434,337 B1Granted

Automated fastener system and method having automated washer installation, and method of using a conductive washer

AssigneeThe Boeing Company

InventorMonica J. Brockway

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Abstract

There is provided an automated fastener system having an automated washer installation. The automated fastener system includes an automated washer feed system holding and dispensing one or more washers, and providing a selected washer for the automated washer installation. The automated fastener system further includes an automated fastener holder assembly holding and dispensing one or more fasteners, and providing a selected fastener for the automated washer installation; an automated shuttle assembly; an automated inspection system; an automated delivery system; an automated installation system; and a control system. The automated washer installation is performed at one or more of, before inspection of the selected fastener, after inspection of the selected fastener, or after delivery of the selected fastener and the selected washer by the automated delivery system to the automated installation system.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An automated method of performing automated washer installation in an automated fastener system, the automated method comprising:

providing the automated fastener system comprising:
an automated washer feed system holding and dispensing one or more washers, and providing a selected washer for the automated washer installation;
an automated fastener holder assembly holding and dispensing one or more fasteners, and providing a selected fastener for the automated washer installation, wherein with the automated washer installation, the selected fastener is inserted in the selected washer, so that the selected washer is in contact with, and positioned under, a fastener head of the selected fastener, to obtain a fastener and washer assembly;
an automated shuttle assembly having one or more shuttle cups, wherein a selected shuttle cup receives and transports one of, the selected washer from the automated washer feed system, the selected fastener from the automated fastener holder assembly, or the fastener and washer assembly;
an automated inspection system having two or more inspection gripper fingers configured to pick up, to inspect, and to release one of, the selected fastener, or the fastener and washer assembly;
an automated delivery system having a delivery device configured to transport one or more of, the selected fastener, the selected washer, or the fastener and washer assembly;
an automated installation system having an end effector with two or more end effector gripper fingers configured to pick up from the delivery device, one or more of, the selected fastener, the selected washer, or the fastener and washer assembly, and further configured to install the fastener and washer assembly in a structure;
and
a control system comprising at least a controller, one or more power supplies, and a computer system, the control system configured to control the automated fastener system and the automated washer installation;
performing the automated washer installation at one or more of, before inspection of the selected fastener by the automated inspection system, after inspection of the selected fastener by the automated inspection system, or after delivery of the selected fastener and the selected washer by the automated delivery system to the automated installation system;
and
installing, with the automated installation system, the fastener and washer assembly in the structure.

9 more elements

An automated method of performing automated washer installation in an automated fastener system, the automated method comprising:

providing the automated fastener system comprising:
an automated washer feed system holding and dispensing one or more conductive washers, and providing a selected conductive washer for the automated washer installation;
an automated fastener holder assembly holding and dispensing one or more fasteners, and providing a selected fastener for the automated washer installation, wherein with the automated washer installation, the selected fastener is inserted in the selected conductive washer, so that the selected conductive washer is in contact with, and positioned under, a fastener head of the selected fastener, to obtain a fastener and conductive washer assembly;
an automated shuttle assembly having one or more shuttle cups, wherein a selected shuttle cup receives and transports one of, the selected conductive washer from the automated washer feed system, the selected fastener from the automated fastener holder assembly, or the fastener and conductive washer assembly;
an automated inspection system having two or more inspection gripper fingers configured to pick up, to inspect, and to release one of, the selected fastener, or the fastener and conductive washer assembly;
an automated delivery system having a delivery device configured to transport one or more of, the selected fastener, the selected conductive washer, or the fastener and conductive washer assembly;
an automated installation system having an end effector with two or more end effector gripper fingers configured to pick up from the delivery device, one or more of, the selected fastener, the selected conductive washer, or the fastener and conductive washer assembly, and further configured to install the fastener and conductive washer assembly in an aircraft structure;
and
a control system comprising at least a controller, one or more power supplies, and a computer system, the control system configured to control the automated fastener system and the automated washer installation;
performing the automated washer installation at one or more of, before inspection of the selected fastener by the automated inspection system, after inspection of the selected fastener by the automated inspection system, or after delivery of the selected fastener and the selected conductive washer by the automated delivery system to the automated installation system;
and
installing, with the automated installation system, the fastener and conductive washer assembly in the aircraft structure.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.